Chapter 158: Detective Moriarty’s First Fan

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight
Detective Moriarty’s First Fan

“No. It was only good luck. It was only a god protecting me.”

Klein humbly stepped aside and invited Stuart in.

Strictly speaking, what he said was all true. This matter truly was good luck. Before the other party had even accepted the commission, he had already known where Emlyn White was.

As Stuart removed his wool coat and hat and hung them on the rack in the foyer, he shivered and said, “This damned weather is getting colder and colder. Perhaps I should try those coats padded with cotton.”

“This cannot really be called cold, can it? Go to the north of Midsea County, or spend a day in Winter County, and you will understand what true low temperature is, what true winter is,” Klein said with a chuckle.

Immediately after, he asked generously, “A cup of hot coffee?”

“That is exactly what I hoped for.” Stuart followed him toward the first-floor sitting room. “I have been to the north of Midsea County. I know the low temperatures and heavy snow there. It was a rather wonderful holiday. But Backlund’s cold is no worse. It is like magic—it pierces my clothes and seeps into my bones. Oh, a fireplace truly worthy of praise!”

Stuart stood before the charcoal-burning fireplace for a full twenty seconds before sitting on the sofa. Looking at Klein, who was busy brewing instant coffee, he said, “For the New Year, I plan to go south for vacation, to Desi Bay to fish. What about you? Do you have any vacation plans? We have endured Backlund’s air for a whole year and worked hard to save money precisely for holidays like that.”

“Perhaps… also to Desi Bay,” Klein said hesitantly. On the side of his face turned away from Stuart, his expression went absent for a moment.

It concerned a promise.

A promise with his elder brother Benson and younger sister Melissa.

“Haha. When the time comes, I will let you see my sea-fishing skills.” Stuart chattered on. “We still are not wealthy enough. Otherwise, I would truly like to travel to Feysac, to Intis, or even to the Southern Continent.”

Klein finished preparing the coffee and handed the white-glazed porcelain cup to him. Then he retreated two steps and sat opposite.

Holding the cup, Stuart deeply inhaled the rich, warm steam twice.

After recovering for several seconds, he set the cup down and said very formally, “According to our agreement, I will share the payment from this case with you.

“The Whites gave a total of fifty pounds, and your contribution was clearly greater than mine.

“Sherlock, how does thirty pounds sound? I still need to give my informants some compensation for their work.”

Only fifty pounds? A vampire is worth only fifty pounds?

Klein could not help grumbling inwardly.

However, he knew it was not that Mr. and Mrs. White had not wanted to increase the bounty. They probably feared that if they offered too much money, they would frighten the detectives instead, making them develop unnecessary thoughts and thereby draw attention from the police or certain official organizations.

To ordinary private detectives, a fifty-pound commission was already attractive enough. Back when Klein had hired someone to investigate every red-chimneyed house in all of Tingen and its suburban towns, he had spent only around seven pounds.

“In addition, the Whites gave another pound, saying it was your carriage fare over the past few days.”

Slightly puzzled, Stuart took out six five-pound notes and one one-pound note.

Klein reached out, accepted them, and casually checked their authenticity without explaining the matter of the carriage fare.

Stuart did not ask further. Instead, he smiled.

“Other than Mr. Stanton, you are the most outstanding detective I have ever seen. Did you enter the profession midway, or did you once learn from some great detective?”

Learn from which great detective? There are many. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, that eternally elementary school student, that fellow who bluffs in his grandfather’s name…

Klein silently roasted for a moment.

After thinking, he said, “I come from Midsea County. In the early days, I did many kinds of work, and only later became a detective.”

“So your experience is rich enough!” Stuart said with sudden understanding.

Hey, you are praising me so much that I am starting to feel embarrassed…

Klein smiled and did not respond.

Stuart drank a mouthful of coffee.

“Sherlock, in the future, if I encounter difficult cases I cannot solve, I hope I can ask you for help.”

My connections in the detective world are spreading too…

Klein answered cautiously, “When the time comes, if I am free.”

After a little more idle talk, Stuart sensibly rose to take his leave, and Klein escorted him all the way to the foyer.

After putting on his coat and hat, Stuart was about to open the door and leave when he suddenly turned back and said earnestly, “Sherlock, you are far too simple in your habits.

“Your talent deserves better coffee.”

Huh?

Klein froze at first, then felt somewhat embarrassed.

He gave a dry laugh.

“I cannot tell good coffee from bad. To me, they are all the same.”

…

After seeing Stuart off, Klein also went out. At the butcher’s shop, he bought several beef bones and some beef; at the vegetable shop, he bought white radish and other ingredients, and prepared the corresponding seasonings.

For dinner, he was going to make beef-bone and radish soup to pair with the leftover rice. As for lunch, he casually found a restaurant by the street and ate a portion of lamb chops.

During the leisurely afternoon, Klein continued studying the Book of Secrets. The more he read, the more he felt that his understanding of mysticism was far too shallow.

Fortunately, his foundation was solid. With many things, as soon as he encountered them and pondered them, he could swiftly grasp them.

By evening, he smelled the tempting aroma of beef-bone and radish soup drifting outward, and his Adam’s apple moved up and down twice.

Then he heard the doorbell ring. It was like the trumpet signaling dinner.

Swallowing, Klein walked to the front door and gripped the handle.

The appearance of the visitor naturally surfaced inside his mind. It was none other than the handsome but insufficiently masculine red-eyed vampire, Emlyn White.

I did not even need to urge him… He is someone who keeps his word…

Klein opened the door and smiled.

“Good evening, Mr. White.”

Emlyn lifted his chin, letting impatience overflow clearly from his expression.

He was about to speak when Klein looked over the brown priest robes on him and revealed an “I understand” smile.

“You just came from Harvest Church?”

Who was it last night who said he could endure?

Emlyn immediately failed to maintain his gentlemanly bearing. Gritting his teeth, he said, “That old man, that old man…

“Damn it. How do I remove that damned suggestion?”

Before Klein could answer, he patted the clothes at his chest and put on a stern face.

“Take me to see that patient.

“A sumptuous dinner is waiting for me.”

As he spoke, he sniffed almost imperceptibly, seeming to smell something.

Klein said nothing more. He took his coat and hat and said, “All right. I will take you there now.”

After closing the door and walking several steps, he asked cautiously, “Do you have a practicing physician’s certificate?”

Otherwise, how could he convince Solicitor Jurgen to let Madam Doris take medicine?

Emlyn looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

“I do not need such a certificate to prove my ability.”

Before Klein could frown, he added carelessly, “It was too easy. I passed with only a little effort.”

…From that tone, he sounds rather proud of having a physician’s certificate…

Klein smiled and said nothing.

Looking at the wet ground ahead, Emlyn casually said, “Do you know what I like most about Backlund?”

“What?” Klein echoed without curiosity.

Emlyn chuckled.

“The long-term gloomy sky and the fog blocking out the sun. They allow me to go outside even in the daytime without feeling too uncomfortable.

“It truly is wonderful—aside from the poor air.”

In other words, vampires truly do suffer some degree of harm from sunlight? Thank goodness I considered this yesterday and deliberately did not bring the Sun Brooch. Otherwise, I might not even have been able to communicate with Emlyn…

Klein seemed to understand something.

As they spoke, they arrived outside Jurgen’s home. Klein stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

After a while, the door opened. Madam Doris, who dressed thickly even at home, said with pleasant surprise, “Mr. Detective, have you come to visit?”

The black cat Brody silently crouched beside her, warily looking at Emlyn, seeming to feel that something about this fellow was not quite right.

Klein pointed toward the vampire beside him.

“I recently met a physician who is skilled at treating lung diseases, so I specially invited him here to take a look at you. This is Doctor Emlyn White.”

“Is that so? You still remembered this matter? What a good child!”

Doris joyfully invited the two men inside.

Child…

The corners of Klein’s mouth twitched, but in the end, he said nothing.

As they entered the sitting room, Emlyn lowered his voice and said to him, “This patient’s problem can no longer be reversed. She is very old, and her body is extremely weak.

“Even if I give her medicine, at most she will pass this winter comfortably. She will die in three to five years.

“Unless there is a legendary potion of agelessness, or something similar, it can only be like this. Or she could be turned into a Sanguine. But at her age, her body can no longer withstand the transformation brought by Beyonder characteristics. Besides, neither my parents nor I have spare characteristics.”

Cannot be reversed…

Klein froze briefly and silently sighed.

He said to Emlyn, “Prepare medicine for her first. We can talk after she survives this winter.”

“Fine. I brought a finished potion, and it happens to suit this condition.”

Emlyn sat down on the sofa without the slightest politeness.

At that moment, Solicitor Jurgen came out from the kitchen while taking off an apron. He asked clearly about Klein’s purpose.

“Doctor White, what is your view regarding my grandmother’s lung disease?” Jurgen asked very seriously.

Emlyn was clearly good at handling such situations. First, he spoke at length about lung diseases, confusing Jurgen thoroughly. Then he said, “What she needs most is warmth and healthy air. This is my sincerest advice.

“In addition, I have a special medicine. It can be tested free of charge.”

As he spoke, he took out his internal-medicine physician’s certificate and a small metal bottle.

“Will there be side effects?” Jurgen asked cautiously.

“No. The only problem is that it cannot cure the root problem. It can only heal her temporarily,” Emlyn answered with a very professional attitude. “If not for Detective Moriarty, I would not casually let anyone try it.”

“Perhaps I can try it? Cough…” Madam Doris interjected.

Jurgen glanced at Klein, while the latter, having performed divination beforehand, gave him a definite nod.

“All right.”

Jurgen finally made the decision.

He watched vigilantly as Madam Doris drank the potion, carefully observing her reaction.

At first, Madam Doris did not change much. But gradually, she felt her breathing easing little by little.

She stood, bent down to hug the cat, and said joyfully, “I feel much better!”

Seeing this, the corners of Jurgen’s usually serious, unsmiling face actually lifted faintly.

What Klein thought of, however, was:

Three to five years.

He sketched a smile and sighed inwardly.

This counts as a kind of magic performance too, does it not—using Beyonder powers to create a false result that makes the audience happy…