Klein kept backing out of the heavy safe, and only calmed down after realizing there was nothing wrong.
"That bone statue is eerie... Although it's not dangerous, it still makes me inexplicably uneasy... Could it be... could it be the so-called ' Primordial Demoness '? An evil deity on par with the ' Hidden Sage,' the ' Dark Side of the Universe,' and the ' True Creator '?" Klein thought of his earlier speculation about Madam Shermane and suddenly realized which being the bone statue might represent.
Just as he was pondering this, his Spirituality was suddenly stirred, and a bad premonition arose.
Klein hurriedly flew to the window with its intricate patterns and looked out at the road. He saw a carriage, illuminated by the gas lamps, driving quickly and steadily toward the main gate.
Madam Shermane is back? A thought struck him, and he realized the source of his premonition of danger.
Considering that Trissy became a woman after Sequence 8 " Instigator," she is likely Sequence 7, and Madam Shermane has been active in Tingen City's upper-class social circles for many years, so she is probably stronger than Trissy. Klein did not dare to take risks with the " Solar Flare Charm " and " Azik Copper Whistle," and rationally decided to retreat.
This is because the former has a limited quantity; each one used reduces the remaining quantity. And it's uncertain when the Sealed Artifact " Mutated Holy Emblem of the Sun " can be tricked out again. Unless it's a critical moment or there are other options, Klein doesn't want to waste it, especially since he would face the question of how to explain it afterward.
He couldn't very well tell Dunn, "A kind and powerful person just happened to pass by and helped me out, could he?"
As for why he didn't use the " Azik Copper Whistle," it's because Klein wasn't sure if the summoned "messenger" had any combat capabilities. What if it just looked imposing and only knew how to deliver messages?
"With what we just found, the Nighthawks team is ready to go. Why should I fight Madam Shermane one-on-one? We could have ganged up on her!" Klein emphasized to himself, ended the summoning, and returned to the Gray Fog in a flash. He then enveloped himself in Spirituality and fell back into his body in the real world.
He quickly extinguished and put away the candles, dispelled the Wall of Spirituality, and slipped out of Madam Shermane's bedroom, returning the way he came, but there was no time to put the bolt back on the balcony door.
Sliding down the water pipe and climbing over the wall opposite the main entrance, Klein remained hidden until he reached the next block before taking an expensive nighttime carriage to Zouteland Street.
Dressed in a black dress that accentuated her beauty, Madam Shermane slowly returned to the second floor, dismissed the maids, and opened the door to her bedroom.
Her innocent, watery eyes suddenly narrowed, reflecting countless almost transparent, barely visible fine threads. These threads lacked any Spirituality radiance, resembling the hair of a diseased human. Unless one Prophet or possessed exceptionally special eyesight, no one could detect them.
At that moment, all the thin threads snapped and fell to the ground.
Madam Shermane narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze to the heavy, iron-gray safe.
36 Zouteland Street, Blackthorn Security Company.
Dunn, who was leisurely reading the newspaper with his legs crossed, looked at Klein, who had appeared at the door of his office, with a slightly strange expression, and sighed silently:
"Weren't you planning to try and break into Madam Shermane's house tonight to conduct a preliminary search?"
"... Have you discovered a problem?"
Klein nodded solemnly:
"Yes."
"I suspect Madam Shermane is a member of the Demoness Sect."
"Members of the Demoness Sect?" Dunn put down his newspaper, pondering the phrase, and asked seriously, "What have you discovered?"
Klein didn't sit down; instead, he leaned forward, bracing his hands on the edge of the desk, and said:
"I first saw a photograph of a young man who looked a lot like Madam Shermane."
If he dressed as a woman, and used makeup, beauty filters, and Photoshop, he would look roughly like Madam Shermane now... Klein couldn't help but think to himself.
"Similar to ' Instigator ' Trissy?" Dunn's gray eyes flickered, and he suddenly realized.
They had previously suspected that Trissy was likely a member of the Demoness Sect.
"Yes." Klein nodded with a somewhat complicated expression, then said, "Later, I used Divination techniques and discovered in a dream that there was a skeleton statue in a hidden compartment of Madam Shermane's safe. It was a beautiful woman, but her hair grew all the way to her ankles, each strand as thick as a venomous snake, with eyes at the tips. It was quite eerie. Captain, could this be the image of the ' Primordial Demoness '?"
Because of insufficient security clearance, he had very little access to information about the Demoness Sect.
Dunn thought for a moment, then nodded solemnly and said:
"This is the image of the ' Primordial Demoness '."
"We must act immediately and take control of Madam Shermane."
Klein immediately chimed in, "Yes, if Madam Shermane is a Mid-Sequence Beyonder of the Demoness Sect, then I don't think she wouldn't have noticed someone breaking into her bedroom."
Suddenly, a question arose in his mind, and he blurted out:
"Captain, why do the seven orthodox gods not have concrete forms, but are only represented by symbolic symbols, while the evil gods I've encountered all have humanoid appearances? The ' True Creator ' is like that, and so is the ' Primordial Demoness.' Is this one of the differences between good and evil gods?"
Why is there such a difference? Klein added a question, but wisely didn't say it aloud.
"That's the difference between a good god and an evil god," Dunn replied affirmatively, then rose and walked towards the coat rack. "We can't delay any longer; I'm worried Madam Shermane might escape."
At this point, Dunn paused for a moment:
"Go and call Kenley. The three of us will act together. This way we can apply for a Sealed Artifact. Madam Shermane is likely to have more than Sequence 7."
"Captain, you're so wise!" Klein replied without hesitation.
"OK."
Then, with a hint of curiosity, he asked:
"Captain, which Sealed Artifact do you want to use?"
Dunn recalled and considered for a dozen seconds before saying:
"3-0217."
Because there weren't many Sealed Artifact behind the Chanis Gate in Tingen City, Klein quickly remembered what the captain wanted to request:
Number: 0217.
Title: The Spirit Medium's Mirror
"Danger Level: '3', Somewhat dangerous, use with caution, only applicable to operations involving three or more people."
"Confidentiality Level: Nighthawks Watch Member or Higher."
"Sealing method: Place it in complete darkness."
Description: The back of this mirror is coated with mercury, and three small cracks have appeared on the front.
"When the investigators the Original came into contact with the woman, they looked into the mirror and saw a long-haired woman crying. Then, they realized that the woman had climbed out of the mirror."
"Multiple experiments have shown that the image reflected in a mirror is mostly different. Even if the same person looks at it repeatedly, they will encounter different things with varying levels of danger, but they will all prioritize the person looking in the mirror."
"The most dangerous situation is seeing yourself."
"If no one looks into this mirror, it will automatically display an image every three hours, provided there is light."
"It does not possess the characteristics of being alive."
Appendix: This mirror originally belonged to a Spirit Medium. It was a very ordinary mirror until one day, the Spirit Medium looked into it and mysteriously committed suicide.
Indeed, there aren't many Sealed Artifact that can be used for battles between Beyonder behind the Chanis Gate in Tingen City. "3-0217" is a good choice... Klein didn't say anything more and immediately ran to the Nighthawks' Recreation Room and called out " The Sleepless " Kenley.
Tonight, Loyao is on duty at Chanis Gate, Leonard is resting, Siga Tron is inspecting Raphael Cemetery and other places. The new members won't arrive until Sunday, so Dunn can only choose between Frye and Kenley. Considering that Madam Shermane belongs to the Demoness Sect and has little to do with the Death, he chose the latter.
A few minutes later, Dunn returned from underground, holding a mirror that was completely wrapped in a thick black cloth.
To be honest, if I hadn't Prophet, I wouldn't have been able to tell it was a mirror at all; it had no exposed parts... Klein and the short-statured Kenley went to meet it.
"You'll be in charge of using the Sealed Artifact '3-0217'." Dunn handed the mirror to Kenley.
Seeing this, Klein suddenly realized that he was Sequence 8 Beyonder and possessed the strength to fight head-on, so he could no longer hide on the sidelines and simply play a supporting role.
Hmm, I'm a little nervous... He touched the " Sleeping Charm " and other items in his pocket to make sure he was fully prepared.
"The only problem is that I didn't bring a cane for easier climbing. Hmm, I can borrow Kenley's. He has a mirror and a pistol in one hand, that should be enough." As Klein pondered these thoughts, the three of them went downstairs and took a horse-drawn carriage to Olsna Street.
Along the way, Kenley glanced at the Sealed Artifact "3-0217" in his palm and sighed with slight tension:
This is the first time I've participated in such a dangerous operation.
Under normal circumstances, Nighthawks do not use Sealed Artifact when handling extraordinary events.
When I went to Morse Town to solve the paranormal incident before, I applied for the " Mutated Holy Emblem of the Sun " as a precaution against a low-probability accident, because the distance was too far and rescue would definitely not be possible in time. But this time, the target is almost certain to be a Mid-Sequence Beyonder!
"Don't worry, Madam Shermane have already run away," Klein said with a smile.
To be honest, he was just as nervous Kenley.
Dunn's gray eyes flickered, and he gave him a helpless look, saying:
"We'll try our best not to let Madam Shermane get away."
Twenty minutes later, the three Nighthawks arrived at Olsna Street and saw the garden and Madam Shermane's house in the darkness, lying there quietly as if nothing had happened.
Klein removed the pendulum from his left wrist cuff and quickly began to perform Divination:
"It's dangerous inside."
"It's dangerous inside."
He silently repeated it seven times, then opened his eyes and saw the citrine pendant rotating clockwise at a moderate amplitude and speed.
This indicates there is danger inside, not too high, but not too low either!
P. S.: First update, please vote with monthly tickets!