The good news is that sunlight does not count as "fire."
In fact, this makes no sense. According to Angel's common sense, the light and heat of Sun originate from the energy generated by nuclear fusion that occurs all the time inside the star. What humans see is the visible light it emits, and the heat they feel is infrared, which is essentially "light" in a broad sense. In this case, she should also be afraid of the sunlight during the day under the negative effects of "Magician Pocket Watch".
But now she was standing at the door of Blackthorn Security Company. The morning sun shone on her face, but it didn't make her feel intimidated or scared.
The bad news is that there is a gas lamp burning in the corridor leading from the security company's door to the second floor.
How dare these people light gas lamps? Isn't flame the biggest threat to mankind in this world?
If the gas leaks, is ignited by flames, and the fire pours into the gas pipes, the entire building and the entire block will be blown up...
Angel wanted to take out his pistol and knock out the gas lamp that might burn down the whole house, but then he remembered that gunpowder ignited and the bullet would emit sparks when it came out of the chamber. After hesitating for a long time, he still didn't dare to fire.
"Good morning, Miss Angel. I didn't expect you to come back from Enmat Harbor so soon. Why are you standing at the door and not going in?"
Klein, who stayed up so late yesterday that he was almost late, got off Public Carriage and came to the door of Blackthorn Security Company. As he was about to go upstairs, he found Angel standing on the side of the street with his head down and unwilling to enter.
He quickly tidied up his clothes, which were a little messy from walking fast, and said hello.
When the other party raised her head to look, Klein was surprised to find an emotion in her eyes.
fear.
In the eyes of this "assassin" who has superb marksmanship and close combat skills, who can calmly deal with Mid Sequence Beyonder and save his companions, this is the most unlikely emotion.
"What's going on? Are you feeling unwell?"
Klein took two steps closer and asked.
"...Klein, are you afraid of fire?"
Angel's voice sounded particularly weak and pitiful, making Klein take a breath of air.
"What kind of fire are you referring to? The wildfire that burned down the entire mountain forest, the fire that burned half of Docklands a few years ago, or..."
"No, it's that fire."
Klein looked along her outstretched finger and found that the other party was talking about the gas lamp burning in the corridor.
"Why is there still someone turning on the gas lamp in broad daylight?"
He answered vaguely, thinking that he would mention to Miss Rozanne later that saving gas is everyone's responsibility.
"Yeah, why would anyone dare to turn on the gaslight? Aren't they afraid of blowing up Tingen City?"
Angel murmured, stumbling and swaying a little further away from the gas lamp.
"Ah, what?"
Klein was confused. He found that he didn't seem to be on the same channel as the other party.
Enmat Harbor What happened? Why did she look different when she came back from a trip there?
Klein felt that the weather seemed to be getting hotter. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Rozanne, please turn off the lights in the reception hall."
Klein pushed the door open a crack and shouted to Rozanne who was standing behind the reception desk sorting documents.
"It doesn't matter, I'm fine."
Angel said bravely, she walked around Klein, pushed open the door of the reception hall, and stretched out her feet to walk inside, but her feet did not fall, her expression changed again and again, and finally she retracted out of the door.
"Just close it..." Klein looked at Rozanne who looked confused, and added with a wry smile.
"Angel What's going on?"
Although he was full of doubts, Rozanne walked out of the reception desk obediently, walked around the reception hall and turned off several gas lamps. The reception hall, with only the sunlight outside the window as the light source, did not become darker, but had a sense of tranquility that was different from usual.
"I don't know for sure, but she seems to have some symptoms of photophobia."
After all the lights were dimmed, Angel breathed a sigh of relief and entered the reception hall. As long as there was no fire in her sight, she behaved as usual. She found a sofa and sat down steadily, her expression no longer panicked or fearful.
"Photophobia?" Rozanne also sat on the sofa and asked curiously, "But the sun is shining brightly on the street. If she is really afraid of light, how did she come to the company?"
"Sunshine should not be included. What she is afraid of is fire, such as gas lights, or..." Klein looked around and found that the kettle in the corner was boiling water on the stove, so he pointed there and continued, "... the flame of that stove."
Following his pointer, Angel's face, which had returned to normal, turned pale again, and his body began to tremble.
"I'll turn it off right now! Turn it off..."
Rozanne jumped up from the sofa, rushed to the stove, put out the fire, and returned to the sofa holding a half-heated kettle.
"I'm really sorry. I'm not in a good state right now, but I'll be fine in a few minutes."
Angel took off a small brass pocket watch from his wrist, opened the watch cover and looked at the time. Klein curiously leaned over and found that the pocket watch was actually counting down. It seemed that there were less than five minutes left before the hands returned to zero.
"Pah——"
She closed the watch cover, closed her eyes and leaned on the back of the sofa, seemingly determined to wait until her abnormality disappeared before doing anything else.
Although Rozanne looked confused and wanted to ask several times, she finally suppressed her curiosity. She whispered to Klein, "Klein, the captain said that you should go to his office when you arrive. Angel also, but she is like this... you should go first."
"Okay, I'll go over right away. Please take care of her."
Klein glanced at Angel hesitantly, then nodded, straightened his coat and hat, and walked towards Dunn's office.
"It's really okay now, you see."
Angel looked at Rozanne, who was following him with a worried look, and turned on the switch of the gas lamp on the wall with a click, letting the flame gradually ignite, spreading warm light around.
Just now, I actually thought that this little flame would burn the entire Tingen City?
It's incredible. Is this the inferiority complex "Magician Pocket Watch" brings me?
"Well, it seems like there are no symptoms like before..."
There was hesitation in Rozanne's tone. Her eyes moved back and forth between the gas lamp and Angel. Finally, Persuasion stopped herself and nodded, but then she asked doubtfully.
"But weren't you fine a few days ago? Why did you suddenly become like this?"
"Just think of it as a negative effect caused by Beyonder Ability, just like the captain's memory loss, just like Leonard they don't need to sleep."
Angel I don't know how to explain the negative effects of Mystical Item, so I can only deal with it.
"How can it be a negative effect not to need to sleep? I also hope to have such an ability!" Rozanne put the kettle on the stove, turned on the switch again, and lit the fire. "If I could only sleep four hours a day, I wouldn't have dark circles under my eyes from staying up late."
"Captain has been suffering from dark circles under his eyes for a while now, and it seems that the ability of 'Sleepless' won't satisfy you either."
Angel stared at the blazing gas flame for a few seconds. After confirming that he was no longer Fear of Firelight, he returned to the sofa and sat down with peace of mind.
Rozanne guarded her kettle, waited for the water to boil, and made a pot of coffee. Then she also returned to the center of the reception hall and poured a cup each for Angel and herself.
The aroma of coffee instantly filled the whole room.
Angel, who got rid of the negative effects of "Magician Pocket Watch", became talkative again. Rozanne pretended to imitate her Fear of Firelight's movements with a weird expression, making her laugh, and pretended to knock Rozanne on the head.
"Ahem——"
A deliberate dry cough came from behind the partition, causing the two of them to quickly return to their sitting postures.
Klein waited for the two ladies to tidy up their appearance, then walked out from behind the partition, pretending to be unaware and asked, "Miss Angel, it seems that you have returned to normal?"
"Ahem, yes, I just bothered you."
Angel quickly thanked Klein. If it hadn't been for the enthusiastic Gentlemen who helped turn off the gas light in the corridor just now, I'm afraid she would still be wandering downstairs, waiting for the negative effects to disappear.
"It is Gentlemen's duty to serve beautiful ladies." Klein exaggeratedly took off his hat and gave a Gentlemen salute, which made the two ladies present laugh. Then he returned to a serious tone and informed Angel to go to Dunn Smith's office.
"The captain is reading the telegram from Enmat Harbor. It may be your report on what happened there in the past few days."
The two of them arrived at the door of Dunn's office one after another, and Klein reminded him quietly.
"Thank you, I'll keep an eye out."
Angel nodded and prepared to knock on the door.
"By the way, there's one more thing." Klein seemed to have just remembered that he still had something to say. He raised his hand and pressed it, stopping Angel from knocking on the door. "Are you free on Monday afternoon next week? About 3 o'clock, that's what I told you last time."
What I said last time... "Moretti Family Relocation Celebration Dinner"?
Angel is a little confused. It's not suitable for lunch or dinner until 3pm. Is it afternoon tea?
But since the other party had sent out the invitation, Angel was still ready to nod in agreement, but she suddenly remembered that she needed to participate in "Tarot Club" every Monday afternoon. Although Mr. Fool taught everyone Ritual Magic and allowed temporary leave, she was not prepared to be the first one to "eat crabs".
"Sorry, I have other things scheduled for Monday afternoon and I can't get away. Can you arrange it in the evening?"
She replied to Klein with an apology on her face.
"Sure enough... it doesn't matter. Let's make another appointment. This time in the afternoon is really not suitable..."
Klein seemed to have expected that she would not be free on Monday afternoon, and nodded clearly. "It took you a little time, you go in and report to the captain first."
"Okay."
Angel knocked on the office door, and after Dunn Smith opened the door to invite him, he opened the door and walked in.
Just before the door closed, she glanced at Klein behind the door, and saw that the other person's eyes were deep and his expression was looming under the shadow of the hat. He was still standing outside the door, thinking about something.
Hi, I originally wanted to cut the two 3,000-word chapters into three 2,000-word chapters, but the chapters turned out to be too good (no), and I feel like I can't cut them, so I'll post them together. There will be another chapter in 1 minute.