Chapter 132: The Sun Brooch

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two
The Sun Brooch

“You may confirm it before paying.”

Eye of Wisdom, wrapped in a hooded robe, walked directly to Klein and handed the dark-gold brooch to him.

Quite generous…

Klein had only just reached out and taken it, before he could even examine it carefully, when he felt the surroundings turn blazing hot. Even the wind seemed to have been burned by fire. The instant it entered his nose, it scorched downward into his lungs.

At that moment, he felt as though he had left cold, damp Backlund and now stood in the deserts and wild plains of the Central Northern Continent. Above his head hung a sun radiating endless light and heat; around him stretched boundless, parched yellow sand.

Hoo. This makes me want ice cream…

Sweat slowly appeared on Klein’s forehead. But beneath the tight-fitting iron mask, the liquid could not fall away properly and only clung stickily in place.

Through direct contact, he sensed pure, warm power radiating outward, yet the Beyonders around him showed no abnormal reaction.

After pinning the brooch in the correct position, Klein extended his spirituality and let it sink into the dark-gold surface.

With a boom, he saw pure golden points of light whirling through the sky and received a great deal of information.

Among that information was the method for using part of the Sun domain’s spells through the brooch.

The key lay in how spirituality was infused, combined with the corresponding activation incantations.

If spirituality was continuously supplied for two seconds, the brooch would summon a sacred beam of light descending from above. It could purify dead spirit-type creatures and cause a certain degree of harm to other types of targets.

If spirituality was supplied for five seconds and the ancient Hermes word for “sun” was spoken at the same time, it could create a small amount of Sun Holy Water, capable of expelling evil spirits, driving away cold, and purifying resentful souls.

Combined with differences in strength, weakness, and intervals of spirituality input, the remaining spells could be cast as well.

Flames of Light created dense, golden, sacred flames out of thin air. Purifying Slash was an effective strike against evil spirits and resentful souls, and could be attached to bullets. Immunity to Fear allowed the wearer to no longer feel afraid. Sacred Oath used corresponding ancient Hermes words recited inwardly to briefly increase one’s strength, agility, flame damage, or sacred damage.

Sun Halo targeted companions within twenty meters and could effectively increase their courage, purifying evil forces within their bodies.

Feels pretty good. Apart from not being strange or eerie enough, there are no major flaws. It perfectly complements my Magician abilities… It is only a little hot…

The images filling Klein’s mind were of himself wearing shorts and short sleeves.

He rolled up his robe, took out stack after stack of banknotes from the inner pockets, and with the nine hundred pounds he had just received from the lady supported by an Artisan, counted out exactly two thousand pounds for Eye of Wisdom’s attendant.

After counting three times and finally confirming the amount was correct, Klein looked at his quickly shriveling “wallet,” feeling both joy and melancholy.

The money he had worked so hard to save had once again fallen to only 574 pounds in banknotes and five gold coins.

However, he had also obtained his second mystical item, one whose negative effects were obviously lighter than the Master Key’s, and whose abilities were even more outstanding—the Sun Brooch!

It really is too hot…

Klein reached up to touch his iron mask, nearly taking it off and using it as a fan.

With his cash returned to an earlier level, he no longer considered buying anything else. He sat quietly in place and listened until the end.

Stimulated by the large 2,000-pound transaction, tonight’s gathering was comparatively lively. For instance, the whip woven from Sacred Sunbird feathers sold for 850 pounds; and Eye of Wisdom repeatedly made purchases himself, acquiring an ancient book and a Beyonder ingredient.

When the gathering ended, Eye of Wisdom looked around once, turned his gaze toward Klein, and laughed softly.

“You will leave first.”

He is afraid I will be robbed…

Klein gave a sincere word of thanks. Guided by an attendant, he left the sitting room, then impatiently removed the hooded robe and iron mask.

He had already tried it. By enveloping and sealing it with spirituality, he could block the Sun Brooch’s constant purification effect on its surroundings and prevent other Beyonders from discovering its existence. But the negative effect could not be weakened unless it was not carried on him.

For the sake of my mental health, I should only use it when needed. Normally, Purifying Bullets and Exorcism Bullets are enough…

Klein left the gathering location, made a wide detour, and arrived outside Bravehearts Bar.

He went in, made a quick circuit, then came out again and hired a carriage.

Without any accident, he soon saw a figure in a black court dress outline itself on the seat opposite him.

Sharron’s appearance had not changed at all. In a drifting, illusory voice, she asked, “Are you prepared?”

“I am. You may now choose the ambush location and time. Once decided, inform me.”

Klein nodded calmly.

Sharron looked at him.

“Good.”

Seeing that she was about to vanish, Klein added another sentence.

“Have Kaspars prepare a box of explosives and bury them separately in different parts of the predetermined battlefield.”

Sharron remained silent for two seconds.

“Steve is also an explosives expert.”

“No. My main purpose is not to blow anyone up.”

Klein smiled.

“I only want to set off some fireworks.”

Sharron quietly looked at him for several seconds. In the end, she merely nodded.

Watching her figure swiftly turn illusory, Klein leaned back against the carriage wall and opened the window, letting in the bone-piercing cold wind from outside.

Even so, he still felt very hot.

Back on Earth, I hated summer the most. Mm, I liked popsicles, ice cream, cold drinks, and watermelon…

While muttering, Klein reached into his pocket and gripped the Sun Brooch.

This was a mystical item worth 2,000 pounds!

After returning to Minsk Street, Klein walked slowly toward the house numbered 15 along the road bordered by leafless trees.

When passing Solicitor Jurgen’s home, he instinctively looked inside and saw the gas lamp glowing with a slight blue light.

Someone is home…

Klein sighed with a smile. Sweat kept sliding down his forehead.

…

The next day, Thursday, early morning.

Klein had just come out of the washroom holding the newspapers when he heard the doorbell ring.

Who is it? Right. Talim mentioned that reporter Mike Joseph would come to see me today…

Amid the jangle, Klein walked to the door and gripped the handle.

The visitor’s image had already naturally appeared in his mind:

around thirty years old, deep-set eyes, thin face, scattered beard.

It was precisely the reporter Mike Joseph.

Klein did not open the door immediately. Instead, he looked back at the dining room and, after considering briefly, returned to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of fresh milk.

Then he casually placed the milk on the dining table, returned to the front door, and opened it.

“Good morning, Mike.”

“Good morning, Sherlock. I did not disturb your breakfast, did I?”

Mike took off his hat and smiled.

“No. In fact, it has not truly begun yet.”

Klein let him in and led him to the dining room.

At that moment, Mike’s gaze fell upon the milk on the table.

“You drink milk for breakfast? That is a very healthy habit. I remember you have fresh milk delivered.”

“…Indeed.”

Klein smiled along with him.

He busied himself toasting bread, poured more milk, brought out the tin of cream, then sat down and silently ate until he was half full.

Sitting opposite him, Mike helped himself to breakfast without any restraint, utterly unaware of the quiet atmosphere.

Hoo…

Klein exhaled, put down his cup, and said, “Mike, you want to hire me to protect you?”

Mike unhurriedly set down his knife and fork, took a sip of milk, and said, “Yes. About two days—Friday and Saturday, perhaps including Sunday morning as well.”

“Is someone trying to harm you?” Klein asked after thinking over his wording.

Mike chuckled.

“No. This is proactive self-protection.”

“The newspaper’s editor-in-chief has arranged for me to do a piece of investigative journalism in the East Borough, the Dock Borough, and the Factory Borough. It is said to be sponsored by a certain Church or perhaps a noble.”

“You know what the East Borough is like. Gangs are everywhere. Villains are all over the place. There are people willing to sell their conscience for one bite of food. I need a protector skilled in combat and shooting.”

“Besides, most private detectives have some connections in the East Borough, do they not?”

I do not… I solve cases through mysticism—no, through reasoning!

Klein thought for a while before saying, “But I may not have time over the next few days.”

He still had to wait for Miss Sharron’s operation.

Mike hurriedly cleared his throat.

“I have already applied for it. Ten pounds. The protection mission totals ten pounds, even if nothing happens at all.”

Klein gave a faint laugh.

“Mike, I am serious.

“Come look for me around this time tomorrow, after breakfast. If I have time, I will accept the commission. If I truly cannot spare the effort, I will recommend another detective to you, one equally skilled in combat and shooting.”

For example, Stuart. For example, Kaslana…

Two names flashed through his mind.

Mike ate the remaining toast.

“No problem.”

After breakfast, Klein watched the reporter leave his home. Through the glass of the bow window, he appreciated the drizzle of freezing rain outside, the carriages and pedestrians coming and going, the dark sky, and umbrellas of different colors.

Finally, a normal mission for once… It does not involve Beyonders, and it is not something like finding a cat or catching an adulterer… What a pity. It is not a murder commission either. Otherwise, I could experience what it feels like to be a true famous detective… There is only one truth!

His thoughts drifted without direction, and he found himself in a strangely leisurely state.

If not for the matter of Sharron and Maric still on his mind, he would have truly planned to relax properly—visit all kinds of museums, buy tickets to the Grand Theater, listen to several operas and concerts, and properly experience the food from every country gathered in the metropolis of Backlund.

Mm. I am a casual tourist, a lonely gourmet…

Klein laughed at himself and turned toward the sofa area, preparing to flip through the newspapers he had not yet finished reading.

Suddenly, he discovered that at some point, a note had appeared on the coffee table. The handwriting was delicate and restrained:

“Tonight at ten, meet at the back door of Bravehearts Bar.”

Klein froze for a moment. Turning his head to look out the window, he sighed soundlessly.

“Is it finally about to begin…?”