Chapter 874: I Didn't Say Anything

Leonard Mitchell clasped his hands together and leaned in slightly.

"We have restored the scene Cuarón saw before his death.

"This didn't directly show the murderer, but the glass on the oriel

window happened to reflect Baron Syndras's figure."

After a pause, Leonard added, "This is too simple and unconvincing. A

powerful banker and noble at Baron Syndras's level wouldn't need to

personally take action or be present to watch if he wants someone dead,

unless he has some special fetishes.

"And as you know, there are many ways to replicate such scenes, be it

via an illusion or disguise."

When he mentioned "disguise," he looked up slightly and glanced at

Dwayne Dantès. It was as though he was implying that the latter's

present appearance was unlikely his true appearance, just like Gehrman

Sparrow and Sherlock Moriarty.

*What a simple and direct way of framing someone. It's really suspect if

the murderer behind the scenes really wants to frame Baron Syndras...

Hmm, I should process everything from the beginning. First, assuming

that I, in other words, Dwayne Dantès, act like an ordinary person...

Anyway, I won't mention the conclusion and only raise questions to guide

his train of thought. If the final answer isn't right, that must be

because my dear poet misinterpreted it and was unable to figure out what

I was getting at...* Klein smiled as he raised his porcelain cup

and took a sip of black tea.

"Let's not consider this problem first. If the person who wasn't

embroiled in this matter wasn't me, how would the case have developed?"

Leonard raised his clasped hands slightly as he tapped his index finger.

"As a suspect, Dwayne Dantès would be remanded at the police station,

but his butler, servants, neighbors, and friends will be able to testify

that he has never made contact with Cuarón's family. Hence, the

testimonies from both sides will contradict strongly. The police will be

unable to handle it and request the Nighthawks to intervene.

"Using mediumship means, we will see the scene Cuarón had before

committing suicide; thus, obtaining Baron Syndras's figure..."

As he spoke, Leonard suddenly fell silent. After a few minutes, he

continued speaking under Dwayne Dantès's smiling gaze.

"Regardless of the unconvincing, odd, and simplistic nature of the clue

involving Baron Syndras, we will follow protocol and make contact with

him and begin the relevant investigations... And this will lead to

certain problems related to him being noticed by us?

"Baron Syndras is involved in matters involving the Beyonder domain, so

he can't stand up to further scrutiny from the Nighthawks?"

The more Leonard spoke, the more certain he became. It was as though he

had figured out the mastermind's line of thought.

*He, or they, might not care if their trap is seen through. As long as

they get the Nighthawks to do a routine investigation on him, their goal

will be achieved. This is because Baron Syndras hides a rather serious

and easily discoverable problem!*

*Yes, that's the same conclusion I have. This is actually closer to

sounding the alarms by providing a tip-off, but it's more mild. It looks

like a trap that will make the Nighthawks definitely investigate things

while hiding their existence... Of course, I won't directly acknowledge

your guess. Wouldn't it be awkward if I was actually wrong?*

Klein crossed his right leg over his left and laughed.

"Baron Syndras, who has been alerted, definitely won't show any problems

now."

Leonard slowly nodded and said as though explaining to himself, "This

baron's experiences are rather legendary. He has been pushed to the

brink of bankruptcy a few times, but he managed to turn the tide and

ended up reaching a new height.

"Perhaps, in one of these instances, he had sold his soul to the devil,

an evil god, or some other secret existence out of desperation?

This story is quite reasonably crafted... Klein didn't comment

on the accuracy of Leonard's guess before asking, "On the other hand,

how would the Nighthawks treat the real murderer that led to Cuarón's

suicide?"

Leonard temporarily put aside all his previous thoughts, and he began

following the train of thought based on an "ordinary development."

"The designed trap is too crude. The cuing, guidance, and memory

implants were done in an insufficiently concealed and mild manner. It's

easy for people to discover problems. Therefore, it's unlikely to be

done by Mid- or High-Sequence Beyonders from the Spectator pathway. It

looks more like it was done by a Beyonder from another pathway who

relied on a mystical item to pose as a Spectator..."

Before he finished his sentence, Leonard fell into silence again; his

thoughts a mystery.

Klein maintained his faint smile as he calmly looked at the poet. It was

as though he had everything under control, but he wasn't going to say a

thing. Everything depended on what Leonard figured out.

*This is very similar to what Old Man said from before... Is it really

done by some Mid- or High-Sequence Beyonder from the Spectator pathway?

His seemingly crude and flawed setup was actually a precise

consideration of everyone's reaction. Everyone's response at every step

of the way was taken into consideration, with the only mistake stemming

from Dwayne Dantès's experience and wisdom?* Leonard felt that

he had already figured out the truth as he got up and coughed gently.

"Thank you for your advice."

Klein immediately chortled and said, "I didn't say anything."

Without waiting for Leonard's response, he said, "Your former colleague

got me to ask you how he should inform you if he were to discover traces

of Ince Zangwill."

Leonard, who had planned on getting up to bid farewell, sat back down.

Colored with a complicated expression, he said after more than ten

seconds of silence, "Pass the information in the form of a letter to 7

Pinster Street."

*This means that he won't be leaving Backlund anytime soon? Or is it

that no matter how far he goes to carry out missions, he will have the

means to monitor 7 Pinster Street and read the letter remotely? It might

be the latter assumption. A Marauder pathway's angel definitely has many

magical secret techniques. Leonard can definitely use one of them... I

can't ask, or else it will lower Dwayne Dantès's level and destroy my

setting...* Klein wore an unperturbed expression as he said with

a smile, "I'll inform him."

Leonard didn't immediately leave as he opened his mouth, paused, and

asked, "If I wish to contact him, how should I do it?"

His green eyes were deep as they spoke volumes when he asked.

Klein was already prepared, so he said with a smile, "The spirit that

wanders about the unfounded, the friendly creature that can be

subordinated, the messenger that belongs to Gehrman Sparrow.

"You can ask Pallez about the exact ritual if you aren't too sure."

Leonard knew that Gehrman Sparrow was Sherlock Moriarty who was also

Klein Moretti. He nodded indiscernibly and stood up.

"Thank you for informing me. Please pardon me for my intrusion."

With that said, he retreated to the door, opened it, and left the dream.

*Hey, you left just like that? As a Nightmare, or as a former Nightmare,

shouldn't you consider how there might be problems with your memory? You

remembered it just from hearing it once? You aren't putting enough

weight on this matter!* Klein couldn't help but lampoon when he

saw Leonard's figure disappear.

He shook his head in exasperation, ended his afternoon nap, and began

busying himself over the matter regarding West Balam.

On the Golden Dream, Danitz, who had finally finished his mission, drank

some iced light beer because of the recent hot weather.

If it wasn't because the creation of ice needed Beyonder powers, and

that there wasn't much to go around, he felt that he could finish half a

bucket of ice in one go.

"That's what I call life!" Danitz guzzled the remaining liquid in his

cup.

At this moment, he saw grayish-white fog appear before him as Gehrman

Sparrow's voice began echoing in his ears:

"...Please inform Danitz that he is to immediately head to West Balam.

Figure out the situation of the areas under the control of the two

native generals, Maysanchez and Katamia. He should take special note of

any signs of Rose School of Thought activity..."

H-head to West Balam? With a cup in hand, Danitz stammered

Gehrman Sparrow's request repeatedly.

He had once headed there with the Golden Dream crew to seek out

treasure. He had also obtained rather detailed intel from his captain;

therefore, he knew how chaotic and dangerous West Balam was.

Furthermore, I have to go alone! Danitz uttered a sound as he

found his future bleak.

Primitive forests with all kinds of hidden and terrifying creatures,

native tribes who believed in Death and had all sorts of peculiarities,

paths filled with bandits and rebel armies, villages with wraiths and

shadows haunting them, and cities that had gunfights or even Beyonder

battles surfaced in his mind.

*No, I have to say no to Gehrman Sparrow. Say no... He should at least

send me a helper! Eh... Ordinary people can survive in West Balam and

become rich, having their own manors. This means that it's not as

horrifying as I imagine it to be. I'm just frightening myself...

Besides, Gehrman Sparrow just requested me to figure out the situation,

not to contact anyone...* Danitz quickly forced a smile and

requested Mr. Fool to inform Gehrman Sparrow that he would immediately

take action.

Then, following Gehrman Sparrow's instructions, he set up a bestowment

ritual to pray to Mr. Fool.

When the ritual came to an end, he saw an illusory door open. A dark

golden Sunbird-shaped brooch flew out, landing on the altar.

Sun Brooch!

In the Southern Continent, in a kingdom once ruled by Death, the Sun

pathway was one of the most effective Beyonder pathways!

*Directly giving me such a precious item... It's not bad working for

Gehrman Sparrow... However, he said something about it being

borrowed?* Danitz picked up the brooch and felt his surroundings

turn hot and humid.

After handing out a mission to Danitz, Klein was just about to open the

door to instruct Richardson to get him a cup of iced water when he felt

his spiritual perception trigger.

Immediately, he activated his Spirit Vision and saw Reinette Tinekerr

walk out of the void. She held the four blonde, red-eyed heads in her

hand, with one of them having a letter in its mouth.

Who's it from? Leonard? Klein reached out his right hand in

suspicion.