Chapter 369: Inception
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
I've been recognized!
Klein instantly fell into shock as he nearly entered combat mode.
Even if he didn't use his Spirit Vision, he could tell from Emlyn White's tone and words that he wasn't lying. He was very confident and certain.
Just as the tense feelings rose in him, Klein suddenly thought of something.
Why should I worry about that?
Then, he answered his own question in his mind, So what if I was recognized? The current situation is different from what it was two months ago!
I was left flustered by the incident with Ambassador Bakerland in front of the official Beyonders. I was rushing around, trying to grasp at every possible straw. In the process, I ended up making contact with Beyonder circles, and even the possibility of me becoming a Beyonder was quite plausible. Therefore, even if my identity as a Beyonder was exposed, they wouldn't think too deeply about it and dig up my past.
And it's very likely that Detective Isengard Stanton is a Beyonder, and he maintains good relations with the police and the official Beyonder organizations. He had speculated that I was the same as him and tried to gently rope me in. In this regard, I can barely be counted as a borderline member of the official Beyonders, and if anything were to happen, I wouldn't necessarily be imprisoned.
More importantly, I have already made my current image so deeply ingrained that I don't have to worry about any wanted posters. If anything goes wrong, then I can just abandon 15 Minsk Street and my identity as Sherlock Moriarty!
So, what's there to worry about?
Yes, before I came here, I had also performed a divination, and the revelation was that there was almost no danger.
As these thoughts flashed across his mind, Klein's contracted pupils, slightly appalled expression, and his fight or flight state eased, as if he was discussing the day's weather with Emlyn White.
Seeing his calm expression, Emlyn White raised his eyebrows, took a few steps to the side, and squeezed past him before slowly sitting to his side.
The vampire looked at Bishop Utravsky, who was leading the believers in the rite of Holy Communion, and he said with a sneer, "Mister Detective, aren't you afraid that I'll go to the police station and shout out loud that you're a Beyonder?"
Similarly, Klein looked forward and said without turning his head, "I'll go with you and shout out loud that there's a vampire!"
Come on, let's have an internecine outcome! Do you think I'm afraid of you!?
Emlyn White's expression stiffened, he raised his right index finger and said, "Sanguine, a noble Sanguine! Got it?"
Before Klein could speak, seeing that Bishop Utravsky was preoccupied with the rites of Holy Communion, Emlyn White chuckled and said, "Regardless, I'm finally going to be free.
"I pretended to submit and told the old man that I was willing to convert to believing in Mother Earth and was deeply penitent for what I had done. Although I have no idea what was necessary to show repentance, it's not a problem to put on an act.
"That old man actually believed me like this, and he was very happy as well. He let me out on the spot, and he let me become a priest here. He told me that as long as I memorized the Holy Bible of the Church of Mother Earth, he would allow me to return home.
"Haha, that old fogey, who's all brawn and has become silly from his faith, sure is easy to fool!"
Easy to fool? Klein turned his head to look at the vampire, looking smug he looked forward and said, "Father Utravsky used to be a pirate, he probably killed far more people than the number of people your father has ever saved. Furthermore, most pirates don't trust their fellow crew members. Betrayal and trickery are common among them. To be a relatively successful pirate able to live to the end, Father Utravsky wouldn't be a person who's easily fooled, even if he's not a bright person."
Emlyn White wore a look of disbelief as he wished to retort. Klein rubbed the top of his cane and leisurely added, "Father has a powerful Sealed Artifact in his possession; it is known as the Mental Terror Candle. It can allow the wielder to enter the deepest recesses of the target's soul. There, no one can lie.
"Moreover, this is only one of its uses. I don't know if it has any other abilities."
Emlyn gradually froze, his eyes losing focus.
After a dozen seconds, he whispered with a pale expression, "When I said I was willing to change my faith, that old man came in with a lantern. There was a candle in the lantern, and I didn't get a good look at it…"
Klein tilted his head and gave Emlyn White a sympathetic glance.
"Perhaps Father Utravsky used it to plant a seed in you, one that gradually and thoroughly makes you wholeheartedly believe in Mother Earth."
The corner of Emlyn's mouth twitched, revealing a smile comparable to a zombie's.
"I don't feel anything at all. It shouldn't be anything like you said.
"Besides, aren't my parents coming? They can blame the priest through ordinary people, saying that he forcefully detained me, forcing him to make a choice between sullying the Church of Mother Earth's reputation and letting me go.
"Isn't that a great idea?"
Klein maintained his look of pity, clasped his hands, and raised them to his nose, acting truly penitent.
"If I were Father Utravsky, I would choose to call the police and have them determine the truth.
"Tell me, who do you think will suffer in the end, the bishop who has the right to preach or a vampire?"
"… Sanguine, Sanguine!" Emlyn White's facial muscles seemed to twitch.
He clenched his fist and punched the back of the pew in front of him.
"I can wait. Once I memorize the Holy Bible, I will ask the old man to let me return! He is a truly devout person and will not break his promise!"
Klein didn't turn his head and said with a smile, "I've been to 48 Riverbay Avenue. Your parents have already moved away."
"Naturally. Not only will they move away, they will also move to somewhere I'm not aware of," Emlyn White responded without hesitation.
Klein added with a relatively relaxed tone, "They moved in a hurry. They left a lot of things behind, such as the things in your room."
Emlyn White's expression suddenly became extremely wonderful. He gaped his mouth, abruptly stood up, squeezed past Klein, and rushed towards Bishop Utravsky who stood in front of the Sacred Emblem of Life.
"Father, Bishop, I want to return home, I want to return home, I want to return home!" Emlyn shouted.
Seeing that there were still believers who hadn't finished their Holy Communion yet, Father Utravsky didn't respond. He merely gave the pitiful vampire a calm look.
Emlyn quickly shut his mouth and became quiet.
He paced back and forth, looking extremely anxious.
Smiling, Klein stood up, took his cane and hat, and strolled down the aisle to the front pew of the cathedral's hall.
When Holy Communion was over, he walked up to Father Utravsky and said with a serious expression, "Bishop, I don't know why you're retaining Emlyn here, nor do I want to know. I only know one thing—his parents have entrusted me to take him back."
If this giant-like priest agrees to my request so easily, I can only light a vigil candle for this vampire, Emlyn. No—I'm sure he will hate candles from this day forth. It's best to mourn for him… Klein secretly thought.
Father Utravsky looked down at them and replied gently, "Emlyn can return home at any time."
"…"
Klein gave Emlyn White a glance, raised his right hand, and tapped his chest.
He wanted to gesture the sign of the crimson moon by tapping in a clockwise fashion, but in the end, he forced himself to draw the triangular Sacred Emblem.
Emlyn became rather anxious from the look Klein gave him. Without a word, he rushed to the door of the cathedral and left without a hitch.
Klein followed him at a moderate pace without any signs of anxiety.
After proceeding forward in what appeared like a jog, Emlyn suddenly slowed down and said in a daze, "I feel like I'm starting to miss the Harvest Church, the feeling of memorizing the Holy Bible, and the Sacred Emblem of Life. I wish to return to clean and tidy the place. It'll only take an hour, an hour…"
This planted seed is even more "vicious" than I had imagined. No matter where this vampire goes, he will return to the Harvest Church every day and work for an hour? That's actually quite alright. At the very least, the seed, which was planted, didn't change Emlyn's faith. In a way, he's showing him some respect, but why did I use the word 'respect'… That candle is called Mental Terror Candle, and it's said to be from a dragon. The Spectator pathway is rather scary… Klein tapped his cane and said, "Do you need me to remind you of anything?"
"There's no need!" Emlyn's expression distorted as he angrily said, "I will fight this feeling! I'm going to move to Midseashire or Feysac. I don't believe that I'd still wish to return when I've left Backlund!"
He gritted his teeth and suddenly exhaled.
"Let's take the carriage back to Riverbay Avenue."
"Alright," Klein responded nonchalantly.
After a few steps, Emlyn stopped a rental carriage.
Just as he was about to board the carriage, his back stiffened for two seconds. Then, he said so quietly that Klein could barely hear him, "I don't have any money on me."
"I do." Klein smiled.
Emlyn stopped talking and got onto the carriage. Klein sat across him, and as the carriage began to move off, he asked, as if in thought, "Your father is a doctor? One that possesses outstanding skills in drugs and medicine?"
Although he was listless, Emlyn raised his chin out of habit.
"This is the gift that we Sanguine enjoy. The most outstanding potion masters are all from the Sanguine!"
"Is that so…" Klein whispered to himself; his thoughts a mystery.
Emlyn said after a moment of silence, "Write to your friend and tell him that I have returned to Riverbay Avenue. My parents will come looking for me."
"Alright," Klein answered simply.
After nearly twenty minutes, the carriage pulled into Riverbay Avenue and stopped in front of Unit 48.
After paying the fare, Klein got out of the carriage and saw Emlyn White look towards the bedroom, his expression becoming abnormally excited.
Restraining himself, the vampire pressed his hand to his chest and bowed deeply at Klein.
"In any case, I must thank you."
Klein immediately revealed a smile.
"There's no need to thank me.
"The bounty reward of finding you and the transportation fees will be obtained from your parents.
"Also, you have to concoct a medicine with Beyonder effects to help me treat a patient.
"This is the reward that your family should pay."
Chapter 370: The Audience's Applause
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Bounty reward, transportation fees, and medicine with Beyonder effects… Emlyn White was left momentarily dazed when he first heard that.
This was not the answer that he had expected.
What about your gentlemanliness? the vampire thought in shock.
As a detective, abiding by clear accounting principles is necessary. Besides, you've even delayed my visit to the Quelaag Club. I don't know what food they've offered in limited supply for the past two days… Klein looked at Emlyn White as he joked and lampooned silently.
After a few seconds, Emlyn forced a smile and said, "I have to see the patient before I can concoct the appropriate medicine."
From your tone, you sound really confident… Klein nodded thoughtfully.
He then thought of a problem.
The White family seems to be a family of outstanding potion scholars. If I were to really be injured and poisoned, then I can come to them for treatment… Wouldn't all of my efforts of going out of my way to get the Apothecary formula from Father Utravsky be for naught? I no longer need to nurture another aide that's good at healing… Reality sure does change faster than a plan…
However, it's not really a waste either. I've already made back my investment from Miss Magician. For things like formulas, as long as it exists, it will always be valuable…
Besides, the White family will definitely stay away from Riverbay Avenue and live their lives with new secret identities. I might not be able to find them, so it's not that convenient…
No, before the Mental Terror Candle's inducing thoughts are resolved, all I need to do is wait for Emlyn White at the Harvest Church…
With this in mind, Klein took off his hat, bowed and said, "No problem, I will take you there when the time comes.
"I shall not waste your time any further. Cheerio."
Emlyn White's expression changed as he hesitantly said, "If you can remove the effect of the Mental Terror Candle, then you will receive a greater bounty, and…" He paused and raised his chin. "… and the friendship of the Sanguine."
I'm a Magician, and I possess the Sun Brooch and Biological Poison Bottle. I'm only limited to mediumship when it comes to the aspect of one's psyche, so what can I do? Amongst the people I know, only Miss Justice is a close match, but she's only a Sequence 8 Telepathist… Unless you change your faith to "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era," then we would will be able to find out how to use the knowledge recorded in the Book of Secrets to help you solve this problem through a corresponding ritual… Speaking of which, vampires seemed to be worshipers of the primitive moon, very similar to the Shaman King and the like… Could the ancient god recorded in the City of Silver—the Vampire Ancestor, Lilith—be the primitive moon?
Klein said with a smile as his thoughts wandered, "I'll keep a lookout for ways to help you."
Emlyn White nodded and didn't say anything else. He impatiently turned around and rushed to the door.
If it wasn't for the fact that the carriage driver was still nearby, he would've spread his black bat wings and soared directly to the second floor.
Klein laughed and shook his head emotively.
He rode back in the same rental carriage and arrived at the steam metro not far away. He then made a transfer and returned to Cherwood Borough's 15 Minsk Street.
Before entering the room, Klein, who had become accustomed to opening the letterbox, checked for letters.
To his surprise, there really was a letter.
There was no stamp on the letter. It was addressed to Detective Sherlock Moriarty and was signed off with "Jurgen Cooper."
Lawyer Jurgen? Puzzled, Klein picked up the envelope and tore it open.
Under the light of the street lamp, he saw a piece of paper and two bills.
The denominations of these two notes were one soli and five soli.
A total of six soli… I fed the cat three times during the period… The agreement was two soli per instance… Realizing the reason, Klein opened the door and lit the gas lamp.
As he unfolded the letter, he discovered that it didn't contain much, and the words that Jurgen had handwritten were as precise and serious as he was.
"Dear Detective Moriarty,
"Thank you for taking care of Brody over the past few days. This is the reward you deserve.
"I rang the doorbell twice and found that you weren't at home, so I could only put the payment in an envelope and put it in your letterbox.
"As I might not be able to come back until tomorrow evening, I might miss the verbal agreement which my grandmother promised—tonight.
"As a lawyer, I value the validity of verbal agreements and hope that they will be carried out strictly.
"Finally, thank you once again.
"Jurgen Cooper."
Mr. Lawyer, your gratitude is so dry and boring that it's even inferior to Brody's, but the explanation for your behavior is very detailed. It really fits the Jurgen style… Also, why place it in my mailbox? If this were Earth, in the time before I transmigrated, I might not even look at the mailbox downstairs for months… Klein smiled as he folded the bills and placed them in his pocket. Then, he took out a sheet of paper and wrote to Detective Stuart.
After writing the beginning pleasantries, he wrote after some deliberation:
"… I found Emlyn White at the Harvest Church near Tuteva Street. It's a very small cathedral belonging to the Church of Mother Earth. It isn't very common in Loen… Emlyn White claimed that it was because of certain matters that he chose to run away from home. Afterwards, he was taken in by the bishop of the Harvest Church and stayed there, becoming a…"
Klein thought for a moment before writing down the word "volunteer."
Then he added simply:
"Thanks to my persuasion, he has returned to 48 Riverbay Avenue. However, he might visit the Harvest Church often for volunteer work."
When he was done, Klein read through it, then he put down the pen and neatly folded the letter.
He rummaged around for an envelope, but he didn't affix the corresponding stamp. He planned to hire someone to deliver it directly to Stuart's house the next day.
If he were to go through the Kingdom's postal system, even if he were to put the letter in the mailbox now, he wouldn't be able to get it taken away by the postman until tomorrow, and then there would be the process of sorting and delivering it. So, although he was also in the royal capital of Backlund, Stuart would have to wait at least until the day after next before seeing the letter. Only then would the Whites be notified. And during this period of time, Emlyn White was a penniless guy with only his figurines.
This is also for the sake of receiving payment early… Klein chuckled, tidied up the coffee table, and returned to the second floor to brush his teeth and take a bath.
…
On Wednesday morning, after spending two soli and entrusting a rental carriage driver to deliver the letter, Klein bought some of the main ingredients for Desi seafood rice, intending to cook fried rice today.
He couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva when he thought of the pearly white rice.
After spending some time, he finally cooked a pot of fragrant fried rice with bacon and black tea after going through all sorts of hassles in the kitchen. It was so delicious that tears almost filled his eyes.
This is truly a moving and nostalgic taste… After eating two large plates of fried rice, Klein sat down on the chair and rubbed his belly.
As Emlyn White's situation had too many twists and turns, his performance had already ended before it had even really begun, and he couldn't achieve the desired goal. Thus, he could only look for another opportunity to take the initiative for a performance.
However, Klein still benefited from this. Failure was also an experience, and it made him understand at least one thing:
Unlike ordinary magicians, my performance not only has aides, but it also has enemies and participants. Their reactions and choices can similarly affect its development. I have to consider all of these elements ahead of time…
This is also a lesson. It's better to be taught a lesson over such a trivial matter than to be schooled when facing important matters…
Klein looked at the empty plate in front of him and contemplated about what other "performances" he could initiate.
After a moment of serious consideration, he realized that there weren't any.
Of course, it wasn't absolute. They were just unsuitable for him to do them now.
For example, Klein had always wanted to take care of that evil spirit in the Fourth Epoch ruins of the Tudor Dynasty. But even if it was Sharron, who had the Scarlet Lunar Corona, and Maric, who had obtained the Rampager Beyonder characteristic of a Wraith, Klein didn't think that they were able to fight against the High-Sequence monster. It was even possible to end up dead before even knowing why.
Taking the initiative to perform isn't equivalent to courting death. It's not about using one's life to perform… Klein warned himself.
There was something else he wanted to do, but he didn't think there was much of a chance.
It was to find the strange child, Will Auceptin, who had brought bad luck to the surgeon, Aaron.
Klein had always been interested in the tarot card which the child possessed, and he wanted to confirm if it was a mystical item.
Unfortunately, this case had already been taken over by the Nighthawks, and Klein didn't want to get involved with his former colleagues.
I'll wait for Dr. Aaron's break time before heading to the Quelaag Club and asking about the progress, and then I'll decide what to do… Klein's thoughts quickly took shape.
According to what he knew, Dr. Aaron was usually free on Friday afternoons and Sundays in which he would play tennis at the Quelaag Club.
Klein had also confirmed one thing through today's Backlund Morning Post. There would be a Beyonder gathering tomorrow night organized by Eye of Wisdom.
I can't sell the Werewolf Beyonder characteristic or the Biological Poison Bottle for the time being. I can't even find someone to turn the former into a mystical item… The High-Sequence Beyonders of the Rose School of Thought are definitely still active nearby, filled with rage. I bet they can't wait to find Sharron, Maric, and their helper before tearing them apart… He had to keep a low profile in this area for the time being… Klein picked up his napkin, wiped his mouth, and began to clear the table.
He had wanted to rest for the day and go to the Quelaag Club for a leisurely day without taking the initiative to perform, but then he recalled the Amon avatar which attempted to penetrate the gray fog, and he recalled the role that the Book of Secrets had played in that harrowing moment.
So Klein lit the fireplace in the living room and brought the Book of Secrets back to the real world. He then concentrated on reading, studying, and taking notes.
Of course, he would later burn the corresponding notes above the gray fog.
It was already noon before he realized it when he suddenly heard the doorbell ring.
After hiding the Book of Secrets, Klein entered the living room and went straight to the door.
The visitor was the thin, bearded Detective Stuart.
He looked at Klein with great reverence and excitement, and he couldn't wait to praise him.
"You really are a great detective with abundant resources and channels. You were actually able to solve this kind of case without any clues!"
… Why do I feel a slight change in my spirituality? It seems like the potion has been digested a little more… In other words, my "performance" still enjoyed some limited success. However, there's only one person in the audience, and only he was fooled into seeing the wonderful outcome… An audience's applause really is effective…Klein was startled before he revealed a warm smile.
Chapter 371: Detective Moriarty's First Fan
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
"No, it's just good luck. God was watching over me." Klein modestly stepped aside and invited Stuart in.
What he said was the truth, and this matter did involve good luck. Long before Stuart had accepted the mission, he already knew of Emlyn White's whereabouts.
Stewart shivered as he took off his coat and hat and hung them on a rack in the hall.
"The darn weather is getting colder. Perhaps I should try using those coats with cotton stuffed inside them," he said.
"You can't call this cold, right? If you go to the north of Midseashire and live in Winter County for a day, you'll understand what truly low temperatures and true winter are like." Klein chuckled.
Then, he generously asked, "A cup of hot coffee?"
"I would love one." Stuart followed him to the activity room on the first floor. "I've been to north Midseashire, and I know about the cold and the snow there. It was a nice vacation, but Backlund's cold isn't inferior either. It went through my clothes like magic and seeped into my bones. Oh, what a wonderful fireplace!"
Stuart stood in front of the burning fireplace for twenty seconds before he sat down on the sofa. He looked at Klein, who was busy brewing instant coffee, and he said, "I'm going south for a holiday to go fishing at Desi Bay for new year's. What about you? Do you have any vacation plans? We put up with Backlund's air for a year and work hard to save money, all for such a holiday."
"Perhaps, I should head to Desi Bay as well…" Klein said hesitantly. He turned his head to the side of Stuart's face, and for a moment, he seemed to be in a trance.
This involved an agreement.
An appointment with his elder brother, Benson, and sister, Melissa.
"Haha, I'll show you my fishing skills when the time comes." Stuart continued without end, "We still aren't rich enough, otherwise I'd like to travel to Feysac, Intis, and even to the Southern Continent."
After he finished making the coffee, Klein handed the man a white porcelain cup. He took two steps back and sat down across from him.
Holding the cup in his hand, Stuart took two deep breaths of the fragrant and warm steam.
After resting for a few seconds, he put the cup down and said very formally, "According to our agreement, I'll share the reward I received this time with you.
"The Whites gave a total of fifty pounds, and you obviously did more than I did.
"Sherlock, how about thirty pounds? I still have to pay my informants for their work."
Only fifty pounds? A vampire is only worth fifty pounds? Klein couldn't help but silently lampoon.
But he also knew that it wasn't that the Whites didn't want to increase the bounty; it was because they were worried about giving too much money and scaring the detectives into making unnecessary associations, attracting the attention of the police or some official Beyonder organization.
To the average private detective, a fifty-pound mission was already tempting enough, and Klein had only used seven pounds back then to hire detectives to investigate all the red chimney houses in the whole of Tingen City and the towns along its outskirts.
"In addition, the Whites gave you an extra pound, claiming its for your transportation expenses for the past few days." Looking somewhat puzzled, Stuart produced six five-pound notes and one one-pound note.
Klein reached out to take them, casually checked their authenticity and didn't explain the transportation fees.
Stuart didn't ask any further questions and instead said with a smile, "Apart from Mr. Stanton, you're the best detective I've ever met. Did you join this profession midway, or have you studied under a great detective prior to this?"
What great detective have I studied under? There's quite a number. There's Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, the forever elementary school student 1 , and that guy who swindles others in the name of his grandfather 2 … Klein silently lampooned.
He thought and said, "I come from Midseashire, and I did various jobs before I became a detective."
"That's why you're so rich in knowledge and experience!" Stuart said in enlightenment.
Hey, I'm a bit embarrassed by your flattery… Klein smiled but didn't respond.
Stuart took a sip of his coffee and said, "Sherlock, I hope you can provide me with help in the future if I encounter a difficult case that I'm unable to solve."
My social connections in the detective circles have widened… Klein replied cautiously, "If I have the time when the time comes."
After some idle conversation, Stuart tactfully offered to take his leave, and Klein accompanied him to the door.
After putting on his coat and hat, Stuart was about to open the door and leave when he suddenly turned around and sincerely said, "Sherlock, you live too simply.
"Your talent deserves better coffee."
Ah? Klein was stunned for a moment, but then he immediately felt a bit embarrassed.
He laughed dryly and said, "I can't tell the quality of the coffee. It's all the same to me."
…
After sending Stuart off, Klein went to the butcher's to buy a few ox bones and some beef. He went to the vegetable shop to buy some ingredients such as white radish, rounding up all the required condiments.
He wanted to prepare beef bone radish soup for dinner and eat it with the leftover rice. As for noon, he found a random restaurant on the streets and ate a small serving of lamb chop.
After a leisurely afternoon, Klein continued to study the Book of Secrets, and the more he read, the more he realized that he knew little about mysticism.
Fortunately, he had a solid foundation. He quickly grasped many things once he came into contact with them and pondered over them.
In the evening, he smelled the tantalizing fragrance of the beef bone soup, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down twice.
He heard the doorbell again, as though it was a bugle to signal dinner time.
Gulping down his saliva, Klein walked behind the door and reached for the handle.
The image of the visitor naturally appeared in his mind. It was the handsome but not masculine red-eyed vampire, Emlyn White.
There's no need to rush him at all… What a man of his word… Klein opened the door and smiled.
"Good evening, Mr. White"
Emlyn raised his chin, letting his impatience show in his expression.
He was about to say something when Klein looked at his brown clerical robes and said with a knowing smile, "You just came over from the Harvest Church?"
Who was the one who said he could resist last night?
Unable to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, Emlyn gritted his teeth and said, "That old man, that old man…
"Dammit, how do I get rid of this inducing suggestion?"
Before Klein could reply, he patted the clothes on his chest and said with a stern face, "Take me to the patient.
"There's a good dinner waiting for me."
As he spoke, he sniffed indiscernibly, as if he had smelled something.
Klein picked up his coat and hat without saying another word.
"Alright, I'll take you there now."
After closing the door and taking a few steps, he cautiously asked, "Do you have a certificate to practice medicine?"
How else am I supposed to convince Lawyer Jurgen to allow Mrs. Doris to take the medicine?
Emlyn looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle and said, "I don't need those papers to prove my abilities."
Before Klein frowned, he casually added, "It's too simple. I obtained it easily by going through the process."
… This tone makes it sounds like he's rather proud of receiving a certificate for practicing medicine… Klein smiled without a word.
Looking at the wet ground in front of him, Emlyn casually said, "Do you know what I like most about Backlund?"
"What?" Klein responded without any curiosity.
Emlyn chuckled and said, "The persistent gloomy sky with fog that blots out the sun. This allows me to go out during the day without feeling too much discomfort.
"It's great, except for the air."
In other words, the sun really would deal certain damage to vampires? Fortunately, I thought of this yesterday and didn't bring the Sun Brooch with me; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to communicate with Emlyn… Klein seemed to gain an understanding.
As they conversed, they had already arrived outside the Jurgens, and Klein went up to ring the doorbell.
After a while, the door opened, and Mrs. Doris, who was dressed thickly at home, said with pleasant surprise, "Mr. Detective, I wasn't expecting you?"
Brody the black cat crouched to the side, looking at Emlyn warily, as though it felt that something was amiss about him.
Klein pointed to the vampire beside him.
"I became acquainted with a doctor who's good at treating lung diseases, so I've asked him to come and give you a checkup. Let me do the introductions. This is Dr. Emlyn White."
"Is that so? You still actually remembered this? What a good child!" Doris happily invited the two inside.
Child… Klein's mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything in the end.
On the way into the living room, Emlyn whispered, "The patient's problems are irreversible. She's very old and rather weak.
"Even if I give her the medicine, she would only be able to live through this winter. She would pass away in three to five years.
"Unless she's given an immortal potion or the like as spoken in the legends, that's all that can be done. Or should I turn her into a Sanguine? But at her age, she can no longer endure the changes a Beyonder characteristic can do to her body. Furthermore, my parents and I don't have any excess characteristics left."
Irreversible… Klein was startled and silently sighed.
He said to Emlyn, "Make her the medicine first. We'll leave that to after the winter."
"Alright, I have a type of ready-made medicine with me that's suitable for this kind of situation." Emlyn didn't stand on ceremony as he sat down on the sofa.
At that moment, Lawyer Jurgen was walking out of the kitchen as he took off his apron. He asked Klein about the purpose of his visit.
"Dr. White, what do you think of my grandmother's lung disease?" Jurgen asked seriously.
Emlyn was obviously very experienced in such situations. He first explained the ins and outs of lung disease, and after most of it flew past Jurgen's head, he said, "What she needs most is warm and healthy air. That's my most sincere advice.
"In addition, I have special medicine that she can take for free."
As he spoke, he took out his certificate and a small metal bottle.
"Will there be any side effects?" Jurgen asked cautiously.
"No, the only problem is that it can't cure the root of the problem completely; it's just a temporary cure," Emlyn replied in a very professional manner. "If it weren't for Detective Moriarty, I wouldn't let anyone try it."
"Perhaps I can give it a try? Cough…" Mrs. Doris interrupted.
Jurgen glanced at Klein who, having performed a divination prior to this, nodded affirmatively.
"Alright." Jurgen finally made his decision.
He watched warily as Mrs. Doris drank the bottle of medicine and carefully observed her reaction.
There wasn't much change to Mrs. Doris at first, but she gradually began to feel her breathing lighten.
She stood up and bent down to pick up the cat. She happily said, "I feel much better!"
Seeing this scene, Jurgen's usually stoic face had his lips curl up slightly.
However, Klein was thinking about the three to five years.
He curled a smile and sighed to himself.
This can also be considered a type of magic show, I guess. Using Beyonder powers to create fake outcomes to make the audience happy…
Chapter 372: Missing Case
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After waiting for more than half an hour and confirming that nothing unexpected had happened, Klein and Emlyn White left Lawyer Jurgen's house and proceeded in silence, each of them preoccupied with their own thoughts. Soon, they arrived outside 15 Minsk Street.
The vampire, Emlyn White, put his fist to his mouth, coughed lightly, and said, "The payment has been paid. I hope we won't meet again in the future."
That sounds pretty cool, but Mr. White, have you forgotten something important?Klein smiled politely.
"I will visit Bishop Utravsky every now and then, and I hope you will not be at the Harvest Church when the time comes.
"That way, I don't have to busy myself with finding a way to solve the inducing suggestion planted in your psyche."
Emlyn White's expression suddenly became very strange. He stayed silent for two seconds before he raised his chin and said, "We have many powerful mysticologists among the Sanguine. I will write to them for help."
After he finished speaking, he pressed his hand to his chest and bowed to bid farewell.
Turning around and taking a few steps, he suddenly slowed down, turned his head, and asked hesitantly, "What were you cooking over here?"
"Beef bone radish soup, with rice and chili peppers from the Feynapotter highlands," Klein said in anticipation as he breathed in the fragrance drifting out from the house.
Emlyn frowned and shook his head.
"Chili peppers aren't things fancied by the Sanguine."
Frankly speaking, it's hard for me to imagine a vampire eating chili peppers. Of course, I occasionally imagine a vampire holding a steamed bun and chewing on garlic and onions… Klein silently lampooned, pointed to the door, and indicated that he was about to enjoy his dinner.
Emlyn White thought for a second, lowered his voice, and said in deliberation, "Last night, I thought over things for a long time and found out that you actually didn't do anything, so why are you asking for compensation? That old man would've let me leave at any moment."
Klein chuckled.
"No, that's not how the accounts are done. Your parents assigned a mission to find you, not to save you. In the end, I found you. According to the agreement, the reward should belong to me.
"Besides, if I hadn't reminded you, you might've stayed in Harvest Church for weeks or months before you realized that you were free to leave. Furthermore, you wouldn't have noticed the seed planted in your mind."
"Are you hinting that my intelligence isn't up to par?" Emlyn's face twisted.
No, I'm saying it directly… Klein smiled but didn't say anything else. He just opened the door and went straight to the kitchen, his mind full of the clear and alluring soup, the white rice, the soft yet chewy beef, the marrow hidden deep in the bones, the sweet, refreshing radishes with meaty flavors, and the shredded chili from the Feynapotter highlands.
In the spicy-hot shreds, there were also pink rose salt and green parsley leaves.
…
On Thursday morning, as promised, Klein went to the value-for-money coffee shop in East Borough.
Old Kohler, who was still wearing the same thick jacket as before, was sitting in a corner, matching tea that barely tasted like tea with a loaf of black bread.
Klein came in front of him, took out the things he had prepared long ago, and pushed them towards him.
It was payment consisting of two five-soli notes, four one-soli notes, and a handful of copper pennies specially designed to increase the effect of the payment.
Old Kohler stared straight at them for quite a while before finally reaching out his right hand to take them with a tremble.
He looked at the money over and over again, raised his hand to wipe his eyes, and squeezed out a smile.
"At the dock, we carry the heavy goods and do some troublesome cleaning with our feet in the cold and dirty water, only for one soli a day…"
And there was a total of 15 soli here!
Klein listened in silence. A few seconds later, he said, "What have you heard recently? What did you notice?"
Old Kohler put away his payment, took another sip of his tea, pinched the corners of his eyes and said, "I've met a lot of dockworkers, and I've reconnected with friends I used to know when I was a tramp. Some of them have found employment in factories, and some of them have been switching between the workhouse and the parks. Heh, just like how I was in the past.
"Recently, there has been a rumor from who-knows-where that since we believe in one of the seven gods, why don't we directly pray to the Creator of everything? It's said that 'He' didn't truly pass away, and he remains in everyone's body and in all things.
"Praying to 'Him' will result in our redemption. Not only will we enter 'His' kingdom after death, but we will also have a better life before death. For example, we don't need to work so hard, and we can have butter and oily meat every day."
This… Is this some theory the Aurora Order has spread about the Fallen Creator? After what happened to Lanevus, they've begun to pay attention to the poor in East Borough, the dock area, and the factory district, hoping to use them for certain purposes? I wonder if the three Churches have noticed this… They probably have…Klein tucked a piece of butter between two slices of toast and took a bite without knowing what to expect.
Old Kohler went on for a while before saying, "Mr. Detective, according to your instructions, I paid attention to the female textile workers. In the end, with the help of the police, their struggles failed, but, heh heh, the leaders became the factory's supervisors, and a third of them lost their jobs.
"Some of them are actively looking for new jobs, some have become street girls, and some have gone off somewhere. The entire East Borough is in chaos."
If this was the situation when Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos came to Backlund, he could come to East Borough to kill one or two people every day without anyone discovering or noticing the act… Klein sighed in his heart.
Old Kohler continued to recount what he saw and heard daily before saying, "By the way, Liv's youngest daughter has gone missing."
"Liv?" Klein was certain that he had never heard of the name.
Old Kohler then said in realization, "She's the laundry maid you and Mr. Reporter met last time, the one who was arguing with someone. She was always at home doing the washing with her two daughters, but yesterday, when her two daughters were returning home from delivering the laundry, one of them ended up missing. The younger one, what a pity. She's been a widow for years, and she has always been counting on her two daughters, and now… Sigh, the police in East Borough definitely won't look too hard for her."
Unlucky people tend to meet with even worse situations because they have no ability to resist danger or change their environment… This phrase suddenly flashed through Klein's mind.
After a few seconds of stone-like silence, he said, "Take me to see them. I'm a detective, so maybe I can help them find her."
"… They have no money," Old Kohler reminded him.
Klein picked up his hat and cane and said, "I occasionally do volunteer work too."
…
Cherwood Borough, in the apartment which the two ladies originally rented.
Xio had resumed her life as a bounty hunter, and Fors hastened the pace of her new book, hoping to save the money needed for the Beyonder ingredients required by the Trickmaster potion.
But writing a book wasn't something one could write that easily. Fors scratched her hair irritably and decided to go out for a walk to seek out inspiration.
As she walked, she found that she had unknowingly returned to a familiar place.
Diagonally ahead of her was the Yosifov Clinic, a fairly large private clinic where she had first worked.
After staring at it for a while, Fors thought of the old lady who had guided her into the Beyonder world. She turned into a small alley on the right and took a shortcut to a nearby street.
The two sides of the street had leaves fluttering down the parasol tree. It was a relatively quiet place.
Fors remembered that the old lady lived at Unit 39. Back then, she would occasionally visit personally to deliver medicine, give injections, or even to help with the daily chores.
It's almost been three years. That place should've been rented out again. There might have been several changes in tenants… I still remember when I came to tidy up the items she left behind. I discovered many notebooks about mysticism… Fors walked under the nearly barren parasol tree and slowly approached Unit 39.
As she recalled her past experiences, she gradually gained some inspiration for writing.
At that moment, she saw an old man in a heavy woolen coat and a black half top hat standing in front of Unit 39. He had rung the bell three times.
After a few minutes, seeing that no one was opening the door, the old man with blue eyes shook his head and turned around. He whispered in puzzlement, "Still no one…"
He suddenly noticed Fors who was looking at him from nearby. He hurriedly walked over, gently and urgently smiled, and said, "Beautiful lady, do you live in this district? Do you know Laubero and Aulisa?"
Aulisa? Isn't that the old lady's name? There haven't been any tenants in this house lately? After some deliberation, Fors said, "I don't know if the Mrs. Aulisa I know is the one you're looking for. She lived here for a long time, but she passed away three years ago."
"Passed away three years ago? What about Laubero?" the old man with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes hurriedly asked.
"Her husband passed away even earlier than she did," Fors answered honestly.
The elder was momentarily stunned before revealing a sorrowful expression.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Thank you, good lady.
"I am the elder brother of Laubero, and I've been living in Midseashire all this time. As I haven't received any letters from them for a long time, I decided to come and pay them a visit.
"Can you tell me what happened to them in the past few years?"
Mrs. Aulisa's husband's elder brother… Could he be a descendant of the family she spoke of? Fors suddenly snapped to her senses and replied with a smile, "No problem.
She quickly thought through what she could and couldn't say.
The elder pointed behind him and said, "There's quite a nice coffee shop over there."
…
Klein once again stepped into the humid room of a slightly old apartment in East Borough.
He saw the woman who had quarreled with the street girl last time over her contempt towards her profession. She was standing in a pile of clothes. Her wrinkled face had lost a lot of its spirit, she lost her laborious drive, and she looked lifeless.
As for her eldest daughter, the seventeen to eighteen-year-old girl who was sitting by the bed and washing clothes, she kept sobbing.
"It's all my fault. I didn't watch over her properly…
"I shouldn't have taken her into the secluded alley.
"She even said that she was going to learn a few more words at the free school tonight.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault…."
Liv suddenly regained her senses and turned to look at her eldest daughter. She wiped away her sad expression and berated her fiercely, "What are you crying for? Get up and wash the clothes!
"Do you want to starve? Do you plan on not even being able to attend the free school?"
After screaming, she saw Klein and Old Kohler at the door.
"Old Kohler… This is?" she asked doubtfully.
Chapter 373: Search
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Kohler seemed to be a slightly afraid of her ferocity as he subconsciously took a step back.
"Liv, this is a detective, and he w-wishes to help you find Daisy."
Liv's wrinkled, peeling face turned to Klein and said coldly, "We've already made a police report."
Although she was perhaps in her thirties, she looked to be in her fifties.
Klein looked around the room where many wet clothes hung. He vaguely remembered the last time he was here. There had been a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, carefully holding a crude homemade iron to iron the clothes which had wrinkled from being hung to dry. Her hands had been covered with burns.
She's the "missing" Daisy… Klein looked back at the laundry maid, Liv, and said in a neutral tone, "Do you believe that the East Borough police will really be looking for Daisy?
"Are you sure the people who caused Daisy to go 'missing' wouldn't cast their sights on your family?
"Do you wish to lose another daughter after losing one?"
When the cruel yet heart-wrenching words reached Liv's ears, the indifferent expression on her face slowly crumbled. She turned agape, but she couldn't say anything. The corners of her eyes gradually turned red.
She abruptly lowered her head and muttered to herself in pain and despair, "I don't have any money…"
The room suddenly became silent. Even the sobbing girl didn't make another sound.
Klein pursed his lips and let out a silent sigh.
"I occasionally do volunteer work, simply to help others. Heh heh, I haven't done so in a long time, so please give me a chance."
"Volunteer work?" Liv lifted her head and ruminated over the phrase.
Klein nodded slightly and answered, "The job will be done pro bono. No, it is not completely free either. Kindness will bring me great satisfaction.
"Since you have no other solutions, why not give it a try?"
Liv was silent for a moment. She raised her hand, which had wrinkled from being soaked in water for an extended period of time, wiped her eyes, and said in a low voice, "Mr. Detective, you… you really are a kind and good gentleman…"
Her voice suddenly became choked with sobs.
"… This was what happened—at midday before yesterday, at noon, Daisy delivered a load of washed laundry under Freja's lead. It was just outside East Borough, and they needed to cross several streets.
"In order to rush back for lunch, Freja had chosen a secluded alley, but a momentary distraction left her realizing that Daisy, who had been following her, was gone.
"She retraced her route but never found Daisy, and Daisy hasn't come back yet.
"Where did this happen, Freja?"
The girl named Freja had already stood up, her eyes were red and puffy.
She sobbed and said, "Right here, right here in Broken Axe Lane, Mister Detective. Will Daisy be alright?"
"Probably," Klein replied without much of an expression.
He looked around and asked, "Do you have anything that Daisy often carries? I can borrow a police dog. It has an excellent sense of smell and can be used to find a person based on the lingering scent."
"… No," Liv thought for a moment and said with a sad expression.
Freja once again shed tears. She felt as if the situation had turned into one of despair once again.
Suddenly, she blinked and said, "Wait, there's something.
"Daisy's vocabulary book!"
"Vocabulary book?" Old Kohler asked.
Liv sniffed and said, "I make Freja and Daisy attend the free school at night. I can keep washing clothes, but they can't always be doing the same."
This lady is such a good mother… Klein couldn't help but sigh.
The free classes offered at night were set up by the three major Churches or some charity organizations. From eight to ten o'clock in the evening, the school would be free of charge and would even provide stationery and a certain amount of paper. It was an education that was need-blind, and it would at most involve some religious knowledge. Klein had heard Old Neil mention that he had once been a teacher for the Church of the Evernight Goddess for several years.
Because there were very few people who volunteered to be teachers in the free school, a unique teaching method was established. Teachers would arrive early, gather the few students who had the best academic progress, imbue them with the content for that day's class, and then put them in charge of teaching the different classes. The teachers would supervise, correcting any mistakes. It was called a "tutorial system."
Corresponding to the free classes were the free organizations such as the technical workers' workshop, which were truly accessible to the poor, and one of the few outlets to escape from poverty.
Unfortunately, there were too few similar organizations, and it was difficult for them to play a substantial role.
At this moment, the sobbing Freja added, "Daisy liked studying very much. She was made the tutor of her class by her teacher. She would put together the vocabulary words she had copied and hugged them in her bed every day. She would wake up early and go out into the street to recite them under the light of dawn. She's always found it regretful that there are no street lamps around here…"
As she spoke, Freja rushed back to the bunk bed and took out a stack of crumpled paper from under the tattered pillow.
Due to it being in a humid environment for extended periods of time, the words that were copied on it had already smudged.
The edges of the sheets of paper were worn out, as though they had been turned over and over by someone for a long time.
"Mister Detective, i-is this okay?" Freja handed Klein the so-called vocabulary book, which had no binding at all, and anxiously asked.
"Yes," Klein answered very simply.
He wasn't trying to comfort Freja. Although it wasn't the kind of items Daisy carried around all the time, it was something that had accompanied her all this while. Moreover, it had been projected with Daisy's strong will. It was excellent for using it as dowsing to seek her out.
He casually flipped through the vocabulary book and said, "Then I'll start taking action. The earlier I find Daisy, the better."
Liv and Freja were unable to find words to describe their feelings. All they could do was watch as Klein and Old Kohler leave, repeating the words "thank you," "thank you, Mr. Detective," and "thank you, good gentleman."
After leaving the apartment, Klein turned to Old Kohler and said, "You should pay attention to those female textile workers who lost their jobs, especially those who have neither found new jobs nor become street girls, and pay more attention to those who have gone off to unknown places…
"Pay attention to your own safety. Ask less and listen more. If you do this well, you'll get a bonus."
"Alright!" Old Kohler nodded heavily.
He didn't immediately bid farewell. After hesitating for a moment, he asked with a tone full of expectation, "You'll find Daisy, won't you, Mister Detective?"
"I can only say that I will do my best." Klein didn't make any guarantees.
Old Kohler sighed and smiled bitterly.
"I've lost my child, so I'm very unwilling to see this sort of thing happen…"
He waved his hand and walked towards another street.
Klein left the area at a leisurely pace, wrapping Daisy's "vocabulary book" around the head of the cane and, without attracting any attention, completed a "Dowsing Rod Seeking."
There are results. Towards the northwest… For the time being, It's not possible to confirm if I'm suffering any interference or misdirection… He looked down at the direction in which the cane was going to fall and put out his palm to steady it.
According to the revelation, Klein went all the way out of East Borough and hired a rental carriage.
Half an hour later, the carriage, which occasionally changed directions, stopped at Iris Street, near Cherwood Borough and West Borough. It stopped in front of a house with a vast lawn, a wide garden, a small fountain square, and a marble statue.
At this moment, Klein's cane had fallen down inside the carriage and was aimed straight at that direction!
Through the window, Klein could see the guards patrolling inside the gates and ferocious dogs with their tongues out.
The security inside was quite tight.
More importantly, even without using divination, his spiritual intuition made him sense that there was great danger hidden within!
What is this place? How can Daisy's disappearance involve such a dangerous place?Klein thought for a few seconds, then he told the carriage driver to keep going.
The carriage driver replied with some surprise, "Sir, are you not here to visit Mr. Capim?"
Capim? The name sounded extremely familiar to Klein.
He smiled and asked, "Why do you think so?"
"There will always be people coming out from East Borough who ride in my carriage all the way here. Heh heh, this is the home of the rich and powerful Mr. Capim," the carriage driver casually replied.
East Borough… Capim… Tycoon… Klein suddenly remembered who Capim was.
There were many rumors that he was the leader of a bloody criminal organization which was stained with blood. He was involved in the disappearance of many innocent girls!
And in reality, he was a tycoon who knew quite a few important figures.
Without another word, Klein leaned back against the wall and half-closed his eyes.
The horse carriage slowly moved forward. The luxurious villa was left behind as it disappeared from the window.
…
In a small booth in a coffee shop.
Fors already knew that the old man across her was called Lawrence Nord, who came from Midseashire's Constant City and was a public school teacher.
He didn't know that Mrs. Aulisa's husband was dead, nor that Mrs. Aulisa had inherited his estate and become a Beyonder, much less know that Mrs. Aulisa had left me her relics… Could he also be a Beyonder? Does he have the ability to divine?After taking a sip of Fermo coffee, she organized her words and said, "I was a doctor at the nearby Yosifov Clinic, and Mrs. Aulisa came to see me often. That was when her husband, Mr. Laubero had already passed away…
"… Sometimes I would accompany her by chatting with her and helping her do things like…
"So in the end, she made a will, giving me her savings and cash. She donated jewelry, books, furniture, and other things to a charity. This was done under the supervision of her assigned law firm."
Fors was telling the truth, but not the whole truth.
Lawrence pinched his forehead and said, "What a pity. I don't understand why Aulisa didn't contact me over all those years."
"She didn't mention your name. She was vaguely dissatisfied with Mr. Laubero's family," Fors replied frankly.
Lawrence fell silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you for informing me. It has made me understand certain things."
"By the way, where are Laubero and Aulisa buried?"
"Grimm Cemetery." Fors took out a pocket watch and gave it a look before saying, "Mr. Lawrence, I still have things to tend to. I should be leaving."
Lawrence didn't stop her. He got up and saw her off.
After sitting down again, he rubbed his temples in distress and silently muttered to himself, Laubero is dead, and he didn't leave any children behind, and I don't know what Aulisa did to his Beyonder characteristic… Richard died at the hands of the Aurora Order… Sam doesn't even wish to contact us at all, having no interest in shouldering the responsibility of the family name…
Will the Abraham family slowly disappear like this?
Chapter 374: Artificial Sleepwalking
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lawrence sat in the coffee shop booth, unable to stop himself from thinking about the hardships of the Abraham family over the years.
Ever since they had split up into smaller families and settled in other places, the Elder Council's control over the family members hit rock-bottom. A great number of Abrahams refused to advance, in order to avoid the effects of the curse; hence, many of them remained at Sequence 8 or 9. Some didn't even attempt to become Beyonders, wishing to be ordinary people with a certain amount of knowledge so as to live a calm and peaceful life.
The Elder Council believed that this was an act of forgetting the family's honor, but it couldn't be harsh on such actions since it was tantamount to self-destruction.
In such a situation, the upper echelons of the Abraham family began to think of introducing changes. They imitated the teacher-apprentice inheritance system of the Life School of Thought, and they trained non-family members, hoping that once they advanced to become High-Sequence Beyonders, then they would, in turn, be able to help the Abraham family deal with the curse that had existed for about 1,500 years and find their ancestor, Bethel Abraham, who had vanished in the War of the Four Emperors.
The plan started off smoothly, and the apprentices who didn't have to worry about the curse quickly became stronger and stronger under the Abraham family's meticulous nurturing. Within a short period of ten years, there were several strong Sequence 5 individuals among them, while not a single person among the direct descendants of the Abraham family was Sequence 6.
The trunk was too weak, but the branches were too strong; hence, the seeds of tragedy were planted, and the ambitious apprentices began casting their sights on the powerful Sealed Artifacts that the Abraham family possessed.
Their plot failed, but it also resulted in serious repercussions. All the non-family members at Sequences 6 and 5 were of the opinion that their positions within the Abraham family didn't match their own strength and that they couldn't be trusted, preventing them from being in possession of certain Sealed Artifacts.
In the process of going back and forth, with difficult negotiations occurring and compromises between the two parties, an accident happened. One of them, Traveler Botis, was lured by the True Creator into joining the Aurora Order, which led to a terrible disaster.
In this disaster, the upper echelons of the Abraham family were almost completely destroyed. More than half of the few powerful Sealed Artifacts were lost, and only three were left. As a result, Lawrence's brother, who he shared the same mother with, Richard, died.
Not only did Botis benefit greatly from it, but he also gathered all the Beyonder ingredients he needed, and with the help of the True Creator, he successfully overcame the dangers and became a demigod, becoming one of the five Saints of the Aurora Order, the Saint of Mystery.
After the disaster, the rebuilt Abraham family's Elder Council reflected over the actions of the past few years, but they couldn't find a solution to the problem. Emotions such as negativity, dejection, and hopelessness shrouded the hearts of the few remaining family members.
Lawrence didn't wish to be placed in such an environment or face sighing and repressed emotions every day. He found a reason to leave the Elder Council and came to Backlund to look for his other brothers, Laubero, who he shared the same mother, and Sam, who he didn't share the same mother.
But now, he suddenly realized that he was the only one remaining from his father's line.
He was already nearly eighty-years-old, and all his children had died in the disaster brought about by Botis.
Just recalling the past made him feel sorrow from the bottom of his heart.
The most painful thing was that he couldn't see the hope for revenge, and he couldn't see the dawn of his clan's glory appearing once more.
I'm already very old, and I was also injured before. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I wouldn't dare to use my Beyonder powers anymore, which would cause me to lose control or even cause the curse to descend… What is the future of the Abraham family? Lawrence took a sip of the Fermo coffee and fell into a long silence.
…
Upon returning to her rented house, Fors immediately entered the bedroom and locked the wooden door behind her.
She sat on the edge of the bed, calmed her mind, and whispered the honorific name that represented hope and the future.
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era,
"You are the mysterious ruler above the gray fog;
"You are the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.
"I wish to inform you of what I have encountered today.
"I met the elder brother of the husband of the old lady who made me become an Apprentice. He seems to be a member of a certain family…
"I didn't mention anything related to mysticism, but I'm worried that he has extremely powerful divination abilities and will be able to find out the complete truth…"
…
At this moment, Klein happened to be above the gray fog.
He saw the crimson star that represented The Magician expanding outward, rippling as he heard the stacked layers of pleas.
After figuring out the details, Klein tapped the edge of the ancient table and said to himself silently, How cautious for her to know to seek help from The Fool.
Besides, your guess isn't wrong. The corresponding Sequence 7 for Apprentice is Astrologer…
Having recently read the Book of Secrets thoroughly, he had quickly come up with a plan that would help him interfere with divination through rituals.
I have to say, with the Book of Secrets and my advancement to Sequence 7, I'm becoming more and more godlike when above the gray fog. Of course, for the time being, I'm still just an empty shell…
Speaking of which, I've been acting in front of Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man several times, fooling them completely. Why didn't I receive any feedback from my spirituality? The speed at which I digest the potion doesn't seem to be getting faster as a result. Does it have to happen in the real world? Yes, it might be possible that their "applause," as an audience, has been blocked by the gray fog, preventing them from directly affecting me. Just like how the Eternal Blazing Sun and the True Creator are unable to penetrate the gray fog to find this mysterious space…
From the looks of it, the reaction between the gray fog and this mysterious space is very mechanical. It's not sentient enough, and it lacks intelligence… However, to me, this is actually a good thing…
In the midst of his thoughts, Klein turned his knowledge into an ancient piece of goatskin and threw it into the crimson star that symbolized The Magician.
A boundless grayish-white fog suddenly filled the air in front of Fors's eyes, and an illusory yellowish-brown goatskin descended from the sky.
When she saw the information written on it, she suddenly felt at peace.
With Mr. Fool, Mr. Lawrence certainly wouldn't be able to get the correct revelations via divination! Fors sincerely expressed her gratitude and busily prepared for the ritual.
She had seen a lot of instances where evil spirits did harm to others. In fact, she didn't trust The Fool that much, but the curse of the full moon forced her to rely on him.
Regardless of how bad the consequences are, I will just lose my life. Without the help of Mr. Fool, I would've already lost control during the last Blood Moon and become a monster… Every day I live is a day gained. This is all given to me by Mr. Fool, and he can take it back at any time. Well, it's best if he doesn't… Fors took a breath and lit the two candles that symbolized The Fool.
The initial steps of the ritual were no different from those she had mastered before. This continued until the candles were lit and the essential oils, extract, and herbal powder were thrown into the fire.
When the fragrance of a serene etherealness filled the room, a faint, illusory fog covered the entire altar. According to the contents of the goatskin, Fors quickly adjusted her body and mind, entered Cogitation and chanted the corresponding name of The Fool over and over again.
Such monotonous, repetitive behavior allowed the originally calm and relaxed Fors to slowly enter a state where the mind was in deep sleep while her spirituality dispersed. Her entire being felt groggy, but she maintained a strange sense of lucidness. She felt as if her spirit was floating about, constantly moving upwards.
This was similar to the "secret deed" process that was formed with the help of an external object, but it was different in many ways. This was a technique in mediumship and was used to communicate with higher level spirits. At an extremum, it could even allow a Beyonder to travel the spirit world under the pretext of maintaining a special lucidness.
Some Beyonders who specialized in influencing the mind called it "artificial sleepwalking." They could use techniques such as hypnosis to make ordinary people enter this state as well.
In that way, an ordinary person would appear to be in a deep slumber, yet they would be able to answer questions. Although their eyes and mouths were closed, they could detect the presence of various Spirit Bodies around them; thus, completing a certain degree of communication.
The reason why Klein didn't let Fors use the secret deed ritual was that it could only give knowledge or direct effects such as purification or corruption, letting the target's mind gain a wonderful experience. It couldn't interfere with the divination or other matters done by another person.
Simply put, the secret deed ritual directly affected the target's Spirit Body, Astral Projection, Body of Heart and Mind, and Ether Body. The related positive or negative states were removed, and with the artificial sleepwalking ritual, it allowed Klein to do something indirect so as to deal with any outside interference.
In a daze, Fors felt herself drifting back to the majestic old palace above the gray fog, and she saw Mr. Fool sitting high above, looking down at everything.
Klein looked at the image of The Magician projected by the dark red starlight. He unhurriedly picked up a paper figurine that he had found earlier from his trash pile in the corner.
As a Seer who had advanced twice, he had many ways to interfere with the divination of others, so he didn't need to rely on mystical items to help him.
At this moment, due to the effects of the ritual, the mysterious space above the gray fog started to tremble slightly, and some of the power was flowing due to the perturbation.
Klein's left hand pressed the Dark Emperor card on the surface of the long bronze table, connecting it with his own Spirit Body and uplifting himself to a higher level. It raised his level just like the previous times he used the Flaring Sun Charm and Azik's copper whistle to solidify his Spirit Body.
Then, with a flick of his right wrist, he threw the paper figurine out.
The paper figurine suddenly expanded in size, and on its back, twelve pairs of black angel wings which were cut out of paper grew out. The feathers were vivid and lifelike.
The paper "angel" pierced through the dark red light and overlapped with the illusory figure of The Magician.
Without any warning, it started to burn and completely disappeared.
The half-awake Fors seemed to see a dignified and majestic angel as it wrapped layer upon layers of pitch-black wings around her!
After an unknown period of time, Fors suddenly awoke from her artificial sleepwalking state. In front of her were only the three candles quietly burning on the altar and the fog that had permeated the entire room. At the tip of her nose was the familiar fragrance of serene etherealness.
Angel… Fors was so lost in thought that she momentarily forgot to end the ritual.
Chapter 375: An "Evil God's" Impressive Act
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
1, 2, 3, 4, 5… I think there were twelve pairs of wings… According to the canon descriptions of the various Churches, that's an angel of the highest rank… Fors tried to recall what she had seen in her reverie. She was both shocked and not that shocked, as if what she had encountered was a shocking event that she had previously taken for granted but had simply never encountered before.
It isn't surprising that Mr. Fool has the services of an angel. From the fact that Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man occasionally use the word "Him" to refer to him, one can imagine so. The fact that he's able to isolate the effects of the moon's ravings allows me to infer… However, my request was only to interfere with Mr. Lawrence's divination; yet, "He" actually made an Angel protect me. Isn't this too extravagant? Or is this a routine act for "Him"?
Uh, one more problem. Why are the feathers on the angel's wings black? Does this signify degeneracy or Death? What is the true identity of Mr. Fool? Which great being is "He"? Death who was rumored to have died in the Pale Era? "He" wishes to be reborn through the Tarot Gatherings? Fors suddenly took a deep breath, completely unconcerned that the gentleman named Lawrence would find anything wrong with her through his divination.
On the realization that she had already joined the Tarot Club, she smiled wryly and whispered silently, I can only do as Emperor Roselle said, "Take things one step at a time…"
After gathering her thoughts, Fors humbly thanked Mr. Fool once more. Following the normal process of a ritual, she extinguished the three candles' flame and began to clear the altar which was filled with all kinds of items.
…
Above the gray fog, Klein temporarily put the matter of the Abraham family at the back of his mind.
According to his original plan, he conjured a pen and paper and wrote the following divination statement: "Daisy's current situation."
Putting the fountain pen away, Klein stacked Daisy's vocabulary book and the piece of paper with the divination statement on it and held them in his left hand.
Then, leaning back in his chair, he entered a state of Cogitation, reciting the words "Daisy's current situation" over and over again.
After seven times, Klein fell asleep, his eyes black with a hint of red before grayness surfaced in them.
One scene after another began to flash. Some were contiguous, some had gaps, and some were completely incoherent.
Klein saw Liv's youngest daughter, a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl who persisted despite being repeatedly scalded. She was dragged into a remote alley by a man wearing a heavy jacket and a grayish-black cap after he covered her mouth with a handkerchief from behind.
Another man, who was dressed the same, took her legs, and they lifted her as they quickly walked away.
Their destination was the carriage parked outside the alley.
The whole incident was over in less than two minutes, and by the time Daisy's sister, Freja, returned to search for Daisy, the carriage was already gone.
…
Within the carriage, a sharp, ice-cold dagger was held to the muddleheaded Daisy's face, and lewd threats rang in her ears.
…
The carriage drove into the luxurious villa.
…
Daisy was in a small, dark room, and from time to time, the sound of women's cries, screams, and curses echoed outside.
…
Daisy woke up and cried out for help, but the door was opened, and she was kicked away. The pain made it impossible for her to get up.
She wept as she constantly cried for "Mother" and "Freja."
…
Klein opened his eyes and realized that the paper he held in his left hand had already been crumpled by his tight grip.
He had established that Capim was the mastermind behind the many disappearances of young ladies and that he was the boss of a criminal organization.
The problem, however, was that the case shouldn't and couldn't involve powerful Beyonder forces. At most, there would be a few money-hungry Beyonders at Sequence 7, 8, or 9 that were helping out. It wouldn't have made Klein's spiritual intuition give him warnings of intense danger the moment he approached the villa.
Is Capim himself a Sequence 6 or even Sequence 5 Beyonder? However, it's not difficult for a Beyonder of this level to earn money. There's no need to do such dirty and complicated matters. He just has to find all the gangs and collect protection fees via a protection racket… It would be easy, and it wouldn't dirty his hands… Could there be some hidden plot behind Capim's human trafficking? As he pondered, Klein used the power of the gray fog to restore Daisy's vocabulary book to its original state.
After a few seconds of silence, he took out another piece of goatskin and wrote a new divination statement: "Saving Daisy is a dangerous matter."
After reading it carefully twice, Klein removed the spirit pendulum from his left wrist, letting the topaz pendant fall and hang above the surface of the paper, almost to the point of touching the statement.
After taking a few seconds to compose himself, he closed his eyes and began to recite the divination statement he had just written.
When he finished reciting it, Klein opened his eyes and looked at the pendulum in his left hand.
The topaz pendant was rotating clockwise at a fairly fast frequency and with a rather high amplitude!
This meant that saving Daisy was a rather dangerous act!
However, it isn't one of total despair. There's still a possibility, a significant chance of success, as long as I can seize it… Klein deciphered the revelation from the spirit pendulum.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and said with a self-deprecating smile, Wasn't I looking for an opportunity to perform?
This is it!
As a Magician, I have to challenge something of a higher difficulty. Otherwise, I would be called a Trickmaster and not a Magician.
Completing the seemingly impossible, even if the outcome is nothing but an illusion, that's the image of a magician in my heart. As for whether it's one of the rules or not, I still need confirmation…
Klein tapped the edge of the ancient table and quickly made his decision.
To him, the most troubling thing about saving Daisy and dealing with Capim was that he didn't know anything about Capim. He didn't know how many other Beyonders were in the villa or the Sequences and pathways they had.
This made Klein unable to make specific preparations.
And for a Magician, the first rule was: "Never perform unprepared!"
Many seemingly impromptu performances actually involved significant preparations. For example, long periods of practice or thorough mastery of diverting attention away from the situation.
Should I get Miss Justice's help to learn more about Capim's background for my adorer? Klein seriously considered the options available to him.
However, he quickly rejected this idea.
No, I won't be able to receive detailed information. Although Capim is involved with many powerful figures and the wealthy, it's not something that can be publicized. Miss Justice will, at most, learn of the nobles, Members of Parliament, or civil servants which he is involved with, but she won't be able to determine how many Beyonders are in his villa, much less the traps or the layout…
Through the clues from these connections, Miss Justice might be able to figure out what I wish to know given a few weeks time, but that's too slow. Rescuing Daisy needs to be done as soon as possible. Any delays will result in a tragedy.
Klein's eyes swept across the surface of the long bronze table and onto the junk pile in the corner. His mind began to formulate an idea.
On the one hand, I can get Miss Magician and her friend, Miss Xio, to investigate Capim's background and determine which Beyonders he has ties with. The two ladies are very well connected in East Borough, several gangs, and a considerable number of Beyonder circles. On the other hand, I can take action by myself. I can obtain information from the servants or bodyguards that come out from Capim's villa via mediumship.
After finalizing his plan, Klein was in no hurry to get help from Miss Magician. He decided to try doing it by himself first so that he could find out more about the matter in a targeted manner.
In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared from the towering palace above the gray fog.
…
After lunch, a man wearing a grayish-black cap and a thick cotton coat cautiously left from the back door of Capim's villa. He walked all the way to a crossroad and got into a rental carriage.
"East Borough." He touched the dark red birthmark on his face and instructed the carriage driver.
The carriage began to move, and the man looked out of the window with a bored expression, admiring the beautiful ladies and young ladies on the streets.
"If only we could kidnap them…" The man let his imagination run wild as he revealed a regretful expression.
When he was far from Iris Street, he suddenly shivered, and his eyes became slightly dazed.
He knocked on the wall and said to the carriage driver, "Stop, stop! I forgot something. Here will do."
The carriage driver didn't dare to reprimand the ferocious man. He didn't even mutter as he stopped the carriage by the side of the street and allowed him to alight.
After paying six pence for the ride, the man retraced the direction in which he came for dozens of meters before entering a cheap hotel.
Without the need for any proof of identity, he paid for a room.
After entering, he left the door ajar without locking it.
Then, the man sat on the edge of the bed with a deadpan expression. Suddenly, a transparent and illusory figure separated from his body!
It was none other than Klein who was dressed as a worker!
He had used the method of summoning himself to transform into a Spirit Body and had attached himself to this man's body, allowing him to walk to a convenient location for mediumship!
After knocking the man out, Klein's spirit form disappeared from the room. Not long after, the door was pushed open, and he walked into the room in his corporeal form.
Using a wall of spirituality to seal the place, Klein quickly set up a mediumship ritual, allowing the alluring scent of Amantha extract and Eye of the Spirit medicine to emanate in the surroundings.
After finishing his preparations and just as he was about to start the mediumship, he suddenly exclaimed and stopped his actions.
He discovered that the Spirit Body of the man who was unconscious on the bed had a mysterious, unknown restriction. If he forcefully did the mediumship, although there was a high probability of success, it would activate the seal and cause some Beyonder to notice this occurrence!
This would end up alerting the enemy!
Such a strange Beyonder power… Very cautious and very careful… What Capim is involved in isn't simple at all… Klein took a few steps forward, frowning slightly.
He glanced at the unconscious man and suddenly chuckled.
"Do you think you can stop me with just this?"
He quickly suspended the ritual, summoned himself again, and responded to himself.
A few seconds later, he flew out of the candle's flame in his Spirit Body form and floated in the room once more.
Without any hesitation, Klein, in his Spirit Body form, suddenly approached and possessed the unconscious man.
The man suddenly sat up and opened his eyes; his expression appeared lifeless.
He straightened his body, walked to the front of the altar, step by step, and then chanted in a low voice, "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era,
"You are the mysterious ruler above the gray fog;
"You are the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
Chapter 376: Mr. Harras
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In a room filled with the ethereal fragrance of Amantha extract and Eye of the Spirit medicine, Capim's henchman, who had been possessed by Klein, was made to chant The Fool's honorific name.
Amidst the monotonous yet rhythmic murmurs and the fragrance that made it difficult to focus, the man's Spirit Body gradually dissipated. He became muddleheaded but maintained a certain degree of unusual lucidity, as if he was hypnotizing himself.
With Klein's "help" in his Spirit Body form and the feedback from the chanting The Fool's honorific name, he slowly entered an "artificial sleepwalking" state. His Astral Projection approached the infinitely high gray fog and the mysterious location above the gray fog.
Klein seized the opportunity, ended the summoning, and returned to the towering ancient palace, where he sat at the seat belonging to The Fool.
He saw a bright light circle rippling around him, sketching out the illusory figure of Capim's henchman. The mysterious space was affected by the ritual as it trembled slightly. Some of the energy was being pried away and was slowly flowing.
Klein picked up the Dark Emperor card, and a paper figurine flashed in his hand.
With a flick of his wrist, the paper figurine flew out and absorbed the sliver of energy that had been pried out of the gray fog. It then transformed into a man wearing a black cap and a thick cotton jacket. He looked identical to Capim's henchman—even his aura and feel was indistinguishable from the real person.
This paper figurine overlapped with the target's illusory figure and helped him resist the mysterious and unknown restrictions placed within his Spirit Body.
At the same time, Klein held the Dark Emperor card and spread his spirituality, touching the projection of Capim's henchman formed by the pure light.
This was one of the applications of secret deeds, where a weak human and a great being were able to be a little in tune with each other, feeling the corresponding knowledge and gaining a wonderful spiritual experience. Unlike normal circumstances, Klein was playing the role of the great being in this instance.
In this kind of close interactive state that belonged to a secret deed, humans could gain knowledge from great existences, and great existences could also naturally use questions to obtain the information they wanted.
If it wasn't for Klein's inability to master the field of the mind, he would've been able to plant an inducing suggestion.
"What kind of powerful people are in Capim's villa?" Klein asked through the interactive spirituality state.
Without any resistance, the projection transmitted the memories to Klein, making him feel like he was watching a holographic film.
The man in the cap stood respectfully and fearfully in the room. In front of him was a middle-aged gentleman in a black tailcoat and a white wig.
This gentleman had a long, thin, and stern face, and his mouth was naturally pursed, giving off an exceptionally cold feeling.
He followed the golden chain on his watch, took out a pocket watch of the same color, pressed it open to take a look, and then he said in a deep voice, "Look at me."
The man in the cap didn't dare to disobey as he raised his head and looked in front of him.
"Yes, Mr. Harras."
Before he could finish his words, he saw a pair of eyes that flickered with a strange light, and he heard a command: "Maintain secrecy!
"You can't leak anything you see or hear in this villa to anyone else."
The man in the cap trembled inexplicably, feeling that he had to do as the other party had ordered.
He lowered his head again and said, "Yes, Mr. Harras."
…
The man in the cap carried an unconscious girl along the stairs to the entrance of the basement.
There was a small room that was separated from the others, and a bearded man with an unknown age was sitting inside it.
This bearded man had a pair of frighteningly cold blue eyes. He held a thin piece of flannel in his hand and was carefully cleaning the grayish-white rifle on the table.
The rifle was thick and long, connected through a pipe to a large mechanical box of the same color.
It was a high-pressure steam rifle!
That was a military-controlled item!
"Mr. Belize…" The man in the cap bowed his head in greeting.
…
The man in the cap entered a neatly arranged underground structure which resembled a prison. He then locked the unconscious girl in one of the small rooms.
He locked the door, returned to the corridor, and picked up the lantern he had been assigned.
At that moment, he saw a figure slowly approaching from the other end of the corridor.
The figure seemed to be able to see through the darkness without any lighting.
With the aid of the lantern, the man in the cap realized that it was a woman in her thirties.
The woman was wearing a brown bonnet, a thin white blouse, and suspenders, as well as leather boots that reached her knees.
There were old scars on her face and a cruel smile at the corners of her mouth.
The man in the cap lowered his head in fear as he stammered, "Ma'am Katy…"
The woman ignored him. Step by step, she approached him and walked past him, as though he was nothing more than air.
When the lady named Katy had left, the man in the cap curled his lips and said, "Bitch! When you get into bed, you'll definitely be more energetic than a prostitute!"
He pushed up his crotch, held up the lantern, and left the basement.
…
The man in the cap met two men in the grand hall that shimmered gold.
One of them was about 1.65 meters tall, and he was a little plump. He didn't have any special features, but his eyes always had a frightening look. The other was slightly taller than 1.70 meters, and he looked a bit old. He had some wrinkles and a high nose bridge. His brown eyes were filled with spirit, and he didn't seem to have a look of deterrence.
"Mr. Capim," the man in the cap greeted the plump middle-aged man, then he said to another person, "Mr. Parker…"
…
In the early light of dawn, the man in the cap met the cold middle-aged gentleman called Mr. Harras at the entrance to the basement.
Harras, wearing a white hood, glanced at him, who was standing respectfully by the side. He indifferently stretched out his right palm towards the entrance of the basement and solemnly said, "Confinement!"
Silently, there was a subtle difference in the surroundings.
…
There are a total of four Beyonders. At least four of them… The strongest should be that Mr. Harras, a Sequence 6 at the very least, or maybe even Sequence 5… I wonder what pathway it is. It does seem similar to the Dark Emperor pathway… Relying on order and issuing commands? Judging from the scenes just now, the restrictions pertain only to the basement, not the entire villa. That's right. With so many people coming and going during the day, it would be too troublesome to enter and exit once the restrictions are in place… I wonder if it's the same at night. Klein analyzed the information he had just received and asked again, "What's the overall layout of the villa?"
He quickly received feedback and saw a magnificent hall, a wide dining room, connected corridors, washrooms, and scenes of the basement.
Through them, Klein pieced together in his mind the rough layout of Capim's villa.
Feeling the drain on his spirituality, he asked a final question, "Who are the important figures whom Capim is closely related to?"
The scene in front of his eyes was the magnificent hall from before. Half-naked girls were prostrating themselves while serving the guests drinks, letting them abuse them or fool around with them; otherwise, they were being dragged directly to a secluded spot to be ravaged.
They were young, and their faces were bitter and numb. Any slight delay or lack of enthusiasm would result in them being whipped by Capim's attendants or maidservants.
None of these servants showed a shred of sympathy despite seeing such evil scenes. They fought to be the first to showcase themselves in a bid to obtain rewards.
Klein saw Capim among the guests, the cold Mr. Harras, and a Member of Parliament from the House of Commons who often appeared in the newspapers, Vardera, a fat man who was addressed as Deputy Chief…
…
Is that one of the Deputy Chiefs of the Backlund Police Department? That's one of the higher-ups of the police department… To think that not a single one of those servants are good… That's understandable. The villa's hired personnel must've been screened before and would have to be sufficiently trustworthy… Klein rubbed his forehead, halting the secret deed ritual. The man in the cap was only an inconsequential leader, and that was all he could know or participate in.
Even at this moment, the mysterious restriction on him was still unperturbed.
Klein ended the ritual and allowed him to vanish from above the gray fog as he returned to the real world.
He sat by the bed and looked at the man in the cap who was unconscious. According to the information he had just gathered, he analyzed the feasibility of a performance and considered one plan after another.
In the end, Klein came up with a definite idea. He whispered to himself,Perhaps, I don't need a helper…
A helper would drag me down instead, making it inconvenient for me to escape in times of danger.
Picking the right time is very important.
…
Nearly fifty minutes later, the man in the blackish-gray cap appeared in East Borough as he headed straight for the streets controlled by the Zmanger gang.
As soon as he saw a few dark-skinned, lean people with ferocious looks, he immediately went close. Pretending to not watch where he was going, he bumped into one of them.
"Damn it! You bunch of trash!" the man in the cap cursed loudly and punched at one of them.
Highlanders, who loved to fight, didn't back down and entered a brawl with him.
In the process, the man in the cap pulled out his dagger, and the other highlanders also drew their weapons.
Slash!
During the battle, a dagger stabbed into the capped man's neck as he failed to dodge in time. It went right into his arteries.
The man in the cap fell as red blood pooled around his head.
He quickly lost his life, and the illusory, transparent figure within his body immediately vanished.
Klein returned above the gray fog, and using it as a springboard, he re-entered his body. He then opened his eyes in the cheap hotel in Cherwood Borough.
He cleaned up the rest of the evidence and went to the front desk to check out of the room.
On his way back to Minsk Street, Klein once again went above the gray fog.
He wanted to divine a simple but crucial piece of information!
He picked up a fountain pen and wrote down a line of text: "Capim's dinner time today."