Each with His Own Agenda

"I don't have any evidence, but I'm ninety percent sure she isn't an ordinary person."

Klein froze for a moment. The breath he had just let out caught in his throat again.

He no longer felt that thinking this way would offend Leon. He was certain that Leon was the sort of person whose offhand remarks could come true.

If Leon said it, they had to be on guard.

"You mean... she's a Beyonder?" Klein couldn't help thinking further, his voice full of disbelief.

"This couldn't have something to do with that person too, could it?"

"We have to tell Inspector Tolle and the captain right away!" The more Klein thought about it, the more frightened he became. As he spoke, he hurried to catch up with them.

"Ahem... it really doesn't."

Leon couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth as he quietly stopped Klein from unleashing his super intelligence.

"Then what makes you think she might be a Beyonder?"

Klein narrowed his eyes and looked suspiciously at Leon's handsome, nearly poreless face, seemingly unconvinced by his explanation.

Or rather, Leon's credibility with him was already in a Schrödinger state. At times, he was extremely reliable, as he had been when facing Old Neil;

at other times, he was quite unpredictable, like with Azik, when they had all nearly come to grief together.

"Really. As for why I said I was ninety percent sure Madam Sharon was a Beyonder..."

Leon cleared his throat, seemingly a little embarrassed himself at the prospect of recounting his predecessor's dark history.

"About six months ago, I received information that Madam Sharon had a Potion formula for a certain Pathway."

"After confirming it, I tried to trade her for the formula, but her demands were a little... uh, harsh, so the deal fell through. I even offended her in the process and nearly ended up in prison."

"Someone who trades in Beyonder information won't lack Beyonders around her, even if she isn't one herself." Leon thought for a moment, then slowly recounted what he remembered his predecessor knew about the woman he had detested.

"She's very popular among the nobility and the newly wealthy merchants. She's the kind of socialite who receives invitations to parties from both the Conservative Party and the New Party, two opposing camps."

"Supposedly, she has ambiguous relationships with her stepson, the current Baron Khoy, as well as with certain nobles in Backlund and several senior government employees, all at the same time. The influence she has behind her is no less than Councilor Maynard's."

"I see. That's all the more reason to warn Inspector Tolle! If a Beyonder really is involved, there could very well be casualties."

Klein leaned against the window, resting his chin on his fingers.

Leon knew the story of the boy who cried wolf all too well and said nothing more. He couldn't stop Klein from thinking what he would.

"Quite a few members of the nobility have dealings with Beyonders. If that's all the evidence we have, the captain really can't get involved either. After all, if a noble were arrested just because there was evidence they'd come into contact with Beyonder information, the entire nobility of the Loen Kingdom could join forces to pressure the Church the next day."

"But I think a suitable warning is still necessary."

Leon glanced at the pocket watch in his hand, thought for a moment, and added, "On the bright side, judging from your divination results, even if Madam Sharon is a Beyonder, there were no signs that she used any Beyonder Ability at the time."

"Things aren't that bad."

Unless it counts if a Beyonder used her powerful physique to work the plow ox to death... Leon didn't add that.

Klein, who was also checking the time every now and then, was moved by those words and agreed.

Ten minutes later, the two found Officer Tolle, who was making arrangements, and told him their assessment and the possibilities one by one.

"What?" Tolle, who was built like a brown bear, jumped in fright. He looked at Klein, then at Leon.

"Yes, but it's only speculation." Leon made no attempt to hide his desire to get off work as he smiled.

He calculated that although there wasn't enough time left to eat lunch out, he could still hurry back early.

He pointed outside the manor and said, "All right, there shouldn't be anything else for us to do."

"No!" Tolle abruptly stepped between them, grabbing Leon, the taller of the two, with his left hand and Klein with his right. "Please wait a little longer," he cried.

Klein asked in confusion:

"Why?"

Tolle explained in a very earnest, very serious tone, "We have to guard against any accidents. Once we've questioned Madam Sharon and taken her statement, I'll send a carriage to take you home, and I'll also apply for an assistance allowance for you!"

Goddess above! It was troublesome enough that she was a socialite involved with so many important people, and now this has to involve that side of things too. I'm just a minor inspector muddling through the days. Why have I had to deal with this sort of thing ever since I met you two?

Besides, if something really does happen, what am I supposed to do after you leave? Tolle felt increasingly miserable.

An allowance? I don't need it. How many gold pounds could it possibly be worth compared to the first official meeting at my Roundtable Hold?

Leon

An allowance? That's tempting, but I have to meet Mr. Stars in another two hours. Compared to the possibility of finding hope of going home, I should give up this bit of money when I have to.

Just as the two men, each with his own agenda, were about to refuse in unison... they heard Tolle's rather understanding voice.

"I promise, we'll only notify you if something unexpected really happens. Until then, you'll have a quiet place to get plenty of rest, as well as a lavish lunch paid for by the police department!"

The two instinctively exchanged a glance. Although neither knew what the other was thinking, both clearly understood that it would be impolite to refuse under those conditions.

"All right." Klein rubbed his temple and agreed first. "Please find me a place now. I do need to rest after performing a ritual."

Hearing this, Tolle breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Leon hopefully.

"All right." Leon could only nod in agreement. "Then find us a quiet place first."

He closed the pocket watch in his hand and considered that, if things really went as Tolle had said, he would indeed have enough time to enter the Roundtable Hold and hold a brief meeting.

But he had to find a way to get Klein to leave him alone. He looked at Klein, who was standing silently to one side, lost in thought.

When Tolle asked whether they needed two bedrooms to rest separately, Leon had just opened his mouth to volunteer that they did.

"Please give us two rooms." Klein spoke before he could, sounding even more eager.

Faced with this, Tolle visibly relaxed and said:

"No problem. I'll have someone bring you lunch later."

He led Klein and Leon to two guest rooms near the sunroom and gestured inside.

"Officer Moretti, Officer Kaspar, you can rest assured that no one will disturb you. I'll go find Madam Sharon now."

Klein nodded slightly and watched him leave. He opened his door and looked toward Leon, who stood by another door to the side, seemingly wanting to explain his somewhat strange behavior just now.

"As it happens, I'm used to resting alone too. Thank you for being so understanding."

Leon spoke first, smiling at the thoroughly puzzled Klein. Then he turned, closed the door, and drew the curtains.

Looking at the time on his pocket watch, he saw that there was still half an hour until the appointed meeting time. He found a rocking chair that looked comfortable and sat down.

Leon let his body sway rhythmically back and forth. He had of course noticed that Klein also seemed to have something urgent to do.

But he wasn't in the mood to look into his cautious colleague right now. He had something more important to do.