Lord of Mysteries:The Good Witch

Bang Bang Bang——A series of knocks echoed from the reception room's door.

Rozanne, chewing on a piece of bread, looked up with a slightly embarrassed expression. "It can't be the captain returning... No, if it were him, he wouldn't knock."

She glanced at the half-eaten lunch in front of Angel, blinking as if trying to convince herself.

"Come in, the door's unlocked," Klein responded, putting down his fork.

The door opened, and an elegantly dressed woman entered, accompanied by a gentle voice: "Is this the Black Thorn Security Company?"

Noticing the three people gathered around a table with their unfinished lunch, she apologized, her slightly plump face showing a hint of guilt: "I'm sorry, am I interrupting your meal?"

You already have... Angel thought to herself. She placed her uneaten bread back in the lunchbox, wiped her hands with a napkin, and adjusted her posture on the sofa to face the lady at the door.

"This is indeed the Black Thorn Security Company. How may we help you?"

Relieved by the confirmation, the lady's face brightened with a smile. "I have a commission. I'd like you to find a lost item."

A commission?

Angel found the request somewhat amusing at first. The Nighthawks were a Beyonder FORCE of the church, under its jurisdiction, and occasionally took on assignments from local police. They weren't a private detective agency or a mercenary group. This lady had likely come to the wrong place.

But then she realized the visitor was probably here because of the "Black Thorn Security Company" sign.

Seeing the hopeful look in the lady's eyes, Angel didn't respond immediately. Instead, she glanced at Rozanne, curious to see how the "security company" would handle such an unexpected client.

Rozanne had stopped eating when the visitor entered. Unfazed by the commission request, she replied in a professional tone: "The fee for finding lost items ranges from ten to fifty pounds, depending on the difficulty and time constraints. We'll need detailed information about the item. If it's stolen property, we'll also need the time and location of the loss. The more details provided, the higher the chances of recovery."

"A 20% deposit is required upfront for lost item commissions, with the balance due upon success. However, we can't guarantee recovery. If we fail to complete the commission, only half of the deposit will be refunded."

So regardless of whether the item is found or not, the client will pay at least 10% of the commission fee... Angel thought, finding the terms somewhat harsh. She looked at the lady, expecting to see dissatisfaction, but instead saw a smile.

"Those terms are quite reasonable. Can you take on the commission now? I'm ready to sign a contract immediately."

Rozanne seemed surprised by the quick agreement, her expression briefly faltering before her professionalism took over. "Please wait a moment. I'll draft a contract. In the meantime, you can discuss details with our security personnel."

She reluctantly left her lunch and quickly went behind the reception room's partition. The crisp sound of a typewriter soon followed.

The lady gracefully sat down in what used to be Brett's spot on the sofa. Her eyes darted between Angel and Klein, seemingly assessing which of them was in charge.

Klein took the initiative to ask, "May I ask how we should address you? And what kind of item are you looking for?"

The lady answered promptly, as if she had rehearsed her response: "You can call me Mrs. Green. I'm looking for a gold ring that belonged to my husband. It was stolen a week ago. This ring is extremely important to me, and I hope you can find it as soon as possible."

"I see, a gold ring... stolen a week ago..." Klein nodded, repeating the key points from Mrs. Green's statement. "Are there any other distinguishing features of the ring? If you don't mind, it would be helpful to know why it's so important, as that might help us analyze where it might have gone."

"The ring isn't pure gold; it's harder than typical gold rings. It's about this wide in diameter," Mrs. Green gestured with her hands, "with a flat face bearing a raised 'Green' inscription. There's no need for analysis, though. I know where it is; I just need you to retrieve it for me."

As Mrs. Green described the ring, Angel could visualize its shape in her mind. It sounded more like a signet ring than a regular ring. Hearing the last sentence, she couldn't help but interject:

"You know where it is? Then why do you need us to find it?"

Mrs. Green pulled out a folded piece of paper from her handbag and handed it to Angel. "This is a report I received yesterday from the private detective I hired. He's already traced the ring's whereabouts."

Angel took the paper, unfolded it, and laid it flat on the coffee table. Klein leaned in, curious to see its contents.

It was an investigation report from "Jules Detective Agency," detailing how they had interviewed over a dozen witnesses and suspects in three days, identified the burglar, and determined the method of fencing the stolen goods based on the suspect's confession.

Angel frowned when she read the final notes: "Fence location: Dockworkers' Mutual Aid Society in the harbor district," "Average fencing time: 10 days," and a red-inked annotation: "Suspected gang organization."

She looked up at Mrs. Green, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, and asked:

"If you've already identified the suspect and the item's whereabouts, why not report it to the police? I think the Tingen City police would welcome such a clear-cut case."

"The police won't handle it. These gangs have existed for years; do you think they're unaware of them?" Mrs. Green clearly harbored deep resentment towards the police. Her tone then shifted: "Besides, I don't want the police involved. They always make a big fuss, work inefficiently, and end up causing a citywide commotion."

"I originally wanted Jules Detective to retrieve the ring directly, whether by stealing it back or negotiating a purchase. But he refused to continue once he reached this point, even when I offered to increase his fee."

It made sense. Given that this so-called "Dockworkers' Mutual Aid Society" had gang connections, the private detective would naturally be reluctant to get involved. Investigating and gathering evidence was one thing, but direct contact or theft was another matter entirely. The latter posed far greater difficulties and risks than the potential monetary reward.

The same applied to the "Black Thorn Security Company." When Mrs. Green first mentioned her commission, Angel had assumed the task would involve searching for clues or investigating suspects. She hadn't expected that "Jules Detective" had already completed those steps, leaving only the most troublesome part of the job.

From Cole Granger's memories, Angel knew that while Tingen City didn't have overt gangs like Backlund, various "mutual aid societies" and "trade associations" monopolized or semi-monopolized certain industries and low-end labor, forming quasi-gang organizations that were legal on the surface but engaged in various illegal activities. They typically collected membership fees, took commissions, organized labor, enforced industry rules, and even provided security services. When highly profitable illegal business opportunities arose, they would eagerly pursue them.

The lack of police resources meant that the Tingen City police turned a blind eye to these grey areas. As long as no one was killed and they didn't target high-ranking officials or nobles, the police couldn't be bothered to deal with this mess.

Seeing Angel's hesitation, Mrs. Green added with a hint of urgency, "I understand this last step is challenging. How about this: I'll double the commission to one hundred pounds if you can find a way to retrieve the ring."

One hundred pounds—that's nearly two years' salary for an average person... Even if the ring were pure gold with diamonds, it wouldn't be worth that much, let alone a non-pure gold ring. It must have some other value, perhaps as a seal, and Mrs. Green urgently needed to use it. Otherwise, her potential loss would far exceed one hundred pounds.

Angel didn't immediately answer Mrs. Green. Instead, she repeatedly scanned the information before her, analyzing the feasibility of this commission.

"That's an exceptionally high commission fee. May I ask how you found out about us? Did the detective recommend us?" Klein inquired.

Mrs. Green smiled awkwardly, hesitating before answering, "Well... Jules Detective did recommend a few security companies. He believed that tasks involving gang organizations were better suited for capable security organizations."

Her vague response suggested that the detective's recommendations probably didn't include this particular company. Angel wondered whether this was due to the "Black Thorn Security Company's" poor operations or if they were simply too well-hidden.

"But those security companies are completely booked and unable to take on such tasks. There have been several recent heinous cases—murders, disappearances—and all the wealthy people in Tingen City have hired every available private detective and security personnel. I came here on the off chance that you might be available."

No wonder Mrs. Green had readily accepted the strict terms and agreed to sign a contract immediately upon hearing Rozanne's willingness to take on the commission. She even offered to increase the price on the spot.

Unfortunately, even one hundred pounds wouldn't be easy to earn. Finding lost pets would be one thing, but a commission involving stolen goods already in the possession of a gang was quite another. One wrong move could lead to a dispute or even fatalities. Angel wasn't sure how Captain Dunn, or rather the "Nighthawks," would view such a high-risk commission, so she hesitated to accept.

"Mrs. Green, we accept your commission. Rozanne will bring out the contract shortly. Once you sign and pay the deposit, the commission will take effect."

Huh?

Angel looked at Klein in surprise. At some point, he had extended his left arm, holding a silver chain with a yellow crystal attached to its end.

"If your information is accurate, you should have the ring back by tomorrow."