CHAPTER 85 (2): SILENCE WAS A RATIONAL AVOIDANCE TACTIC TO PRESERVE THE OTHER PARTY’S DIGNITY

Early the next morning, Silvia took a luxurious black sedan to the church’s main base in Londan for work. Having decided to return home every night, she didn’t refuse her husband’s arrangement for private transportation.

No more pretense. Her family was truly wealthy.

Failing to hitch a ride with his master, Wayne planned to ask the butler for a ride. The estate was too big. He needed a car to pick him up and drop him off at the main gate, at least. Before he could say anything, though, the Dragonblood girl caught him.

“What now? I apologized yesterday.”

Wayne panicked a little when he spotted Veronica stalking up to him. If Auston saw, he would definitely devise another secret scheme against Wayne. If one wasn’t enough, he would arrange several, possibly even a plan within a plan.

Oh no, he won’t go for a honey trap, will he?

Wayne panicked even more. If Butler Megan came after him in person, how should he come... resist?

“Let’s go together. I’m gonna read your diary.”

Veronica had a clear end in mind. Her reading addiction was getting worse. Wayne’s diary was like a course in social studies, and she often entertained the idea of locking him in a small, dark room to keep writing.

“Seriously? How bored are you? Don’t you have school to go to?”

“Nope.” Veronica shook her head. She was no longer a college student, but a recent graduate who had left the campus and now awaited employment.

In June, while Wayne was in Enrod praying for the Lord of the Void’s longevity, she had graduated, so she had all the time in the world now.

“What a shame.”

He felt genuinely regretful for having missed seeing her in her graduation gown. He wondered if he would ever get to see her put it on.

The Evanston Women’s Academy had an outer and inner department. The outer department was nothing special, except for all the young women attending the classes. The key was the inner department, funded by the Three Goddess Alliance. It had a robust magical training system specifically designed to supply fresh blood to the three churches. However, not every graduate joined one of the churches formally. Most were reserve members with their own lives and careers.

As an excellent graduate, Veronica should have been specially recruited by the church’s headquarters, receiving a permanent position like a civil servant, and she would be set for life as long as she didn’t make any major mistakes. However, Silvia took her daughter’s name off the list.

The Church of Nature had suffered a great loss in personnel due to the Darkness Knight, and they were in desperate need of new blood. However, also because of the Darkness Knight, joining the church wasn’t safe now.

She didn’t want to live in the constant fear that she would get a phone call one day and hear the devastating news that her daughter had died at the knight’s hands. There was also the looming threat of the Death Knight, whose purpose and whereabouts were unknown. Thus, she labeled her daughter a reserve member for further education, ready to answer the church’s call.

Head Trainer Dick had made the same arrangement for Vera.

Unlike the Church of Nature, the Church of Sun and the Church of Moonlight had seen lackluster development in Londan. Their highest authorities in the city were priests—not a single high reverend among them. Moreover, the Darkness Knight had been focusing on hitting the Church of Nature, rarely targeting the other two churches unless they actively provoked him.

Under these circumstances, Vera became unemployed right after graduation, spending her days at the gym as a mascot with nothing to do but birdwatching.

That was why Veronica had urgently arranged the relocation of Wayne’s detective agency. She wanted a job that would make her look less unemployed.

“The bank needs a manager,” Auston had said.

“Don’t talk to me,” Veronica had responded.

“Here’s ten million. Take it and practice losing money first. After enough losses, you’ll learn how to do business.”

“I told you not to talk to me.”

Such was how raising a daughter could go. Although daughters were often compared to a cotton-padded jacket for their consideration, it would eventually get holes worn into it. It wouldn’t be right to throw the jacket away, so even in extreme cold, the jacket stayed on, and one still had to say they loved the jacket the most.

Wayne and Veronica took a ride to 13 Manor Street. She hadn’t known that she had another home here. Entering the house, she immediately opened the diary and indulged in binge-reading. Soon, though, she reached the part based on the current events.

“How dare you! Did you write this part for me? I only spoke up before you. The one who really broke the promise is you!” Veronica flew into a rage, demanding that Wayne write more entries about the next few days. It was all fiction anyway. He might as well write all the way to next year.

Unable to resist the girl’s incredible arm strength, he sat at the desk and wrote future diary entries for the next fortnight. At noon, he had a simple meal in the basement, and then came afternoon, Veronica dragged him to Commercial Street in the Western District.

“Why are we here? Are you buying me something?”

Wayne was elated, and the tentacle monster inside him gave several thumbs-ups. The magical girl was magnificent when she spent her money.

“As if! Why would I spend money on you?” Veronica huffed. Once the car stopped, she pointed out the window. “That’s your detective agency. Remember the address and don’t go to the wrong door.”

Wayne peered out to see a four-story commercial building. The queues stretched from the east end of the street to the west end. Before the storefront with a signboard that said Dawn Detective Agency, people were packed at the entrance, and the law firm next door also saw a big crowd.

“Whoa, I didn’t expect business to be this good before I even open shop.” Wayne perked up, looking cheerfully at Veronica and speaking like a typical slave driver. “But ‘dawn’ isn’t the right name. I still prefer ‘Wayne’s Detective Agency.’ Assistant V, let’s change it quickly before the grand opening.”

“What are you talking about? That’s not yours.” She pointed at the spot across from the Dawn Detective Agency. “That one over there is yours. The renovation isn’t finished yet!”

He blinked in bewilderment. So what was the deal with the Dawn Detective Agency? Why was it so popular? Was it because they were in the wealthy Western District? Tsk, there sure were many wealthy couples with marital problems. Good. He would steal their business in the future!

“I’ll tell you a secret. Don’t spread it.” Veronica looked around. “Apparently, the detective agency is related to the Goddess of Death. The law firm next door is theirs, too.”

(꒪⌓꒪;)

“Right? I was shocked when I heard it, too!” She nodded solemnly. Why would followers of Death provide free services? The mastermind had to be up to no good. Most ridiculous of all, several churches allowed those followers to carry out their scheme.

Wayne said nothing, trembling as he looked at the detective agency that would be his, across from the Dawn Detective Agency. There was no signage yet, not yet open for business. He could already imagine how few clients he would get in the future.

Just then, a chorus of cheers came from outside the car window.

“I love Dawn! I love Dawn...”

“I love Dawn!!!”

(눈皿눈)

The hell, they worked for free and even had a slogan? It was a cult!