Magic Industrial Age

Number 19 Lombardy Street, second floor.

Loire sat behind his desk, the top two buttons of his pure white shirt undone, revealing his firm chest muscles. He leaned back casually, exuding a carefree air.

Ang stood steadily before him, much more appropriately dressed today.

His gray gentleman's suit was well-tailored, and the matching trousers were smooth and new. Topped with a top hat, he even had a touch of gentlemanly demeanor.

The only slightly discordant element was the large red bow tie he wore, which seemed rather odd.

However, at this moment, he tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowed, and he murmured, "Mr. Loire, in short, you're looking for a master who can give you a satisfying fight?

That might be hard to find!"

Loire lowered his head slightly and countered, "Is the Security Office's ban still in effect? Is no one daring to cause trouble?"

"Not exactly!"

Ang shook his head. "After that so-called agreement was signed and the noble lords left, that ban was long abolished.

Moreover, after being suppressed for so long, those thieves, burglars, and gang members have been itching for action. They've been very restless lately."

"But someone worthy of Mr. Loire's serious attention would have to be a second-tier combat professional at the very least. When you consider that, the number dwindles considerably."

Loire asked with some curiosity, "Are you saying that there aren't many second-tier combat professionals in gangs?"

"Mr. Loire, please don't joke around."

Ang explained with a wry smile, "Second-tier combat professionals are already very strong.

As long as their background is relatively clean, they can easily find a job as a guard captain in a merchant association.

They don't need to worry, and they don't need to fight every day. They can earn more money and have more resources. Why would they live in a stinking gutter?"

"So, if there are second-tier combat professionals in gangs, it's mostly because they've committed some terrible crime or offended a noble and have no choice but to hang around in gangs."

"Even so, they're either gang leaders or the gang's behind-the-scenes backers. They only accept the gang's money and help settle some matters.

They don't get involved in anything else because they think it's beneath them!"

Loire pressed on, unwilling to give up, "According to you, are there no third-tier transcendent combat professionals in the underworld?"

"I've only heard people boasting about such individuals, saying they have another name, the King of the Night.

These people are basically the controllers of a city's underworld, even colluding with government officials, working together to make big money.

However, I can guarantee that Oakland City doesn't have any because all the gangs are fighting each other almost every day."

After explaining for a long time, Ang frowned again and said, "Although there are a few large gangs that seem to have second-tier combat power internally, they are all very mysterious, and it's really not easy to find their exact location."

After a pause, he added, "However, if we could broaden the scope a bit, not limited to the city, or even gangs, it would be easier to find."

Loire's eyes lit up. "That can be relaxed. Bounty missions are fine too, as long as they're strong enough and I can corner them, that's all that matters."

"In that case, I do have someone in mind."

"Who?"

"The Vulture Bandit Gang's leader, Vulture Black Jack."

Loire became interested, straightened up, and waved his hand. "Sit down and talk, have some tea first!"

As he said that, he pushed the prepared tea on the table over, along with sugar cubes and some snacks.

He also took a cup for himself.

The tea was black tea, reddish-black in color. People here also like to add sugar when drinking tea, and Ang was no exception.

He took two pieces of brown sugar and put them in, imitating the nobles' movements, stirring with a spoon before taking a sip.

Then, he began to explain the situation of the Vulture Bandit Gang in detail.

The emergence of magic-powered machinery has indeed brought tremendous changes to the Habsburg Empire, but it has also greatly impacted the original social system.

As a result, the chaos under the light has almost reached an uncontrollable level.

For example, in Oakland City, gangs are rampant within the city, and there are many bandit gangs active outside the city.

They rob passing pedestrians and caravans, often making a score, looting everything, and hiding in the mountains and forests to enjoy their lives in peace.

And the Vulture Bandit Gang is the most ferocious group around Oakland City.

Their leader, Vulture, is said to be a detective by origin, skilled in concealment, tracking, and swordsmanship. He was living a good life.

But because of a mission, he found out about the private affairs of a certain noble and was hunted down, so he could only wander around.

Finally, outside Oakland City, he found many hunters who couldn't survive and formed a bandit gang, training many good fighters.

He never provokes those large noble caravans, never touches them, but he doesn't let go of any small and medium-sized caravans he encounters.

Basically, no one can survive being robbed by the Vulture Bandit Gang. It's no exaggeration to say they are 'bloodthirsty'.

The Security Office has had a bounty on this person's head for a long time, with bounties stacked on top of each other, and the reward money is also rising step by step, but the bounty hunters who accepted the bounty have disappeared without a trace.

As a result, rumors have spread that this Black Jack is about to touch the third-tier transcendent, but of course, this must be mostly false.

Count Raymond's guard captain, Oliveira, is only a third-tier transcendent. They are not cabbages!

Black Jack is just a bandit. How could he be so capable?

However, to have survived for so long, he must have some skills. Second-tier is certain, but it is not known to what extent his aura can reach.

Undoubtedly, this is a tricky guy, but the reason Ang mentioned him is because he happened to grasp this person's whereabouts by chance.

Bandit gangs rob a lot of goods, and besides those that can be used, most of them are actually unusable.

Turning these goods into money is what they must do.

And the Vulture Bandit Gang has reached a cooperation with the Blood Hand Gang in Oakland City, one robbing and the other distributing, which complements each other.

Ang's Brothers Gang actually has nothing to do with the Vulture Bandit Gang, but discovered some secrets while monitoring the Blood Hand Gang.

The Brothers Gang is not strong, but the only commendable thing is that the little beggars all over the street are their eyes and ears.

By chance, they found that the Blood Hand Gang had a warehouse in the east of the city, along the base of the wall.

The warehouse is nothing special, but how can the output be much greater than the input?

This made Ang pay attention, and then he discovered that the place actually had an underground passage connecting the inside and outside of the city, which could transport some illegal things, avoiding city gate inspections and taxes.

And some of these goods are provided by the Vulture Bandit Gang.

Their specific transaction time is uncertain, after all, it is difficult to say how much they harvest each time, but they will agree in advance before handing over outside the city.

Each time, Vulture Black Jack will be present, and Blood Hand Bode from the Blood Hand Gang will also go in person.

As for more specific details, such as what price to buy stolen goods, how to pay money, how to count and transport, etc., Ang is not very clear.

But having this information is enough, and Loire immediately decided to use this Black Jack as his whetstone.

If it were before, Loire would still have some concerns.

But now, with Oliveira, he can't say he's completely free from scruples, but intercepting a bandit or something outside the city is something he can do whenever he wants.

Of course, he wouldn't skimp on the preparations he should make.

So, he asked Ang to continue to investigate, and be sure to collect more comprehensive information.

Ang took the task and left, and it can be imagined that he would be busy these days.

As for Loire, it was still the previous rhythm, but the cultivation has been changed to focus on sword practice to accumulate momentum, and the breathing method is only to maintain the state.

He is adjusting his body and mind bit by bit, striving to reach the peak state in this battle.

As time went by, Ang's news also came one after another.

Mainly about the Blood Hand Gang, that channel for selling stolen goods, from where to pick up, to which shop to distribute, which road to take, and at what price, were all clearly investigated by him.

This line was thoroughly understood by Ang.

Then, even the stolen goods outside the city were not from one bandit gang, and the transaction details were different.

However, only the Vulture Bandit Gang was most valued by the Blood Hand Gang.

Not all bandit gangs can make Blood Hand Bode come forward personally for every transaction.

Also because these two had to be present, the problem came, someone had to communicate and agree on the time and place for each transaction.

And the person's action pattern was also grasped by Ang.

So, just waiting quietly is fine.

And this wait lasted three days!

Three days later, in the evening, Ang ran to report the news, it has been confirmed.

Loire was naturally straightforward, carrying the Silver Angel longsword, and putting on a leather armor, he set off with Oliveira.

Update, update!