Part 1 The Joker Chapter 178 – Follow-up Thoughts
”Call the police?” Folth Wall repeated in surprise.
To the Extraordinary, initiating the police seemed otherworldly.
Hugh paced back and forth a few times, scratching his shaggy blonde hair:
”The scene of Duckholm’s death was so shocking, so bizarre, that the police, as long as they still have eyes, will surely refer it to the Substitute Punisher, the Night Watchman, the Mechanical Heart, or that special department belonging to the military, and then, with a little bit of revelation that the murderer is Zillingerus, we will be able to create the scene of a city-wide manhunt. ”
”Our goal is just to find Zylingus, not to catch him, with the ‘help’ of so many extraordinary people, things will be much simpler and safer, and once Zylingus becomes flustered and makes a mistake, that’s our chance to get the bounty, heh, I mean to discover his trail. ”
Hugh laughed dryly twice and looked at the stunned Voorhees:
”Could it be that in your mind, I’m someone who wants to run into obstacles even when he sees them? The gap between us and Zillingerus is as wide as Dixie Bay.”
Folth nodded slowly and said:
”Your perception of yourself is very correct, you’ve done too many similar things and suffered enough as a result to be promoted to Sequence 8.”
”Fortunately, you are still sensible enough in this matter.”
Hugh looked down at the three-pronged spike in his hand and mused:
”…… I must confess, I just now clearly felt the approach of death, and Zilingus is undoubtedly nearby; it was an aura that was evil enough to break the rules, causing me to react instinctively.”
Voorhees said after a few dozen seconds of serious thought as he put the silver bracelet with two stones left back on:
”I agree with your idea of notifying Ms. Audrey and then calling the police.”
”Well, whether it was Duckholm who found the traces of Zylingus or his men who found them, we can investigate from this direction and figure out the scope of Zylingus’s previous activities and place of residence.”
Hugh frowned his thin golden eyebrows and said:
”But Zilingus definitely won’t stay in his original place.”
No longer being one of the seven pirate generals, no longer having the aid of magical items, Zillinger must be cautious enough in Beckland.
Even the “King of the Five Seas”, Nast, had once met with doom here, and was nearly captured.
”No, what I mean is, from these clues, we can speculate or determine the purpose of Zillinger’s visit to Beckland, as long as we understand what he really wants to do, then no matter how he disguises himself or plays tricks, he will eventually be exposed to us, and then, our mission will be accomplished.” Forsyth explained in detail, “These two years of experience in creating novels have taught me that by grasping the key, things will become simple.”
Hugh looked at his friend in amazement, as if he couldn’t believe that the other man could say something that made so much sense.
”Unlike you, I’m just too lazy to think, whereas you think by muscle.” Voorhees pursed his lips and inclined his head in a smile.
”Mocking me doesn’t make you any smarter ……,” Hugh struggled to get the few blonde hairs he’d cocked back into softness, “Alright, let’s go to Queens and tell Miss Audrey about this. ”
Forsyth said with a slight nod:
”So, what’s our emergency contact with Miss Audrey?”
”……” Hugh said blankly for a moment, looking at the distant tombstone, “She told me that her pet dog, the golden retriever we saw earlier, goes out for walks on her own at least five times a day, well, the most recent one will be be after lunch.”
”Which means we’ll have to sneak around and wait outside Earl Hall’s luxurious home?” The corner of Forsyth’s mouth twitched.
Hugh jerked his head sideways with a curt smile:
”Folth, or maybe you just sneak in?”
”I don’t think that would be difficult, it’s your specialty.”
”Hereditary earl for centuries, one of the most influential members of the House of Lords, largest shareholder in the Bank of Bavaria, fourth largest shareholder in the Bank of Birkeland, special advisor to the Royal Bank of Rouen, third largest shareholder in the Bank of Suchet in the Kingdom of Intis, second largest shareholder in the Consortium of Coal and Steel of Constanton, and so on and so forth, and so on and so forth, and so on and so forth, that’s the prominence of her father in the person of Miss Audrey, Hugh, use your head. Hugh, use your head. Wouldn’t a man of his stature have a family that employs extraordinary people? Doesn’t he have some kind of private stash? It’s not unlike those raggedy viscounts and barons!” Forsyth replied in a good-natured manner, “I swear in the name of God, if I dare to sneak in, it won’t take me more than five minutes before I’m discovered and caught.”
Hugh nodded frequently in recognition:
”We’d better go and wait for that golden hair …….”
After saying this, she led the way, and after a few steps, turned her back on Voorhees:
”Well, um, I’ll try to make up for your loss in the future, uh, I mean that stone.”
Hearing this, the corners of Voorhees’ mouth quirked up slightly as he said:
”I’m saving myself.”
”And, Hugh, you’re going in the wrong direction!”
”God, if you were an ‘apprentice’ and became a ‘traveler’ in the future, it would, it would be a disaster!”
……
Outside the Earl of Hall’s luxurious villa.
Hugh and Forsyth hid behind the Indis sycamore tree, quietly watching the target building, watching people come and go.
After an indeterminate amount of time, they saw the big, golden-haired dog peeking out of the small, hidden hole at the base of the fence, and with his ears perked up, looking left and right with great care.
Just as Susie started briskly and pleasantly on her walk, a black male dog leaped out suddenly, again coquettishly, and circled.
”It’s the first time I’ve ever known a dog’s face to show so human an expression; how much does he hate that black dog?” Hugh exclaimed in a low voice.
She could see the obvious disgust in Susie’s eyes and facial expression.
Forsyth laughed and smiled, “It’s like meeting a reckless, disgusting and pestering pervert.”
Seeing Suzie trying to pick up speed and get away from the black dog, Hugh stepped forward to maintain “justice.”
”My ruling is, leave it!” Hugh shouted in a low voice with a serious expression.
The black dog froze for a moment, then fled with its tail between its legs.
Suzie sighed in relief and slowed down, giving a polite wail and wagging her tail.
So close, so close, almost said “thank you” to them …… golden hair big dog in his heart thankfully thought.
That would have been very awkward ……
……
The melodious melody slowly stopped, Audrey sitting on the piano bench holding the latest information passed in by Hugh and Forsyth, wrinkled her beautiful eyebrows.
She closed the piano lid and rose gracefully, pacing back and forth in the piano room, thinking about what she should do next.
”Zilingus is a very dangerous fellow …… to continue to pursue, it is very likely that Hugh and Voorhees will suffer terrible things …… and even expose me . …Well, just do what they say …… Ah yes, the ‘Tarot Meeting’ is in two hours, I wonder what Mr. Fool has to suggest, if he’s still not interested, I’ll discuss it carefully with the Inverted Man …… “Audrey gradually calmed down.
This was the first time she had ever encountered, or been personally involved in, something so menacing that a human life had already been lost!
Three o’clock in the afternoon.
Audrey, whose vision had recovered from the crimson and hazy state, once again saw the infinite gray fog that did not belong to reality, the palace that seemed to be the residence of giants, the ancient and mottled bronze table, the Fool who was always covered with a layer of thick fog, the “upside-down man” and the “sun”. The Sun.”
In an instant, Audrey’s slightly tense and worried emotions were soothed, and her heart was so peaceful and sure.
I am participating in the ‘Tarot Society’ that is not within the material world, and I am facing Mr. Fool, who is almost a god, and I am not at all on the same level …… Audrey proudly straightened her back, lifted her chin slightly, and greeted cheerfully:
”Good afternoon, Mr. Fool! Good afternoon, Mr. Inverted Hangman! Good afternoon, Mr. Sun!”
After exchanging pleasantries, Klein sees Ms. Justice signaling that she has something to say, and gives a slight nod of agreement.
”Dear Mr. Fool, I wonder if your dependents have received the 300 gold pounds in compensation?” Audrey resisted the urge to immediately recount the matter of Zilingus, and cared for her own chief’s dependents.
Klein smiled lowly:
”I did not pay attention to this matter, but since my dependents did not additionally request for help again, it should have been received.”
Yes, I’ve repeatedly confirmed it, and I’m lying on my bearer account with 300 gold pounds …… Klein added silently in a cheerful mood.
”That’s great!” Audrey dropped her heart and turned to look across the room, “Mr. Inverted Hangman, there’s been progress on the Zilingus matter.”
Alger sat upright for a moment, and could hardly conceal his joy as he asked:
”Where is he?”
”Unfortunately, no sooner had we discovered his trail than he sensed our investigation and killed the people involved.” Audrey recounted Hugh and Forsyth’s encounters picking up the highlights and explained their subsequent thoughts in detail.
Alger nodded slightly and said:
”I will pay close attention.”
After saying that, he turned sideways to look at the top of the long bronze table, and said under the gaze of “Sun” Derek, who was staring blankly, listening but not understanding:
”Dear Mr. Fool, if it becomes clear what Zylingus’ true purpose is and what the very important and magical item he is trying to obtain is, allow me to recite your name and inform you of it in a ritual.”
He did not repeat his request for help from the other Favored One, for since it had already been spoken of and the Fool had given his answer, there was no need to be long-winded or he would offend the gods.
Therefore, Alger simply stated that he wished to “report back”.
If the final temptation was enough, he was sure that Yugi-san’s dependents would appear.
That’s okay? Audrey’s eyes widened.
If I had known, I would have applied for the right to “report” as well, then I might have been able to receive guidance from Mr. Fool once in a while,…… she thought with a slight sense of remorse.
In the eyes of the crowd, Klein in the thick gray fog leaned back in his chair, nodded gently, and answered slowly:
”Yes.”