As for Albert, one of the few and most important dark giants in Stuttgar's vast and hidden underground kingdom, and the only one he knew and contacted among all the highest-ranking high-level people in that world, Ed had specifically approached Marcy after the Belvedere incident to learn more about it. It can be said that it is a rainy day, or it can be said that it has ulterior motives, but in general he did just that.

But as expected, even if it was Marcy, even if Stuttgard was a giant of law enforcement on the surface, the police headquarters in Stuttgar still knew very little about this existence. They had enough tangible information to open a separate archive, but there were no more than a few sheets of paper that were really useful and could help them provide effective checks and balances on Albert.

Albert is more akin to the shadow of the city itself than any specific being that can be destroyed and intimidated with bullets or gasoline. No one knows where this man's residence is, but it seems that there are places everywhere that belong to him, and no one knows what kind of business he does, but it seems that Albert's looming shadow can be found behind all the giants in the industrial field that are the lifeblood of real estate, finance, military industry, entertainment, catering, etc., which are the lifeblood of the city.

If you just look at the surface, you will never know what this person is doing day by day, but as long as it involves the underground kingdom, no matter what you do, you can't avoid this person. At the same time, anything about the Underground Kingdom, you can also come to this person. If he is willing to be found by you.

This is also what makes Ed horrified. Is it really just because of what he said to Ed? Is it really just what he says it is?

Ed didn't know. As he and Eliki had said, he couldn't be sure. But none of that matters to him right now. What really matters to him now is the reason why he came here on the initiative to put himself under the wall.

"As for what I said when I contacted Eligi last night," Ed asked, punishing his cigar as he looked at the lake in the distance, "how much do you know?" ”

"A lot."

"How much are you going to tell me?"

“…… Not much. ”

Albert tilted his head, his neck straightened, and exhaled a puff of smoke. Then he laughed, got up from his chaise longue, poured himself a glass of wine, and walked all the way to the edge of the terrace, leaning against the stone railing, which was neither tall nor low, and the lake breeze blew.

Ed glanced at him, took the bottle and poured himself a glass, and stepped forward to his side, resting his elbow on the stone railing. However, because he was very panicked, he immediately straightened up again, and learned Albert to lean on his waist.

"Honestly, I don't want to tell you anything you want to know, Eddard." Albert said, calling Ed by his first name, taking a sip of his wine and looking down at the beautiful garden in the courtyard of the Black Forest Manor under the terrace, "You're trying to throw yourself into a vortex of trouble you don't understand." Get involved in it, and even you probably won't be able to get out of it. ”

"Do you care about me, Albert?" Ed glanced at Albert, "I'm so impressed. ”

"I just don't want you to officiate at the funeral of my new friend so soon...... You know, it's the kind of that stands on the stage and reads a bunch of memorial. In particular, I'm sure there won't be many people listening to it by then. Albert paused and looked at Ed with a smile, "Of course, your little lover from the city bureau will definitely be there." ”

"I doubt it...... I'm not sure she'll dedicate time to that kind of pointless event. Ed said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his wine.

"That's too bad. It's worse than you think. ”

"It's not that bad. You can put away your useless imagination and talk about what I want to hear. Ed turned to look at Albert, "How much do you know about the female doctor called 'Shilo'?" ”

“……”

"Is there something wrong?" Ed asked. His brow furrowed, as he noticed a slight change in Albert's expression at the name he had heard.

"There's something wrong." Albert bowed his head, the corners of his mouth slightly curled, as if he was recalling and thinking about something, "You know, Ed, I've had a feeling since I met you in Belvedere that sooner or later a guy like you will get involved in some really bad things and get involved with some really bad people—good or bad relationships. But I didn't expect it to be so fast. ”

"I don't know anyone who could be more 'less fun' than you."

"Now you've met it." Albert said, "Or 'asked'—Tithe, she was indeed a doctor, and she used to be one of the most famous underground secret doctors in this world. Of course, she has already withdrawn, and now only very few people know the specific situation of this person, as long as very few people know the specific situation of this person now. ”

“…… Why is an underground secret doctor so valued by you? Ed asked. He didn't think it would be so easy to make Albert say that someone was 'really not fun', 'even less fun than him'.

"Because she has another part-time job...... In fact, in terms of income alone, that's her main occupation. Now her name has faded, because of the cruel nature of the underworld, no one can live forever. However, in the past, her influence in 'that circle' was almost the same as that of me now, which can be described as unknown to everyone. ”

"'That circle'?"

"Black Market Bounty Hunter." Albert looked at Ed's inquiring gaze and explained calmly, "Or you can say 'hired killers'." ”

“……”

"She was a legend at the beginning, and now she has become a legend." There was a sigh in Albert's voice, "I used to have contact with her...... Some business dealings. I've asked her to save people, and I've asked her to kill people. She is a very skilled doctor and is one of the best surgical hands I have ever seen. In her nearly ten years of underground secret medical career, she has saved countless lives, and all the forces in the underground kingdom owe her a few lives except for some young guys who have just risen up. However, although she has saved many people, she has killed many more people...... At least ten times more. ”

"I think I get it." Ed nodded thoughtfully, "This is a super 'not fun' ruthless character. ”

"It's much worse than that. This guy isn't just ruthless. She's a monster. Albert tilted his head to look at Ed solemnly, "At the beginning, people in that circle called her 'rabid dog', because as long as she was the prey she targeted, there was no possibility of escape, and she would keep biting them until she was killed. Her teeth are so good that you can't believe it, and she has never been a picky eater, as long as she is given enough money, she will kill anyone, including the elderly, women, and children, and is one of the top and most murderous elites in the industry at that time. And she's not even over thirty years old. ”

"Then why did she quit?" Ed asked, "It seems to me that she is about to enter the golden age of her career, to start her own era, right?" ”

"I don't know." Albert shook his head, "This is a mystery that the Underworld has not solved so far. At first, some people speculated that it was because she was in love with a certain man, so she wanted to wash her hands in a golden basin. This kind of thing is not uncommon in the industry, or should it be said that it abounds. In fact, many people still think so. But as far as I and a few other people in the know know, she hasn't been with anyone since she quit, and she's still on her own, quietly working as a low-key doctor in the little place she's found, and hasn't caused any major problems for so long. ”

"Until now." Ed added in a deep voice.

"Until now." Albert nodded, raised his glass, drank the rest of the glass in one gulp, then put it down, pressed his arm against the stone railing, and exhaled, "That's why I'm going to persuade you to let go one last time - you don't have to involve yourself in this damn trouble, you can leave this mess to the authorities, you can find some safe and profitable commission to do." You know all of this. This time it was a bit too dangerous, and just one tithe had turned the nature of the event upside down, not to mention the A.R.X. ......"

“A.R.X？” Ed, who was silently listening, suddenly interrupted Albert and turned to look at him.

“…… Those who fight with you. Albert sighed, "You said they might belong to the top of some underground kingdom. You guessed it. ”

"That's it...... A.R.X？ Ed asked.

Albert didn't answer him, just closed his lips and nodded.

"Tell me about this A.R.X."

"My last advice didn't work, did it?"

"You'll just listen to me."

"Thank you so much for listening." Albert snorted and turned his head to the other side, "But unfortunately, this name is all I can give you about that organization. ”

"More you don't know?" Ed looked at the side of his face.

"You just don't know about it." Albert said, then turned his head back again, "But I can give you a heads up." You can ask your little lover in the bureau about it, maybe she knows something. ”

“…… "What do you know about what they were going to that house for," Ed asked, "about what they call 'that thing'?" ”

"I don't know." This time Albert replied very simply, shaking his head without hesitation, "I really don't know about this." I can't get a clear picture of every transaction in the underworld. No one person can do that. ”

"Hmm......" Ed squinted at Albert with half-closed eyes and nodded with a pout, "I'll just take what you said is true." ”

“……”