The cement road was dirty from the long rain, and the gas streetlights, as tall as an adult man, emitted a bright but hazy light due to the dampness of their glass covers.
A horse-drawn carriage travels through the night, surrounded by pedestrians wearing hats or holding umbrellas.
Klein leaned against the wall, idly enjoying the nighttime views of Backlund streets.
Just then, he suddenly felt the temperature inside the carriage drop considerably, and a cold wind swirled around.
Klein suddenly turned his head and saw that the bodyguard, dressed in a black gothic court dress, had somehow taken up a seat opposite him.
Her voice was ethereal and fleeting as she spoke:
"That ' Eye of Wisdom ' has sensed my presence."
As expected... Klein nodded, not surprised. "He has several magical items, and perhaps it was through these items that he discovered this. I even suspect that there's an organization behind him."
Otherwise, relying solely on the power of the " Eye of Wisdom," even after spending over thirty years, it would be unlikely to have collected several relatively powerful magical items. The previous " Admiral Hurricane " Qilangos, as one of the seven great pirate generals, only possessed one item, " Creeping Hunger." Of course, it's more likely that the latter had high standards and looked down on ordinary magical items, since " Creeping Hunger " was comprehensive and had virtually no weaknesses.
Well, it's reasonable to say that the Eye of Wisdom is very wealthy. Organizing so many gatherings and acquiring any suitable magical items without regard to cost, it's not too surprising that they have several collectibles after more than thirty years... Sigh, this is like someone who owns a mine or runs a bank... Klein thought to himself.
He didn't specifically mention that he actually guessed " The Eye of Wisdom " was a member of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, for fear of revealing to the bodyguard that he wasn't a newly minted Beyonder.
The light blonde bodyguard nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Klein's suspicions.
Suddenly, she frowned slightly and looked out the opposite car window, saying:
"A very strong smell of blood."
A strong smell of blood... Klein turned around in confusion and looked out the window.
In the sparse drizzle, there was a quiet alley.
Near the alley entrance, a woman dressed in a brightly colored long dress lay sprawled on the ground.
Just then, a passerby glanced at it carefully and suddenly let out a scream.
Amidst the screams, the horses were slightly startled, and the coachman quickly tightened the reins, slowing the carriage's pace.
By the light of the gas streetlamp, Klein saw that the woman lying on the ground at the alley entrance was pale and had a deep gash in her abdomen, as if her internal organs had been ripped out.
Blood was slowly flowing on the ground around her, crimson and thick.
As a qualified former Nighthawks, he quickly recalled many similar cases of crimes.
These examples are often related to Devil worship!
When discussing Devil worship, it's difficult to ignore an ancient organization that first appeared in the Quaternary period: the " Blood Worship Cult "!
According to historical records, this was a loose alliance formed due to the worship of Devil, containing several so-called Devil families, such as the North, Andariel, and Beria Family, which were not subordinate to each other.
They persistently and widely spread their demonic beliefs, committing numerous bloody crimes. Mrs. Orianna, the accountant of the Tingen Market Nightwalkers, was one of their victims, but fortunately, she was saved.
Of course, not all similar cases were committed by them; many people thought those things were cool and started imitating the crimes.
"It looks like something the Blood Worship Cult would do," the bodyguard whispered, her figure quickly becoming transparent and disappearing, not caring whether Klein understood or not.
By this time, the carriage had already passed the crime scene, and Klein noticed that patrolling police officers were approaching. He then suppressed the urge to get out and observe, pretending to be an ordinary citizen passing by.
Um, Mr. Moriarty, the citizen...
The Blood Worship Cult possesses the " Criminal " pathway, also known as the Devil Pathway. It is said that after Sequence 7, the corresponding Beyonder will gradually become Devil, but this will only manifest in specific situations and under specific circumstances...
Sequence 9, " Criminal," possesses a strong body, keen intuition, and various criminal abilities, but their conscience is not yet extinguished... Sequence 8, formerly known as " The Cold-blooded," is now called " The Unwinged Angel," meaning they have lost their conscience, succumbed to evil desires, become more inhuman, and gain some Devil magical abilities... Sequence 7, " Serial Killer," has mastered much knowledge and rituals related to Devil worship, and enjoys pleasing Devil with unique serial murders...
I have no idea what the Sequence after that is...
Knowledge about the Blood Worship Cult and the Devil Pathway flashed through Klein's mind. The drizzle outside seemed to have intensified, and raindrops gathered on the car window and slid down, making the whole world quieter and less clear.
"Why am I thinking so much? This kind of thing will definitely be handled by Beyonder team, maybe Mandated Punishers, maybe Nighthawks. I don't need to worry about it." Klein shook his head and chuckled, muttering to himself.
When he returned to 15 Minsk Street, he had already put the case behind him. He first went next door to knock on the door of the Summer' house and asked Mrs. Starling to pass it on to Mary so that she could come and pick up the evidence the next afternoon. Then he washed up and read the newspaper to keep up with the current situation and various news from Backlund.
The next day, Saturday morning, Klein leisurely ate breakfast, went out to pick up the freshly developed photos, and chose one that best showed the faces of Doragu Gale and Erica Taylor, and best conveyed their fiery passion.
After placing the photos, he went to the Ries Police Station before Mrs. Mary arrived and successfully got his £10 bail back.
During this process, he also saw the real Inspector Faxin there, which made him quite uncomfortable.
After withdrawing the remaining £500 in cash from his account, Klein, who had been busy all morning, finally had nothing to do.
Before preparing lunch, he gave the remaining £600 to the bodyguard, leaving him with a total of £146, 8 Soli and 5 pence, which was all the money he could use.
Aside from Miss " Justice," there were no more debts... Klein relaxed and pan-fried himself a bone-in steak, then poured black pepper sauce over it.
Just as he was enjoying the medium-rare texture of his food, the doorbell suddenly rang, its ringing echoing continuously.
" Mary? Isn't it too early?" Klein put down his knife and fork, puzzled, and walked towards the door.
He paused for two seconds, and the image of the visitor outside the door naturally came to mind.
He was an old-fashioned gentleman wearing a light gray overcoat, a top silk hat, and carrying a black cane with gold trim. He had sharp Blue Eyes, graying temples, and deep nasolabial folds etched on his face, making his muscles appear saggy.
"Excuse me, who are you looking for?" Klein asked Door Opening.
The old-fashioned gentleman spoke with a heavy Sonia Sea Coast accent:
"Are you Detective Sherlock Moriarty?"
"Do you have something you'd like to entrust to me?" Klein nodded, stepped aside, and led the old gentleman into the living room.
He hesitated for two seconds before finally asking:
"Would you like coffee or black tea?"
"A cup of hot water, please." The old-fashioned gentleman had taken off his hat and sat down.
Very well, that's simple... Perhaps I should consider hiring an assistant to serve tea and water and clean the room... Klein's thoughts wandered as he turned to the kitchen to wash a cup.
After placing the hot water in front of the old gentleman, he walked to the armchair, clasped his hands together, and sat down, saying:
How should I address you?
" Miller Carter," the old gentleman replied succinctly.
"Mr. Carter, what can I do for you?" Klein asked directly, skipping the pleasantries.
As he spoke, he subtly activated his Spirit Vision to observe the person opposite him.
The old gentleman was in relatively good health, but the color of his left knee joint was a bit off, probably due to arthritis... His mood was mainly blue, indicating calm contemplation, with a hint of anxiety... Klein only glanced at him before drawing a general conclusion.
Miller Carter picked up the pristine white porcelain cup and stroked its outer layer:
"Here's the thing, I bought a house on Williams Street. Ah, I'm from Awwa County, but for business reasons, I'll be settling in Backlund from now on."
Williams Street... where is that? Having been in Backlund for less than a month, Klein, who either consulted a map or relied on intuition when going out, tried his best to appear calm and reliable.
Miller Carter glanced at him, and at his prompting look, continued:
"That house was supposedly originally owned by a bankrupt Viscount, about twenty or thirty years ago. After changing hands several times, I finally bought it."
"I'm planning some modern-style renovations, but I discovered a hidden door in the basement leading to a large underground structure. Considering the potential safety risks, I've temporarily halted construction and am preventing workers and servants from exploring it. I hope you can help me check on the condition of that underground structure."
Underground structures... ancient ruins? Secret treasures? Klein thought for a moment and said:
Why didn't you call the police?
"The police have access to dozens or even hundreds of times more resources than a private Detective like me, so the investigation will definitely be more effective and reliable."
Miller Carter rubbed the area between his eyes:
"I don't want too many people to know about this, especially government departments."
"If it's confirmed that there's no danger inside that underground structure, I plan to repurpose it as part of the overall housing development."
"I know this is a high risk for you, and I'm willing to pay £50 for it, but you can't hire more than three assistants. I can also provide some compensation afterward depending on what happens."
£50, that's a high price... If I were an ordinary Detective, that would be equivalent to two or three months' income... He's new to Backlund and doesn't know any other Detective, so he can only hire people from the newspapers, which is why he came to me... Klein hesitated for a few seconds before saying:
"I'll think about it."
He suddenly gave an apologetic smile, pointed behind him, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
Miller Carter nodded almost imperceptibly and took a sip of hot water.
Entering the washroom and closing the wooden door, Klein looked in the mirror and took out a half-penny copper coin.
Because of the bodyguard, he couldn't go above the Gray Fog to confirm, so he had to rely solely on his own Divination skills.
"I should take this order."
Klein silently repeated the command seven times, then flicked out the copper coin, his eyes deepening as he watched it tumble and fall.
Snap!
The copper coin fell into his palm, the king's portrait facing upwards, indicating approval.
Klein nodded slightly and whispered something into the air:
What about your intuition?
The bodyguard's image quickly appeared in the mirror, and she replied with the same expressionless demeanor:
"There is some danger, but not much."
Very good... Klein put away the coins, washed his hands, turned and walked out of the bathroom into the living room.
He looked at Miller Carter and smiled, saying:
"I'll take this commission."
P. S.: Requesting recommendation votes on Monday, and monthly votes at the end of the month!