Chapter 194: Infiltration

Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Four
Infiltration

“Madam Sharon?”

Dunn clearly recognized the widow of the late Baron Hoy—Tingen City’s most famous socialite.

Madam Maynard turned her head and glanced at the thin lady who had accompanied her to Blackthorn Security Company, but did not speak herself.

The thin lady, likewise dressed in a black gown and black hat, considered for a moment before saying, “Yes. Madam Sharon, the wife of the deceased old baron of the Hoy family. She—she…”

After stammering for several seconds, the thin lady suddenly blurted in anger, “She is a whore!”

Hearing that crude word, Klein abruptly remembered the “slightly indecent film” he had seen, along with Madam Sharon’s performance at the time—outwardly timid, inwardly calm. That made him believe the related rumors a little more, and in his heart, he silently felt sympathy for the deceased old baron.

It is not as if Madam Sharon could not remarry, but to behave so promiscuously… Sigh. The old baron’s grave must have quite a lush patch of green grass before it…

Dunn’s expression did not change. He sat on the sofa opposite them and said in his mellow voice, “But that has nothing to do with whether she is a criminal.”

“You understand, and I understand as well, that Madam Sharon has considerable influence in Tingen City. Rashly tailing and monitoring her could very easily create unsolvable problems and extremely nasty consequences.”

“She is the criminal!” the thin lady said furiously. “She caused my brother’s death! But those lovers of hers put immense pressure on the police department, forcing them to conclude that my brother died suddenly because he drank too much and then indulged continuously. They—they are all criminals!”

Those… Klein spared the old baron another second of sympathy and figured out the thin lady’s identity.

She was Councilman Maynard’s younger sister.

Right. For a matter involving scandal like this, bringing a maid would not be appropriate. Family is more reliable…

He nodded inwardly with sudden understanding.

Madam Maynard patted the back of the thin lady’s hand. Her voice was low and cold as she added, “She is the criminal.

“If you suffer any harm because of this, I will help you settle it and compensate you for your losses.”

That tone… As expected of the daughter of a New Party big shot… If the police department did not have such confidence in the result of my spirit channeling, I am afraid they would have bent beneath her pressure…

Klein mocked silently.

Dunn remained silent for more than ten seconds before saying, “Very well… I have one more question. You seem quite certain that we will be able to discover something.”

The thin lady nodded.

“It was the tobacco merchant Mr. Vickroll who recommended you to us. He praised you as the finest elites in this industry, people able to complete tasks others cannot.”

The tobacco merchant Vickroll… Who is that?

Klein subconsciously looked toward the Captain, only to discover that Dunn Smith’s eyes were also full of confusion.

I am so foolish. Why did I expect the Captain to remember something like this? Even I do not remember…

He sighed inwardly.

Seeing the two “elite mercenaries” look puzzled, the thin lady added, “You saved his kidnapped son.”

So it was him… That kidnapping case led me to discover clues to the Antigonus family notebook…

Klein immediately understood.

Dunn also followed with a slight nod.

“I see.”

Seeing that, the thin lady stated their terms.

“You will tail and monitor that—that whore for two weeks. Even if you fail to find evidence of her crime, you must record who visits her home, and whose homes she visits. We will pay fifty gold pounds for this.

“And if you can find evidence of her crime, or rather, any clues, we will pay an additional two hundred pounds.”

That is an enormous commission…

Klein suddenly thought of how he had spent only seven pounds to have Detective Henry gather so much information on red-chimney houses. For a moment, he actually felt somewhat ashamed.

Dunn thought for a bit and said, “No problem. We can sign the contract now.

“You will need to pay twenty pounds in advance.”

Captain, manpower has been tight lately. There is that huge Lanevus case…

Klein had not expected Dunn Smith to accept the task, though he himself was rather tempted.

Madam Maynard gently nodded.

“No problem.

“I trust you. And I ask that you not disappoint me.”

Dunn smiled without speaking and turned to Rozanne.

“Draft a contract.”

After the contract was signed, the advance payment received, and Madam Maynard and the thin lady watched out of Blackthorn Security Company, Dunn turned his head toward Klein.

“This task will be handed to you.”

“Ah?” Klein looked completely blank.

Dunn smiled.

“Did you not want to study tracking, surveillance, and related techniques? This is an excellent practical opportunity. Coincidentally, your part in the Lanevus case has just ended.”

“All right…”

Klein did not refuse.

The moment he agreed, his thoughts began spinning rapidly.

According to regulations, half the commission must be handed over to Madam Orianna and placed in the team funds. The rest is split evenly among the participating members. And for this commission, it seems I will be the only one taking part…

No matter whether the investigation succeeds, the guaranteed income is twenty-five pounds, and my salary is paid as usual… If I truly find clues, I can receive a full one hundred and twenty-five pounds!

The Captain is truly wise!

Dunn glanced at him and said, “In the morning, find Leonard and Frye to learn tracking and surveillance techniques. Your afternoon combat lessons will be suspended. Suspended for this whole week. Mm… I believe you should have grasped almost enough by now. I will send someone to inform Gawain.”

Find Leonard and Frye to study tracking and surveillance?

Why does that feel somewhat unreliable…

In Klein’s mind, the only method Leonard would use was to strum a Fenepotter lute, sing beautiful poetry, seduce Madam Sharon into bed, and conduct close-range tracking and surveillance. As for Frye, his temperament was extremely distinctive: cold and gloomy, making him draw attention wherever he went. How could someone with that image follow and monitor anyone?

Thoughts flashing, Klein still answered seriously, “All right.”

Dunn gave a light nod and walked toward the partition. Suddenly, he stopped, turned around, hesitated, and said, “Do you remember that tobacco merchant? What was the kidnapping case about?”

…

So Captain, you did not remember anything just now, nor did you understand anything… How did you manage to look so composed and confident?

Klein raised a hand and covered his face.

…

Following Leonard’s teaching, Klein did not hurry to tail Madam Sharon, even though he knew very well that she lived on Orsna Street in the East Borough.

“Before you have figured out the target’s movement patterns, rashly following them is very likely to go wrong. And monitoring with only one person makes it hard to observe everything, unless you never eat, never drink, never sleep, and never go home.”

Those were Leonard’s exact words. Thus, according to his guidance, Klein went to the Hound Tavern, found a certain gang leader, and spent five pounds to have him send subordinates in shifts to monitor Madam Sharon and record her daily movements.

Fortunately, this can be reimbursed… Why does it feel like layers upon layers of subcontracting…

On Friday afternoon, Klein received the investigation report provided by that gang leader.

Calling it an investigation report was clearly an insult to professional private detectives. None of the gang leader’s subordinates recognized words, so everything was replaced with drawings and symbols, then organized and explained by their half-illiterate boss, who had studied at Sunday school for only one year. Reading it made Klein’s head throb in waves. Only after a long while did he finally finish.

“According to surveillance, Madam Sharon has rarely gone out recently, and very few guests have visited her… This should be because of the effect of Councilman Maynard’s death… Those gang members are rather capable. They actually managed to establish contact with Madam Sharon’s maid…

“Mm. Tonight, she will attend the Conservative Party banquet in this city. She may return very late, or perhaps not return at all… This is an opportunity for practice.”

Klein swiftly made his decision. He planned to infiltrate Madam Sharon’s home that night and quietly search through it once.

With his part in the Lanevus case finished, combat lessons suspended, and the Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos incident brought to a close, Klein had only two matters left to keep him busy recently. One was checking red-chimney houses; the other was tailing and monitoring Madam Sharon. Thus, he had comparatively more free time.

Two days ago, he had also received a reply from Mr. Azik. The letter contained only one sentence:

“I obtained Creeping Hunger. I remembered some things.”

That finally let Klein confirm that Qilangos had been killed by Mr. Azik. It also confirmed that this amnesiac instructor, who possessed an extremely long life, was a high-Sequence powerhouse. But he had not dared ask what Azik had remembered through Creeping Hunger, because Azik clearly did not wish to say it—if he had wanted to share, he would have directly described it in the letter.

In his reply, Klein had done little beyond offer greetings and remind Mr. Azik that Creeping Hunger craved the flesh and souls of living people, and that he needed to find a reliable sealing method.

In addition, Justice and the Hanged Man had still not prayed to him, but Klein no longer worried. He understood that both members were wary of possible surveillance and did not dare rashly recite the honorific name.

…

At night, Orsna Street lay beneath gas streetlamps that shone upon the flat road. The crimson moon hung high in the sky.

Having sneaked out, Klein used the Clown’s balance and agility to silently climb over the wall of Madam Sharon’s house.

Passing through the garden and reaching the side of the building, he climbed the water pipe, swiftly making his way to the second-floor balcony.

For Klein, who had never once succeeded at climbing trees as a child, this could be considered a different sort of historic breakthrough.

From the pocket of his black windbreaker, he took out a tarot card, inserted it into the gap of the balcony door, and flicked it lightly, opening the latch.

“The servants are quite careless… They actually did not add an extra lock. Otherwise, I would have had to try the window…”

Klein whispered soundlessly and slipped into the house.

According to the intelligence provided by the gang leader, he easily found Madam Sharon’s bedroom, turned the handle, and quietly infiltrated.

Carefully closing the door, he suddenly smelled a faint fragrance, one that made a person think of an alluring feminine scent capable of quickening the blood.

Klein fell into a slight daze. He even felt his body show a bit of reaction.

He immediately calmed himself through meditation and silently mocked:

“Is she using an aphrodisiac as incense?”