Upon considering the possibility of the Devil Dog's owner, Klein immediately changed his strategy and recounted in great detail how he met Isengard Stanton through the serial murder case.
In addition, he also brought up the fact that Isengard Stanton had organized a group of Detective to investigate the serial murders and successfully collected part of the bounty.
"In that case, although I only offered some ideas—well, in the professional terms of the private Detective industry, I provided advice—Mr. Stanton still considered my contribution the greatest, so I received the highest reward," Klein concluded.
The two police officers in charge of the interrogation quickly Record down the information and asked if anyone could corroborate the above. Klein provided the names and addresses of private Detective such as Stuart and Kaslana.
"Very good, Mr. Moriarty, your answer is quite detailed." An officer put down his pen and turned to ask, "How long did you stay at Isengard Stanton's house today? I mean from the time you entered until we discovered you."
After a moment's thought, Klein, without consulting Jurgen's Lawyer, replied directly:
"About two to three minutes."
He was speaking from his genuine personal feelings.
Another officer raised an eyebrow and said:
"Several residents nearby can confirm that you entered Isengard Stanton's house at around 2:10 p. m., while we arrived at the scene at 2:28 p. m., which means you were in the house for about 18 minutes, not two or three minutes!"
"What have you been doing all this time? Why didn't you leave or call the police?"
Eighteen minutes had passed? Klein suddenly frowned.
He felt that he and the person silently watching him had been locked in a stalemate for no more than a minute, so how did a full eighteen minutes pass?
Was it that strange feeling of being watched that confused my sense of time, or was there some other reason? Was this the other party's extraordinary ability? If he really was the owner of the Devil Dog, he would at least be Sequence 6, and most likely Sequence 5... As Klein pondered in confusion, Jurgen leaned forward, preparing to accuse the police of leading questions.
This wasn't a very strong reason; he simply wanted to disrupt the interrogation's pace and postpone the obviously unfavorable question from earlier.
Just then, Klein raised his hand and rubbed his temples, saying:
"Everything I just said is true. In my personal experience, I was only inside Detective Isengard Stanton's house for two or three minutes."
At this point, he emphasized:
"Yes, in my personal opinion."
The two officers exchanged a glance and made Record of it.
After a brief silence, the officer who had asked the question spoke:
"During those eighteen minutes, a servant who had been out rang the doorbell when he returned, but no one answered. So he looked through the bay window and saw the body parts scattered on the floor and you standing at the door of the living room."
"He was terrified and ran frantically to the police station to report the incident; many passersby and some residents can confirm this."
Klein ignored Jurgen 'Lawyer signal and shook his head to himself, saying:
I didn't hear the doorbell ring.
The two officers exchanged another glance, made no comment, and simply Record.
They then asked some questions about other details, Klein had done nothing wrong and felt no guilt or remorse, answered them all truthfully.
Towards the end, he couldn't help but ask a question:
"Have you found Detective Isengard Stanton? I didn't see a body in the living room, so he should still be alive..."
A police officer tapped the table with his pen and said:
"This is also something that puzzles us. The only place in the whole house with signs of a struggle was the living room, and the windows were tightly closed and hadn't been opened for many days. You know, that's normal in Backlund during the autumn and winter."
"The attacker and Mr. Isengard Stanton mysteriously left the room and disappeared without a trace. We found no clues in the rest of the house or the surrounding area, not even a trace of blood."
Before Klein could speak, he answered his own question:
"You're probably thinking of the living room doors and the front door, but many people have confirmed that there was no chase in the vicinity, and no one took hostages or left with a body."
Perhaps it actually happened in the middle of the night? Perhaps they could walk through walls? Klein silently offered other possibilities in his mind and made a silent prayer:
May the goddess protect Detective Isengard Stanton and help him escape Calamity.
--The Evernight Goddess is the Empress of Misfortune and Horror.
After the interrogation, Klein was handcuffed and taken to a small room, while the police sent officers to accompany Lawyer Jurgen to 15 Minsk Street to retrieve the letters and evidence.
After much fuss, Klein was finally granted bail of £50 by evening.
"This is much more expensive than last time. It would be difficult for a typical private Detective to come up with this much cash in such a short time." As they left the Hissack Police Station, Klein adjusted the collar of his wool coat and complained to Lawyer Jurgen.
Jurgen maintained his professional and serious expression.
"Last time the situation was in your favor, but this time many suspicions point to you."
As he signaled for the carriage to stop, he turned his head seriously and glanced at Klein:
" Sherlock, I am your Lawyer. Before you answer the police's questions, you'd better have some communication with me, even if it's just eye contact."
"Don't just say things you think are okay. Untrained ordinary people can easily leave themselves open to criticism with their words."
This... I'm used to making up my own stories and solving my own problems... Klein recalled what had just happened and chuckled dryly twice:
"Okay, I'll be careful."
Jurgen said no more and boarded the carriage.
Klein sat down opposite him, pondering the attack on Detective Isengard Stanton.
As he was thinking, he suddenly heard his stomach rumbling.
It had been half an hour past normal dinner time... Klein took out his gold-cased pocket watch, turned it on, and glanced at it.
He decided not to waste any more energy preparing food and started thinking about which restaurant was worth looking forward to.
At this moment, Jurgen raised his eyelids slightly and said:
"I've already asked my grandma to prepare dinner for three."
"How could I possibly accept that?" Klein paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Mrs. Doris's cooking is always something to be admired."
When the two returned to Minsk Street in the Cherwood Borough, it was already completely dark, and the glow of the gas streetlights was even brighter than the faint red moon in the sky.
After having dinner at Lawyer Jurgen's house and petting the cat, Klein strolled back to the house at number 15 in the cold, damp air.
He habitually rummaged through the mailbox and took out a copy of the Backlund Evening News, which had just been delivered.
Klein, newspaper in hand, Door Opening the door and went inside. He had just put down his cane when he suddenly felt something was amiss.
His Spirituality Seer told him that a stranger had entered his home!
Was it the police who came to collect evidence earlier? Klein looked around warily and suddenly noticed a letter on the coffee table.
There should only be newspapers there!
Klein entered the living room with a guarded expression, approaching the coffee table. Throughout the entire process, the surroundings were quiet and there was nothing unusual.
Klein glanced at the letter a few times, then took out black gloves and put them on before picking it up and opening it.
Inside the envelope was a thin sheet of paper. As soon as it was unfolded, a dark red color caught Klein's eye, and a faint smell of blood lingered in his nostrils.
On the letter, congealed blood wrote a line of words:
You will all die!
This... is this really the master of the Devil Dog? Is he taking revenge on those responsible for his subordinate's death? He's a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong. Why doesn't he just go after the Nighthawks in charge of the cleanup operation? Klein's heart tightened, and a series of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
However, he quickly dismissed his complaints. It was the most logical choice to start his revenge on those he could handle, just like how he had been in Backlund for months and had never considered looking for Ince Zangwill, but had relentlessly pursued Lanarvus.
After looking around again, Klein gradually felt that this matter was somewhat puzzling:
"Isn't he afraid of being ambushed by powerful officials using such a blatant method of retaliation? Is this what he was asked to do with his Potion- Acting persona?"
"Or perhaps, because Detective Isengard Stanton escaped, he knew he could no longer eliminate his targets covertly, so he had to find another way, but that way was pointless, wasn't it?"
"Furthermore, at Stanton's Detective agency, he clearly had my eye on me and was watching me intently. Why didn't he make a move? Did he really care about an ordinary private Detective like me?"
"No, that's impossible... He knows I'm Beyonder? It's possible. Because of the disorienting side effect of the Master Key, I directly encountered the Devil Dog. It saw my appearance and figure. Although I disguised myself to some extent at the time, I don't know if a ' Devil ' can see through that..."
"Perhaps, after that incident, it was presented to its owner in some way..."
"But I couldn't even beat the Devil Dog back then, and could only flee in a sorry state. What did he have to worry about? Unless, of course, he had something else to worry about, like Isengard Stanton, who was hiding nearby injured?"
"Did he write to me in such a high-profile manner because he thought that I, a wild Beyonder, would certainly not dare to seek official help?"
Klein, filled with questions, began inspecting the house, making his way to the second floor.
When he opened his bedroom door, another letter caught his eye.
The letter lay quietly on the desk, as if it had been waiting for a long time.
Klein picked up the package, gently unfolded it, and saw a line of words outlined in dark red blood:
"You're next."
The next one... how arrogant... Klein couldn't help but sigh.
Just then, he suddenly felt something, raised his head, and looked out the window.
Across the street were several two-story houses, each with its lights on.
The glow of the gas streetlights reflected off their exterior walls, creating areas of alternating light and shadow.
Suddenly, the shadows in those areas wriggled and Distortion, forming a black figure in a sharp tuxedo.
The shadow raised its right hand, making a gun shape, and pointed it at Klein.
Immediately, it withdrew its arm and blew on the "muzzle".
Immediately afterwards, it fell backward silently, transforming once more into countless disconnected shadows.