Klein pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless. Do you even know how to talk? What do you mean, he nearly lost control with my help? I was the one who saved him afterward!
Edward laughed. "I did nearly lose control, but I didn't, did I? And it was precisely because of that close call that I met the most important, greatest, most revered person in my life, the person who changed my life completely. I would give my life and soul for him."
Stop, stop, stop! I'm dying of embarrassment!
Klein clenched his fingers tightly behind his back, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into. "Ahem, Leonard, let's leave it at that. We still have business to attend to."
"Oh, right."
"Ah, where's my head? I got so caught up in talking. Please, both of you, come inside."
Once they were seated, Edward poured each of them a glass of water. "Sorry, I only have hot water at home. I hope you don't mind."
He sat down opposite them, looked Klein up and down, and asked, "Mr. Moretti, aren't you a Seer? How did you become a police officer?"
"Being a Seer is just my side job."
Edward nodded. Setting down his glass, he suddenly grew serious. "Mr. Moretti, and this gentleman..."
"Just call me Leonard."
"All right. Since we already know each other, I'll be frank. Mr. Moretti, I know you're a Seer. Is this... Mr. Leonard also a Beyonder?"
The two exchanged a glance, and Klein nodded. "That's right."
"Good."
Edward took out a notebook. "Tell me where you were and what you were doing at around ten last night."
Leonard froze, then muttered, "Ten last night? I'd just finished reading Emperor Roselle's poetry collection, and then... wait! Aren't we supposed to be questioning you?"
Edward's expression was solemn. "Sorry, but your status as police officers carries no weight here. Mr. Moretti, let's hear your answer."
"..."
Klein was rather bewildered. Unless he was mistaken, he and Leonard had been sent to investigate last night's Beyonder incident. So... why had they suddenly become the ones being questioned?
"Mr. Edward, in what capacity are you questioning us?"
"As a Church of Evernight official!"
"???"
Klein and Leonard nearly blurted out in unison, So are we.
But why don't we know you?
Leonard raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Mr. Edward, impersonating a Church of Evernight official carries a severe punishment if you're caught."
"Oh? You seem to know quite a bit. So you're not an unaffiliated Beyonder?"
Leonard's expression darkened. "Sorry, but we are the Church of Evernight's Nighthawks in Tingen City. And as far as I know, there's no one named Edward on our team."
"I never said I belonged to the Church of Evernight in Tingen City." Edward shrugged. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm an official from Backlund, temporarily staying in Tingen."
"???"
Leonard and Klein exchanged astonished looks.
"However, since I'm carrying out a secret mission, I'm not at liberty to produce the relevant identification." At this point, Edward suddenly held out his hand. "Now, how will you two prove your identities?"
"???"
The two were baffled once again.
Come on, isn't that going too far? You can't prove your own identity, yet you have the nerve to ask us to prove ours?
Klein thought for a moment, then took out his Nighthawk identification. "Will this do?"
"Of course."
Edward put away his notebook. "Since we're all colleagues, that concludes the questioning. Mr. Moretti... hmm, may I just call you Klein?"
"Uh, sure."
"Let me treat you to a meal later to thank you for your help last time."
Klein hurriedly said, "No, we have other things to attend to today. Another day, perhaps. Sorry for disturbing you."
He tugged at the visibly displeased Leonard, and they left together.
The moment they stepped outside, Leonard pulled free of Klein's grip and said quietly, "You believed him just like that?"
Klein said helplessly, "No."
"Then why did you drag me out?"
"What else were you planning to do? Attack him outright?" Klein said seriously. "I think we should go back and inform the captain first. Even if we do have to fight, we need to be prepared."
Klein meant what he said, but his greater concern was that Edward was a member of the Tarot Club and a devoted believer in Mr. Fool. If there really was something wrong with him-unless he was proven to be some heinous criminal-Klein would instead try to buy him time to escape.
Leonard frowned. "But what if he runs away?"
"That's why I'll keep watch here while you go back for the captain."
"No. You're a Sequence 9 Seer with little actual combat ability. It's too dangerous. You go get the captain. I'll watch him."
"Well... all right."
Unable to turn down Leonard's kindness, Klein could only remind him, "Remember, don't do anything rash before we get back."
Leonard extended two fingers and gave Klein's forehead a light poke.
"Hey, which one of us is the rookie? Get going."
Klein hurried away, hailed a passing carriage, and headed for the Blackthorn Security Company on Zouteland Street.
No, I need to confirm with Edward first whether he's impersonating an official. But... wouldn't it be rather beneath the dignified Mr. Fool to suddenly ask something like that?
Klein had a flash of inspiration. What if I pray to myself and say... that I, Klein, am Mr. Fool's Blessed, and use that to warn Edward? But why would I know his identity?
Hmm, isn't it reasonable for a Chosen to know the identities of the Tarot Club's members?
"Stop."
Without further hesitation, Klein called to the driver, "Sorry, I need to use a washroom."
5 Tulip Street.
Edward tossed a small ball. Lilith darted out, caught it in midair, twisted around, and ran back. Standing on her hind legs, she rested her front paws on Edward's legs and spat out the ball with an expectant look. "Meow ('▽｀)."
He picked up the ball and was about to throw it again when his vision suddenly turned illusory, filling with dense grayish-white fog.
Deep within the seemingly endless fog stood a high-backed chair that looked as though it had always been there, with a hazy figure seated upon it.
"Mr. Fool?"
At that moment, another indistinct figure, dressed in a police uniform, appeared in the hazy grayish-white fog. Holding a prayerful pose, he said devoutly, "Mr. Tower, I am Klein, Mr. Fool's Blessed. I wish to know whether what you just said was true. Are you really a Church of Evernight official? If not, please find an opportunity to escape immediately."
Edward froze in surprise. Klein really is a loyal friend. He's warning me even at the risk of exposing his identity?
After the surprise passed, he sighed inwardly. That's why everyone loves Klein the kitty so much.
He immediately pressed a hand to his chest and bowed his head. "Mr. Fool, please inform your Chosen that everything I just said was true. I am indeed an official of the Church of Evernight. Please rest assured."
A moment later, Mr. Fool's calm voice rang out:
"Understood."
The next second, everything he had just seen and heard vanished, as though it had never appeared.
Lilith had long since carried the ball away and dropped it to one side. She was now locked in a battle of wits and courage with the air on the floor.
Elsewhere, Klein opened his eyes in a department store washroom, feeling greatly relieved. Although every member of the Tarot Club, starting with Mr. Fool himself, was a turncoat, Klein still felt a strong sense of belonging to the Tingen Nighthawks at this point. This act of "betrayal" had placed considerable psychological pressure on him.
Ten minutes later.
Klein returned to the Blackthorn Security Company. In the reception room, Rozanne was holding a book and nodding off. The bell rang as the door opened, jolting her awake. "Welcome... Klein, you're back?"
"Yes. Where's the captain?"
Rozanne covered her mouth and yawned. "In his office."
"All right."
Klein strode off. Rozanne suddenly remembered something. "Hey, the captain's receiving an important guest... why is everyone in such a rush?"
She lowered her head and went back to her book, soon beginning to nod off again.
Klein hurried down the steps. The wind blowing up from underground carried an eerie chill, dispelling much of the heat clinging to him. As soon as he reached the basement, he saw Captain Dunn leading a man out of his office. Judging by their positions, Dunn was clearly the subordinate.
"Klein, you're back just in time."
Dunn stepped half a pace back and introduced the man. "This is His Excellency Crestet Cesimir from Backlund, one of the Nighthawks' nine senior deacons. He will be conducting your assessment."
Klein's spirits lifted. The assessment was finally here. He could finally advance to Sequence 8!
"Hello, Klein."
Crestet Cesimir was a man in his thirties wearing a black trench coat and a white shirt. His golden-brown hair was cropped short, giving him an alert yet composed appearance. He wore a warm smile. "Shall we begin now?"
"Yes."
Klein nodded instinctively. "Wait! Captain, we made some discoveries while investigating last night's incident."
He quickly recounted what had happened, then concluded, "So I felt that, since we didn't know whether he was a friend or an enemy, or how strong he was, I should come back and inform you before deciding what to do next."
Dunn nodded and said calmly, "You did the right thing."
After a pause, he turned to Crestet Cesimir. "Your Excellency Cecimir, do you know this man named Edward?"
"Edward?"
Crestet Cesimir frowned in thought. "I'm certain there's no one by that name among Backlund's Nighthawks or Red Gloves. Heh, he's probably an impostor."
"What?"
Klein was stunned. His first reaction was:
Edward, you bastard, you even dared to lie to Mr. Fool!
Chapter 49: A Successful Attempt at Courting Death
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