Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 372: Raymond Taylor

Chapter 372: Raymond Taylor

Raymond sat behind the counter in his store, smoking a pipe while enjoying the calm afforded to him by his new residence.

Compared to BoneHaven, Speelerborough was mostly peaceful and devoid of the conflicts that usually broke out in BoneHaven between the upper class and lower class.

Perhaps that had something to do with the fact that the town had a clear absence of nobles around.

Letting out a sigh, Raymond glanced at the window next to the shop entrance, noting the purple glow of the Nighteye Illuminating the streets outside.

After a full day’s work, he had only 2 people come in and only one bought something.

Usually, he would be upset considering how slow business was but in actuality, Raymond had decided to retire.

This was why instead of following Arthur and other notable figures from BoneHaven to settle in Livermore which was naturally more rowdy, he had opted for Speelerborough which held promise of a quiet retirement.

It helped that very few knew of his identity as an information broker and a former dabbler in the murky depths of the black market.

Taking yet another drag from his pipe, he decided to close up shop only to pause as his brows quickly furrowed.

Sure, Steelerborough wasn’t as active as BoneHaven, but wasn’t outside a little too quiet?

Immediately, Raymond picked up his shotgun, intending to step out for a quick inspection only to freeze as a small bell rang indicating the entrance of a customer into his antique shop.

Using his one good eye, Raymond discovered that the customer was a woman, dressed in a resplendent black gown with a veil over her face and holding a purse.

She gave off the aura of a noble but Raymond wasn’t dumb enough to think that she was indeed one.

The reason Steelerborough was devoid of nobles was for good cause as the town had nothing of note that could potentially draw a noble’s attention.

Their main source of income was cattle and chickens which they used to produce milk and eggs with a few farmers resident as well, all trades that a noble wouldn’t be caught dead investing in or even showing an interest in.

So why was this noble woman in town and most importantly, why was she in his shop?

Raymond, as a man who had spent time in the military, had honed his senses a great deal from surviving several encounters that could have led to his death and those same senses were warning him now to keep his guard up.

Without hesitation, he sat back down in his chair, using one arm to keep his pipe steady while the other reached underneath his desk, his fingers curling around a wire as he prepared to pull it at a moment’s notice.

However, contrary to his expectations, the woman didn’t rush to the counter, instead taking her time to inspect his wares.

She walked slowly as she did so, even using her fingers to touch a few of the objects for sale.

Finally, she muttered, her voice quite enjoyable to listen to. "Fake. All fake."

Turning to meet Raymond’s impassive gaze, she added. "Considering your shop’s name is Raymond Antiquities, one would think you would at least have one or two antiques for sale?"

"In this dump of a town?... Ma’am, maybe you are expecting too much from this lowly man. In any case, can we assume to know what makes an object an antique?... I dare say it all boils down to perspective."

"Is that so?" The woman inquired.

"Of course. What makes an old object an expensive thing?... Isn’t it the rich men that decide that?... If they say, it’s only worth a Kobo, then what can be said to change that?... If they say it is worth thousands, then so it shall be. It all boils down to perspective. In this small town devoid of the riches and wealth of the big cities, the objects in this shop are antiques."

The woman looked at Raymond before ultimately breaking out into a smile. "Well, that’s a rather intriguing way to look at things."

"I’m glad you understand my thoughts," Raymond replied before taking a drag from his pipe.

"Regardless, this is not why I am here."

"Oh?... Then why are you in this old man’s shop?... To cause trouble?"

The woman shook her head. "Not at all, I’m looking for someone."

"Oh?... I had no idea my shop resembled a Royal Blue station."

"I know who you are, Raymond Taylor or should I say, the information King of what was once BoneHaven."

Raymond showed no reaction as he regarded the mysterious woman before finally letting out a sigh.

"You must be mistaken."

The woman let out a sigh before ultimately reaching into her purse and pulling out a gold bar.

Raymond’s expression shifted as he could see the purse and there was no way in hell it was big enough to fit a gold bar.

Which meant one thing.

This customer of his was a Mystic.

As his expression remained impassive, Raymond’s fingers around the wire underneath his desk pulled it until it was taut.

"It would seem you are quite serious." He remarked, suppressing the tension in his tone.

The woman nodded. "Of course. I’d rather not cause problems where they aren’t warranted."

Frowning, Raymond finally realized something he had missed at first glance.

It was the woman’s complexion which looked burnt brown, marking her out as a denizen of Emet.

And amongst the Emetites, the most prominent Wheel was...

"Devil," Raymond muttered softly, earning a grin from the woman.

"I’m looking for two men. Alexander and Douglas Regulus. They have something of mine and I would like to retrieve it. According to what I’ve learned, you are capable of locating them or at least pointing me in a general direction considering they once resided in BoneHaven."

"I apologize ma’am but ever since the incident that destroyed BoneHaven, my capabilities as an Information broker bit the dust."

"Oh, do you by any chance know where I might find information on their current location?"

"No, I don’t," Raymond replied with a tone of finality.

The woman before him screamed danger in more ways than one and so it was his duty to ensure such a person didn’t find who they were looking for as though Douglas Regulus didn’t much ring a bell, Alexander Regulus definitely did.

"Quite unfortunate." The woman remarked.

"Any problems, ma’am?"

"There is, Mr. Taylor."

With those words, Raymond’s senses screamed for him to run but he opted to pull the wire underneath the counter, breaking it and causing a shower of Quillion powder to be poured down from strategic locations, quickly covering the entire shop in the black metal.

"Interesting." The woman remarked as the powder fell on her skin, leaving behind burn marks.

"Leave now." As he spoke, Raymond pulled out a shotgun from underneath the counter and cocked it, aiming the muzzle at the woman’s head.

The woman calmly intoned. "Is this how you treat your customers?"

"Only the ones that could kill me, why?"

"You should know, Mr. Taylor, I absolutely abhor men that threaten women."

With those words, she attacked, her form transforming into something so grotesque, that Raymond was forced to scream out in terror.

Outside the shop, the sound of muffled gunshots was heard before a dull thud and then finally, the sound of crunching, reminiscent of the sound one would make when chewing on bones.

Seconds passed before finally, the door of Raymond Antiquities opened with the woman stepping out, a smile on her veiled visage.

As she turned to make her way down the street, she paused at the window, noting a red smear on her upper lip.

Placing a finger on it, she cleaned the stain before continuing on her walk down the silent street.