" The Moon Puppet "... Fors's heart skipped a beat, she pulled her scattered attention back and turned to look at the party member who had just spoken.
The man wearing the black iron mask had taken out a small Puppet and was showing it to the surroundings:
"A friend of mine discovered a small burial site deep in the Paz Valley of the Southern Continent, and this Puppet was inserted into the right eye socket of one of the deceased."
Like the other members of the gathering, Fors examined the Puppet closely and found that it was slender and resembled a small wooden stake, with crescent-shaped eyes and a mouth, and was inlaid with dried grass and flowers.
Nothing special... Fors muttered to herself, her Spirit Intuition still unmoved, the pen in her hand still hovering over a patina-green notebook.
The man wearing the black iron mask continued his introduction:
"Neither my friends nor I could confirm what the Puppet's purpose was; we only suspected that it was not so simple and might be hiding a significant secret."
"60 pounds, just 60 pounds, you can buy it. That's a very fair price. Even if it has nothing to do with the mystical realm, it's still a decent antique, worth about 40 or 50 pounds."
"In other words, spending £10 for a chance to be surprised is a very small amount of money for you."
The sales pitch was very enticing; this gentleman must be a successful salesman. However, I don't even have 10 pounds... Fors chuckled to himself, thinking that no one present would buy this so-called " The Moon Puppet " of dubious origin and purpose.
The thought had barely formed in her mind when she suddenly heard a deliberately lowered female voice:
"50 pounds."
Is she so rich that she's willing to gamble? Fors subconsciously turned her head to look at the party member who was speaking. She saw that the woman was wearing a hooded robe, her face hidden in the shadows.
At this moment, the owner of the " The Moon Puppet " laughed heartily:
"I'd rather keep it for myself; maybe I'll discover its special qualities someday."
As he spoke, he realized that no one else was raising the price, so he changed the subject:
"Of course, as a gentleman, since you have expressed your desire and the price is reasonable, I am willing to grant your wish."
"Deal." The hooded woman replied in a deep voice.
Soon, the party's host's waiter helped them complete the transaction, Fors noticed that the lady's hand trembled slightly when she received the " The Moon Puppet."
She really values this item... She might actually know about the Puppet's special features... The Moon Puppet... The Moon... From the Southern Continent... Fors suddenly made a connection, remembering the " The Moon Primordial " believers that Mr. " The Moon " hoped to find, and began to suspect that the hooded lady from earlier was one of them, or that there was a connection.
Of course, she had no evidence whatsoever, and even her speculations seemed weak.
Whew... Fors let out a silent sigh, deciding to find a way to verify it.
She casually flipped through the hardcover notebook in her hand, revealing a page of yellowish-brown parchment.
The paper is printed with various patterns, some deep and some shallow, which form a peculiar picture that is both ambiguous and ancient and mysterious.
This is a page from " Lemano's Travel Notes," Record an extraordinary ability.
It wasn't one of the five pages that Fors later took the opportunity to Record; it was one of the original pages.
Fors raised his head, pretending to observe other people's transactions, and took in everything that happened next to the hooded lady.
She noticed a dark brown spotted mosquito stuck to the nearby wall, and unidentified insects slowly crawling across the ground.
Fors's fingers glided naturally and lightly over the dark patterns on the yellowish-brown parchment, and a complex symbol quickly formed in his mind.
Without a sound or the slightest abnormality, she felt she had "read" the spotted brown mosquito, her own thoughts connected with its intentions.
The spotted brown mosquito took flight, flying very low.
It circled around to the bottom of the hooded woman and carefully approached her.
The spotted brown mosquito's vision differs from humans, creating an incomprehensible image in Fors's mind. However, it quickly disintegrated, recombine, and outlined a corresponding, normal picture:
The hooded woman had softer facial features, a darker complexion, thin, long eyebrows, and a rather pronounced downturned mouth.
Fors immediately recognized her; she was none other than Windsor Behring, the follower of the " The Moon Primordial " whom Mr. " the Moon " was searching for!
A valid lead is worth 100 pounds, and a direct lead is worth 500 pounds! Fors recalled the contents of the reward, and a surge of excitement rose in his heart.
Her first instinct was to urge the spotted brown mosquito to bite Windsor Behring normally and suck her blood, so that she could later use " Astrology " to pinpoint her location.
However, after struggling for a while, she gave up the idea, because it was the most taboo behavior at the gathering of Beyonder. If she were discovered, she would definitely be surrounded and killed by all the members of the gathering.
The organizers of these gatherings are usually quite capable; if they go too far or overdo it, it's easy for the other party to notice their presence!
Well, I'll just earn 100 pounds for now, and then consider locking in the deal if there are any other opportunities later... I need to leave this party as soon as possible and smear the blood on the surface of " Lemano's Travel Notes " to avoid getting lost, that's dangerous... Fors suppressed her disappointment and made her final decision.
Actually, her behavior just now had crossed a line, which made her not want to linger any longer.
Inside an upscale hotel in the Hillston Borough.
Klein stood behind the bay window, quietly admiring the red moon and thin clouds high in the sky.
After some time, he tidied the white hair at his temples and reached out to draw the curtains.
Then, he busied himself moving the radio receiver back into the real world and dissipating most of the smell beforehand.
This time, he only waited for about ten seconds before he felt the room become gloomy and dark, and heard the radio receiver making a clicking sound.
Klein moved closer and saw a piece of illusory white paper being spat out, on which was written in Loen language script:
"Great master, please look to the right!"
To the right... Klein turned his head, both amused and puzzled, and looked to the side.
Where his gaze fell, there was a full-length mirror, now darkened as if it had been smeared with ink.
The moment the thought crossed Klein's mind, the full-length mirror suddenly lit up, and one after another, illusory fireworks shot into the sky, bloomed, and fell, dazzling and magnificent.
At the same time, a line of golden Loen language appeared in the very center of the full-length mirror:
"Welcome back, my great master!"
At this moment, although the " Magic Mirror " Arrodes did not make a sound, Klein inexplicably felt that it was shouting at the top of its lungs.
As the fireworks subsided, the golden words Distortion Reorganization, forming new characters:
"Great master, your humble and loyal servant Arrodes wishes to ask, is there anything I can do for you?"
Klein was already very used to this and skillfully began to speak:
Answer my question.
The golden words Reorganization again:
Thank you for your answer. You may ask your question now.
Klein, who was prepared, said:
Where did the Evil Spirit from the Williams Street underground ruins go?
On the full-length mirror, the golden words froze for several seconds before slowly disappearing, while the background of the blooming fireworks first blurred and then became clear, shifting to another scene.
The scene was an abandoned chapel, overgrown with withered vines, and littered with gray stones and animal droppings.
Klein was quite familiar with this place; it was the very spot where he and Miss Sharron had spoken with the Evil Spirit.
As the camera zoomed in, Klein saw a small, shallow crater in the corner of the partially collapsed chapel, with obvious signs of fingers digging inside.
Miss " Magician " mentioned this... As Klein's thoughts raced, a cold, smiling voice came from the screen:
"It's a pleasure doing business with you!"
As these words emerged from the soil, the scene instantly blurred Distortion, transforming into a turbulent surface of water before finally shattering completely.
"Pleasant to cooperate..." Who is this Evil Spirit saying "Pleasant to cooperate" to?
For an Angel polymeroid of the " Hunter " pathway to speak in this tone, the other party must be of considerable status, perhaps even reaching the Angel level. But why would He use His hands to dig a pit? There must be many easier and less time-consuming methods...
Was this Angel also subject to limitations? Hmm, like the old man inside Leonard? Right, Leonard was in Backlund back then! That's one clue, but there are many other possibilities; Angel rank doesn't necessarily mean Angel...
Who exactly did the Evil Spirit Manipulation Baronet Pound? It seems that Intis and Feysac's spies were all a smokescreen deliberately planted by the Evil Spirit —truly a " Conspirer "... Klein's mind raced with thoughts, then he turned to the " Magic Mirror," Arrodes, and said:
"My second question is, I currently have three candidates for the position of housekeeper. Who do you think is the most suitable?"
Golden Loen language words appeared one after another:
"If we choose Ribac and Walter, there will be some additional developments. Asnia the most professional, but also the most 'ordinary'."
Hmm... those two from the Duke Negan and Viscount Conrad families certainly have some unexpected developments... Klein nodded thoughtfully.
"It's your turn to ask a question."
Suddenly, a bunch of golden words appeared:
"Great master, what do you think of me as a butler? If you can bring me out of the Church of Steam, I can become the best butler in the world!"
... Klein hesitated for a second, then answered tactfully:
"It's not suitable at the moment."
The golden words on the full-length mirror dimmed for a moment, then brightened and shone again, wriggling and Reorganization.
"OK.
"Your loyal and humble servant Arrodes, will wait patiently."
Immediately afterwards, a complex pattern appeared on the full-length mirror, accompanied by explanatory text:
"This is a rune composed of corresponding symbols and magical insignia. Great master, as long as you are still in Backlund, writing it down on paper will be equivalent to notifying me to come."
A fusion of symbols representing Concealment and voyeurism... Klein discerned briefly:
"Good."