A thousand meters from Canvas Street, atop an old residential building, Von Lycaon and Ellen Joe were each holding a telescope, carefully observing Sol's group.
Lycaon repeated each piece of gathered intel with his usual grave precision, while Ellen seemed bored.
She couldn't read lips. Watching Sol and the others converse was like watching a silent film.
She really couldn't figure out why her boss had dragged her here. Wouldn't it have been better to just let her rest?
With a sigh, she forced her gaze back onto Sol, if only to look like she was doing her job.
And… well, he was actually pretty handsome.
Tall and upright like bamboo, a sharp nose, bright eyes, flawless skin… overall, his features were near perfect.
If Rin and Ruby saw him, wouldn't they just scream and throw themselves at him?
No, knowing the three of them, they'd probably shove her at him and make her go "ring the bell."
Ugh, headache. Why isn't this over yet? I really just want to have milk tea with the girls…
Moments later, Lycaon watched as Sol and the others began guiding Canvas Street's residents.
Having gleaned nothing new, he shifted his telescope away from them.
"Sol Mercer used an ability called [Railgun] to take down Berbick," Lycaon said evenly.
"According to his explanation, it's a special power derived from combining electricity with scientific theory. Records from the Old Era mention similar weapons, but they were abandoned for being too bulky."
"Berbick was a troublesome opponent. Now he's dead, and Railgun's destructive power is immense."
He narrated what he had gathered, letting the telescope drift between the thug's charred remains and melted scrap metal.
The scorched wounds and warped fragments reminded him of the high-energy orange beam he'd seen earlier.
Judging from the scene, the traits of extreme heat and velocity matched perfectly.
And the beam had flown in from the exact direction of Canvas Street.
It seemed clear now—that must have been the so-called [Railgun].
But to call that kind of force just "pretty effective" was absurd. Its power already surpassed the Defense Force's heavy artillery.
"Ellen, anything you've noticed?"
He valued her perspective. He'd mostly brought her along for her combat prowess in case of emergencies, but perhaps she'd surprise him with insight.
"I noticed that Sol Mercer is quite handsome—the type high school girls would like. But he looks like a playboy."
Thinking of Ruby and the others, Ellen absentmindedly said what was on her mind.
The guy had that playboy aura, and he acted close with several girls. Her judgment was spot on.
If he set his sights on Ruby or the others, they wouldn't be able to resist.
"A maid is, of course, entitled to personal feelings, but maybe rein them in a bit right now," Lycaon said, face dark, his tone weary. "Anything else?"
Ellen blinked, unbothered by the misunderstanding. It wasn't her who would like Sol—only lively girls like Ruby.
As for other findings, she thought of the white Bangboo with its scarf and odd gray-white coloration. Something about it was too human.
"That really active white Bangboo seems off," she said after a pause. "Like someone's actually inside it."
Lycaon frowned slightly, recalling what he'd seen. There was something unusual about it.
Worth noting, though the clues were too thin to prioritize.
"Forget it. Let's regroup with Rina and Corin—see this Railgun for ourselves."
This trip had been fruitful. They'd confirmed Sol had crushed a high-level enemy with overwhelming force, and they'd traced the source of the high-energy weapon.
Now they needed to examine the Railgun's true form to add a critical note to Sol's growing dossier.
They soon retraced their steps to the rendezvous point, where Rina and Corin were waiting.
"Rina, did you two find the weapon's core?" Lycaon asked.
"We did." Rina handed over the evidence bag and photos. "Lord Lycaon, it's this coin."
"Oh?" Lycaon studied the coin in surprise. "The smallest denomination of New Eridu currency—one Denny."
"To create such devastation with just a coin… I underestimated Sol."
He had expected some rare material, not the lowest-value currency.
"Lord Lycaon, this is tied to Sol Mercer as well?" Rina asked, startled.
"Correct. Ellen and I just confirmed it." Lycaon nodded. "It's a railgun principle combined with Sol Mercer's powerful electric ability. A devastating strike."
"The force was enough to not only kill a high-caliber criminal but also travel across half a Hollow."
"To think that all it requires is a single Denny…"
"One Denny as the cost—practically nothing," Rina said in amazement. "If there aren't further restrictions, and he can keep firing it…"
"Then the implications are terrifying. One man could sweep through an entire Defense Force regiment." Lycaon's tone grew grim. "And from his explanation, he can sustain it."
"With such power, he's already close to our Master and the others. No wonder he defeated the Void Hunter, Hoshimi Miyabi."
"And with that Bangboo at his side, by sheer strength alone, they may already rank among New Eridu's top combat teams."
Rina let out a sigh. "Hard to believe a simple search commission turned into intelligence of this magnitude."
"Ellen, Corin—you two may return to rest." Lycaon turned to them. "Rina and I will compile this intel for the Master and await further orders."
"Perhaps, from here on, our primary focus will shift from the 'Specter'… to this sudden emerged individual named Sol Mercer."
Unease stirred in Lycaon's chest.
Powerhouses never emerged from nowhere; they always belonged to some faction.
So, who exactly was Sol Mercer, suddenly appearing in New Eridu? ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI[F]ire.net
An outsider who escaped from another city? Or one of the monsters long hidden in the city's shadows?
He could only hope Sol Mercer wasn't aligned with those people.