Chapter 95: People Coming and Going

Chapter 95: People Coming and Going

In the end, Klein, who had already lain down on the bed, still failed to sleep straight through until dawn. He believed that if most of the people on the entire street had been woken by the commotion underground, then sleeping very soundly and noticing nothing at all would instead make him appear suspicious.

Sure enough, he had only just gotten up, walked to the balcony, pulled open the curtains, and pretended to search for the source of the rumbling when the butler Walter knocked on the door. He arranged for two servants armed with double-barreled shotguns to protect their employer and guard against accidents.

Before long, the police arrived. Based on the statements of several residents on the street, they locked onto the sewers as their target.

As for what they discovered afterward, and whether they requested assistance from the Nighthawks, that was not something an ordinary citizen like Mr. Dawn Dantes could know.

After initially confirming that no further accident would occur, he dismissed the butler and servants and hurried back to bed to make up for lost sleep.

By the time he woke again, Böklund Street had returned to normal. Pedestrians walked in twos and threes, and carriages occasionally passed. The Intis plane trees lining the road continued to make the place seem secluded and peaceful.

“Has the investigation result come out?” Klein asked Richardson, his personal valet, while looking at himself in the mirror as the latter helped tidy his clothing.

Richardson had already asked around clearly and had only been waiting for his employer’s question. He immediately answered, “It is said that gang members were trading arms in the nearby sewers and accidentally caused an explosion.”

What a reasonable explanation…

Klein asked no more. He did not even consider where the demigod of the Marauder pathway who could steal his thoughts had finally gone, or whether he had been found by the Nighthawks.

This was partly because he believed that the other party’s initiative in detonating the explosives had certainly inflicted very serious consequences upon himself. If that demigod had possessed enough ability, or a suitable enough environment, he would long ago have parasitized Hazel. There would have been no need for such a roundabout and troublesome method. In other words, for the next two or three weeks—or even two or three months—Klein did not need to worry that he would do anything.

Another reason was that if Klein continued investigating, and forced that person into desperate straits, Klein had no doubt that he himself would also be harmed. Once the other party no longer cared about anything and broadly influenced the surrounding area, then even if Klein did not expose his identity, he would still suffer a demigod’s attack and implicate the innocent residents of this street.

Apart from these two reasons, Klein had another concern. Böklund Street had originally been “normal.” If abnormal events appeared here one after another, it would certainly arouse deeper suspicion from official Beyonders. And if all of this had happened only after Dawn Dantes moved in, then even if Klein had mouths all over his body, he would not be able to explain himself clearly. At that point, he could only give up the plan himself and reconsider other options.

Recently, I cannot go into the sewers. There is most likely a trap set by the authorities… There is only one thing I need to do: secretly pay attention to Hazel and see whether she shows any further abnormalities. Once I discover signs of danger, I will immediately transform into the chivalrous thief and post a “small advertisement” at the entrance of Saint Samuel Cathedral…

With a calm expression, Klein went downstairs for breakfast. Afterward, he returned to the master bedroom, had his personal valet Richardson stand by outside the door, and took the nearly ruined paper crane from his wallet.

He planned to use it one last time, relaying the bargaining chips offered by Admiral of Stars to the Snake of Fate, Will Auceptin, to see whether He would accept.

Normally speaking, Klein could have handled this by visiting Dr. Alan’s home, but without an invitation from Dr. Alan and without a sufficient reason on his own side, visiting was not a good choice. It would easily make others suspicious of his motives. He could hardly tell Dr. Alan, I am not here to see you, but the fetus inside your wife’s belly.

Carefully unfolding the paper crane, Klein glanced at the pencil words left from last time and intuitively believed that if he used an eraser, the paper would definitely tear.

However, that did not trouble him. He picked up a black fountain pen and directly wrote a sentence on the paper:

“The other side has offered bargaining chips.”

The blue-black ink was much more vivid than the pencil marks. Although the two sets of words overlapped completely, it did not affect someone’s ability to recognize the words on top at all.

There are always more solutions than difficulties…

Klein nodded in satisfaction and refolded the unfolded paper along its creases into the shape of a paper crane.

This time, he suspected that even unfolding it again would damage it.

…

City of Silver, Berg household.

Ever since the Tarot Gathering ended, Derrick had become as still as a stone statue, sitting at the edge of his bed without moving at all.

After an unknown length of time, he was finally “woken” by sounds coming from the street outside. Yet that nightmare-like feeling still shrouded him, making his steps toward the window seem exceptionally heavy.

God may already be dead…

God may never return again…

Similar thoughts constantly echoed in Derrick’s mind, brewing an uncontrollable despair and pain.

When he had personally killed his own parents, he had already begun suspecting whether God would ever return, whether He would ever again bless the people of darkness abandoned by Him. Afterward, he had even wanted to rely on Mr. Fool and turn himself into a true Sun, helping the City of Silver’s residents escape the curse of their fate. Yet the education he had received since childhood and the environment surrounding him still influenced him at every moment. He still looked forward to that Creator’s return, still looked forward to the City of Silver’s sacrifices and repentance receiving a response.

Now, all that hope had been destroyed. Only one final fragment remained, and it could be swallowed by the darkness at any time.

Will the City of Silver remain like this forever, until it finally disappears completely into the dark, with no one ever remembering that we once existed, once struggled…

Derrick turned his gaze outside and saw quite a few residents in his area gather together, spontaneously praying and confessing to the Lord who created everything.

This was not a ritual organized by the six-member council. Rather, it was a tradition that had formed in the City of Silver over two or three thousand years. When something good happened, they prayed. When they felt emotionally unstable, they prayed. When someone in the family was injured, they prayed. When a new life was born, they prayed as well.

Lightning tore across the sky and illuminated the street. Derrick stood within the darkness indoors, blankly looking outside. For a very long time, he did not move. Yet at some unknown point, his hands had already clenched tightly.

After the residents dispersed, he finally withdrew his gaze, his expression faintly twisted.

Reaching out to touch Roar of Thunder, Derrick’s gaze gradually turned firm. He prepared to follow Mr. Hanged Man’s advice and make some friends, having them indirectly help him.

Very soon, however, he became troubled again, because he had no idea how to take the initiative to make friends, how to greet others warmly, or how to find topics to talk about.

That was something contrary to his personality.

After much thought, Derrick decided to go to the training grounds and rebuild ties with the people he used to know through combat. The training grounds were a place where the City of Silver’s people gathered, and there, he often met people with whom he was fairly familiar.

…

It was another deep night, and Klein successfully saw, in his dream, the black, barren plain and the mysterious, shadowed spire.

Passing through one obstacle after another, he arrived in the area where tarot cards were scattered. A black baby carriage was already waiting there.

Wrapped in silver silk, Will Auceptin asked in a clear voice, “What bargaining chips are there?”

Very proactive this time… Where is your Sequence 1 dignity? But then again, children are like this. Keeping this mentality is rather good…

Klein chuckled inwardly and said, “Two bargaining chips. Pick one.

“First, a chance to look at the Wheel of Fortune card. Second, a method to temporarily recover a certain degree of strength during a weakened period.”

Will Auceptin was silent for one second, then gave a heh-heh laugh.

“So it is Bernadette over there.

“My premonition was right. This time, I can gain something good.”

Then He asked in return, “Which bargaining chip do you think I will choose?”

Klein’s instinctive thought was: I have one chance to ask a question now. Then he mocked himself inwardly and said, “The second.”

Will Auceptin clicked His tongue.

“Do I look like a mythical creature without a similar method?

“I have already rebooted who knows how many times. Of course I would consciously make preparations in advance!”

That makes sense…

Klein nodded.

“So You want to see the Wheel of Fortune card? Or should I have them offer another bargaining chip?”

Will Auceptin sucked His finger and said, “I choose the second.”

“…” Klein’s expression instantly froze on his face.

Just then, Will Auceptin laughed and said, “Knowing one more method means having one more trump card. Is that not right?”

Yes. Everything you say is right…

Klein responded helplessly, “Alright. When will the transaction be completed?”

Will Auceptin waved His short little arm.

“Of course, after I am born and have umbilical cord blood!

“That will be around early July. It may also be earlier.”

At this point, He stilled His limbs again and said with a light laugh, “If they want to give me that method in advance, I would not mind.”

“They?” Klein subconsciously asked, not understanding why the Snake of Mercury knew it was “they” rather than “she,” the Queen of Mysteries, Bernadette alone.

Will Auceptin sucked His finger and said indistinctly, “Bernadette has long since passed the stage where she needs a drop of mythical creature blood. This should be something she is preparing for one of her subordinates.”

So that is it… Madam Hermit needs it?

Klein asked thoughtfully, “What is the use of a drop of mythical creature blood? A main ingredient for some potion?”

He connected it to how a drop of the Eternal Blazing Sun’s divine blood could serve as a main ingredient for the Unshadowed potion.

“No. Does someone from another pathway want to commit suicide by consuming the blood of a mythical creature from the Fate pathway?” Will Auceptin sneered. “I heard that for Sequence 5 of the Mystery Pryer pathway to advance to Sequence 4, one must completely analyze a drop of mythical creature blood and obtain complex, vast knowledge from it. This is part of the ritual. And because the mythical creature blood used differs, once they succeed, what they excel at during the stage of Mysticologist will also differ somewhat.”

It can even be like that… Different pathways and different Sequences truly do each have their own ritual traits…

Klein gained a clearer understanding and bowed.

“Thank You for Your answer.”

Will Auceptin waved a hand.

“Stop disturbing me and let me be born in peace. That will be the greatest thanks!”

Before Klein could respond, He added, “Giving me that method does not count as disturbing me!”

With that, the black baby carriage retreated into the shadows and disappeared.

Klein watched the surrounding tower walls collapse along with it. He silently breathed out and prepared to break free, then go back to sleep.

Just then, his mind abruptly tensed. He discovered that a new force had invaded his dream.

One just left and another arrived. This is livelier than daytime!

While guiding the dream to change according to his thoughts, Klein put on a dazed expression and looked left and right.