The Mystery:The Witch and the Scourge

"Artisan agent..." Dean Russell repeated the name, smacked it carefully for two seconds, and said, "This title is just right, not bad."

Then, he said to himself:

"That girl must have defrauded me of a lot of gold pounds. Let's see if I don't settle the score with her when I get back!"

Finally, he looked at Louise and said:

"Do you remember now?"

Louise nodded, thinking she remembered it, but her doubts were not resolved, and she still asked in confusion:

"We only met at special gatherings. We are not familiar with each other at all. We have never even met. How did you recognize me?"

Dean Russell smiled proudly "hehe" twice, squinted his eyes and said:

"Do you still remember the 'magic ring' you commissioned her to make using the extraordinary properties of the 'faceless man'?"

Naturally, I remember the "Faceless Man Ring". Without it, Louise wouldn't have dared to get too deeply involved in Tingen's story, so much so that now Ince Zangwill doesn't even know that he ruined his plan.

Who is the mysterious man... Oh, by the way, that ring also saved Captain Dunn's half-life... Relevant memories quickly emerged in Louise's mind.

She touched her fingers and confirmed that she was not carrying the "Faceless Man Ring", because that ring was of little help to Louise now. It would only be useful unless she wanted to hide her identity and do something, so she was

I lent it to Miss "Soothsayer" to help her pretend to digest the potion.

"Did you make that magical item?" Louise asked tentatively.

She suddenly remembered the identity of the old gentleman in front of her. He was the dean of a certain research institute in Backlund. He believed in the "God of Steam and Machinery"... Could he be a member of the "Church of Steam", but judging from his appearance, it seemed that

You didn’t mean to report me... Could you be a young kid?

Just as Louise was making random guesses, Dean Russell smiled proudly and said:

"You guessed it right, I did it."

"But now that ring is not on my body, how did you recognize me?" Louise asked again.

Dean Russell raised his eyebrows and replied more proudly:

"When making magical items, I have a habit of adding a trivial mark at the end."

Mark! Good guy, "manufacturers leave backdoors", right... Louise was speechless for a moment, her face slowly darkened, and she said in a deep voice:

"I paid for the processing fee."

As if seeing Louise's dissatisfaction, Dean Russell waved his hand and said easily:

"Don't be angry! That small mark will not affect the use of magical items at all, and only I can find it, so you don't have to worry at all."

It sounds nice, but this kind of behavior is obviously immoral... Louise took a deep breath, and she realized that she seemed to have no way to deal with the old gentleman in front of her.

The sequence is unknown, and the lowest is a "craftsman" of sequence six, maybe a member of the "Church of Steam". Now he knows my identity as an extraordinary person, but he and I are chatting and laughing here... After staring at each other for several seconds, Louise spoke

asked:

"What is the real purpose of exposing my identity?"

Dean Russell shook his head regardless of the image, thought for a while, and then said:

"There's no purpose, I just think it's fun."

Then, he noticed Louise's distrustful eyes, and suddenly realized:

"Oh, I understand, you are worried that I will report your identity as an extraordinary person, right?"

Louise nodded slightly and admitted this frankly. Her current task was very important and there was no risk of being exposed. If it hadn't been for a ball with a large number of people, she might have...

"I've thought of a way." After some frowning and thinking, Dean Russell raised his index finger and said happily:

"Although I didn't report your idea to the church, I guess you wouldn't believe it, so I thought of a good solution."

"What can I do?" Louise asked expressionlessly.

Dean Russell was very serious and seemed to have made a lot of sacrifices, but there was some expectation in his eyes. He said:

"I will hand over my granddaughter to you as a hostage, so you should feel relieved!"

Louise blinked continuously. This was how she behaved when she heard something unbelievable. She couldn't believe her ears... Is this what a biological grandfather could say? He looked to be sixty or seventy years old.

Wow, to be able to say such cold words!

She was so surprised that she even stumbled slightly when speaking:

"I... don't quite understand what you mean..."

Dean Russell looked like "I'm very smart" and explained:

"I see you and Audrey are having a great time! I'll introduce my granddaughter to you, ostensibly as a friend, but actually as a hostage, so you don't have to worry about me reporting you."

"You know, my son and daughter-in-law both passed away because of an accident. My granddaughter is my only relative, so I have made a considerable sacrifice. If you don't believe me anymore, then there is nothing I can do.

I can only report you now."

Louise's eyes widened, and she made a slight swallowing movement in her throat, because she found that she could not keep up with the thoughts of the old man who looked very miserable in front of her.

Your granddaughter is your only relative, and you can see the affection in your words just now... But because of this, it is even more incredible to take your granddaughter as a hostage. Moreover, you actually threatened me... The current situation

How did it become that I must accept your "hostage", otherwise you will report me?

Louise cleared up the confusing factors in this matter, but she felt more and more weird. She wondered what medicine Dean Russell was selling in his gourd.

Perhaps seeing that she was silent for a long time without giving an answer, Dean Russell glanced at her and left pretentiously:

"If you don't agree, I will report it! It just so happens that there are people from all sides at this dance, from the church, from MI9..."

"No, no, no!" Louise stopped him hurriedly. She had no doubt that this old gentleman could do such a thing. Once he exposed it in public, her management in Backlund over the past few months would be ruined.

It will all be wasted in one day.

She said in embarrassment: "You should give me a deadline. When will this...'hostage' end?"

Dean Russell said nonchalantly: "It's simple. I will send your granddaughter to you tomorrow. The deadline is until you expose yourself or leave Backlund."

He stared into Louise's eyes and said meaningfully:

"You, a wild Beyonder, won't stay in Backlund forever, right? You have to be promoted too!"

Louise silently gave him a look in return. She couldn't think of a better way for the time being, so she had to nod and say:

"Okay, I accept your conditions."

Immediately afterwards, she deliberately increased her tone and threatened:

"But since you are a hostage, you have to look like a 'hostage'. I can't guarantee what I will do!"

"It's okay." Dean Russell was surprisingly open-minded in this regard and said, "As long as you don't kill him or leave any disabilities, anything will work."

You are really a good grandpa who loves his granddaughter... Louise took a deep breath and said nothing, which was equivalent to acquiescing to this ridiculous deal.