When the numb feeling disappeared, there was a thin darkness in front of him. Ed felt his body sink into the soft leather texture, which was the unique touch of the sofa.
A ball of orange-red sparks danced quietly, and the picture gradually became clear. It was the fire of the fireplace in the fence.
On a rocking chair made of vines, an old woman wore a green bathrobe embroidered with off-white bell-shaped flowers. Her thin white braids rocked gently as the rocking chair rocked. She wore gold earrings and hummed softly "Belong to the Lord". A nursery rhyme from an era.
"you're awake?"
His voice was as warm as a fire, as if he was talking to his grandson.
Ed understood that the other party obviously did not bring him here just to chat. He straightened his body, but found that his hands and feet were not bound.
The old man turned her head slightly, her face was like a wrinkled apple, orange firelight and warm darkness danced intertwinedly on her old face, her eyes were bright——
It was a kind of green between Catalina and Quinn. It was neither as clear nor as deep, and it was slightly turbid due to the years:
"Don't be nervous, kid, I just want to see you."
The old woman stood up, her back slightly stooped. Her hands were covered with dark blue veins and spots, and her skin had the stale smell unique to the elderly.
Ed was a little panicked, but found that the other party just brought him warm milk and biscuits, the kind of adventure biscuits he had eaten at the police station.
"As people get older, their teeth become worse."
She sighed, soaking the biscuits in the milk until they became soft and puffy before putting them in her mouth.
"...How is Bernard doing, little Ed?"
Ed didn't touch the milk or cookies. He understood the meaning of this sentence: The other party knew that I was working for the Bureau of Divine Investigation and also knew my true identity.
"he's good."
"I guess you have a lot of questions you want to ask, so feel free to ask them."
After hesitating for a moment, Ed finally said:
"Who are you?"
"I'm just a nameless old woman. The kids in the gang like to call me 'Grandma'."
She took a sip of warm milk and smiled kindly.
Ed's lowered eyebrows couldn't help but raise his eyes. According to the information held by the Bureau of Investigation, the person behind the Woodcutter and Fishing Gang is a person known as the 'Grandma'.
The highest-ranking figure in the Woodcutter and Fishing Gang meets me in person? Ed had already roughly guessed the other party's intention, but he continued to ask:
"What did you do to Frank?"
"Send him to where he belongs. Since he chose to betray, he must bear the price - betrayal is our way of survival, but this does not mean that the woodcutter gang will tolerate betrayal."
"Who was Frank who just attacked me?"
"He is... a 'slaughterer', and the 'veil' secret text gives him the ability to disguise himself."
The secret text of "Veil"... is another kind of black magic.
"Since you already know that I am an undercover agent, why didn't you do it at the dock instead of waiting until now?"
"I hope you can continue this play. In fact, Andro doesn't know about this. After all, a good play shouldn't have too many actors."
"You want me to be a double agent." Ed fiddled with the glass of milk but did not drink it.
"It's just a small suggestion. Regardless of whether you refuse or agree, you can leave here unscathed."
"Really?" He was very doubtful.
Since the other party could skin Frank and make it into a hive of flesh and blood, naturally he couldn't let him go easily.
"Of course, but why not consider it? This proposal will be beneficial to you, and besides, your sister also works here."
Tia is also in the woodcutter and fishing gang? !
It turns out that the opponent's ultimate move is here. Ed finally couldn't hold his breath any longer and raised his head to stare at the old grandmother. If he refuses, then there is no need to say more about Tia's situation.
"Don't worry, all the dirty work I assigned to her is clean work. It's not like the Divine Bureau, which leaves all the dirty work to you."
Speaking of this, she smiled sadly, as if she felt sorry for Ed:
"She is like my granddaughter. I am willing to protect her and give her the best, and I hope you can understand my painstaking efforts."
"Okay, of course I can understand." Ed had no choice but to compromise, "What do you want me to do?"
"Live as usual. I will find a way to contact you if needed."
"that's all?"
"That's it. I'll give you a new account book, which deletes a few big clients, but it's enough to satisfy Bernard. As for the informant Frank, our 'skinner' will play him for a while longer , and then 'unfortunately died' on an ocean voyage a month later."
"Understood." Ed nodded and tentatively asked, "Can I go?"
"certainly."
The old grandmother opened her palm, and in her withered palm was a white pill:
"Swallow it, and my children will take you to safety, after which you can go to Bernard Eaton. However, are you not going to talk about reward?"
"remuneration?"
Ed didn't expect to be paid. He thought it was a threat and blackmail.
The old grandmother took out a hollow crystal pendant from her pocket and put it together with the white pills:
"I won't pay you cash, it's too dangerous. There are five faceless iron coins here, worth about 2,000 pounds. If you can get in touch with the circle of extraordinary people outside the Bureau of Divine Intervention, you can easily transfer them. "
2,000 pounds. Ed swallowed subconsciously. This amount was almost equivalent to the entire year's income of a well-known businessman, famous lawyer, country squire or senior physician, and equal to his own income in four years.
And the most important thing is that his next plan happens to require faceless iron coins. This is tantamount to providing help in times of need.
Since you don't have the right to refuse, why not just accept it?
Ed took the pendant and put it in his pocket, put the pills in his mouth, picked up the milk and drank it in one gulp.
…
When he woke up again, Ed had already appeared in the carriage of the rental carriage, and the fake "Frank" was sitting opposite him.
Unexpectedly, after only being a good person for a few days, I would change careers and start being a bad person...
Ed sighed slowly and long, lowered the brim of his hat and said:
"So, we are colleagues now? What should I call you?"
"Frank."
"Uh, no, I mean...your real name, or another code name or something..."
"Frank." The short, fat-faced middle-aged man said, "Skin-shedding people do not have their own names, appearances, or even gender. We will continue to pretend to be others throughout our lives until we forget our original appearance and lose our true self."
"...So please call me Frank the informant."
