Chapter 43: Making Use

Chapter 43: Making Use

Viscount Stratford… the royal family’s Chamberlain…

Judging from that position, there truly was the shadow of a certain royal faction behind the Great Smog of Backlund. As for who exactly, that still required investigation…

For the moment, Klein had no way to verify Trissy’s answer, so he merely had Senor give a low chuckle.

“You told me that clue so easily. That makes it hard for me to believe.”

With a hint of derision and self-mockery, Trissy said, “Because for me, this is a good thing.

“I can tell that you and the force you represent are quite interested in the royal family, and in the true designs of those people behind the scenes. If I can provide some useful clues and make you come into conflict with them—make the real conspirators emerge from hiding—I would be more than willing.

“That would help my revenge. It would be an enormous help.”

By that logic, doesn’t the reverse also mean that I can make use of you, drive you to investigate this matter, and bait out the true mastermind hiding in the shadows, while my own side remains safe and concealed before it obtains enough useful intelligence… Huh. What Trissy just said is basically guiding me into limited cooperation with her, making me voluntarily become the “mine sweeper” who uncovers the truth… She is showing the value of making use of her… She’s afraid I’ll ultimately decide to kill her…

Klein roughly understood what Trissy was truly trying to express. Controlling the Wraith, he said, “Very reasonable. I should indeed do the same.

“I imagine there is no need for me to threaten or tempt you. Once your injuries heal, you will attempt to make contact with Viscount Stratford on your own.”

The corner of Trissy’s lips hooked up slightly.

“I only hope he does not prefer men.”

That isn’t unsolvable. If you have already reached Sequence 5, you can consider switching to the Hunter pathway’s Sequence 4, Iron-blooded Knight… Also, have you forgotten your former self? Why are you becoming increasingly accustomed to using a Witch of Pleasure’s abilities against men?

After muttering inwardly, Klein had Senor laugh.

“That is not a problem. You can show him a photograph of your former self.”

Trissy froze. Her expression became faintly twisted, as though a shame buried deep in her heart had been forcibly dug out and exposed beneath sunlight.

A flame of anger born from embarrassment covered her delicate eyes. Her face, pale from injury, instantly flushed red.

Trissy quickly reined in her emotions. With a low, hoarse heh, she said, “As expected of Admiral of Blood. You truly understand the Witch pathway deeply enough.”

So she was not certain before. I thought the Demoness Sect and the Rose School of Thought had cooperated before, so she believed Admiral of Blood knew the secrets of the Assassin pathway and made that joke accordingly…

No matter what, mocking someone else’s gender is not very good… Mm, it does fit Admiral of Blood’s character. One of the rules of a Marionettist should be: remember, every puppet has its own persona?

Judging from Trissy’s earlier mention of the old photograph, she was probably just venting the pleasure and excitement of having tortured and eliminated an enemy. She was not paying special attention to the details in her description…

Klein nodded thoughtfully and controlled Senor to say, “At my level, one inevitably learns many secrets.”

He did not continue on that topic. Instead, he changed direction and asked, “How should I contact you?

“While you investigate Viscount Stratford, I may be able to provide some assistance.”

Trissy reached toward her ear and seized a handful of smooth black hair. Then, chips of deep-blue ice condensed and sliced off a lock.

Immediately afterward, she opened the palm holding that lock of black hair. Silent, pitch-black flames sprang up, burning every strand into ash.

The ashes were not carried away by the cold wind of the sewer. Instead, they contracted inward, converging into a black paste-like substance.

“Spread it evenly on a mirror, and I will know you are looking for me. Afterward, I will use that mirror to communicate with you,” Trissy said, flicking her wrist and tossing the lump of black paste toward Admiral of Blood Senor. “It can be used about five times. That will be enough.”

Because Senor was only a marionette, Klein did not worry about any accidents at all. He let him catch the lump of black viscous substance, examine it a few times, then casually stuff it into his clothing pocket.

Trissy fell silent for several seconds, then bit her lip.

“If I require certain assistance, how should I contact you?”

That is a problem…

Klein very much wanted to tell her to directly summon Miss Messenger Reinette Tinekerr. After all, later, once Trissy inquired about Admiral of Blood’s recent situation, she would learn that Gehrman Sparrow was hidden behind this Wraith. That could not truly be concealed.

After thinking for a few seconds, he still decided to be cautious. He believed it was not too late to change their method of contact after Trissy actually discovered the truth.

After all, she is not someone worthy of trust… Her revenge for Prince Edessak may indeed contain genuine feeling, but it probably also contains other purposes—for example, revenge for herself as well…

Klein had Senor glance around.

“This sewer hides many secrets. I often come here. You may leave the assistance you need here in written form.

“If the matter is urgent and there is no time, you may first contact the person from earlier and have him leave a message here.”

Trissy slowly nodded.

“Alright.”

Seeing that their exchange was about done, Klein prepared to have the marionette, Senor, leave.

At that moment, his “gaze” swept across Trissy’s hands, and he discovered that the sapphire ring comparable to a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact was gone!

I noticed it earlier and thought perhaps she had switched hands or fingers. It turns out it really is gone… In that case, when she escaped Prince Edessak’s Red Rose Manor and broke free from Ince Zangwill and 0-08’s control, she also paid no small price! Has the mark the Primordial Demoness left on her also disappeared?

After thinking briefly, Klein had Admiral of Blood Senor laugh.

“One more thing.

“To which evil god did you sell your soul?”

Trissy looked deeply at the middle-aged man before her.

“The Primordial Demoness.”

…Didn’t you want to break free from that strange state? Didn’t you not want to become less and less like yourself? Why are you walking back down that road? Do you not know that when they renamed you Trissy Cheek, they intended for you to become a vessel for the Primordial Demoness?

No, she truly does not know. She does not even understand the meaning behind the title Cheek… She exhausted every effort to escape fate, only to merge with it one step further…

At that moment, Klein inexplicably felt fear toward fate and toward deities.

He barely had Senor laugh.

“You answer so easily. That makes it difficult for me to believe.”

A faint haze covered Trissy’s eyes. She laughed self-mockingly.

“Because to me, this is a problem, not a secret.

“If one more person knows, perhaps there will be one more hope of resolving it. Even if that hope is extremely slim, it is still better than having none.”

The one who resolves the problem will most likely resolve you as well…

Klein said nothing further. After thinking, he said, “When you approach Viscount Stratford and the people hiding behind the scenes, pay attention to whether you frequently encounter coincidences.”

The deeper the investigation into the Great Smog of Backlund went, the more likely Ince Zangwill and 0-08 would notice!

“Coincidences…” Trissy froze and repeated the word.

At that moment, she recalled the coincidences she had encountered at Red Rose Manor.

As thoughts surged, she abruptly raised her head and looked across from her, only to discover that Admiral of Blood Senor, wearing a dark-red coat and an old tricorn hat, had already disappeared.

…

The next morning, Klein rose on time and, with the help of his personal valet Richardson, put on his coat.

He had just arrived at the dining room when he saw Walter standing at the door, respectfully waiting.

“Sir, today’s main arrangement is afternoon tea at Councilman Macht’s home,” Walter dutifully reminded his employer.

He was old-fashioned, solemn, and meticulous, no different from usual. There was no sign whatsoever that he had gone into the sewers in the middle of the night.

Klein nodded with a smile, as though nothing had happened.

“I have not forgotten.”

He then entered the dining room and enjoyed the fairly delicate, but increasingly repetitive, meal.

The variety of breakfast is not rich enough…

Klein focused on finishing his food, set down his knife and fork, and sighed.

“I miss my hometown somewhat. Tomorrow, have the chef prepare a Desi pie.”

“Yes, sir. I should have thought of that sooner,” Housekeeper Taneja replied apologetically.

Klein waved a hand, indicating that she need not mind, then went to stroll through the garden.

After completing all this, he returned to the third floor and read the newspapers he had left unfinished, until his etiquette instructor Wahana arrived.

Wahana remained properly dressed and graceful. Smiling at Dawn Dantes, she said, “I hear you will be having afternoon tea with Madam Liana today. Then the focus of this lesson will be afternoon tea etiquette…”

Klein kept his smile, listened attentively, and from time to time raised questions.

Two quarters of an hour later, Butler Walter knocked and entered.

“Sir, a servant from Councilman Macht’s household just came by. Today’s afternoon tea has been canceled because Madam Liana’s daughter, Miss Hazel, has fallen ill. She is very apologetic and hopes to invite you again next week.”

Hazel is ill? Because of last night’s fright? If she were an ordinary person, that would not be impossible. But for a Beyonder—a Beyonder whose physical constitution has improved—the probability is small…

Moreover, Hazel clearly has not yet witnessed the changes of losing control that come from potions. Her mental state can still be considered healthy. That is why she appears so superior and lacks fear. Even if she was badly frightened, it should not have caused a psychological illness… Illness… Sequence 5 of the Witch pathway can make the people around them contract disease…

Last night, after Trissy sensed a stranger entering the sewer, she quietly spread disease? As a Wraith, Senor cannot be infected, so I did not notice… In that case, the problem should not be major. Hazel did not stay in that diseased environment for long; she simply failed to recover quickly because she was frightened… It looks like Trissy really has advanced to Sequence 5…

Klein nodded lightly.

“Convey my regards to Miss Hazel.”