"Isn't this putting me in a difficult position?" Upon hearing Allen's request, Klein almost instinctively drew a Crimson Moon on his chest, but ultimately restrained himself and responded very seriously:
Perhaps some of my actions have caused you to misunderstand.
"But I must tell you, faith is something that, once decided, cannot be changed."
Allen immediately raised his arms in an apologetic gesture:
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood your piety. I shouldn't have joked about your faith."
"Okay, different beliefs don't prevent us from being friends."
Klein dropped his feigned expression and smiled, saying:
"This statement doesn't hold true for Feysac and Feynapotter; they can only accept one belief."
In comparison, since multiple churches have coexisted for over 1,400 years, Loen and Intis are much more open in this regard.
Before Allen could answer, he casually changed the subject:
"Did you ever see Will Auceptin again? The kid who had his leg amputated and said you'd have bad luck."
He believed the Nighthawks would definitely follow the clues provided by Allen, so he was curious about the ending, wondering if it was the child or the tarot cards in Allen's hand that changed his fate.
"No, I haven't seen him since he was discharged from the hospital." Allen shook his head firmly.
It's a real shame. The Nighthawks can find the hospital based on the address registered there, but I can't just interfere... Of course, that child might have moved away already... After chatting with Allen for a few moments, Klein prepared to head to the underground shooting range to familiarize himself with the complimentary revolver using regular bullets.
At that moment, two familiar faces entered through the door. One was Mrs. Mary, a member of the Kingdom Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Commission and a shareholder of the Coim Company, and the other was Mrs. Starling Summer, Klein's landlady Starling Summer. They were both dressed in relatively light dresses and looked much younger.
According to the club's rules, each member could only bring one extra person in, so Mary's maid and her hired bodyguard were left in the reception area.
Klein politely went up to him, greeted him, and offered his compliments:
"Ladies, you are as beautiful as ever today, but in a way that is different from your usual beauty."
Mary, who had recently met many important figures, smiled slightly and said:
" Roselle said that life is about movement, but Starling always stays at home dealing with chores. Even when she goes out, it's just to attend banquets or listen to operas. Her health has deteriorated a lot, so I brought her here to play tennis and squash."
With her high cheekbones, she glanced around and saw a member of the lower house and two members of the Backlund district chatting in a corner, so she turned to Starling and said:
"I ran into someone I know. I'll go say hello. You can wait for me at the library."
"Okay." Starling was noticeably prettier than Mary, but she appeared quite respectful and docile in front of the lady.
After Mary had walked a short distance, she slightly raised her chin and looked at Klein, saying:
"Mr. Moriarty, you seem to be very busy lately?"
"Yes, I previously collaborated with many Detective to help the police department investigate that serial murder case. We made a significant contribution and received a substantial reward," Klein answered "truthfully."
Starling covered her mouth with her hand and said:
"Really?"
"What did the killer look like? Why did he murder those women? The newspapers were very vague in their descriptions."
"I'm sorry, I have to abide by the confidentiality agreement," Klein, skillfully offering an excuse.
He couldn't very well tell you that it had a full coat of black fur, a glossy tail, and liked to run on all fours... Klein thought to himself.
Starling nodded with a hint of regret, then asked with considerable curiosity:
"So how much bounty did you receive?"
"Many of us shared it together," Klein, not giving a direct answer.
"Do you have five pounds?" Starling pressed.
"Yes." Klein nodded honestly.
Starling Summer immediately smiled:
"You earn more than I expected; you're truly a capable Detective."
"No, such a good thing might not happen even once every few years." Klein shook his head with a smile.
"Regardless, you've proven your abilities." Starling's eyes flickered. "Next Sunday, Luke and I are hosting a party at our home, and we hope you can attend. Um, I'm sorry to be so forward, but I'll have my maid deliver the invitation to you later. Hehe, there are quite a few unmarried ladies attending this party. Their fathers or mothers all have relatively respectable jobs, and their family incomes are all over £2 a year. Some of them also have part-time jobs that can be done from home, such as typists. They are all very capable women."
This... this is a matchmaking party... Mrs. Starling acknowledges my earning potential as Detective, so she's planning to introduce me to girls? But in her eyes, am I only good enough for women of this caliber? Klein's mind raced with thoughts, but considering the need to maintain good neighborly relations and the hassle of preparing dinner himself, he smiled and agreed.
"Unless there's an emergency, I'll be there on time."
Starling smiled and said:
"Then Luke and I will look forward to your visit."
She said no more, took her leave, and went into the club's small library, while Klein methodically practiced his shooting skills at a small, enclosed shooting range.
At 9 p. m., Klein sat at his desk, watching the Crimson Moon in the sky gradually pierce through the clouds, revealing its no longer waning form.
The pale red "veil" that looked like water slowly rippled open, and time passed second by second. When it was a quarter past 1 o'clock, he heard illusory, layered prayers.
Without needing to discern, Klein could guess that this was a distress call from Miss " The Magician ".
He abruptly closed the curtains, turned off the lights, took four steps backward, entered the Gray Fog, and reached out to touch the deep red star that was constantly shrinking and expanding.
In an instant, Fors's hazy, indistinct figure appeared on the chair behind him, marked with the symbol "Layer upon Layer of Doors".
She breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed, saying:
"Dear ' The Fool ' sir, you have saved me once again."
"This is nothing to worry about," Klein replied in a nonchalant tone.
Fors clicked his tongue in surprise and sat down again.
She was still thinking about what had just happened and didn't speak for a moment, and Klein, in order to maintain his image, didn't bring up the topic either.
Inside the towering palace, which resembled the dwelling of Giant, silence quickly became the dominant theme.
When Fors came to her senses, she suddenly felt that the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive and made her feel uneasy.
At the party, there were Miss Justice and Mr. World, so there was no shortage of people to talk to. But now, it's just Mr. The Fool and me. What am I going to do? I feel so much pressure! I have to say something, I absolutely have to say something. I can't just sit here like a fool... That's Mr. The Fool! He certainly won't care about anything, but I'm so nervous and reserved! Fors suddenly remembered the feeling of being alone with her boss when she first entered the workforce.
Although Klein wasn't in the Spectator, he could clearly see the " Magician's" restraint and unease, so he smiled and said:
"Perhaps you could tell us how you became Beyonder."
For example, how did he obtain the " Apprentice " recipe and that bracelet...? Klein added to the real meaning of the question.
Fors relaxed a little and recalled:
"That was almost three years ago, right after I graduated from Backlund Medical College."
"With my father's help, I got a job at a very good private clinic. Oh, my father has settled in East Balam."
"Ever since the safe sea route to the Southern Continent was discovered, the kingdom's finest young men have begun to set foot in every corner of that land. My father, a low-ranking officer, went to East Balam in pursuit of wealth and power, while my mother and I were left behind in Backlund, living a life of widowhood and orphanage. Ha, it takes months for a ship to bring a letter from afar."
"This situation is not uncommon in the kingdom. I know an old gentleman who has five children, but they have built their own businesses, families, and fortunes, whether in the archipelago, in West Balam, in the Paz Valley, or on the Hagati Grassland, but they have forgotten that there is a father who is always waiting for them to return."
"When I was in grammar school, my mother fell seriously ill. I had no choice but to watch her die in the hospital bed. My father wrote back to me a month later, telling me that he had a new family in East Balam and had a new baby. He gave me all of his property in Backlund and gave me some extra money. I think he must have felt a little guilty."
As a bestselling Author, Fors has mastered the skill of rambling on and on.
Klein, having nothing else to do, listened quietly without interrupting.
"Hoo, "Fors sighed and continued:
"In short, my father introduced me to Yousef Clinic through the retired officers' club. The salary there was indeed very generous, and I was doing quite well, except for some anxiety about the future. So, I worked hard to learn from the senior Doctor and saved money, until I met an old lady who frequently came to see me."
"She was lonely, had no children, and her partner had passed away ten years ago. I felt sorry for her and often talked to her and kept her company."
"Once, I was surprised to discover that she could actually pass through walls, which opened up a whole new world for me."
The old lady said it was a keepsake from her husband, and she vaguely mentioned that as long as it wasn't someone from a particular family, it seemed there wouldn't be any curse.
"Not long after, she became seriously ill and was on the verge of death. She asked me if I wanted to be like her. I was very young then, and still had many fantasies in my mind, so I agreed without hesitation."
"She gave me the recipe and asked me to guard her body after her death and retrieve any glowing objects that would suddenly appear. This is what she left me, which can be used as the main ingredient in Potion."
"In addition, she gave me this bracelet, telling me not to use it unless in the most dangerous situation, and also not to pay too much attention to the Full Moon's ramblings."
"Unfortunately, I couldn't avoid the danger after all; I used it once, and the Full Moon's delirium worsened."
It seems she's the widow of some Abraham... She proved through her own experience that the "curse" only exists in bloodlines... Klein nodded slightly.
"Once you become High-Sequence powerhouse, those delirious words won't be of much use."
"I hope so." Although Fors didn't believe she could become High-Sequence powerhouse, she believed in Mr. The Fool.
It was Monday again. Klein had just gotten up and gone downstairs when he saw a piece of paper spread out on the coffee table in the living room, with a short note written on it:
"Efficient."
That's good... Klein breathed a sigh of relief.
At 2:45 p. m. sharp, he entered the Gray Fog to "prepare" for a new Tarot Club.