Why would a ghost appear in this property, which was specifically arranged for Anna and originally belonged to Viscount Field?
Dorothy pondered this question, considering whether the ghost had always been in this house or if it had come from somewhere else.
Analyzing the situation carefully, Dorothy felt that the likelihood of the ghost originally inhabiting the house was quite low. She had just discussed the houseās details with the lawyers earlier. The properties on Knight Street were prime real estate, and several of them, including No. 26, belonged to Viscount Field. When they were first built, the viscount purchased several of the best-located ones, renting most of them out and quickly recouping his investment. It was a highly successful venture.
The area was well-maintained, with no history of hauntings, murders, or anything of the sort. The land had never been a burial ground either, which made it highly attractive to tenants. It was hard to imagine a ghost simply existing in a place like this.
If the ghost had come from outside, then why had it specifically drifted here? Moreover, its behaviorāfloating around and observing everythingāwas that typical ghostly behavior? Or was there another reason behind it?
"This kind of scanning behaviorā¦ it feels like reconnaissance."
Dorothy reached this conclusion instinctively. Having frequently used small corpse marionettes for infiltration and reconnaissance herself, she naturally considered this possibility.
"If there are Beyonders linked to Silence or possessing powers related to it, then they could potentially control ghosts. That would allow them to use ghosts for reconnaissance, just like how I use corpse marionettes.ā
"If thatās the case, then this is a serious problemā¦ It would mean a Beyonder is actively scouting this house!"
The thought sent a chill through Dorothy. She didnāt know why a Beyonder would suddenly take interest in this place, but if her suspicions were correct, the situation was becoming urgent.
As she continued covertly observing the ghost drifting through the room, Dorothy debated whether she should warn the Hunters present. However, she couldnāt think of a way to do so without exposing her own special abilities.
Finally, as if it had completed its survey of the house, the ghost phased through the wall and floated outside, confirming Dorothyās suspicion that it had come from elsewhere.
Watching it leave, Dorothy considered using a small corpse marionette to track it, but then she realized somethingāher appraisal skillās spiritual vision only worked on herself. Since this skill was unique to her, she couldnāt apply it to her marionettes. That meant the marionettes wouldnāt be able to perceive the ghost, making it impossible to follow.
"Looks like, for once, Iāve lost the upper hand in reconnaissance and intelligence gatheringā¦"
As the ghost disappeared through the walls, Dorothy thought to herself, making a mental note to pay closer attention to the area moving forward.
ā¦
Leaving No. 26, the ghost continued floating around Knight Street, scouting the surrounding houses and observing the passing carriages. Once it had gathered enough information, it quickly glided back the way it came. Before long, it reached the end of Knight Street, returning to Goffrey, who stood there with his hands behind his back, waiting.
The gaunt, skeletal-looking ghost leaned toward Goffreyās ear, whispering something in an almost imperceptible, fine-meshed voice. Goffrey listened, then nodded thoughtfully.
"Hmphā¦ So that little brat really is suspicious. There are black dogs guarding herā¦ Interestingā¦" Goffrey muttered to himself.
The "black dogs" he referred to were, of course, the Huntersāblack-uniformed watchdogs of the authorities.
The ghost had spotted concealed standard-issue weapons on the plainclothes hunters, confirming their identity.
"If the black dogs are protecting her, that means the girl has some kind of secret and might have a powerful backer. But that doesnāt necessarily mean her backer is our target. After all, I didnāt detect any signs of Stone related spiritual tracesā¦ Those black dogs might simply be guarding her because they discovered something unusual about her."
Goffrey continued pondering the situation. While he was certain that Anna was abnormal in some way, he couldnāt determine the exact nature of that anomalyāwhether or not she was truly the target they were searching for.
"Looks like Iāll have to probe a little tonight and see if I can draw anything outā¦"
As he spoke, Goffrey glanced toward another house on Knight Street. While his ghost had been investigating No. 26, it had also conducted a brief survey of the surrounding properties, and something particularly interesting had been discovered inside No. 38.
"After allā¦ when a chess piece presents itself, it would be a waste not to use it."
Goffrey said this with a slight smile as he looked toward the windows of No. 38.
ā¦
Inside House No. 38 on Knight Street, several men sat around a wide table in the spacious second-floor living room. Through the windows, they pointed and gestured toward No. 26, engaged in a heated discussion.
All of these men were dressed in relatively well-tailored clothes and wore hats. Among them, one man had a short, stout frame, a bloated belly, and a face full of flabby fleshāthis was Harold, a distant cousin of Gary Field.
At that moment, the men around Harold were arguing fiercely, faces flushed with anger as they bickered nonstop, refusing to back down.
"So, once everything is settled, all the properties on Knight Street should belong to me."
"Bullshit! What right do you have to claim Knight Street? If weāre talking blood relations, Iām closer to Field than you are!"
"Hahā¦ Blood relations? If weāre going by that, none of you can compare to meā¦"
The men at the table continued shouting at each other. Annoyed by the endless bickering, Harold coughed and knocked on the table to get their attention, then spoke loudly.
"Alright, gentlemen, enough arguing. Letās put aside the matter of dividing up the inheritance for now. First, we need to complete our current task. As long as that little brat is still alive, all this talk is meaningless!"
After speaking, Harold glanced through the window at No. 26, then turned back to the men sitting around him.
"The plan is set for tonight. Everyone, gather the mercenaries youāve hired. Weāll take care of that brat in one go. Once thatās done, we can settle the inheritance however we wantāwhether over dinner or in court, it doesnāt matter. Any objections?"
The men exchanged glances in silence before answering in unison.
"None."
ā¦
At dusk, the golden light of the setting sun bathed Knight Street. The visit to No. 26 had lasted all afternoon and was finally coming to an end. At the front door, Anna stood, waving goodbye to her visitors one by one.
"Goodbye, Miss Mayschoss! Come visit again next time!"
"Of course. Goodbye, Anna."
Dorothy smiled warmly as she bid farewell to her student before setting off on her way home. Watching from another building, Gregor let out a sigh of relief.
"Whewā¦ Finally, sheās heading back. I really envy her. She gets to go home, while I still have to stand guard here all night. Damnā¦" Gregor grumbled, shrugging helplessly.
Meanwhile, as Dorothy walked down the sunlit street, she glanced back at Knight Street and murmured to herself in a soft voice.
"Looks like Iāll be working a little overtime tonight as well."