Chapter 116: Collateral Damage

Chapter 116: Collateral Damage

Backlund, Queen Borough, inside the Hall family’s luxurious villa.

Audrey had just tried on the three evening gowns that were candidates for today. She was sitting in a cushioned chair, considering which accessories would best match each one, which option she herself preferred more, and what her mother’s opinion might be.

At that moment, boundless gray-white fog suddenly appeared before her eyes, along with the blurry figure seated high above it, looking down upon everything.

Immediately afterward, she saw another figure—the praying figure shrouded in gray fog—while the corresponding words echoed by her ears.

Audrey was not startled, but delighted instead. The faint unease and worry in her heart over there being no Tarot Gathering today instantly settled.

As expected, nothing major happened! Mm, Mr. World really has developed a psychological problem. He must have been under enormous pressure recently. No wonder he made an appointment beforehand…

Audrey sighed inwardly, then began considering when she had free time.

While thinking, her gaze swept across the maids bustling around the room and then over Susie, the golden retriever sitting by the door.

The corners of Audrey’s lips rose a little uncontrollably. She lowered her head and secretly prayed in response:

“…Please inform Mr. World that I have free time recently. He can decide the time and location. Mm, as long as it is not at night and does not go beyond Backlund’s western boroughs…”

At that moment, Susie, the golden retriever, who had been watching the maids work, seemed to sense an inexplicable gaze. Suspiciously, she turned her head and looked toward Audrey’s position, but discovered nothing wrong.

…

Above the gray fog, inside the palace resembling a giant’s residence.

Available at any time… A time period when it is convenient to go out… A location that will not go far from familiar districts…

Klein rubbed his temples and interpreted Miss Justice’s response.

His first reaction was that it would be best to do it today or tomorrow, with the location decided by the other party. Then he could use Creeping Hunger to Teleport over directly. But immediately afterward, he thought of a problem:

Dawn Dantes was currently within the Nighthawks’ investigation range and very likely under surveillance. Rashly Traveling away could very easily expose the problem.

Wait a few days, or…

Klein thought seriously for a moment, then had the manifested World Gehrman Sparrow pray again:

“…Please inform Miss Justice that it will be today, above the gray fog.”

…

Huh?

Audrey’s eyes widened slightly. She felt that Mr. World’s answer had completely exceeded her expectations.

How was she supposed to find Susie as a substitute now?

Also, inside Mr. Fool’s palace, there are many details I cannot see clearly or sense. For psychotherapy, that means a serious lack of necessary conditions…

Audrey calmed her surprise. From the perspective of feasibility, she raised her doubts and asked Mr. Fool to relay them to the World.

Before long, she received another reply:

“…I will ask Mr. Fool to remove the restriction in this regard and use another method to conceal both sides’ true appearances…”

That can be done? Is this the special treatment given to Mr. Fool’s Blessed? Mm, this continuous back-and-forth communication is practically direct conversation. It is truly troubling Mr. Fool, yet He is almost indulgent…

Audrey’s thoughts turned, and she no longer searched for excuses.

“…Alright. Tonight, between 11:30 and 12:30…”

Before the birthday ball ended, she did not believe she would have any space to be alone.

…

At the same time, inside the house at 39 Böklund Street.

Hazel looked boredly at the evening gowns that had been selected as she listened to her mother repeatedly give instructions beside her.

Tonight, she would accompany her father, Councilman Macht, and her mother, Madam Liana, to Miss Audrey Hall’s birthday ball.

Just as Hazel’s thoughts scattered bit by bit and her mind gradually emptied, she saw a gray-white rat appear at the door, rather anxiously waving its forepaws.

This…

Hazel patiently listened as her mother repeated the same instructions once more. Then she found an excuse and returned directly to her bedroom.

After she closed and locked the door, the gray-white rat darted out from somewhere and arrived beside her feet in one leap. Sitting upright in an extremely comical manner, it said, “I have discovered something wrong nearby!”

This rat actually vibrated the air and spoke human words!

Hazel was not surprised by this. She instead asked in confusion, “What is wrong?”

The gray-white rat lifted its right forepaw and pointed out the window.

“There are Beyonders from the Evernight Church investigating this neighborhood, and at a rather high level.”

“What are they searching for?” Hazel frowned slightly.

The gray-white rat slowly drew in a breath.

“How would I know? But it must be something extremely serious.

“If this continues, they may very well discover your problem.”

A little worried yet also somewhat puzzled, Hazel asked, “How could they discover it? Haven’t the clues in the sewers already been blown up? And weren’t the corresponding issues dealt with?”

For a moment, the gray-white rat did not know what to say. Only after several seconds did it answer vaguely, “Official Beyonders have quite a few strange but useful investigation methods… In short, I need to handle your dreams a little. That is the easiest place to expose something.”

Hazel looked down at the rat on the floor. Her brows slowly furrowed, then relaxed.

“Alright.”

Don’t look so reluctant. I finally managed to accumulate a little strength again, and now I have to waste it! Is this neighborhood cursed? First came that Witch in a very strange state, then the chivalrous thief Black Emperor appeared, and now, for some unfathomable reason, something happened that the Nighthawks take so seriously!

The gray-white rat irritably squeaked twice.

…

At 7:30 in the evening, Hazel accompanied her father, Councilman Macht, and her mother, Madam Liana, to Queen Borough and entered Earl Hall’s home.

Because today was a birthday ball, she did not directly meet Miss Audrey Hall. She merely quietly listened from the side as her parents exchanged greetings with Earl Hall, Madam Caitlyn, Lord Hibbert Hall, and the others.

In her eyes, these noble great aristocrats were essentially no different from commoners, so she did not appear especially restrained. Her posture, behavior, and speech were all quite natural and graceful.

If not for Madam Liana emphasizing it again and again, Hazel would even have thought that the magnificent dance floor, artistically valuable murals, and elegant, outstanding statues within the villa were more worthy of respect.

After greeting one familiar or unfamiliar person after another with a smile, Hazel finally waited for the ball to begin. She saw the star of the evening, Miss Audrey Hall, holding the arms of the Earl and Countess as she walked out from a room on the second floor and arrived by the railing facing the dance floor.

Hazel’s gaze swept over, about to habitually skip over the other party’s face and examine the style of her dress and the pairing of her accessories.

But her eyes failed to move away. From the enormous crystal chandelier suspended above, the light cast by whale-oil candles descended in a dreamlike color, shining upon Audrey, who had just turned eighteen. It made her emerald-green eyes, indescribably pure and beautiful face, and long, glossy golden hair appear to glow. It made that evening gown and all the accessories lose their color.

For a moment, Hazel actually fell into a slight daze. She failed to hear what Earl Hall was saying. Only when the melodious music began and Audrey Hall started the opening dance with her earl father did Hazel come back to herself.

She, who had always been proud, suddenly felt a little inferior. She felt that such a dazzling young lady, even without possessing supernatural powers, would not be any worse than herself.

Hazel pressed her lips together and glanced left and right, discovering that everyone’s gaze had been unconsciously drawn over. Only the feelings in their gazes differed.

Whew…

Hazel inexplicably breathed out.

At that night’s ball, she no longer behaved quite so proudly, yet every minute she wanted to leave this place, return home, and busy herself with her own matters, so she could obtain even more miraculous and powerful strength.

Finally, the ball entered its ending stage. Hazel and her family said farewell to the hosts and headed toward the door.

Just before leaving, Hazel could not help turning back to look. She saw Miss Audrey standing at the edge of the dance floor, wearing a faint, beautiful smile as she bid farewell to each departing guest.

She seemed still to be standing directly beneath the light.

…

After the birthday ball ended, Audrey removed her accessories, changed into a nightgown, and entered the bathroom.

Looking at the bathwater giving off white mist and the bathrobe placed to the side, Audrey did not rush to bathe. She first sat nearby and prayed to Mr. Fool, expressing that she was ready.

After ten or so seconds, she saw crimson light surge out like a tide, drowning her.

Above the gray fog, Audrey appeared beside the bronze long table.

This time, she did not see Mr. Fool shrouded in gray fog. She only discovered an ancient “confessional” off to the side. It was a half-person-tall brown box. There was a door in front and back, with a wooden partition dividing the middle.

I thought Mr. World would ask Mr. Fool to manifest a wall, then place me and him on the two sides so we could communicate leaning against it… Although this is essentially the same, the inside of a confessional is narrow and dark. He truly does not consider a lady’s feelings at all! Mm, if Mr. World did consider them, I would find that stranger instead…

As a slight smile surfaced, Audrey walked to the unclosed door of the “confessional,” bent over, and slipped inside. She knelt and sat with her legs slanted to one side.

Closing the wooden door, Audrey, who was treating a patient for the first time in the true sense, suddenly felt a little excited.

Inside the darkness, due to the environment and her mood, she let go of many of the rules she normally observed. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and she curled her finger, lightly knocking on the wooden partition.

“Hello~ Is Mr. World there?”

Sitting cross-legged on the other side, Klein was infected by Miss Justice’s cheerful tone. His emotions relaxed slightly as he said, “You may begin.”

This time, he did not use the gray fog to conceal himself, but he had changed into the appearance of Gehrman Sparrow.

Indeed, Mr. World’s mental state is not very good. He is too tense and too anxious…

Audrey first sensed briefly, then used the Psychiatrist’s Soothe.

A gentle, invisible wave spread outward. Klein instantly felt as if he had risen early on a hot summer day and felt the cool wind of morning blowing over him. The heat and agitation in his heart abruptly vanished.

Seeing that Mr. World had visibly recovered, Audrey secretly sighed in relief and asked softly, “Have you had nightmares recently?”