Chapter 6 We Have No Choice
“Although it was proposed as a transaction.”
“But if everything you said is true, then I actually had no choice from the very beginning, did I?”
After a brief silence, Hiltina suddenly smiled.
She knew nothing about everything in Deep Blue Harbor.
If she didn’t want to be ground into powder by the aftermath of Divine Descent, relying on the experience accumulated by the boy in front of her during countless cycles was Hiltina’s only chance.
“Not just me, but you as well.”
“If this fails, then God knows how many more Night Travelers will enter this Night World after the echoes of it, and whether there will be any changes in the Night World during those countless cycles.”
“We have no choice.”
She took something out from her bosom and threw it to Rast.
“Rather than saying it’s a transaction, it would be more accurate to say that you and I are like grasshoppers on the same rope.”
“Let’s work hard and struggle to survive together.”
Thud—
Rast reached out and caught the thing Hiltina had thrown.
It was a necklace, with a gem intricately carved with a rose emblem. However, the petals were not crimson but instead shimmered with a metallic sheen of bronze.
Compared to when it was worn by the now-dead Masked Woman, the metallic rose now had a noticeable crack running through the entire emblem.
Rast remembered that Hiltina also had a similar pendant, but engraved on it was not a rose, but a laurel.
“The Emblem Armor exclusive to the secret organization ‘Bronze Rose.'”
Hiltina said, “Although the armor is damaged, its effectiveness as a token of a Night Traveler remains.”
Rast picked up the pendant and examined it.
His gaze lingered on the hollow side of the Bronze Rose emblem for a moment. He did not say much more, only storing the pendant away.
“I’ll go prepare something.”
Rast looked up at the clock overhead, then put on the coat hanging by the door and turned to leave.
“Wait for me at the store entrance in an hour.”
…
At 2 AM in Deep Blue Harbor, the lights had gradually dimmed.
The street outside the store was also very quiet, completely unlike the bustling scene from a few hours ago.
Hiltina stood motionless in the cold autumn wind, her slender figure cloaked in a hooded cape that reached her waist, resembling a serene sculpture.
Tick, tick.
She listened to the sound of the pocket watch’s hands ticking, mentally counting the time.
It was only fifteen seconds before the agreed time that a voice rang in her ears.
“That cloak of yours isn’t bad, fits you better than the one I prepared.”
Hiltina turned to her side and found the boy, also hooded, had appeared next to her without her noticing.
Rast casually tossed another cloak he was holding, “Well, since we’re about to go execute a task as Night Travelers in different Night Worlds, this essential tool for killing, arson, and robbery is definitely necessary.”
As he spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and waved towards the empty street.
The next moment, a carriage came around the corner from not far away, turning onto the street Rast was on.
Then, it came to a stop right in front of Rast.
“Outer district, Loning Street No. 17.”
Rast boarded the carriage and skillfully handed two banknotes and a pack of cigarettes to the driver in the front seat.
“Please be quick, brother.”
“My private detective and I have been keeping an eye on that stinky woman at my house for two and a half months now, and this time we’ve finally caught her in the act.”
“When we catch them red-handed, we’re going to make that couple pay.”
His tone had changed; it was no longer as clear as Hiltina remembered but had deepened considerably, adding a touch of hoarseness and gruffness.
It was as if he was a middle-class man, suppressing his anger at suddenly finding himself with a new ‘hat’ while struggling to provide for his family.
“Don’t worry, brother.”
The coachman took the banknotes and cigarettes, and his previously drowsy eyes suddenly became resolute.
“I’ll wager my career, those two won’t escape.”
Crack—
A loud whip crack.
The horses, previously lazy, suddenly sped up under the pain stimulus, charging straight into the night.
Feeling the somewhat old-fashioned carriage speeding through the city at a pace that exceeded theoretical performance, even the wooden boards began to creak, Hiltina glanced at Rast beside her.
This was the dead of night; most rental carriages would not choose to pick up passengers at this time.
She had been standing at the store entrance for at least half an hour, and this was the only carriage that passed through this street.
Yet it coincidentally showed up just as Rast needed it, without any deviation.
During this ride, the two didn’t talk much, with Rast chatting occasionally with the driver.
After all, Hiltina’s current role was a private detective hired by Rast to assist in catching cheaters, and her voice obviously did not match that of a private detective; Hiltina wouldn’t sound like Rast did.
The pitch-dark night scene outside continually changed.
Soon, the once neat and wide avenue where the two were situated transformed into a narrow alley between low houses.
The carriage turned a corner, and the outline of a street appeared ahead.
“Let’s get off here.”
Rast said, and the coachman immediately showed an understanding expression as he stopped the carriage by the roadside.
“I got it, since we’re catching a cheater, it shouldn’t make too much noise. Otherwise, that couple might escape.”
He turned back to Rast and raised an eyebrow: “Do you need my help, brother? Your private detective looks a bit weak. If that couple decides to get rough, they might not be able to help you.”
“I’m not boasting, I used to hang out in a port gang when I was young. It’s no problem for me to keep the situation under control.”
“If it weren’t for my wife at home having twins, needing a more stable job, I wouldn’t have become a coachman…”
The coachman’s words suddenly halted, as if remembering the image Rast projected above him, slightly awkwardly explaining, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to brag in front of you…”
“No worries.”
Rast waved his hand, politely declining the offer for help, “We can handle it, you head back.”
“In a few days, once this mess is resolved, I’ll treat you to a meal at the Golden Deer Hotel.”
Rast hopped off the carriage, walking alongside the silent Hiltina toward Loning Street.
“Unsurprisingly, a guest from the inner city. I heard a meal at the Golden Deer Hotel can match my monthly salary.”
As their figures disappeared into the night, the coachman suddenly came to his senses, scratching his head in confusion.
“I didn’t even give him my address, how does he plan to invite me for a drink?”
(End of Chapter)
