The Bookkeeper
Chapter 85: Advent of the Pages 2

Chapter 85: Advent of the Pages 2

"Well, I don’t know much about them, but they’re called the Astro Society." Speed relaxed on the sofa while Raiden stood before him.

"Back in Kingston City, they used to pester people with their beliefs, and they’re also fans of the book of Aaron."

Raiden smiled. Getting a start wasn’t as hard as he’d anticipated. He just hoped they could offer some real help.

"You’ll have to take me to Kingston City, then, Speed."

Noelle interrupted from behind as she came down the stairs. "What is going on, bookkeeper?"

"You’ve been acting strange since yesterday—you know something about the assassins, don’t you?"

Raiden ignored her. He had already forgotten she was even in the house with them, and dealing with her wasn’t part of his plans.

"Rule Domain."

Noelle’s domain formed around them in an instant. Raiden began to swallow nervously, sweat beading on his face. Within Noelle’s domain, she could get everything out of him. He didn’t fear telling the truth—he feared revealing more than he intended.

"You have to tell me now." She walked toward Raiden, her aether cigarette resting in her mouth. "What’s going on?"

Raiden stood still, his eyes darting around, hoping for the domain to force the truth out of him, but nothing happened. He then smirked. She could only change and make rules—she couldn’t issue commands.

"Well, it’s about the FIRMO assassins. They’re after specific pages from the book of Aaron."

"The twenty-eight pages?" She asked with a confused expression while Raiden met her gaze with a similar expression of his own.

"You know about the pages?"

"Not really, but my mother did."

Raiden raised an eyebrow, a soft smirk crossing his face. People around him seemed to be connected to the pages somehow, which was good.

"Then we need to speak with your mother. If the assassins get those pages, they could read the books."

Noelle gave him a lazy look. "I thought you were the bookkeeper. Weren’t you told the assassins took my mother alongside the book?"

Raiden’s eyes widened in realization, then dropped immediately. "How, though? Did she sleep with the book or something?"

She let out an irritated sigh. "I knew you were pathetic, but not to this degree."

Raiden’s face began twisting with irritation. Only common sense kept him from striking Noelle.

"I don’t know what they did actually, but my mother had her rule domain around the book." She stepped closer, and Raiden looked down at her due to her smaller frame.

"They must have done something to consume my mother’s domain with her and the book inside it."

Raiden nodded in understanding. The assassins found Noelle’s mother challenging because of her domain, and since it surrounded the book, she didn’t need to fight—the moment they entered was an end game. So they had to take her domain with her trapped within it to get the book.

Raiden let out a sigh. "Can you undo your domain now?"

Noelle stared directly into his eyes. "One thing—will you be going after the pages?"

"Yes."

"Two birds with one stone, then." Her eyes dropped to the floor. "I need to prevent them from getting the pages and also rescue my mother."

Raiden swallowed nervously. If she stayed behind, it would be better since she was also a guardian, but with both of them gone, who would protect the book?

"Uhm... don’t you think that’s a bad idea?"

She deactivated her domain. "What?! If you can go, then why can’t I?"

Raiden let out a sigh. "There has to be a guardian around..."

"Then you stay. You don’t have any agenda except stopping the FIRMO, right?"

Raiden began gritting his teeth.

"Well, I do."

She wasn’t wrong. Raiden had no other excuse since he couldn’t tell anyone what his actual reason was.

"Okay, sure... I’ll take you."

"Take me where? If you’re talking about the pages, then I’m sorry, but you aren’t coming with me." She said and walked past Raiden.

Raiden opened his mouth with a startled expression. How could she make such a confident claim in his territory? But her commanding personality only intrigued Raiden.

"You know where to go, right?"

She turned to him and took a seat. "No... the other guardians will be taking MK and me."

The moment she sat down, Speed rose to his feet and left the room.

"You know those are my people, right?"

"Yes..." she said and relaxed on the sofa. "As guardians, they can’t refuse to work in favor of the books’ safety."

Her words made Raiden burst into uncontrollable laughter, his eyes filling with tears as he clutched his gut. Noelle was confused but unbothered by Raiden’s abnormal reaction.

"You really thought they were guardians?"

He tried to stop laughing, but the amusement made it impossible.

"The only person here you can call a guardian is Leo, and trust me, he wouldn’t help."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Every person here is my servant, whether by contract or by some agreement."

He narrowed his eyes, staring into her violet ones. He wasn’t comfortable going this far, but he knew it was necessary.

"Everyone does as I say and does what I do."

"Are you saying you have contracts with more than six people?"

Raiden smirked.

"That’s not possible for someone at number 7..." She rose to her feet and began leaving the hall. "Next time, get a better lie."

Raiden just stared at her as she left, and at that moment, Freya returned from the kitchen, stuffing a few snacks into her mouth.

"Can you call everyone here, Free?"

She gave him a firm nod as she walked away. Raiden was taken aback. He never knew contracting four people was out of his league... Leo would have told him that. His life was confusing, and yet he had so little time to figure it out.

Before long, everyone came to the living room and took their seats. Raiden sat on the staircase, facing them.

He cleared his throat. "You were all made aware of the twenty-eight pages yesterday, right?"

Leo responded while the others simply remained seated. "Speed claims to know a society who might give us a lead on where to get them."

He paused to let his words settle in. "This isn’t something I can stay away from, so I want to get out there, get all the information I need, and if possible, retrieve the pages before the assassins do."

He sighed. "I’ll be going with some of you, of course, but I must have people stay to protect the house and the book."

Leo raised his hand. "As an apprentice, I don’t have any option but to stay, right? I will be staying."

Raiden gave him a subtle nod.

"Soul will also be staying..." Speed added.

With Soul and Leo around, he believed the house would be secure. They were more than capable.

"It’s settled, then." He rose to his feet. "I will request the needed funds today, and we will leave tomorrow."

They all responded positively, rose to their feet, and began to walk away.