The figure in the mirror was clear, but the woman in the black regal dress was nowhere to be seen. It was as though she had never appeared.
Klein secretly activated his Spirit Vision, but he didn't find anything.
Don't tell me I hired a female ghost as a bodyguard? This is even stranger than a female ghost … At least with Spirit Vision, I can see ghosts … Klein touched the Aztec copper whistle in his pocket in thought. He felt that it was still cold and gloomy, without any additional changes.
It wasn't affected by the copper whistle … Looks like it's not an undead creature … However, I can't be sure. Back when the copper whistle was buried with me, the surrounding corpses didn't show any abnormalities … Is it because those buried in the cemetery have all been placated by priests and bishops? When does it work and when doesn't work … After the ambassador's matter is over, if I'm still alive, I'll go to the cemetery to do some experiments. I'll try to figure out the scope and limitations. I can't always carry around a ticking time bomb … Klein washed his face and walked out of the bathroom.
He had just picked up the newspaper in the living room and was about to read it in the living room or bedroom when he heard the doorbell ring.
Amidst the tinkling sound, Klein suddenly tensed up. He put on his coat made of various materials and walked to the door.
He clearly remembered that danger would befall him in the next few days!
Standing behind the door, he waited for a moment. The scene outside naturally surfaced in Klein's mind.
The crimson moon was faintly discernible in the sky, and the elegant gas lamps on both sides of the street illuminated the wet road. A boy in an old coat stood there, his bright red eyes deep with some confusion.
Ian Wright? Why is he here? Isn't this the scene I saw in my dream divination? Is this a sign of impending danger? Klein opened the door and took two steps back warily.
"Detective Moriarty." Ian took off his brown round hat and bowed. "I'm here to apologize to you. I'm very sorry for involving you in such a dangerous matter."
Klein frowned slightly.
"What you should do is go to the police station."
Ian looked around and bowed his head slightly.
"I just came out of MI9."
Ah? That's the name of the special department in the military? Klein made way and pointed to the living room.
"Maybe we can talk."
I have to at least know why I'm in such a passive situation … He sighed in his heart.
Ian didn't stand on ceremony. He followed Klein into the living room and sat in the same seat as last time.
Just as he was about to speak, Klein suddenly added,
"If what you want to say will put me in greater danger, then don't say it."
"No, everything will be over soon." Ian had a calmness that didn't match his age.
Klein heaved a sigh of relief.
"Then, what exactly happened?"
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly saw a figure appear in the oriel window across the living room. She was dressed in a black regal dress, with light blonde hair tied into a bun. Her eyes were blue, and she had exquisite features. Her face was pale. She was none other than the woman who had greeted him through the mirror.
The woman seemed to have found an illusory high-back chair and sat down. Her left hand supported her right elbow and her right hand supported her cheek. She put on an expressionless face and listened.
"…" Klein was momentarily at a loss as to how to react.
At this moment, Ian, who had been silent for a few seconds, whispered, "Actually, Detective Zreal is a spy for the Feysac Empire.
"Actually, Detective Zreal is a spy for the Feysac Empire. He adopted a few homeless children and taught them how to gather intelligence. One of them is me."
So that's how it is … I'm involved in a major spy case … Klein was enlightened.
Ian looked at the coffee table and continued, "We have the advantage of age.
We often don't get noticed by others, so we can gather a lot of useful information. Two weeks ago, I happened to discover clues to Helmosuin's manuscript. "
"Helmosuin?" Klein found the surname somewhat familiar.
Ian looked up at him and explained, "Turani von Helmosuin, the greatest scientist after Rosell The Great.
So it's him! Ian looked up at him and explained, "Turani von Helmosuin, the greatest scientist after Rosell The Great.
So it's him! Klein immediately recalled the relevant introduction.
Not only was he a great scientist, but he was also a mad scientist. He believed that humans were fundamentally flawed and that they could only obtain the ultimate truth with the help of machines. He loved to eat sweets and seemed to use them as a source of energy for himself. He mysteriously disappeared while researching the third-generation difference engine. He was an important figure that various countries were trying to find.
"His manuscript? A manuscript that involves the third-generation difference engine? "Klein probed.
The difference engine was a mechanical device used for calculations. It could effectively improve the efficiency of scientific research and various projects. From Klein's point of view, it was an alternative computer in the age of steam. Of course, it only had computing capabilities at the moment.
Ian shook his head and said, "I'm not sure.
I didn't actually see it. Perhaps there are some related ideas. "
He paused and recounted what had happened again.
"I reported this matter to Detective Zreal. He was very happy and asked me to investigate the clue while he immediately reported it to his boss."
"I spent some time and finally determined the whereabouts of the manuscript, but I was afraid of danger and didn't steal it directly. I decided to return to Detective Zreal. After that, it was what I told you. Detective Zreal's house was infiltrated, and many of the small mechanisms weren't restored. He didn't respond to my contact request, and the Zmanger gang tried to capture me …"
"Through your help, I confirmed Detective Zreal's death and took a false tooth from his corpse. Yes, after we parted ways."
"Detective Zreal told me that the inside of the false tooth was engraved with a method to contact his boss in an emergency. Even he didn't know the method. It would only be removed if an accident happened."
Klein nodded slightly.
"So you sent a telegram?"
A rare look of surprise flashed across Ian's face.
"Did someone from MI9 tell you that?"
"No, a friend of mine happened to see you at White Rum Street." Klein casually made up an excuse.
"Yes." Ian nodded dejectedly. "I contacted Detective Zreal's boss in Baekeland through a telegram and arranged a time, place, and method of meeting in a secret message. But soon, I was found by the Zmanger gang. No, to be precise, I was found by the intelligence agents of Intis. This was told to me by someone from MI9."
"Fortunately, MI9 arrived in time, and both sides fell into a chaotic battle. I took the opportunity to escape."
"But when I met with Detective Zreal's boss this afternoon, I was ambushed by the intelligence agents of Intis again. Unfortunately, I was caught by them. I-I was afraid of death and told them everything I knew. However, they didn't keep their promise and still wanted to kill me. At this time, MI9 finally found me."
At times like this, you're like a fifteen-year-old boy … Just as Klein was feeling wistful, he suddenly thought of a problem from Ian's words.
Previously, when he discovered that Zreal's corpse had a seemingly important item left behind, and that it had been successfully taken away by Ian, he had only believed that the Beyonder on the other side wasn't of a high level and wasn't strong enough. The effects of "mediumship" weren't good, and he wasn't able to obtain much useful information, resulting in a mistake.
However, after confirming that the ambassador had a Mid-Sequence Beyonder of the Seer pathway, this matter became very strange. It was impossible for the fake tooth to not be discovered under a powerful "mediumship."
And the corpse was thrown in such a remote and difficult to find place, so it didn't seem like a trap.
Combined with Ian's description, the answer was obvious.
Klein nodded.
"Have you ever thought that there might be a traitor around Zreal's boss, a traitor who has defected to the Intis intelligence agency?"
"That's why Zreal was exposed and died after obtaining clues to the manuscript. It's also why you were ambushed."
It was precisely because the Intis ambassador knew the situation of Zreal's boss that he didn't care much about the emergency contact information engraved on the inside of the fake tooth!
Zreal's report to his boss had directly led to his accident!
Ian was stunned when he heard that. After a long while, he clenched his fists in frustration and tried his best to remain calm.
"I actually didn't think of that. You're really an excellent detective …"
He quietly exhaled and described, "I also told MI9 about the whereabouts of the manuscript, as well as everything else.
"I also told MI9 about the whereabouts of the manuscript and everything else. They mentioned what happened to you. Heh, they didn't even suspect that I was lying, and they didn't send anyone to watch over me. All of them went to snatch the manuscript. However, under that kind of pressure, no one could lie."
At this point, Ian stood up and bowed deeply.
"Please allow me to apologize once again."
"I'm sorry for getting you involved in such a matter. Actually, there's no need for you to hide anything for me."
Klein, who understood the reason, smiled.
"No, in this matter, it was mainly because I made a mistake that I ended up in my current situation."
As he listened, he reviewed the entire matter according to Ian's description and his reflection over the past few days. He confirmed that he had made two mistakes:
"I discovered that Ian's matter was a little complicated, but I still accepted the commission. That wasn't a problem. Back then, I just felt that it would involve gangs, and at most one or two Beyonders who didn't dare to expose themselves. As for the lack of enough information in the divination, the result was a failure … This was within the scope of what I could resolve myself. Normally, there wouldn't be any trouble. I might even be able to take the opportunity to make contact with the Beyonders in Baekeland.
"After finding Zreal's corpse and confirming that the matter was very complicated, considering the sensitive nature of my identity, I decisively withdrew and let Ian handle the aftermath himself. That wasn't a problem. It was a rather prudent choice."
"One of the mistakes I made was that I didn't decisively admit defeat when Meursault came knocking on my door and divulged the matter regarding Ian. Back then, I only thought that it was a gang or a few Beyonders behind the gang. Who knew that it would involve a figure like the Ambassador of Intis? What was even more unexpected was that Meursault was so rash. After failing the commission, he didn't threaten or intimidate me, nor did he go through any other procedures. He directly came knocking on my door to kill and channel my spirit. He didn't give me a chance to back out at all. As a result, my situation worsened."
"So, this wasn't a very subjective or serious mistake."
"The mistake that really caused me to be in such a passive position was a small mistake at the very beginning. I didn't disguise myself when renting the house and accepting the commission under the name of Sherlock Moriarty!"
"This resulted in me not daring to escape after my identity as a Beyonder was exposed to the ambassador. Even though I showed fear and panic, making MI9 and the police believe that it was only natural for me to escape, I didn't dare to escape. I was afraid that the ambassador wouldn't be able to find a target for revenge and would mention it to the officials in passing. And according to my experience as a Nighthawk, most law enforcers are hostile towards uncontrollable Beyonders. They definitely wouldn't ignore me just because I'm a Low-Sequence Beyonder, and they would definitely launch an investigation."
"When the time comes, my looks will be clear evidence. I'll be pursued by the High-Sequence Beyonders of the Church of the Goddess due to my involvement in a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact and my resurrection."
"Such a matter can't be pinned on the other party suddenly forgetting or not taking it to heart. I have to plan for the worst in advance. If I wait until the ambassador takes any action to deal with it, it will definitely be too late. Be it the assassination, finding a bodyguard, or buying items, they all require sufficient time."
"Only if the ambassador dies, and his assistant dies as well, or if the attention is diverted to investigating the cause of the ambassador's death, can I resolve this latent danger. His assistant doesn't have any official status and can't directly interact with the officials. For a mere Sequence 9, or at most Sequence 8, and whose whereabouts are unknown, it's impossible for him to go through so much trouble to report me."
"Of course, his death is the best outcome. That way, there won't be any latent dangers."
"Compared to seeking Mr. Aztec's help and being noticed by 0-08 again, as well as being pursued by High-Sequence Beyonders, assassinating the ambassador is a relatively simple choice … If I fail, I can only endure one of these two outcomes …"
"Sigh, everything stemmed from a tiny oversight at the very beginning. I only thought that in a metropolis with more than five million people, a metropolis where no one knows me, and that I can avoid the Nighthawks, there's no need for me to disguise myself every day. This would instead make it easier for others to see through me. In the end, for such a tiny mistake, I ended up paying the price of more than ten thousand pounds, and it might not even be resolved …"
"I'm really like a clown, making a mistake and causing a chain reaction. Then, I'll struggle with all my might and try my best to balance myself to please the audience …"
"This is the disadvantage of not having any experience. This is the first time in my two lives that I've been a fugitive."
"When this matter is completely resolved, it won't be that dangerous to expose my identity as a Beyonder. They will only think that I recently obtained the potion while looking for a bodyguard, and not suspect my origins. Of course, I'll have to get used to wearing glasses and growing a beard to let the people around me gradually get used to my new appearance. When they ask about me in the future, they will only think of such an image."
After figuring out the entire matter, Klein's smile became even more obvious, making Ian feel odd.
"I should go. I'll be disappearing for a while, or I might very well be thrown into prison." Ian put on his hat and bade farewell.
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