"Professor Albrecht, this is Inspector Wilford, and this is Officer Beech Mountbatten."
"Officers, this is Professor Julian Albrecht, our new forensic evidence consultant for the Seventh Team."
After getting out of the carriage, Dunn Smith shook hands with the two uniformed policemen wearing epaulets by the roadside, then introduced Julian.
"Professor?"
Wilford was a stern, rather imposing middle-aged man.
Unlike Beech Mountbatten, who had a tawny beard and seemed reasonably polite, he appeared far less accommodating.
"Since when did the Seventh Team get into academia? Haven't you always handled that sort of... business?"
There was something odd in his tone, though it was hard to say whether it was distaste or fear.
It reminded Julian of the fear that nonmagical Muggles felt toward wizards in the fantasy novels he had read in his previous life.
At that moment, using the supernatural ability granted by the Four-Color Seer Potion, Julian could see the distinctive colors surrounding Wilford with perfect clarity.
He's in a bad mood, and even a little frightened-the red portion of his aura is quite prominent, with a little darkness mixed in.
Although his cologne is now barely detectable, the pale green halo produced as its scent slowly evaporates is still visible... Yes, it's cologne. This color is different from ordinary body odor, and judging by the traces of color on his shirt, he wasn't in the habit of using it before.
A scent that can only be noticed through close, intimate contact. He probably doesn't want his colleagues to notice. Considering Officer Wilford's age... An affair?
Julian reached this conclusion somewhat distractedly, but outwardly, he merely smiled, taking no offense, and handed over his business card from Khoy University.
"If you're interested in physics-particularly optics-we could discuss it further.
"I hold an open lecture at Khoy University on the fifteenth of every month. If you and your family are interested, you're welcome to sit in."
Wilford accepted the card with some suspicion and examined its contents.
He really is a professor...
For a moment, Wilford was at a loss for words. Then his brow relaxed, and he quickly shook Julian's hand.
"My apologies, Professor.
"I thought everyone in the Seventh Team was... well, talented in a certain field."
"And how do you know I'm not talented in that field?"
Julian smiled and winked at Wilford, then brushed past him and said quietly:
"That fragrance is a little too youthful for you. Try a different one next time."
An embarrassed expression immediately appeared on Wilford's face. Leonard gave a dry laugh and hurried after Julian.
Knock!
Knock, knock!
The muffled sounds echoed through the hallway.
Julian and the other three stood behind Beech Mountbatten, watching him knock on an unremarkable front door.
"Who is it?"
A voice came from inside, sounding like that of a young man.
Klein...
Julian recognized his voice immediately.
He had met Klein Moretti at Khoy University before, but by this point, the man should already be Zhou Mingrui.
Watching someone else transmigrate felt rather novel, especially when the transmigration came with the original owner's memories.
To those who knew nothing about it, these transmigrators seemed hardly different from before. But knowing the truth created an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
"It's me, Mountbatten. Beech Mountbatten.
"The police."
Hearing Officer Mountbatten's voice, the person inside called out:
"All right, I'll be right there!"
A moment later, the door opened, revealing a young man.
He had black hair, brown eyes, ordinary features, and a well-defined face, with a rather scholarly air.
"Sorry, I was taking a nap."
Klein spoke while trying hard to keep his emotions under control.
"These four officers have some questions for you."
At Beech Mountbatten's words, Klein looked toward the other four almost reflexively.
When his gaze reached Julian, he paused slightly, as though trying to recall something.
"Professor Albrecht?"
Klein sounded a little uncertain.
"I'm glad you still remember me."
Julian looked pleased.
Although Klein had not been a physics student, he had met Julian at a Student-Teacher Social, so he remembered him vaguely.
"And there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Julian."
"What brings you here today...?"
In response to Klein's question, Julian patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm only here as an assistant today. It's mainly Officer Wilford and Officer Dunn who have questions for you."
Julian slipped Dunn's name into the conversation without drawing attention to it, making the whole exchange seem perfectly natural.
In fact, he knew that Dunn would later enter Klein's dream and announce his name from the other side of the door.
Knowing his name beforehand would therefore help Klein prepare himself mentally. Although it would make little difference to what happened, it was Julian's way of showing goodwill.
Wilford and Dunn then asked a few questions, while Leonard helped examine Klein's journal, which contained all sorts of strange statements.
"What does this sentence mean? 'Everyone will die, including me'..."
Klein pressed a hand to his forehead and answered in an anguished voice:
"I don't know. I really don't know... After waking up this morning, I felt that something was wrong with me, as though I'd forgotten some things, especially parts of what happened over the last few days. I don't even know why I wrote that sentence."
Hearing this, Beech Mountbatten immediately showed utter disbelief.
He thought Klein was joking and began reprimanding the young man harshly.
Dunn, however, seemed accustomed to such things. He calmed Beech Mountbatten down for the moment, then turned to Julian.
"Professor, what do you think?"
At this, Leonard also closed the journal, handed it to Julian, and looked at him.
"Hmm, otherwise, there's nothing
"particularly unusual."
As Julian leafed through the journal, he glanced at Klein, who was putting on a calm front even as a faint white halo rose from his forehead.
The fellow was breaking out in a cold sweat, though it was extremely difficult for anyone else to notice.
Chuckling inwardly, Julian deliberately sniffed.
"It's just that there seems to be a strange smell in this room..."
"What smell?"
Everyone, including Klein and Dunn, looked at him in puzzlement.
Julian stood up and walked straight toward the fireplace in the room.
The movement instantly made the hairs on Klein's back stand on end.
Because beneath the kettle and coal in that fireplace lay the revolver he had taken from Welch to kill himself!