Outside Red Rose Manor, Klein walked out of the carriage with his cane in hand.
Looking at the red-uniformed soldier standing guard at the door, he closed his eyes to calm himself down.
Since the Sealed Artifact suspected to be 0-08 has been creating coincidences to prevent the woman with the sapphire ring from meeting me, then today will be no exception. I don't have to worry too much about running into her. As long as I can deceive Prince Edessak with my performance, there won't be any problems … Klein's thoughts settled as he walked towards the entrance of the manor.
After handing over the gun holster and revolver, he passed the search and was led by the manservant through the path paved with gray stone slabs. He bypassed the pool that sprayed clear spring water and entered the main house. He came to the second floor and arrived outside the room that should have been a sunroom according to the layout.
During this process, Klein's heart was in his throat, afraid of encountering an accident, afraid that the situation would develop in the worst possible direction.
Knock, knock, knock. After knocking lightly on the door, the valet leaned in front of the door and lowered his voice.
"Detective Moriarty has arrived."
After a full ten seconds of silence, a deep voice came from the room.
"Your Highness, invite him in."
Accompanying this sentence was the creak of the door opening, and a warm feeling spread outwards, a little warmer than in the corridor.
Under the watchful eyes of the two tall guards, Klein stepped onto the thick, patterned, yellow, and soft carpet.
He took a few steps forward, bypassing the cabinet that separated the inside from the outside, and saw Prince Edessak sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the rare Sun of a Baekeland winter.
That familiar and memorable round face didn't have the slightest hint of a smile, and it naturally created a serious and solemn atmosphere.
Due to the combination of the elegant fireplace and metal pipes, the room was warmer than it was at the end of spring. Prince Edessak didn't wear a coat, and his upper body was only covered in a white shirt with flower-like sleeves and a light yellow vest. The accessories such as cufflinks, brooches, and badges weren't conspicuous, but they were expensive enough.
Upon seeing this, Klein secretly heaved a sigh of relief because the woman with the sapphire ring wasn't accompanying the prince.
Thus, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.
Edessak held a cup of steaming black tea in his hand, but he didn't invite Klein to sit down.
He maintained his previous expression and asked in a deep voice,
"Is there any result from the investigation?"
"No, my divination, my mediumship, my visits, and my investigations all tell me that Talim died of a sudden heart disease." Klein responded with a pained expression and obvious self-blame. "I'm too weak in every aspect. Your Highness, you should ask for a stronger and more powerful helper."
You'd better find someone else … he added silently in his heart.
At that moment, Edessak seemed to see Sherlock and Detective Moriarty's faces clearly. He felt that the other party had aged several years, as though he hadn't been able to sleep in a long time.
This wasn't an illusion, because before Klein went out, he had used his Faceless powers to fine-tune the state of his face, making his skin look dry and lusterless. It made the messy beard that wasn't part of his body appear speckled, making his eye bags bigger, darker, and more obvious.
After a moment of silence, Edessak put down the white porcelain cup inlaid with golden threads.
"I know, it's still too difficult …"
"I'll get someone to take over the follow-up. You draft up an investigation report. Don't miss anything."
Alright! Klein clenched his fists inwardly and quickly took out a stack of folded paper from his pocket.
"Your Highness, you don't need to wait. I've always had the habit of writing."
After instructing an attendant to take the investigation report, Prince Edessak casually flipped through it and put it aside.
"Is there anything else?"
"No, Your Highness. Please allow me to take my leave. Uh, right, I'll be heading south for a period of time. I want to use the warm sunlight there to melt the pain in my heart," Klein replied with a sigh.
"This is a New Year's custom for many people in Rouen." Prince Edessak nodded slightly and turned to look at the old butler, Funkel. "Send Detective Moriarty out and send a carriage to him."
Red Rose Manor was 15 to 20 minutes' walk from the nearest town. Only when he got there could he hire a carriage.
"Yes, Your Highness." The old butler bowed meticulously.
Klein didn't let down his guard and quickly bade farewell.
He followed the old butler all the way to the entrance of the manor and retrieved his holster and weapon.
Less than a minute later, he was in a carriage for Red Rose Manor.
Leaning against the wall and watching the manor grow smaller and smaller, Klein relaxed and slowly exhaled, allowing his hanging heart to return to its original position.
He knew that he had already left the center of the stage.
Next, it's time to bid farewell to Baekeland, head south, and make a complete curtain call … After that, I'll change my face and sneak back … He calmly thought about his subsequent plans.
At that moment, his spiritual perception stirred and his spirituality tightened. He saw the carriage's door quickly open and silently close!
Before he could respond, a figure quickly outlined itself. She was wearing a heavy black dress and a sapphire ring on her hand.
A sapphire ring! Upon seeing this scene, Klein, who was about to attack or jump out of the carriage, narrowed his eyes and sat back down, not daring to act rashly.
That's a terrifying figure who possesses a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact or is a demigod of this level!
This … What I'm afraid of really happens … 0-08 or something else, where's the coincidence you created? Klein's mind and body instantly tensed up as he watched the figure completely appear.
The lady's age was completely different from her style of dressing. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a slightly round face and slender eyes. She had a cultured and elegant temperament with hidden sweetness. She was an extremely outstanding beauty.
She … Klein was taken aback at first, but he immediately recognized her and blurted out,
"Trissy!"
Isn't this the fellow who went from Instigator Tris to Witch Trissy?
How did she become the prince's woman when she's wanted?
As a member of the Demoness Sect, how did she get to Prince Edessak's side?
Furthermore, she has a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact or a mystical item of the same level!
Upon closer inspection, he realized that Trissy had changed somewhat from before. Her facial features, which weren't outstanding on their own, had become gentler and more exquisite. When combined, it was even more moving.
Upon hearing his surprised words, Trissy wasn't alarmed but delighted instead. She revealed a sweet smile.
"You know me …
"I knew you knew me!
"A detective with Beyonder powers would definitely pay special attention to all the wanted posters!"
He, uh, she looks very happy … Klein cautiously asked with some doubt, "What's wrong?
"What do you want to do?"
He clearly remembered that she wasn't a good person. Trissy had single-handedly caused the tragedy of the Alfalfa through instigation, and Trissy had caused many innocent civilians to die prematurely in Tingen City.
Trissy pursed her lips and smiled.
"It's very simple. Quickly report me to the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind! Let them come here to arrest me! "
Call the police to arrest myself? Th-this ladyboy, uh, is this woman crazy? Klein was a little confused when he heard that.
Soon, he understood the meaning behind it.
Trissy would rather be locked behind Chanis Gate than stay in Red Rose Manor. She's trying her best to escape!
To put it simply, she believes that this is more dangerous and despairing than being caught by the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers … Klein tried his best to control his expression and asked in a deep voice,
"What are you afraid of?"
Trissy was stunned for a second before she widened her eyes. Her eyes were blurry and unfocused as she said, "Someone is manipulating my life.
There are always coincidences that leave me horrified after the fact.
"And I'm becoming less and less like myself."
At this point, the corners of her mouth curled up.
"Can you imagine? I, who like those shy and cute maids, would always wake up in the arms of a naked man at dawn. Can you imagine the pain? "
I can, so I stay away from Assassins and Witches … Klein couldn't help but imagine such a scene as his heart shuddered.
Trissy continued with a seemingly self-deprecating smile.
"I thought that by working hard to advance and become Joy, I would be able to escape that strange state, so I hired someone to help me gather the corresponding Beyonder ingredients. In the end, it became even more serious.
"Sometimes, I forget many things, but they really happened. I endured the disgust and lured Talim, hoping that he would help me escape this place. Who knew that I would kill him with a curse at some point in time … Do you believe that such a thing could happen?
"Heh heh, they even changed my name, wanting me to completely abandon my past self. No! Absolutely not!
"They thought that I could only overcome coincidences in a short period of time and would soon return to the right track. Hmph, this was an illusion I deliberately created for them. So, I met you, Mr. Detective!"
Joy … Demoness … Ingredients … Klein suddenly recalled a past event. At the Beyonder gathering organized by Eye of Wisdom, Old Mister Eichinger Stanton, someone had requested to purchase the main ingredient of the Demoness of Joy potion. With the formula, he had noticed it on the spot, but he didn't care about it. Later on, he gradually forgot about it.
So it was Trissy's helper! At that time, she was already by Prince Edessak's side? Why do I have an inexplicable feeling that her smile is so poignant and beautiful … Joy is poisonous … Klein took a deep breath, his thoughts in a mess.
As he sorted out his thoughts, he casually asked,
"What did they change your name to?"
Trissy furrowed her pretty brows and replied with a misty look in her eyes,
"Trissy Cheek."
Trissy Cheek … Cheek … Cheek! Klein suddenly raised his head and felt his entire body go numb once again. His entire body was as stiff as a marble statue.
At this moment, there was only Rosell's diary echoing crazily in his mind.
"5th June. I obtained an ancient book that actually mentioned the name of the Primordial Demoness …
“? Called, Cheek … "
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