Relics of the Fourth Century

Chapter 82 Quaternary Relics

"It's not that serious," the defense attorney smiled. "This is just a typical workplace injury case; let's not complicate things further."

"Yes, you've gotten so used to not treating people like human beings," Hobart said. "The saddest part is that you think this workplace injury case should be handled this way."

The defense attorney waved his hand: "Alright, let's talk about something practical."

"Even if you were to sue Mr. Arnold for intentional assault, your chances of winning would be very low, so let's just leave it at that."

"How about 200 pounds? That's well beyond Mr. Arnold's obligations."

Hobart shook his head: "1000 pounds."

The defense attorney's face turned ashen: "Your request will make it impossible for us to continue this discussion."

"Okay, goodbye." Hobart opened the car door and helped Bob out of the car.

Baker, who had remained silent until now, said ominously, "Mr. Arnold will use all his connections to make you lose the case! You won't get a single penny!"

Hopper smiled. "Why do I feel like you're scared? Why do you sound so unsure of yourself?"

Baker snorted and closed the carriage door without saying a word. The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly drove away.

Bob, picking up his "crutch," suddenly said, "Mr. Hobart, I wouldn't blame you if you had agreed to their demands."

Hopper waved to the horse-drawn carriage and chuckled, "Everyone needs to have some aspirations."

Upon arriving at the Obsidian Bar in the North District, Hobart asked Bob to wait outside. He went in, ordered a beer, and tipped the bartender, asking him to invite Ms. Daly over.

The place was very close to Blackthorn Security Company, and Daly arrived in about ten minutes: "We're meeting far too often. Is this your way of deliberately getting close to me?"

Hobart smiled. "Madam, I have no plans to be in a relationship right now."

"What an ungrateful young man," Daisy said with a smile. "So, what brings you here this time?"

Hobart got straight to the point: "I would like to ask you to send my client to the Church of the Night's workhouse."

Daly frowned: "This is not within my scope of responsibility."

"Isn't it your duty to help the goddess's followers resolve the difficulties they encounter?"

"Okay, okay, I'm actually trying to argue with a 'lawyer'!" Daly asked, "What's so special about him?"

"Madam, Backlund is full of ordinary people."

"Then what are your reasons for sympathizing with him?"

"It's not what you think," Hobart said. "I sent him to the workhouse simply because I needed him to survive."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I have my own purpose."

"Oh?" Daly tilted her head and looked at Hobert. "Really?"

The two chatted for a few minutes before arriving at the bar entrance, where Hobart handed Bob over to Daly.

After Hobert got into the carriage and left, Daly asked Bob, "Tell me about what happened to you."

"Oh? Okay, okay, ma'am."

……

Back at the law firm, Hobart began preparing documents to submit to the formal court. The next step was to wait for the court to accept the case and announce the hearing date.

After finishing all that, Hobart stretched and finally had some free time. He looked out the window and thought about what kind of delicious food he could buy to treat himself after get off work.

Time always flies when you're slacking off. After get off work, Hobart bought some pumpkin bread and desserts to reward himself for his performance in the magistrate's court that day.

After dinner in a pleasant atmosphere, Christine called Hobert to her study: "I have already had Doffies contact Jacob Otto. Doffies had already done his research beforehand, and what Jacob and his team found is indeed a Quaternary relic."

Hobert paused for a moment before recalling that Jacob was the one who claimed to have discovered Quaternary relics and had twice formed teams at the Mercenary Club's gatherings.

When he formed his team for the second time, Hobart also conveyed his wish to ask Brigadier General Christine for help.

Doffies is Christine's personal male servant, notoriously incompetent, yet Christine keeps him by her side.

Hobart had long suspected that he might be an Extraordinary. Since Christine had sent him to conduct preliminary investigations and to contact Jacob, he must be an Extraordinary who was extremely loyal to Christine.

Christine said, "Tomorrow, Doffis will officially join Jacob's team. You should go with him too. Make an appearance there often, and in the end, you will also be eligible to share in the spoils of the ruins."

What a great thing! Hobert nodded: "Okay."

He knew perfectly well that this wasn't Jacob being generous; it was a benefit gained by exchanging face for a brigadier general.

Christine took a deep breath and said, "After Rex returned from the Southern Continent, he did explore some ancient ruins, but I only accompanied him to two of them, not including the one that Jacob's team discovered. Perhaps, perhaps we can find his relics in those ruins."

Hobert didn't feel anything about it, since he was a complete stranger to this "biological father".

After the brief conversation, Hobart left the study and went to inquire about Doffies' departure time for the next day. Finally, he wrote a note to Barton, asking the coachman to take him to the law firm the next day.

The following morning, Hobert and Doffies rode together in a carriage to the northern suburbs of Backlund.

Dofis was about the same age as Christine, and his skin and hair had obvious characteristics of the southern continent. He was cold and taciturn, more like a bodyguard than a personal servant.

Hobert tried to start a few conversations, but received no response from Doffies. He lost the desire to chat and stared blankly at the scenery outside the car window.

After leaving the town of Backlund, the carriage traveled for more than an hour before arriving at the site of the excavation.

The smog characteristic of Backlund is gone, the sun is shining brightly, and there's no longer a pungent smell in the air.

Jacob's team's camp was set up at the foot of a mountain. Unlike Hobart's imagined clandestine excavation, they were openly digging for relics, with dozens of tents.

It is evident that Jacob employed many ordinary people who were engaged in excavation work such as transporting soil and cleaning antiques.

Jacob had already received the news and was waiting for Doffis and Hobert at the camp gate.

"Mr. Hobart, thank you for facilitating our cooperation with General Christine," Jacob said politely as he shook hands with Hobart.

Hobart smiled and said, "It was your sincerity that moved my father."

He asked, "Won't the local government obstruct your operations?"

“We have legitimate archaeological excavation documents,” Jacques said. “A few years ago, my team protected an archaeological team and forged a deep friendship with them.”

Jacob then gave Hobert and Doffis a brief tour of the camp before taking them to the excavation site behind the camp.

The Quaternary relics are buried underground, and workers have cleared out a wide entrance.

The group entered a rather magnificent-looking building. On the inner wall of the building was a line of text: "Don't make eye contact with a rabbit; when in danger, it's more important than running away to close your eyes."

The signature reads: Rex Heller.

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(End of this chapter)