Chapter 118: The Devil Is in the Details

Chapter 118: The Devil Is in the Details

“It sounds like a clichéd story. Ever since the new sea routes were discovered, legends of people becoming rich through brave adventuring have never stopped.” Soest casually commented on the telegram’s contents, then looked thoughtfully toward one of the Red Gloves. “I remember we previously investigated Dawn Dantes and communicated with him in his dream.”

“Yes.” The Red Glove responsible for that matter last time nodded in response. “I did not directly ask about this matter, but I could tell that Dawn Dantes is very familiar with the Southern Continent and has no small number of experiences there.”

Heh-heh. That may have been something Dawn Dantes deliberately revealed to you…

Leonard did not entirely trust the telegram’s contents. He suspected this was another layer of disguise created by that undying monster who had survived from the Fourth Epoch.

However, he did not voice his speculation, because he could not tell his teammates the basis for it.

Soest did not pay much attention to the matter and instead said, “Do you have any questions about the Gehrman Sparrow clue?”

“Since that mad adventurer has appeared at sea in recent weeks, when exactly did he come to Backlund?” Cindy, a Nightmare, repeated the earlier doubt. “What I care about is not the exact point in time, but whether he had enough time to reach Backlund. The distance between here and the sea is quite far.”

Soest gave a light nod.

“At the meeting just now, a deacon also raised this question. Based on Gehrman Sparrow’s last known time and location, under normal circumstances, he could not have arrived in Backlund last night and carried out the infiltration.

“Of course, I said under normal circumstances.

“The missing servant told us that at the time, he was sweeping the square outside. Suddenly, he lost control of his body, froze where he stood, and could not call for help. Then he saw a colorful abstract oil painting and felt his body floating upward.

“After that, he lost consciousness. When he woke, he was in a room in the East Borough.

“The former matches the description of possession by a Wraith—an internal caretaker. The latter is suspected to be a Traveler’s Teleportation.

“If it truly is Teleportation, then Gehrman Sparrow could appear in Backlund at any time.”

As the elite of the Nighthawks, the Red Gloves understood Beyonder pathway knowledge far beyond ordinary colleagues of the same rank. They were no strangers to Wraiths or Travelers.

After hearing the captain’s explanation, another Red Glove thoughtfully added, “Rumor has it that Admiral of Blood, who has already been hunted by Gehrman Sparrow, was a Wraith.”

The details initially matched!

And the speculation that Gehrman Sparrow obtained “Wraith-like” powers from this was not very difficult to accept. Among all possible explanations, the simplest was to find an Artisan and use the prey as material to craft a mystical item.

Cindy used this clue to recall even more intelligence.

“It is said that Gehrman Sparrow can change his appearance… and the infiltrator disguised himself as that internal caretaker.”

Another detail matched!

“A very good association.” Soest lifted a hand and rubbed his brow. “Relying on these details, we can preliminarily judge that the infiltrator was Gehrman Sparrow. And if that is the case, some of our previous speculation and the investigation list made from it may be wrong. Gehrman Sparrow does not need accomplices to come frequently to the cathedral to pray and help collect intelligence. He can change his appearance every day and enter here to figure out the situation. That is less noticeable than relying on accomplices.”

As the largest and most sacred cathedral of the Evernight Church in Backlund, countless believers came to Saint Samuel to pray or make pilgrimages every day. No bishop could remember every unfamiliar face they had seen only once.

“In other words, the investigation list in our hands may be completely meaningless?” Leonard lifted a hand and pressed his brow open, his tone somewhat exaggerated.

“Clearly, our current focus should be on Gehrman Sparrow. The other targets on the list can be set aside for now and only placed under the most basic surveillance.” At this point, Soest clapped his hands. “Alright, start working.”

Leonard had no objection to this. He just happened to need to request some information from the Machinery Hivemind, the Mandated Punishers, and MI9.

…

Tuesday morning. Klein slept until he woke naturally. He only felt mentally relaxed and calm, with a kind of joy slowly growing inside him.

A Psychiatrist’s Beyonder powers really are quite useful… And they match Miss Justice’s naturally infectious optimism and sunshine extremely well…

Klein suddenly flipped out of bed and pulled open the curtains.

Leisurely admiring the scenery outside and the sunlight scattering golden rays, he regained his motivation and began setting down plans for the next few months, or even the next year:

“First, select a new marionette.

“Second, relying on the identity of Dawn Dantes and the manipulation of marionettes, direct one drama after another and accelerate the digestion of the potion.

“Third, during this process, slowly gather the ingredients needed for the Bizarro Sorcerer potion. For the Bizarro Bane, I can ask little Sun if he has any clues. For the Spirit World Plunderer, I can seek Mr. Azik’s help, since the Underworld itself is part of the spirit world.

“Fourth, continue investigating the Great Smog of Backlund incident and identify the true culprit hidden behind the curtain. This includes Ince Zangwill, and also the demigod who killed Mad Captain. There is no one more suited than them as targets for my advancement ritual. However, I must be careful of 0-08 and always watch for overly deliberate coincidences… Mm. On my side, I will focus on normal contact and providing assistance. Dangerous and direct investigations can be handed to Trissy the Demoness.”

Klein’s thoughts grew clearer little by little. Although worries and fears remained in his heart, they no longer affected his mental state or ability to act.

Retracting his gaze from beyond the balcony, Klein stepped into the washroom and took care of his personal hygiene.

Before long, he opened the door feeling refreshed and discovered that aside from his personal valet Richardson, the butler Walter was also waiting outside.

Wearing white gloves, the gentleman bowed respectfully.

“Good morning, sir. Your schedule today has only one item. At three in the afternoon, you will attend an event at the East Balam Veterans Club together with Councilman Macht.

“He is a member of the New Party. Accepting his invitation in this regard means you are initially indicating your political leaning. You still have a chance to hesitate.”

Klein thought for a moment and said, “There is no need. This is my choice.”

He paused, then asked in the tone of consulting an adviser, “This is my first visit to the East Balam Veterans Club. What should I pay attention to?”

“Praise the merits they established in East Balam and provide a donation because of it. It should not be too much, nor too little. Five hundred pounds is a relatively suitable amount,” Walter offered his opinion.

Five hundred pounds… Honestly, no matter what circle one wants to enter, one has to spend large sums of money… Sigh. This is also because Dawn Dantes has no birth background and no connections. He can only pave the way with money…

Klein nodded lightly, approving the butler’s proposal.

At the same time, he swiftly calculated his current assets inwardly:

The Artisan had not yet finished crafting the Ocean Songster item, but the money exchanged for the Chaos Mentor and Druid Beyonder characteristics had already “arrived,” totaling sixteen thousand pounds.

Adding the cash he originally had, subtracting the thirteen thousand pounds spent purchasing three percent of Coim Company’s shares, as well as the daily expenses of a wealthy household and church donations, he had 23,985 pounds and five gold coins remaining.

In addition, he had repaid Miss Messenger another sum and still owed her 3,413 gold coins.

Five hundred pounds already exceeds two percent of all my cash…

Klein said nothing more. He left the bedroom, went down to the second floor, entered the dining room, and enjoyed breakfast.

…

Underground beneath Saint Samuel Cathedral, Leonard Mitchell returned to the office earlier than his teammates.

He had already obtained the corresponding information and learned of an inconspicuous matter:

Prince Edessak, who died during the Great Smog of Backlund incident, had once commissioned a private detective to investigate the cause of death of the riding teacher Talim Dumont.

And that private detective’s name was:

Sherlock Moriarty!

Just as expected! His figure also appeared at the edge of the Great Smog of Backlund incident!

Both delighted and invigorated, Leonard lifted a hand and smoothed back his hair.

Immediately afterward, he clenched his fist and struck the documents on the desk, preparing to search for even more clues.

Yet he abruptly froze for seven or eight seconds before somewhat awkwardly picking up his cup, taking a sip of coffee, and muttering inwardly:

“What was I about to do just now? I hit the table once and then forgot…”

After carefully recalling, Leonard finally remembered. He pulled open the drawer and took out a tarot deck.

Then he found the Fool card, placed it on a sheet of white paper, and wrote three names beneath it:

“Sherlock Moriarty, Gehrman Sparrow, Dawn Dantes.”

After hesitating for a while, Leonard drew one line from each of the three names, connecting them to the Fool card, indicating that they were very likely members of the secret organization that believed in the Fool.

Among them, he was not too certain about Gehrman Sparrow’s identity, so he placed a question mark beside it.

After that, Leonard took out the Emperor card, placed it beside the name Sherlock Moriarty, and marked it “suspected.”

“Do Gehrman Sparrow and Dawn Dantes also each correspond to a tarot card?” Leonard silently muttered to himself. He picked up the mad adventurer’s information and began reading it carefully.

Suddenly, he felt that one date was very familiar:

Early January!

Gehrman Sparrow first appeared in early January!

Hiss…

Leonard drew in a breath and suddenly flipped open another file. At the end of it, a line read:

“At the end of December, Sherlock Moriarty left Backlund to vacation in the south and never returned.”

End of December… early January… Backlund… Pritz Harbor… Gehrman Sparrow can change his appearance… No way?

While muttering inwardly, Leonard drew a dashed equal sign between Sherlock Moriarty and Gehrman Sparrow.

This great detective is the key…

Leonard once again took out the ritual portrait of Sherlock Moriarty and examined it carefully.

Considering the element “can change appearance,” he mentally altered the great detective’s disguise in different ways.

As he altered it again and again, Leonard’s gaze slowly froze, and his brows could not help furrowing.