The Parties in Action

Around noon, Klein enjoyed a hearty lunch at the Cragg Club. Just as he was nearly finished with his meal, Talim Dumont approached with a man wearing a thick coat and a half-height top hat.

This was Mike, a reporter from The Daily Observer. After a brief introduction from Talim, Mike and Klein exchanged some basic information before diving into the main topic.

Mike explained that he, too, had noticed a hidden pattern in the serial murders and had uncovered a recent anomaly. He wanted to hire a detective as a bodyguard to investigate a brothel with influential backers. He offered a base payment of one pound… and five pounds if things turned violent.

Klein did not answer immediately; instead, he excused himself, smiled at Talim's puzzled expression, and said, "I'll just wash my hands before giving you a reply."

He bowed politely and strolled over to the washroom, where he flipped a coin and received a positive answer.

On his way back to the dining hall, he happened to notice a young lady with a short bow on her back and a single long glove climbing the stairs down to the basement.

That short bow… looks a lot like the "Fire Raven Shortbow" from "Old Mr. Wisdom's" gathering, Klein mused as he watched the woman's retreating figure. And as I recall, it was bought by a woman with a long glove…

While he contemplated this, Talim and Mike walked over together. Noticing Klein's gaze, Mike shook his head slightly and whispered, "That's Ms. Hazel, daughter of Congressman Macht. She's got quite a discerning eye…"

He paused, then sighed. "Come to think of it, I said the same thing to Detective Bryan a while back. And yet…"

"Yet what?" Talim asked curiously.

"Nothing, really," Mike answered. "It's just that Miss Hazel was one of the people who saw Detective Bryan off this morning." He refrained from saying more, as Bryian was his friend, and speaking behind his back would feel unkind.

"One of" the people seeing Bryan off? Well, it stands to reason that Miss Judgment would at least be there… Klein mentally teased as he mulled over the rather smooth "coordination" he seemed to have. He was beginning to feel a bit of admiration for "Tower"—the kind he usually reserved for Roselle.

...

Unaware that he had earned Mr. Fool's admiration in an "unconventional" area, Ebner had already arrived at Pritz Harbor. He first bought a ticket for the 9 a.m. ferry to Damir Port at the White Rose District's "Pritz Harbor Ticketing Office." Only then did he check into a room at a nearby inn to drop off his luggage.

Interestingly, his ticket was once again for the City of Brilliance, the fully steam-powered passenger liner from the Disi Shipyard that he had previously sailed on with Xio.

This time, however, Ebner opted not to buy a first-class ticket. With only himself to consider, he felt renting an entire suite was unnecessary.

After arranging his belongings and using the knowledge from his morning studies in Source Fortress, he set up a simple "Guardian Ritual" in the inn room with his "Bloodstained Jewelry Box" as the focus. Satisfied with his work, Ebner nodded and left the inn again.

With time to spare, he decided to visit the Abraham family's base in Pritz Harbor—the Pritz Harbor Fisherman's Association.

In the original storyline, Fors's first contact with her teacher, Dorian, took place there.

Ebner didn't have any malicious intent, though; he simply wanted to "borrow" one or two of the Abraham family's Sealed Artifacts to see if he could "analyze" and learn any practical abilities… such as "Record" or "Blink."

As for "Travel," he had already borrowed Fors's bracelet and attempted an analysis—without opening Pure White Eye. Unfortunately, the principle was far too complex for him to master in the short term, and even if he could eventually "mimic" it, the result would likely be unstable and fraught with issues mid-"travel."

Breathing in the ocean air, Ebner walked toward White Oak Street. The road was wider than many in Backlund and had decent air quality, albeit somewhat dirtier… He remembered Fors's assessment in the original story and found it apt. A quick scan around, and he soon located the Fisherman's Association in an old building nearby.

With no intention of meeting the Abrahams directly, Ebner activated "Psychology Invisibility" and slipped inside the association building with ease. In an office, he spotted a middle-aged man of medium build with exaggeratedly broad shoulders and impeccably styled hair: Dorian, Fors's teacher in the original story.

Dorian, although a Sequence 7 "Astrologer," had not detected Ebner's infiltration despite the magical traps he had set up in his office.

With Pure White Eye activated, Ebner scanned the room. His gaze landed on a badge pinned to Dorian's coat lapel.

The badge was circular, radiating six golden lines from the center to divide the surface into six irregularly shaped segments, each in a different color.

It has the "Recorder" ability but seems limited to six abilities… Ebner thought. It's still quite different from the future Tarot Club's public rental item, the "Lemano's Travel Notes."

Making this comparison, Ebner squatted down in front of Dorian, closely observing the badge to "analyze" its properties.

Dorian, oblivious to Ebner's presence, nevertheless felt uneasy. Frowning slightly, he opened a hidden cabinet and retrieved a crystal ball that sparkled with pure, radiant light.

He drew the curtains, casting the office into a somber gloom.

Holding the crystal ball with his left hand and touching its top with his right, he began to murmur, as if in a trance.

Gradually, the specks of light within the crystal ball grew brighter, reflecting a starry night sky.

One by one, stars appeared—those often used to determine the course of fate, the trajectory of one's life—until they formed a three-dimensional star map interspersed with spirit world symbols hinting at an answer.

Dorian finally halted his motions after a while, muttering in surprise, "No imminent danger... And it seems I'll even receive unexpected assistance in the future? 'You will reap what you sow'? What could that mean? The omen is so vague…"

The crystal ball's glow faded, and Dorian returned it to the hidden cabinet before sitting back in contemplation.

Ebner had noticed the hidden cabinet long ago, but aside from the crystal ball, the other items within only held the power of Sequence 8 or 9, which he found unremarkable. Thus, he focused his attention on analyzing the badge pinned to Dorian's collar.

Hearing Dorian's muttering, Ebner, while analyzing, quietly interpreted, Reap what you sow? Perhaps it hints at his future investment in Fors. And unexpected assistance... does that refer to "The World" hunting down the Abraham traitor? Or perhaps I'll end up assisting the Abrahams myself in the future. After all, they're "paying" now with my little sheep-shearing behavior here…

Spiritual revelations are indeed vague. Without being an expert "Seer" or "Astrologer," it's tough to decipher the meaning.

He shook his head and concentrated on controlling Pure White Eye, focusing entirely on analyzing the badge.

About half an hour later, having completed the initial analysis of the incomplete "Recorder" ability, Ebner discreetly "Opened Door" to exit Dorian's office.

...

Meanwhile, Klein and Reporter Mike, having overheard the name "Kaping" at the "Golden Rose" brothel, fled the building and headed to the nearest public carriage station.

After safely seeing Mike off, Klein was preparing to leave when a thin-faced gentleman with gray at his temples stepped forward.

"Hello, I'm Isengard Stanton, a detective assisting the police with this case. May we talk?" the older gentleman gestured towards his carriage, smiling.

"Detective Isengard Stanton? The 'Hero Detective's' teacher?" Klein asked in surprise. He felt relieved, believing that as Mr. Tower's official mentor, the man was unlikely to be a threat.

Still… he thought. I'll confirm that with a divination later.

"Ever since that rascal became famous, people have taken to calling me 'the Hero Detective's teacher' instead of Detective Stanton... Truly, reality is harsh," Isengard joked with self-deprecation, though his tone carried a hint of pride.

Klein felt somewhat at a loss for words, but given Stanton's possible connection to Tower as a fellow Beyonder, he agreed to the conversation. He even shared that he'd overheard the name "Kaping."

Isengard seemed pleased with Klein's cooperation. After learning his name, "Sherlock Moriarty," Isengard even handed him two pounds as a tip before courteously escorting him from the carriage.

Once he was out of sight, Klein performed a quick divination and was reassured to find that the man bore no ill intent. He sighed with relief and muttered softly to himself:

"Isengard Stanton does seem a bit odd, though. From the moment I activated my Spirit Vision, he's had a constant blue color of rational thought mixed with the purple of restrained emotions, showing his spirit's total control.

"Normally, unless someone's intensely focused on a complex problem, that combination is hard to maintain for long without other emotions surfacing, even if briefly.

"And that state resembles the first time I saw Tower in the gray fog… He had that same clear, rational blue the whole time.

"Could they share the same path? Isengard is also a Beyonder on the Reader Path?

"But why does Tower's aura become… cheerful during the Tarot gatherings?"

...

On Wednesday, October 3rd, at 9 a.m., Ebner, carrying his suitcase and a violin case on his back, boarded the City of Brilliance.

(Chapter End)