Chapter 246: Missed

Chapter 246: Missed

Although I have always had the impulse to pray to the Fool, hoping to use that to free myself from the psychological cue planted by Father Utravsky, I’m also very clear that reciting the honorific name of someone of unknown origin is extremely dangerous. Not every hidden existence first gives bait and slowly guides people along. In matters like this, They often resemble sharks in the sea, swarming madly the moment They smell blood…

And now… Lord Nibbs—no, the Ancestor—what exactly is he trying to do?

Emlyn White opened his mouth with a rather absurd feeling.

“This will be very, very, very dangerous.”

Inside the black-iron-like coffin, Nibbs Audra’s aged voice replied, “Yes. Under normal circumstances, that is true.

“But not every hidden existence is filled with malice. Among Them, there are also those who abide by rules and enjoy transactions. For example, the seven Pure Lights of the spirit world.

“Since the Ancestor has given such a revelation, that means the danger the Fool may bring will not be too serious. It may even not exist at all.

“And during this process, I will protect you from beginning to end.

“Do you not wish to rid yourself of that psychological cue? Have you already become a believer of Mother Earth and betrayed the Moon?”

“No, I have not!” Emlyn urgently denied it.

He fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, “I hope to have a few days to consider.”

“Very well. That is no problem. I believe you will make a choice that befits the noble status of the Sanguine.” Inside the coffin, Nibbs’s voice softened, smiling as he comforted him.

After sending Emlyn White back to the second floor, Casimi Audra reentered the dim and gloomy underground hall and asked, full of incomprehension and doubt, “Grandfather, how could Emlyn White appear in the Ancestor’s revelation? He is only a weak Sanguine who has not been an adult for very long.”

Nibbs’s voice passed through the thick, heavy black iron coffin lid, carrying a certain rumbling echo.

“No. Emlyn White never appeared in the revelation the Ancestor gave.

“He merely showed the scene of the apocalypse descending, showed the corrosion coming from the red moon, and mentioned the Fool and the corresponding honorific name.

“During that process, not a single Sanguine appeared. The so-called key figure was only something I fabricated to convince Emlyn White.

“However, one who can risk danger for the future of the Sanguine can itself be called a key figure.”

Casimi first understood, then immediately had a new question.

“Why did you choose Emlyn White? What is special about him?”

Nibbs Audra suddenly laughed.

“Has he not always been clamoring about praying to the Fool? Has he not always believed that we do not take his problem seriously enough, that we are unwilling to become enemies with Bishop Utravsky, and that he should search elsewhere for help?

“This time, I will satisfy his wish.”

Casimi stood there stunned, unable to speak for quite some time.

Emlyn White stood by the second-floor railing, looking down at his tireless kin, and uneasily took a sip of “fine wine.”

At least up to today, I have never heard of anyone meeting a tragic fate after praying to the Fool… Perhaps, just as Lord Nibbs says, the Fool is like the seven Pure Lights of the spirit world: a lawful, warmhearted hidden existence… Wait. What are the seven Pure Lights of the spirit world? How have I never heard of them? They seem to belong to the good side? I wonder whether they can help me… In any case, the Fool may not necessarily be that dangerous. Besides, Lord Nibbs will be protecting me… Perhaps I really can take this opportunity to rid myself of the psychological cue… Emlyn consoled himself, somewhat afraid yet somewhat expectant.

…

Monday morning, Cherwood Borough, 15 Minsk Street.

Klein crouched before the toilet, holding a brush as he earnestly cleaned the grime inside.

According to his original plan, after completing all his “visits” on Saturday and Sunday, he had decided to rest for one day, then go report the final results to Prince Edessak tomorrow and hand the task back. Yet during what should have been a relaxing time, he discovered that the house had become somewhat excessively messy and dirty.

Seeing this, Klein finally remembered one thing. The cleaning of his house had been completed by temporarily hiring the landlady next door’s maid twice a week.

With the Summer family leaving for Sevilla in Desi Bay on vacation, one maid had gone along to serve them, while the other had received her year-end reward and returned to the countryside. As a result, no one had cleaned 15 Minsk Street for quite some time.

Klein had originally intended to endure for two days, since he was about to “leave” Backlund anyway. But once he had free time, he dared not sneak off to Krag Club for entertainment, fearing that he would anger Prince Edessak, so he could only stay at home. The more he looked, the more everything displeased him. In the end, he simply changed into old clothes and began a major cleaning before the New Year.

Scrubbing the toilet, washing the bathtub, wiping the windows, mopping the floor, cleaning utensils, laundering clothes… Klein worked from eight o’clock until eleven before barely completing the scheduled cleaning.

Of course, he had only cleaned casually. It was not especially meticulous.

Sometimes, renting too large a house is not necessarily a good thing… Klein washed his hands clean and wiped his face with a towel.

Walking out of the washroom and looking at the clean, orderly living and dining rooms, at the sunlight piercing through the clouds and falling on the transparent glass windows to reveal golden patches, he inexplicably felt a sense of achievement. Even his mood became more cheerful because of it.

For lunch, I’ll reward myself by going out and finding a good restaurant… Klein returned to the second floor and changed clothes.

Just as he was reading the newspaper and waiting for the wonderful lunchtime to arrive, the doorbell suddenly rang with a ding-dong.

“It’s almost the New Year. There are still people coming with commissions?” As Klein rose and walked toward the door, he made up his mind to refuse the other party.

Although he only had 34 pounds in cash left, in order to escape the royal family’s power struggle, he had to go south for a “vacation” as soon as possible. He could no longer accept commissions.

Contrary to his expectations, the visitor was not a stranger, but Prince Edessak’s old butler.

Wearing a finely tailored long-tailed formal coat, the old butler bowed in a way that was neither arrogant nor lacking in dignity.

“Detective Moriarty, His Highness the Prince is waiting for you in the carriage at the street corner. He wishes to learn the progress of your investigation.”

So impatient? That works too. It saves me a trip to Red Rose Manor tomorrow… In Klein’s mind, he quickly reorganized the words he had thought of the previous night and answered steadily, “All right.”

He was about to take his hat from the coat rack when his stomach suddenly began to ache—the sort of pain that made him want to crouch over the toilet.

After trying to endure it and discovering he could not, he said apologetically to the old butler, “I’m very sorry. I must go to the washroom first. My stomach feels unwell.”

The old butler showed no abnormal expression.

“That is your freedom.”

After solving the residual waste in his stomach in wave after wave, relatively smoothly, Klein washed his hands and returned to the foyer.

At that moment, he discovered that the old butler was gone. Waiting outside instead was the naturally brown-haired, curly-haired maid.

“His Highness asked me to apologize to you. He still has matters to attend to and could not wait too long. Please visit Red Rose Manor tomorrow or the afternoon after tomorrow.” The maid performed a meticulous curtsy.

It hasn’t even been ten minutes. I already went as quickly as I could… Normally, if I had a newspaper with me, I could squat there for even longer… Klein smiled and said, “No problem.”

Having received his response and completed her task, the maid instantly relaxed. With a soft laugh, she said, “Detective Moriarty, you missed that lady again.”

“Ah?” Klein felt slightly confused.

The maid lowered her voice.

“That lady came with His Highness this time. She was the one who suggested taking a detour to visit you.”

And in the end, I missed her because of a stomachache? This is somewhat wrong… Klein furrowed his brow slightly.

…

Inside a room covered with a thick, soft carpet.

The quill being held stopped, no longer writing.

On the notebook spread open beneath it were line after line of words and many traces of being crossed out:

(Crossed out)

“The target attempted to break free of control, but unfortunately, Detective Sherlock Moriarty had already left before she came downstairs.”

…

“The target influenced the maids around her, but Prince Edessak’s butler, Finkel, accidentally discovered the problem and handled it.”

…

(Crossed out)

“The target once again deviated from the path, attending Talim’s funeral in Prince Edessak’s place. However, she, who quickly returned to a normal state, discovered that she was unable to identify which person was Sherlock Moriarty and could only pitifully miss him.”

…

“Sherlock Moriarty went to Red Rose Manor to investigate, but his timing was wrong. The target happened to have gone to the golf course to ride.”

…

(Crossed out)

“The target once again overcame the arrangement and coaxed Prince Edessak into visiting Detective Sherlock Moriarty. Unfortunately, Sherlock Moriarty happened to have a stomachache and spent 7 minutes and 45 seconds in the washroom, while the prince could not wait.”

…

The middle-aged man whose features seemed carved, but who was blind in one eye, put down the quill and looked toward the woman at his side.

“What exactly did you place on her? Breaking through the restrictions again and again will create serious problems.”

The woman laughed softly.

“It is only an accident. There is no need to worry too much. Nothing will go wrong.”

As she spoke, she pinned up her hair, revealing her fair, slender neck.

Then she slowly applied various things to her face, making herself increasingly bright and alluring.

Watching her stretch gracefully into her clothes and put on jewelry, the dark-golden-haired middle-aged man frowned slightly.

“Where are you going?”

The woman did not answer directly. Smiling, she said, “Be careful of the quill in your hand. Last time, you nearly swapped bodies with someone.”

“I do not need your reminder,” the middle-aged man with eyes so deep blue they were nearly black said with a stern face.

The woman tightened her belt, making her figure appear even more slender. Then she stretched slightly and covered her mouth as she yawned.

“I am going to visit Mr. A of the Aurora Order.

“I hope he is as mad as the rumors say.”

As she spoke, the expression of the middle-aged man blind in one eye suddenly sank, because that completely ordinary quill had begun writing on its own, as if an invisible hand were holding it.