Fors flipped through the calendar on her desk and used a pen to mark the date of the upcoming full moon.
She had decided that, as soon as she heard that horrible, illusory raving, she would chant the name of The Fool and pass the painful minutes above the gray fog.
Life is truly filled with things to look forward toā¦ She closed the novel in her hands, ready to turn off the iron grille gas lamp that was set into the wall.
At that moment, a flash appeared in front of Forsās eyes. She saw the boundless gray fog and a lofty figure that resided in a majestic ancient palace, as well as a man who was praying devoutly.
When the voice reached her ears, she almost jumped, feeling both alarmed and joyful.
The Trickmaster formula that Iāve been arduously searching for all these years has been found just like that?
I participated in so many different Beyonder gatherings and failed to find any clues to the Trickmaster formula; yet, it has been found just like that?
And not even a week has passed since I made the request!
Th-this is the Tarot Clubā¦ As expected, itās not something ordinary Beyonder gatherings can compare with! Fors sighed with emotion, and endured her excitement and joy as she cautiously responded, āMr. Fool, is that formula authentic?ā
āYes.ā The Fool, who was sitting on the high back chair and looking down, replied calmly.
Fors suddenly clenched her fist and secretly pumped it by her waist twice. Almost without any hesitation, she asked, āThat was Mr. World, right?
āPlease tell him that I will find what he needs as soon as possible.ā
When the gray fog dissipated and everything was over, Fors remained stunned for two seconds. She couldnāt suppress her excitement as she stood up to pace back and forth in her room.
The Sunās domain, items that are good at purification and exorcismā¦ I encountered them only twice in the past. But they were bought by others. They might not be willing to offer them againā¦ Yes, back at Mr. Aās gathering, Xio had hired a devotee of the Eternal Blazing Sun to perform a purification and exorcism ritual. Heās at least Sequence 7, and he should have the relevant items. Or perhaps, he grasps key clues to themā¦ I just wonder how much itāll cost. Although Mr. World promises to pay the difference, I might not be able to come up with the amount needed for the initial paymentā¦ Forsās thoughts gradually shifted to her financial situation.
She now had 370 pounds in cash, mainly earned from what Viscount Glaint had paid for the Apothecary formula. She also had 510 pounds in her bank account, which added up to nearly 900 pounds.
As for something similar, it can go as high as 2,000 pounds, while the cheapest might cost from 500 to 600 pounds; yet, it might not necessarily be the kind of item that Mr. World needsā¦ What if I run into a suitable item but donāt have enough money? Get a loan from the bank, or a loan from an usury with a higher interest rate? As long as all goes well, then when Mr. World pays the difference, my debt will easily be repaidā¦ Maybe I could borrow from Miss Audrey for a few days. She usually never cares about money, so she will definitely not collect any interestā¦ Fors quickly came up with a solution.
Just then, Xio, who had gone to somewhere secluded at night to practice her combat skills, returned to their rented two bedroom apartment. Seeing that the lights were still on in her room, she knocked on the door and asked, āAre you pulling an all-nighter to write the beginning of your new book?
āEh, Fors, you seem really happy. Did the publisher increase your rates?ā
āNo, no, no.ā Fors was slightly taken aback before she forced a smile. āI just received a piece of information thatās suspected to be a clue to the Trickmaster potion formula.ā
āReally? Your waiting has finally paid off!ā Xio totally didnāt notice Forsās hidden oddity.
Seeing her good friend so happy for her, Fors couldnāt help but sigh to herself.
Iām already a member of a secret organization. From that moment forth, Iāve taken on a fate that requires me to constantly hide and lie to my friendsā¦
Is this the priceāone out of manyāto be paid?
ā¦
Saturday morning. Klein once again visited Inventor Leppard at St. George Boroughās Sird Street.
Since the bicycle had yet to be patented, he only paid the last twenty pounds and exhorted Leppard not to rush to talk about subsequent investments and partnerships until he had the patent.
With regards to this, Leppard was very agreeable. He had been tricked twice before for the same reasonābefore getting a patent, once the potential investors who he had made contact with had fully understood his product, he was kicked aside to watch as the potential investor bribed the patent office and acquired the patent first.
After leaving Leppardās place, Klein arrived at Isengard Stantonās place in Hillston Borough at the appointed time. It was a dark and gloomy house.
Today was the day that the rewards for the serial murder were going to be disbursed!
Walking through the living room and into the activity room, Klein saw the two detectives he was more familiar with, Kaslana and Stuart, and sat down next to the latter.
āSherlock, how much do you think weāll get this time? It should be no less than protecting Adol. Of course, I didnāt do much, so what I can receive will be limited. Emperor Roselle once said, āthe more plowing and weeding, the better the crop.'ā Stuart clenched his fist and held it to his bearded chin.
Klein guessed with interest.
āThe split might go as high as a few hundred pounds, and even the lowest wouldnāt be less than 10 pounds.ā
And Iām the one that will get the higher end of the splitā¦ If Isengard Stantonās words were as credible as he had describedā¦ Klein added in his stirred heart.
At that moment, a white-shirted, brown-vested Isengard, with white hair at his temples and a thinly contoured face, entered the activity room while carrying his signature pipe. As the fireplace burned, he sat down in a reclining chair and said with a smile, āLadies and gentlemen.
āI just got back from the Backlund police station. They acknowledged our contribution, and they think weāve been instrumental in cracking the case.
āAlthough we didnāt participate in the subsequent capture, we can still obtain half the bounty.
āIn other words, weāll split a thousand pounds in cash!
āThis is considered quite a handsome bounty, even in Backlund. A single detective has to have zero expensesānot eating or drinking, and even resorting to sleeping on the streetsāfor four or five years to amass this amount.ā
The atmosphere in the living room immediately became relaxed. Everyone was filled with anticipation about the reward they would receive.
Even Klein was no exception as he guessed the amount Isengard would give him.
It should be at least a hundred pounds, right? he whispered silently.
Isengard took a puff on his pipe, narrowed his eyes, and said in a satisfied tone, āEveryone, thank you for your trust in me. I will now do the splitting.
āThe biggest contributor this time was Detective Sherlock Moriarty. The ideas and train of thoughts that he provided us had allowed us to find more clues and put us on the right track. Heās a genuine expert at deduction!
āMaāam Kaslana can bear testament to this. I still have a few letters from Detective Moriarty, and anyone in doubt can take a look.ā
Thatās very fairā¦ He actually didnāt list himself as the biggest contributorā¦ Klein turned to the great detective, Isengard Stanton, and viewed him in a different light.
Itās no wonder that he has such authority in the detective circle!
Seeing that there were no objections, Isengard nodded and said, āI declare that Detective Sherlock Moriarty will be awarded 300 pounds!ā
Immediately, the detectives in the activity room broke out into whispers.
From time to time they looked up at Klein, as if they finally recognized this brilliant detective whom Mr. Stanton had praised as an expert at deduction.
What a generous man, a just manā¦ Klein grinned and ultimately didnāt act modestly.
In second place were Isengard himself and Kaslana, who each received 160 pounds, while the rest of the detectives split the remaining 380 pounds depending on their respective contributions. Even the lowest received 15 pounds, equivalent to three or four weeks of their usual earnings. This was the benefit of handling a major case with a high bounty.
Stuart, who had received forty pounds, was very pleased because he felt that he had only done two days of observation. Furthermore, the subject he observed ended up not being the final confirmed suspect.
Of course, he also had to pay a portion of the forty poundsāall informants and helpers involved in the matter had to be paid.
After distributing the bounty, Stuart suddenly remembered something. He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and said to Klein, āSherlock, Iāve recently accepted a missing person assignment that pays a lot. Try using your resources and help me pay attention to it. If the person is found, I wonāt forget your share.ā
āSure, no problem,ā Klein replied indifferently.
Stuart handed over the piece of paper and said, āItās this man. Heās been missing for nearly two weeks.
āAs heās involved in some improper conduct or might even border on committing a crime, the client doesnāt wish for us to seek the policeās help.ā
Klein nodded slightly and unfolded the paper. He saw a black-and-white photo that was made through lithography.
It was a man with hair that was combed back in a slanted fashion, and there was a certain elegance in his propriety.
He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight-years-old. He had a handsome appearance, but there was an undisguised air of arrogance between his eyes. His nose was high, and his lips were thin.
āRight, his name isā¦ā Stuart recalled and said, āEmlyn White.ā
Emlyn Whiteā¦ Klein suddenly turned his head to look at Stuart.
āAh!ā
Isnāt that the name of the vampire whoās imprisoned in the basement by Father Utravsky?
ā¦
In Duke Neganās mansion, Audrey, who had been invited to a tea party, was listening to her mother and Duchess Della chatting about nobility matters with a slightly bored expression on her face.
Her eyes swept across the three-layered rack, the uniquely-styled muffins, cake, and other delicious tidbits. She felt that she had been indulging herself recently, so she lightly picked up her cup and sipped the black tea.
After a while, she got up apologetically and, accompanied by the maid, went to the bathroom.
As soon as she came out, she met a tall, middle-aged woman with slender eyebrows and a graceful appearance.
It was Duchess Dellaās younger sister, the wife of a hereditary viscount, Lady Norma.
After exchanging the formalities, Norma looked at Audrey and said with a chuckle, āI heard that our beautiful young lady is very interested in mysticism?ā
She mentioned mysticism. Could it be that someone from the Psychology Alchemists is here to test me? Audrey instantly entered her state as a Telepathist. A little embarrassed, she lowered her head and replied, āYes.ā