Chapter 70: 2-049's Arrival

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The horses widened their paces as the wheels began rolling in tow.

Despite activating his Spirit Vision and turning around, hoping to

observe the refined and sweet lady, Klein did not have his wishes

fulfilled. All his eyes reflected were brown figures moving past him.

Meanwhile, the passengers from the stop had already boarded the

carriage. The carriage door was closed tightly as it gradually departed.

Within the carriage, twenty to thirty people stood closely to each

other, their energy fields overlapping and shielding each other. Hence,

it was an explosion of colors in Klein's vision, making it difficult for

him to differentiate.

He shook his head quietly and raised his finger to tap his glabella to

deactivate his Spirit Vision.

To him, it was simply help he could provide if he happened to chance

upon it. However, if he were to miss it, and the situation was not

especially clear, there was no point taking it to heart and delaying his

own matters.

While bathing in the crimson moonlight, Klein strolled back home on the

still bustling Daffodil Street. He returned to see Melissa sitting

beside the dining table. She was busy doing her homework under a bright

gas lamp.

She bit at the fountain pen and frowned, appearing deep in thought.

"Where's Benson?" Klein asked casually.

"Ah..." Melissa looked up. She blanked out for a few seconds before

saying, "He said he went around a few boroughs today and was covered in

sweat. He's taking a nice relaxing bath."

"Alright." Klein chuckled. Suddenly, he realized that she was wearing a

dress he had never seen before.

It was entirely beige in color. It had fashionable engageantes. The

collar and edges of her top had thin frills. Apart from that, it was a

rather simple design, the type one wore as daily casual clothing. It

fully accentuated the youth of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old.

"New dress?" Klein asked with a smile.

It was a purchase that he and Benson had insisted upon.

Melissa answered in the affirmative tersely.

"I just took it back from Mrs. Rochelle. I was thinking that since I had

to wash it later, I might as well try it on first."

Klein was rather puzzled when he heard that.

"Mrs. Rochelle?"

Wasn't she our former neighbor?

Melissa nodded and explained in all seriousness, "Mrs. Rochelle is

actually a seamstress, but she was quite unlucky. She had no choice but

to sew and mend clothes for others at home. She leads a pretty tough

life. I knew that she had pretty good skill and the price she quoted is

cheaper than at a women's clothing store. Furthermore, it's very

well-tailored to my figure, so I ordered a new skirt from her. It only

cost nine soli and five pence and took only a few days. A dress of a

similar style would cost three halves of a pound at Harrods Department

Store!"

*What a frugal girl... Sis, I know that at least half the reason is due

to your pity of Mrs. Rochelle...* Klein did not reproach Melissa

for deciding things for herself. Instead, he said with a smile, "When

did you go to Harrods?"

That was at Howes Street, near the Divination Club. It was somewhere

where the middle-class shopped.

"..." Melissa was momentarily at a loss for words. It took her a long

while before she said, "It was Selena and Elizabeth. They insisted I

accompany them. Actually, well---I actually prefer gears more. I like

places with steam and machinery. Yeah."

"It's quite, well---nice for a girl to occasionally shop at a department

store." Klein laughed as he comforted his sister.

After some idle talk, he briskly walked to the second floor, hoping to

wash away the repulsive mixed smells from the bar.

Just as he was about to return to his bedroom to get a change of

clothes, he suddenly heard sounds coming from the bathroom close to the

balcony.

A few seconds later, Benson stepped out while drying his gradually

receding hairline.

"How was it? Did you compliment Melissa's new dress?" He shot a glance

at Klein and asked with a smile.

"I guess I forgot. All I did was ask where it was done..." Klein thought

for a moment as he said.

Benson immediately chortled and shook his head.

"How unbecoming of an elder brother. When Melissa received the dress,

she couldn't bear putting it down. After rushing to cook and wash the

dishes, she immediately wore the dress and has refused to take it off

ever since."

*...Wasn't she planning on changing after showering? She can wash and

starch the clothes while doing so...* Klein subconsciously

refuted with the explanation that Melissa had given.

"Tsk." Benson sighed. "It's been scorching the past few days. She was

busy in the kitchen for a long time, so I believe she would feel much

better doing her homework after a shower."

That's right... Klein was suddenly enlightened as he gave his

brother a knowing smile.

*So that's what kind of person you are, Melissa... There's nothing wrong

with a girl caring for her appearance. There's no need to find

excuses...* The corners of his mouth curved up as he shook his

head gently before walking into his bedroom.

While he was showering, Klein faintly heard knocking downstairs. He

immediately wondered.

*Doesn't the worker who's in charge of collecting coins for the gas

meter come only once every two weeks?*

*Could it be Mrs. Shaud from next door? That can't be. It's said that

this lady strictly abides by the etiquette of middle-class society. She

would not visit at an inappropriate time.*

In his puzzlement, Klein wiped dry his body. Wearing old but comfortable

shirt and trousers, he came down the stairs.

He surveyed the area but did not notice any strangers. He asked, "Was

someone at the door just now?"

Benson, who was reading the newspapers casually, said with a smile, "It

was Bitsch Mountbatten, one of the policemen in charge of Iron Cross

Street. He asked if we met an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy who has

a rotund face. Heh, he even gave us a sketch to identify. Unfortunately,

neither one of us have seen him, or we would have received a reward.

What about you?"

"Nope." Klein had a general idea what was happening.

Instigator Tris had successfully escaped the Evil Dragon Bar at the

harbor. He had escaped somewhere close to Iron Cross Street and Daffodil

Street; therefore, the police were making visits from door to door.

And to go this far made it clear that the operation of nabbing the

Instigator had completely failed!

Klein did not bother himself with the situation. He had yet to begin

combat training. He only had basic mastery of shooting, so to consider

dealing with a natural 'Assassin' was simply using his life as a joke.

He did not sleep well that night. He kept worrying that the Instigator

would infiltrate their house to hide, causing another massacre.

Thankfully, Daffodil Street was quiet the entire night, with the morning

sun rays dispersing all the fog.

The relaxed Klein changed into formal attire, wore his top hat, held his

cane, and went all the way to Zouteland Street. He greeted Rozanne at

the reception hall.

"Good morning, Klein," replied Rozanne happily. She suppressed her voice

and said, "I heard the huge operation last night failed?"

"The operation to nab Instigator Tris?" Klein asked in curiosity.

"Yeah!" Rozanne nodded heavily. She shot a glance at the partition and

said, "Apparently an informant of the Mandated Punishers discovered the

Instigator at the harbor... They were planning on waiting for additional

Beyonders and another Special Operations squad from the police to arrive

before beginning the operation to do the deed instantly without alarming

the commoners. Unfortunately, that Instigator was extremely sharp. He

charged out of the encirclement when he noticed something amiss,

successfully escaping as a result."

"At such times, they need a Beyonder with tracking abilities, such as

me." Klein made a joke.

"There was no lack of trackers back then." Dunn Smith's voice suddenly

sounded.

Rozanne turned her head abruptly and saw the captain wearing his black

trench coat. He was glaring right at her with his deep pair of gray eyes

while leaning against the partition's frame.

She hurriedly raised her hands to cover her mouth. Then, she shook her

head incessantly, expressing her futile innocence.

Dunn turned his gaze to Klein and after some thought, he said, "There

were a total of six Beyonders from the Mandated Punishers, the Machinery

Hivemind, and us Nighthawks. We traced the injured Tris to Iron Cross

Street's Lower Street. We found his temporary residence, but the clues

ended there. Be it Beyonder methods or ordinary investigations, nothing

worked. It was as though he evaporated into thin air, disappearing

completely."

"Do you need my help with divination?" Klein asked probingly.

Dunn shook his head gently.

"The Machinery Hivemind had a Mystery Pryer. He is a senior Beyonder as

good as Old Neil. I even suspect that he's already at Sequence 8. I'm

just unaware what the name of the corresponding potion is."

"The Theosophy Order's heritage to this day must have something special

about it," consoled Klein.

For the rest of the morning, he continued his mysticism curriculum, read

the historical information and documents, and practiced various

techniques just like always.

With lunchtime almost approaching, Klein's mind began to wander.

Another few minutes later, he put away the documents, having heard the

summoning of his stomach.

At that moment, Dunn Smith came into the clerk office. He said in a deep

but mild manner, "Klein, follow me to Chanis Gate. Sealed Artifact 2-049

has arrived. The subsequent operation might require your sensing of that

notebook."

"...Alright," Klein got up and replied.

His thoughts became scrambled. He imagined how the Sealed Artifact would

look or if the operation would be dangerous.

While in this rather tense silence, he followed Dunn down the stairs and

into the tunnel.

After going straight at the intersection, Dunn suddenly stopped and

turned his head, saying sternly, "Do this action together with me. Keep

doing it and absolutely do not stop. Remember, absolutely do not stop.

This is for your own safety!"

While speaking, Dunn bent his arm followed by extending it. He repeated

this action without stopping.

Klein looked at the captain demonstrate in a befuddled manner. Suddenly

enlightened, he asked, "Has this got to do with the uniqueness of the

Sealed Artifact?"

"Yes." Dunn nodded with abnormal seriousness. "Repeating such an action

will allow us to discover if anything happens to you immediately. Saving

you in time will not result in any life-threatening dangers."

"Okay." Klein did not hesitate further as he began the repeated action

of bending and extending his arm.

"If your arm is sore, use the other one," added Dunn.

*Sealed Artifact "2-049" sure is odd... What meaning does this action

have? It seems very dangerous...* These thoughts flashed past

Klein's mind as he looked solemnly at the captain.

"Alright."

He had too many questions on his mind, but since Chanis Gate was in

sight, he had no choice but to bear with it.

*Besides, with my security clearance, I'll probably not learn of the

details. I can only do as I'm ordered...* Klein exhaled as he

followed Captain Dunn to the Keeper room outside Chanis Gate.