The Gentleman at the End

Chapter 49: Chapter 48 Finalizing

The description related to “Open Source” couldn’t help but remind Yi Chen of past events on the lake, where he encountered that terrifying existence in the Fish Scale Abyss.

However,

based on Yi Chen’s recollection of that scene,

the being that existed in the abyss had reached a rank probably even higher than Open Source… It was a deeper and more ancient special rank.

It was somewhat related to the origin of the Pathological.

…

Slap!

The manager snapped his fingers.

He signaled the end of the hourglass’s timing and simultaneously sealed the documents.

“As you have seen, the mastermind behind the ‘False Moon Incident’ corresponds to an Open Source patient whose Pathological Traits are closely related to the ‘moon,’ belonging to a rare special type.

He transcended ordinary concealment abilities, allowing him to completely blend in with humans and eventually almost wiped out the city.

However,

the Open Source patient has been slain, and the False Moon Incident already passed two months ago and was cleaned up a week ago.

You just need to go to the abandoned clinic and confirm if the last bottle of secret medicine still exists.”

Captain Edmund tried to ask something more in-depth:

“Can we get information about the secret medicine?”

“Only when you successfully bring back the secret medicine, completing the mission, will you be informed if the secret medicine is ‘partially compatible’ with you.

What I can tell you now,

is that the secret medicine developed by Twilight Clinic, due to its ‘special effects,’ has been classified as a crucial secret between organizations.”

As the manager spoke, he took out four Polaroid cameras and an important photograph.

The photograph displayed the secret medicine exclusively developed by Twilight Clinic.

In the mottled glass bottle was filled with silver liquid, the oak stopper at the mouth was covered with disgusting stains, and from the label, which had yellowed on the bottle’s side, you could roughly see a line of crooked, handwritten text.

“Twilight Clinic’s exclusive research and development – Dusk thin silver liquid” – Dr. Macaul.

The manager’s fingers tapped on the photograph’s surface like typing on a telegraph:

“According to the style of the medicine bottle in the photo, find the remaining secret medicine… If you can’t find it throughout the clinic, take pictures of every corner to prove that the secret medicine has been stolen.

It’s that simple; if there are no issues, you can leave now.”

Edmund immediately responded, “We are prepared to start tomorrow.”

“No problem, you are indeed newcomers! Just complete this task before the end of the month… If there’s nothing else, that ends our discussion for today.

Good luck!”

As everyone was about to stand up and leave the table,

Yi Chen, who had been deep in thought, suddenly interjected:

“I have a question… Is all the content in these documents true?”

The manager, already turned away, hesitated briefly before turning back:

“Oh? Do you think the information I personally provided could be false?”

“It just overall gives off a subtle sense of inconsistency.”

“What you have are only ‘partial documents,’ a lot of classified information has been removed, to fill the gaps maintaining the readability of the article, artificial embellishments and additions had to be made… A slight sense of inconsistency is quite normal.

Any more questions?”

“No more.”

The manager was quite personable, personally escorting the four out of Gentleman Hall, waving his hand in a very friendly manner as they parted.

Watching the four’s retreating figures, he muttered softly: @@novelbin@@

“The recipient of the First Gentleman and three newcomers who received the blue letters, just what can they achieve?

He adjusted the tilt of his top hat,

turned back to Gentleman Hall,

and as the manager walked back to the upper district,

Professor Qian Bosen, with an owl perched on his shoulder, was already there waiting for him.

“Oh? Isn’t this the renowned White Eagle? What brings you here, to take on a dark task?”

Qian Bosen did not respond to the tease but went straight to the point and asked:

“I heard you entrusted the task related to the ‘False Moon Incident’ to William, Edmund, and the others?”

“I merely provided an option, the choice was theirs to make.”

Upon hearing this, Qian Bosen directly strode up to the manager.

Although the two men were about the same height, Qian Bosen’s presence completely overwhelmed the other.

“Aiji, we know each other.

As the manager of the hall, you should be more aware of the importance of talents… The False Moon Incident is not entirely over, and even if there’s only a ‘very small possibility,’ should anything happen, they would all die.”

Manager Aiji slightly leaned back, smiling in response:

“I merely arranged the task according to the ‘algorithm.’ Their team’s credentials matched the mission to retrieve the secret medicine, that’s all.

Of course, considering the minuscule inherent risk,

I will arrange for a High Rank Gentleman to secretly observe and, should the danger exceed the task itself by far, do everything possible to ensure their safety.”

“No need to arrange it, I will take responsibility… Wait a minute!”

Suddenly, Qian Bosen realized something, “You little rascal, you guessed from the beginning that I would intervene, right?”

Manager Aiji quickly raised his hands, an innocent look on his face, “Ah? I didn’t say anything! Since Professor Qian Bosen happens to be free, there’s no need for me to arrange someone else.”

Snap!

A hand, like an eagle’s claw, clasped onto the manager’s shoulder.

“Aiji, it seems you’ve been quite free lately too? Even having time to come downstairs and personally greet the new gentlemen… How about, we both ensure the safety of these young ones together?

After all, they’re just going to Twilight Clinic to retrieve a bottle of secret medicine; it won’t take much time.”

Aiji, who had been looking for an excuse to refuse, suddenly felt a wave of killing intent.

“Hmm~ That works. I am indeed quite free lately.

These youngsters won’t be leaving until tomorrow, let me have tonight off, Professor Qian Bosen?”

As soon as his words ended,

Only a single white feather remained on the manager’s shoulder as Qian Bosen had disappeared.

“Ah~ I underestimated it a bit.

I didn’t expect this White Eagle to care so much for this student. It seems that this young man, who took a half-year break, really does have some Hidden Traits that I failed to see.

Well~ even just to satisfy my own curiosity, I guess I’ll accompany these young people for a bit.”

…

‘Street District’

Edmund paid out of his own pocket to equip the squad with all the essentials needed for leaving the city, such as various Medicines, compressed food, camping tents, etc.

Just as he was about to purchase replacement fuel for the kerosene lamp,

Edmund suddenly noticed that the ‘kerosene lamp’ Yi Chen carried on his waist was just an ordinary civilian product, unsuitable for gentlemen in combat.

“William! You need to replace this kerosene lamp.

This old-style kerosene lamp can easily be damaged during combat… and the place we’re going to has been completely abandoned; we often need the kerosene lamp to provide sustained light.”

However,

Yi Chen was still immersed in his thoughts about the mission and took a while to react.

“Hmm? Kerosene lamp… Is there something special about it?”

“Of course! In such a terrible world, any external investigation might plunge us into complete darkness, and a kerosene lamp is an essential item to carry.

It is also recognized by the organization as one of the must-have items for gentlemen.

Zion also has quite a few shops that specialize in selling kerosene lamps; there’s still plenty of time today, so let’s go pick one out together?”

“High-quality kerosene lamps must be expensive, right?”

Edmund patted his chest, “No worries~ if you don’t have enough money, I can cover it.”

“I’ll repay you in the future.”

Yi Chen didn’t refuse,

Having realized the importance of a ‘kerosene lamp’ from the time he was born in a cemetery,

and looking at his own lamp, covered in rust, large in size, and squeaking when he ran, he indeed needed a replacement.

They walked into a lamp shop named “Helios’s Holy Fire.”

Glancing over the price tags at the bottom of the lamps,

He touched the few remaining silver coins in his belt and the notion of fleeing quickly sprang to Yi Chen’s mind.