Chapter 23: “The Operator”

Chapter 23: “The Operator”

He received a letter? Didn’t he say something had happened at home? Walter’s family lives in Backlund. If something really happened, wouldn’t it be faster to come directly by public carriage or hired carriage than to send a letter? With his income and the land he owns in the countryside, he can certainly afford it…

Klein nodded as if it had only been a casual question and said nothing more.

He slowly walked back to the easy chair, sat down, picked up a newspaper, and began reading it with great seriousness.

Seeing this, Richardson said no more. He quietly retreated from the room and silently closed the wooden door.

Only when the faint click sounded did Klein lift his gaze from the newspaper and look toward the door, thinking to himself:

I’ve discovered another of Richardson’s virtues. He likes observing his surroundings and can notice useful information. Previously, the first person to see Bishop Elektra visiting Councilman Mori Macht’s home was him, from the balcony…

But that’s still different from a Spectator. His focus is on events, not details…

Walter’s matter is slightly abnormal. Could this be the “additional development” Magic Mirror Arrodes mentioned?

Whatever the case, I should divine it first, in case there is danger and I remain unaware of it…

With that thought, Klein immediately entered the washroom, took four steps counterclockwise, and arrived above the gray fog. Whenever he existed in the state of the Fool, the core beneath the gray fog was always Klein Moretti’s appearance. It did not overlap with Sherlock Moriarty, Gehrman Sparrow, Dawn Dantes, or any other identity.

Because he lacked the necessary information, he could only divine matters concerning his own safety. Therefore, he did not use the dream divination method. Instead, he directly removed the pendulum from his wrist and wrote the corresponding divination statement:

“Walter’s abnormality will bring me danger.”

Holding the chain in his left hand, Klein closed his eyes and entered a meditative state, quietly reciting the sentence he had just written.

After a full seven times, he opened his eyes and looked at the silver chain. The citrine pendant was rotating counterclockwise at a perfectly normal amplitude and speed.

In other words, Walter’s abnormality would not bring him danger.

But that only explains this one issue. Perhaps I will encounter trouble because of it—trouble that is not dangerous… Also, there is another possibility. Whether it is dangerous depends on whether I make the normal choice. If I rashly get involved, what was not dangerous may become dangerous…

Drawing on his ample experience, Klein interpreted the result.

He had only just set this matter aside when he suddenly saw the crimson star representing the Hermit bloom with light, swelling and contracting.

Is the payment for the Lucky Balance about to arrive?

Klein’s heart leaped with joy. He immediately extended his spirituality toward it.

After making contact, he was disappointed. Admiral of Stars Cattleya was merely requesting that Mr. Fool relay her words to the Hanged Man. She did not mention when the transaction with the World would be completed at all.

“There are Obninsk sea monsters at the Abyss Whirlpool directly north of Sonia Island? Mr. Hanged Man is rather lucky. At least he won’t have to enter the ruins of the battle of gods like I do… Of course, Obninsk sea monsters are very dangerous. It won’t be simple to use one to complete the ritual. Mr. Hanged Man may even need to request the Sea God’s help…

“Madam Hermit’s request is actually to help find direct descendants of the Abraham family… That shows the Queen of Mysteries knows quite a lot about Mr. Door’s origins… Did the Emperor mention it to her?”

As Klein’s thoughts branched out from Admiral of Stars Cattleya’s message, he threw the corresponding image into the crimson star representing the Hanged Man.

At that moment, Alger Wilson had just finished his debriefing…