He seems to have Balam blood … University lecturer … It's indeed Mr. Aztec, and not someone with the same name … With the information provided by Old Kohler, Klein basically confirmed that the person being offered the bounty was Aztec, who was suspected to be the descendant of Death.
Then, here comes the question. Who or what organization is looking for Mr. Aztec?
The Charismatic Order whose ultimate goal is to resurrect Death? Ince Zangwill, who likes to be the mastermind behind the scenes?
It doesn't seem like the latter. Ince Zangwill has Sealed Artifact 0-08, which can make a target act according to his description. Through a series of coincidences, he can achieve his desired goal. There's no need for him to use gang members and bounty hunters to find Mr. Aztec …
"Wait, what if this is Sealed Artifact 0-08's arrangement to begin with? Ince Zangwill discovered that he was targeted by Mr. Aztec, but he wasn't confident of winning the battle. Therefore, he used 0-08 to cause a conflict between Mr. Aztec and a certain faction, hoping to use indirect means to eliminate the enemy. And this bounty was issued by that faction … It's very possible!
However, I can't rule out the possibility of Charismatic Order. Mr. Aztec might have come into contact with them in order to seek revenge, but the two parties had a major disagreement over the matter of resurrecting Death, which eventually led to a rupture …
Klein instantly thought of two possibilities and the corresponding reasons.
He took a sip of his coffee and said to Old Kohler, "Help me find out who issued this bounty mission and the exact price.
"Help me find out who posted this bounty mission and the specific price. If it's suitable, maybe I'll pay attention to it."
"No problem." Old Kohler didn't think there was anything wrong with Klein's request.
In a sense, there was no essential difference between a private detective and a bounty hunter. The only difference was in the way they presented themselves. The former would even do trivial things like catching an adulterer, finding a cat, and helping someone walk a dog. Furthermore, they preferred inference over violence.
After Old Kohler finished recounting his other experiences, Klein briefly taught him some techniques for eliciting information, as well as the emergency response plans for specific scenarios, according to the Nighthawks' tutorials.
"It's time for me to go to the dock. Thank you, Detective Moriarty. You've given me a beautiful life again!" Old Kohler picked up the worn-out bonnet on the table and thanked him sincerely.
In his opinion, the detective had not only provided him with a well-paid job, but he had also taught him many useful things. Even if the detective no longer needed an informant in the future, these skills would be enough for him to survive in the East Side, especially when he was getting older and unable to do heavy work.
A good life? In my opinion, what you have right now is the most basic life for a person … After watching Old Kohler walk out of the cheap coffee shop, Klein sat there in a daze.
This was the first time he had heard the name of a friend from someone else since he came to Baekeland. It was also the first time he had a chance of grasping Ince Zangwill's whereabouts!
In the past three months, especially after killing Lanevus, Klein's main goal had always been to digest the potion and improve himself.
This was because he knew very well that there was an insurmountable gap between him and Ince Zangwill, who was most likely a High-Sequence Beyonder. Revenge couldn't be rushed, especially when it came to the chilling Sealed Artifact 0-08. He didn't even have the thought of approaching or investigating it.
The scenes that had happened in Tingen City's Blackthorn Security Company reappeared in Klein's mind. The pair of shiny leather shoes was as clear as if they were right in front of his eyes.
Raising his head and slowly exhaling, Klein took his scarf and hat and walked out of the cheap coffee shop.
…
Hillston Borough, outside a somewhat old house.
Klein got out of the carriage, pressed down on his hat, and went straight for the door.
This was Eichinger Stanton's home.
The great detective had written a letter to Klein a few days ago, inviting him over as a guest to discuss a murder case.
As Klein was busy with the financing of the bicycle project, he tactfully replied that he wasn't free to express his rejection. To his surprise, Eichinger Stanton didn't mind. He said that the case had reached a dead end and that there wouldn't be any breakthroughs in the short term. He was very happy to wait for Detective Sherlock Moriarty's visit, looking forward to an exchange that would spark the sparks of wisdom.
Klein had no choice but to divine a suitable date for his visit. He chose the one closest to the negotiation, which was this afternoon, and he wrote back to finalize the matter.
Ding dong, ding dong.
Klein rang the doorbell twice and took a step back to wait.
After more than ten seconds, the door creaked open. Detective Eichinger's assistant smiled and said, "Good afternoon, Detective Moriarty.
"Good afternoon, Detective Moriarty. Mr. Stanton is waiting for you in the living room. Would you like coffee or tea?"
The assistant was thin and wore gold-rimmed glasses. He looked both gentle and professional.
Klein looked up at him and said, "Black tea.
Don't add lemon slices. "
"No problem." The assistant led Klein into the living room and pointed to the living room's door. "I'm sorry, but our servants are all temporary. They happen to be off today, so I'll have to trouble you to head over yourself."
Klein nodded slightly and walked to the living room on the first floor.
As he raised his hand to knock on the door, he suddenly felt that something was amiss.
My visit to Mr. Stanton was arranged a few days ago. How did I happen to encounter all the temporary servants taking a break?
Klein narrowed his eyes and reached out to take out a copper penny.
At this moment, the door of the living room was pushed open by a knock, and a crack appeared on it.
In an instant, it was as though some seal had been removed as the strong smell of blood wafted out, drilling into Klein's nose.
In his line of sight, the reclining chair in the living room was overturned, stained with dark red blood. A book had fallen to the side with its cover facing up.
With just a glance, Klein felt as though he had seen the scene of a murder.
The name of the book was reflected in his eyes:
The Legend of the Devil in the Sivelas Region.
Devil … Klein was just about to take action when a gust of wind suddenly blew in the living room, pulling the door back quickly.
Creak!
Klein clearly saw the complete scene inside the living room.
The charcoal in the fireplace had long been burned out, and the red was no longer visible.
The coffee table, sofa, chairs, cupboards, and other items were either toppled or shattered, as though they had witnessed an intense battle.
There were plenty of bloodstains on the carpet and walls, accompanied by a large number of burn marks. However, there wasn't a single corpse to be found, not even a severed limb.
Did something happen to Detective Stanton? Klein suddenly took a step back, intending to leave this place first.
But almost at the same time, he felt someone lock onto him.
Someone who was hiding somewhere was staring at him coldly and mercilessly!
The moment he made a mistake in his response, he would immediately suffer a fatal attack!
How is this a suitable time to visit Eichinger Stanton? Is there something wrong with my interpretation of the revelation? Klein didn't dare to act rashly.
However, he wasn't too nervous or flustered. Having experienced many battles and "performances," he knew that the most important thing to do at this time was to remain calm.
Tap, tap, tap. Eichinger Stanton's assistant walked over with a tray.
On the tray was a tin teapot and two white porcelain cups.
The assistant saw the scene in the living room and froze in place.
He looked at Klein, his expression suddenly filled with fear as he enunciated each word.
He said word by word, "You, killed, Stanton, sir …"
Every time he spat out a word, a piece of flesh fell off his face, dripping with blood.
By the time he finished speaking, he was torn into pieces, turning into a dismembered corpse. It was as if he had always been in this state, except that he had just been stitched up.
Clang! Crack! The tin teapot and white porcelain cups fell to the ground at the same time, either rolling or splashing. The black tea quickly soaked the surroundings.
Klein didn't move as he watched all of this happen, because he felt that he was still being watched.
The person who had caused all of this seemed to be waiting for him to make a move before pouncing on him from behind and biting off his neck.
After an unknown period of time, in a silent and strange stalemate, Klein saw the door to Eichinger Stanton's house open, and a group of police officers in black and white checkered uniforms rushed in.
They discovered the disgusting and terrifying dismembered corpse on the ground and immediately pulled out their revolvers, pointing them at Klein at the door of the living room.
Faced with the black muzzles, Klein relaxed.
The silent gaze that seemed to have a gun pressed against the back of his head disappeared in an instant!
Klein raised his hands and smiled helplessly.
"I won't say anything until I see my lawyer."
...
Baekeland Police Department's Hissac Station.
Handcuffed to the water pipe, Klein saw Lawyer Jurgen once again.
"I'll accompany you for the interrogation." Jurgen's expression didn't change at all, as if Detective Moriarty should be here.
Klein sighed and said, "What a tragedy.
At a time like this, I should be thinking about what to eat for dinner, not chatting with a stern-faced police officer. "
What he was most thankful for today was that due to the Aurora Order's investigation and the attention of the High-Sequence Beyonders of Rose School, he didn't bring any Beyonder items with him. The only revolver he had was easily evaded a body search through a "magic" performance.
After entering the interrogation room, without waiting for the police officer to question him, he recounted how he had received a letter from Eichinger Stanton and how he had agreed to discuss a case.
"We'll go to your house with Lawyer Jurgen later to retrieve these letters. I hope they're still there." The officer in charge of the interrogation turned to ask, "How did you and Detective Eichinger Stanton meet?"
Klein answered without hesitation, "That's right.
"Because of the previous serial murders …"
At this point, he was suddenly taken aback.
He remembered something. He had always suspected that the Devil dog had a master behind it, and he had once snorted coldly at the scene of the Devil dog's death.
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