landbeastnovel Chapter 134, Section 132: Carl Woodward
Chapter 134, Section 132: Carl Woodward
Chapter 134: Karl Woodward
Originally, Evan only intended to push Fors to join the Tarot Club in order to prevent any accidents.
However, what Robert said yesterday about becoming the Church of the Night's spokesperson for MI9 made Evan consider bringing "Hugh" into the Tarot Club ahead of schedule.
Robert was originally prepared to become the political spokesperson for the Church of the Goddess of Night, and to infiltrate MI9.
However, things are unpredictable. Unexpectedly, the Horn family had signed an ancient contract, which stipulated that the heirs of the Horn family could only worship the God of Storms. This disrupted Robert's plans.
Robert is currently serving as the chairman of the Military Intelligence Committee. The Church of Storms has its own representatives in MI9, so they don't need his help. The Church of the Night Goddess just happened to have this vacancy, but he just happened to convert to the Church.
Robert was unwilling to let his previous preparations go to waste, so he hoped that Evan would fill the vacancy and become the spokesperson for the Church of the Goddess of Night, while Robert would do his best to help him, so that the benefits would stay within the church.
However, Evan's attitude was also very clear: he could not be tied to MI9. After all, he was a hunter and his destiny lay in the military. He would leave MI9 sooner or later.
But if he leaves MI9, someone will need to inherit and manage the power he leaves behind. In this situation...
Evan set his sights on Hugh Deercha.
Hugh Deercha's father was the previous spokesperson for the Church of the Night in MI9, and his daughter could easily gain the Church of the Night's approval.
At the same time, because of her father's legacy, a group of people in MI9 highly regard her. If Evan focuses on cultivating Hugh Deercha, it will be easier to gain their loyalty.
Finally, Hugh Deercha has historical issues that prevent her from receiving direct support from the Church of the Night.
Otherwise, the church would be in direct conflict with the royal family, so the only powerful figures she could rely on were Robert and Evan. This was advantageous for Evan to control her—it's better to use someone who has flaws than someone who has merits; it's always reassuring to use someone with weaknesses.
After talking with Audrey about Fors and Hugh, Evan asked:
"As an 'audience member,' you possess the ability to discern character, so you don't actually need my help. Is there anything you and Viscount Greenchrist invited me to do that you need my assistance with?"
Audrey glanced instinctively at the closed door to the reception room, then asked in a low voice:
"Mr. Evan, you are an intelligence officer from MI9. I heard that you have recently cracked several major cases and have good information. Do you have any leads on the Psychological Alchemy Society?"
I feel like the 'Audience' potion is digesting quite smoothly lately, and it probably won't be fully digested for long. Now I need to start looking for the 'Mind Reader' potion recipe in advance. Can you help me find it?
Evan knew that in a few weeks, Little Sun would join the group, becoming a source of materials for many Tarot Club members to advance their careers, and would sell the "Mind Reader" formula to Audrey.
But remembering that Klein had asked him to help collect materials for the 'Joker,' he decided to give him the opportunity.
"I have a friend who might know the recipe for the 'Mind Reader' potion. I can write to him to inquire. At the same time, he's searching for the unicorn horn crystals of the grey goats in the Hornach Mountains. If you can find them, I can help him arrange a trade with you."
Evan wasn't worried at all that Klein wouldn't be able to produce the "Mind Reader" potion formula, because Klein had already begun contacting Dust Guderian, a doctor at Tingen Asylum and an outsider of the Psycho-Alchemist Society.
"The unicorn horn crystals of the grey goats of the Hornachis Mountains? I have two or three in my family's warehouse. I found them when I was collecting materials for the 'Audience' potion last time. I had them delivered to your home when I got back. Please also make sure your friend sells me the 'Mind Reader' potion recipe."
Evan was momentarily stunned, not expecting the main ingredient for Klein's potion to come so easily, before saying:
"I've moved out of Earl Ahova's mansion. You can have the materials delivered to this apartment in the Joewood district."
As he spoke, Evan took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Miss Audrey.
Audrey usually associated with the upper aristocracy, and remembering the names, preferences, kinship ties, and even enmity relationships of various nobles was basic skill for her. She had never encountered anyone giving her a business card before, so she found it quite strange. After taking it, she flipped it over and read the information on the front softly:
"Carl Woodward, intern at the Daily Observer?"
Audrey held the business card in one hand, looking at Evan with a puzzled expression through her beautiful green eyes.
As Viscount Greenchett returned to the reception room after opening the door from the outside, Evan chuckled and explained, "Intelligence personnel who operate outside usually have a public identity. This is my public identity. When you have someone deliver things to me, don't be too high-profile. My neighbors in the apartment complex are all middle-class, and being too high-profile will attract their attention."
This identity was obtained by Evan last week before he was preparing to move out, and it wasn't even obtained through MI9.
Instead, he got the job through a proper recruitment interview at the newspaper.
Audrey realized that if she delivered something to Evan without giving specific instructions, the butler would follow the usual procedure and have a servant in a smart uniform deliver the item to Evan's door. This would be too conspicuous and attract the attention of the neighbors about Evan's identity. So she nodded to indicate that she understood.
From this one incident alone, Audrey sensed Evan's meticulousness, rigorousness, and thoughtfulness in everything he did.
He couldn't help but admire Evan, who had only been in Backlund for a few weeks but had already quickly established himself in MI9 and made a name for himself; his reputation was definitely well-deserved.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean by not giving gifts in a flash?"
Viscount Greenchett, who had only listened to half of what was being said, asked curiously.
At the same time, he was surprised by how quickly Evan and Audrey became familiar with each other, because as far as he knew, this was only their second meeting and their first formal conversation, yet they had already reached the point of exchanging gifts so quickly. This made Viscount Greenchett even wonder if Evan was an extraordinary person capable of bewitching people.
If Audrey, the most beautiful jewel in Backlund, were to be won over by Evan, then the other noble second-generation men who secretly admired Audrey might collectively condemn themselves for being the matchmaker.
"We were talking about some extraordinary materials, and it just so happens that I have some in my warehouse that Mr. Evan needs, so we agreed to have someone deliver them to him later."
Audrey was puzzled as to why Greencheet's expression had become so strange, so she offered an explanation.
Upon hearing this explanation, Viscount Greenchett breathed a sigh of relief, then, remembering the unresolved topic from before, excitedly asked Evan:
"You mentioned before that there was a way for me to obtain the 'Pharmacist' formula. What was that way?"
Seeing the eager Grintzit, Evan stopped beating around the bush and said directly:
"Besides the Church of the Seven Gods, which is a legitimate official organization, there are some secret organizations in this world that are not officially recognized. Most of these organizations believe in evil gods and are enemies of the righteous church."
However, there are a few clandestine organizations that are not so harmful. I know a member of a clandestine organization that doesn't really fight against the Church of the Righteous God, and they have the "Pharmacist's" potion recipe.
2
Audrey and Viscount Greenchett were already familiar with what Evan was saying, and they also knew that unofficial Extraordinaries were mostly opposed to the true gods, but that did not stop them from yearning for the Extraordinary world, so they continued to signal Evan to continue with their eyes.
"The organization this person belongs to is called the 'School of Life,' which controls the Destiny Path and part of the Lunar Path, which is the potion recipe of the 'Pharmacist' Path."
They advocated a tripartite division of the world into an absolutely rational world, a spiritual world, and a material world.
I'm confident I can persuade him to teach you the apothecary's potion recipe, but there are limitations.
"What are the conditions?" Greenzit asked quickly, feeling that the secretive organization, the School of Life, seemed pretty cool.
"They pass on their knowledge in a master-apprentice model, only teaching their own students the corresponding potion recipes. If you want to get the recipe, you have to join the School of Life and become his apprentice."
"ah?!"
Audrey and Viscount Grelint exclaimed in unison, they never imagined that more than 1,400 years had passed since the Fifth Age, and the great division of labor brought about by the Industrial Revolution had lasted for more than 100 years, yet there were still masters and apprentices passing on such an ancient organizational method.
For a moment, Greenchet hesitated. After all, he wanted the apothecary's potion formula, but he only wanted a good body so he could have more fun. He didn't want to be bound by any organization, let alone a secret organization.
If he were willing to join the organization and accept its leadership in order to become an extraordinary individual, he could have joined MI9 long ago, and MI9 would have welcomed him with open arms.
Viscount Greenchett hesitated, asking Evan some questions about the School of Life, but couldn't make up his mind, deciding to wait until Fors took him to a secret gathering before making a decision.
Evan didn't care too much about this. He was interested in finding a student for Darkwell, but he was mainly concerned about the mercury serpent behind him.
As an archangel of Sequence 1 of the Fate Path, it's impossible to keep the fact that his organization has gained a new member a secret.
Not to mention that he may have already arrived in Backlund.
If we investigate the background of the new member and find out that Evan was involved in his joining, we might be willing to invest in Evan.
Anyway, as can be seen from the original work, this Mercury Serpent also loves to play big games. If he invested in Klein, why can't he invest in me, Evan? Even the goddess has faith in me and blesses me, so investing a little won't be a loss.
Seeing that Viscount Greenchett was unable to make a decision, and that everyone who had attended the salon today had achieved their goals and had also filled their stomachs, the attendees were pleased to see that the event had been well-attended.
Remembering what Robert had told him earlier, Evan said goodbye and left.