Back to the Future 1999: Raining at the Same Time

Chapter 199 Gentleman

Hoffman, inside the floor-to-ceiling windows, was drawn to the commotion in the sunlight.

"Marcus...?!"

A great battle was about to break out, and just then, a honest and reliable voice suddenly rang out:

"What happened?"

"Relax, dear gentlemen! I can explain that this respectable lady is by no means a Russian spy!"

A slightly overweight gentleman with a mustache jogged over, his shiny forehead already covered in sweat.

“Oh, Ms. Hoffman, is this lady with the book case your…assistant? And that gentleman sipping his coffee?”

"No spy would be foolish enough to carry so much information in public, gentlemen. You may leave now!"

However, faced with Chenxi's strong counterattack, the guards did not simply send the Gelians back to their posts as in the story.

Finally, only after Karl's frantic urging did they reluctantly pick up the scattered steel knives and leave.

Hoffman looked troubled—the current situation was clearly not written in the Field Dispatch Manual.

"After the series of infamous espionage cases in 1913, the gentlemen of Vienna became extremely sensitive."

"Colonel Redell's case dealt a severe blow to their self-esteem... although it is unclear whether this blow was due to the fact that the head of the counterintelligence agency was a Russian spy, or the homosexual scandal within the military."

“It was my dereliction of duty not to tell you this information, Marcus.”

"That's not true. I just didn't do my research beforehand. Besides, Mr. Chenxi protected me."

Faced with her mentor's frank apology, the student seemed somewhat flustered. At the same time, she also faintly savored the sense of security she had felt just moments before, being tightly protected by someone.

Watching Marcus freely conversing with Hoffman, Karl felt a sense of unease. Normally, the guards would immediately deprive occultists of their language abilities, but now…

He turned his gaze to the only person at the scene who could have caused this situation, but the instant their eyes met, that sharp gaze sent a chill down his spine, striking him directly to the top of his head. He decided against pursuing the matter any further.

Mr. Karl was slightly overweight and pale-faced. Like the bureaucracy of this empire, he exuded the unique fragrance of punched cardboard.

Overall, he's a cheerful and easy-going person, if he weren't in this position.

"Relax, don't be nervous, it's just a small accident! There's no place more open and inclusive than Vienna—just like the St. Louis Foundation has always been committed to promoting!"

As he said this, he focused his gaze on Marcus, but his eyes would occasionally dart towards Chenxi out of the corner of his eye.

"Any registered mystic can move freely throughout this beautiful city! We also offer full preferential treatment to artists and musicians, because Vienna is a city that loves art and music!"

"Yes, we were talking about registration... Miss and sir, where are your licenses to use occult arts?"

"license?"

Hoffman, clearly not having been informed of this part beforehand, was somewhat annoyed. Instinctively, he shielded the two children behind him, meeting Karl's ugly face.

“That’s right, ladies at headquarters! While I would love to cut some unnecessary formalities for you two, sometimes… especially when it comes to mystics and security, we always have to be a little more rigorous.”

Mr. Carl rubbed his hands together slyly; clearly, he was no easier to deal with than Golian.

"...I don't think this is an official certificate issued by the foundation's headquarters; we weren't notified to apply."

Hoffman moved a step to block Karl's view of Marcus, looking down at the "government official" who was gradually revealing his businessman nature.

“Oh dear, there must be some oversight! All mystics operating in Europe should have a license to use mystical arts issued by the local government.”

With an exaggerated clapping of regret, the head of the foundation's Vienna branch rubbed his front paws like a stage actor, gradually narrowing his eyes.

"Austria included it in its entry provisions in 1756, and although we abolished it in 1868, the situation is tense now...you understand."

"Perhaps this young lady herself knows... Miss Marcus?"

"...Hello?"

The sudden attack caught the little horse off guard.

"Even if you were sent by headquarters, you are still a mystic, right? Then please show me your mystical arts license."

Hoffman frowned. This was a form of intimidation, a way of putting him in a difficult position.

The more practical crisis was that they couldn't produce a piece of paper from 1914 without being prepared.

“Mr. Carl, Marcus is only traveling as my assistant this time. According to her rank, there are many questions she cannot answer for you.”

"You should ask me directly about these procedural issues, not my assistant."

She stepped forward again, blocking most of Karl's figure from Marcus's view, thus shielding her from most of the schemes that were about to befall her.

"Oh, ma'am at headquarters, please don't misunderstand, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds! It's just that this isn't a big problem, there's absolutely no need to bother you—"

"I have it!"

Now it was Hoffman's turn to be puzzled, but Marcus had already handed over the piece of paper from his pocket.

"...For you."

"Sigh... sigh!"

Mr. Carl suddenly let out a long sigh, his initial arrogance turning into obsequiousness, which made Chenxi, who was next to Marcus, almost laugh.

"W-what's wrong, Mr. Carl? Is there something wrong with this permit...?"

"No, no, this license is excellent, absolutely perfect! I can even smell the fragrance of the ink! Welcome, mystic from Romania!"

"If you had brought it out earlier—we wouldn't have had to waste all this time explaining."

Carl smiled and returned the license to Marcus, who had clearly gone from hell to heaven in those few words.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to have wasted your time..."

However, before Xiao Ma could finish muttering his words, Carl turned his attention to Chen Xi.

"And you, this gentleman..."

He hesitated, wondering whether to address the young man, who had remained seated upright in his chair the entire time, as "sir" or "gentleman."

"gentlemen?"

Ultimately, his moral bottom line prevented him from classifying this mystic as a gentleman.

However, when faced with Karl's questioning, Chenxi merely scoffed dismissively. She stood up and walked to Karl.

"Are you asking me for your so-called occult license?"

"That's only right. Even if you're from headquarters, you still have to abide by local rules, don't you?"

Karl was still rubbing his hands together; clearly, the warning look he'd given earlier hadn't taught him the lesson he deserved.

"Alright, but I don't know if our Lord Karl can accept this license."

A slap landed on the clasped hands. Karl saw a flash of black and white before blood spurted from his wrists and appeared in his vision.