Chapter 042

"So why did you want to urgently see me?" asked Gordon sitting next to Alvin on the bench. The pattern on Alvin's shoe told him he was already in a dream Gordon pulled him into.

"Did you not tell me to report to you immediately if there are follow up developments on that matter?" asked Alvin.

Gordon paused, and then asked, "Did the Iron and Blood Cross Order contact you?"

"No. But I found an unrelated set of clues related to that incident" said Alvin. "Today, two members of the Zmanger Gang, who are suspected to be extraordinaries of the Hunter Pathway were going around Backlund, visiting all kinds of pubs, bars, taverns and other gathering spots multiple times. I tailed them after my fourth encounter with them wanting to see what they were up to, along with some 10 other people who were doing the same. Since it was obvious that we all were tailing them, I guessed where they were going, and went there in advance and blended in there. Sure enough, after the two men got there, the tails started leaving one by one going to the same alley, walking in a stiff posture. One of the tails must have been a Beyonder with some resistance to whatever power was being used, as he yelled and escaped after a while. The others either fled or were chased off, and the two men went to meet with someone. I was sitting far away, and couldn't see him, but I used the Ear of the Crazed to listen in on their conversation"

Gordon said, "Imagine the entire conversation just like you heard it"

Alvin complied, as soon, he could hear the entire conversation playing out as if it were right in front of him.

Soest scratched his chin, in deep thought.

He then asked, "What makes you think they are related to that incident?" asked Gordon.

"They talked about the valuable item of the Hunter Pathway, which was the item that the Iron and Blood Cross took right?" asked Alvin.

"And what're your thoughts on what happened?" Gordon asked.

"Well, it seems like this person who was ordering the two guys also wanted that item, but he wasn't able to obtain it, either due to being no match for the Iron and Blood Cross Order, or due to some other reasons. Unwilling to give up, they used some means to make an orb that can locate the person who took that item. The two men wandered about town because the orb will react if they are within a 100 meters of that person. A divination confirmed that the person is still in Backlund, but the two men did not encounter him" said Alvin.

"Why would that man send these two men instead of going himself?" asked Soest.

Alvin hesitated, thinking it might be a test, but he decided to reveal a little bit of his knowledge.

"I once heard that due to seemingly random choices, Beyonders of the same Pathway have a chance of encountering each other by accident" Alvin said.

"Indeed. So, they know that the person who took the item is of the Hunter Pathway, that he is still in Backlund, and they have some means of detecting his presence as long as they have the orb within 100 meters of meters. So they wanted to locate him by using the random encounter chance of similar Pathway Beyonders. As long as they find his location a few times, they who obviously have some divination capabilities can slowly lock onto the person who took the treasure" said Gordon stroking his chin.

"But why wouldn't the Iron and Blood Cross Order simply take the item out of Backlund?" asked Alvin.

"We always assumed that those people left Backlund after that incident. But it looks like there is more to this than we realised" said Gordon. "Well then, you did well by bringing me this information. I will discuss it with some others, and we will think about intercepting the two guys when they go for another round two days later. The contribution will be decided after we finish the operation. And I will keep you updated" said Soest, as he got up and faded away. Alvin also woke up from his dream after that, and got up and walked back to the bar.

Already guessing that he might encounter the two members of the Zmanger Gang, and maybe come into conflict with the other core members of the gang, Alvin decided to research them deeply in the coming two days, hoping to be thoroughly familiar with them, in case he was asked to participate the operation.

After taking Frank to get massive information in the Zmanger Gang, Alvin went back home, locked himself in his room, went inside the Red Castle, and sat on the throne, recalling and pondering every detail about how he got the Sword of Dominance and the Red Castle.

"Was a tracking imprint secretly attacked to me when I received the box? But if it was so, they should have locked onto me, as I have no means to prevent or even detect such imprints. Then what does that orb do?" wondered Alvin.

As he was deep in thought, he heard a clatter from deep inside the castle, which was inaccessible to him because of the barrier.

Alvin ignored the sound after a brief pause, but suddenly came to some realisation and looked up. His face then grew graver as he thought of this possibility.

"If that its the case, then the whole thing with the Red Castle is more important than I thought. It is to be expected, considering how amazing the few functions I have access to are. Regardless, I must participate in the Nighthawks mission, and try to find out more information about the mastermind. I must also confirm the function of the orb and see if my suspicions have a possibility of being true" thought Alvin.

He then started making plans for the mission he might have in two days.