Part 1. The Joker Chapter 106 – Klein the Painter
It was just after eight o’clock in the Moretti’s dining room.
Looking at the dinner plate with only a shallow soup base left, Benson raised his hand to cover his mouth and burped contentedly.
”Although it’s the third time I’ve had it, I still find it delicious enough, the sweet and sour of the tomatoes and the elastic meat of the oxtail, the very special freshness of the flavor blends perfectly, Klein, I’m so sorry that Blackthorn Security has cost Tingen City an outstanding chef.”
Melissa leaned back in her chair and nodded in silent agreement.
”That’s only because you’ve never seen a real cook.” Klein humbly laughed, “In the future, if we have the chance, let’s go to Bonaparte’s Restaurant in the Howells neighborhood for an authentic Indies meal, and the Coastline Restaurant in the Golden Sycamore district for a taste of the South.”
These are both restaurants that are often in the papers, the former costing a pound and a half per person.
”I prefer your cooking.” Melissa replied without hesitation.
Benson grinned and turned:
”But I’ve always felt that your tomato oxtail soup is missing something, perhaps, maybe it’s that it shouldn’t be served with bread?”
Klein nodded approvingly:
”Its best partner should be rice.”
”Rice ……,” Melissa murmured, actually looking rather wistful.
Tingen, which was in a remote northern location and not exactly a metropolis, had a hard time getting rice, except for going to a select few restaurants.
For Benson and Melissa, this food existed almost exclusively in newspaper descriptions and only in the occasional introduction in textbooks.
Seeing his sister’s expression, Klein laughed and said:
”When we save up another half a year’s worth of money, we’ll find a chance to take a vacation to Dixie Bay and taste the food there.”
Dixie Bay was located in the southernmost part of the Rune Kingdom, with a third of it belonging to the Feniport Kingdom, where the sun was abundant, the scenery was pleasant, and the paella was very famous.
Without waiting for Melissa to make a comment about being frugal, Klein took the initiative to mention it:
”Waiting for another three months, my salary will have a more substantial increase, which will completely satisfy the needs of traveling and saving money at the same time.”
”Why?” Both Benson and Melissa were decidedly distracted.
Klein coughed twice and explained with a smile:
”Based on my good professionalism, the police department that cooperates with our company from time to time is also interested in hiring me as a part-time consultant in history, and they’ll pay me an additional salary of at least two pounds per week, so don’t be surprised if you guys see me in a police uniform in the future, and take out the appropriate ID.”
”Of course, as you all know, government departments are as efficient as a ninety year old woman’s footsteps, and they still need a lengthy process and a test for me, so I’ll be going to Hoy University a lot on my days off in the next couple of months to see my tutors, and to find out about faculty members I know, and to learn more.”
At the astonished eyes of his brother and sister, he paused and spoke with a slightly odd expression:
”It’s like the saying that Roselle the Great said, live and learn.”
Benson was silent for a few seconds, half-emotional and half-self-mocking:
”Is it too late for me to enroll in college?”
”Knowledge really does equal wealth.”
It also equals power …… Klein added silently.
”Benson, you need Klein’s grammar books, and you need his classics textbook.” Melissa coldly helped Klein say what he wanted to say.
Benson’s expression seemed to change as he clenched his teeth and said:
”Klein, you’ll give me those books tonight.”
”Even if they help me sleep any more, I’m going to keep reading them for an, no, an hour and a half a day.”
”I swear it in the name of the Goddess! If I can’t do it, I’m a curly-haired baboon!”
Klein smiled instantly:
”No problem.”
……
The next morning, after hanging his coat and hat on the coat rack in the common room, Klein followed the words relayed by Roxanne and walked underground, making his way forward to the watch room outside the Charnis Gate.
Captain Dunn, team members Renfrew, Cigar, Loyal, Leonard and Cornley had all arrived.
Gray eyes sweeping over the newly minted watchmen in the doorway, Dunn smiled:
”We have a routine meeting every Thursday to summarize how the previous mission went and discuss the various difficulties we faced.”
I am also a person who has been tested by countless regular meetings …… Klein ventriloquized, found a seat and joked:
”Need to introduce yourself first?”
Dunn let out a laugh and turned his head to look at Cornley:
”You tell us briefly about the follow-up investigation of Cyrus Arepis.”
Coenley, who was also a night watchman converted from a civilian, was not tall, with fairly thick brown hair, a fairly well-proportioned body, very muscular, and gave off the impression of being smart and strong.
He said thoughtfully:
”We found Cyrus’s secret hiding spot with the help of Old Neil, and there were quite a few books and items at the scene, based on them, it can be confirmed that Cyrus is a subordinate member of the secretive organization ‘Aurora Society’, a ‘Secret Prayer Man ‘.”
”There is enough evidence to suggest that the Antigonus family notes were sold to Welch by him and Hyannis Vansant, and anyone who doesn’t remember Welch can ask Klein.”
”What we have found, items of value include three recipes for Sequential Magic Potions, Sequence 9 ‘Diviner’, Sequence 9 ‘Apprentice’, Sequence 8 ‘Joker’ ‘ ……”
”The next task is to find out the peripheral members of the ‘Aurora Society’ who have believed in the Evil God based on some of the letters that have not yet been destroyed and Cyrus’s usual circle of associates, focusing on the cultist who is hiding in the police department.”
”Also, those in contact with Hyenas need to be re-examined.”
Dunn nodded softly and looked over at Klein:
”As you’ve heard, we obtained the ‘Joker’s’ magic potion formula, but we can’t confirm whether it’s real or not for the time being, pending feedback from the Sanctuary.”
”The mission related to the Aurora Society, you made a major and crucial contribution, together with that incident of shooting the members of the Secret Society, it won’t even take long for you to obtain enough merits for promotion, but I must remind you that not everyone is Daley, you have to endure the cravings, endure for three years, and not be affected by the ‘Joker ‘ magic potion’s formula affecting your mind so that you don’t lose control.”
Captain, this is you don’t understand the magic of “playing the law” …… I have already used the method of divination last night above the gray fog to initially confirm that the formula of the “Joker” magic potion is correct! …… Clay nodded honestly:
”I will control my emotions.”
Then, white hair, black pupils, temperament calm “Midnight Poet” Sega Teang said:
”Still can not find ‘instigator’ Tris clues, I suspect he has fled Tingen.”
……
After exchanging one thing after another, Klein left the watch room, looking for the old Neil to continue the occult lessons, and in the afternoon, he went to the fighting teacher Gawain to do basic strength, endurance and overall coordination training.
……
The sun was still shining at five o’clock.
Klein took off his practice clothes, took a quick shower, changed into his original clothes, and took the public carriage to Besik Street.
He did not forget the red chimney that he saw in the “dream divination”, nor did he forget the man who bought the “audience” magic potion auxiliary materials in the underground market, suspected to be a member of the “Psychological Alchemy Society”, but it was not convenient to use the help of a man. But this is not convenient to use the power of the night watchman to carry out the investigation.
”No. 27, Henry’s Private Detective Agency …… Yes, this is the place.” According to the description in the newspaper, Klein found a private detective agency that was said to be trustworthy.
He put on a mask, lowered his bowler hat, put up his collar, and headed up the stairs to the office located on the second floor.
Knock knock knock! He knocked on the half-covered door.
”Come in.” A voice that seemed to contain old phlegm came out.
Carrying his cane, Klein pushed the door in and saw that this detective agency had a semi-open layout, with a total of four employees, each sitting in a seat separated by a baffle.
”Hello, I’m Detective Henry, how may I help you?” A man in a white shirt and black vest greeted him.
He held a pipe in his hand, and his face was rigidly lined, with eyebrows like sharp swords, while his dark blue eyes looked professionally up and down at his employer across the room.
Klein said, covering the small half of his face with the collar of his trench coat, which was held high:
”I have two matters entrusted to me, and I wonder how you charge for them?”
”It must depend on the difficulty of the matter.” Detective Henry withdrew his eyes and pointed to the waiting area with the couch set, “Let’s go there and converse.”
Klein followed him to the half-partitioned area and sat down to the single couch without removing his coat, his hat, or his mask.
He said in a deliberately husky voice:
”First thing, I need you to help me investigate what houses in Tingen have chimneys that look like this and clarify who the landlord is and who the current occupants are.”
As he spoke, he took out a folded piece of paper, and when he unfolded it, it was the red chimneys marked with colors and the surrounding scenery.
It was a drawing done by Klein again using the special and self-prayer above the gray mist.
”That’s a good drawing ……” Detective Henry subconsciously praised, frowning slightly, “This commission is not complicated, but it’s tedious, and will require a long period and a lot of helpers.”
”I understand.” Klein nodded gently.
Detective Henry mused for a moment:
”Seven pounds for this commission, plus you have to give me at least two weeks.”
”Well, second thing, find this gentleman for me and figure out who he is, the only information I know is that he occasionally shows up at the Dragon Bar in the Docklands, and also, don’t let him notice, he’s a very perceptive man with a terrifying sense of observation.” Klein pulled out a second portrait.
He was trying to reach out to the members of the “Psychological Alchemy Society” to see if he could obtain valuable information and materials, such as a formula that could be exchanged with “Justice”.
”Three pounds, similar tasks are three to four pounds, and your excellent drawing skills will effectively help me and my assistant save time.” Detective Henry replied skillfully.
”That’s ten pounds in total?” Klein felt a toothache at the price.
Detective Henry took a drag on his pipe and said:
”Yes, you’ll need to pay £2 up front, another £3 to £5 when things get moving, and the rest to me when it’s all done.”
”Then I’ll come in next week to confirm progress.” Crane didn’t haggle much, lest Mr. Detective, who was good at observation, remember the characteristics.
After signing the formality contract, he took out two £1 bills and handed them to the other man, leaving only £1.17 Soule in his private money.
Witnessing the gentleman in the gauze mask and black trench coat, with its high raised collar, leave at a brisk pace, Detective Henry puffed his pipe, with a more than puzzled look:
”What does he want with a house possessing a chimney of that kind?”
”…… It would be a painter, or at least a professional who has studied sketching ……”
……
And by mid-afternoon, inside Viscount Graylingt’s luxurious villa in Birkeland.
Audrey, who was followed by a maid, followed the etiquette and gave her hand to her master, looking at him with a false kiss.
”Your beauty fills my salon with splendor.” Grelint began with a normal compliment, then lowered his voice, “The lady has arrived, she is both extraordinary and a writer.”