New Gods of North America

That night, Wayne and Inissa arrived outside the so-called "hunters' gathering bar."

This is not an industry created by the local hunters' association, but it is said to be jointly run by several hunters who settled in the city.

If Wayne hadn't just had a drink in the past few days, just looking at the style of this bar, Wayne would have thought he had traveled to an era of "Prohibition".

Deep in an alley with many paths leading to different directions, there is an inconspicuous secret door.

After knocking on the secret door, two guys who looked like black market dealers appeared inside.

Then he showed a badge that was glowing slightly, and the other party removed the chains blocking the way, letting them in one by one, and took Wayne and Inissa along the passage inside, and finally went down the stairs into the basement, which was a slightly larger space similar to a bar style.

It was about the size of a classroom. There were not many customers in the bar at that moment, only about ten or so.

Wayne is now quite familiar with places like pubs and bars.

So the two of them sat down at the bar, and Wayne pushed a $5 gold coin over, "Two whiskeys, keep the change."

If you don't specify a brand, whiskey is actually not expensive in the West. If you just buy alcohol, you obviously don't need that much.

As a new customer, this is considered an act of paying respects, making friends, or asking questions.

So after the bartender handed over the two cups and collected the gold coins, he did not turn around and leave. Instead, he stood across the bar and took the initiative to talk to Wayne and the others in a brisk tone:

"You two look like new faces. Have you just arrived in Kanks City?"

Wayne nodded. "I was just passing by. I heard there's a river bay town nearby. I wanted to stop by on my way to take a look. I wonder what the situation is like there?"

"River Bay Town?" The bar thought about it for a moment without much concern. "It's a small place near Kanks City. The public security seems to be okay. There are no big industries, and I don't think there are any Beyonders living there. If you want to find someone, the Beyonders in this area usually choose to live in Kanks City."

Wayne continued the conversation: "I heard that, because of the relationship with the diocesan bishop, Kanks is quite... friendly to the Beyonders?"

The bartender nodded. "It was before. This situation seems to have lasted for more than ten or twenty years. But after the recent appointment of a new bishop, I don't know if it will change.

"Besides, because the local church does not strictly manage this area, there are actually quite a few crimes involving Beyonders in Kanks City."

Wayne picked up the cup and took a sip. "I've heard about this too. It seems that there is a Beyonder in the city who has committed many crimes. It is said that he has killed several people in succession, and he has not been arrested yet."

"Are you also interested in the murderer?"

The bartender smiled and said, "In order to maintain peace in the city, the local Beyonders have spontaneously formed a number of mutual aid organizations. They will also help the police station or the church to crack down on Beyonders who commit crimes, maintain law and order, and prevent the church from indiscriminately sweeping Beyonders again. So there are actually quite a few people secretly paying attention to that case, and it seems that it is not easy to catch them."

"I see the bar is quite lively. With so many hunters, is there no one who can 'hunt' him?" Wayne asked.

The bartender said evasively, "His bounty is not high enough. Many powerful companions have now chosen to move to big cities in the West or East Coast, or although they pay attention to the case, they are not very interested in actively investigating it.

"If someone can find out the identity of the murderer, there will definitely be a lot more people 'hunting' him."

The bartender thought for a moment and added, "Moreover, the murderer never provokes the big forces in the city, and his crimes are irregular. He is a cunning but not particularly dangerous type. At least he is not as dangerous as the gangs composed of Beyonders."

Wayne objected to this, "Didn't he kill a hunter?"

The bartender looked at Wayne in surprise:

"Unless they are targeted as a whole, the Hunters are not a force. Besides, Francis has retired a long time ago and has always been a loner, without many friends. Even if someone takes action, it should be to maintain law and order, not to help him get revenge."

"I see."

Wayne continued to ask, "You just mentioned 'a gang composed of extraordinary people'. Are there such gangs in the city?"

The bartender shook his head:

"There were some in the past. But what's left now are basically some self-sustaining Beyonder organizations, most of which are mainly for internal mutual assistance, and some are mainly used to maintain legal or gray businesses.

"Now, if another Beyonder organization dares to go too far, the church won't even have to intervene. The other Beyonders in the city will spontaneously organize themselves and 'group hunt' them."

Wayne then confirmed the situation in Riverbend with the bartender and a few good-natured locals.

It was discovered that in the eyes of these local hunters, Hewan Town was just an ordinary small town near the city. They all knew something about it, but they all felt that the place had neither much development nor any problems, so they didn't care much about it.

…

Leave the bar and walk out of the alley.

Wayne and Inissa were about to return to the hotel when a gorgeously decorated four-wheeled carriage followed them from behind and then stopped on the roadside next to them.

The two men stepped aside and looked into the car. Wayne's right hand had already reached into his coat.

Then he realized that the person sitting in the carriage was actually a familiar face—

Captain Joffrey who likes to look down on people.

Captain Joffrey pushed open the door of the carriage and raised his chin:

"Get in the car, someone wants to see you."

Wayne deliberately took another half step back and shook his head, "I don't want to go."

Captain Joffrey didn't seem to have thought that he would be rejected. After a moment of surprise, his chest suddenly swelled up.

Although he didn't say anything, it's estimated that what he said wouldn't be good.

What young master...

He can't even persuade others.

But when Wayne saw him like this, he probably guessed who was behind it.

So Wayne thought about it and got into the carriage. "But since it's Captain Joffrey's invitation, I'm going to go anyway."

Captain Joffrey's expression looked better.

After Inissa got on the carriage, it started slowly and finally arrived at a rather busy neighborhood.

I entered a tall building, walked up the stairs on the thick carpet, passed through the ornately decorated corridor, and entered a room the size of a classroom.

There was an elder who looked kind and honest, flipping through a thick ancient book.

He was wearing a white monk's robe and a sacred triangular emblem representing the Holy Spirit on his chest. He looked solemn and simple.

However, Wayne happened to recognize the bone china teacup next to him.

Mr. Stern in Blackstone has a similar set of furniture.

It's just that Mr. Stern placed the tea set in a prominent place in the reception room, using it as a decoration worthy of showing off.

This elder should be the former bishop who just "retired" not long ago.