The shun had been used in the assassination of Grand Duke Ferdinand. Within the Empire, it was regarded as an ill omen. If someone were caught stealing this object, there was a high ce they would end up on the gallows.

  If Charlot turned hostile, Homonsa would be left with no way out but death.

  If Charlot wished to monopolize this extraordinary on, he would also find himself in a dead end.

  Charlot pondered for a long time before sighing and saying, “You never picked up anything. Do n up this matter again, or no one will be able to protect you.”

  “As for your promotion to a knight, I will do my utmost to help.”

  Charlot offered Homonsa nothing more than a promise.

  For the time being, he had nothing else to give.

  Whether Homonsa accepted this oute or not was no longer his .

  The shun, which had killed Grand Duke Ferdinand, was a deadly thing. If given a choice, Charlot would never have touched it.

  But sinonsa had brought it out, Charlot couldn’t let her take it back. She would surely try to sell the extraordinary on. Ohis shun appeared on any bck market, it would draw attention, and Charlot would undoubtedly be implicated. After all, Homonsa was now under his and. Moreover, he had already been dragged into this matter before.

  To be ho, if Menielman hadn’t protected him, Charlot wouldn’t have been able tain his position or earn a double promotion. In fact, it would have beeionable whether he could even stay alive. The probability of being silenced was quite high.

  After all, this i involved the risk of two great empires going to war.

  Homonsa seemed like she wao say something, but in the end, her expression darkened, and she prepared to leave the office.

  Charlot hesitated for a moment and said, “Don’t mention this to Mason or the others, or you will get them killed.”

  Homonsa trembled slightly before quickly bowing her head aing the office.

  Half an hour ter, Mrs. Nancy arrived, apanied by Annie Bretagne, Sylvie Martin, and the cat elf detective Venie Arsenault.

  The three dies had met up at 58 Elysée Avenue, abandoning their own carriages to follow Mrs. Nancy.

  Venie Arsenault, as the wito the duel, naturally had to attend. As for Annie and Sylvie, one was a “half-girlfriend” and the other a “cousin.” Both had suitable identities and reasons to observe the duel.

  Charlot had nothing to say and simply took the extraordinary shun, following the three dies on their journey.

  He pced the shun, which had beeo kill Grand Duke Ferdinand, alongside the Diary, hoping that the power of the two evil gods might cause certain divination-based transdents to make mistakes in their calcutions.

  Ohey reached Machubi, Charlot inteo leave the on in the Machubi Fortress Labyrinth.

  The anti-space le rifle that Lord Leo had given him was rge, sturdy, and capable of firing anti-magic armor-pierg rounds, granting it the power to kill high-ranking transdents.

  For this shun to possess such power—enough to kill Grand Duke Ferdinand—it clearly wasn’t ordinary. Yet Charlot had no desire to check its quality. He feared that he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to keep it.

  Greed is the enemy of life.

  Just as money is the root of all evil.

  Throughout the journey, Miss Annie remained unusually silent. Her expression was one of determination, as though she had made up her mind about something.

  Sylvie, oher hand, was full of worry aedly urged Charlot to exercise caution. “If you fall into a disadvantageous position, just surrender and admit defeat,” she said.

  In general, gentlemen’s duels allowed for surrendering parties to be spared...

  Of course, Charlot believed that “Mr. Big Alva” would not let him go. After all, what gentlemanly honor could pare to avenging one’s younger brother?

  Venie Arsenault, for her part, remained calm and quiet throughout the trip, gazing thoughtfully at the sery outside the window.

  Strasb was more than two hundred kilometers from Machubi, though verting this world’s units of measurement was a hassle. As a mathematics teacher, Charlot greatly disliked the Old ti’s systems of weights and measures.

  The Brabant draft horse Charlot had purchased for two gold écus was a strong and robust two-year-e for its kind. Its coat was a mix of gray and bck, giving it a patchy appearahat made it less visually appealing. However, it was hardy and capable of pulling a four-wheeled carriage with ease, able to sprint at speeds of twenty kilometers per hour for over an hour.

  If they traveled at a slower, energy-effit pace of eight to ten kilometers per hour, the horse could run for four or five hours.

  The draft horses of the Old ti were far superior in strength and stamina pared to those oh. However, they were still flesh and blood and could not run endlessly. With suffit rest along the way, they would reach Machubi on time the following day.

  Charlot was well-prepared. After leaving Strasb, he opened a cask of ale and offered drinks to the three dies.

  Venie Arsenault articurly bold, happily drinking a few cups with Charlot. Annie, however, was too teo drink anything.

  Sylvie initially refused to drink but quickly succumbed and drank more than she should have.

  As evening approached, Charlot asked Mrs. Nancy to stop the carriage. They hadn’t passed any vilges suitable for rest, but Charlot didn’t io press on. The horse needed rest, and traveling at night was far too dangerous.

  He gave the carriage’s front partment to the three dies and po sleep in the back. The Old ti had s—its wilderness was filled with danger, and no one would choose to sleep in a tool that offered no prote or mobility during an escape.

  As Charlot stepped down from the carriage, he saw a dy standing ahead. She appeared to be in her forties or fifties, elegant and dignified. Her clothing made it clear that she wasn’t a noblewoman but rather a housekeeper.

  Charlot was shocked and instinctively reached for his vampiric axe, but the housekeeper curtsied in a formal manner and said, “Mr. Meburg, I am here to esiss Annie home.”

  Charlot returned an Imperial bow and asked, “And you are?”

  The housekeeper raised her voice slightly and said, “Ahe outing is over!”

  Annie Bretagepped down from the carriage, looking distressed. “Karen Granny, I not go back?” she pleaded.

  The woman addressed as Karen Granny shook her head indulgently yet firmly. “Annie, I allow that item to be missing for three days. That is already my greatest promise.”

  “The t will absolutely not allow his daughter to remain out ht.”

  Aruggled for a moment before finally g. “I will go with you!”

  She pulled out an object ed in neer from under her skirt and ha to Charlot. “Use this ohe duel begins,” she whispered.

  “I will wait for you tomorrow and the day after at 58 Elysée Avenue.”

  Karen Granny oward the two dies who had also stepped down from the carriage. Turning to Charlot, she said, “Do not lose this. The sequences would be severe.”

  Then her entire body radiated a dazzling light. With a geou Annie’s shoulder, they rose into the air and disappeared...