Looking at Klein, Leonard smiled with his emerald-green eyes and nodded, saying:
"So, what do you need them to provide?"
Having worked with Old Neil and others multiple times, he naturally understood that divination required a medium, especially when the "subject" was absent.
Klein thought for a moment, then looked toward Butler Kelly and said:
"I need an item of Elliot's clothing that he has worn recently and hasn't been laundered. If you have a personal accessory he used to carry, that would be even better."
He tried to choose common items, avoiding anything that might make ordinary people overthink.
Despite that, the old butler Kelly still looked puzzled and asked, "Why?"
After asking, he added, "I have a photograph of young master Elliot with me."
Why? Because we intend to locate him through divination… Klein was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
If he spoke the truth—not to mention whether it would breach confidentiality—Kelly would likely turn around and leave, tear up their contract, and curse inwardly, "These charlatans! If this actually worked, I'd rather seek out the most famous medium in Ahowa County!"
Beside him, Leonard Mitchell chuckled and said:
"Mr. Kelly, my companion—well, colleague—has a rather unique pet. Its sense of smell is keener than a bloodhound's. So, we need the clothes Elliot wore and some of his personal items to aid in finding him. You know, clues often only narrow down a general area."
"And as for that photograph, we need it too. Both of us need to know what young Elliot looks like."
The old butler accepted this explanation and nodded slowly, saying:
"Would you like to wait here, or come with me to Mr. Wicklow's city residence?"
"We'll go together to save time," Klein replied succinctly.
He wanted to test his own extraordinary abilities and was also driven by a simple desire to help others.
"Very well. The carriage is waiting downstairs," the butler replied, pulling a black-and-white photograph from his pocket and handing it to Leonard.
The picture was of Elliot Wicklow alone. He appeared about ten years old, with slightly long hair almost covering his eyes. His face was freckled and rather nondescript.
Leonard glanced at it briefly, then handed it to Klein.
Klein examined it carefully, pocketed the photograph, grabbed his cane, put on his hat, and followed the other two out of the Blackthorn Security Company, getting into the carriage waiting downstairs.
The carriage interior was quite spacious, with thick carpeting and a small table for placing items.
With the old butler Kelly present, Klein and Leonard remained silent, quietly feeling the carriage move steadily over the waterlogged streets in the lightening rain.
"Impressive coachman," Leonard eventually broke the silence with a smile, offering a small compliment.
"Hmm," Klein responded nonchalantly.
The old butler Kelly managed a strained smile and said:
"Your praise is an honor to him. We're almost there…"
To avoid drawing the kidnappers' attention, the carriage didn't stop directly in front of the Wicklow residence but rather on a nearby street.
Holding an umbrella, Kelly went back on his own. While waiting, Leonard spoke to Klein again, unbothered:
"My previous guess wasn't meant to have any ulterior motive—I just wanted to let you know that the notebook is bound to appear again, and perhaps sooner than you think."
"That's hardly a pleasant thought," Klein replied, subtly nodding toward the coachman outside to indicate they shouldn't discuss sensitive topics in present company.
Leonard let out a whistle, turning his gaze to the window, where raindrops streaked down, blurring the world beyond into obscurity.
After a while, Kelly returned, carrying a bag. His pants were muddied around the hems, and damp spots dotted his front from his hurried walk.
"Here's young master Elliot's clothing from yesterday, and this is the Storm Amulet he used to wear."
Klein glanced at the items, noting a miniature set of gentleman's attire—a small shirt, vest, bow tie, and other pieces.
The Storm Amulet was crafted from bronze, etched with symbols of gusts and waves, but it didn't spark any intuition in Klein.
"I'll recount the details of young master Elliot's kidnapping to help you better target your efforts…" Butler Kelly sat down and repeated the harrowing experience from that morning, hoping that the helpers he had painstakingly found could indeed be of assistance.
Klein and Leonard, however, paid little attention to the particulars, focusing instead on key points: the number of kidnappers, any signs of unusual behavior, and whether they were armed.
"Three," "ordinary," "with guns…" Satisfied with the answers, they took their leave from Butler Kelly and hired a nearby two-wheeled cab.
Unlike public carriages, these private hires came in both four-wheeled and two-wheeled versions. Fares could be calculated by either distance or time: within the city, it was 4 pence per kilometer, while in the outskirts, it rose to 8 pence. The hourly rate was 2 sols, with a minimum charge for the first hour, then an additional 6 pence per 15 minutes. During bad weather or urgent trips, rates could increase.
Klein had heard from Mr. Azik that in the capital, Backlund, cab drivers were notorious for overcharging.
To him, hiring a private cab was quite a luxury; however, he didn't need to worry about it this time, as Leonard simply tossed two 1-sol banknotes to the driver.
"Charge by the hour," Leonard instructed before closing the carriage door.
"Where are you headed?" The driver, holding the notes, looked delighted but somewhat confused.
"Wait a moment," Leonard said, looking over at Klein.
Klein nodded slightly, took out Elliot's clothing, and spread it on the floor of the carriage. Then he wound the Storm Amulet around the top of his cane.
Grasping the silver-inlaid black cane, he placed it firmly on top of Elliot's clothes.
Focusing his mind, Klein gathered the "light sphere" in his head, calming himself quickly. His brown eyes deepened as he entered a semi-meditative state.
He felt as if his "spirit" was becoming lighter, almost floating, and he could faintly see the omnipresent "spiritual world" around him. In his mind, he repeated, "Elliot's location."
After seven repetitions, he released his grip on the cane, which, remarkably, didn't fall—it remained upright, standing firm even as the carriage gently swayed!
A subtle, intangible sensation filled the space, as though countless indifferent eyes were watching Klein.
In recent times, he had occasionally experienced a similar feeling during meditative and spiritual vision states.
Suppressing a slight shiver, he fixed his deep black eyes on the cane and repeated in his mind once more:
"Elliot's location."
As soon as he finished the silent incantation, the silver-inlaid wooden cane toppled forward, pointing directly ahead.
"Straight ahead," Klein said in a low, resonant voice.
His tone held an ethereal quality, as though it could pierce into unknown realms.
This was one of the divination abilities he had mastered, known as "Dowsing Rod Tracking." The tool had to be made of wood, metal, or a blend of the two.
Typically, this method would require two actual dowsing rods—usually bent at a right angle like an L-shaped metal wire, with the shorter side held in hand to rotate and determine direction. However, as a "Diviner," Klein discovered through practice that he could directly use this object-seeking method for finding people, substituting a regular cane for the dowsing rods. Whichever direction the cane fell pointed to the desired object or person.
As for the Antigonus family's notebook, Klein couldn't search for it since he had no recollection of its appearance.
"Straight ahead," Leonard called out to the driver. "I'll tell you when to turn."
The driver couldn't understand the reason for these instructions, but with the cash stashed securely in his inner pocket and the clients' willingness to pay without hesitation, he kept silent and simply complied.
The carriage moved slowly, passing street after street.
Several times along the way, Klein employed his "Dowsing Rod Tracking" to adjust their direction.
When the carriage finally circled a particular building, Klein confirmed that Elliot was inside. Only thirty minutes had passed since they'd parted from Butler Kelly.
After dismissing the driver, Klein no longer needed Elliot's clothes. He placed his cane, with the Storm Amulet wound around it, firmly on the ground.
Once more, his gaze deepened, and the few raindrops nearby began to swirl in place.
The cane tipped forward at an angle, and Klein pointed to a staircase entrance, saying:
"There."
"Sometimes, I envy Old Neil. Right now, I envy you too," Leonard said with a smile as he watched the scene.
Klein glanced at him and replied calmly:
"This isn't hard. If you're willing, you can learn it… your intuition must be quite strong, right?"
Leonard nodded, chuckling. "That's not necessarily a good thing."
He quickened his pace, stepping into the stairway as the last remnants of rain dripped around them.
Klein, eager to keep his attire dry, nearly jogged to follow him.
The building had only three floors, resembling apartment blocks on Earth, with two apartments per landing at each stairwell. Klein used "Dowsing Rod Tracking" again on the first and second floors, but each time the cane remained steady, pointing upward.
Silently, they reached the third floor, where Klein once more stood the silver-inlaid black cane on the ground.
Whoosh!
A faint breeze passed through the stairwell, and his eyes turned a deep black, as if they could draw in one's soul.
An almost inaudible, eerie weeping seemed to echo around them.
Klein released his grip, and the cane with the Storm Amulet remained standing on its own.
After silently reciting "Elliot's location" once more, he watched as the black cane fell forward, soundlessly pointing to a door on the right.
"He should be in there," Klein murmured, picking up his cane and lightly tapping his forehead twice.
As various "colors" intensified around him, he focused on the door to the right, directly perceiving the diverse "auras" within.
"One, two, three, four… three kidnappers and one hostage. The numbers match… One of them has a small aura—that should be Elliot… Mr. Kelly mentioned they have two shotguns and a revolver…" Klein murmured softly.
Leonard chuckled, saying:
"How about I recite a little poem for them?"
"Why choose to be kidnappers? Wouldn't it be much better to be civilized people?"
He set down the bag containing Elliot's clothes, took two steps forward, and his expression suddenly shifted, becoming serene and melancholic.
With a deep, magnetic voice, he began to recite slowly:
"Ah, the threat of fear, the crimson hope!
One truth remains: life fades away.
One truth indeed, while the rest is a lie—
Flowers bloom once, then bid the world goodbye…"