After dealing with Morey's corpse, Ebner returned to the safe house. As he ate the food Xio had brought, he communicated with her about the information they had obtained after separating today.
"After I handed those gangsters to the police, I revealed my identity as MI9, so I didn't suffer any difficulties." Xio only gave the golden-masked man an answer at noon and became a secret agent under MI9. She never expected to use this identity in the afternoon.
"Those thugs weren't talking nonsense, were they?" Ebner asked.
Xio shook her head and said, "Those thugs are very experienced in dealing with the police. They know what to say and what not to say. Furthermore, they can tell that I seem to be related to the police department, so they only pushed the responsibility of kidnapping civilians onto the person named Morey, but they didn't mention a word about us capturing Morey."
"Hehe, they are indeed 'experienced'… However, this should also have something to do with Morey and them not being the same type of people." Ebner laughed.
"Not the same type of person?" Xio repeated in puzzlement before coming to a realization. "You mean… looks?"
"Yes, they should all be members of the East Balam Reestablishment Association. Almost all of them are from the Southern Continent. However, although Morey is also a mixed-blood, his looks are inclined towards Loen. That's why he was chosen as the manager of a company in front of the station. He was also given the Lawyer potion by the Eternal Life Society because his looks make it easier for him to deal with Loenese," Ebner explained as he picked up the bacon with a piece of bread.
"East Balam Re Establishment Club? Eternal Life Society? What's that? Isn't this service company controlled by the Black Skeleton Gang?" Xio was somewhat puzzled as she asked directly.
"The Black Skeleton Gang is controlled by the East Balam Reestablishment Association. One can guess what this organization is based on its name. And the Eternal Life Society is a subsidiary of the Numinous Episcopate. It's a secret organization that has Beyonders. Many of the upper echelons of the East Balam Reestablishment Association have joined the Eternal Life Society to gather related items related to Death for the latter and send them back to the Southern Continent."
After Ebner said that, he finished the last piece of bread in two or three bites. Then, he recounted the results and inferences he had obtained from his spirit channeling. Apart from the related matters regarding Lanevus, he told Xio everything.
Xio nodded thoughtfully after hearing that. She was about to say something when she suddenly realized that Ebner was in a daze. Hence, she asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong?"
Ebner recovered himself at these words, and there was a look of delight on his face as he replied, "Nothing. I've just finally figured out the meaning of the Knowledge Keeper."
Xio also knew that Ebner had been summarizing the acting principles during this period of time, so she asked curiously, "What is it? How did you figure it out?" She didn't know if she could borrow the information, but she also wanted to digest the Sheriff as soon as possible.
"After I finished telling you my theory based on the results of the investigation, I felt that the Knowledge Keeper potion was finally showing signs of digestion…" When Ebner said this, he organized his words and continued,
"Back then, I was wondering why telling you these things would result in facilitating the digestion of the potion. Doesn't 'Knowledge Conservation' protect knowledge?"
Xio thought for a moment and realized that she had no clue. All she could do was ask seriously, "Yes, why?"
"It suddenly occurred to me that the best way to protect knowledge is not to hide it or keep it a secret. That way, the knowledge will be lost and cut off. The best way is to spread the knowledge to those who need to know and use it!" Ebner said excitedly.
Xio was infected by Ebner's emotions and also felt a little excited, but she suddenly thought of something and asked, "But you often did this before… Why are you only beginning to digest it now? Is it because you haven't accumulated enough?"
"I've considered that as well. I'm guessing that the so-called Knowledge Keeper should be 'Knowledge' before 'Guard.' In other words, there's a process of exploring knowledge before spreading the hard-earned 'knowledge' to the person who needs it. This is a true act. Yes, this also suits the job of a Detective. It's no wonder it has this nickname," Ebner explained with a smile.
"In other words… Most of the knowledge you previously spread wasn't obtained through your own exploration, but something you heard or read elsewhere?" Xio fell into deep thought as she had a new idea about her role as a Sheriff.
"Something like that…" Ebner replied vaguely. He guessed that the knowledge obtained through reading or learning should be considered the process of exploring knowledge. However, he wasn't in this world when he read many related knowledge. Or rather, although the knowledge he had previously told others was correct in this world, it was essentially knowledge obtained from another world.
As for why he said so much at the Tarot Club without any signs of digesting it? That was even simpler. Firstly, many of the things he said were still not something he had discovered by himself. Secondly, Origin Castle had a secret authority that even deities couldn't pry into. How could spreading knowledge there be considered spreading?
Next, the two discussed the acting method for a while before returning to the main topic.
"What happened to the Kelly family? Did they have any clues?" Ebner asked as he recalled the scene of the Kelly family's son writing a letter home.
"No, their family actually doesn't know anything… and those thugs are also insisting that they don't know where their son is."
Recalling the scene that Ebner had described, Xio knew that Kelly's son had probably been murdered, and she felt a little sad. However, she quickly adjusted herself and asked, "Ebner, can you describe the exact appearance of that warehouse in detail? I'll send an informant to find out its exact location tomorrow."
Ebner knew Xio's sense of justice was acting up again. He wanted revenge for Kelly's son, but that didn't sit well with his thoughts. "There's no need for all that trouble," he said with a smile. "I pray that the gods will paint the exterior of that factory."
…
South of the Bridge, Harvest Church.
As it was already very late, a girl with long brown hair and a blue dress politely knocked on the cathedral's door. Behind her was a two-meter-tall "giant" and a feminine-looking, red-haired man.
With heavy footsteps approaching, the door of the church opened, and Bishop Utravsky, who was 2.2 meters tall, appeared in front of them.
The brown-haired girl looked at the giant bishop in front of her and then turned back to look at her captain. She could not help but feel lucky that she was 1.6 meters tall.
However, the feminine man behind her, Cullen, seemed to have seen through her thoughts. He smiled and teased, "Judy, stop looking. When you advance to become a Druid, you can transform into a giant bear. You will definitely be taller and stronger than them!"
The girl named Judy shot a glance at the man and retorted, "I heard that vampires are all very elegant gentlemen. Why is there such an exception like you?"
"Alternative? At least I'm not obsessed with dolls," Cullen replied with a grin, not at all angry.
"A doll? What does that mean?" Judy asked, confused.
The Giant Captain could no longer stand it and interrupted, "Alright, be serious. Don't let the Bishop laugh at you."
Bishop Utravsky smiled warmly and said, "Welcome, Forsaken Ones. Unfortunately, this is Backlund. Although you have obtained the permission of the Church of Storms and the Church of Steam, i can't openly hold a banquet to welcome you."
"Bishop, you're too polite." The captain, who was also a Giant, waved his hand and continued, "We came here to complete the mission. We don't need those… Please tell us the details of the believer who went astray."
"I see. Then come into the church, all of you. We'll talk slowly."
"In addition, there's also a Blessed of the Mother Goddess who has personally experienced this matter… I think we should invite him over as well."