Chapter 178: Follow-Up Ideas

Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Eight
Follow-Up Ideas

“Report it to the police?” Fors Wall repeated in astonishment.

For Beyonders, voluntarily going to the police seemed like something from another world.

Xio paced back and forth a few times, scratched at her messy blond hair, and said, “The scene of Darkholm’s death was so horrifying, so bizarre. As long as the police still have eyes, they will definitely hand it over to the Mandated Punishers, Nighthawks, Machinery Hivemind, or that special department belonging to the military. When that happens, we reveal a little information and let them know that the murderer is Qilangos. Then we will have created a situation where the whole city is hunting him.

“Our goal is only to find Qilangos, not to capture him. With so many Beyonders ‘helping,’ things will become much easier and much safer. Once Qilangos becomes flustered and makes a mistake, that will be our chance to obtain the bounty. Heh, I mean, our chance to discover his traces.”

Xio gave two dry laughs and looked at the stunned Fors.

“Do you think I am the sort of person who sees an obstacle and insists on slamming into it? The gap between us and Qilangos is as wide as Desi Bay.”

Fors slowly nodded.

“Your understanding of yourself is very accurate. You have done too many similar things before, and the losses you suffered because of them were enough to let you advance to Sequence 8.

“Fortunately, you are still rational enough in this matter.”

Xio lowered her head and looked at the triangular spike in her hand. After a moment of thought, she said, “…I have to be honest. Just now, I clearly felt death approaching. Qilangos was undoubtedly nearby. That was an aura evil enough and lawbreaking enough to trigger my instinctive reaction.”

Fors put back on the silver bracelet with two stones remaining. After seriously thinking for several dozen seconds, she said, “I agree with your idea. First notify Miss Audrey, then report it to the police.

“Mm. Whether Darkholm discovered traces of Qilangos, or one of his subordinates found them, we can investigate along that direction and figure out Qilangos’s previous range of activity and where he lived.”

Xio frowned, her fine golden brows drawing together.

“But Qilangos definitely will not remain in his original location.”

Even as one of the seven pirate admirals, even with the aid of a magical item, Qilangos still had to be cautious enough in Backlund.

Even Nast, the King of the Five Seas, had once met with disaster here and nearly been captured.

“No. I mean, from those clues, we can infer or determine Qilangos’s purpose for coming to Backlund. As long as we understand what he truly wants to do, then no matter how he disguises himself or how many tricks he plays, he will eventually expose himself before us. And once that happens, our mission will be complete,” Fors explained in detail. “Two years of writing novels has taught me that once the key point is grasped, things become simple.”

Xio looked at her friend in surprise, seemingly unable to believe that such reasonable words had come from her mouth.

“I am different from you. I am merely too lazy to think, while you think with your muscles,” Fors said, pursing her lips and turning her head with a smile.

“Mocking me will not make you any smarter…” Xio worked hard to smooth down several strands of her upturned blond hair. “Fine. Let us go to Queen’s Borough and tell Miss Audrey about this.”

Fors nodded lightly.

“So, what is our emergency contact method with Miss Audrey?”

“…”

Xio froze into blankness. Looking toward a distant gravestone, she said, “She told me that her pet dog—the golden retriever we saw earlier—goes out for walks by herself every day at least five times. Mm, the nearest one should be after lunch.”

“In other words, we have to wait sneakily outside Earl Hall’s luxurious residence?” Fors’s mouth twitched.

Xio abruptly turned her head, revealing an ingratiating smile.

“Fors, why not sneak in directly?”

“I think that should not be difficult for you. It is your specialty.”

“A hereditary earl whose family has lasted several centuries, one of the most influential members of the House of Lords, the largest shareholder of Bavart Bank, the fourth-largest shareholder of Backlund Bank, a special adviser to the Royal Bank of Loen, the third-largest shareholder of Intis’s Suchit Bank, the second-largest shareholder of the Constant Coal and Steel Consortium, and so on, and so on—that is Miss Audrey’s father’s dazzling status, Xio. Use your brain. Would the home of such a great figure not hire Beyonders? Would it not contain some privately held items? This is not the same as those fallen viscounts and barons!” Fors answered irritably. “I swear in the name of God that if I dare sneak in, I will be discovered and captured within five minutes.”

Xio nodded repeatedly, expressing agreement.

“Then we will wait for that golden retriever…”

After saying that, she led the way forward. After walking a few steps, she said to Fors with her back turned, “Mm, uh, I will work hard to make up for your loss in the future. Mm, I mean that stone.”

Hearing this, the corners of Fors’s mouth lifted slightly.

“I was saving myself.

“Also, Xio, you are walking in the wrong direction!

“Gods above. If you are an Apprentice and become a Traveler in the future, that would—that would simply be a disaster!”

…

Outside Earl Hall’s luxurious villa.

Xio and Fors hid behind an Intis plane tree, secretly watching the target building, watching people come and go.

After some unknown length of time, they saw the large golden retriever sneakily drill out from a concealed small hole beneath the wall. Her ears were standing upright, and she looked left and right with extreme caution.

Just as Susie lightly and happily began her walk, a black male dog suddenly darted out. It fawned over her and circled around her repeatedly.

“This is the first time I have learned that a dog’s face can show such humanlike expressions. Just how much does she hate that black dog?” Xio whispered with emotion.

From Susie’s eyes and facial expression, she could read obvious disgust.

Fors smiled.

“It is like meeting a pervert who is reckless, disgusting, and refuses to stop pestering you.”

Seeing Susie attempt to speed up and shake off the black dog, Xio stepped out and upheld “justice.”

“My judgment is: leave her!” Xio said in a low, serious voice.

The black dog froze. Then it clamped its tail between its legs and fled in a sorry state.

Susie released a breath, slowed down, politely gave an awooo, and wagged her tail.

That was close. That was close. I nearly said “thank you” to them…

The golden retriever thought with secret relief.

That scene would have been extremely awkward…

…

The elegant melody slowly stopped. Audrey, seated on the piano stool, held the latest intelligence Xio and Fors had passed to her, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.

She closed the piano lid, rose gracefully, and paced back and forth inside the music room, thinking about what she should do next.

“Qilangos is an extremely dangerous fellow… Continuing to investigate him may cause Xio and Fors to encounter something terrible… It might even expose me… Mm, let us do as they suggested… Ah, right. The Tarot Gathering is in two hours. I wonder what advice Mr. Fool might have. If He remains uninterested, I can discuss it carefully with the Hanged Man…”

Audrey gradually calmed her emotions.

This was the first time she had encountered, or rather personally participated in, such a dangerous matter—one in which a life had already been lost!

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

When Audrey’s vision recovered from crimson and hazy blurriness, she once again saw the boundless gray fog that did not belong to reality. She saw the palace that seemed like a giant’s residence. She saw the ancient, mottled bronze long table. She saw the Fool forever shrouded in dense fog, as well as the Hanged Man and the Sun.

In that instant, Audrey’s slightly taut and worried mood was smoothed flat. Her heart became so steady, so certain.

What I am attending is the Tarot Club, which is not inside the material world. What I face is Mr. Fool, who is nearly a deity. Qilangos and I are simply not on the same level…

Audrey proudly straightened her back, lifted her chin slightly, and greeted them cheerfully.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Fool! Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man! Good afternoon, Mr. Sun!”

After the greetings, Klein saw Miss Justice indicate that she had something to say, so he lightly nodded to express permission.

“Honorable Mr. Fool, may I ask whether Your blessed one received the three hundred pounds of compensation?” Audrey suppressed the impulse to immediately describe the Qilangos matter and first showed concern for the leader’s blessed one.

Klein laughed softly.

“I have not paid attention to this matter. But since my blessed one has not requested additional help, he should have received it.”

Yes. I have confirmed it again and again. Three hundred gold pounds are lying quietly inside my bearer account…

Klein silently added with a pleasant mood.

“That is truly wonderful!” Audrey finally relaxed, then looked toward the opposite side. “Mr. Hanged Man, there has been progress with Qilangos.”

Alger immediately sat straighter. Unable to fully conceal his delight, he asked, “Where is he?”

“Regrettably, just as we discovered his traces, he noticed our investigation and killed the related person.”

Audrey picked the key points from Xio and Fors’s encounter and described them, then explained their follow-up ideas in detail.

Alger nodded slightly.

“I will watch this matter closely.”

After saying that, he turned toward the very top of the bronze long table. Under the confused gaze of Derrick the Sun, who heard but did not understand, he said, “Honorable Mr. Fool, if we discover Qilangos’s true purpose and what that very important, very miraculous item he is trying to obtain truly is, please permit me to recite Your name and inform You through ritual.”

He did not repeat his request that the other party’s blessed one provide help, because since it had already been mentioned and the Fool had already given an answer, there was no need to be long-winded. Otherwise, it might anger a deity.

Thus, Alger only expressed a wish to “report” the matter.

If the final temptation was sufficient, he believed Mr. Fool’s blessed one would surely appear.

It can be done like that?

Audrey’s eyes widened at once.

If I had known, I would have applied for the right to “report” as well. That way, perhaps I could occasionally receive guidance from Mr. Fool…

She thought, a little vexed.

Under everyone’s gaze, Klein, hidden within the dense gray fog, leaned back against his chair, lightly nodded, and answered in a deep, unhurried tone.

“You may.”