In Every Sense

To get a share of the money, Klein had no choice but to come up with an idea himself.

He broke off a branch outside and planned to use the dowsing method to locate the missing person. For that, though, he needed some of young Mr. Elliott's clothes and a photograph.

That was easy. Mr. Keli hadn't left yet. As soon as he heard Lynch's request, he sent someone home to fetch the items.

The carriage pulled away from Zolant Street. Klein kept up his divinations and had the driver adjust their course.

Lynch watched him divine, and for once, he felt a little envious.

Sometimes, he really did want an ability like that. But Sequence 9 Seer didn't improve his memory or stamina, and aside from the occasional situation, he generally thought Sleepless was pretty good.

"We're here. This is the place!"

Klein directed the carriage to a building and pointed at the stairs, looking at Lynch.

"I understand. Don't rush. I'll have the carriage make a stop at the police station."

Lynch winked at Klein. While Klein watched in astonishment, he jumped onto the carriage, which promptly sped off.

Klein didn't know how many times he cursed that damned Lynch at the entrance.

The guy had left him here without even leaving him an umbrella. What a heartless bastard!

After grumbling for about half an hour, Klein finally saw the carriage again.

There were two other carriages beside it now. When they were about a hundred meters away, Lynch jumped down, followed by more than a dozen police officers.

Lynch waved, and they approached the stairs as quietly as they could.

"Lead the way!"

Lynch stood beside Klein. Klein's mouth twitched.

"Why did you bring them here? What if Mr. Keli doesn't admit that we rescued his young master?"

Klein was a little worried. Lynch leaned close and whispered in his ear:

"Don't worry. Officer Mountbatten is a friend of mine now. He just told me he'd hint to the tobacco merchant that this was our work. The man will know what to do!"

"But..."

Klein trailed off.

He was worried there might be Beyonders here. What if things got out of hand...

But before he could say anything, he heard gunshots crackling upstairs.

Soon, young Mr. Elliott was brought out, and the kidnappers were dragged out after him.

The kidnappers had been shot so many times that there was no need to tie them up. Every one of them looked horrendous.

"Don't worry! I already told the officers those men had guns. They came up with a plan on the way here."

Lynch was pleased to see that none of the officers had been hurt. As expected, it was best to leave professional work to professionals.

Mountbatten came down the stairs with his men, looking triumphant. But when he glanced at Klein, a hint of caution flashed in his eyes.

He pulled Lynch aside and quietly asked, "You're letting us take the credit. Is this gentleman really not going to complain?"

Mountbatten's relationship with Klein was only so-so. He worried Klein would resent the police station for taking the credit. Lynch had told him that the Seventh Action Group cared quite a bit about getting credit, too.

"Don't worry. He only just joined us, after that incident. I thought he was a good guy, so I mentioned him to the boss and brought him onto our team. He's grateful to me, so I only need to give him a little something afterward."

Lynch shamelessly presented himself as Klein's superior.

Only then did Mountbatten relax, though he quickly took out a few banknotes and discreetly slipped them to Lynch.

Lynch made a show of refusing, but after some back-and-forth, he accepted the money.

"Oh, what are you doing? We're friends. I only pointed you toward a little credit. There's really no need for this!"

Lynch declared with a righteous expression.

Mountbatten was touched, but after glancing at Klein, he insisted the money was for Lynch to treat his colleagues. He added that Lynch could call on him again for things like this.

Lynch thumped his chest and promised that whenever there was a chance for Mountbatten to earn credit, he'd tell him directly and wouldn't let anyone else know. Mountbatten was thrilled.

After another round of mutual flattery, Lynch finally parted ways with Mountbatten.

As soon as Mountbatten left, Klein hurried over.

"What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, he said he'd helped me out and asked how I was going to thank him. I thought they really had put in a lot of effort, so I gave him two pounds to buy everyone a round of drinks."

Klein immediately caught the key phrase.

"I can only contribute one pound!"

Lynch: ...

Look at this guy. He was always saying Lynch had his head in the money, but wasn't he just the same?

"I'm not asking you to pay. This is for the work I did. I'll cover it myself."

Lynch felt the few banknotes in his pocket. From a quick glance, he thought one of them might have been a five-pound note, so he decided not to take Klein's pound after all.

"Seriously?"

Klein stared at Lynch in disbelief. He'd been ready to pay through the nose, but Lynch hadn't asked him for anything. He couldn't help feeling that Lynch wasn't the sort to take a loss without a reason.

"Heh, I used to be poor, so I had to haggle with you. Now I've got a little money, so naturally, I can act more like an elder.

"Look at today. I brought you along on such a big job. I could've had Mountbatten and the others find the place for me. It might've taken longer, but I'd have kept all the money. But who am I? I'm your elder. Of course I'd think of you!"

Lynch explained himself with an air of dependability, and Klein was moved.

He quietly put away his wallet, and his regard for Lynch rose another notch. Aside from feeling exasperated that the guy was always trying to claim he was his elder, all he felt was gratitude.

He never expected that, as a transmigrator, he'd have such a good friend.

Lynch was a great friend, brother, colleague, and roommate.

Klein was filled with emotion until Lynch gave an awkward smile and asked if he could cover the carriage fare for the ride back. Only then did Klein finally get his head back on straight after being thoroughly taken in by Lynch.

By the time they rode back to the security company, Leonard and the others had already returned.

Lynch briefly explained what had happened, then hurried off with Klein to the Duel Club.

They both had training to do.

After they finished training, Lynch and Klein went their separate ways.

Klein planned to walk the route from Welch's house to Iron Cross Street, while Lynch had to attend a gathering arranged by Instructor Skuton. He'd heard there would be a lot of instructors there, and they'd discuss Tingen's entrance exam.

Instructor Skuton had written to remind him again yesterday that the gathering was important.

Lynch naturally didn't refuse. He hid in the club's washroom and carefully straightened his clothes. Once he'd made sure everything was in order, he hurried to Instructor Skuton's house.

Instructor Skuton had a house on Wendell Street, with a garden and lawn, as well as a spacious reception hall—an ideal place for a gathering.

At least, that was what Lynch thought when he arrived.

Of course, what surprised him most was that the gathering included three Beyonder Pathways. Tingen University had impressive resources. That was true in every sense.