Chapter 252: Epilogue

As soon as Klein's fingers touched the black eye, he heard illusory

sounds as a throbbing pain seared through his head.

But, at the same time, something strange appeared in his vision.

These were countless illusory black threads that spread out from Miss

Bodyguard and his own body. They emanated from their bodies, out into

the void towards some boundless distance.

This was a scene that would horrify people with trypophobia.

Klein suddenly gritted his teeth, unable to endure the corruptive

feeling any longer as he placed the black eye into the iron cigar case.

Everything restored to normal, and the negative side effects he suffered

subsided.

Only then did Klein have the energy to make guesses.

Is that the essence of a Marionettist's Beyonder powers?

*It allows one to see and control certain threads connecting every

person's body and spirit?*

*What a pity that it's contaminated. The side effects are too great, and

it cannot be used as a mystical item...*

*For now, disregarding an attempt to purify it above the gray fog, this

will be considered the second time that I'm provoking the True Creator,

so it is very likely that "He" would prepare "Himself" and seek me

out... If that happened, I probably wouldn't have a chance of reviving

again... I should learn and master the relevant knowledge before making

a decision...*

Phew. He exhaled, and after Miss Bodyguard chose the crude

paper figurines and the corresponding materials, he bent down again to

pick up the 13 pounds 5 soli and 8 pence.

Then, looking at Rosago's headless body and the blood all over the

floor, he said, with a slight headache, "Let's clean up the scene."

The pale blonde Miss Bodyguard floated to the side and calmly said, "Let

me do it."

You? Klein stopped, puzzled and shocked, before turning his

head.

Miss Bodyguard floated to Rosago's side, crouched down, and went to lie

down over the body.

She slowly sank in and fused with the corpse!

The fingers of Rosago's body twitched twice, and the blood, brain

matter, and fragments around it flowed backward, forming a new head at

the neck.

However, the head was covered with countless cracks, just like a

disgusting toy made from tiny fragments.

It was like glass that had been shattered but didn't crumble

immediately. There was still blood and brain matter flowing inside it,

as well as the reflection of the bullet from the revolver.

Klein couldn't help but take a step back, feeling that this was

definitely one of the most terrifying forms in any ghost story.

Rosago's corpse climbed to its feet, picked up the police cap, and half

covered its face. The murder scene had been cleaned, leaving zero

traces.

Incomparable professionalism! Klein marveled in his heart.

He watched as Miss Bodyguard steered the corpse to lumber to the door.

He subconsciously warned her, "Don't take a carriage or walk in

brightly-lit places."

It would frighten the carriage driver and other passers-by!

Miss Bodyguard didn't stop, completely ignoring his words.

Suddenly, Klein thought of something. He realized what he had overlooked

as he quickly added, "On the way back, go to the Rice police station,

Sergeant Faxine's home, or search around Minsk Street for the clothes

Rosago was originally wearing."

*Rosago came wearing a police uniform, and the powers of a Faceless were

obviously limited to himself, so where were his previous clothes? He

couldn't have been wearing a police uniform all night! If MI9 and the

police found Rosago's clothes nearby and realized that I'm not hurt,

things would be a little tricky... Miss Bodyguard is an expert that's

not considered a legal Beyonder. For a normal detective to pay 1000

pounds to hire a bodyguard is enough to arouse suspicion...*

Klein kept thinking, trying to seal all the loopholes ahead of time.

Just as he was about to use his divination ability to help Miss

Bodyguard find Rosago's old clothes and return the missing uniform,

Rosago's corpse paused and replied in a rusty voice, "I know."

*Eh, she seems very confident... Oh right, Miss Bodyguard's state is

between the physical body and the spirit body, and the principle behind

divination is to travel the spirit world with an Astral Projection...

Thus, she can rely on her instincts to divine...* Having

realized this, Klein didn't say another word. He handed the cartridge

case to Rosago's corpse and watched it open the door, walk out, and

close the door politely.

*The spoil of war that I chose is a Beyonder characteristic contaminated

by the True Creator. I believe that no one would be able to divine it.

Even if they did, they would feel the danger ahead of time and wouldn't

dare to proceed with the divination...* While thinking over the

matter, Klein walked back to the sofa and sat down, feeling a lingering

sense of fear.

The battle had lasted no more than a minute, nor had it been fierce

enough to destroy anything, but the ferocity and danger of it had been

second only to what he had experienced when facing Megose and the baby

in her womb.

Even with the powerful Miss Bodyguard and the Language of Foulness, he

had almost fallen under Rosago's control and killed without being able

to put up a resistance.

*The ability of a Marionettist is very odd and very powerful! According

to the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Conservation, the Beyonder

characteristic left behind by Rosago should include all of the main

ingredients of the potions Sequences 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. If it wasn't

contaminated by an evil god, if it was matched with the supplementary

ingredients, an ordinary person could instantly become a Sequence 5

Beyonder. Of course, this kind of advancement method---one depending

entirely on luck---has long been abandoned by history. It's the most

primitive and most dangerous method...*

*Advancing step by step according to the Sequence is the best way that

has been verified by the lives of countless predecessors... If I can get

rid of the corruption of the True Creator in the future, then I can also

use the Beyonder characteristic left behind by Rosago when advancing

from Sequence 6 to Sequence 5. The additional characteristics will only

make me stronger, like the Captain...*

As Klein recalled the past, he raised his hand to pinch his forehead. He

turned to think about something more important.

*Rosago's appearance meant that the struggle for the manuscript had

ended... Could his lack of charms have to do with him finishing all his

charms in the battle? To come at such a critical juncture, it's likely

he had the intention of diverting attention... Heh, MI9 probably didn't

expect him to seek revenge so boldly under such circumstances. They

didn't send anyone to monitor me and could only passively wait for

Rosago to give them the "signal"...*

*Rosago was Bakerland's assistant, and his actions should be directed

only by Bakerland. After his death, as long as Bakerland is dead, there

would be no more latent dangers left... I wonder if the assassination

has begun or if it succeeded...*

*Hmm... Tonight, because of the battle over Helmosuin's manuscript, the

powers defending Bakerland would be at its weakest. If it were me, I'd

definitely not miss this opportunity. I'm sure Bakerland didn't think

that someone would assassinate him!*

With nothing to do, Klein fished out a coin and, with recited with a

suppressed tone, "Bakerland is already dead."

Ding!

The penny tumbled in the air and fell down into the palm of Klein's

hand, head facing up.

It meant a positive result!

Bakerland is dead? The assassination was a success? Klein was

overjoyed, his tensed up nerves immediately relaxed.

Without Rosago's interference, he believed that the result was correct!

This matter has finally ended... Klein took a deep breath and

slowly exhaled.

He leaned back slowly on the sofa and looked out of the window at the

faint crimson moon amid his fatigue and relief.

Inside the Intis Republic's embassy, two military officials were

squatting beside Bakerland's body, examining the cause of his death.

Their partners and their superior had already gone out, chasing in a bid

to capture the assassin. However, everyone knew that it was already too

late. There was no hope left.

"There's severe lung damage, suspected to be the result of a disease...

An extremely strong fatal blow, one much stronger than all the Sequence

5 Beyonder attacks I've ever seen..." one of the military officials said

in a low voice.

"Disease? On the floor and on the bed, there are obvious marks of flesh

and blood magic on the ground and on the bed, but none on the wall.

Besides, the commotion of the fight wasn't transmitted outside. Finally,

with the lethal blow having the characteristics of corruption and

obliteration, there are at least four unconnected Beyonder powers..."

Another military official stood up and began to describe the situation

as if he was talking to himself.

He suddenly stopped and looked at the other military official. They said

in unison, "Shepherd!"

After a few seconds of silence, the squatting military official frowned

and said, "It might be a group with at least four different

Beyonders..."

"Then, we'll wait to be judged! It's normal for us not to discover the

infiltration of a single Rose Bishop, but how did the other three do it?

It's impossible!" The standing military official denied the guess as he

hesitantly said, "However, I have heard of another Sequence that can

create similar effects. I-I think it's called Scribe. I don't know what

pathway it is, nor do I know which organization it belongs."

The squatting military official nodded and said, "A Shepherd is the

prime suspect. The Aurora Order are a bunch of lunatics. It's nothing

odd for them to do anything! Let's begin investigating the identity of

the woman that seduced the ambassador. Damn it. The Loen Kingdom

definitely won't permit our investigations!"

"Those Aurora Order bastards are lunatics who deserve to be f\*cked by

donkeys!" The standing military official shook his head in frustration.

They were bound to be punished for the ambassador's assassination.

At 15 Minsk Street, Klein pretended as though nothing had happened.

Putting up with his fatigue, he flipped through the papers.

After about twenty minutes, he suddenly saw Miss Bodyguard, in her black

regal dress and long, pale blonde hair, appear in the oriel window.

"Is it done?" Klein subconsciously asked.

Miss Bodyguard nodded slightly without a word.

Phew... Klein thought for a moment before saying, "Thank you

for your protection. This matter ends here.

"I'll pay you the remaining 900 pounds in two days. As you know, there's

a withdrawal limit.

"Or should I hand it over to Maric?"

The pale-faced lady opened and closed her mouth, her voice seemingly

ethereal as it echoed in the air.

"Just give it to me.

"I promised to protect you for three days, not just once."

*Lady, you really abide by the contract... However, this would be very

inconvenient for me... Are you going with me to catch the adulterers in

bed tomorrow? Three days. Today is Thursday, and the protection would be

over by Sunday afternoon. Yes, thankfully, it wouldn't affect the Tarot

Gathering...* Klein rubbed his forehead and said, "Alright. How

should I address you?"

"You don't need to know." Miss Bodyguard lifted her gothic regal dress,

bowed slightly, and disappeared from the oriel window.