Chapter 289: Conjecture and Investigation

Audrey, who thought she knew the truth, couldn't help but imagine the

scene described by Viscount Glaint.

*Lanevus lying in the mud in the darkness, covered with rows and rows of

tarot cards. There's The Fool, Justice, The Hanged Man, The Sun, The

World, and the other Major Arcana cards and numerous numbered cards.

They would either be overturned or facing right up, and there would be

some left unturned, exposing only their backs, as if they were all part

of a large-scale, eerie tarot divination.*

This kind of scene must be very shocking!

I wonder where the card for Justice landed...

*How would the Beyonders of MI9 and the Church view this matter? Would

they believe that a new secret organization has appeared?*

*By possessing the godhood of the True Creator, the ploy between Lanevus

and the Aurora Order must definitely be significant. It definitely

would've brought a terrible disaster to Backlund and the kingdom. Yet,

this ploy was so easily foiled because of a simple mission Mr. Fool had

issued!*

This is a tussle at the level of deities?

Mr. Fool and the True Creator are considered archenemies?

It's no wonder He calls the other party the Fallen Creator...

Many thoughts flashed through Audrey's mind as her body trembled faintly

and imperceptibly.

"What are you thinking about?" Viscount Glaint, who was sitting

opposite, finally couldn't hold it in any further as he asked in

puzzlement.

Audrey abruptly snapped out of her reverie. Slightly cocking her head,

she smiled and said, "Didn't you tell me to imagine the scene of the

corpse being covered with tarot cards?"

"Haha." Glaint awkwardly smiled and sighed. "I wonder which secret

organization's member killed Lanevus. It really matches how I imagined

such things to be like. It's so---so cool!"

It's our Tarot Club! Audrey answered silently as she smiled.

"Perhaps there's no organization, but the independent act of a powerful

Beyonder?"

"Regardless, I like this style! Urge Xio and Fors and ask them when they

can find my Apothecary formula," Glaint said in excitement.

Audrey widened her eyes slightly. Looking around her, she lowered her

voice and said, "Hush, keep it down.

"How can you talk about potions here?"

Glaint gave an indifferent smile. "Don't worry. it's nothing. I had

already confirmed that other than you and me, there's only a dog."

The huge golden retriever, Susie, unconsciously shifted her position.

North Borough in Backlund. Inside a room beneath the Saint Samuel

Cathedral.

Daly, who was wearing a black hooded robe and make-up with blue

eyeshadow and red blush, gave off a charming yet cold feeling. She

randomly found a seat and picked up the document on the table.

She swept through it before her gaze suddenly froze. Her brows

immediately furrowed, and she suppressed something as she asked,

"Lanevus?

"Why wasn't I informed of this matter?

"Why didn't you inform me about the operation last night?"

Sitting at the seat of honor, Crestet Cesimir, who had hidden his chin

and lips back into his propped up collar, said deeply, "I was afraid

that you wouldn't be able to control your emotions. That would've

brought unnecessary danger to the operation, so I didn't get anyone to

inform you.

"I can understand how you feel. A Nighthawk from the Tingen squad is

currently undergoing guidance and training at the Holy Cathedral. He

plans on joining the Red Gloves, and his performance is about equal to

yours. But as the person in charge of the operation, and as a

high-ranking deacon of the Nighthawks, I had to eliminate all unstable

elements."

Daly looked at the other Nighthawk Squad Captains and deacons, and she

sneered.

"Why do you think I won't be able to control my own emotions? I'm very

calm and I won't act rashly!

"My anger will only erupt after Lanevus is caught! This is the

professional bearing of a veteran Nighthawk and a deacon!

"If I had caught Lanevus, I would let him know that men can be weak too!

I would make sure that a cold, rotten, yet stiff corpse would be

situated behind his buttocks. I would make sure that a pungent white

bone filled with thorns would be situated in front of him. I'd make it

so that those cold little fellows enter and leave his body wherever they

can!

"Damn it! You actually managed to let him die just like that!"

Crestet Cesimir looked at Daly calmly and sighed after silently

listening to her until she was done.

"How long have you been putting up with it?"

Daly froze, then muttered in frustration, like a deflated ball, "For a

very long time..."

Cesimir retracted his gaze and cast them towards the other deacons and

captains.

"Got anything?"

"From our preliminary investigations, the person who killed Lanevus is a

member of the Secret Order, a Sequence 8 of the potion name, Clown. He's

adept at using paper cards as flying knives." A deacon reported based on

the findings. "However, we are unable to confirm this guess. The tarot

cards scattered across the corpse don't seem like they were concealing

something. After all, the Beyonder didn't deal with the cards on the

wall and in Lanevus's head. We all believe the final scene was more of a

ritual or a symbolism. Therefore, we suspect that the Beyonder might

belong to an organization we don't understand. Of course, the scene

might also just be a personal preference of his."

Cesimir nodded slightly and said, "We can start from that point and

proceed with a follow-up investigation.

"Aiur, any updates on the person who tipped us off?"

The charming middle-aged man, Aiur Harson, flipped the papers in his

hand and said, "We investigated the person and discovered that his

actions were directed by a bounty hunter.

"In the process of looking for the wanted criminal, Lanevus, the bounty

hunter's companion was killed by a member of the Aurora Order. In order

to exact revenge, she secretly carried out an investigation and

eventually locked onto the target at the Workers Alliance Tavern in East

Balam Dock. Based on the target's actions and lifestyle, she discovered

Lanevus.

"Her actions have basically been verified by witnesses. There isn't

anything strange about it. We also used Beyonder means to confirm that

she has no connection with the person who killed Lanevus.

"She's in hiding now, and it's very hard to find her."

Cesimir added while seemingly in thought, "This fits very well with

Lanevus's description, that the radical and insane members of the Aurora

Order were helping him out.

"Is there any problem with the reporter who did the interview at the

union that afternoon?"

Another captain of the Nighthawks reported, "He was a fake reporter, and

according to news from the police department, he's actually a private

detective who had previously helped Mike Joseph of the Daily Observer.

Joseph was investigating the murder of Siber. We suspect that he got

some kind of lead, found the Dock Union and disguised himself to get in

touch with everyone who was suspected of being the killer.

"This guess has already been confirmed by Isengard Stanton."

Cesimir acknowledged it before switching to ask about other people who

had recently come into contact with Lanevus, but similarly got answers

that there was nothing wrong with them.

Towards the end, he said after some deliberation, "I'm very confused by

the lack of motive for the murder of Lanevus. That mysterious murderer

deserves our attention. You should continue to follow up on this matter.

"In addition, according to common sense, the Aurora Order definitely

wouldn't only have Beyonders at the Rose Bishop and Shadow Ascetic level

in a big city like Backlund. There should at least be an Oracle, or

perhaps even a Saint.

"Their ploy of receiving the True Creator's descent has failed. With

their crazy and irrational traits, I'm worried that they'll launch a

series of retaliatory acts. All of you are to be on high alert in the

near future. I'll also be staying in Backlund."

"Yes, Reverend Cesimir," the deacons and captains replied solemnly.

Crestet Cesimir paused for a few seconds before adding, "The events of

the Megose incident in Tingen and last night's incident with Lanevus

have revealed a problem. The industrial area, the dock area, and East

Borough have become hotbeds for the descent and nurturing of evil gods.

You are to send people to investigate and gather the truth about the

situation.

"If it truly is as Lanevus had described, I'll raise this matter at the

Council of Cardinals, formally exerting pressure on the kingdom and the

government to bring about the corresponding changes as soon as

possible."

Klein slept in and didn't wake up until it was late. However, it still

wasn't bright enough outside. The area was still shrouded in fog, making

it dark and cold.

This doesn't fit with my splendid mood... He grumbled. After

changing his clothes and taking his key, he returned to Minsk Street

unnoticed.

After changing from his worker's uniform to casual home attire---a shirt

and sweater---and after confirming that no one came investigating his

identity as a private detective, he was completely at ease. He leisurely

went out to the butcher and grocery store to buy food in preparation for

a sumptuous lunch for himself.

There was some afternoon sun in Backlund, and Klein lazily basked in its

worth, momentarily having no desire to do anything.

He waited until fifteen minutes to three, then he took out his golden

pocket watch for a glance before returning to the bedroom and going

above the gray fog.

After conjuring the fake World and familiarizing himself with its

controls, he sat down on the high back chair at one end of the table and

gave a message to The Sun that he was to prepare for his participation

in the gathering.

At precisely three, according to Backlund time, streaks of crimson light

soared out of the vast and ancient palace, outlining blurry figures

which were equally indistinct.

Audrey directly looked towards the seat of honor and said cheerfully,

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool.

"The 'simple' mission you entrusted has been completed."

She had deliberately emphasized the word "simple" in order to ascertain

from Mr. Fool whether Lanevus had really been eliminated by his Blessed.

She wanted to know if the tarot card-covered death scene was a symbol of

the Tarot Club.

Klein deliberately acted composed as he said with a smile, "I'm already

aware."

After saying that, he sighed.

"In such an age, in such a place like Backlund, in such a place in the

East Borough, the dock area, and the factory district, they're the

hotbeds for an evil god's descent."

What? Alger was stunned for a moment, wondering if there was

something wrong with his ears.

*Why would a simple mission involve hotbeds for an evil god's

descent?*