Chapter 30
Methods of Persuasion
Chapter 30 Methods of Persuasion
Hobert looked around. There were very few customers in the café at this time of day, and the two waiters were chatting at the bar.
He asked Hugh in a low voice, "Have you ever heard of an extraordinary person called a 'con artist'?"
Hugh was slightly taken aback. This was tantamount to revealing the two's status as Extraordinary Beings. Then she realized that there was really no point in hiding it. Hobert should have heard from Miss Audrey that she was an Extraordinary Being.
And Hobert, who knows the extraordinary doctor, must also be an extraordinary being.
Hugh considered Hobart's question for a moment: "I've heard that some extraordinary beings take pleasure in deception."
Hobart nodded: "That's most likely the 'Trickster,' a Sequence 8 of the 'Thief' pathway. Fortunately, the 'Trickster' isn't good at fighting. If we don't get fooled, I think the two of us should be able to subdue him."
Hugh frowned. She hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary request to involve an extraordinary person: "You mean Zachary is a 'fraudster'?"
"It's possible that the identities of a gangster boss and an insurance company manager are roles he designed for himself," Hobart said. "It's also possible that there's someone else behind him."
He finished his cheap coffee: "I wanted to remind Ms. Hugh that our investigation might require us to be prepared to clash with extraordinary individuals, which is the main reason I sought your cooperation."
Hugh nodded: "Thank you for the reminder. However, although we have a cooperative relationship, we will not split the payment after the commission is completed. Instead, you will collect your payment from your client, and I will collect mine from mine."
Hobart smiled and said, "Of course."
He then asked, "Do you know the Azalea Bar?"
"Know."
"Ah, it's a pleasure to have a partner who is familiar with the East District."
Hugh showed neither delight nor annoyance at Hobart's praise. She silently paid for the coffee and took Hobart to the Cuckoo Bar.
Azalea Bar is a typical East End bar. Stepping inside, Hobart felt like it was just Blue Knight Bar with a different sign. It was just as filled with unrestrained laughter and a strong, unpleasant smell. Just as many people were eyeing the newcomers with drunken, somewhat dazed looks. And just as many were lurking in the corners, whispering amongst themselves.
Hugh was clearly a regular at bars like this; she casually jumped onto a stool in front of the bar and ordered a light meal.
Hobert took out his pocket watch and realized it was lunchtime. The light meals here included mashed potatoes, pies, and not-so-fresh salads, and were cheaper than the food in the cafe.
He didn't rush to find out Zachary's whereabouts. Instead, he ordered a simple meal and wolfed it down.
Having once eaten instant noodles for a week straight, Hobart has a high tolerance for food. If Audrey's butler Lisa saw the food here, she probably wouldn't eat a single bite.
Hobert, who had finished eating first, struck up a conversation with the bartender: "Let's talk about what's been happening at Azalea Bar lately."
Just as the bartender was about to reach for a tip, he suddenly realized that the gentleman's words made a lot of sense. They were just chatting, so there seemed to be no need for a tip: "Well, sir, I heard that Will, the boss of the Blue Knight Bar, is back. It seems that the previous news about his paralysis was just a rumor..."
Hugh, who was waiting to see Hobart make a fool of himself, was slightly taken aback. Then she realized that this might be Hobart's extraordinary ability.
She exclaimed how convenient this ability was, having "convinced" the other party without even realizing it.
Meanwhile, Hobart, who was becoming increasingly familiar with the "lawyer's" extraordinary abilities, was thinking: I've already paid for the meal, there's no need to give you a tip!
After recounting two trivial matters, the bartender added, "I heard that Boss Zachary swindled a large sum of money. Some say he went to Dixi Bay to enjoy life, while others say he escaped to the Raging Sea."
"When did he leave the Cuckoo Bar?" Hobart asked.
About a month ago.
Hobart nodded; the timeline matched Mr. Robin's description. He then asked, "Do you know or have heard of Mr. Hyman?"
The bartender shook his head: "I've never heard of it."
Hopper thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your answer."
Just as he was about to discuss the next course of action with Hugh, a middle-aged man with a kind face and a friendly smile approached him: "Gentlemen, oh, excuse me, sir and madam, you seem very interested in news of Boss Zachary?"
Hobart countered, "Who are you?"
The man politely removed his hat: "Sir, my name is Darkholm, and I'm the new boss of the Cuckoo Bar. You know, some of the dirty and hard work always has to be done by someone."
He said, "Zachry was a respectable boss, but unfortunately he left Backlund a long time ago. However, I've taken over all of Zachry's business now, and I can take you to the treasure room. If you see anything you like, I'll definitely give you a discount."
As he spoke, he repeatedly winked at Hobart.
Hobart was taken aback. Did they think we were people buying stolen goods? A "treasure room"? Why don't you call it a "treasure pavilion"?
Before Hobert could figure out why Darkholm was giving him that look, Darkholm was already pulling Hobert outside while giving him another look, saying, "Don't worry, you'll definitely find what you're looking for."
Hobert decided to wait and see, and followed Darkholm out of the bar, with Hugh jumping off his stool and following closely behind.
Once outside the bar in a corner, Darkholm, looking like he'd escaped a close call, said, "Gentlemen, I just saved your lives. You don't know, this bar is full of Zachary's loyal followers. Asking about Zachary's whereabouts is practically suicide."
Hobert felt like he'd encountered a con artist; this "I saved your lives" tactic was far too simplistic.
So neither Hobart nor Hugh thanked him, as if they were watching Darkholm continue his performance.
Darkholm, who received no feedback from the "audience," was not embarrassed at all. Instead, he acted like a loyal friend and said, "I saved you because of my heartfelt kindness and respect for the goddess. The goddess's oracle teaches us to help others to the best of our ability."
He sighed: "Ah, you don't know my predicament. Zachary only treats me as a pawn, placing me in the bar to serve his customers, but I have no say in anything in the bar."
"However, I have real information about Zachary. He didn't actually leave Backlund; he just found a place to hide."
"I genuinely want to help you both, so as long as the price is right, I can take you to him."
Hopper exposed him: "You're trying to use us against Zachary so you can have a chance to become the real boss of Azalea Bar, aren't you?"
Darkholm smiled kindly, but there was a hint of cunning in his eyes: "You saw right through me."
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(End of this chapter)