Chapter 056

"That sounds like a thankless job. The rewards are extremely uncertain. If that thief you speak of has a safe deposit box or an account in a bank somewhere, there would be no remuneration" said Alvin.

"Safe deposit box? Banks?" asked Xio with bewilderment

"Surely you know what they mean. So is your confusion regarding the fact that unofficial Beyonders like us who are supposed to live in the shadows walk into banks and transact like a normal person?" asked Alvin.

Xio stayed silent.

"There are Beyonders who think like that. But there are people who are out of this mindset also. I for one, have multiple accounts with large sums in many different banks, and have wads of cash hidden in safe deposits boxes. If this thief you speak of is someone like me, this whole thing is unrewarding" said Alvin.

"There is something else" said Xio. "Weren't you interested in the huge fire in that town up east? This guy was involved in that incident"

Alvin paused, and asked, "Are you serious?"

"What's the source of this information? There are a lot of powerful parties paying attention to this matter" said Alvin.

"I am confident about this source. Though he doesn't know exactly how, he is sure that this guy was involved in that incident" said Xio.

"And who is this guy? I assume you have some way to find him?" asked Alvin.

"He is not difficult to find. I can track him. But he is difficult to catch and very slippery. His name is Arnold. He is from the Marauder Pathway" said Xio.

"Do you know his Sequence?" asked Alvin.

"It is Sequence 8 as far as I know" said Xio.

Alvin considered for a moment and said, "Give me a time and a place"

After Xio left, Alvin had Frank collect everything he could about Arnold. After thinking about it, he decided not to inform Gordon about this guy until he was sure he had something to die with the incident.

It was 7 in the evening. Xio was waiting in a crowded pub. Though she looked scrawny and weak, no one dared to sit within 10 feet of her. As she sat there drinking, she felt someone sit down opposite to her.

"Hello again, Miss Derecha," said Alvin.

He was wearing the outfit of Mr Hunt, tight leather clothes in black and red colours, pockets filled with trinkets, two revolvers by his waist, and a sword strapped to his back.

He brought the Sword of Culling instead of the Sword of Dominance, as the Sword of Dominance could be recognised by whoever organised the trap and placed the Ouroboros mark on it.

Xio looked up with a flicker of surprise, before asking, "Alvin Jonas?"

"I prefer if you call me Mr Hunt presently" replied Alvin.

She nodded, and got up and walked out. Alvin followed behind her.

"So how is it that you know he was involved in the incident back then?" asked Alvin as they were walking.

"All kinds of clues that are observable to someone familiar with him" said Xio.

"Like?" asked Alvin.

"He was enquiring about the supposed treasure like everyone else when the rumour had just started, but suddenly stopped paying attention to it after a while. He was missing from all his frequent hangout spots during that evening and night, and had an elevated financial strength and mood after that day" said Xio.

"All that is just circumstantial" said Alvin.

"Maybe. But it should be enough to go by, isn't it?" asked Xio.

Alvin stayed silent but kept up with her footsteps.

"So what is the mission?" asked Alvin after a while.

"That guy has a rather valuable item on him. He stole it, and offended its rather powerful owner. But the item was not gloriously obtained by its owner, so he hid its existence. So he cannot have the police or official Beyonders involved. He contacted me, and I caught Arnold. He begged for some more time, and made him promise that he would return it in two days. But he didn't do so" said Xio.

"It is a mystical item that can calm the mind and reduce the risk of losing control. The reason I agreed to let him keep it for two days is that I wanted him to get himself under control if he was at risk" she continued.

"So you let him go with no security or surety?" asked Alvin.

"Well, most of the time people do the things they promised in front of me. And he seemed really sincere and pitiful" said Xio in a low voice.

"He is definitely a Sequence 8. A Swindler, who can fool most people, and use his charm to get his way, and ignore the words of an Arbitrator" said Alvin.

Xio looked thoughtful on hearing Alvin, but then shook her head. She then said, "Once he knows that I am after him, he will never appear before me again. But he is too fast and slippery for me. I caught him last time only due to a coincidence. As soon as I confront him, he is most likely to escape, and even leave town for a few days"

"And that is why I need a Beyonder proficient in combat and chasing to help me, who is also someone trustworthy with a reputation. I approached the Half Inch Bar because the rumoured Mr Hunt met all the criteria" said Xio.

"All the spoils belong to you except that necklace. And after that, you can interrogate about the incident at your own leisure" she said slowing down in front of a bar.

"He is in there. I will go and confront him. He will definitely escape. I need you to hold him down for a period of time at least, so that I can catch up" said Xio.

"Wait around 20 minutes before you go in" said Alvin.

He then climbed onto the tallest building in the vicinity for a good vantage point to decide where to place his traps.