Part 1. The Joker Chapter 102 – The Fabric Merchant
The more Klein thought about it, the more he thought it was possible, otherwise who would have nothing to do but borrow those journals:
”Well, such a cold field as the study of the ancient ruins of the main peak of Hornachis, except for the corresponding lecturers and associate professors, the general enthusiasts probably haven’t heard of it, even the original owner, a university student who graduated from the history department, only learned about it from the notes of the Antigonus family ……Tingen City, although it’s a university city City, but there shouldn’t be too many people interested in this matter …… Even if there is, it mostly exists within the university campus, and there’s no need to specifically borrow it from the Devereux Library ……”
”Most importantly, the borrowing node happens to be this recent period ……”
”Analyzing it like this, there is really a problem ah, I was also not sharp enough at that time, but did not think of it …… hey, it seems that I do not have the talent to be a detective and play Sherlock Holmes ……”
His thoughts flickered between, “evil dragon bar” boss Svein puzzled:
”What’s the problem?”
Because there were customers and bartenders around, he could only ask in a generalized way.
”There’s no problem, I’m just thinking about how to investigate this gentleman, you know, Hayneth Vansant died at home.” Klein had prepared his words a long time ago.
He didn’t want the “Substitute Punishers” to be interested in the ancient ruins of the main peak of Hornachis as well.
”Vansant is a relatively famous soothsayer in Tingen City and often comes to my place.” Svein was decidedly perfunctory, recalling, “Come to think of it, the gentleman in the portrait did come here with Van Cent in the beginning ……”
”That’s what I wanted to know, did you memorize his name?” Klein pursued at once.
Svein grinned and shook his head:
”I don’t bother asking my customers’ names and identities unless they were originally known, like old Neil.”
”Okay.” Klein deliberately showed some frustration.
To him, whether or not Svein knew it was actually irrelevant, because he could go to the Devereux Library to investigate.
Borrowing books from such a privately donated library would inevitably leave behind personal information, and it was still the kind that had enough credibility!
You know, Klein had to rely on the senior associate professor’s letter of introduction with his seal to get a library card.
Even if that gentleman had falsified the information, there was a good chance that he had left clues that would help me divine …… Klein watched Svein walk toward the bar and thoughtfully entered the pool room.
He was in no hurry to head to the Devereux Library to investigate, intending to complete his purchases first; after all, one could never tell if there would be any danger to follow, or if there was any need to use ritual magic.
Passing through a few rooms, Klein entered the underground trading market, at this time the stalls and customers were quite sparse, obviously not yet reached the peak stage.
He had just taken a step forward when he suddenly saw Admiral Admiral, the “monster” who said he smelled of death, standing in the corner.
This young man with a pale face and a terrifying madness in his lax eyes also noticed and looked over.
When their eyes met, Admiral suddenly reached out and covered his face, panicked and leaned toward the corner, moving step by step.
Soon, he moved next to the side door and stumbled out.
”Was that necessary? It’s not just that I almost made you blind last time …… But I didn’t do anything …… Really, it’s like I’m a big demon.” Klein’s expression stiffened slightly.
He shook his head and laughed, not thinking about the “monster” thing anymore, and went to the stalls that were set up, and began to select and buy with purpose.
Half an hour later, Klein had used up most of his personal money, using several pounds.
Counting the three pounds and seventeen Soule bills remaining on him, he stroked up one of the metal bottles in a small pocket on the inside of his black trench coat with a mixture of heartache and satisfaction.
”This is the pure dew of ‘Amanda’ that Ms. Daly used.”
”This is the powder mixed with the bark and leaves of the Dragon Tree.”
”Essential oil extracted from deep sleep flowers.”
”Dried chamomile petals.”
”This is the ‘Holy Night Powder’ I just made myself from the ingredients.”
……
Klein recalled the items contained within each small pocket over and over again, lest he would be overwhelmed in an emergency and not be able to find the materials he wanted.
Relying on his specialization in the Mystic Realm, he quickly finished memorizing and stepped towards the exit.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a slightly familiar figure.
It was a young lady wearing a soft green lightweight long dress, her black hair was soft and glossy, her face was rounder, her eyes were slender, her appearance was sweet and her temperament was gentle.
Is it the lady whose body trembled abnormally last time? She does seem to be all right …… I didn t realize that she was also a fan of the occult …… Klein slowed down his steps and pondered for a few seconds before finally recalling who the other party was.
He had to admit that apart from Justice, who was currently unable to see her face, this young lady was the one with the highest face value of all the girls he had seen since crossing over to the other world.
The sweet and gentle lady stood in front of a stall selling occult books, and slightly impolitely half squatted down, rubbing her fingers over an ancient book.
It was covered in dark black cardboard with the Hermetic words “The Book of Witches”.
”It contains the black magic of witches, and although I didn’t dare to try it, some people have tried it and it does work.” The stall owner seized the opportunity to sell it.
The gentle and sweet lady pondered for a few seconds and said:
”In your mind, what does a witch look like?”
”A witch? The evil one who brings calamity, disease and pain.” The stall owner thought for a moment and replied.
Neither of their conversations were heard by Klein as he had walked out of the door at a fast pace as he was in a hurry to get to the Devereux Library and hurry to get home after everything to make dinner for his brother and sister and tomato oxtail soup.
……
Baker’s Landing, Crown Racecourse.
Audrey Hall, dressed in a long white dress with mutton leg sleeves, ruffles, and a lace chest, stood in the VIP box, looking out over the fast sprinting horses.
She wore a gauze hat with blue ribbons and silk flowers and light-colored muslin gloves over her hands, her gaze cool and detached, as if she couldn’t get into the spirit of the occasion.
Just as the race-horse was crossing the line, her friend, Viscount Graylingt, leaned close and said in a lowered voice:
”Audrey, you are differently beautiful every time I see you.”
”What’s the matter?” In the past, Audrey might have indulged in the other’s praise in short bursts, but now, she could tell from Grelint’s words and demeanor that this friend had another agenda.
Gryllint, who had just turned twenty when he inherited the title because of his father’s untimely death, was a slightly lanky young man who glanced from side to side and smiled lowly:
”Audrey, I have met a truly extraordinary person, one who does not belong to the royal family.”
You say this every time, and every time you disappoint …… Audrey looked ahead and spoke with an elegant smile:
”Really?”
”I assure you on my father’s honor that I have seen his extraordinary powers.” Grelint replied in a small voice.
Audrey no longer felt as excited about this as she used to, as she herself was an Extraordinary now, but considering the issue of not making Grelint suspicious, she still widened her eyes, sketched a surprised smile, and asked in a trembling voice:
”When can I meet him?”
Well, it’s good to meet other extraordinary people, can’t take the smallest thing to the Tarot to solve …… And I have to have my own resources, resources that can be used to exchange with Mr. Fool and the Inverted Hanging Man …… Not everything can be solved with money Phew, I’m going to have to save a bit after I send that thousand pounds ……
Pleased with Audrey’s reaction, Grelint looked out at the racecourse and said:
”Tomorrow afternoon there will be a salon of literature and music at my house.”
……
Inside the Devereux Library.
Klein pulled his credentials and badge from his pocket and laid them out in front of several administrators.
”I’m a trainee inspector from the Special Operations Department of the Ahova County Police Department, and I have something I need your cooperation in investigating.” He said in a deep voice as he recalled the police movies he had watched in the past.
Several administrators looked over the IDs and badges, glanced at each other, and nodded:
”Officer, feel free to ask questions.”
Klein read off the names of journals such as The New Archaeology and said at the end:
”I’d like the circulation records for these journals and magazines, for the last two months.”
He noticed that among the librarians was the man who had received him last time, but the other apparently failed to recognize him.
”Okay, you wait a little while.” Several administrators started to get busy and soon found out the most recent borrowing records.
Klein carefully flipped through them, looking for the names of those who had borrowed the same few periodicals as himself.
There weren’t many such names, only one, and he had come to borrow them a few times one after another, borrowing those journals that basically contained the parts that Klein knew about, with the earliest loan record being at the end of May, and the most recent one being the previous Saturday, the day before the death of Linus Vansant.
Klein rubbed his fingers over that borrower’s details, memorizing them:
”Cyrus Arepis, fabric merchant, home at 19 Howells Block ……”