84
As noon approached, Edward left the Quelaag Club's library and headed downstairs for lunch. He chose a serving of Highlands-style Lamb Chops, a Strawberry Cheesecake, and an Apple Aperitif to drink. The lamb chops barely qualified as a main course; today's limited offering of creamy lobster was worth looking forward to, and afterward he could get a delicious serving of Seafood Pasta.
The cheesecake was pleasantly sweet and tart, and the juice would provide a perfect taste experience. The lamb was succulent and delicious... These were human senses of taste. Edward leisurely cut the food on his plate with his knife and fork. The cheese tasted like the last shred of hope an intelligent being had lost, while the chicken served with lettuce had the refreshing flavor of digesting a star core. Apple juice and liqueur could produce the dizzy yet satisfied feeling of consuming too much food and knowledge at once. This was a very inefficient way to eat, but it felt good.
He had eaten just under half when a human approached his table.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Vaughn," the male human said brightly. "I've been seeing you at the club quite often lately."
"Yes, this is the quietest time before the new year."
Edward answered politely, while comparing this voice against the frequently occurring voiceprints stored under his "Quelaag Club" category. He soon found the answer. "Today's Lamb Chops are delicious. Perhaps you could give them a try, Mr. Talim."
"You're right. I happen to be hungry." Having just finished his morning's work, Talim gladly accepted the suggestion and hurried to the buffet. He returned with two servings of Lamb Chops and some pie. Sitting across from Edward, he showed no hurry to eat, instead asking with great interest:
"Mr. Vaughn, the recent serial murders have really put everyone on edge. Have you been following the case?"
"Of course." Edward took a bite of pasta. "It's very interesting material for writing. I've been following developments through the newspapers."
Talim looked as though his suspicions had been confirmed. "The detectives are also paying close attention to developments in this depraved case." He gestured with his chin toward a nearby table. "Those two over there are both friends of mine. One is a reporter, and the other is a great detective. They're discussing it right now."
Looking at his food, Edward nodded. "Since it's attracted such widespread attention, they should find some leads soon."
"Let's hope so." Talim shook his head and sighed, then quite naturally introduced another topic. "What are your thoughts on love? A friend of mine recently got his wish at last and won over someone he fell in love with at first sight, but neither of them has found any comfort in the relationship."
"By the way, Mr. Vaughn, you have considerable wealth, excellent connections, and charm. Why not find a lady to spend the rest of your life with?" Talim wandered off topic. "I heard you once served as a soldier in a war. If you were ten years younger, I'd want to hire you as my tutor."
"...There was once a lady of my house, so there's no room left for anyone else." He glanced at the faint scar on his right ring finger, where a ring had once rested. The Devil, whose illustrious exploits still circulated in certain regions as horror stories or nursery rhymes, was exceedingly modest. "As for serving in the military, that was a very, very long time ago. Now I'm just an ordinary person."
"Ah." Talim froze for a moment. "I'm sorry for bringing up something painful. I didn't know anything like that had happened."
"It's all right."
"So is it their social standing that's holding them back, or public opinion?" Edward asked casually, without expecting an answer from Talim. "Reality can't compare with stories. Why not consider eloping?"
"They can't do that!"
Startled, Talim hurriedly objected. Only after speaking did he realize he had raised his voice. The gentlemen and ladies seated nearby all looked at him in surprise at his sudden agitation. Talim hastily coughed twice, his cheeks flushing red, and lowered his voice to explain, "Eloping is out of the question... Mr. Vaughn, the gentleman involved is an important heir to a great noble family. If he ran away, they'd turn all of Backlund upside down to find him!"
"So this is actually a Cinderella story?"
"Exactly-ah, it's such a headache. But that's how love is. It always arrives without any regard for reason, doesn't it?" Not daring to pursue the subject, Talim hurriedly changed direction. "By the way, a merchant who recently arrived in Backlund has settled the matter of his accommodation. He's planning to hold a banquet at his home next month to make some new friends."
Edward watched him, waiting for him to continue. Sure enough, the gentleman spoke enthusiastically. "Have you heard about it? That merchant, Mr. Carter, discovered extensive ancient ruins beneath his newly purchased residence. Venomous snakes lived in the ruins. It sounds just like the beginning of a play or a horror story, doesn't it? Mr. Carter said so himself. He also said the person who helped him resolve the problem was an excellent, experienced detective. Mr. Vaughn, you have neither a butler nor servants at home. Perhaps you'll have occasion to need this detective's help someday."
I have servants, from Sequence 6 to Sequence 3, all Devils. Of course, they won't let you see them... The Abyss Angel thought quietly, then replied, "You've piqued my interest. May I ask his name?"
"He's the one sitting over there, wearing gold-rimmed glasses-"
Talim pointed, then froze. They had talked for so long that the reporter, Mr. Mike, and the detective had already left to attend to their business. He could only scratch his head and say with a rueful smile, "Looks like I'll have to introduce you next time. Well, that great detective's name is Sherlock Moriarty. He's exceptionally capable. I'm sure he'll soon be well known throughout Backlund, and then you'll certainly hear of him."
Edward fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked Talim an entirely unrelated question. "Did Emperor Roselle ever publish a series of serialized detective stories called The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes?"
The riding instructor blurted out, "What's that?"
85
Late on Wednesday, after passing the information concerning the simple task she had received from Miss Audrey, "Find Lanevus," to several Bounty Hunters she knew fairly well in the East Borough, Xio briefly considered her next move. Then she went to the junction of Dharavi Street and another street and knocked on the gates of the Charity School established by the Ernst Foundation.
This little Charity School consisted of just two three-story buildings in a relatively clean and quiet stretch of the street. One housed the homeless children and teachers, while the other was used for classes.
Under the stern gaze of the elderly, one-eyed veteran serving as gatekeeper, who was still sturdy enough to take on five opponents at once, Xio removed her crude disguise and revealed her true appearance. She then entered the school building, went straight to the top floor, and politely knocked on a room's door.
"Come in," a woman's voice called from inside.
Xio opened the door and saw the familiar young woman sitting behind her desk, writing briskly. As her visitor entered, the young woman raised her head, revealing a face covered in extensive scars. "Xio, what is it?"
"Miss Maria." Faced with the Charity School's principal, who was also the Ernst Foundation's representative in Backlund's East Borough, Xio dared not be careless and immediately explained why she had come. "I'm tracking down a swindler. He seems to be hiding in the East Borough, and I was hoping to enlist your help."
"A swindler?" Maria's eyes first lit up, but then something occurred to her, and she asked in a peculiar tone, "May I ask his name?"
"His name is Lanevus," Xio replied, and Maria's expression grew even more peculiar. "He's made off with a total of over ten thousand pounds. The rewards offered by Sivellaus Yard, private individuals, and organizations are very substantial"-Xio emphasized those last two words-"so I think it's worth a try."
"..." Maria was silent for a moment, then nodded. "All right."
"I'll keep an eye out for you, so I also hope you can gather some useful leads as soon as possible," she replied steadily.
After watching Xio leave her office, the lawyer, who was both a member of the charitable Foundation and the East Borough representative of the cult known as the Pilgrimage Church, rubbed her temples. From the stack of documents and reports in her hands, she pulled out a brief secret letter that had only arrived the previous night:
"Lanevus's flight has been confirmed. His status as a Blessed has been revoked, and he is to be regarded as a traitor. Capture him alive if possible. Killing him on the spot is permitted."
It was signed by Mr. Z.
"Bounty Hunters have actually started pursuing Lanevus. Is this a coincidence, or did he expose some trace of himself?" Maria murmured, looking out the window just in time to see Xio leaving the Charity School. "She may visit more often in the coming days. I need to write back to Mr. Z about this."
"Besides that, there are the serial murders suspected to be connected to a Devil's advancement, as well as the sudden surge in kidnappings of young girls..."
The East Borough had been even less peaceful than usual lately, with dangerous currents stirring beneath the surface. Maria's expression twisted slightly. She took a palm-sized round mirror from her drawer, examined her face, and sighed. With plain black hair, looks that had never been particularly striking, and terrible scars covering more than half her face after she had been severely injured in a Beyonder Incident, she would not appeal to the kidnappers even if she wanted to use herself as bait.
Besides, she had no time to spare between arranging assistance for the unemployed, mediating family disputes, and helping the Workers' Union sue for unpaid wages.
"Ademisaul!" Maria swiftly finished writing a short report and called over the subordinate who, though he did not look particularly bright, was reasonably reliable. She pressed the letter into his hand and instructed him, "After school, give this letter to Mr. Z on your way back. Tell him to take some of the Aurora Order members working here back with him, so they don't cause any trouble."
The newly advanced Monster, who had held the position for less than a week, had a mop and rag in his left hand and the secret letter in his right. Confused but earnest, he nodded.
86
"My dear friend:
Traynor, I hope this letter finds you well! I have received the list of winter supplies sent by your butler. Thank you for your donation. I will make preparations to receive them as soon as possible.
Things within the Foundation are stable. Thanks to everyone's efforts, our losses have decreased compared with previous years. The annual report will accompany my next letter.
Also, thanks be to the Lord for His mercy! My dear friend, the Aurora Order seems to have received a divine revelation from the True Creator and has begun cooperating with us more closely and earnestly. Its members are enthusiastic workers, reaching new heights every day. They are all kind people who take their work seriously, and I am deeply moved.
Your faithful partner,
Richard Ernst"
Viscount Traynor, who had lived through his family's decline, Roselle's coup, and the Intis Revolution, felt utterly bewildered. He stared at the short letter, reading it over and over for five minutes, his mind filled with black question marks.
Never had Traynor imagined that he would live to see someone describe the Aurora Order's mob as kind. With mixed feelings, he thought for the umpteenth time that either Richard's mind or his own eyes must have something wrong with them. But on second thought, even his lord father could be gentle and merciful in Richard's eyes. As long as he accepted that Richard's mind worked differently from everyone else's, this seemed perfectly understandable.
Forget it. I still can't understand. He burned the letter, dismissed the Devil messenger crouching on the window frame waiting for a reply, and flopped back onto his Velvet Bed.
Traynor gave up thinking, lay down, and pulled up the covers. When in doubt, sleep it out.
TBC
Edward had discovered something interesting.
Brief character introduction:
Maria. No surname. An orphan taken in and raised by the Pilgrimage Church, a Sequence 6 Baron of Corruption who lived in the East Borough. She had the gentlest name, fought the fiercest brawls, and mediated the messiest disputes. She was the big sister everyone in the East Borough respected, adept at brazenly arguing her case, securing acquittals, pleading for reduced sentences, and exploiting legal loopholes-a "lawyer" no respectable person would hire.
In Maria's most ruthless lawsuit, she helped workers reclaim withheld wages and compensation for workplace injuries. The longer she fought, the more fired up she became, until she finally found evidence that sent even the opposing lawyer to prison during the appeal.
Workers' Union: "Boss, you're fucking awesome!!"
Before you continue