Chapter 459: Letting A Chance Slip

*Although I have always had the urge to pray to The Fool to get rid of

the psychological cue that Father Utravsky gave me, I also know, very

clearly, that it's dangerous to recite the honorific name of an unknown

being. Not all hidden existences will start with bait and slowly provide

guidance. In such matters, "They" are often like sharks in the sea, who

would go mad and lurch forward once they smell blood...*

But now... Lord Nibbs, no---what does the Ancestor want?

Emlyn White said, finding it rather ridiculous, "It will be very, very,

very dangerous."

Inside the black iron coffin, Nibbs Odora replied with an aged voice,

"Yes, under normal circumstances.

"But not all hidden existences are filled with malice. Among 'Them,'

they will similarly abide to rules and enjoy transactions. For example,

the seven pure lights of the spirit world.

"Since the Ancestor has given such a revelation, it means that the

danger that The Fool can bring is not too serious, or even none.

"And during this entire process, I will always be by your side to

protect you.

"Don't you want to get rid of the psychological cue? Have you already

become a believer of Earth Mother and abandoned the moon?"

"No, I haven't!" Emlyn frantically denied.

After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and said, "I wish to

have a few days to think it over."

"Alright, no problem. I believe that you will make a choice that suits

your noble identity as a member of the Sanguine." Inside the coffin,

Nibbs's voice turned soft as he smiled and comforted him.

After sending Emlyn White back to the second floor, Cosmi Odora once

again returned to the dark and gloomy underground hall, and he asked

with confusion and doubt, "Grandfather, how could the revelation given

by the Ancestor involve Emlyn White? He's just a weak member of the

Sanguine who only recently reached adulthood."

Nibbs's voice came through the thick black metal coffin lid and

reverberated in the air.

"No, the revelation provided by the Ancestor never included Emlyn White.

"'She' only showed a scene of the dawn of the apocalypse, depicting the

erosion of the crimson moon, as well as mentioning The Fool and the

corresponding honorific name.

"During this process, no Sanguine appeared. The mention of the key

element was just my way of convincing Emlyn White.

"However, being able to take risks for the future of the Sanguine can

also be considered a key element."

Cosmi was first enlightened before he had another question.

"Why did you choose Emlyn White? What's so special about him?"

Nibbs Odora suddenly laughed.

"Hasn't he been clamoring about praying to The Fool all this time?

Didn't he think that we weren't putting too much weight on his problem,

that we aren't willing to antagonize Bishop Utravsky, so he was trying

to find other help?

"I'm just fulfilling his wish."

For a long time, Cosmi was speechless.

Emlyn White stood at the railing of the second floor, looked down at his

tireless kinsmen, and nervously took a sip of his "wine."

*Up to this day, I haven't heard of any terrible outcome for people who

prayed to The Fool... Perhaps it's just as Lord Nibbs said, The Fool is

just like the seven pure lights in the spirit world, a hidden existence

that maintains order and is warm-hearted... Wait a minute, what are the

seven pure lights in the spirit world? Why haven't I ever heard of them

before? They seem to be on the side of good? I wonder if this will be

any help to me... In short, The Fool isn't necessarily dangerous, and

there is Lord Nibbs protecting me... Maybe I can take advantage of this

opportunity to get rid of the psychological cue...* Emlyn

consoled himself with fear and anticipation.

Monday morning. Cherwood Borough, 15 Minsk Street.

Klein squatted in front of the toilet, holding a brush and carefully

cleaning the dirt inside it.

According to his schedule, after completing his "visits" on Saturday and

Sunday, he decided to take a day off and wait until tomorrow to report

back to Prince Edessak about the final results and hand over the

assignment. But during what should've been his relaxation time, he found

the house a little too messy and dirty.

It was only when he saw this that he remembered that the cleaning of the

house had been done twice a week through the temporary employment of the

landlady's maid next door.

As the Sammers had gone on holiday to Seville City in Desi Bay, one of

the maids had gone along with them, while another had returned to the

countryside after receiving a year-end bonus. 15 Minsk Street, where he

lived, hadn't been cleaned by anyone for quite some time.

Klein had planned to put up with it for two days since he was "leaving"

Backlund, but in his free time, he didn't dare to take the time to head

to the Quelaag Club to have fun. He was afraid of infuriating Prince

Edessak, so he could only stay home. Hence, seeing the things that irked

him, he changed into his old clothes and began spring cleaning before

the new year.

He went on to scrub the toilet, wash the bathtub, wipe the windows, mop

the floors, clean his equipment, and wash clothes... Klein busied

himself from eight to eleven before barely completing his desired

cleanup.

Of course, he only did it perfunctorily without that much attention to

detail.

Sometimes, renting too big a house isn't a good thing... Klein

washed his hands and wiped his face with a towel.

Walking out of the bathroom and looking at the clean and tidy living

room and dining room, and watching the sunlight pierce through the

clouds and shine through the transparent glass window, showering golden

spots in his house, he had a strange sense of accomplishment. He felt a

lot happier.

*Time to reward myself for lunch. I'll find a good

restaurant...* Klein returned to the second floor and changed

his clothes.

As he leafed through the papers, waiting for lunchtime, the doorbell

rang.

"It's almost the new year, and there are still people coming to entrust

me with missions?" As he rose and walked to the door, Klein made up his

mind to decline.

Although he only had 34 pounds left in cash, in order to get out of the

royal strife, he had to "go on vacation" to the south as soon as

possible. He could no longer accept assignments.

To his surprise, the visitor wasn't a stranger, but the old butler of

Prince Edessak.

The old butler was wearing a well-cut tuxedo. He saluted without losing

his dignity, and said, "Detective Moriarty, His Highness, the Prince, is

waiting for you in the carriage at the end of the street. He wishes to

know the progress of your investigations."

*So impatient? Alright, that saves me the trouble of going all the way

to Red Rose Manor tomorrow...* Klein quickly reorganized what he

had thought of last night and calmly replied, "Alright."

He was about to remove his hat from the coat rack when he felt a sudden

ache in his stomach, a pain that required him to visit the toilet.

After enduring for a while, he realized that he couldn't hold it in any

longer and apologetically said to the old butler, "I'm very sorry. I'll

need to use the bathroom first. My stomach isn't feeling well."

The old butler didn't show any abnormal expression.

"That's your freedom."

As he discharged one wave after another of bliss, clearing away the

remnants in his stomach, Klein washed his hands and returned to the

hall.

At that moment, he noticed that the old butler was no longer around. The

one waiting outside was the maid with curly brown hair.

"His Highness requested me to apologize to you; he still has matters to

attend to and cannot wait for too long. Please go to Red Rose Manor

tomorrow or the afternoon of the day after tomorrow." The maid bowed

meticulously.

*It hasn't even been ten minutes, and I'd already done it as fast as I

could... Usually, I can continue on for quite a while if I have

newspapers...* Klein smiled.

"No problem."

After receiving a response, the maid who had completed her mission

immediately felt a weight off her chest. She giggled and said,

"Detective Moriarty, you missed that lady again."

"Huh?" Klein was at a loss.

The maid lowered her voice and said, "This time, the young lady came

with His Highness. She was the one who suggested taking a detour to meet

you."

*In the end, I missed her because of my stomachache? Something isn't

right...* Klein frowned slightly.

In a room padded with a thick and soft carpet.

A quill that was being held came to a pause and stopped writing.

In the open notebook beneath it, there were lines of text and marks of

scribbled out text:

(Scribbles)

*"Target attempted to escape control, but unfortunately, Detective

Sherlock Moriarty leaves before she heads downstairs."*

*"The target influenced the surrounding maids, but Prince Edessak's

butler, Funkel, chanced upon the problem and dealt with it."*

(Scribbles)

*"The target went off track once again. She participated in Talim's

funeral on behalf of Prince Edessak. However, having quickly recovered

to her normal state, she realized that she was unable to identify

Sherlock Moriarty, and she could only let a chance slip."*

*"Sherlock Moriarty went to Red Rose Manor to investigate, but the

timing wasn't right, and the target happened to be riding horses on the

golf course."*

(Scribbles)

*"The target, once again, triumphed over the arrangement, encouraging

Prince Edessak to visit Detective Sherlock Moriarty. Unfortunately,

Sherlock Moriarty happened to have a stomachache, ended up staying in

the bathroom for seven minutes and forty-five seconds, and the Prince

couldn't afford to wait."*

His facial features were like a sculpture, but the middle-aged man who

was blinded in one eye put down his quill and looked at a woman.

"What exactly did you put on her body? Breaking through the restrictions

time and time again will create big problems."

The woman laughed in a low voice and said, "It was just an accident.

Don't worry, there won't be any problems."

As she spoke, she pulled back her hair, revealing her long, white neck.

After that, she slowly applied various things to her face, making her

look even more alluring.

Seeing that she was putting on her clothes and accessories, the dark

golden-haired middle-aged man frowned and asked, "Where are you going?"

The woman didn't directly answer and said with a smile, "Be careful of

the quill in your hand, you almost exchanged bodies with someone the

last time."

"You don't need to remind me," the middle-aged man with deep blue eyes

to the point of being black said with a straight face.

The woman tightened her belt to make herself look thinner, then she

lazily stretched and yawned while covering her mouth.

"I'm going to pay a visit to Mr. A of the Aurora Order.

"I hope he's as crazy as the rumors say."

As she spoke, the expression of the blind middle-aged man suddenly sank.

It was because that ordinary quill had begun to write on its own, as

though an invisible hand was holding onto it.