Chapter 41: Cooperation

Chapter 41: Cooperation

By the time he left 47 Blackhorn Street, Klein had already figured out Winter’s basic situation.

He had changed his appearance, disguised himself as a police officer, and obtained the information from nearby neighbors.

“Simim Island, the farthest island in the Rorsted Archipelago. From Bayam, I would need to take a passenger ship, and the trip would take four to five hours. There are only two ships each day, at nine and ten in the morning, and I have already missed both today… Winter’s parents passed away long ago, and he had no real relatives. The only person involved is a girl he could not forget, Renee. She is the best possible target for a first real impersonation and suits a novice like me very well. But when I think about having to confess Winter’s feelings on his behalf, it is still embarrassing from the bottom of my heart… If that girl agrees… Damn, how am I supposed to end it?” Klein thought with a troubled expression.

He worked hard to recall the novels he had read and the shows and films he had watched, hoping to find the most perfect way to handle the matter.

Very soon, he had a rough idea. His mood settled, and his thoughts began turning toward the matter of Steel Maviti.

“I hope Miss Magician can obtain the wireless telegraph receiver as soon as possible…” Klein sighed soundlessly and boarded a hired carriage.

…

Backlund, Cherwood Borough.

Fors opened the letter Xio had brought back.

It came from Avelle, the science-fiction novelist. In the letter, he wrote with great enthusiasm to Miss Wall about the developmental history and application prospects of wireless telegraphy.

Fors skipped the beginning and middle directly, sweeping her gaze toward the end.

“He introduced three models, with detailed addresses and approximate prices. Even the most expensive is only twelve pounds.” Fors nodded lightly, feeling that this was not a very important transaction.

She suddenly felt that she had become somewhat inflated. Perhaps it was because she had grown used to seeing transactions worth hundreds or thousands of pounds at the Tarot Club, but she now found it difficult to take an item worth only around ten pounds seriously.

Mr. World has resources and money. In the future, I may have to buy items from him or sell him things I no longer need. Mm, I will add only the cost of postage, carriage fares back and forth, and ritual-material losses to the original price… Fors quickly made her decision. Her gaze unconsciously drifted out the window.

Backlund remained gloomy and dark, with fine rain falling steadily. Only the fog was no longer as dense as before.

“I wonder when The Sun’s Spirit Eater stomach pouch will arrive…” Fors felt she could hardly wait to advance.

…

City of Silver, the Berg residence.

Derrick had already prepared the Spirit Eater’s stomach pouch and the materials Mr. Hanged Man had specified, but he did not rush to sacrifice them to Mr. Fool.

He planned to wait a while longer, only making the attempt once the Chief led the exploration team out, or presided over certain rituals.

“That is the safest and most stable approach… Mm, prudent and careful!” Derrick reminded himself, then opened the Hand-Copied Collection of the Black Rock Book of the Giant King’s Court before him.

During the recent period, he had been reading this ancient book, glimpsing a small part of the Giant King’s Court from the ancient age.

According to the records, it was the divine royal court!

There, time seemed to have frozen, forever remaining at dusk. All the buildings were incomparably majestic and grand, even rising into the clouds.

When humans walked among them, they were exceedingly small, and would naturally feel reverence toward such a scene and the master of that scene.

…

Backlund, Hillston Borough, at Wimandy’s home.

After listening to the lecture, Emlyn White used his hand like a comb to tidy his hair and deliberately asked, “Lord Baron, I forgot where I heard this, but in the Second Epoch, or perhaps the first half of the Third Epoch, there was a famous city-state called the City of Silver.”

Wimandy was a vampire baron over two hundred years old. His appearance, however, showed no sign of age. Instead, he looked like a mature gentleman just past thirty.

His black hair was neatly combed back. Wearing a dark-red cotton shirt and holding a coffee-brown pipe, he enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace while thinking.

“No. At least in my memory, there was no City of Silver before the Cataclysm.”

Before Emlyn could rejoice, he continued speaking to himself.

“But there was a Nation of Silver. It was originally ruled by the Giant King’s Court and later belonged to that existence.”

Nation of Silver? Emlyn White thought for a moment and asked, “Lord Baron, are there any more specific details?”

Wimandy looked up at him and smiled, recalling, “The Nation of Silver held a rather special position within the Giant King’s Court. They did not directly believe in the Giant King Aurmir. The object of their faith was the Giant King’s queen, Omebella.”

…

City of Generosity, Bayam. Dock District, Sour Lemon Street, the Azure Wind Inn.

Standing at a street corner, Klein removed the citrine pendant from his left wrist and used divination to confirm that no danger lay ahead.

Reassured, he leisurely strolled back to the inn, climbed to the third floor, and opened the door to the luxury suite.

To his slight surprise, Blazing Danitz had already returned and was sprawled in an armchair, drinking.

After weighing the tone of his persona, Klein calmly asked, “What time is it?”

“Isn’t there a wall clock?” Danitz muttered.

He looked at the opposite wall and read the current time.

“Three forty in the afternoon…”

Before he could finish, Danitz suddenly snapped awake. He sat up straight and gave two dry laughs.

“I already asked everywhere I needed to ask and entrusted everyone I needed to entrust. There is no point staying outside. That would only increase the risk of exposure and affect your hunting plan!”

Klein found a chair and sat down. Expressionless, he said, “Tell me what happened.”

“What problem could there be? Although I am mainly an adventurer pursuing treasure, I am also a qualified part-time pirate.” Danitz felt his abilities had been insulted.

After Gehrman Sparrow swept a cold glance over him, he piled on a smile and briefly recounted the key points: where he had gone in the morning and afternoon, whom he had met, what news he had heard, and roughly what had been discussed.

When he heard Danitz mention that a ghost-ship pirate captain named Alger somehow knew about Bansy Harbor, Klein almost frowned.

Given Mr. Hanged Man’s relationship with the Church of Storms, he had not known that anything had happened in Bansy Harbor until I controlled The World and proactively mentioned it. Then where did this Alger learn of it? A higher-ranking powerhouse within the Church of Storms, disguised as a pirate? Or someone connected in some way to the evil cultists of Bansy Harbor? Mm… Mr. Hanged Man has always been active in this region of the sea. It cannot be ruled out that it is him… Klein’s heart stirred, and he recalled The Hanged Man’s features.

Above the gray fog, although he could not see the members’ precise appearances, he could still tell whether they were male or female, as well as the color of their hair!

Klein raised a hand and pressed downward, stopping Danitz’s next words. In a deep voice, he said, “Messy hair. Deep blue?”

“You know him? That fellow really is not simple!” Danitz sighed.

As expected… Heh, I truly did not expect to run into him like this… Klein gave no response. Leaning forward directly, he said, “Continue.”

Danitz did not think too much of it and roughly described what happened afterward. Then he defended himself.

“You know how gathering information works. No one can be certain when there will be results. Once you have found everyone you can find, the only thing left is to wait patiently. That inevitably takes a certain amount of time—and not a short amount either.”

“There is another method. No waiting needed,” Klein deliberately said flatly.

“What method?” Danitz asked in astonishment.

Klein pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and slowly drew up the corners of his mouth.

“Use bait.”

Bait? Danitz looked at him, failing to understand for a moment.

Only a second later, he abruptly realized the truth.

The only one who could become bait was himself!

And when people fished, no one cared whether the bait was truly swallowed. They only cared whether the prey could be pulled up!

Simply put, “bait” was a high-risk species!

“Haha, that is not a very good method. Mm, my intuition tells me that there should be some gains around the Red Theater. I will go take a look right now!” Danitz grabbed his coat and rushed out of the room with great urgency.

Klein had originally intended to follow Blazing from a distance and see whether he could discover any clues, but suddenly, layers of illusory prayer sounded by his ear.

It came from a man.

Klein paused thoughtfully, then turned and entered the washroom.

A dozen seconds later, he appeared above the gray fog and saw the crimson star corresponding to The Hanged Man repeatedly expanding and contracting.

As expected… Klein sat down, leaned against the back of his chair, and extended his spirituality.

The Hanged Man’s voice immediately became clear:

“Honorable Mr. Fool, I am currently investigating Vice Admiral Iceberg’s key. At the Gold Coin Casino, I encountered Blazing Danitz. From him, I learned that he was involved in the Bansy Harbor incident, and that he intends to work with a powerful figure to deal with Steel Maviti.

“I suspect that the person cooperating with Blazing Danitz is Your Blessed, so I pray to You.

“If that is indeed the case, and if he wishes to obtain a certain degree of cooperation, I can provide some assistance.”

Mr. Hanged Man has indeed guessed Gehrman Sparrow’s identity… He should have only had a slight suspicion, but by asking about Bansy Harbor, he successfully obtained confirmation from Danitz… This is good as well. With the help of this local snake, the plan to hunt Steel Maviti will go much more smoothly… Unless he can strike directly at The Fool, there is no meaning in The Hanged Man scheming against a Blessed… And judging by his performance and attitude, he does not seem to harbor any doubts about The Fool yet… I have not left any loopholes either… Thoughts flashed rapidly through Klein’s mind, and he soon made his decision.

After performing a divination, he materialized The World, making the fake figure shrouded in fog assume a posture of prayer, then responded in a deep voice:

“Great Mr. Fool, I am indeed in need of certain cooperation.”

After completing this scene, Klein sent both voice and image into the crimson star symbolizing The Hanged Man.