New Gods of North America

Inside the room, Molière de Villiers was in hushed discussion with the arriving rescue personnel.

He had never imagined that the emergency contact method his father had given him would connect him to the famous "Camellia Lady," nor had he ever thought that this renowned musical star in America would actually be an agent secretly working for Frank.

The rescue worker opposite him had a melodious voice and gentle tone: "Mr. Molière, this line is set up to support the emergency evacuation of high-ranking personnel. If it weren't for the General's status and authority, you wouldn't have met the criteria to contact us. But now you're saying you don't want to leave America just yet?"

Molière de Villiers nodded seriously. "I'm sorry, but it's my decision. I have my own reasons."

It was simply absurd.

The beauty, whose stage name was "Christiana," was quite displeased with this. She happened to be on her way back to New York City after finishing her tour and had to temporarily change her itinerary upon receiving the emergency order, even delaying her original plans, only to receive such a near-jesting result.

However, in Frank, those who could add prefixes like "de" or "du" to their surnames were all aristocratic families with long histories—especially those who managed to maintain real power during the restoration of the kingdom after experiencing the "First Republic."

Their foundations were often deeper than they appeared.

Compared to their status, the life of a secret agent that might be exposed was obviously completely insignificant.

So she pursed her lips into a professional smile, her gaze as tender as if she were looking at a lover:

"Since you don't plan to evacuate, we'll arrange new bodyguards for you. The personnel are still on their way and are expected to arrive in Richmond within a week. However, because our manpower is limited, they may only be able to provide short-term security, for a maximum of about three months. For more trustworthy long-term bodyguards, you may need to contact the General and have him dispatch them."

Mr. Molière had always been debonair in front of beautiful women, even though his wound was still throbbing faintly. "Thank you very much. Three months is enough time to send the message back to Frank and then arrange for people to come over."

The beauty opposite him seemed innocent. "Good. I believe the General and you will be able to handle the temporary crisis properly."

Noticing that the other party was preparing to leave, Mr. Molière hesitated slightly but couldn't help but open his mouth. "Christiana, I'm sorry, may I call you by your name?"

Seeing the other party nod with a sweet smile, he continued, "I occasionally go to New York City. If I want to contact you then, I don't know how I should do it?"

The beauty's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, her smile undiminished. "You only need to have flowers sent to the Garden Theater and sign the card."

"I understand. I look forward to our reunion."

Molière de Villiers first habitually prepared to shake hands, but halfway through, he decisively continued to raise his arm, switching to the more familiar and affectionate embrace between Frankish friends.

The beauty nimbly went forward, responding with a perfunctory hug according to etiquette, but she gracefully completed the entire movement and took a step back just as her cheeks were about to be touched and lightly kissed.

"Adieu, Mr. Molière."

...

"They kissed, they kissed! I didn't expect they were actually engaged."

Liam, who had turned "invisible," ran down from upstairs and announced the new gossip to the few melon-eating detectives who were resuming fingerprinting in the large room.

"Really? This guy has such a background?"

"The Camellia Lady is actually Frankish? The booklet clearly says she was born in New York City."

"This is big news. If we sell it to a reporter, it'll probably be worth a lot of money, right?"

Linna's figure appeared like a ghost behind Liam. The detectives around her all lowered their heads and pretended to work seriously. Liam was still completely unaware. "I told you I heard her say it herself at the police station today. Now do you believe me?"

"Cough, cough."

Wayne kindly coughed twice beside him. Liam was about to return to his cold bodyguard state, but it was too late.

Linna raised her chin at Sanders. "Publicly discussing and leaking client privacy, this time it's three hours of suspension."

"Hey, no... be gentle. I can hang myself up..."

Christiana went downstairs and nodded elegantly to the butler, Doug, in the detective agency, then walked towards the back door with the maid waiting beside her.

Seeing Wayne, Ineza, and Linna waiting in front of the back door, as well as the large spider on Linna's shoulder, its front legs shaking, her expression remained unchanged. She turned her head and looked at the maid beside her. "Go wait for me in the carriage. I have something to say to Mr. Molière's hired bodyguard."

The maid touched the outermost ruffle on the cuff of her right sleeve, indicating that there were many extraordinaries in the detective agency.

Christiana lightly tapped the maid's left arm twice, indicating that she could rest assured that there would be no conflict.

The back door opened and closed, and the four of them successively walked into the utility room on one side of the corridor. The big spider Peter nimbly jumped and stayed in the corridor before the door closed.

Linna gestured with her palm. "This is Margaret, a former colleague I mentioned before, the one who wants to switch jobs."

Then she pointed to Wayne and Ineza. "Our detective agency's boss and another partner, but you seem to have already met them today."

The other party was now calmly extending her hand to Wayne. "I thought Linna had already told you about me. But Mr. Wayne doesn't seem to know about it."

Wayne shook the other party's fingertips. "I knew there was such a thing before, but Linna didn't reveal your identity in advance."

To be honest, Wayne's eyes almost widened a little when he heard Linna say that this little girl was actually a spy.

But on second thought, roles like big stars or social butterflies were indeed particularly suitable for collecting information from high society, belonging to the "great hidden in the city" style.

That Linna thought she was good meant her brain and business ability must be online. The fact that she had become a big star without being arrested was proof of that.

Plus, the information about high society that this identity could learn, even if it was just who liked to eat what, who had a private feud with whom, would sometimes be very valuable.

What's more, she was quite good-looking.

Margaret, whose real name had been spoken, didn't engage in much small talk. "I heard from Linna that Mr. Wayne's family is settled in the West. Military Intelligence Section Seven's tentacles haven't stretched that far yet, and the Frankish side also tends to operate in the East Coast area. If I join you, I hope to live in the West afterward and keep a low profile as much as possible."

"The work you're currently responsible for should be in the intelligence field?" Wayne confirmed.

Margaret nodded. "In Military Intelligence Section Seven, yes. So once I lose control, neither the Windsorians nor the Franks will let me go. Unlike Linna, who was mainly responsible for field infiltration missions before, I don't have too much internal personnel information. The pursuit of me might be even stronger."

Just as the two were talking, Margaret's fingertips had already extended like vines, wrapping around Wayne's palm like a few smooth little snakes, one of which was intentionally or unintentionally teasing Wayne's palm.

This was to exchange information on extraordinary abilities... Was this considered "changing shape" or "changing flexibility"?

Wayne took out the coarse salt nugget he had just swiped from the parrot's bowl with his left hand, flicked it upward, and then it exploded:

"Of course I welcome your joining. Whether it's the experience of a professional agent or a high-level extraordinary, it's valuable to us. But our detective agency's strength is obviously still very weak and may not have enough ability to protect you."

The other party had a smile on her face. "I understand America and have heard about Mr. Wayne's situation from Linna. For me, there may be no place more free than the West. And I also have my own plans. I will choose the right time to break away to avoid causing too much impact. It won't be too urgent."

The detective agency didn't seem to have the qualifications to be targeted by foreign agents yet, and there weren't many places to go besides the New World for someone who intended to offend both Windsor and Frank. There was no need to overly suspect her reliability.

As for the targeted pursuit by those intelligence organizations... A bunch of outsiders, let them get past the Western gangs first.

"Are you hoping to become a partner in the detective agency?" Wayne asked as the other party shook hands with Ineza.

"I actually prefer to retire. A stable life is enough. But if possible, that would of course be a good choice too. If there are capital injection requirements, I believe I should be able to afford the corresponding amount, or even more."

Margaret looked at Wayne again. "Deal?"

The three exchanged glances, and Wayne nodded. "Deal."