New Gods of North America

The first course on Wednesday morning was Sociology of Religion.

In this era, this course was still a "cutting-edge discipline" that had not yet been systematically formed. The textbook used was a collection of scattered articles by a Frankish scholar.

Currently, the main research content roughly involved discussing the impact of "faith" on individuals, families, and even society from the perspective of empirical history.

The Holy Spirit Church was unwilling to always be inferior to the Holy See of the Old Continent in theological research, so it was very quick to introduce and explore some emerging disciplines.

It was said that in some famous universities in the Old Continent, this course had not yet been officially included in the teaching scope, but some universities in America had already begun to try to overtake on a curve.

The second course, "Fundamentals of Economics", was more practically significant.

In today's America, striving to accumulate personal or family wealth was a very positive and correct thing.

To enter the upper class, some basic common sense in this area was essential; otherwise, many newly promoted middle-class individuals could easily fall back down.

Children from wealthy families usually had more advantages in this regard, as they could hire trustworthy or several different professionals to help them fill in any gaps.

Doug had gone to Richmond to inquire about test-making silencers. Conner delivered lunch.

While Wayne was eating, he saw Conner with an expression that seemed to say, "My lord, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

He curiously took the initiative to ask, "Is there something you want to say?"

"...It's not a big deal, really."

Conner pondered for a moment, "I feel like when I've been traveling within the Georgeburg city limits these past few days, someone seems to be following the detective agency's carriage. But they've always kept their distance and haven't gotten too close. Using firearms rashly seems like an overreaction."

Wayne thought for a moment, "Then you can call the police."

"Call...the police?" Conner was a little stunned, as if he had never thought of this method.

Wayne nodded:

"We are law-abiding citizens. If we feel our personal safety is threatened, we should naturally seek help from law enforcement officers."

"David Mills, who came to fight you last time, is the head of the local exorcism department. There's a police chief named Bill Tench at the Georgeburg Police Department who also has some acquaintance with our detective agency."

"Regardless of whether the other party is a paranormal being or an ordinary gangster, since their behavior is suspicious and threatens us, we can certainly call the police."

Putting aside the commissions he had accepted in the past, the detective agency had now arrested many wanted criminals and had a long-term contract with the steam train company.

In Wayne's view, it was normal to be sought out for revenge or to be targeted.

Some particularly suspicious big clients might even arrange for people to secretly investigate before making a commission.

Since the other party hadn't taken direct action, calling the police was definitely the easiest thing to do.

Conner seemed a little unaccustomed to such things. "But the police's duty is to arrest or eliminate criminals, not to provide security services to ordinary people."

The detective agency's current manpower shortage was also a problem. Otherwise, a group of people could surround and intercept, at least solving the curiosity problem.

Wayne tried to enlighten him:

"You should report to the police once or twice first, to prove that it's not our subjective malice. Then, find an opportunity to confirm the other party's identity, so that even if we take action, it won't be our fault."

"Of course, you must first confirm that someone is indeed following you and not just your misjudgment."

Conner tried to digest the idea of "a hunter association paranormal encountering something and actually going to the Holy Spirit Church or reporting to the police."

Then he nodded somewhat woodenly, "I know what to do, Mr. Wayne."

...

In the afternoon, after Wayne finished his theology theory class, he encountered another "problem youth."

Luke Matthew from the "Pointed Hat Society" brotherhood brought a letter for Wayne to see. The letter was signed by Ian Fisk.

That guy's signature was quite beautiful, unlike him, who looked so scruffy.

In the letter, Ian Fisk expressed surprise at why Wayne hadn't joined the brotherhood, wondering if it was Luke Matthew's fault.

Luke Matthew seemed very concerned about Ian Fisk's opinion:

"Wayne, could you help write a letter to tell Ian the specific reasons and your thoughts?"

Wayne felt that Luke Matthew was quite "decent."

So he didn't refuse, took him back to his dorm, spread out the stationery, and made up a reason to fool Ian Fisk, as long as it could help him clear his name.

He also chatted with him about his recent life.

Luke Matthew was graduating at the end of this academic year, but he was now facing a problem similar to "needing work experience before finding a job"—

If he couldn't clearly obtain the protection of a major family, then he might not be able to leave Virginia. But if he didn't even go for interviews, and Ian Fisk wasn't actually in charge of the family yet, some things might not be so easy to handle.

So Luke Matthew was now also trying to find a way to make his resume more impressive before graduation, making it easier for Ian Fisk to speak up for him in the family.

With family authorization, Miss Ovelia could handle things on the local church side, perhaps without Ian Fisk even having to make a trip.

...

The next afternoon, after finishing the Archeology and Antiquities class,

Miss Ovelia said goodbye to the other two young ladies and then asked Wayne if he wanted to go back to the detective agency together.

Wayne asked and learned that this young lady had been running to the detective agency every evening recently, or going to the college's church for routine check-ins.

The reason given to outsiders was that she was feeling unwell and needed to return to the manor every day for a check-up by the family doctor.

The reality wasn't too far off. Inessa now had to try to check her condition every day, to prevent her from suddenly losing control or suddenly awakening.

As expected of a young lady, even awakening as a paranormal being had to be carefully monitored.

Wayne's situation was much simpler. He probably awakened when he crawled out of a pile of corpses, and he was still living very healthily.

Nothing happened that night.

Miss Ovelia's body was still normal. It was said that after she learned about Lina's situation, she also wrote a letter and entrusted someone to take it to Georgia. Perhaps someone would help take care of her.

Then, when Wayne was sitting in the carriage driven by Conner back to the college that night, he once again encountered a carriage that seemed to be following them.

Conner was a bit of a paranoid type, and Wayne's curiosity was relatively strong.

Therefore, after another unsuccessful attempt to counter-track, Wayne really went to the police station to report the case.

This time, Wayne and the others initially happened to be following behind the carriage that Miss Ovelia was riding in, so he used a rather cunning reason:

"I suspect someone is trying to harm members of the Fisk family. As a private detective agency with a security agreement with them, we may be carrying out some preventative security operations. For example, taking control of the other party in advance."

The duty officer who received the report looked a little hesitant.

Such things could perhaps be done first and reported later, but according to the law, the police certainly couldn't allow it without authorization.

But if he raised an objection... if something really happened, he felt like he would inexplicably encounter bad luck again.

So Wayne saw that he was in a difficult position and kindly instructed him,

To carefully take notes on the report and submit it normally according to the procedure.

If anyone in the police explicitly prohibited it, then the detective agency would definitely comply.