Chapter 437: Obituary

This wasn't the first time Klein had seen someone familiar die in front

of him, but it was the most abrupt and unforeseen death. The expression

on Talim Dumont's face when he had asked about what it felt to really

like someone was a vivid expression of hidden excitement and flaunting,

but one which couldn't be directly shared due to the need of being

careful as a result of certain factors.

*That was too fast... Normal diseases do not cause death so

quickly!* Klein's expression was solemn as he lightly tapped his

molars to activate his Spirit Vision.

He dropped to one knee and crouched down. He saw Talim Dumont's aura and

the colors of his emotions fading rapidly.

Furthermore, there were strands of black gas wrapped around his heart

like a snake which were gradually dimming.

A Beyonder ability similar to a curse? Klein instantly made a

preliminary conclusion.

At this moment, a nearby red-vested attendant and a servant girl in a

black-and-white dress ran over. They looked at the dead body on the

ground in horror---his eyes were wide and round, and the corners of his

mouth still had remnant white foam.

Klein closed his eyes and instructed in a deep voice, "Go to the nearby

police station and tell them someone died here."

"Yes, Mr. Moriarty." The red-vested attendant immediately turned around

and ran out the door, so flustered that he even forgot to put on his

coat.

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Klein didn't check Talim's

belongings, nor did he try to pull out a few strands of hair for a

divination attempt when he wasn't around anyone.

His identity was already considered semi-official, so he could use the

power of the Machinery Hivemind to conduct a follow-up investigation.

There was no need for him to act as a lone hero.

Thinking of the many times he had played cards with Talim Dumont, and

how he had introduced clients and investors, and the love story that had

been hanging in his mind for so long, Klein couldn't help but take a

long, slow, deep breath.

Who's Talim's murderer?

Which Beyonder, who's adept at curses, did Talim offend?

*Judging from his attitude today, he should be in a very happy and calm

state, completely unaware of the fact that he has provoked a terrifying

character...*

Questions flashed through Klein's mind, but his lack of understanding

about Talim Dumont resulted in a lack of soil to nurture any

inspiration.

When the police arrived, he was questioned as a witness and that wasted

quite a bit of his time.

It wasn't until all of this was over that Klein had a chance to leave

Hillston Borough and head back to Lucky Bar in the Backlund Bridge area.

Carlson was still there drinking; the only difference being that his

drink had been exchanged from a strong distilled liquor made from pure

malt to golden, frothy beer.

Klein raised his right hand, covered his mouth, and squeezed over. He

lightly knocked on the table and said, "Is your job to drink here every

day?"

Carlson jumped in fright as he turned his head, relaxing only when he

saw that it was Sherlock Moriarty.

"You... What is it now?"

This reaction is very familiar... Klein sighed silently and

said gravely, "There is a case involving Beyonders."

Carlson looked around and saw that Lucky Bar already had quite a number

of patrons. They were either hollering over their glasses or eager to

fight in the ring.

"Follow me, let's play a round of billiards." Carlson nudged his thick

glasses and carried his beer to an empty billiard room.

Klein followed, closing the door behind him.

"Your alcohol tolerance seems pretty good," he said in passing.

"No, I just drink very slowly." Carlson put down his glass and picked up

the cue stick.

Then, he added inexplicably, "And I'd like some alone time lately."

I don't care about that... Klein pursed his lips and said, "I

encountered a death at the Quelaag Club in Hillston Borough. That was a

friend of mine, a noble descendant, and an equestrian teacher. He's

usually healthy and had recently been in a very good mental state, but

just now, he suddenly died in front of me. It looked like a heart

attack, but my Spirit Vision told me that he might've been cursed."

"You're adept at Spirit Vision?" Carlson asked subconsciously.

*What sort of details did Mr. Stanton fabricate for me? After becoming a

Machinery Hivemind informant, they never even asked me which pathway I

was, or which Sequence I'm at, nor did they try to find out about my

origins and background... Of course, letting an informant keep certain

secrets of their own is also a common tactic used by official

organizations...* Klein frankly responded, "Yes, the chest of

the deceased had some decaying, illusory black gas."

"It does involve the possibility of a curse and a Beyonder." Carlson

didn't ask further as he slowly nodded. "Hillston Borough... That's the

territory of our Machinery Hivemind."

In the northwest of Backlund, which was the heart of the metropolis,

Empress Borough and Cherwood Borough came under the Mandated Punisher's

jurisdiction. The western and northern areas came under the Nighthawks,

and Hillston Borough and Backlund Bridge area came under the Machinery

Hivemind.

Having said this, Carlson looked at Klein and attempted to confirm the

details.

"What deity does your friend believe in?"

After thinking carefully for a few seconds, Klein replied hesitantly,

"The Lord of Storms."

"A believer of the Lord of Storms... Is he the only deceased?" Carlson

asked with a frown.

"Yes," Klein gave an affirmative answer.

Carlson chalked the cue stick and sighed.

"We have no right to take the case. This is under the Mandated

Punishers.

"But I will pass on your information to them."

In the Loen Kingdom, the principle of jurisdiction over Beyonder events

was first to divide them according to their beliefs. If they involved

the followers of multiple deities, then it would be decided according to

who held jurisdiction over the area.

Klein was no stranger to this. He had no intention of making things

difficult for Carlson, so he earnestly said, "Thank you. I hope they can

find the real killer as soon as possible."

Carlson picked up the glass of beer beside him and took a sip.

"He's a descendant of blue-blood. The Mandated Punishers will definitely

take it seriously."

Pausing for a second, he looked at Klein and said in a low voice, "I

find it hard to believe that you've only been in Backlund for about

three months.

"You seem to have established a wide range of social connections and

possess lots of resources here."

"Some people are naturally adept at this." Klein shook his head with a

self-deprecating laugh before bidding farewell.

By the time he got back to Minsk Street, it was completely dark and the

gas lamps lining the streets were being lit by workers.

Although his relationship with Talim Dumont didn't go deep, he was an

acquaintance he met nearly every week. He was a friend he would play

cards with every now and then, and Talim was rather warm and had always

exalted him as a great detective. Furthermore, he had practiced what he

preached by introducing clients and investors.

His passing also made Klein feel sad, making him fully aware of his

helplessness towards fate.

Other than that, he was also very angry. He was angry at the murderer

who had cursed Talim to death.

*I hope that they can figure out what happened. I hope that the Mandated

Punishers doesn't run out of manpower because of Duke Negan's

assassination case...* Klein sighed as he got off the carriage

and walked towards the gate.

In the process, he discovered that there was no light at the Sammers

house next door.

*It looks like they're on their way to Desi Bay... Is this the new year

atmosphere in Backlund? Yet, I don't feel anything at all...*

Klein momentarily felt melancholic.

With these emotions in mind, he went to bed early and woke up at seven

in the morning.

In an attempt to change his mood, Klein decided to bake a homemade cake

today.

"I'll buy the ingredients after breakfast," he whispered, drinking his

milk and flipping through the newspapers.

Soon, he saw an "obituary" in the Tussock Times: "My beloved son, Talim

Dumont, passed away on 18 December due to a sudden heart disease. His

funeral will be held at the Crown Cemetery at exactly 9 a.m. on 21

December."

In the Northern Continent, due to reanimations, it was already an

ancient tradition to be buried as quickly as possible after one's death.

Of course, this was on the premise that there was no shortage of money

for a funeral.

*Sudden heart disease? Is this the final result of the investigation? Or

could it be that the Mandated Punishers are trying to lull the

culprit?* Klein frowned, unable to make a judgment.

*Perhaps I can go above the gray fog to see if it's a trap set up by the

Mandated Punishers, but there's a high probability of failure. After

all, I don't have one of his items with me, nor was I

targeted...* He took a breath, calmed down, and methodically

filled his stomach.

The subsequent attempt didn't exceed Klein's expectations. He could only

leave Minsk Street and take a bus to Hillston Borough to visit Isengard

Stanton.

The great detective walked in the warm room, pointed to the front, and

said, "Sherlock, would you like some breakfast? My chef's skills aren't

worse than mine."

"No, I've already had breakfast," Klein shook his head and declined.

Isengard stopped in his tracks and casually asked, "Where are you going

to spend the new year's? I'm planning on, no---returning to Lenburg."

"I haven't confirmed it yet. Perhaps Midseashire," Klein said,

perfunctorily.

"The scenery there was originally pretty good, but unfortunately,

there's an abundance in coal and iron resources, there was also a rather

developed shipping industry." Isengard straightened his collar and

touched the pipe in his pocket. "You seem to be a little anxious?"

"Mr. Stanton, I have something to ask you." Klein took the opportunity

when asked the question to relate, in detail, Talim Dumont's death, the

results of his Spirit Vision, his advice to the Machinery Hivemind, and

what he had seen in this morning's obituary.

Of course, he had hidden the fact that he had become an informant for

the Machinery Hivemind. He only said that for his friend, he had found

an official Beyonder he got to know due to the Desire Apostle case.

"Do you think this is a trap by the Mandated Punishers?" he finally

asked.

Holding the pipe, Isengard said thoughtfully, "I've been trying to avoid

the Mandated Punishers, and I don't know enough about the situation.

"I'll get someone to find out. If there's any news, then I'll write to

you."

"Okay, thank you." Klein bowed sincerely.

In the evening, he received a letter specially sent from Isengard. There

were only two sentences in the letter: "This case isn't handled by the

Mandated Punishers. The royal family has taken the case by claiming that

Talim Dumont is a noble."