Chapter 340: Past

A-aren't you making things difficult for me? Upon hearing

Aaron's request, Klein almost drew the crimson moon on his chest, but he

ultimately resisted the urge and replied very seriously, "Perhaps

there's something about my behavior that has led you to misunderstand.

"But I have to tell you that faith is something that cannot be changed

after it's decided upon."

Aaron immediately raised his arms and made an apologetic gesture.

"I'm sorry that I misunderstood your faithfulness. I shouldn't have

taken your faith as a joke.

"Alright, our differences in faith do not prevent us from becoming

friends."

Klein wiped away the fake expression he put on and smiled.

"That's not true in Feysac and Feynapotter. They can only accept one

faith."

In comparison, with so many Churches coexisting for more than fourteen

hundred years, Loen and Intis are much more open in this respect.

Before Aaron could answer, he casually changed the subject.

"Did you see Will Auceptin again? I'm referring to the kid that had one

of his legs amputated, the one who said that your luck would turn for

the worse."

He was certain that the Nighthawks would follow the clues provided by

Aaron, so he wondered what the outcome was. He was curious if the child

who changed Aaron's luck still had the tarot card in his possession.

"No, I haven't seen him since he left the hospital." Aaron shook his

head firmly.

*What a pity. The Nighthawks can find his address according to the

hospital's records, and it's not convenient for me to be involved... Of

course, the child might've moved away long ago.* After a brief

exchange with Aaron, Klein decided to head for the underground shooting

range, familiarizing himself with his free revolver with ordinary

bullets.

At this moment, two more acquaintances came in. One was a member of the

National Atmospheric Pollution Council, Coim Company shareholder, Ma'am

Mary, and the other was Klein's landlord, Stelyn Sammer. They were all

wearing relatively light skirts, making them look much younger.

According to the rules of the club, each member could only bring in one

additional person; therefore, Mary's maid and her bodyguard were left in

the reception hall.

Klein politely greeted them and praised them out of courtesy, "Ladies,

you two are as beautiful as ever today, and yet there is a beauty that's

different from your usual beauty."

Having come into contact with a lot of important figures recently, Mary

smiled and said, "Roselle said that exercise is a necessity of life, and

Stelyn is always at home, dealing with trivial matters. Even when she's

out, she would be participating in parties and listening to operas. Her

health is much worse than it used to be, so I brought her here to play

tennis and squash."

With her high cheekbones, she looked around and saw a member of the

House of Commons and two other Members of Parliament of the greater

Backlund area. She then turned to Stelyn and said, "I see someone I

know. Excuse me while I head over to greet them. You can wait for me at

the library."

"Alright." Compared to Mary, Stelyn was clearly much prettier, but

towards this lady, she seemed very respectful and docile.

After Mary had gone some distance away, she slightly raised her chin,

looked at Klein and asked, "Mr. Moriarty, you seem very busy these

days?"

"Yes, I was working with a lot of detectives to help the police

investigate the serial murder case. We made a certain contribution and

received quite a sizable reward," Klein answered truthfully.

Stelyn covered her mouth with her hand.

"Really?

"What did the murderer look like? Why did he kill those ladies? The

newspapers had been very vague."

"I'm sorry, I have to comply with the confidentiality clause." Klein

deftly made up an excuse.

*It's not like I can tell you that it had a body of black fur; a smooth,

glistening tail; and that it likes to run on all fours...* Klein

lampooned inwardly.

Stelyn nodded regretfully, and then she asked curiously, "So how much

did you get?"

"It was split among quite a number of us." Klein didn't answer directly.

"Was there fifty pounds?" Stelyn pressed.

"Yes." Klein nodded "honestly."

Stelyn Sammer smiled.

"You earn a lot more than I imagined. You really are a capable

detective."

"No, it might take years to come across such a case." Klein smiled and

shook his head.

"No matter what, you have proven your ability." Stelyn's eyes looked

like they were thinking as she said, "Next Sunday, Luke and I will be

hosting a party at home. I hope you can come, um, sorry. I was very

presumptuous. I'll have my maid send the invitation to you. Heh heh,

there will be a lot of unmarried ladies at the party, and their fathers

or mothers will have decent jobs, and their families will earn more than

200 pounds a year. Some of them have part-time jobs that they can do at

home, such as being a typist. They're all very excellent women."

*Th-this is a blind date party... Mrs. Stelyn has approved of my ability

to make money as a detective, so she plans on introducing me to a girl?

But in her eyes, am I only fit to be with a woman at that

level?* Many thoughts flashed through Klein's mind, but after

considering the need to maintain their neighborly friendliness and the

trouble of preparing his own dinner, he agreed with a smile.

"If all goes well, I'll be there on time."

Stelyn smiled and said, "Then Luke and I will be awaiting your visit."

She left without another word and entered the small library of the club,

while Klein proceeded to practice his shooting and Beyonder powers in

the small, enclosed shooting range.

At 9 o'clock at night, Klein was sitting at his desk, watching as the

crimson moon gradually pierced through the clouds, revealing a full

body.

The water-like, light red "veil" slowly spread out, and time passed by

the minute. When it was quarter past ten, he heard illusory pleas that

seemed layered.

Klein easily guessed that it was from Miss Magician.

Closing the curtains, he switched off the lights, took four steps

counterclockwise, and went above the gray mist. There, he reached out to

touch the shrinking and expanding crimson star.

In a split-second, the hazy figure of Fors appeared on the chair with

the symbol of a layered door.

She let out a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed.

"Honorable Mr. Fool, you have saved me once again."

"That's not something to worry about," Klein replied in a very light,

casual tone.

Fors was left speechless and sat down again.

She was considering what had just happened, so she didn't say anything.

As for Klein, he didn't take the initiative to bring up any subjects in

order to maintain his image.

Within the towering palace which looked like a giant's residence, the

silence quickly transformed into the main theme.

When Fors snapped back to her senses, she suddenly felt that this

atmosphere was a little oppressive and uncomfortable.

*During the gathering, there's still Miss Justice, Mr. World, and

company. There was no need to worry about complete silence, but now,

there's only Mr. Fool and me. What should I do? This pressure is

stifling! I need to say something, I have to. I can't just sit here like

an idiot... That's Mr. Fool! He certainly wouldn't care about anything,

but I'm so nervous and restricted!* Fors suddenly felt as though

she had found herself alone with her boss when she first entered the

workforce.

Although Klein wasn't a Spectator, he could clearly see Miss Magician's

restraint and uneasiness. He smiled and said, "Maybe you can tell me how

you became a Beyonder."

*For example, how you obtained the Apprentice formula and that

bracelet...* Klein silently added the real question he was

trying to get by.

Fors relaxed a little and recalled.

"That was almost three years ago. I just graduated from Backlund Medical

School.

"With my father's help, I entered a private clinic with pretty good

benefits. Heh, my father had already settled down in East Balam back

then.

"Ever since the safe sea route to the Southern Continent was discovered,

the outstanding youth of the kingdom started spreading their footprints

to every corner of the land. My father, as a low-level military officer,

went to East Balam to chase after wealth and power. My mother and I were

left behind in Backlund to live like widows. Heh heh, it would take

months before a distant letter sent by boat would arrive.

"This situation isn't uncommon in the kingdom. I knew an old gentleman

who had five children, but they were either in the archipelago, Western

Balam, the Paz Valley, or the Haagenti Plains. They have their own

career, their own family, and their own wealth, but they've forgotten

that there is a father waiting for their return all this time.

"When I was in grammar school, my mother fell seriously ill. I had no

choice but to helplessly watch her die on the hospital bed, and it took

my father a month to answer my letter, telling me that he had a new

family and a new life in East Balam. He gave me all his property in

Backlund plus some money. I think he felt a little guilty."

As a best-selling novel writer, Fors had mastered the art of rambling.

Since Klein had nothing to do, he listened quietly without interrupting.

Phew. Fors exhaled and continued, "Anyway, my father

introduced me to Yosifov Clinic through the veterans' club. The salary

there was really good, and I was doing pretty well, but I was a little

anxious about the future. Hence, I worked hard to learn from the senior

doctors and worked hard to save money until I met an old lady who came

to see me regularly.

"She was very lonely and childless, and her partner had passed away ten

years ago. I had some sympathy for her, so I often talked to her and

accompanied her.

"Once, I was surprised to find that she was able to walk through walls,

which opened a whole new world to me.

"That old lady said that it was something her husband left her. She

vaguely mentioned that as long as one wasn't a member of some family,

there was apparently no curse.

"Not long after, she was so ill that she was on the verge of passing

away. She asked me if I wanted to become someone like her. I was very

young then, and I still had a lot of fantasies in my head. I agreed

without any hesitation.

"She gave me the formula and told me to watch her body after she died

and take away the glowing object that would suddenly appear. And this

was the thing she left me which could be used as the main ingredient of

a potion.

"Also, she gave me this bracelet, telling me not to use it unless I'm in

absolute danger. She also told me not to pay too much attention to the

ravings during the full moon.

"Unfortunately, I was ultimately unable to avoid danger. After using it

once, the full moon's raving became worse."

*It seems like that was a widow of a particular Abraham... She had used

her own experience to prove that the "curse" only existed in the

bloodline...* Klein nodded.

"Once you become a High-Sequence Beyonder, the ravings wouldn't have

much of an effect on you."

"I hope so." Although she didn't believe she could become a

High-Sequence Beyonder, she believed in Mr. Fool.

It was Monday again, and as soon as Klein got up, he went downstairs and

saw an open sheet of paper on the coffee table in the living room.

"Effective."

That's good... Klein immediately let out a sigh of relief.

At fifteen minutes to three in the afternoon, he promptly went above the

gray fog to "prepare" for the new Tarot Club gathering.