The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 66: The Tail

Margot's behavior was nothing new to Lumiere. If it were him, he would have done the same thing!

Lumiere recalled that Aurora had mentioned that Extraordinary individuals of the "Hunter" pathway were quite common in the Intis Republic. He began to suspect that Margot might also be an Extraordinary, possibly from the "Hunter" pathway, though he wasn't sure of the exact Sequence.

"A high Sequence wouldn't likely be just a gang leader unless it was necessary for the act... If Margot is indeed an Extraordinary from the Hunter pathway, he probably isn't beyond Sequence 7. Besides, it's highly unlikely he's a 'Pyromaniac.' Rhea and Valentine are only Sequence 7, yet they're already considered elite investigators. Could they really be inferior to someone who just patrols territories, kidnaps women, and bullies prostitutes?"

As Lumiere silently mused to himself, he took a couple of steps back, retracting his gaze and no longer looking in that direction.

Although it was unlikely that Margot's Sequence was as high as 7 or beyond, Lumiere didn't dare to be careless.

What if Margot's Sequence title was something like "Ruffian," requiring him to act in such a way?

What if the Scorpion Gang wasn't as simple as it seemed and was actually an extension of some hidden organization or underground cult, possessing enough resources but deliberately keeping a low profile to avoid drawing the attention of the authorities?

These possibilities were low, but to Lumiere, who lacked information and corresponding occult knowledge, they couldn't be ruled out. He had no way to eliminate these options or determine just how low the likelihood actually was.

In the second-floor corridor, the man suspected to be Margot, wearing a red shirt and a black vest, kept his hands in his pockets and turned slightly to glance at his three subordinates.

He frowned slightly, clearly displeased and puzzled by the unnecessary perfume scent clinging to them.

He then shifted his gaze to the floor, sniffing the air.

He detected that the perfume scent didn't just linger at the stairwell; it extended unabashedly toward Room 207. Moreover, the bottom step had a fresh mark, likely made by a small, light object.

In an instant, the man suspected to be Margot pieced together what had happened based on the information he gathered from the environment. The occupant of Room 207 might have gone to the bloodbath or visited a neighbor. On their way back to their room, they intended to spray some perfume but lost their grip, causing the bottle to fall to the stairs. The person, feeling regretful, likely rubbed the spilled perfume on themselves, leaving behind only a few traces.

This aligned with the mentality of tenants at the Golden Rooster Hotel.

The man suspected to be Margot, having resolved his doubts, said to his three subordinates, "Let's go back to the Mill Ballroom."

Listening to their conversation from Room 207, Lumiere confirmed that the man, likely an Extraordinary of the Hunter pathway, was indeed Margot.

After talking with Charlie in the morning, Lumiere had wandered around the Honest Man Market area, chatting with several vendors and neighbors in the bar. He learned that the Mill Ballroom at No. 3 Chaos Street was one of the Scorpion Gang's strongholds.

Once Margot and his men had descended to the ground floor, Lumiere donned his wide-brimmed hat and leisurely left the room, following the lingering scent of perfume into the depths of the street.

Seven or eight minutes later, he arrived at the Mill Ballroom. The scent of the cheap perfume confirmed that Margot and his men had returned here.

The Mill Ballroom didn't have the impressive sculptures and inscriptions of the Breeze Ballroom; it merely occupied part of the roadside, with a golden-colored entrance hall.