The Deceitful One

Bryan's eyebrows couldn't help but twitch. He said in a self-deprecating manner, "Miss, I myself am not a Transcendent yet. What makes you think I can help you become one?"

"Even so, you must already be an Apprentice right?" Grace asked.

"Yes, I am an Apprentice. But Miss Grace, I must ask you this, you said that your family also has a few Transcendents. Why not ask them?" Bryan asked curiously.

Hearing Bryan's question Grace sighed, "My family worships the God of Craftsmanship, and the potion formula that my family has belongs to the Artisan Path. Mr. Bryan, do you know what Artisan Path Transcendents excel at?"

Bryan shook his head, "I do not."

"They excel at craftsmanship, mainly building machines and weaponry. You should be aware that the recent advancement of the Western Continent in regards to steam power and machinery is also due to the joint efforts of the Church of Wisdom and the Church of Craftsmanship." Grace replied.

Bryan nodded and signaled for Grace to continue.

"My grandfather is a Rank 3 Transcendent of the Artisan Path. In the past, he had wanted me to embark on this Path but I refused.

Also, getting the meditation technique and potion formulas of other Paths is very difficult to acquire unless you know other Transcendents. That is why I approached you." Grace added.

Bryan understood Grace's motive. He thought for a moment and replied, "Miss Grace, you should be aware of how strict the Church of Wisdom is when it comes to meditation techniques and the potion formulas for the Paths that they control.

Furthermore, you will have to be associated with the Church in one way or another, in order to get what you're looking for."

At this point, the barista returned to their table with the food that Bryan had ordered. Both Bryan and Grace tactfully did not speak anything Transcendent related.

Only after the barista left, did Grace shake her head and say, "No, Mr. Bryan, I do not wish to be associated with the Church of Wisdom either."

Bryan was puzzled, "Then what do you want, Miss?"

"Since you are Detective Watson's student, he will naturally take you to solve Transcendent related cases once you're strong enough. This will also help you broaden your understanding of the Transcendent world.

What I'm requesting of you is, if you happen to find any meditation techniques or potion formulas related to other Paths in one of these cases, please keep an eye out. I will buy it from you at a premium price, of course." Grace smiled and replied.

Bryan was in deep thought. It made sense that Detective Watson would bring him to solve Transcendent cases and educate him.

And if he came across anything that Grace was looking for he could try to take it himself or at the very least memorize all the relevant intel.

After weighing all the pros and cons, he replied, "All right Miss Grace. I will surely keep an eye out for what you're looking for. But I cannot guarantee that I can find it anytime soon or if I can find it at all."

After listening to Bryan agree, Grace smiled brightly, "No problem, Mr. Bryan. As long as you're willing to help, I am very satisfied. Also, just call me Grace from now on."

"All right, Grace." Bryan smiled but he was still feeling quite puzzled about something so he asked her another question, "Grace, if you don't mind my asking, you could have asked your family members to look for the meditation technique and potion formula of another Path, so why didn't you? I'm sure they have more channels and connections than I do."

"It's simple really. The struggle for the inheritance of any noble family is very competitive. Especially so for the Count title of my Wilson family.

My grandfather, Count Robert Wilson, is a very shrewd and gifted businessman. In his hands, our family has amassed a lot of wealth and influence. That is why I didn't ask for this favor from my other family members because I wish to keep my cards hidden." Grace smirked and explained to him.

"Ohh? You sure are a crafty one." Bryan replied and then they both started laughing.

Both Bryan and Grace chatted with each other over food for another 15 minutes. They agreed on meeting up with each other more often. Afterward, they bid farewell and went their own ways.

Inside the carriage, Grace ordered the carriage driver to drive to Leah's villa. She looked at the setting sun and thought, 'I hope he can find what I need before I leave for Nadir.'

She found Bryan to be a very interesting person. Alas, Grace was not into men. Otherwise, with her personality, she would fuck the daylights out of him.

…

In a luxurious three-storied manor, in the suburbs of Damascus.

There were roughly 2 acres of land surrounding this villa. More than half of it was used as a horse track. One could see half a dozen strong and beautiful steeds grazing by the horse track and being attended to by a dozen servants.

The rest of the land was used as a garden where many exotic flowers and fruit trees were grown. Just looking at the activities being carried out on this 2-acre land, one could roughly imagine how wealthy the owner of the villa and land would be.

In one of the rooms on the second floor of the villa, broken glasses and vases were strewn across the floor. The books were thrown to the ground and the bookshelf was broken in half. The lamps and the painting on the walls also shared the same fate.

Sitting on a chair by the table, a youth with disheveled blond hair and light blue eyes was pouring himself a glass of bourbon. He took the glass and downed it in one go.

This youth had a twisted expression on his face, one filled with rage. He was naturally Jack Brown, whom Bryan had played a prank on at Leah's banquet the day before yesterday.

At this time, knocks were heard on the door followed by a male voice, "Young Master Jack, it's me."

"Come in." Jack replied hoarsely.

A middle-aged man with a receding hairline, wearing a butler's uniform entered the messy room. He approached the table and bowed in front of Jack.

"Pyke, what did you find?" Jack asked while pouring himself another drink.

"Young master, his full name is Bryan Lombardi and he's an orphan. His parents died when he was young. Ever since then he has been living in the slums. He has no other relatives in Damascus to speak of.

About two months ago, Detective James Watson who has come to Damascus from Nadir for reasons unknown, had taken him in as his student. He currently lives alone at 7 Robinson Street. That's all I was able to gather in these two days' time." Pyke replied obediently.

After listening to his personal butler's report, Jack flew into a rage and violently threw the glass that he was holding at the wall, "That fucking peasant! How dare he! How dare he lie to me!? I'm gonna fucking kill him!"

Last Sunday, Jack had proposed to Leah and asked for her hand in marriage in front of all the people present at the banquet. To his surprise, Leah actually refused and he became the laughingstock of the banquet.

Leah's mother had to step in and blame everything on Jack's drunkenness in order to make things less awkward and not embarrass Jack any further.

Jack finally realized that he had been played for a fool by Bryan. His feelings for Leah had clouded his judgment and he foolishly believed whatever Bryan had said to him.

He had never felt so much rage and embarrassment ever in his life. Ever since he came back from the banquet that day, he locked himself in his room and had been drowning himself in alcohol.

He wanted to take revenge on Bryan and make him realize the consequences of messing with him. He wanted Bryan to pay for it with his dear life.

Jack calmed himself down and instructed Pyke through gritted teeth, "Get one of father's men and fucking kill him. Make sure he dies a painful death."

Pyke hesitated, "But young master, his teacher is a very famous detective in Nadir. Things might get troublesome."

"What can a mere detective do? This is Damascus, not Nadir! Do as I fucking say, don't make me repeat myself." Jack sneered.

"Yes, young master." Pyke didn't dare to question Jack again. He nodded his head, bowed, and left.

After Pyke left, Jack muttered coldly, "Bryan, you filthy trash. You can only blame yourself."

…

Red Light District, Damascus City.

Pyke entered a well-known brothel called Night Moves. He moved past all the prostitutes who were enticing him. He reached the bar area and approached a table where a burly man with curly black hair was sitting with two naked women, one on each side.

"There's a job." Pyke said to the burly man.

The burly man looked at Pyke silently. He snorted in displeasure and instructed the women sitting beside him to leave. The two women giggled coquettishly and left obediently.

Pyke sat down on the chair across from the burly man and gave him a note.

The burly man took the note from Pyke and read it. "Who did this hairless brat offend?"

"Young Master Jack." Pyke replied succinctly.

"I'll do it when I have the time." The burly man replied languidly.

"Johnny, do it sooner than later. And make his death extremely painful. This is the young master's order." Pyke stated.

The burly man, Johnny, smiled coldly and said while licking his lips, "Hehe torture is my specialty. But I need an advance payment. I've run out of money."

"You'll have the money by tomorrow." With that said, Pyke got up and left. Not wanting to stay in this filthy place for a moment longer.