Mikhail looked at the card in his hand and then at the building in front of him.
'Looks like I found it.'
He thought, putting the card back and gently patting Methew on his shoulder.
His class as a tamer might be questioned in his talk with Daniel, so he had already brought Methew out of the subspace.
"Meow."
Methew let out a small purr as Mikhail opened the door, prompting the bell on the door to ring.
The first thing he noticed was the old wooden furniture that was placed around in a large hall room.
There were three people in total, all doing different work. They all stopped once they saw Mikhail.
With a polite smile, Mikhail walked towards the lady sitting at the reception.
"Hello." She said, when he reached closer. "How can I help you?"
"I-uh, I was recommended for an assistant's post." Mikhail said. "My teacher must have already informed Sir Daniel."
The lady gave a short nod before she walked out of the reception and towards the room at the end of the hall.
After a few seconds, she walked back, gesturing towards the door.
"Sir Daniel is inside." She said. "He is waiting for you."
Mikhail nodded. "Thank you."
He walked towards the door, took a deep breath and walked inside.
The door opened up to a room that was neither too big nor small.
Multiple stacks of books were placed on different shelves along with documents and paperwork.
A single long wooden desk was placed in the middle, and on the other side of it sat a man in his mid-thirties.
He was ordinary in looks, his black hair receding backwards while his brown eyes assessed Mikhail.
With a polite smile Mikhail started. "Hello, sir."
"Mikhail, right?" Daniel Smith gestured towards the seat. "Please."
Mikhail nodded, put his bag down and took the seat.
"Be comfortable." Daniel said. "You don't mind if I ask some questions, right?"
"I don't mind, sir."
"Alan said a lot of good things about you." Daniel said, his voice was unhurried and bored. "The topper of your class."
Mikhail kept his smile. "He is a good teacher."
"Indeed he is, I have known him for a long time." Daniel replied, picking up one of the files on the desk. "I read a few things about you, mostly how you were an average student all your life."
His brown eyes looked up to assess his reaction. "But it all changed two years ago." He said. "I wonder why?"
"I just wanted to make myself better." Mikhail replied. "That's why I worked harder."
Mikhail clearly saw that Daniel didn't buy that answer, but he had no choice in the matter.
'It's not like he can guess that I transmigrated.'
Daniel didn't reply. His gaze shifted towards Methew.
"Your awakening resulted in a blank screen." He said softly. "How did you know you were a tamer of Viscount rank?"
"It was instinct, a gut feeling you could say." He replied. "I thought it might work. I tried and it worked."
Daniel smiled slightly. "You sure have good instincts." He replied. "If not for them, you could have been cast aside."
Mikhail didn't respond. He just helped Methew get down on his lap.
"Why do you want this job?" Daniel asked in a bored tone.
"Pardon?"
"Is it for fame? Money? Experience or achievement?" He replied.
Mikhail thought for a second before he replied. "Let's say a little of everything."
Daniel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "And?"
"And to know the truth." Mikhail replied. "Why didn't you just lie to the prince?"
Mikhail was genuinely intrigued by the possibility of it.
If he had just told one lie, the two kingdoms would have been flourishing.
"It's a detective's duty to find out the truth." Daniel replied, standing up.
He walked towards the stand, put on his overcoat and placed a vintage cap over his head.
"Come with me."
Mikhail stood up, picked his bag and walked out with him.
Daniel led him out of the office and took him to a coffee house on a different street.
'Hm?'
Mikhail immediately noticed the large number of security around the area.
"Pastor David is staying at the building adjacent to this street." Daniel said when he noticed Mikhail's gaze. "It's for him."
Mikhail nodded his head and asked. "Why did you bring me here?"
Daniel didn't reply. He ordered two coffees and got comfortable on his chair.
"Let me ask you a hypothetical question." He finally said. "Who would win if the church and the government had a fight?"
"No one." He replied. "They would mutually self-destruct."
"Why do you think so?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
"They are both equally powerful, one is in control of the military and the other of morality. If they ever fought, they could both easily manipulate the masses and get them against each other."
Mikhail gave a clear reasoning with his experience from his previous world.
"In case of a war between them, the one who wins will be determined by the strongest members."
Daniel let out a small smile and took the coffee from the waiter.
"So, according to you, what's the best course of action for both parties if they want to win?"
Mikhail took the coffee and fell into deep thought.
"Religion has only survived so long because of people and preachers. Kill the preachers and half the war is over." He replied.
"And if the church wants to win then they need the military under their control."
Mikhail took a sip of his coffee and looked up at Daniel who was staring at him.
"What?"
"Nothing." Daniel replied. "You have sharp senses."
He took a big sip of his coffee and let out a satisfied grunt.
"But things will never be this simple." He replied. "The higher ups are more tolerant of each other than normal people think."
Mikhail nodded in response. He understood that as well.
"So, the best course of action will be to play the long game." Mikhail replied with a smile. "To see if all preachers die first or the church has a military that can suppress the government."
Daniel smiled slightly and kept on looking at him without a word.
Mikhail got uncomfortable. "What?"
"Your brain thinks oddly." Daniel replied. "You sure you are from this world?"
Mikhail almost spat out the coffee he was drinking but he quickly got a hold of himself.
"That's a ridiculous thing to say." He replied. "Of course I am from here."
Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly. "You aren't lying, right?"
"People lie all the time." Mikhail said, shrugging. "It's the detective's duty to find out the truth."
That made Daniel laugh genuinely. With a sigh he stood up and fixed his coat.
He took out some cash and put it inside the bill before he looked at Mikhail.
"Come to my office at eleven." He said. "Your one month internship starts tomorrow."
Mikhail smiled and stood up. "It will be my honour."
Daniel nodded and walked away, his gaze lingering at the building where Pastor David was staying.