Lebu's pupils constricted.
"You… what?"
He could barely believe what the young man in front of him had just said.
Yes, he and a few others within the Preservationists faction knew that sothing truly diabolical was happening, and that it was highly likely that the secret order had been infiltrated by the enemy.
But until now, they did not have any evidence supporting that claim. Their enemies had been thorough in cleaning up their tracks. For now, all they had were theories and assumptions.
However, now all of a sudden, a re Acolyte of their faction suddenly made such astonishing claims… Lebu didn't know how to process that information.
It was especially shocking to him, given that he had found Kenny in the middle of the Sea of Green and had never truly expected him to uncover such dark secrets about the Brotherhood.
Sure, the youth passed the training regin with flying colors. But such performance was actually quite common within the organization. The Brotherhood recruited people with good potential to begin with, then turned that raw talent into sothing more potent.
That was why Lebu was startled to learn that Kenny had uncovered sothing so… earth-shattering.
However, the youth wasn't done yet. What he said next caused Lebu to be even more astonished.
"The five dominant factions of the Brotherhood are using shell companies and other fronts to hide their dirty work," Kenny continued.
"They are running parallel, illegal funding channels! And this is just the beginning!"
He paused again, pacing back and forth with his hands resting on his hips. His eyes darted around nervously as he tried to recall the information.
Lebu remained silent, his heart beating faster and faster as the monts passed by.
"Did you know reports about Brotherhood agent deploynts, internal investigations, and nas of talented operatives are being sent to unknown third-party addresses?" Kenny murmured.
"…What?" Lebu's eyes gradually widened.
"Yes, I swear it." Kenny nodded. "Confidential Brotherhood intelligence is being leaked! I have proof!"
He paused for a mont, then continued, "The list of compromised mbers I told you about? They number in the hundreds! Hundreds! And these are only the Acolytes and the Agents. I didn't find anything informaiton about the Wardens or… even the Councilors that might have been turned!"
Lebu's figure involuntarily trembled.
"The list…" He muttered with great difficulty. "Do you have it on you? Did you read it?"
"I've read a few nas," Kenny murmured. "And yes, I do have the list. But…"
"Kenny, tell all about it!" Lebu's voice turned solemn.
The youth subconsciously took a step back out of fright. "N-no… not yet! Grant an audience with the higher-ups within our faction! And… and ensure my safety first!"
Lebu was taken aback, only just now realizing how his actions might have looked in Kenny's eyes.
He began massaging his temple, his mind swirling with chaotic emotions. "You're right, this… this needs to be brought to the attention of at least a Warden."
Lebu turned to look at the frightened youth again and asked in a grim voice, "I'll say this again, you're sure you haven't been found out while you were spying on the Baron?"
"Affirmative." Kenny confidently nodded. "You don't have to worry about the enemies feeding false intelligence. I was careful, and I'm certain I haven't been made."
"Have you t anyone else since returning from your… off-book mission?" Lebu asked, his eyes narrowing.
Kenny shook his head. "No… just Kori."
"I see." Lebu nodded.
He then weaved a set of hand seals, frightening Kenny so much that he almost bolted out of the room.
"What're you trying to do?!" Kenny yelped.
"Calm down." Lebu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
A mont later, the small portal opened in midair. An owl flew out and landed on the desk. The Agent imdiately began writing a coded letter. He rolled up the parchnt and tied it around the owl's foot. Then the owl flew back into the portal and vanished.
Lebu finally turned to Kenny, who had cald down a little, and said, "I've inford my superiors about this developnt. They know it's of utmost importance, so I'm sure they'll grant you an audience. Get ready to leave."
Kenny gulped. "Wh-where are we going?"
Though he already knew the answer to it.
Lebu replied in a solemn voice:
"We're heading to the headquarters of the Twilight Brotherhood."
***
After receiving a reply from his superiors, Lebu guided Kenny out of his apartnt.
They took several detours, doubling back more than once to make sure no one was following them, not even mbers of their own faction. Only then did they head for their destination.
At last, they arrived at an unassuming house in the River Ward.
As they stepped in through the main door, Kenny couldn't help but ask in puzzlent, "Why are we here?"
He displayed a hint of vigilance towards the Agent as well. Lebu noticed this, of course, and couldn't help but helplessly sigh. The man knew exactly what he was thinking.
"One can only enter the headquarters through special ans," Lebu said as he led Kenny to the living room fireplace on the first floor.
"Special ans?" Kenny couldn't help but frown.
Inwardly, however, he was very curious and excited. He had always wanted to visit the mysterious headquarters of the Twilight Brotherhood in Europa. He had only heard about it from Berger, but today… he was finally going to personally set foot inside it.
"Yes." Lebu took a small sachet from his storage artifact and sprinkled gray powder into the cold hearth.
The ashes magically stirred on their own.
He then spoke an activation phrase and weaved a set of hand seals. Imdiately after, the inside of the fireplace lit up with a brilliant gray fire, then folded inward like a hollow tunnel.
"Follow after . Don't hesitate." Lebu gently patted Kenny's shoulder.
Then, he was the first one to step into the flas and disappear.
A teleportation formation! Adam marveled.
He took a deep breath and then finally stepped forward. The world around him twisted and churned. For a brief second, there was no sound, no light, no weight, and no sense of direction. Only pressure, as if being pulled through a narrow pipe.
Then, Kenny's feet hit the stone.
After a brief mont of disorientation, a hidden magical place opened up before his eyes.
Standing beside him, Lebu said with a wry smile:
"I'd hoped this would be under better circumstances, my boy. But… welco to the Twilight Brotherhood's headquarters."
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