Chapter 40: Walter’s Abnormality

Chapter 40: Walter’s Abnormality

He wants one stone from my bracelet and the right to use Leymano’s Travels for a period of time? How does he know I have these two items? I don’t remember ever mentioning them at the Tarot Club…

After hearing the World Gehrman Sparrow’s reply, Fors felt a rush of astonishment and shock, as if all her secrets had been seen through.

Her mind abruptly tensed, and she quickly reviewed whether she had made any mistake.

“Other than my teacher, Xio, and Mr. Fool, no one knows I have these two items. Especially Leymano’s Travels—I have barely used it… Mr. Fool… Ah, Mr. World’s behavior at the Tarot Club has always been somewhat strange. He has never submitted Emperor Roselle’s diary and does not seem to care about that at all, nor does he worry… He must have some deep connection with Mr. Fool and obtained the relevant information from Him. A believer, or perhaps a Blessed?”

After carefully thinking for a while, Fors vaguely grasped something and was no longer as frightened as before.

Only then did she have the energy to consider whether the World Gehrman Sparrow’s terms were acceptable.

To Fors, this price was simply too cheap. It was even lower and more reasonable than she had imagined!

As a Beyonder who often stayed at home writing and resting, lending Leymano’s Travels out for a period of time would not affect her own safety or usage at all. As for the bracelet that helped her traverse the spirit world, it still had two stones left. Giving one to the World Gehrman Sparrow would likewise not cause her to completely lose her trump card.

The only problem was that Mr. World seemed willing to make only one attempt. If he failed, he would still demand that payment… Mm. Considering the risk he has to bear, that is normal…

I had originally thought I would have to do many things for him, then use the traitor’s head to exchange for a reward from my teacher in order to pay off the debt…

Fors settled herself. After a few seconds, she prayed to Mr. Fool:

“…Please convey to Mr. World that I accept his terms and will do my utmost to cooperate with his operation.”

She originally wanted to remind the World Gehrman Sparrow that using that stone would bring the aftereffect of full-moon ravings. But she immediately realized that such treatment seemed to apply only to Beyonders of the Apprentice pathway.

…

Whether this succeeds or fails, with that stone, I’ll be able to quietly leave Backlund and meet up with Mr. Hanged Man to explore that primitive island… At that time, I can use the stone while also using that magic book to record the ability. I won’t have to worry about how to come back unless my luck is truly awful and the recording fails…

Klein let out a silent breath of relief, opened the door, and allowed his personal valet, Richardson, to enter and help him dress.

“Sir, after breakfast, your scheduled itinerary is to visit the royal collection exhibition at the Kingdom Museum.” As Richardson helped his employer put on his coat, he recited the day’s arrangements.

Because Dawn Dantes had progressed extremely quickly in social dancing, his morning etiquette lessons had been reduced from five times a week to three, leaving him extra time for other matters. Exhibitions like this would inevitably become hot topics in upper-class circles. Not personally going to take a look would appear insufficiently proper.

As for going to Saint Samuel Cathedral to listen to Bishop Elektra’s sermons, Klein had also consciously lowered the frequency. This was not because each visit required a donation of dozens of pounds, but because he feared that after the initial freshness wore off, going too frequently would arouse suspicion. Naturalness and reasonableness were the core principles of his current plan.

Aside from Sundays, he intended to choose two random days from the remaining six and rely on a longer period of time to accumulate intelligence and understand the pattern. No haste. No impatience.

“I can hardly wait,” Klein said with a smile to his personal valet, looking at his outstandingly poised reflection in the mirror.

Thinking of Saint Samuel Cathedral and the Evernight Church, he naturally recalled Leonard Mitchell secretly investigating Sherlock Moriarty, and he could not quite understand what the other party suspected.

Was it because Emlyn White came to purchase the Fire Seed glove, causing Leonard to decide to investigate the people around him? Or was it the faint appearance of the great detective’s figure in the Capim case and the Lanevus case that drew the attention of the Red Gloves responsible for the investigation? Or both?

Klein pondered the traces he had once left behind and more or less reached a guess.

He was not afraid of Sherlock Moriarty being wanted by the Evernight Church and appearing on a bounty notice. After all, aside from contacting a few acquaintances, that great detective would no longer appear openly. What worried him was that someone might discover that the early Sherlock Moriarty closely resembled Klein Moretti, then trace the matter back to the dead former Nighthawk.

Actually, even if they discover it, it won’t be too serious. I’m no longer the Clown or Magician I was at the beginning. The demigods who want to find me are already more than one or two. Even if the Church’s senior deacons are added to the mix, the problem will not undergo a qualitative change… Besides, Benson and Melissa are truly ordinary people. The Church definitely won’t drag them into this or disturb their lives… I wonder whether they would reclaim the pension. Probably not. There would be no way to explain that to ordinary people…

With so much debt on his shoulders, Klein had instead reached a state where he no longer worried about it.

This was why, the previous night, when the Mercury Snake Will Auceptin pointed out his identity as Klein Moretti, he had remained so calm and composed.

How could a Sequence 1 angel who had come into contact with Sherlock Moriarty long ago, and who specialized in abilities related to fate, fail to discover where this great detective originally came from?

Even with the gray fog isolating and interfering with many details, Will Auceptin could certainly still know that Sherlock Moriarty belonged to Tingen.

Back in Tingen, Klein had once come into contact with Admisor, a young man of the Monster pathway, and had caused his eyes to bleed. As long as the Snake of Fate Will Auceptin knew that piece of information and compared the two, the answer would naturally emerge.

If Leonard really does uncover Sherlock Moriarty’s hidden identity, I wonder what kind of expression he’ll have…

Klein smiled self-mockingly, walked out of the master bedroom, descended to the second floor, and enjoyed the breakfast carefully prepared by his own cook.

…

No. 2 King’s Avenue, West Borough. The Kingdom Museum.

Klein brought Butler Walter and personal valet Richardson through the ticket checkpoint and entered.

This exhibition had been organized by the Loen royal family. They had taken out various historically significant pieces from the founding of the nation onward and presented them to the public for viewing and education, with the aim of strengthening the kingdom’s citizens’ reverence for and recognition of the royal family.

As a university graduate in history, Klein was quite interested in the exhibition. Many events he knew extremely well had corresponding objects displayed here, allowing one to immerse oneself in the long and fascinating years of the past from another angle.

What surprised Klein slightly was that Butler Walter also possessed deep understanding of most of the exhibits. He gave Dawn Dantes detailed introductions as they went.

As expected of someone from a noble household… Klein nodded inwardly.

As they walked, stopped, looked, and listened, the three of them continually encountered other visitors. The entire exhibition hall was quiet and orderly, with only low murmurs crossing through the air.

While passing one display case, Klein noticed Butler Walter’s steps suddenly pause. Then Walter glanced to the side, and his expression became rather complicated.

Because Klein was not a Spectator, he could not interpret the specific meaning hidden within that complex emotion. He could only follow Walter’s gaze and look toward the front of the display case.

Two people stood there, one man and one woman. The man was in his thirties, wearing a black formal suit and silk top hat, carrying a gold-inlaid cane. He looked like a wealthy gentleman. The woman wore a yellow dress and a golden necklace, her overall style rather flamboyant.

Mr. Butler is looking at that man…

Klein made the judgment in an instant. His gaze swept over the target without the slightest trace.

He discovered that the gentleman looked somewhat older than his age. His skin carried the dark tone of someone often exposed to the sun, the backs of his hands looked like dried wood, and his fingers were extremely rough.

If I ignored his clothing, I would believe it if someone said he was a farmer, gardener, or coachman…

Klein withdrew his gaze, a few doubts rising in his mind.

The reason he could notice those details was that when constructing the identity of Dawn Dantes, he had seriously considered what sort of appearance an ordinary person who had adventured for many years in the Southern Continent ought to possess.

In his view, beyond the look and temperament produced by rich life experience and natural facial contours, Dawn Dantes needed skin that had long been exposed to sunlight, subtle scars, rough and powerful palms, and other such details. Otherwise, the inner foundation of the character would not be sufficiently supported.

I have to say, from the moment I became a Faceless until now, I’ve gained more and more experience and insight into how to construct a new persona… If I returned to Earth, even without Beyonder powers, acting would still be a strength of mine…

As Klein mocked himself, he saw that Butler Walter had already returned to his solemn and proper manner, as though nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, the gentleman with somewhat aged features and rough skin pointed toward a banner inside the display case and said, “This was the banner used by Earl Rustin, Prince Harold Augustus, during the White Rose War. It is a pity that he died in that war. However, his death became the turning point of the entire conflict, and we Loen ultimately achieved victory. Look, that is his blood on the banner…”

His historical knowledge is quite good…

Using the corner of his eye, Klein swept a glance at Butler Walter. After thinking for two seconds, he revealed a smile, drew closer to the man and woman, and interjected in a friendly tone.

“I never expected there would still be someone who knows such obscure matters. I had thought most people’s understanding of the White Rose War was limited to Loen defeating Intis and winning the war.

“Sir, your breadth of knowledge is admirable.”

Being praised like this in front of his female companion, the man’s expression immediately shifted from guardedness to relaxation. A somewhat self-satisfied smile appeared on his face.

“I simply enjoy learning about history.”

He casually swept a glance over the gentleman’s attendants. His brows abruptly drew together, then relaxed again, leaving behind a hint of confusion.

As expected, he knows Butler Walter…

Klein smiled without revealing the slightest clue.

“Hello. I am Dawn Dantes, a merchant from Desi. May I ask how I should address you?”

The man hesitated briefly before saying, “William Sykes, steward of an estate.”