Chapter 41: An Additional Development

Chapter 41: An Additional Development

William Sykes… a steward of an estate…

Klein repeated the other man’s answer inwardly, then naturally guided the conversation toward the banner and the White Rose War.

After a few words of casual conversation, he politely excused himself and, together with Butler Walter and his personal valet Richardson, walked toward the other display cases and continued his visit. It was as if the encounter just now had been nothing more than a trivial little incident—an accidental exchange made in passing.

Close to noon, after returning to the luxurious four-wheeled carriage, Klein watched the bicycles outside pass by with jingling bells and suddenly said, “Walter, you seem to know Mr. William Sykes?”

Walter nodded solemnly.

“When I was serving in Viscount Conrad’s household, I once met him.

“He served a member of the royal family—the former Earl Rustin, Prince Edessak.”

He made no attempt to conceal anything and introduced William Sykes’s background in detail.

He once served Prince Edessak? After the prince died in the Great Smog of Backlund, this man still seems to have done rather well. I wonder which estate he serves as steward now… Perhaps he knows certain secrets?

Klein gave a slight nod and asked no further questions, though inwardly, he began thinking about whether he should find an opportunity to investigate William Sykes.

If William Sykes truly knew something, then the royal faction involved would not simply leave him alone. Or perhaps he himself belongs to that faction. In any case, investigating him would be extremely dangerous, which means I cannot entrust the matter to Miss Magician, Emlyn White, or Miss Xio… Miss Sharron’s abilities would be sufficient, but this could very likely shatter the stable life she now has… The best method would still be to let the chivalrous thief “Black Emperor” act. The problem is that before I steal the Antigonus family’s notebook, I want my investigation into the Great Smog of Backlund to remain limited to the periphery—not alerting anyone, and not bringing about unexpected changes…

Appearing calm, Klein admired the street view outside the window as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

In the end, he decided to endure for the time being and not allow this matter to disrupt his current highest priority.

After lunch and a nap, Klein received his education in literary appreciation until dusk approached.

Once he saw off the tutor and was about to go to the second-floor dining room, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring.

Ding-ding-dang-dang.

Amid the sound, Klein glanced at Richardson. This personal valet immediately stepped forward and opened the door.

Outside stood two police officers in black-and-white checkered uniforms. Judging from their epaulettes, one was a senior inspector and the other a sergeant.

“Officers, what can we do for you?” Richardson asked on behalf of his employer.

The senior inspector was a tall, thin gentleman. His black hair was hidden beneath his cap, only the color at his temples visible. He swept his gaze over the interior and smiled gently.

“I have come to see Mr. Dawn Dantes. There is a case involving him and his butler.”

“What case?” Klein slowly walked toward the door. “I am Dawn Dantes.”

After introducing himself, he said politely, “Officers, may I ask how I should address you?

“If the matter is complicated and requires some time, why not come to my parlor so we may speak over tea?”

The other officer—the sergeant—was a lady with a heroic air. She was clearly somewhat tempted and looked toward the senior inspector beside her, waiting for her superior’s decision.

Because of the influence of the Church of the Evernight Goddess, Loen’s police system included no small number of policewomen. However, owing to other faiths, social trends, and various related factors, they still faced a certain degree of discrimination in both promotion and placement. Most served as internal clerks, and an invisible ceiling existed above them.

The senior inspector smiled.

“There is no need for tea, but we will need to question the servants in your household.”

He paused, finally reaching the main point.

“Mr. Dawn Dantes, do you know a man named William Sykes?”

“I met him this morning at the Kingdom Museum.” Klein vaguely sensed that an unexpected development had occurred and asked proactively, “Has something happened to him?”

The senior inspector put away his smile.

“He is dead. He died in a hotel near the Kingdom Museum.”

“Dead?” Klein did not hide his astonishment and surprise.

I only met him a short while ago, and now he is dead?

Had someone already been watching him?

The senior inspector nodded seriously.

“Yes. The cause of death is rather complicated. Murder cannot be ruled out.”

“What about his female companion?” Klein asked with a frown. “When I met him, he had a lady with him.”

“That lady was his mistress. When she left the hotel, William Sykes was still alive. The hotel attendants can confirm this, because afterward they delivered red wine to him.” The senior inspector briefly introduced the situation, then asked, “After leaving the Kingdom Museum, where did you go?”

“I came directly back here. Lunch, sleep, and a lesson. My servants, my neighbors, and my literature tutor can all attest to that,” Klein answered calmly.

He then turned his head toward Richardson.

“Go invite Walter over.”

Before long, Butler Walter, wearing white gloves, descended from the second floor and answered the same questions.

After obtaining Dawn Dantes’s permission, the two officers also questioned Richardson and the other servants, but found no problem.

They did not linger. Politely taking their leave, they began visiting the neighbors nearby.

Klein’s appetite was not affected by the matter. He went up to the second floor and enjoyed his dinner.

After that, the hours passed swiftly amid leisurely reading of books and newspapers. Before sleep, Klein looked out at the night scene beyond the window, waiting for his personal valet Richardson to remove the fruit from the room.

Suddenly, without turning his head, he asked, “What did Walter do this afternoon?”

“He was handling various affairs the whole time and did not leave,” Richardson answered softly.

Klein nodded lightly and asked no further questions, beginning to suspect that perhaps he was overthinking matters.

Whew…

He exhaled slowly, walked to the bed, and lay down.

In the middle of the night, Klein’s spirituality was suddenly stirred, and he woke at once.

He slightly raised his eyebrows, left the bed, walked to the window, and pulled open a narrow gap in the curtains.

Beneath the dim moonlight, in the deep night, a figure carefully moved from the garden path to the outer wall and vaulted over it.

He had a broad forehead, glossy black hair, and serious brown eyes. It was precisely Butler Walter.

“Agile movements, smooth motion. Either someone with long training or a low-Sequence Beyonder…” Klein watched the scene and made his initial judgment inwardly.

He saw Walter follow the shadows along the street, traveling all the way to the sewer entrance Hazel had used before. There, the butler moved the manhole cover aside, climbed down, and did not forget to restore it.

Why is everyone so practiced at climbing down sewers? Walter should not have done this on previous nights; otherwise, my spirituality would certainly have warned me, since he would have been leaving my “territory”… That means he has often taken similar actions elsewhere, before becoming my butler…

The corners of Klein’s mouth curled slightly. He returned to the bedside and took the iron cigarette case from beneath his pillow.

He intended to control the Wraith, Senor, and tail Butler Walter to see what the man was doing.

I hope he doesn’t go beyond one hundred meters. Otherwise, I’ll have to enter the sewer too…

As Klein silently muttered to himself, he returned behind the gap in the curtains.

His marionette Senor immediately used the mystical connection between different mirror surfaces to leap to the gas streetlamp beside the sewer entrance, then passed through the manhole cover and silently followed.

Klein saw Walter walk forward more than ten meters before turning into a more secluded, more sinister passage. Moss and filth covered much of the walls and ground.

Suddenly, the butler stopped and spoke to someone unknown.

“Why were you so reckless?

“Why didn’t you wait for a better opportunity?”

Soon, a woman’s voice, weak and slightly hoarse, answered Walter’s question.

“This was the best opportunity.

“Once he returned to that estate, who knows how long it would be before he came out again?”

“But why were you injured so badly?” Walter asked with a hint of worry.

The woman gave a low chuckle.

“William Sykes was stronger than either you or I imagined. Perhaps only then does he deserve that hidden identity of his.

“No matter what, I finally obtained a clue from him. After all this time, I at last have a chance to approach the truth.”

“There was no need for you to be in such a hurry,” Walter said after a moment of silence.

The weak female voice laughed softly.

“I have already sold my soul to an evil god. The only meaning left in my life is revenge.”

Walter rarely exhaled.

“Keep hiding here. I will prepare food for you until you recover.

“If anything unexpected happens, contact me in the same old way.”

The weak woman fell silent for a long time before saying, “When he was alive, many people claimed to be loyal subordinates. After his death, only a handful still remember him and are willing to risk their lives for him. You are the one who surprises me the most.”

“He was the first noble to treat me that way. He was also the person I truly wished to serve,” Walter replied in a low voice.

Listening to their conversation through his marionette, Klein vaguely understood the circumstances.

After Prince Edessak’s death, a small number of people loyal to him had been secretly investigating the truth behind his suicide. Walter was one of them, though he was mainly responsible for gathering information in the open and using his identity to provide certain assistance… This should be the “additional development” Magic Mirror Arrodes mentioned…

Klein immediately made the Wraith Senor hide his form and drift into that secluded passage.

He saw Walter standing sideways, speaking with someone. Half-blocked by his figure, a woman in a black dress sat against the wall, her face rather pale.

After listening to Walter’s words, the woman laughed from her throat and looked toward the exit.

“You should leave. Be careful not to be noticed.”

When she turned her head, Klein saw her appearance clearly.

Her face was slightly round, her eyes long and narrow, her temperament gentle, with hidden sweetness. She was an exceptionally beautiful and alluring young woman—and also an “acquaintance” of Klein’s:

Trissy!

Trissy Cheek!