Chapter 109: Temporarily Not Reporting

Angel didn't arrive at the Black Thorn Security Company on Zotland Street until nearly noon the next day.

This was Dunn Smith's arrangement—the negative effects of the "Magic Pocket Watch" lasted a full twelve hours. The previous evening when she'd used it to save Klein and drive away the "Witch" Tris, the time had been approximately nine o'clock. The adverse effects would persist until after nine this morning.

Fortunately, "Assassins" possessed dark vision, so the inability to tolerate light didn't affect her nighttime activities.

After greeting Roxanne, Angel approached the door of Dunn's office.

Before she could knock, the Captain's voice came from within: "Come in."

Angel silently pushed open the door and stepped inside, casually closing it behind her.

The office was unlit with curtains drawn, plunging the room into pitch darkness once the door closed. Only thin strips of sunlight leaked around the curtain edges, casting faint patterns on the wall by the window.

Through her dark vision, Angel could see Dunn seated behind his desk—one hand supporting his chin, the other resting on the desktop, his deep-set eyes fixed intently on her.

This... couldn't be the Captain's attempt at acting the "Nightmare," could it? Rather peculiar indeed.

Angel silently critiqued the scene while finding a chair to sit down.

"Click, click."

Seeing Angel seated, Dunn withdrew a lighter from his pocket and pressed it several times.

A weak flame flickered to life in his hand.

His gaze crossed over the flame, looking at Angel with expectant eyes.

She stared back with a puzzled expression.

"Captain, is something wrong?"

Dunn appeared even more surprised than she was, remaining silent for a long moment before releasing the lighter and extinguishing the flame.

"Are you no longer afraid of flames?"

"Captain, the negative effects of the 'Magic Pocket Watch' only last twelve hours. And I don't think 'Nightmare' should behave like this..."

"Ah yes, I remember now—the photophobia should have ended two hours ago."

Dunn embarrassedly pocketed the lighter, stood up, and pulled open the curtains, allowing sunlight to flood the office.

"Ahem—let's discuss business." He settled back into his chair, assuming his usual comfortable office posture. "After Klein's divination failed last night, I sent Leonard to the police headquarters overnight to issue wanted notices. This morning we received intelligence that one of the women in the wanted notice—Tris—took the earliest steam train to Backlund, leaving Tingen City."

"Did you catch her?"

Angel asked urgently, but immediately caught the trace of regret crossing Dunn's face.

"Unfortunately not. Although Backlund authorities questioned passengers from the same train and someone confirmed seeing this beautiful woman, she was likely alert—or it was simply her usual caution—and disembarked midway."

"Worth noting is that her companion, the 'Pleasure Witch,' didn't board the steam train with her."

"You mean she's very likely still in Tingen?"

Dunn nodded. "Correct. When I reported this incident affecting all of Tingen to the Holy Temple last night, they sent the latest intelligence about the 'Witch Sect.' This Sequence 6 'Pleasure Witch' is very likely a replacement member sent to oversee Tingen City after Lady Sharon's departure."

"But there's no need for excessive worry. We destroyed their evil ritual and saved dozens of citizens' lives. Her existence has been exposed—she'll be wanted by all orthodox churches. As long as she acts again, attempting similar schemes, she'll be reported by the masses, noticed by police, and captured or eliminated by official Beyonders."

Another wanted notice...

Over the past month, Angel had learned of more than a handful of Beyonders placed on wanted lists. So far, except for the "Assassin" she'd accidentally encountered and killed in the dock area, none of the other wanted individuals had been apprehended—not even useful leads had been found.

Of course, if a Sequence 6 Beyonder was determined to escape, the chances of capture by official Beyonders were minimal. Angel was mentally prepared for this reality.

"Additionally, regarding your private... acquisition of that mystical item belonging to the Mechanical Heart..."

Seeing her remain silent, Dunn shifted to address another matter.

Here it comes...

Angel crossed her legs, adjusting her position while concealing her left hand at her side, away from Dunn's sight.

She quietly pressed the crown of the "Magic Pocket Watch"—just a little pressure would activate this mystical item, granting her the extraordinary ability of "Flame Jump."

This wasn't due to distrust of her captain. Yesterday, after the battle ended and they began inspecting the house containing the curse altar, Dunn had asked her to remain alone in the living room as lookout while all other Nighthawks entered the dining room where the altar was located.

She understood clearly that this was Dunn deliberately providing her space to "escape" if necessary—which at least demonstrated that Dunn wouldn't take drastic measures demanding she return the mystical item, or simply notify the Holy Temple to arrest her as a disciplinary violator.

Leonard likely understood and tacitly approved of this behavior as well. Klein... he'd just been injured and lost blood, was in poor condition, with no energy to consider these complications.

"According to relevant agreements between Nighthawks, Mechanical Heart, and Mandated Punishers, this extraordinary item stolen by Tomatz from the Mechanical Heart should be transferred to them along with him after his capture or elimination."

Dunn seemed oblivious to Angel's subtle movements, his expression serious as he spoke deliberately.

"Given that the 'Mechanical Heart' traitor Tomatz remains at large, until we catch or kill him, this pocket watch will be temporarily kept by you."

What? Angel was stunned.

Dunn's deliberately grave expression instantly transformed into a smile tinged with cunning.

"You should thank Leonard, thank Klein. They've been advocating for you since last night, and Klein came to see me early this morning."

He spoke with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, but then, feeling this was a serious topic, suppressed his amusement.

"In any case, I'll delay reporting this matter to the Holy Temple. Just to be safe, I'll first test the attitude above through my own channels. This should at least prevent the worst-case scenario."

The worst-case scenario—referring to the Tingen City Nighthawks team conspiring to conceal mystical items...

Angel suddenly felt deeply moved. Dunn making this decision would certainly bear enormous pressure. He could have feigned ignorance or reported truthfully, awaiting his superiors' decision. But now he was deliberately concealing it—if Angel ultimately "fell into the net," he would share responsibility.

"Moreover, the Church primarily focuses on mystical items with obvious side effects that easily cause casualties, cataloging and managing them as sealed artifacts..."

Dunn's tone shifted, and his smile became more pronounced.

"That pocket watch—it's called the 'Magic Pocket Watch,' correct? Its negative effects... shouldn't easily cause casualties or major supernatural incidents."

He seemed to recall Angel's condition after suffering the negative effects last night, finally unable to suppress his laughter, turning his head in a futile attempt to hide it.

Captain, please return my gratitude...

Angel felt her face burning with embarrassment.