You must get up from where you fell.
This was a philosophy Lynch had held firmly throughout his two lives.
Therefore, instead of being depressed by being used, Lynch was even more determined than before. It was as if he had rediscovered the feeling of struggling to survive when he had first transmigrated.
At this moment, he and Miss Valente were hiding in the shadows outside White Bird Port, watching the still busy docks under the night sky.
He had retreated from the shipwreck in one piece and reunited with Miss Valente.
This group of deep ones was still reasonable and did not make things difficult for Lynch anymore. Of course, this was also because Lynch had promised to do his utmost to help them retrieve the gem in the shortest possible time, which could be considered compensation for the impact he had caused them.
The Yellow Apostle had also been sent back to the Black Cat Theater by Lynch and Miss Valente. He had mainly wanted to settle scores with the deep ones who had bothered him on land, but since this group of deep ones had not come ashore and had not bothered him, and both sides had fought a successful battle, Manager West had also left the coast quite reasonably.
Lynch and Miss Valente, however, remained behind, because Lynch had discovered something unexpected yet logical. This allowed him to clear up some doubts and also gave rise to a bizarre idea.
“What are you looking at?” Seeing Lynch staring at the harbor for a long time, Miss Valente asked softly beside him, “Is there anything special inside?”
“I am verifying a thought of mine. Perhaps the speed at which we retrieve the gem can be faster than we imagined.”
Lynch’s gaze remained fixed on the harbor dock, and he explained without turning his head:
“Just now, in order to reassure those deep ones, I intentionally exaggerated some things. In reality, even if we analyzed that Prince William and Mayor Howard were the masterminds, it would be useless. We cannot accuse them because of this matter, let alone retrieve the gem through normal channels.”
“It seems you also understand this truth.” Miss Valente smiled and nodded, “They have sufficient reasons to look for the gem. Never mind searching for it in secret; even publicly offering a reward for the gem would be reasonable. We have no reason to accuse them at all. Unless it is on the grounds that the gem is linked to a manifestation grade mystery relic.”
Lynch shook his head: “But this matter is just a legend, and a legend passed down from thousands of years ago. Now, it is not even certain whether that mirror exists. Using this legend as a reason to accuse a mayor can only be a joke.”
“I am relieved that you understand this principle.” Miss Valente revealed an expression of relief, “I thought you were considering how to storm their doorstep.”
“That would be too stupid. A person with a normal brain would not do such a thing.” Lynch laughed, “So our only method is to steal the gem out, but we don’t even know where they would store the gem. If we want to steal it, we don’t even know where to steal it from.”
Miss Valente gave a wry smile: “Slowly investigate; perhaps we can find the target.”
“I planned to do that before, but just now I had a bold idea.” Lynch narrowed his eyes and sneered, “I am a person who always holds a grudge. How he used tricks to steal the item, I intend to use tricks to get it back.”
Miss Valente opened her eyes wide with curiosity, watching Lynch intently as she waited for him to explain.
“First, we can confirm one thing: the one who stole the item was definitely not a living being but an alien entity. The most likely candidates are other deep ones.”
The so-called Dagon was that alien entity composed of gray sludge and human heads, a kin of the Lord of R'lyeh, with quite powerful strength. It was said to be enough to contend against an eighth or even ninth rank Soul Severer.
“Why?” Miss Valente asked in return, “Because only deep ones can lurk near the shipwreck for a long time, discover our actions at the first opportunity, and then take advantage of the situation to strike before us?”
“That is only one of the reasons, but not the main reason. The point is that Alice and the others hid the gem in Dagon’s nest. That was the safest place they could find.” Lynch explained, “Just now, I specifically asked Alice. Even if Dagon leaves the nest, it leaves behind a portion of its body to act on instinct. Any living being that enters its body will be subject to autonomous attack, unless... the one entering is an alien entity, especially an alien entity that is also favored by the Lord of R'lyeh, that is, a deep one.”
“Then that is no wonder.” Miss Valente pursued, “So what does this mean?”
“It means that after the alien entity that stole the item succeeded, it could not deliver the item directly to Howard, and it was even difficult to hand it directly to his subordinates who were ordinary people. Because for ordinary people to see those alien entities, like those reporters in my dream just now, reacting directly with madness is the normal response.”
Miss Valente was startled, then nodded repeatedly: “That is indeed reasonable. Although there is a chance to resist the erosion of filth every time, for such an important item to be passed along, Lord Howard is probably afraid to gamble on the probability. So if he wants to get the gem as soon as possible, the middleman might be a Soul Severer. But this kind of collusion with alien entities certainly cannot be publicized everywhere, so the contact person must be his trusted subordinate. A Soul Severer who has his deep trust... It is a pity that I am not very familiar with the politicians of Rhine, otherwise I should be able to guess it.”
“It does not matter, because since the day the two inspectors from the Hall of Order invited me to attend Princess Chloe’s banquet, one thing has made me very strange.”
Lynch licked his lips and said with a gloomy smile:
“I previously recommended people from the Rangers to participate in the investigation, but the two inspectors said that the Rangers also felt they had no way, so they asked me to join the investigation.”
“Is there a problem?”
“That group of people from the Rangers had a big conflict with me before, especially their leader Walker. In order to compete for credit, he would repeatedly disrupt our investigations, and even take away and hide all the items. Such people, even if they really had no way, would not let me participate in the investigation, right? Unless... he knew the full inside story of the whole matter and knew that luring me into the trap was itself a pitfall to set me up, otherwise they would have come out to cause trouble long ago.”
“So you think the Rangers are Howard’s confidants?”
“The Rangers are already affiliated with the city hall. It is very normal for them to be the mayor’s confidants. And look, that is what I saw just now.”
Lynch pointed to the dock. A black carriage was parked on it. Miss Valente took out her binoculars to look, and said in surprise: “It is actually the emblem of the Rangers.”
“Actually, I saw this carriage first, and then I understood everything. The Rangers are not responsible for routine patrols, and the dock is not an entertainment venue. There must be a reason for the Rangers’ carriage to be parked here so late. Combined with what happened tonight, I suspect they were there to supervise the thief’s execution, or simply waiting to receive the gem.”
Miss Valente’s breath caught, and she pondered for a moment before nodding thoughtfully: “So you want to start with the Rangers? What do you intend to do?”
“I once read a story about a monkey who wanted to borrow a fan. The owner of the fan would not lend it, so he used some tricks to swindle the fan away. As a result, the fan owner’s husband chased after him, turned into the monkey’s friend, and swindled the fan back.”
Lynch winked mischievously at Miss Valente and beckoned with his fingers:
“Lend me Karina’s Exquisite Makeup. Officer Walker of the Rangers is coming to show compassion to his subordinates and take the night shift for them.”
“Oh, this works too?”
Miss Valente covered her mouth with her folding fan, watching Lynch with wide eyes in surprise, as if she wanted to see clearly what kind of structure was in his brain.
“Who knows if it will work without trying?”
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