In the year that followed his basic training, Kenny remained constantly busy.
He was assigned a steady stream of missions, including long surveillance jobs, verification work, and quiet information gathering. None of them were glamorous, and none allowed for mistakes.
The youth completed each one without drawing too much attention, submitting accurate reports, and knowing when to disengage. Over ti, his handlers had stopped double-checking his work. He had proven his reliability, after all.
Adam had chosen to infiltrate the Twilight Brotherhood at the ground level. He knew it would take him a long ti to gather intel and accomplish his goal.
The more ti he spent carrying out missions, the more trustworthy he looked in the eyes of others. Eventually, he would get to where he needed to be.
Patience was the na of the ga.
Alongside those assignnts, his training also continued.
He was pushed into more advanced observation drills, longer endurance tests, and more demanding mory exercises. His instructors raised expectations without announcing it, letting failure speak for itself.
When he adapted, the tasks grew harder. When he succeeded, nothing was said.
By the end of the year, Kenny was no longer treated as a novice. He wasn’t praised or promoted openly, but the nature of his assignnts changed. They trusted him with longer tilines, more sensitive targets, and decisions that couldn’t be undone once made.
He had proven his worth.
And the Brotherhood had taken notice.
In a minor municipal records building within the High Ward, Lebu and Kenny walked side by side through one of the many winding corridors.
The youth had arrived here to hand over the reports of his latest mission, and just so happened to find his sponsor in the building.
On the surface, the establishnt was an administrative building, handling permits, trade filings, census fragnts, old maps, etc. It was quiet, dull, and rarely visited. There were multiple entrances and exits, and people ca and went without suspicion.
In reality, this was one of the buildings in Springdale where missions were assigned, and spies were debriefed.
"You’ve caught the eye of a few higher-ups in our faction," Lebu said with a soft smile. "They are quite impressed with your work, and needless to say, I am too."
"Thank you, Magus Potts," Kenny said with a humble smile.
The Agent intently studied the youth and sighed. "You’ve changed, my boy. And it cos off as no surprise. The number of missions you’ve undertaken this year and the things that you’ve had to do... are enough to change anyone."
He paused for a mont, then asked in an even voice, "The question is... why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Kenny gritted his teeth subconsciously, his fists clenching without him realizing it. "I want to be strong," he said. "Strong enough to never turn a blind eye to others’ misery."
Lebu couldn’t help but sigh. He knew why Kenny thought that way. It was because of the initiation mission he had undertaken all those years ago.
The plight of those girls who had been unjustly taken away from their families and sold into prostitution must have deeply affected the youth.
Even Lebu himself was ashad that he couldn’t do anything about it, just because the other party had a far stronger backing. And to confront them would an death in the worst-case scenario. He couldn’t risk it. He had a family waiting for him at ho.
In the end, it just cos down to my lack of strength, Lebu thought with a woeful smile on his face.
But even he would have never known that Kenny’s reasons were entirely different.
One reason was that he wanted to build trust with the higher-ups in the Preservationist faction. And the other was...
When will that Warden backing the Baron show himself? Adam sneered inwardly.
I have been secretly keeping tabs on the Baron even before my basic training concluded. Since then, the Warden hasn’t shown himself even once.
He’s a very cautious man.
This is getting a little frustrating, but I must be patient.
"The higher-ups have agreed to provide you with resources when it’s ti for you to advance to the Mana Liquefaction Rank."
Lebu’s words jolted Adam out of his thoughts.
"Really?!" The youth displayed unfiltered joy.
Inwardly, he couldn’t help but snicker.
Lebu, I’m already a Mana Core Magus. Heh, but I appreciate the higher-ups taking an interest in .
"Yes." Lebu nodded with an approving smile. "How long do you think you’ll need before you attempt to break through to the next rank?"
Kenny slipped into deep thought and said, "At least another three to five years."
The youth was twenty-two years old. And becoming a Mana Liquefaction Magus a year or two after turning twenty-five wouldn’t draw too much suspicion. He’d be hailed as a talented Magus, but not a monstrous prodigy like Adam Constantine.
"Very impressive." Lebu praised. "When the ti cos, co to . I’ll also introduce you to a few Wardens in our faction."
"Yes, Magus Potts, I will!" Kenny bead.
Soon, he and Lebu parted ways. After being debriefed on his latest mission, the youth received his compensation and left the district shortly after.
***
Later that night, after taking multiple detours and ensuring he wasn’t being tailed, Kenny wore another face and blended into the bustling crowd of Trade Ward.
It couldn’t be helped. Springdale was teeming with mbers from the Brotherhood, each operating undercover. And it also didn’t help that he didn’t know the identities of most of them. He didn’t have that level of access. Not yet, anyway.
So he assud that the headquarters of the Twilight Brotherhood had to be sowhere within — or near — the walls of the City of Everlasting Warmth.
Yes. Even after spending six years in the secret order, he still did not know where their headquarters was. Such was the level of secrecy the Brotherhood upheld.
This was the primary reason he wasn’t able to get closer to the Cult spies within the organization. He didn’t know their identity, and he didn’t know where they operated from.
But that didn’t an he had given up.
Donning the persona of a shady rchant who sold drugs to the poor and impoverished, offering brief relief from the harsh cruelty of their reality, he approached a skinny middle-aged man — his regular custor.
This man was thin and unkempt. Dark circles lined his eyes, which darted around restlessly. His hands trembled, fingers twitching with impatience.
It was obvious that he was an addict.
But he was also Adam’s asset, for he was the husband of one of the many maids working in Baron Alan Veyne’s manor!
The man’s eyes lit up in desperation when he saw a bald, young man with blue eyes approaching him.
"Noni, there you are!" He quickly approached Adam. "Got my stuff?"
"Not so quick, my friend." Adam smiled slyly. "You know the drill. Any new developnts?"
The skinny man’s teeth clattered as he constantly scratched the back of his neck. "Yes, yes." He nodded. "Alita said an important guest is coming to her employer’s manor tomorrow. Very important guest, she said! I swear it!"
Adam frowned. "What else did she say?"
"Uhh... I don’t know." The skinny man fidgeted with his hands. "Lots of girls coming and staying in the house. Beautiful girls, she said. Very important guest, she said. Now gim the pills. I did as you asked!"
Adam’s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure that’s what your wife said?"
The skinny man shuddered. "Y-yes, yes! Not lying! Not lying! Very important guest!"
Adam deeply looked at the man. A mont later, he smiled as he handed the man the drugs he needed. "Good job," he praised.
The skinny man grinned as he took the sachet.
When he looked up...
His dealer had already vanished.
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