Chapter 92: Detectives’ Exchange Meeting

Chapter Ninety-Two
Detectives’ Exchange Meeting

Two thousand pounds?

That was enough to drive every bounty hunter and private detective in Backlund insane! This was not like Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos, who drifted long-term across the seas with a whole crew of subordinates. This was the sort of target one could reach out and touch.

Mm. A great pirate whose combat strength rivaled Sequence 5 is worth ten thousand gold pounds. A Sequence 6 criminal should reasonably be priced at three or four thousand pounds at least… Could it be that the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers judge the murderer to be Sequence 7, Serial Killer, rather than a quasi-powerhouse currently trying to advance to Sequence 5? In that case, two thousand pounds would already count as a considerable premium…

That is very possible. The Sun said that ritual was extremely ancient. Perhaps after the Cataclysm, it rarely appeared again, and the Churches and military do not have corresponding records… But there is a problem here. The Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, and the royal Augustus family can be said to have risen after the Cataclysm and not understand the past. But the Church of Storms has always insisted it is among the oldest… Could it be that their “oldest” still came after the demons retreated into the Abyss?

Upon hearing Isengard Stanton’s words, the first thing that flashed through Klein’s mind was an evaluation of the bounty amount. Then his thoughts scattered, associating with many other matters.

“What is your opinion?” Isengard asked when he saw Sherlock Moriarty seem a little distracted.

My opinion?

Klein suddenly found it somewhat difficult.

An ordinary private detective would certainly agree. Not only was the reward generous, but the person asking was a famous great detective. Establishing friendship with Isengard would bring enormous benefits in the circle.

The problem was that Klein was not an ordinary private detective. He worried that while investigating clues, he might run into the Nighthawks responsible for the case.

Although I now grow a beard, wear glasses, and changed my hairstyle, and a Nighthawk who has only met me a few times definitely would not recognize me, what if I run into Madam Daly? Refusing would also be wrong. It would seem very strange and suspicious… And I do hope that demon is caught sooner. Otherwise, who knows how many innocent girls will be killed…

After considering for a few seconds, Klein smiled faintly and said, “I recently accepted a rather troublesome case. I am afraid I do not have much free time.”

Without waiting for Isengard Stanton to speak, he added, “I can take part in discussions, help review information, and analyze clues, but I probably will not personally investigate.”

I will perform a divination later. If there really is a problem, then during the discussion, I will speak less as well and act purely as a spectator…

While speaking, Klein quickly formed his plan.

Holding his black cane, Isengard pondered for a moment, then said, “No problem.

“This time, I have summoned a dozen or so detectives. There are enough people to conduct inspections, and what I most admire about you is your outstanding reasoning and analytical ability. Without possessing as many resources as I do, you were actually able to find East Balam Dock and the dock union.

“If we can catch the criminal and obtain the bounty, I will distribute the reward reasonably according to each person’s contribution. Believe me. I do have some reputation in this profession.”

“Very well. A pleasure to cooperate.”

Klein took the initiative to extend his right hand and shake the other man’s, feeling Isengard’s palm dry and warm.

For a middle-aged-to-elderly gentleman in his forties or fifties, still having a similar feeling in Backlund’s late autumn was quite uncommon. Klein therefore grew even more suspicious that Isengard was a Beyonder.

“A pleasure to cooperate,” Isengard said with a smile and a nod.

Only then did Klein notice that he was being slightly impolite. He hurriedly piled up a smile and said, “My apologies. I forgot to invite you in. Shall we speak properly over coffee and black tea?”

“No need to be so polite. I arranged for those detectives to come to my house at nine in the morning to discuss the case. My assistant is waiting for them there.”

Isengard took out an intricately decorated silver pocket watch full of mechanical beauty, flipped it open, and glanced at it.

“We must go meet them now. Is that a problem?”

“No problem. I will go to the washroom and change clothes, then leave.”

At that moment, Klein suddenly recovered the feeling he had once had as a Nighthawk: fighting crime, maintaining order, and protecting the people.

Inside the washroom, Klein went above the gray fog and obtained, through divination, an answer showing that the danger was bearable. He swiftly returned to the real world, put on his coat and hat, picked up his cane, and followed Isengard into a rental carriage, where they sat on opposite sides.

Isengard glanced at him and asked, as though thinking, “I am quite curious. How did you discover that Sibel’s murder was connected to East Balam Dock and the dock workers’ union?”

I did not discover it at all… That was a misunderstanding…

Klein seriously considered how to weave the lie.

With a smile, he answered rather vaguely, “The key was first judging that Sibel’s death came from an imitation crime. This was thanks to Daily Observer reporter Mike Joseph. Once that matter was confirmed, using Sibel’s route back to Golden Rose and several other clues, I arrived at the corresponding guess and therefore disguised myself as a reporter to investigate.”

Isengard nodded lightly. He did not waste more time on this topic. Instead, he began explaining the serial murder case in detail. His explanation was much more thorough than the newspapers’, especially regarding the latest case.

Time passed quickly in discussion and exchange. The carriage arrived before a somewhat old building in Hillston Borough.

The house had poor lighting. Even though Backlund held little fog today, it still seemed rather gloomy. Isengard Stanton led Klein through a reasonably spacious living room and into a sitting room where the fireplace had already been lit.

Klein swept his gaze around and saw fifteen or sixteen detectives, who had filled every available seat in the room.

“Sherlock?”

A surprised voice rang out, sounding as though it knew Klein very well.

Who?

A little astonished, Klein looked over and discovered that Detective Stuart, from whom he had only parted yesterday, was also present.

Looking carefully, he also recognized Detective Kaslana and her assistant Lydia, who had previously protected Adol.

“What a coincidence,” Klein said, curving the corners of his mouth upward as he approached Stuart.

Stuart squeezed to the side, making half a seat for him, and patted it.

“Maybe it is not coincidence. I once saw a certain magazine mention a phenomenon in psychology called synchronicity—what you think of happens. Haha, only joking.”

At that moment, Isengard introduced Klein to all the detectives present.

“This is Mr. Sherlock Moriarty, an excellent detective.”

With his endorsement, Kaslana and the others clearly gained a bit more trust in Klein, believing that he truly was an outstanding private detective.

Klein nodded in response, then sat beside Stuart and casually asked, “Your commission ended?”

“Yes. Adol’s condition improved, and his bad friends also seem to have run into problems, making them no longer capable of threatening him. So, we lost our jobs.”

Stuart laughed.

“I originally wanted to rest a few days, but then I came across Mr. Stanton’s summons and decided to take a look. In truth, this is better. I dislike cases with a strange, frightening flavor—hm, I mean frightening in the ghost-story sense. By comparison, I prefer taking murder cases!”

After the assistant poured everyone coffee or black tea and distributed the materials, Isengard sat down in an armchair, took out his pipe, and slowly rubbed it.

“I believe none of you are unfamiliar with this recent serial murder case. What ideas do you have? Speak them out. We will discuss them together.”

Stuart, whose face was thin and covered in a scant beard, raised his hand and spoke first.

“I just looked through the information and discovered that the police actually did not begin the investigation with the victims’ identities.

“I believe that criminal cannot possibly identify former streetwalkers only by looking at them. He must have had contact with them. This is a very important direction, yet the police missed it! God, this is simply unbelievable!”

That criminal most likely can recognize them just by looking…

Klein silently muttered.

Most private detectives voiced their agreement with Stuart’s question. Only Kaslana, Isengard, and one or two others remained silent.

“This is an important direction. Stuart, find a few friends to help you and investigate carefully,” Isengard said steadily once the discussion quieted.

During the following time, the detectives each expressed their views. At times they argued loudly and refuted one another. At times they stood and paced, sorting out their thoughts. Klein listened quietly the whole time, not saying a word.

As the exchange neared its end, he suddenly raised his hand.

“I would like information on unsolved serial murder cases in Backlund, and even the entire kingdom, from the past twenty years.”

The room abruptly went quiet for several seconds. Most of the private detectives, for a moment, failed to understand Klein’s intention.

Isengard brought his pipe near his nose, inhaled its scent, and weighed his words before speaking.

“You believe the murderer is not a first-timer?

“You suspect that he committed similar crimes before, even if the method was not the same?”

Not suspect. Almost certain…

Klein answered silently in his heart.

This was the reasoning he had developed based on information provided by The Sun.

Since the murderer was “working hard” to advance from Sequence 6 to Sequence 5, then what had he done while at Sequence 7, Serial Killer?

If he had never committed similar crimes, digesting the potion would have been difficult. Even with the accumulation of time, advancing from Sequence 7 to Sequence 6 would still have a considerable chance of losing control—and Beyonders of the Abyss pathway were high-risk in that regard.

Therefore, Klein judged that, regardless of whether the other party understood the acting method, while at Sequence 7 he should have completed serial murders for various reasons.

In that case, digesting the Sequence 7 potion would not have taken many years. Even adding Sequence 6 on top of that, a twenty-year range remained a sufficiently reasonable restriction. If he were too old, then regardless of whether the potion had been digested, advancement would be extremely dangerous. As the ritual deepened, he would become increasingly mad and leave obvious clues.

At present, that murderer committed crimes calmly, possessed methods for interfering with divination and tracking, and had almost no openings. But the earlier, “green” version of him might not have been like that.

When he completed his first serial murder case, there was a high chance he had not been so cautious.

That was the best clue available for investigation!

Many thoughts flashed by. Klein nodded in reply.

“The criminal’s methods do not seem like those of a rookie.

“I have reason to believe he has done similar things before.

“By combining past and present, we will have a better chance of grasping the key.”

Hearing his answer, the detectives began whispering and talking with one another. After a brief silence, Isengard sincerely praised him:

“A splendid line of thought!”