The original owner was not familiar with this target, only knowing that he was currently the head of the palace guards, a piece of basic information that anyone with some connections could find out.
The original plan was to investigate this viscount further after becoming an extraordinary being. However, fate had other plans, and the original owner died saving someone on the day he became extraordinary, leaving his body to Lin Ruo.
Although the original owner didn't know much about Viscount Stafford, Lin Ruo did. Or rather, he knew from the original story that Stafford served directly under the King of Ruen and was involved in the major plot of the fifth volume, where George III attempted to become a god.
"This is… quite a coincidence!" Lin Ruo thought, crossing his legs and feeling a bit speechless.
Others might not know, but he did. The events behind Kapin were also related to this. Kapin's human trafficking and slave trade were largely to provide live humans for the royal family, who needed them for George III's godhood ritual.
Lin Ruo had planned to deal with George III, the heartless tyrant, once he was stronger. Now, it seemed this could also become part of the original owner's revenge.
Of course, without further evidence, this was just Lin Ruo's guess, or it could be a coincidence. But with keywords like "seven years ago," "rebellion," "untouchable big shot," and "Viscount Stafford," Lin Ruo didn't think it was just a coincidence.
Even if it wasn't a coincidence, this matter needed careful planning. The George III godhood event involved not only the Ruen royal family but also secret organizations like the Aurora Order, the Witch Sect, and the Psychological Alchemy Society.
This wasn't something Lin Ruo, currently only a Sequence 9, could handle. Acting rashly might alert the enemies and lead to his demise—yesterday's situation was an exception.
"I need to advance my Sequence first…" Lin Ruo sighed, feeling the weight of the task ahead.
Lin Ruo was bewildered.
He was genuinely bewildered, and not just bewildered—cold sweat almost broke out on his forehead.
Because at this moment, he was pulled to Klein's side again. But that wasn't the main point. The main point was that Klein was standing in an office, not far from him, wearing a white shirt and black vest, looking about thirty years old but with a high hairline, staring at him with deep gray eyes full of astonishment.
Dunn Smith!
This was the Blackthorn Security Company!
This was the Tingen Night Watchers' division!
This was the time in the original story when Klein sought Dunn's help after being followed by the Secret Order!
Lin Ruo immediately realized what was happening. He hadn't used the Secrecy Badge to enter a hidden state because he was pulled over too suddenly, and Dunn had clearly seen him.
In a split second, Lin Ruo made a decision. Before Dunn could act, he showed the Secrecy Badge and revealed the aura of the Night on it, saying:
"My name is Lin Ruo, a favored one of the Goddess. If you don't believe me, you can perform a ritual to verify with the Goddess."
Since Dunn had seen him, Lin Ruo decided not to use the Secrecy Badge to hide. Weighing the pros and cons, he decided to reveal his identity as a "favored one"—there was no point in hiding. If he could be pulled over suddenly to face the Night Watchers, it could happen again. It was better to be upfront.
Lin Ruo wasn't worried about verification. The Goddess of the Night had given him the Secrecy Badge. If Dunn sought confirmation, the Goddess wouldn't deny it.
Even if she did, she would likely provide a reasonable explanation, so Lin Ruo wouldn't have to worry about the aftermath.
Now it was Dunn Smith's turn to be bewildered. He had been about to act but froze, staring at the badge Lin Ruo had taken out.
He didn't believe Lin Ruo's simple statement that he was a favored one of the Goddess, but as a Night Watcher and a devout follower of the Goddess, he could feel the Goddess's aura on the badge.
It wasn't just a simple ritual magic aura; it was overwhelmingly strong.
After a moment of hesitation, Dunn said, "Can I see your badge?"
"Sure!" Lin Ruo nodded, handing the Secrecy Badge to Dunn while emptying his mind to avoid thinking about 008, preventing Dunn from sensing it—similar to how Klein avoided 008's perception in the original story.
Klein also realized what was happening. He glanced at Lin Ruo, then at Dunn examining the badge, unsure of what to say.
What could he say? Speak well of Lin Ruo? But it seemed unnecessary.
And a favored one of the Goddess… Klein recalled Lin Ruo's previous response about being an official extraordinary being, feeling a bit exasperated.
A favored one of the Goddess was considered a semi-official extraordinary being? Even without much knowledge of mysticism, Klein knew how rare a favored one was—there were probably only a few in the entire church.
Despite his thoughts, Klein didn't show it. With his acting skills, he quietly watched Dunn, waiting for his conclusion.
Dunn didn't take long to examine the badge. After a few seconds, he returned it to Lin Ruo, his deep gray eyes fixed on him, saying, "I need to perform a ritual to seek the Goddess's answer. During this time, you must stay in my sight and not make any suspicious moves. If you are truly a favored one, I will apologize for my rudeness afterward. But for now, please cooperate."
Although Dunn believed most of Lin Ruo's words after examining the badge, he decided to perform a ritual to seek the Goddess's answer out of caution and responsibility for his team.