Kenny walked through Trade Ward with his hands in his pockets.
The street was crowded as usual. rchants called out prices from open stalls. A pair of people argued over a crate of cracked pottery. Soone laughed too loudly from a tavern's doorway. While another fell on the ground, almost run over by a carriage.
Although the youth appeared calm and collected on the surface, the look in his brown eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
Stick to the script, Adam thought inwardly.
Display the proper emotions. If I'm lucky… heh, I might get to chat with the higher-ups. And after that, if things work out… I might even get to uncover the identities of all the snakes in the top brass.
At this point, there was a high chance that the Councilor himself was one of the Cult's spies, but that was exactly what Adam was hoping for.
He stepped around a cart blocking half the road. The mule pulling it refused to take another step forward, causing the cart driver to fu in frustration.
Kenny didn't look back. He continued forward. He could already feel a couple of gazes following him.
The youth sighed. Stone buildings pressed close on both sides, laundry hung from upper windows, and footsteps echoed between walls.
I'm going to miss this place, he thought wryly.
He followed the sa route he always took as he headed back to his apartnt. Ho was still a few streets away. He kept walking.
Until suddenly…
"Hey, Kenny!"
A familiar voice called out to him.
Kenny turned towards the source of the voice, displaying just enough fear and surprise through his facial expression. Soon, he heaved a sigh of relief.
"Kori," he said with a forced smile. "Been a while."
The Acolyte approached him and intently studied the youth. "You okay? You look tired."
"I'm alright." Kenny's smile faltered.
Kori deeply looked at him, then said, "Magus Potts has been looking for you. You missed a mission deadline by a few days. That's not like you."
The pair began walking together.
Kori deeply looked at him, then said, "Magus Potts has been looking for you. You missed a mission deadline by a few days. That's not like you."
The pair began walking together.
Kenny still felt a few gazes glued to him. It ant he was still being secretly followed, most likely by the mbers of the Brotherhood.
The youth subconsciously gulped — an action that Kori astutely noticed.
"I, uh… I've been busy," Kenny replied, averting eye contact.
Kori couldn't help but frown. "You're not in so kind of trouble, are you?"
"No, no, of course, not!" He blurted out, waving his hands quickly.
The more Kori studied Kenny, the more solemn he beca.
"Kenny," he began. "If sothing's bothering you, you can tell Magus Potts. You know he's always got our back, right?"
The dusk-skinned youth hesitated briefly. He bit his lower lip, words on the verge of spilling from his lips. In the end, he shook his head with a sigh.
"No, there's… there's nothing going on," he murmured. "Everything's fine. I'm just… tired. I need to go ho and rest."
With that said, he quickly walked away, not even bothering to hear a reply from his friend.
Kori remained standing in his spot, and gradually he was hidden away amid the bustling crowd.
A stranger approached him, and Kori lowered his head and whispered as he passed him by:
"Sothing's wrong. Inform Magus Potts."
***
Entering his apartnt, Kenny pushed the door shut behind him and slid the bolt into place.
The room was dark. He didn't reach for the lamps. Instead, he crossed the small space by mory and dropped onto the couch.
He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. His breath ca fast and uneven as he just stayed there, not even bothering to move.
Almost a minute later, a familiar voice echoed in the darkness.
"Have you forgotten all your training?"
Kenny was startled as he rushed to his feet and drew his daggers. He looked at the corner of the hall, where he saw a figure erging from the darkness.
"Magus Potts!"
The ginger-haired Agent stepped forward and said in an even voice. "You did not bother to hide your tracks. You did not blend in with the crowd. Your steps weren't silent. And your presence was all over the place."
He paused for a mont, seeing the anxious look in Kenny's eyes.
"Tell ," he said, "where have you been all this ti?"
Kenny put away his daggers. He gulped nervously, his eyes darting around his apartnt and then beyond the window.
"A-are we alone?" he stamred.
Hearing those words, Lebu couldn't help but frown. "What's the matter?"
"No!" Kenny blurted out. "This… this… this is important! We must not be overheard by anyone else!"
The frown on Lebu's face deepened. "We're alone."
That was a lie.
Adam could sense two Mana Foundation Magi nearby, spying on their conversation.
Kenny was oblivious to it, though. Still, he showed a hint — maybe more than a hint — of paranoia and walked to his bedroom. "Here! Let's talk here."
The youth's actions caused Lebu to be slightly anxious as well. He had always known Kenny to be a calm and cautious young man. For the youth to act in such a manner ant that sothing truly serious had happened.
"Okay." Lebu nodded and entered the youth's bedroom.
Kenny shut the door. Then he went around and shut the window as well. He went to the bathroom, then turned on the tap. He took a few deep breaths before finally speaking, his voice as muffled as he could make it:
"You see, I-I-I've been spying on Baron Veynes. I had developed an asset who's been keeping tabs on his movent for the past couple of months—"
But he was sternly interrupted by Lebu.
"You've been spying on who?!" The Agent was enraged. "Kenny, I specifically told you to drop that matter! Why didn't you listen to ?"
"Magus Potts, please listen to—"
Lebu once again cut him off. "No, you listen to ! Were you followed? Did the Baron find out about you? What about your asset?"
Kenny shook his head. "The asset's safe. And no, I haven't been made. Magus Potts, please listen to !"
He paused briefly, taking in a shaky breath. Then, before Lebu could begin scolding him again, he blurted everything out.
"The corruption within the Brotherhood runs deep," he began.
Those words made Lebu quiet, at once.
Kenny went on, "Trafficking underage girls is just a front. Their main objective is to kidnap children with good aptitudes and transport them north, past the borders. They're planning sothing far worse! I don't know what it is, but you must believe !"
He paused for another mont. When Kenny spoke again, Lebu felt a chill run down his spine.
"And I have found a list of mbers in our organization who have been compromised!"
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