3 Suspicion

Fors was a girl with a languid bearing. She was about 1.65 meters tall and wore a beige long dress with lotus leaves. Upon hearing Xio's words, she scratched her curly brown hair and said helplessly, "What is it? Can't you do it yourself? I can give you an idea."

"No, I need to search for evidence against a gang leader. I need your ability to open the door!" Xio stopped and stared at Fors, who was still sprawled on the sofa. She continued, "Besides, Fors, you haven't left the house for nearly half a week…"

"I knew you were doing this for…" With that said, Fors saw Xio frown before she had no choice but to raise her hand. "Alright, alright. I'll help you! But you have to tell me the details."

Xio nodded and recounted the request of the maintenance technician, Mr. Rian, before finally saying, "That's why I need some dirt on that gang leader to increase the success rate of 'convincing' him!"

"Are you sure this is to convince him and not anger him?" Fors cursed inwardly, but she didn't show it on her face. "This is just a one-sided story from that Rian, right? Shouldn't you investigate the matter thoroughly before acting? For example, does that gang leader have other motives?"

"Yes, I was about to investigate. The reason I came back was to get some money and equipment," Xio replied.

"That's not all. You also have to check if the gang leader is a Beyonder or if he has any Beyonders under him… If you don't investigate all of this, not only will it be dangerous for me to open the door to get the dirt, but even if you convince him, he might not be able to come back," Fors said earnestly.

"Yes… You're right, Fors. I was negligent." After some thought, she felt that she was right.

So, come look for me after you've done your investigations! That way, I can delay it for a few more days. Fors thought smugly.

"Alright then…" With that said, Xio took out a small bag from her room and tied it around her waist. Before she left, she suddenly looked back in the direction of the sofa and said, "Fors, although what you said makes sense, I keep having the feeling that you're just patronizing me."

"No way… I'm not getting up!" Fors stood up guiltily and walked to the door, sending Xio out with a smile.

Xio frowned. She had wanted to tell Fors about the strange person she had seen at the restaurant, but after some thought, she gave up. After all, although that person gave her a repressed feeling, he wasn't dangerous. It might only add to her troubles.

…

Ignoring Xio and Fors, he returned to Ebner's side. Having met Miss Xio by chance, he didn't delay his scheduled trip. He began to follow the original Klein's memories to visit Cherwood Borough, North Borough, and Bridge Borough. From various herb shops, flower shops, jewelry shops, and accessories shops, he bought different items like plant powder and silver slices.

These were necessary ingredients for the ritual. As they weren't spiritual items, most of them could be bought in ordinary shops. However, they weren't so concentrated and required many shops to gather them. However, even though they weren't spiritual materials, they weren't cheap either. They cost a total of one pound and twelve soli, making Ebner, who was cash-strapped, feel the pinch for a long time.

As for the reason why Ebner wanted to prepare the ritual, it was to create a wall of spirituality so that he could obtain a clean and safe spirituality environment to test his pure White Eye. Yes, he could also analyze the Reader's formula. As for how he knew about the ritual? Naturally, it was because Old Neil in the Lord of the Mysteries had taught Klein how to set up the wall of spirituality step by step. And when he opened the White Eye, he had remembered every detail of the novel.

At four in the afternoon, Ebner dragged his exhausted body back to his rented room. He first lay down and slept for an hour and a half. When he woke up, he hurriedly ate some dry rations he had bought from outside during the day. Then, he adjusted his condition at six o'clock sharp and used sleeping flowers, dragon's blood grass, dark red sandalwood, mint, and other herbal powders to concoct Holy Night Powder. These were all materials used to create the wall of spirituality.

Although Ebner knew the method, it was still his first time executing it, so he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Thankfully, he had already fused a portion of the Beyonder characteristic, and his focus far exceeded that of an ordinary person. He quickly succeeded.

After scattering the Holy Night Powder in a certain order, he took out a handful of powder and sprinkled it around himself.

As the strange and pungent smell spread, an invisible force appeared around Ebner, separating him from the environment in the room.

After doing this, Ebner took a deep breath and took out the gem that represented the Sequence 8 Student of Ratiocination Beyonder characteristic from the iron cigar case. He placed all his attention on it and silently chanted "Activate," giving himself hints. Through the accident last night and the fact that he had nearly activated the pure white eye on Miss Xio in the morning, he had roughly grasped the method of switching his gold fingers.

Just as Ebner expected, following his hint, the pupils in his eyes disappeared in an instant, and his eyes turned pure white. Streams of data quickly flashed through his mind again. His thoughts were also affected by this data stream, and he could not help but recall, reconnect, analyze, analyze…

Five seconds later, when his face was getting darker, Ebner used great willpower to hint that he had closed the Eye of Pure White. Then, he forced a smile and muttered weakly to himself, "It seems that the maximum limit to activating it in its optimal state is five seconds…"

Before he could finish his sentence, he fell to the ground and fainted.

…

At night, East Borough, Dharavi Street, in a cramped but lively tavern.

Xio Derecha covered her nose and mouth as she squeezed in. To her, not only was this place filled with the stench of alcohol and sweat, but it was also easy to encounter people much taller than her. It made her have no choice but to face their armpits, and the rich smell there was enough to make a normal person faint.

After spending a lot of effort and even using the powers of an Arbiter, Xio finally squeezed to the bar counter and saw the person she was looking for.

It was a kind-looking middle-aged man with an amiable smile on his round face. However, Xio knew that this man was a cruel and vicious villain. He had once broken the hand of a thirteen-year-old thief because the thief had hidden his gains.

If it wasn't necessary, Xio wouldn't even want to see him, but no one was more suitable than this person to ask for information about a gang leader. This was because not only was he a gang leader, but he also had a grudge against that person.

"Darkholme, I have something to talk to you about." Xio knocked heavily on the wooden table.

This boorish action immediately attracted angry looks, but they quickly retreated under the Arbiter's stern gaze.

"Oh, Xio, I haven't seen you in so many days. You seem to be even more powerful than before!" the man named Darkholme said, half drunk and half surprised.

Of course. Previously, I only inherited part of my father's Arbiter powers, but now, I'm a true Arbiter!

Xio replied proudly, but she said solemnly, "I want to know all the information about Lawson!"

"Oh? 'Double-Faced' Lawson? Haha, Xio, you've set your eyes on that bastard this time?! Alright, as long as you teach him a lesson, I'll tell you everything I know!" Darkholme was stunned for a moment before he gloated.

"Double-Faced?" Xio pricked up her brows, feeling that this nickname wasn't simple.

"That's right. That bastard Lawson usually disguises himself as a humble and polite gentleman. He always advertises how he's willing to help those in need, but he's actually a loan shark. The interest is very high! I don't know what method he used, but he always tampered with the contract and fooled people. Most of the people who borrowed money from him ended up with their families destroyed! This bastard is much more detestable than me. Xio, you have to teach him a lesson!" Darkholme gnashed his teeth as he spoke of Lawson. He didn't know what kind of feud they had, but he constantly urged Xio to kill Lawson. For this, he even mentioned many examples of families being destroyed because of Lawson.

Xio's brows knitted tighter as she interrupted Darkholme's chatter. She asked, "He can tamper with the contract every time, and the borrowers only realize that something's wrong after the matter is over?"

"That's right. That's why I said I don't know what new method this bastard has discovered. After all, it's impossible for every borrower to be so stupid. In the past, this bastard's lending wasn't that smooth." Darkholme nodded.

"In the past? When did he become so successful?" Xio acutely noticed the crux of the problem.

"Seven months ago, I remember it very clearly, because that was when I became enemies with him. Sigh, after his career went so smoothly, he had so much money in his hands, so I didn't dare to take revenge on him." Darkholme gritted his teeth.

"Seven months ago… Why did you become enemies with him?" Xio thought for a while and asked.

"About that…" Darkholme originally didn't want to say it, but when he looked up and saw Xio's dignified gaze, he couldn't help but tremble. He hurriedly confessed, "At that time, one of my trump cards stole Lawson's suitcase. Inside was something he had just looted from a debtor's house. Lawson quickly discovered it, then sent his subordinates to beat up my trump card and take back the suitcase… Originally, it wasn't a big deal that the matter ended here, but that bastard actually found someone to secretly get rid of a group of people, including that trump card. This is simply a slap to my face!"

"What's in that box?" Hugh asked.

"Hmph, you also suspected that there were some sensitive items in there, which was why Lawson killed him? I thought of it at that time, but when I asked the unlucky guy who owed me a debt, I found out that there were only a few badges he collected. Those are his hobbies. To others, those things aren't worth much, unless Lawson can find a hobbyist who collects the same badges and sell them to him. That's why I think he's deliberately targeting me. He doesn't have any other thoughts." Darkholme snorted.

"What's that debtor's name? Where is he now?" Hugh didn't change his mind at Darkholme's words.

"That man died a long time ago. His family was sold, and he jumped into the river to commit suicide," Darkholme said disapprovingly.

Xio nodded. When she felt that she understood enough, she took out a banknote from her pocket and gave it to Darkholme as an intelligence fee before turning to leave the bar.

A badge… Could it be a mystical item? I have to investigate it carefully, Xio thought.

…

At midnight, Ebner opened his eyes. He rubbed his temples and silently reinforced the wall of spirituality that was nearly ineffective. Then, he picked up the Beyonder characteristic that had fallen to the ground and activated the White Eye once again.

I have to completely analyze the Sequence 9 Reader formula tonight!