Secret: The years I served as a foreign aid for the Aurora Club

Chapter 156 Aftermath
393
April 1350, 1, morning.

Melissa carried a canvas tote bag and went back and forth between several nearby bookstores.

The city library of Tingen will not reopen until a week after the New Year. Although Benson suggested that Melissa rest at home during this period and enjoy the time of faith and the life in Tingen, Melissa is a little impatient and thinks it would be a waste to just rest at home.

The air was good these days, so she slept until she woke up naturally and got up, planning to go to a familiar bookstore to borrow some books to read.

On the first day of the new year, there were not many people on the streets, but there were still many people on the lower street. For the people there, the New Year seemed to be just a change in time and date, and there was not much to look forward to.

"History of the Kingdom of Loen". No, this book is too thick and too big. Although it is suitable for killing time, it is not something that can be finished in a few days.

Melissa has always been a person who finishes what she starts. In line with the simple idea of ​​not wasting anything, she will finish reading all the borrowed books before returning them.

"Engineering Guide"? Melissa's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled out the book and turned to the last page. She was a little disappointed when she saw that it was published fifteen years ago. This was already a rather old version, and many of the machines in it were outdated. She already had the new version of the book...

Melissa's eyes dimmed.

However, as her living conditions gradually improved, she was able to accept some "wasting time" leisure. Therefore, although she did not find any newer textbooks than the two books Klein gave her after walking around the bookstore for a few times, Melissa still borrowed two books to kill time, one for herself and one for Benson's "Overall Management"... I don't know if Benson will need it. Maybe he would prefer to plan work with his future colleagues while drinking coffee.

She went to the counter with two books of moderate thickness, quickly paid the deposit, and gave two pence for rent.

——If it weren’t for the significant improvement in living standards and the fact that she and Benson saw a bright future, Melissa would never have spent a penny on this.

She walked out of the bookstore carrying the canvas bag she had sewn. She looked around and saw that there were more people on the empty street. A man on the bench across the street bought a newspaper from a newsboy and was reading it. In front of her passed a man who looked familiar but she didn't know where he had seen him.

The gentleman biting into the sausage bun seemed to notice her from the corner of his eye. Before Melissa turned away awkwardly, their eyes met, and the green eyes gave her a great sense of familiarity.

In a flash, she suddenly remembered the source of this familiar feeling.

"You are...the police officer at that time?"

The person on the bench turned the newspaper back a page and moved it two points down. Soest looked over from behind the newspaper.

The green-eyed police officer also responded in astonishment:
"Are you Miss Moretti? I thought I had the wrong person."

Leonard's surprise was half true and half false, but what he said was true.

Because he had been away from Tingen for more than three months, and he had been away for as long as Klein had died. He had only met Klein's sister, Melissa, once, and that was in an extremely sad environment. He was the messenger of bad news, and she was the recipient of bad news... In that environment, no one would be in the mood to pay attention to each other's appearance, not to mention that Leonard at that time didn't even have the courage to look the other person in the eye.

And in that terrible meeting, even with the memory of an extraordinary person, Leonard only remembered Melissa Moretti and Benson Moretti as two labeled shadows. One was thin, a little introverted and silent, sensible but still a child; the other was old, tired, and looked vicissitudes of life because of taking on the responsibility of the family too early.

They are all sad.

And now, more than three months later, Leonard didn't look closely last night, but when he created an "encounter" today, he found that the other person's face was rosy, and his complexion was much better than then. He walked with his chest held high and his head held high. He looked much more sunny and no longer had the lingering gloomy feeling when they first met.

Klein, your family is living well. They may have gradually come out of the shadow of your departure and are about to go to Backlund to start a new life under the gaze of the goddess... Leonard thought silently.

Surrounded by his companions, Leonard dared to speak in his original voice, but he was unwilling to say too much, and subconsciously lowered his voice, pretending to be hoarse as if he had a cold:

"Happy New Year, you look well, Miss Moretti."

"The air in Tingen City is getting better and better. How is the situation recently?"

Melissa hesitated and politely replied, "Thank you for your concern, we are all fine, Officer." - She suddenly realized that she didn't know the other person's last name, which made her even more embarrassed.

The police officer, whose name I didn't even know, chatted with me in a familiar manner:

"There have been job ads in newspapers recently. Have you considered going to Backlund?"

He thought that this sentence was quite appropriate, but he felt that Melissa's favorability seemed to have dropped, and he was suddenly confused.

Since they received the Archbishop's revelation after the smog, they have been paying attention to the Moretti family for the past few days. They even know exactly how many meat dishes are in the Moretti family's New Year's Eve dinner. In addition, Leonard used to work with Klein, so he naturally felt familiar with him and had no psychological burden in greeting and communicating.

However, he was completely unaware that the only label he had in the other person's mind was "Klein's colleague." Moreover, they had only met once, and had never met in the nearly six months from the time Klein entered the department to his death. They were so close to being a stranger that they were almost like strangers.

In Melissa's opinion, the gentleman should just say hello and exchange a few pleasantries and then leave.

We were obviously not familiar with each other and didn't even know each other's names. It was a bit rude of him to stop me on the way back. It was even a bit scary when I thought about it carefully.

Melissa shook her head and did not answer, hoping that this attitude would make the police officer back down. However, the police officer scratched his head and remained silent for a while, as if he realized what she meant, but also seemed not to.

"Tomorrow, I will be transferred to Backlund, so I said more."

This said, it had a bit of a farewell feel to it, so Melissa couldn't blame her, but she was going to Backlund too.

Leonard accepted the instructions and said casually, "I have worked in Tingen for so many years, and I am reluctant to leave. But the department is short of staff now, and they are in a hurry. I looked at the tickets and documents they booked for me, and I will take the No. 3 steam train, which is the day after tomorrow..."

Melissa could no longer ignore the information contained in this sentence. She clearly remembered the ticket Benson bought last night, and whispered in surprise:
"Mr. Officer, are you taking the No. 3 train to Backlund?"

Leonard nodded. "Yes, the first flight in the morning. It's relatively fast and cheap. By the way, my name is Leonard Mitchell."

If Leonard was more familiar with the Moretti family, or if Melissa was more outgoing and lively, they might have made a joke at this time, "Maybe we are in the same car", but Leonard and Melissa didn't do that. After conveying this news so that the "chance encounter" tomorrow would not be too abrupt, Leonard simply said a few words and said goodbye to each other.

"Captain, let me confirm again."

After seeing Melissa's back disappear at the end of the street, Leonard walked over to Soster who was reading a newspaper and sat on the bench.

"I was in the same carriage with them and sat next to them, right?"

Soest felt in his pocket and pulled out the brand new printed ticket.

Leonard took it. There were three cards in total, with three names on them.

Considering that this was an important trip, the journey was four hours, and the departure was very early, it was inevitable to catch up on sleep on the train, so the Moretti family chose first-class seats for the first time. The two Morettis sat face to face in the third row on the left side of carriage 4, and he sat alone in the same position in the third row on the right side of the carriage - he was alone, and the seat opposite was broken.

Because except for him, everyone else coincidentally didn't buy tickets and had to sit in other carriages, which was very 0-08.

Daly was very upset about this, and bought a ticket for carriage 6. She took the initiative to participate in this action, threatening to tear off Ince Zangwill's head and use it as a ball for her spirit babies.

The Necromancer looked at the ticket, turned around and smiled at Leonard: "Then I will hand this important task over to you."

Leonard felt very aggrieved. He had no interest in kicking the Ins man's head. "Ms. Daly, this is not good, right?"

This was simply an invitation and a joke... Leonard couldn't help but clench his fists when he got the news. His blood began to boil and hatred began to grow. Benson Moretti and Melissa Moretti were Klein's relatives. It certainly made sense for Ince Zangwill to take revenge on them, but Leonard Mitchell was not only an eyewitness of the Battle of Tingen and one of Ince Zangwill's pursuers, but also a companion of Klein and a red glove of the Church of Evernight. Targeting him and killing him would also bring shame and anger to the Church of Evernight!
Because of this, Leonard calmed down more than ever before. He was a "special person," he told Klein, although looking back now, he felt more sad and emotional than ashamed.

Facing Ince Zangwill's provocation, the other Red Gloves felt it was a difficult situation, but Leonard felt that this was a unique battle - with the old man around, he could save his life. If the old man had more power, he could also save Benson and Melissa. However, Leonard felt that the old man would be happy to "test" him, and would never take action unless his life was in danger.

Ever since his brain and spirit began to activate, it seemed to have become an old man's retirement hobby to create obstacles in life from time to time to train his reaction ability.

He also has a kind of awe for the High Sequences (although he doesn’t take it too seriously, maybe he still has some awe), but the awe is not for the old man (Pallez is furious), but for the power that the old man represents. Leonard is not willing to gamble on whether the old man is willing to protect the ordinary people in the car and the Moretti brothers and sisters.

When this bastard singled himself out, did he know that he still had the old man to save his life? Did 0-08 know? Can 0-08 arrange the old man? If not, then Ince Zangwill's special move is likely to be a smokescreen. After all, the unspoken secret in the Church of Evernight is that Ince Zangwill, who failed to be promoted, hates the "Eye of the Goddess" Illya, who succeeded in the same group.

But the crowd didn't know about the old man's situation. Perhaps Ince Zangwill's goal was to draw everyone's attention, making everyone focus on Leonard and ignore Illya, a high-sequence who was in the same danger of 0-08!

What if it can? If 0-08 can affect the old man, then there will be real problems on my side. I will become the main target of a demigod carrying a level 0 seal, not to mention that this carriage is full of ordinary people.

Leonard thinks this is more likely.

Assuming that is the case, then he should consider how to protect a car full of ordinary people and himself as much as possible.

Anyway, the old man shouldn't have to worry. (Pallez sneered, but reluctantly refrained from mocking Leonard because of his good thinking and reasoning this time)

"I remember the file saying that Melissa was a girl who couldn't even afford to buy books or new clothes."

Leonard compared the tickets back and forth and returned them to Soest. He thought with great emotion, "I heard that she was admitted to Backlund University of Technology, and Mr. Benson Moretti was also admitted as a government employee under the new policy. That's great. If Klein knew about this, he would be very happy, right?"

"So we should protect them even better." Soest drew a red moon on his chest, "Praise the goddess."

"Praise the goddess."

"But, Leonard, your cold hasn't healed yet? Beyonders of your level shouldn't get sick at all. Are you still unable to get used to the air in Backlund?"

"Ah... well..."

394
The prey's throat was slit, and the black and white fur and the ground were stained red with blood. The black blade's paratrooper knife expertly skinned and deboned the rabbit, which had been alive and kicking and trying to escape half a minute ago, was turned into scarlet raw meat in a few seconds.

Treanor sat leisurely in his campsite preparing a belated New Year's Eve dinner for himself. It was not a difficult task for the hunter to shake off the pursuers in the jungle. Even in an unfamiliar jungle, he was even able to turn back and kill them all after shaking them off.

The parliament, the Soran family - unfamiliar faces, not relatives he knew well, so it shouldn't be a big loss if they died. There was also a man from the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, who wanted to call the bishop who led the team but failed to do so. He looked white and clean like a rabbit, but he also cut his neck like a rabbit.

The hunter buried the bodies, fed the spirits to the cats, took away the extraordinary characteristics, and used leaves to wipe away the footprints and traces of the battle. He did it perfectly and slowly, and he still had enough time to catch a rabbit on the way back.

He held the knife steadily, and while he expertly dismembered the rabbit, skewered it on sticks, and placed it on a simple grill, he hummed a song and adjusted the heat. Turing, who was sitting at the side stirring the fish soup in the pot diligently, listened for a while and realized that the tune was a cheerful concerto that was popular in Intis recently.

Riel also jumped out from his shadow, waiting for his share.

The environment in the jungle of the southern continent was hot and humid, but the living creatures and mythical creatures present did not feel uncomfortable.

Treanor's slightly curly hair was slightly dampened by the moisture in the jungle, and it was rarely smooth and stuck to his forehead. His shirt was also soaked, and it outlined his beautiful muscle lines. After cutting the whole rabbit into pieces, he finally breathed a sigh of relief with satisfaction. Before he put down the knife, he couldn't wait to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. A touch of red suddenly appeared on his face.

He didn't seem to notice, or even if he did, he wouldn't take any action.

Riel suddenly stood up and stretched out his claws to pull out something from the spirit world - a long box with a hint of cold air. Treanor didn't remember bringing such a thing. There was a note with a handwritten instruction manual on the box. The man and the cat read the words on it head to head:

"Product Introduction: Edible genetically modified freshwater fish, independently developed and manufactured by Frank Lee, is of epoch-making significance. Adhering to the belief of 'taking natural ingredients and giving them top flavors', we continue to provide high-quality food seasoning solutions to the vast number of food explorers.

Application scope: Food explorers who have high requirements for their own diet and dare to try new things. "

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Trainor said. “Things that say this are usually pretty weird.”

The box was covered with a thin layer of ice and contained a large fish as long as an adult's forearm. Riel seemed to be very fond of the fish and continued to look down:
“Features: 1. The meat is more delicate than the original variety.”

"2. The blood has the flavor of Intis red wine and can be fried and eaten with fish."

“3. Fish bones and internal organs will melt at a continuous high temperature of over degrees. It is recommended to boil them in water to enhance the flavor.”

“4. Cultivated by the extraordinary cultivators, it contains rich spirituality.”

Treanor: “?”

Treanor: "I don't want to eat anymore. Take it away."

Ruier: "This is sent to you by His Majesty." The His Majesty it was referring to was of course only one person. It turned the note over, pointed to a line of words on it and said, "Not only must you eat it, but you must also write a meal review of no less than 300 words."

Treanor was speechless for a while, and finally lowered his head in fear of the power. He took the fish with a complicated expression and began to process it.

A similar situation also occurred in the Aurora Society.

Facing a big fish brought by the Dark Saint, several devout believers first knelt down and prayed for a while with tears of gratitude, then stood up and gathered around the fish to discuss how to enjoy this "holy communion".

Mr. Z thought about it for two seconds and said, "We can follow the instructions. Each person has a portion of fish and a bowl of fish soup. If it doesn't suit your taste, you can try seasoning it yourself, and then write your own thoughts."

New products require user feedback, and the Real Creator thought that if the three of them could come up with a clear and logically coherent reflection, they would be considered successful. However, he forgot that the mental state of the Aurora Society had gradually improved since his mumbling became less irritating.

After recovering from his injury, he left and came back before the New Year to participate in the New Year's Eve festival last night. Mr. X pushed his brass mask like he was pushing his glasses and expressed his thoughts: "I think the sashimi is good. The instructions say that the fish blood and fish meat have a red wine flavor, so why not just eat it directly? The fish bones, fish heads and fish organs can be used to make soup as a side dish."

Mr. A's spirits improved, but his thoughts became more and more primitive. He said loudly: "Just eat it directly!"

The three of them discussed for a while, and finally reached a consensus to cook soup. Then, because of their conflicting opinions, they had to divide the fish into three portions. The Dark Saint also went along with it: "Then each of you should write an impression, no less than 300 words."

X, who had brought the table and tableware, asked inexplicably, "Sir, is this considered a merit?"

A cursed, "You still want merit after God gave you the Holy Communion? If you don't want the brain, you can give it to me!"

Dark Saint: "Yes."

Three people: "!"

The white paper originally used to write their thoughts was replaced with manuscript paper, and undercurrents immediately surged between the three of them. Z and X, who were somewhat literate, immediately looked at each other, and at the same time abandoned A, who was still thinking about how to put together 300 words, and regarded each other as their biggest enemy.

TBC
------

I went to fight Hollow Knight. It was still a hundred years before I could get out of the first chapter map.

This should be the last small plot of this part. After Klein leaves and the Sea Volume officially begins, I will take two days off to sort out the outline.

(End of this chapter)