Chapter 175: Speculation

Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Five
Speculation

Lanevus?

That criminal who swindled both money and women? He actually had some connection to Hood Eugen of the Psychology Alchemists…

Klein froze for a moment, then immediately remembered what the name Lanevus represented.

A swindler who had fled with more than ten thousand pounds!

A walking treasury who would grant ten pounds for clues and one hundred pounds for help catching him!

A scoundrel who had deceived innocent women of both body and feelings!

And this man actually knew Hood Eugen, even visiting him three times at the asylum. Did that mean he had come into contact with the Beyonder circle? Or perhaps that he himself was a Beyonder?

Thinking this, Klein suddenly remembered the name of a potion.

Sequence 8 of the Thief pathway: Swindler!

This type of Beyonder often took delight in deceiving others.

Very possible!

Klein nodded thoughtfully, controlling his facial expression and body language. Pretending not to care, he casually asked, “When was the last time this Mr. Lanevus visited Hood Eugen?”

“Early July. I would need to return to the asylum and check the corresponding registration records to know the exact date,” Daxter Guderian answered after pondering for a few seconds.

Early July. At that time, Lanevus’s scam had not yet collapsed, and he had not yet fled Tingen…

Klein shifted the question.

“Did Hood Eugen normally mention anything about this gentleman?”

“No. You should know that a Sequence 7 Psychiatrist cannot possibly leak certain matters by carelessness. Every word they say has been repeatedly considered in their minds. Unless they have another purpose in mind, it is extremely difficult to learn secrets from them. It was only because Hood Eugen went mad that I managed to obtain the Telepathist formula. Speaking of which, have you confirmed whether that formula is real?”

Daxter concealed the pride he felt toward his own Sequence very well.

Klein smiled.

“It is real. When you need to advance, you may safely mix the potion according to it. If the Psychology Alchemists fail to provide the ingredients, we can help. Mm, how has your own condition been recently?”

“Not bad. Aside from my anxiety over Hood Eugen’s matter, I feel much more relaxed overall. There are no longer signs of split personality. In that matter, you really helped me a great deal,” Daxter said sincerely.

Klein made a modest expression.

“That is what I should do.

“Let us return to the earlier topic. Since you say a Psychiatrist will repeatedly consider every word before speaking and will not easily reveal secrets, why did Hood Eugen tell you that El was Lanevus? Was he hinting at something, or warning you of something?”

Daxter froze all at once. Only after a long time did he frown and say, “That really is very strange. I actually did not notice at all… But aside from that, Hood Eugen never mentioned anything else.

“Could his purpose have been that, if anything went wrong with him, I could pass the name Lanevus on to the organization’s higher ranks?

“And the actual situation does seem a little problematic. After I reported Hood Eugen’s insanity upward, a contact person did come over. But after I described every detail, including Lanevus’s name, there was no further response from the higher ranks, as if a stone had been thrown into the sea. Does that mean they guessed something?”

“A very reasonable speculation.”

Klein took out the Demon-hunting Bullets, loading them into the cylinder one by one, then tried aiming at the target.

“Starting from that speculation, perhaps Hood Eugen long ago anticipated that he would truly go insane—or die directly… and that this had some connection to Lanevus? But if he had already foreseen it, why did he not seek help from the higher ranks ahead of time?”

Daxter looked ahead, eyes unfocused, thinking with difficulty.

“What a pity. He is now insane, and there is no way to communicate with him effectively.”

“Perhaps some temptation made him choose to take the risk,” Klein suggested.

At the same time, he too was regretting that Hood Eugen had truly become a mental patient, causing many clues to break off there.

Sigh. Even a dead person would be better than a madman. If he were dead, I could use spirit channeling to make him speak. But what am I supposed to do with a madman?

Ah, right. Madam Daly once attempted to use spirit channeling to awaken my lost memories. The theory she used also came from the Psychology Alchemists… That means living people can also undergo “spirit channeling rituals,” creating a situation where spirit communicates directly with spirit. In that state, I wonder whether Hood Eugen would still be insane…

Unfortunately, I am not professional enough in this field yet. I probably cannot accomplish it… Mm, I will first summon Daly’s messenger and write to ask what techniques she can offer. If she believes only she herself can do it, then I will tell the Captain and have him send a telegram to the Backlund diocese requesting help…

I absolutely am not taking a detour just to learn some technique or try out the messenger-summoning ritual…

Thought after thought flashed through Klein’s mind. Gradually, he had an idea for solving the problem.

Daxter quite agreed with his speculation.

“Greed always makes people foolish. Even when they clearly know there is an abyss ahead, they still try to approach the edge and peek down.”

That is what they call frantically testing the boundary of death…

Klein jabbed inwardly, then considered and said, “After you return to the asylum, do your best to treat Hood Eugen. Try to let him regain clarity for a short period and provide hints.

“In addition, do not conceal your worry and anxiety. Contact the Psychology Alchemists more often. Urge them to solve Hood Eugen’s problem. That is the most normal and reasonable reaction.”

Daxter nodded gravely.

“I will work hard to do so.”

Klein did not say more. After some thought, he asked another question.

“Has anything unusual appeared on Hood Eugen’s body recently? For example, fine scales growing on certain areas.”

“Half-mad,” “truly mad,” and “loss of control” were descriptions of different degrees when a Beyonder truly developed a problem.

The lighter form was only a change in worldview, as if the person had become someone else, but they could still think rationally and act normally. That was “half-mad.”

Those in more serious condition would lose logic, become chaotic and deranged, and be difficult to communicate with. They were called “truly mad.”

The type beyond saving was when both body and mind became monsters. That was thorough “loss of control.”

And sometimes, if the existing problem was not addressed in time, someone who remained mad long enough might still lose control.

Earlier, to avoid exposing the informant planted within the Psychology Alchemists, Dunn had instructed the Nighthawks not to immediately control Hood Eugen. Instead, they were to monitor and investigate, preventing accidents. But if the man showed signs of losing control, decisive action had to be taken.

Daxter shook his head with a bitter smile.

“No. You can rest assured on that point. I am also very afraid of Hood Eugen losing control, and I would not miss any detail. After all, I spend six days a week inside the asylum.”

The two spoke for several more minutes before leaving the shooting range ten minutes apart.

Enduring intense sleepiness, Klein took a public carriage all the way back to Daffodil Street.

He opened the front door and saw his younger sister sitting on the sofa in the living room. She was not reading, nor was she fiddling with parts or machinery. She merely stared blankly ahead, looking as though she had lost her soul.

Lightly tapping his teeth and activating spirit vision, Klein asked in confusion, “Melissa, did something happen?”

Judging by the color of her aura, her body is very healthy… She is no longer as malnourished as before…

Melissa withdrew her gaze, pressed her lips together, glanced toward the kitchen where noises were coming from, and spoke in a dazed voice.

“Bella kept recommending a special breakfast method from her family, saying it is extremely delicious. I agreed to let her try it this morning.”

“What method?” Klein vaguely had a bad premonition.

“Put last night’s leftovers together and boil them, then add water and bread…”

Melissa repeated it in a low, drifting voice.

That—that is standard dark cuisine…

Klein reached up and pinched his forehead.

“So?”

“We cannot waste food…”

Melissa bit her lip and nodded seriously.

Little sister, I feel like you are questioning life itself…

Klein cleared his throat, suppressing his laughter, then asked instead, “Where is Benson?”

“He is in the washroom.”

Melissa finally escaped her daze, her eyes regaining their brightness.

At that moment, the sound of flushing came from the first-floor washroom. Holding a newspaper, Benson opened the door and stepped out.

“Dear Klein, would you like some breakfast?”

“No. I already ate.”

Klein shook his head firmly and felt exceptionally grateful that he had arranged to meet Daxter that morning. Otherwise, he would not have asked Rozanne to bring breakfast in advance.

“What a pity. Otherwise, you would have changed your opinion of my cooking and become full of confidence,” Benson said, laughing self-mockingly.

Only then did Melissa notice something. Turning her eyes toward Klein, she said, “You came back very late today.”

Sister, be a little more naive, a little livelier. Do not always worry about everything… Your state just now was very good!

Klein immediately smiled.

“I have good news.”

“You passed the police department’s examination and can receive an additional salary?” Melissa asked back almost without needing to think.

Benson smiled and nodded in agreement as well.

“…”

Holding his hat and standing at the edge of the living room, Klein said with amusement, “How am I supposed to surprise you like this?”

Then he coughed once and added, “Yes. My weekly salary has doubled.”

He concealed the four pounds of weekly salary that had just been added, intending to accumulate a small private treasury for the future. After all, he could not rely entirely on the money inside the bearer account. Besides, doubling it would be enough to shock his elder brother and younger sister.

“Six pounds?”

Melissa blurted, both astonished and shaken.

“I really do need to change jobs,” Benson said, touching his hairline.

With the information Klein had provided, he had been studying very diligently during this period.

Before Klein could speak, Melissa revealed a delighted expression and said, “In that case, after deducting normal expenses, you should be able to accumulate enough wealth in two or three years to meet the minimum standard for a gentleman’s marriage. Mm, Elizabeth told me the standard.”

“…”

Klein laughed helplessly.

“That is a matter for much later. Should we not celebrate right now? I hereby announce that from today onward, our staple food will become white bread. When I finish being busy with this period, we will go taste good food at different restaurants.”

Melissa looked at him, as though she had heard none of it, and said, “Benson and I are going to Saint Selena Cathedral to attend Mass. Are you going?”

I praise the Goddess every day…

Klein laughed.

“I need to catch up on sleep.”

He slept until twelve-thirty. After having lunch with Benson and Melissa, he continued the task of checking red-chimney houses.

When night was deep and quiet, he sealed his bedroom with spirituality and prepared to attempt the messenger-summoning ritual Daly the Spirit Guide had provided.