Chapter 106: Artist Klein
After eight in the evening, in the Moretti family's dining room.
As he looked at the shallow soup left in the bowl, Benson raised his
hand to cover his mouth to give a satisfied burp.
"Although that was our third time eating it, I still find it delicious.
The sourness and sweetness of the tomato and the chewy texture of the
oxtail blends into a perfect and unique flavor. Klein, I'm sorry that
the Blackthorn Security Company caused Tingen City to lose such an
outstanding chef."
Melissa leaned backwards in her chair and nodded in agreement silently.
"This is because you have yet to try real cooking." Klein smiled humbly.
"If we have a chance in the future, let's head to Bonaparte Restaurant
on Howes Street for some authentic Intis cuisine, and also to Coastline
Restaurant in the Golden Indus borough for some southern delicacies."
These were restaurants that were always covered in the newspapers, where
the average cost per person was around a pound and a half.
"I like your cooking more," Melissa answered without hesitation.
Benson chuckled and changed the topic.
"But I ultimately feel that there's something lacking from the tomato
oxtail soup. Perhaps, it shouldn't be eaten with bread?"
Klein nodded in agreement.
"It's best complemented with rice."
"Rice..." Melissa muttered with an expression of yearning.
Tingen, which was located north, wasn't considered a big city. Besides a
few particular restaurants, it was difficult to have any chance of
eating rice.
To Benson and Melissa, this kind of food only existed in the
descriptions of newspapers and textbooks.
Looking at his sister's expression, Klein laughed.
"Wait till we save another six month's salary, and we will find a chance
to go on vacation in Desi Bay and try the delicacies there."
Desi Bay was located in the far south of the Loen Kingdom, and a third
of it belonged to Feynapotter Kingdom. It had plenty of sunlight and
beautiful scenery, and the paella there was very famous.
Before Melissa could share her opinion on saving money, Klein said, "In
another three months, I should get another raise. By then, we could
totally fulfill our desire to travel as well as save money for
necessities."
"Why?" Benson and Melissa's attention was redirected as expected.
Klein coughed lightly and smiled while explaining, "Due to my
professionalism, the police department which always collaborates with
our company intends to hire me as their part-time history consultant.
They would pay me extra, at least two pounds a week. If you see me in a
police uniform in the future and showing the corresponding police
documentation, please don't be shocked.
"Of course, as you know, the work efficiency in governmental departments
is as slow as a ninety-year-old lady's footsteps. They still have to go
through a lengthy procedure, and they're required to do a thorough
inspection of me. Hence, on my off days for the next two months, I'll be
heading to Khoy University quite often to see my mentor and the teaching
staff I know to learn more."
Seeing the shocked look in his brother and sister's eyes, he paused and
said with a strange expression, "Just like Emperor Roselle said, 'One is
never too old to learn.'"
Benson maintained a few seconds of silence before saying in a half
self-deprecating and half emotional manner, "Is it too late for me to
sign up for university? Knowledge really is wealth."
And also power... Klein added silently.
"Benson, you need Klein's grammar books and his classic literature
textbooks," Melissa said out of the blue, stealing the words from
Klein's mouth.
Benson's expression seemed to change. He gritted his teeth and said,
"Klein, pass me those books tonight.
"Even if all they do is put me to sleep, I am determined to read them
for an hour, no---an hour and a half a day.
"I swear in the name of the Goddess! If I can't do it, I will be a
curly-haired baboon!"
A smile immediately plastered across Klein's face.
"No problem."
The next morning, Klein hung his coat and hat on the clothes rack in the
break room. Then he followed Rozanne's instructions and walked to the
basement to the duty room outside Chanis Gate.
Captain Dunn and members Frye, Seeka, Royale, Leonard, and Kenley were
all there.
As his gray eyes glanced past the newly promoted Nighthawk, Dunn smiled
and said, "We have a routine meeting every Thursday to summarize past
missions and discuss various challenges."
*I am a man who has endured the test of many regular meetings as
well...* Klein lampooned. He found a seat and joked, "Do I need
to introduce myself?"
Dunn smiled and turned to look at Kenley.
"Briefly tell us about the investigation of Sirius Arapis."
Kenley was also a Nighthawk who had been promoted from a member of the
civilian staff. He wasn't very tall, his brown hair was quite thick, his
body size was average, his muscles were very toned, and he looked like
someone who was smart and capable.
He thought and said, "With Old Neil's help, we found Sirius's secret
hideout. There were many books and items at the scene. From them, we can
be certain that Sirius was one of the underground members of the secret
organization, the Aurora Order. He was also a Secrets Suppliant.
"There's sufficient evidence to show that he and Hanass Vincent sold the
Antigonus family notebook to Welch. Those who don't remember Welch can
ask Klein about him.
"We found valuable items, including three Sequence potion formulas,
which are Sequence 9 Seer, Sequence 9 Apprentice, and Sequence 8
Clown...
"The subsequent task is to use Sirius's social circle and the letters we
found to locate other outer circle members of the Aurora Order. The
focus of our search will be directed at the heretic who has infiltrated
the police department.
"Also, people who were in contact with Hanass need to be
reinvestigated."
Dunn nodded lightly and looked towards Klein.
"As you heard just now, we've obtained the Clown potion formula, but are
unable to determine if it's real. We have to wait for the Holy Cathedral
to give us feedback.
"In the mission relating to the Aurora Order, you have made a crucial
contribution. Plus, given that you shot a member of the Secret Order, it
won't be long until you accrue enough contributions to be promoted. But,
I have to remind you that not everyone is like Daly. You have to
suppress your desire and wait for three years. In order to avoid losing
control, you can't allow your mindset to be affected by our discovery of
the Clown potion formula."
*Captain, you don't understand how magical it is to 'act'... I have
already confirmed the authenticity of the Clown potion formula using
divination above the gray fog last night...* Klein nodded
obediently.
"I will keep my emotions in check."
Then Seeka Tron, the quiet Midnight Poet with white hair and black eyes,
said, "We still haven't found any clues regarding Instigator Tris. I
suspect that he has already fled from Tingen."
After they were done exchanging their new information, Klein left the
duty room and found Old Neil to continue his mysticism lessons. In the
afternoon, he went over to his combat teacher, Gawain, to do basic
strength, endurance, and overall coordination training.
With the sun still up and bright at five.
Klein took off his training costume, took a quick shower, and changed
into his original clothing. He then took the public carriage to Besik
Street.
He hadn't forgotten about the red chimney that he had seen in his dream
divination, nor did he forget about the man that he suspected to be a
member of the Psychology Alchemists who had bought supplementary
ingredients for the Spectator potion in the underground market. These
things would be inconvenient to investigate in his role as a Nighthawk.
"Number 27. Henry's Private Detective Company... Yup, it's here." Klein
found a private detective company according to the newspaper's
descriptions. It was said to be trustworthy.
He put on a mask, lowered his top hat, and flipped up his collar. He
walked up the stairs and came to the company on the second floor.
Knock! Knock! Knock! He knocked on the door that was
half-closed.
"Please come in," said a voice that seemed to be affected by phlegm.
Klein lifted his cane and pushed the door to enter. He saw the detective
company using an almost open layout. There were four employees sitting
at their respective seats partitioned into small cubicles.
"Hi, I'm Detective Henry. How may I help you?" a man in a white shirt
and black vest greeted him.
He held a smoking pipe in his hand, and he had a prominent jawline,
blade-like eyebrows, and dark blue eyes that sized up his client.
Klein used the collar of his trench coat to block half of his face as he
spoke.
"I have two matters to entrust to you. How are your rates?"
"That depends on the difficulty of the task." Detective Henry retracted
his gaze and pointed towards the sofa in the guest area. "Let's talk
over there."
Klein followed him to the semi-partitioned area and sat on the
single-seat sofa. He didn't take off his coat, nor did he take off his
hat and mask.
He purposely made his voice hoarse and said, "First, I need you to help
me find a house with a chimney that looks like this, as well as
information on who the owner and current tenant are."
As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded paper. When he opened it, there
was a chimney with its color noted down and its surrounding scenery.
This was the drawing that Klein completed by using the uniqueness of the
area above the gray fog and the method of praying to himself.
"What a great drawing..." Detective Henry complimented subconsciously.
He then knitted his eyebrows and said, "This is not complicated but very
tedious. It would require a long time and a large amount of manpower."
"I understand." Klein nodded lightly.
Detective Henry pondered for a moment and said, "Seven pounds. The price
for this job would be seven pounds. In addition, you have to give me at
least two weeks."
"Alright. Second, help me find this gentleman and find out his identity.
The only thing I know is that he occasionally appears at the Evil Dragon
Bar near the harbor borough. And he must not detect any men you send. He
is very sensitive and he has terrifying observational skills." Klein
took out the second portrait.
He intended to get in touch with a member of the Psychology Alchemists
to see if he could find any valuable information and materials. For
example, perhaps a formula that could be exchanged with Justice?
"Three pounds, such a mission would cost about three or four pounds.
Your outstanding drawing skills will help my assistant and I save time,"
Detective Henry replied skillfully.
"Ten pounds in total?" Klein found the price upsetting.
Detective Henry took a puff on his pipe and said, "Yes, and you need to
put a deposit of two pounds. When there's progress, you'll need to pay
another three to five pounds. The rest of the payment can be made when
the mission is completed."
"Then I shall come next week to check on your progress." Klein didn't
haggle over the price to prevent the observant detective from
remembering any of his characteristics.
After they signed a standard contract, he took out two one-pound notes
and passed them to the detective. He only had one pound and seventeen
soli left from his savings.
As Detective Henry watched the man wearing a gauze mask and a black
trench coat with its collar raised leave in a hurry, he had a suspicious
look in his eyes as he smoked his pipe.
Why is he looking for a house that has that kind of chimney?
*He must be an artist, or at least a professional sketch artist of some
sort...*
In the afternoon, in Viscount Glaint's luxurious mansion.
Audrey, with her maidservant in tow, followed etiquette and passed her
hand to the host. She looked at him giving her hand a quick peck.
"Your beauty accentuates my salon," Glaint first gave a compliment as
usual. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "That lady is already here.
She's a Beyonder and also an author."