Chapter 156: Suggestion

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six
Suggestion

He recognized me!

Klein was abruptly alarmed, nearly entering combat state on the spot.

Even without activating spirit vision, he could tell from Emlyn White’s tone and words that the other party was not lying. He had great confidence and was absolutely certain!

The feeling of tension had only just risen when Klein suddenly thought of one question:

Why should I worry about this?

Immediately afterward, he answered himself within his mind:

If I am recognized, then I am recognized. The situation now is already different from what it was nearly two months ago!

Back then, under the official monitor’s eyes, I panicked over Ambassador Bakerland’s matter, ran everywhere, and desperately grabbed at every straw. During that process, coming into contact with the supernatural circle, or even transforming into a Beyonder, was not a small possibility. So even if my identity as a Beyonder is exposed, they will not think too deeply and dig out my past.

Moreover, Detective Isengard Stanton is most likely a Beyonder, and maintains fairly good relations with the police department and official organizations. He had vaguely guessed before that I was one of his kind and was gently trying to draw me in. From that perspective, I can barely count as a peripheral member of the official side. Even if something truly happens, it is not inevitable that I will be arrested.

More importantly, I have already made the current image deeply rooted in people’s minds. I do not fear a warrant with a photograph. If the situation goes bad, I can directly abandon 15 Minsk Street and the identity of Sherlock Moriarty!

So what do I have to worry about?

Mm. Before coming here, I performed divination too, and the revelation was that there is almost no danger.

As thoughts flickered, Klein’s contracted pupils, faintly changing expression, and battle-ready state all relaxed, as though the other party had only been discussing today’s weather.

Seeing that Klein’s expression remained normal, Emlyn White raised an eyebrow, moved sideways a few steps, squeezed past him, and leisurely sat down nearby.

The vampire looked toward Bishop Utravsky, who was guiding the believers through the communion ceremony, and gave a heh.

“Detective, aren’t you afraid I will run to the police station and shout that you are a Beyonder?”

Klein likewise looked ahead, not turning his head.

“I will go with you and shout that this is a vampire.”

Come on, let us hurt each other! Who is afraid of whom?

Emlyn White’s expression stiffened for a moment. He raised the index finger of his right hand.

“Sanguine. Noble Sanguine. Understand?”

Without waiting for Klein to speak, and seeing that Bishop Utravsky was focused on the communion ceremony, Emlyn White gave a low laugh.

“In any case, I am finally going to be free.

“I pretended to yield and told that old man I was willing to convert to the Earth Mother, and that I deeply repented for my past actions. Though I have no idea what I needed to repent for, putting on an appearance is no problem.

“That old man actually believed me just like that. And he was very happy, releasing me on the spot, making me a priest here, and telling me that if I can memorize the sacred canon of the Church of the Earth Mother, he will let me go home.

“Haha. Old fellows whose heads are full of muscles and who have been made stupid by religion really are easy to deceive!”

Easy to deceive?

Klein turned his head and looked at the smug vampire, then gazed forward and said, “Father Utravsky used to be a pirate. Perhaps he has killed more people than your father has saved, and most pirates do not trust their companions. They are filled with fraud and betrayal. Even if Father Utravsky is not good at using his brain, as a relatively successful pirate who remained alive throughout his career, he absolutely cannot be someone easy to deceive.”

Seeing Emlyn White’s face filled with disbelief, ready to retort, Klein stroked the top of his cane and leisurely added another line:

“The priest has a powerful Sealed Artifact called the Nightmare Candle. It can allow its holder to enter the deepest part of a target’s mind. There, no one can lie.

“And that is only one of its functions. Whether it has other abilities, I do not know.”

Emlyn gradually froze. His gaze slowly lost focus.

After more than ten seconds, he whispered with a pale face, “When I said I was willing to convert, that old man brought in a lantern. Inside the lantern was a piece of candle. I did not look closely at what the candle looked like…”

Klein tilted his head and gave Emlyn White a sympathetic look.

“Perhaps Father Utravsky used it to plant a suggestion in you, causing you to gradually, thoroughly, and truly come to believe in the Earth Mother.”

Emlyn’s lips twitched. He revealed a smile comparable to that of a Living Corpse.

“I feel absolutely nothing. It should not be as you say.

“And my parents are about to find their way here, are they not? They can use ordinary people to accuse the priest, saying that he forcibly detained me, making him choose between the reputation of the Church of the Earth Mother and letting me go.

“Is that not a wonderful plan?”

Klein maintained his sympathetic gaze. He clasped his hands together and pressed them before his mouth and nose, assuming the posture of someone seriously repenting.

“If I were Father Utravsky, I would choose to call the police and have them clarify the facts.

“Tell me, who would suffer in the end—a bishop with legal preaching qualifications, or a vampire?”

“…Sanguine. Sanguine!”

The muscles on Emlyn White’s face seemed to spasm.

He clenched his fist and struck the back of the chair before him.

“I can wait. Once I memorize the sacred canon, I will demand that the old man let me return! He is a truly devout person. He will not break his promise!”

Without turning his head, Klein gave a laugh.

“I have been to 48 Riverbay Avenue. Your parents have already moved away.”

“That is inevitable. Not only would they move away, they would move somewhere even I do not know,” Emlyn White replied without hesitation.

Klein’s tone remained quite relaxed as he added, “They moved away in too much of a hurry. There were many things they did not take with them—for instance, the things in your room.”

Emlyn White’s expression instantly became extraordinarily colorful. His mouth opened, and he suddenly stood, squeezed past Klein, and rushed toward Bishop Utravsky before the Sacred Emblem of Life.

“Father! Bishop! I want to go home! I want to go home! I want to go home!” Emlyn shouted loudly.

Seeing that there were still believers who had not completed the communion ceremony, Father Utravsky gave no response. He merely looked calmly at that poor vampire.

Emlyn abruptly shut his mouth and became quiet.

He paced back and forth, appearing desperately anxious.

Klein rose with a smile, took his cane and hat, and, strolling as though at leisure, walked along the aisle to the front row of the church prayer hall.

Once the communion ceremony ended, he walked to Father Utravsky’s side and spoke with a grave expression.

“Bishop, I do not know why you kept Emlyn here, and I do not wish to know. I know only one thing: his parents entrusted me to bring him back.”

If this giant-like priest easily agrees to my request, then I can only light a candle for the vampire Emlyn—no, from today onward, he will definitely hate candles very much. Better to mourn silently for him instead…

Klein thought to himself.

Father Utravsky lowered his head and looked at them, his expression gentle.

“Emlyn may return home at any time.”

…

Klein glanced at Emlyn White and raised his right hand to tap his chest once.

He had originally wanted to tap four times clockwise to draw the crimson moon, but in the end, he forcefully drew the triangular sacred emblem instead.

Emlyn was made rather uneasy by his gaze. He said nothing, directly rushing toward the church entrance and smoothly leaving the place.

Klein followed at a decent speed from behind and to the side, unhurried and calm.

After they had almost jogged for a while, Emlyn suddenly slowed his footsteps and said blankly, “I feel that I am beginning to miss Harvest Church. I miss the feeling of reciting the sacred canon. I miss the Sacred Emblem of Life. I want to sweep and clean the church. Only one hour will be enough—one hour…”

This suggestion is even more “vicious” than I imagined. No matter where this vampire goes, he has to report to Harvest Church every day and perform one hour of forced labor? Actually, that is still fine. At least it did not forcibly use suggestion to change Emlyn’s faith. It counts as relatively respectful of him—why am I using the word “respectful”… That candle is called Nightmare, and is said to have come from a dragon. The Spectator pathway is rather terrifying…

Klein tapped his cane.

“Do you still need me to remind you of anything?”

“No!” Emlyn said with a twisted expression and a furious tone. “I will resist this feeling! I will move to the Midsea. I will move to Feysac. I refuse to believe that after leaving Backlund, I will still want to come back!”

He gritted his teeth, then suddenly exhaled.

“We will take a carriage back to Riverbay Avenue.”

“All right,” Klein answered indifferently.

After walking a little farther, Emlyn stopped a rental carriage.

Just as he was about to board, his back suddenly stiffened for two seconds. Then, in a voice so low that even Klein nearly failed to hear it, he said, “I have no money on me.”

“I do.”

Klein smiled as he spoke.

Emlyn said nothing more and entered the carriage. Klein sat opposite him. After the carriage began moving, he asked as though deep in thought, “Your father is a physician? He has outstanding skill with medicines?”

Though Emlyn was listless, he still habitually lifted his chin.

“That is the talent of us Sanguine. The most outstanding potion masters are all Sanguine!”

“I see…”

Klein murmured quietly, his thoughts unknown.

Emlyn was silent for a while before saying, “Remember to write to your friend and tell him that I have already returned to Riverbay Avenue. My parents will come find me.”

“All right,” Klein answered succinctly.

After nearly twenty minutes, the carriage entered Riverbay Avenue and stopped before the house numbered 48.

After paying the fare, Klein stepped down from the carriage and saw Emlyn White looking toward the bedroom’s location with an extraordinarily excited expression.

The vampire restrained his emotions, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed deeply to Klein.

“No matter what, I must thank you.”

Klein immediately revealed a smile.

“There is no need to thank me.

“For the reward for finding you, and for the fare just now, I will request payment from your parents.

“And your family must concoct potions with Beyonder effects to help me treat a patient.

“This is the compensation your family ought to pay.”