They all call me Great Master

No. 2 Cork Street, outside the courtyard.

Edwin drove away in his carriage.

After Arthur and Marinda walked in shoulder to shoulder, the lady promptly pulled out her tobacco pipe—already loaded with tobacco.

Madam Susan had taken the lady's tobacco from inside Caesar Manor.

But never underestimate a smoker's ability to hide their tobacco.

Under the drawers and beneath the bed are the simplest places.

Smoke a pack down to just two, stamp on it and toss it on the dormitory floor, and no one will notice; when needed, simply pick it up again.

Of course, you could also opt to twist open the handrail of the steel pipe bed, another treasure spot for hiding tobacco.

However, Marinda didn't need any of that.

The lady had spatial equipment.

In her space, she stored 6 Jin of tobacco and 7 spare pipes.

Whoosh!

Marinda took a puff, a content expression emerging on her face, then she blew out a thick smoke ring.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning."

Marinda, pipe clenched in her mouth, waved at Arthur and ducked inside.

Old Town was theirs now.

But there were still some loose ends to tie up.

Whether it was Arthur or Marinda, they both wanted real, complete control of Old Town—and that meant someone needed to step up.

And since Urs was Marinda's subordinate, it was more appropriate for Marinda to take the lead.

After Marinda's figure disappeared, the smoke dissipated.

Arthur lifted up Pendragon with one hand and leaned back in the chair at the Spirit Medium Parlor, eyes closed, while he stroked the cat and called out, "Anna, we've got guests coming. Prepare three cups of tea—remember to add double sugar to mine."

In the dead of night, one naturally craves strong tea.

The taste of strong tea is bitter, astringent, but also sweet on the return.

But the real secret... is to add sugar!

"Do you need me to greet them?"

Ms. Anna put down her book and asked.

"No need, there's no need for all that fuss,"

Arthur said with a smile, waving his hand.

How should you face an assassin?

The world in front of him was conservative to the point of disappointment, but in his original world, the ancestors had taught him a thing or two.

Spare nothing for a true friend.

And then...

Moral hijacking.

Yes, moral hijacking.

All that buildup was just for this moment.

However, Arthur wasn't such a bad person.

He may not have had any morals, but he also knew the immorality of moral hijacking.

So, he chose to accept it passively.

He wanted Acker and Eivor to come and protect him of their own volition.

Difficult?

Very difficult!

For two retired assassins, getting them to come out of retirement was no easy task.

If it wasn't for this opportunity, even Arthur might not have had a good approach.

'Perhaps this is what my mother's spirit too is longing for—to retake control of the Golden Lion Family?

They have already tarnished the glory of the lion.

I am fitting to restore the family's honor.'

Arthur pondered silently.

Previously, he had no concept of 'his mother.'

Now?

He did.

Arthur waited in silence.

About five minutes later, the door to No. 2 Cork Street rang—

Thump, thump-thump!

With a rhythmic series of knocks, Ms. Anna went to answer the door.

When Acker and Eivor saw Ms. Anna, they were momentarily startled, then quickly reverted to their normal demeanor.

For two assassins, they had seen too many oddities before, especially during the Seven Years' War when strange events were rampant.

Though surprised to see Ms. Anna, it was just a brief wonder.

After all, they felt no malice from Ms. Anna.

That was sufficient.

"Would you like some sugar in your tea?"

Arthur, looking at Acker and Eivor, asked with a smile.

"No need."

Acker shook his head.

"Make it a double for me."

Eivor picked up the teacup and looked at Ms. Anna.

Ms. Anna led Eivor towards the kitchen.

Eivor's love for sweets was genuine, leaving space for Arthur and Acker to talk was as well.

Of course, Eivor was also interested in observing his first client from the sidelines—

"You've known about me for a while now?"

"No, I found out recently."

Facing Acker's inquiry, Arthur remained sincere.

After putting down his teacup, the young 'Spirit Medium' looked at Acker and said softly,

"I am about to travel to Inner Bay, and leaving Marinda alone in South Los, I can't be at ease.

So, before I leave, I want to sift through the possible dangers in South Los.

Only then can I go to Inner Bay with peace of mind."

After sincerity, came Resonance.

Where was Acker's Resonance point?

His wife, Lady Bana.

Arthur couldn't comment on the lady's actions, but surely they must be better than '510,000, 2 years, 2 meetings, 1 life', right?

Sometimes, loving someone isn't wrong.

It's the kind of love everyone yearns for, how could it be wrong?

But while loving that person, please also love yourself.

It doesn't need to be much, just stand in front of a Mirror and tell yourself, "You've done well, come on, have some milk tea!"

Have some milk tea, the sweetened kind.

Life is too bitter.

So bitter, the food delivery you send out is empty.

Some people really can't be called human.

After Death, there should be a judgment, right?

There will be one!

Fortunately, Acker is human,

Upon hearing Arthur's words, the retired Assassin lifted his head to look at Arthur; those cloudy eyes gradually became clear.

"Miss Caesar doesn't need protection,"

said the retired Assassin.

"Whether she needs it is her business.

Doing it is my business.

This matter is unrelated to her.

I just want to protect her."

Arthur smiled in response, which brought a rare smile to the retired Assassin's face.

A difficult smile to come by.

The kind of genuine smile that hadn't appeared in over a decade.

The kind that hadn't been seen since Bana's death.

Because—

That was his heartfelt voice!

That's exactly how he felt!

Bana loved him, he knew.

Bana hated him, he knew that too.

Therefore, he chose his current path, expressing love for Bana in a way incomprehensible to others, apologizing to Bana in a way beyond common understanding.

He hoped to see his children grow up healthy.

He hoped to be a grandfather, a maternal grandfather.

All these were about to be fulfilled.

And even better than he had anticipated.

Because of Arthur Kredos.

A man like him, with a wife he deeply loved and who deeply loved his wife in return.

If that was the case...

"I will go with you to Inner Bay!

As for Miss Caesar's safety issue..."

Acker drew out his words.

Protecting Miss Caesar was important, but Arthur's safe arrival was even more so.

Without Arthur, Miss Caesar would suffer greatly, but if Miss Caesar was lost, Arthur would suffer even more, just like him.

To prevent such an outcome, Acker had already made arrangements.

The retired Assassin, stretching out his words, looked towards the kitchen and said solemnly—

"Lord Kledos, allow me to introduce to you the successor to 'Assassin. Shadowstream': Eivor!"