A Pawn's Passage

“I’m Sadie Morgan, head of the Morgan Brotherhood in Queen District.” The female thief introduced herself. She wore a short cloak and a hood that cast her face in shadow, revealing only her slightly pale lips and smooth chin.

Qi Xuansu said, “You can call me John.”

Sadie did not ask about Qi Xuansu’s background or identity. That was the rule. The dealings here were all of a clandestine nature. From every standpoint, one should not reveal their true identity. The Morgan Brotherhood sought only profit and nothing else.

“Very well, Mr. John. What do you need?” Sadie asked.

Qi Xuansu replied succinctly, “To find someone.”

“Who?” Sadie sat across from him. “I should remind you, Mr. John, our operations are limited to St. York and the surrounding East Coast. If it’s elsewhere, say, San Francisco on the West Coast, that would fall outside our scope.”

Qi Xuansu said, “The person I’m looking for is in St. York. I’m only concerned the Brotherhood might have reservations...”

Sadie chuckled lightly, cutting him off. “Dear Mr. John, if it were an assassination, then yes, we would have concerns. But if it’s merely locating someone or tracking their movements, then we have no such scruples.”

Qi Xuansu feigned hesitation. “What if it’s someone like Chairman Sophia, Councilman Leopold, or Cardinal Priest Milton?”

Sadie hesitated only briefly. “No problem. However, their movements change frequently. They don’t stay in one place for long. We can only provide their location at a specific moment, which quickly becomes outdated, or offer patterns in their schedules.”

“That’s good. I have no doubts about the Brotherhood’s capabilities,” Qi Xuansu said. “I want to know Sun Zhongnu’s whereabouts.”

For a moment, silence fell over the reception room.

Qi Xuansu leaned back against the sofa, quietly waiting for Sadie’s response.

After a long pause, Sadie spoke slowly, “You’re from the South, aren’t you?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Doesn’t the Morgan Brotherhood avoid asking about its clients’ backgrounds?”

“Of course. I’m merely asking. You may choose to answer or not. I won’t press.” Sadie interlaced her fingers. “At a time like this, anyone seeking Sun Zhongnu’s whereabouts clearly wants him dead. Their identity is self-evident. In the past, you could have found him yourself. But his betrayal caused heavy losses among your people, leaving you unable to do so, forcing you to turn to us.”

Qi Xuansu said nothing.

Sadie continued, “Now, Sun Zhongnu belongs to the Evangelical Ministry. I hope you understand that even the Morgan Brotherhood must live at others’ mercy. If we anger the Evangelical Ministry, we’ll likely pay a heavy price.”

Only then did Qi Xuansu reply, “Then we simply make sure the Evangelical Ministry doesn’t find out.”

Sadie clicked her tongue. “That’s certainly a good idea. But if you want to keep mouths shut, the best tool isn’t a gag or a slice of cake. It’s shiny Gold Crowns. I trust you understand what I mean...”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “After all that, you’re just asking for a higher price.”

Sadie clapped lightly. “Exactly. We’ll need to charge some additional service fees accordingly.”

Qi Xuansu was not surprised in the least. “Please name your price, Miss Sadie.”

Sadie took out a sheet of parchment and began writing with a quill. “By our assessment, Sun Zhongnu alone would be a Level Three target. But since the Evangelical Ministry is involved, we raise it by one level. Given the current timing, the Ministry will be using him heavily, with tight security. Though the guards may lessen later, I doubt you have the patience to wait, so we raise it another level.”

Sadie looked up. “That makes it Level One. Under normal pricing, that would be 10,000 Gold Crowns. With additional service fees, that’s another 3,000. Also, if the Ministry investigates afterward, we provide Level Three confidentiality for free. This covers standard inquiries into your identity. But if the Ministry conducts a deeper investigation, we can no longer guarantee secrecy. At that point, you’ll need to purchase Level Two or Level One protection. Of course, if you’re dissatisfied, you may withdraw the request. So, will you purchase confidentiality protection? Level Two costs 2,000 Gold Crowns, and Level One costs 3,000.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “If I pay for this protection and you still leak my identity to the Ministry, wouldn’t my money be wasted? What guarantee can you offer?”

Sadie smiled faintly. “Our reputation is the best guarantee.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Then let me add a condition. If you take the money but fail to uphold your promise, I’ll seek justice myself. With so many members in the Morgan Brotherhood, I’m sure I’ll find someone to take revenge.”

Sadie fell silent for a moment. “Should I take that as a threat?”

Her words carried a threat of their own, but Qi Xuansu did not mind. “You may interpret it that way. Also, I’ll purchase Level One confidentiality. If the Brotherhood finds my attitude unacceptable and refuses the job, I have no objection.”

Sadie took a deep breath, then quickly wrote another line on the parchment. “Alright, the total is 16,000 Gold Crowns. We only accept cash.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Will Gold Pounds do?”

In truth, the prototype of paper currency originated from deposit certificates. Large quantities of gold and silver were impractical to carry, often weighing tens of thousands of kilograms, making transport difficult. Thus, transactions using deposit certificates emerged. As this method gained acceptance, bearer certificates gradually evolved into paper money.

Paper currency had two main drawbacks: overissuance and counterfeiting. To address overissuance, one must strictly control supply and ensure a backing asset, guaranteeing that notes could be exchanged for gold or silver coins of equivalent value. In the West, this backing was gold; hence, the term “Gold Pounds.”

Sadie nodded. “That’s acceptable.”

Qi Xuansu retrieved the corresponding Gold Pounds from his magical receptacle.

The Central Plains’ official notes were something between paper currency and certificates. Though they came in denominations of 100, 50, 10, and 1, there were also large notes of 1,000. In contrast, Gold Pounds were more standardized, issued only in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50, with nothing larger.

All of Qi Xuansu’s notes were in 50-Pound denominations, so 16,000 Pounds amounted to roughly a small stack.

Sadie took the notes, carefully verifying both their quantity and authenticity, then handed the parchment to Qi Xuansu. “If you have no objections, then we have a deal.”

The dealings here were not meant to be put out in the open, so real names could not be used. Without real identities, no contract could truly hold legal force. As Sadie said, everything relied on the Brotherhood’s reputation. The parchment served merely as a loose receipt. For Qi Xuansu, it would simplify the reimbursement process afterward. Perhaps the Morgan Brotherhood had done business with Beichen Hall before and knew exactly what its people required.

Just as Qi Xuansu was thinking this, Sadie spoke up, “If you’re willing to pay an additional 2,000 Gold Pounds, I can issue you a receipt for 20,000—guaranteed flawless.”

Qi Xuansu fell silent at her words. After a while, he replied slowly, “No need.”

As the dignified Chief Deputy Beichen Hall Master, even if he intended to embezzle funds, such a trivial sum was beneath his status.

Sadie sighed in disappointment. “Come back at this time tomorrow. I’ll have Sun Zhongnu’s movement patterns compiled and ready for you, completing the final step of our transaction.”

Qi Xuansu corrected her. “Our final step is for you to ensure that this matter remains unknown to the Evangelical Ministry.”

Though reluctant, Sadie still replied, “Right.”

Qi Xuansu stood to leave. “Then I’ll await your good news.”

Just as Qi Xuansu was about to leave, Sadie suddenly spoke. “There’s another piece of information about the Patriarch. I’ll offer it for 2,000 Gold Pounds. Interested?”

Qi Xuansu paused and asked in return, “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

Sadie chuckled. “Because it’s my personal information, not suitable for the Brotherhood’s books.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but sigh. Regardless of where they were in the world, everyone skimmed from their organization.

He did not care much about 2,000 Pounds, so he said, “As long as your intelligence is worth it.”

“Of course,” Sadie said confidently. “From what I know, due to the wars among the Nederland, Lune, and Ibia, the Pope has recently decided to convene a conclave at the Holy Seat.”

Qi Xuansu said, “That’s no secret.”

Sadie continued, “That’s not the key point. The key is that the Patriarch of the Steam Evangelical Sect has also received an invitation from the Pope. He has decided to attend and will be leaving St. York soon.”

Qi Xuansu’s expression turned serious. “That is indeed important. But I need the exact time the Patriarch will leave St. York.”

Sadie said, “I understand. You want to act against Sun Zhongnu only after the Patriarch leaves St. York. If you’re willing to purchase that information...”

Qi Xuansu didn’t waste words and took out 2,000 Gold Pounds.

“You’re truly generous, good sir!” Now that it was her personal business rather than the Brotherhood’s, Sadie’s attitude softened considerably, her tone flattering. “The Patriarch will leave St. York in two days’ time, in the morning, heading to the Holy Seat in the Old Continent. This is a conclusion I’ve drawn from multiple sources, so I’m about 80% certain.”