Chapter 160: Seizing the Opportunity

Chapter One Hundred Sixty
Seizing the Opportunity

On Tuesday morning, having already finished his mysticism lessons, Klein did not, as before, find some quiet place to read internal materials such as Correspondences Between Ancient and Modern Names or Case Files of the Nighthawks. Instead, he lingered in the recreation room, playing cards with Leonard, Kernli, and Royale.

I only asked Mr. Azik to create an opportunity to bring out Sealed Artifact 3-0782… Whether I can seize that opportunity depends on how I perform on the spot…

Klein’s mind was not on the card table at all. As a result, he kept making mistakes and lost five soli within an hour, making his heart ache enough that he decided to focus a little and recover some of his losses first.

The previous afternoon, after buying the various materials for the Sunflame Charm, his private savings had once again fallen below one pound. And he still had to pay two soli each day for rental carriages while checking houses with dark-red chimneys.

While waiting for Kernli to shuffle, Klein idly picked up the copper penny in front of him and spun it casually.

Suddenly, he saw Royale staring at him, and staring very intently.

What is wrong?

Klein was first stunned, then noticed the wobbling copper penny.

…Is she guarding against me cheating through divination? We are only playing cards among teammates. There is no need to be so serious…

He immediately understood. With a dry laugh, he pressed down the one-penny coin before it could finish spinning.

At that moment, Dunn Smith knocked and entered. He glanced around the room and said, “There is some situation in Morse Town. Leonard, go handle it.”

Morse Town?

Klein’s spirits lifted. Pretending curiosity, he asked, “Captain, what happened?”

Dunn’s gray eyes swept across them, and he casually explained, “Over the past few days, several suspected hauntings have occurred there one after another. First, someone passing by the cemetery heard crying inside and saw a blurry shadow flash past. Then, a widow woke in the middle of the night and met her deceased husband on her way to the bathroom, nearly fainting from fright. In addition, an old man living alone keeps hearing heavy footsteps echoing inside his house, but whenever he lights a candle or gas lamp, everything falls silent again. The town’s residents generally believe in the Goddess, so the local priest reported the situation directly.”

No one has been hurt. It is closer to a prank… It should be Mr. Azik’s doing…

Using the expression and tone he had repeatedly rehearsed, Klein said, “Captain, several suspected hauntings suddenly occurring one after another may conceal some secret behind them. In that respect, divination can provide a certain degree of revelation. I think I can help Leonard.”

Hearing this, Leonard’s green eyes immediately fixed on Klein, as though trying to find clues and traces on his face.

Dunn first nodded, then hesitated in silence.

Seeing the Captain’s reaction, Klein immediately added, “Some matters, once they reach the end, may require ritual magic for complete purification.”

“That makes sense.”

Dunn thought for a moment and said, “Then you and Leonard will go to Morse Town together.”

Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he added by himself, “Mm, you probably will not make it to your combat practice this afternoon. I will send someone to notify Gawain.”

Hoo. Step one complete…

Klein secretly released a breath, then quickly began collecting the soli and pence in front of him.

Halfway through, his movements suddenly stiffened. He turned his head toward Dunn and spoke solemnly.

“Captain, I think we must prepare for the worst-case scenario. If there is a powerful wraith behind the haunting incidents, then with only Leonard and me, it may be very dangerous. And from Tingen City to Morse Town, it takes two—uh, three hours, yes? Even if we send a telegram for help in time, we would still have to hold out for a long while…”

“So?” Dunn interrupted his description.

“I hope to receive help from one more teammate.”

Klein adopted a thoughtful look.

“Also, according to regulations, when three or more Nighthawks act together, we may apply to use a Grade 3 Sealed Artifact. Mm, 3-0782 is the most suitable item for handling this sort of problem.”

Hearing this, Leonard, standing beside him, laughed.

“This really is your style. Prudent, careful, and absolutely unwilling to take risks.”

Why does that sound like you are calling me cowardly… I am a man who has looked directly at the Eternal Blazing Sun!

Klein pretended not to hear Leonard’s words. He looked earnestly at Dunn Smith and said, “Captain, what is your opinion?”

“We do need to guard against accidents. Too many coincidences have happened recently…”

Dunn nodded as though thinking, glanced at the other two team members, and said, “Kernli, you go to Morse Town with Leonard and Klein. Uh, quickly draft an application. After I sign it, go behind Chanis Gate and retrieve Sealed Artifact 3-0782.”

“All right.”

The short and capable Kernli put down the cards in his hand.

Yes!

Klein clenched his fist in celebration inwardly, but outwardly he looked uneasy, cautious, and grave.

At that moment, Siga Teon was monitoring Hood Eugen at the asylum, while Frye was on rotation guarding Chanis Gate.

After leaving the recreation room, Klein changed into his black tailcoat, took his hat and cane, and waited with Leonard by the staircase leading underground.

The surroundings were deserted, quiet, and empty. Leonard suddenly turned his head toward Klein.

“I think you had better give up unrealistic fantasies.”

“Ah… what?” Klein answered in bewilderment.

Leonard stepped forward and stood at the edge of the stairs, looking down into the deep passage below.

“Even during a mission, you will not discover my secret or understand what makes me special.”

…Classmate, can you not be so narcissistic? So you thought I volunteered for this mission in order to secretly observe you? I never even thought of that!

Klein first came to a realization, then chuckled.

“And how are you so sure that my own specialness cannot help me discover your secret?”

Leonard’s expression turned a little more serious, but he immediately broke into a smile.

“Is that so? Then I will wait for you to discover it.”

Once I collect more information and objects, I will go above the gray fog and divine it for you. No need to thank me!

Klein responded with silent criticism.

Before long, the small, capable Kernli appeared on the winding staircase, carrying the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem.

Feeling that unique warmth and purity, Klein quietly relaxed. He knew that he had finally completed the first and most difficult step in his plan to steal power from the divine blood of the Eternal Blazing Sun.

Then, the three left Blackthorn Security Company, arrived at Zouteland Street, and walked toward the carriage belonging to the Nighthawk team.

“…The purification effect will not affect the horses, will it?” Kernli suddenly asked somewhat anxiously. “I do not want a horse that only knows how to praise the Sun pulling the carriage…”

He had been a Nighthawk only slightly longer than Klein, and his experience could not be called rich.

“No. Sealed Artifact 3-0782 only purifies creatures with relatively high intelligence,” Klein answered in a lowered voice.

If not, I would not have been bitten by mosquitoes and insects…

He added woodenly in his heart.

“So that is how it is… Heh, I did not read the files carefully enough back then.”

Kernli pressed a hand to his black top hat and laughed with sudden understanding.

Because Klein had not yet mastered the skill of driving a carriage, over the next three hours, he sat inside the carriage, leisurely watching Leonard and Kernli take turns driving while stroking Sealed Artifact 3-0782 in his palm.

Around lunchtime, they finally arrived in Morse Town.

“How beautiful…”

Kernli stepped down from the carriage and looked toward the endless golden wheat fields surrounding the town, praising them sincerely.

The dates symbolizing the Volcano constellation were nearing their end, and the Harvest constellation would soon dominate everyone’s lives.

Leonard stood in the driver’s seat, looked around, and opened his mouth as if intending to compose a fitting sonnet.

In the end, he managed only one sentence:

“How beautiful.”

Suppressing his laughter, Klein put on his top hat, took his cane, and stepped down from the carriage.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a black clerical robe walked over. He drew a crimson moon on his chest.

“Praise the Goddess. Are you the friends sent by Saint Selena Cathedral to help us?”

“Yes, Priest Siel. May the Goddess protect you.”

Leonard leaped down from the carriage and answered with a smile.

“We have come specifically to deal with the recent haunting incidents.”

“Suspected. Suspected.”

Siel, who had gray hair and blue eyes, saw quite a few townspeople drawing near and hurriedly emphasized that point.

Morse Town was not large. No matter which direction one walked, ten minutes at most would take them into the plains. It was hard for the permanent residents here not to know one another. What had happened recently had already spread openly and secretly, causing much discussion.

Thus, many townspeople who had been eagerly waiting for the Church of the Evernight Goddess to send people to solve the problem could not conceal their curiosity and concern when they saw the priest receiving three strangers. One after another, they gathered around—some standing on tiptoe, others desperately turning an ear in their direction.

Leonard laughed softly.

“Priest, please do not worry. We are professionals. Look: we brought holy water, silver daggers, a dark Sacred Emblem, and garlic.”

As he spoke, he drew the items he had described from the inner pockets of his clothing as if performing a magic trick.

Garlic? Are you planning to kill ghosts by choking them with the smell?

Klein watched Leonard’s performance, both amused and exasperated.

Priest Siel, meanwhile, looked utterly confused. He even began to suspect that Saint Selena Cathedral might have sent a group of swindlers.

The surrounding townspeople, however, all revealed relieved smiles, as though salvation had finally arrived.

Leonard drew close to Priest Siel and explained quietly beside his ear, “They believe in things like this…”

Before the other man could recover, he added, “We will go to the church first and settle lunch. After that, we will handle those incidents.”

Yes. Lunch is very important… Once we finish handling those “supernatural incidents,” it will be time to take turns guarding Sealed Artifact 3-0782. That will be my chance to make the Sunflame Charm… I hope everything goes smoothly… A Sunflame Charm should naturally be made during the day to achieve the best effect…

Standing nearby, Klein thought with anticipation.