Part 1 The Joker Chapter 89 – A Simple Task
Klein nodded and said:
”Okay, but I don’t know exactly what my mission is yet.”
”A mission that isn’t dangerous, or at least doesn’t show signs of danger yet.” Dunn emphasized the point before saying, “It’s a case that was transferred from the Golden Sycamore District Police Station, the famous philanthropist Sir Devereux was strangely harassed for a month in a row, but neither his bodyguards, hired security personnel, nor the police could find the culprits, and Inspector Toller, who was in charge of the matter, highly suspected that it was related to the Transcendent Power and referred it to us. ”
I saw Sir Devereux in the library before and found him in a poor mood and mentally weak, so it was because of harassment …… Klein said with a slight frown:
”What kind of harassment?”
This matter has not produced any substantial harm yet, and it really can’t be called dangerous.
”Sir Devereux hears cries of pain and moans every night, no matter where he sleeps, whether he’s in Tingen or not, and it makes his sleep very poor.” Dunn said as he flipped through the information in his hand, “He’s been to a psychiatrist and questioned the butler and servants around him to confirm it’s not a hallucination, so he suspects harassment.”
Closing the file, Dunn looked up at Klein:
”Go to the common room and change into your trainee inspector’s costume and meet Inspector Toller in the shooting club hall, he’ll give you more details.”
”Trainee Inspector costume?” Crane subconsciously asked back.
Dunn rubbed his forehead and grinned:
”Half of our salaries are paid by the Police Department, and the name of Trainee Inspector doesn’t just exist in the files. When you first met Leonard and I, we wore the same uniforms, a perk that every regular member of the team has, well, the kind of perk that Roselle the Great was talking about.”
It’s a shame you can’t wear it during the week, otherwise you’d have an extra change of clothes …… Klein grabbed his cane, saluted and exited the captain’s office.
He made his way to the lounge diagonally across the hall and saw that it held a black on white checkered uniform, including leather boots, with a fedora inlaid with the “Crossed Swords, Clustered Crowns” crest, and a black and white interlocking emblem with a silver star shining on the shoulder.
”This is the trainee inspector?” Klein glanced at it and realized that there was a string of inconspicuous numbers below the silver star on the shoulder badge: “06-254”.
He currently had a preliminary understanding of the police hierarchy in the Kingdom of Ruen, and understood that at the top were the Minister of Police and the Chief Police Secretary, under which were the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent of each police department, at the middle were the Superintendent and Inspector, and at the bottom were the Sergeant and Constable.
Closing the door to his room, Klein stripped off his own formal attire, removed his hat, and changed into that uniform.
Hanging up his original clothing, he pushed his way out of the door and into the clerical office, taking a look in the full-length mirror that Roxanne had secured.
The young man in the mirror had shaky black hair and warm brown eyes, while the uniform gave him a bit more of a heroic look than usual.
”Not bad.” Klein said moodily and narcissistically, leaving his cane in his office and turning to walk out of Blackthorn Security.
Inside his pockets, his police officer’s license was as good as his full class weapons license.
……
Inside the lobby of the shooting club.
Klein saw Inspector Toller, as he was the only one here in police uniform.
Of course, now add me …… Klein silently added.
Inspector Toller had two silver stars on his epaulettes, his shirt was held up by his stomach, his face had a thick brownish-yellow beard, and he was tall but not intimidating, or was once intimidating.
”Moretti? Klein Moretti?” Toller looked up and down for a few moments and greeted him with a smile.
”Hello, Inspector Toller, I don’t think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” Klein replied wryly and, from memory, raised his right hand and closed his five fingers in a salute.
Toller chuckled:
”I can see that you are an easy-going young man, so I am relieved, let’s go to Sir Deville’s house now?”
Although his police rank was higher than Klein’s, his tone carried a clear hint of inquiry.
”No problem.” Klein thought for a moment and said, “You can give me the details on the carriage.”
”Okay.” Toller stroked his thick brown and yellow beard and guided Klein out of the shooting club and onto a carriage parked on the opposite side.
The carriage was painted with the coat of arms “Two Swords Crossed, Clustered Crowns” and was driven by a specialized driver.
”Sir Devereux is a devotee of the goddess, so we have forwarded the case to you.” Toller had just sat down and couldn’t wait to deliver his message.
”I know, Sir Devereux is a regular contributor to newspaper content and magazine covers.” Klein smiled gently.
Toller picked up a nearby file bag, untwisted it, and drew out the information, flipping through it as he did so:
”Whether you know it or not, I need to give you a detailed briefing.”
”Sir Devereux is one of Tingen’s numbered tycoons, his business began with lead-making factories and porcelain factories, and now spans steel, coal, shipping, banking, and securities, and he’s also a great philanthropist praised by the King for establishing the Devereux Charitable Fund, the Devereux Trust, the Devereux Library . …He was knighted as a Lord five years ago …… If he were willing to run for mayor, I don’t think there would be anyone in Tingen who would be his opponent.”
”However, his goal is in Berkland, he wants to become a member of the Kingdom’s Upper House, we had suspected that his harassment had something to do with it, but couldn’t find any clues.”
Klein nodded softly:
”I can’t rule that out, but I can’t be sure of anything right now.”
Without dwelling too much on the issue, Toller continued:
”Since the 6th of last month, every night when Sir Devereux goes to sleep, he hears a numbing moan of agony, like a dying patient struggling as hard as he can, he has checked the rooms around him and did not find anything out of the ordinary, and the butler and servants have also confirmed that there is indeed a similar sound, only that the movement they hear is very slight. ”
”At first, Sir De Vere thought it would pass quickly and didn’t pay much attention to it, but the moans of pain became more and more frequent, even in the daytime, and there were more heart-pumping sobs.”
”This caused Sir De Vere to lose sleep again and again, and had to leave Tingen for his country house, but it did not help, the moaning and crying continued to haunt him, and again, even when he traveled to Birkeland, things did not gain a lull, only relatively less severe.”
”He’s had security personnel canvass the surrounding area and found no clues, and our initial investigations have been equally lackluster.”
”This torment for over a month has brought Sir Devereux to the verge of a nervous breakdown, he’s had psychiatrists come to his house time and time again, but he still can’t shake the obsession, and he’s told us that if the problem still can’t be solved within the week, he’ll move out of Tingen and head to Bekrand, where he’s sure that there are people who can help him.”
After listening to Toller’s description, Klein quickly analyzed the possibilities:
Offended some extraordinary person and got hit by a curse?
No, if it’s a curse, it’s impossible for the butler and the servants to hear the voice equally ……
The servants and bodyguards are lurking in an extraordinary person who doesn’t know what he’s up to?
But the problem is, in the past month or so, no one has made a request to Sir Devereux ……
Perhaps Sir Devereux has accidentally gotten his hands on something “dirty” like a ghost or evil spirit?
We can’t rule it out ……
In the midst of Klein’s thoughts, the carriage entered the Golden Sycamore district and stopped in front of Sir Devereux’s house.
There were flourishing gardens surrounded by iron railings, hollowed iron gates with two statues towering over them, springs that constantly gushed and bathed the marble idols, two-story houses that covered an extremely large area, and roads large enough for three carriages to run parallel.
”The Sir’s house is only two stories, too …… The papers say Beckland is trying for apartment buildings as high as ten stories …… ” Crane stepped out of the carriage and saw a constable with three V’s on his shoulder patch greeted him at a quick pace.
He glanced at Klein and raised his hand in salute:
”Good morning, sir!”
”Good morning.” Klein smiled and nodded.
Toller laughed beside him:
”This is Sergeant Gator, you can order him anything.”
”This is Trainee Inspector Mr. Moretti, the County Police Department’s history expert and psychologist.” Toller introduced Gait again.
…… I can’t afford to take it on …… Klein burst into shame.
After the pleasantries, Galt pointed to the second story house behind the fountain and said:
”Sir Devereux is waiting for us.”
”Good.” Klein reached down and touched the revolver at his waist.
It was the biggest thing he had against the enemy at the moment.
–Because of the change in police uniform, he could openly put the gun pouch to his waist side for easy drawing.
While talking, the three of them walked along the wide road, bypassed the fountain, and came to the outside of the main gate.
At this time, a servant had already opened the door of the room and was waiting respectfully.
Klein took the opportunity of not yet entering the house, pretended to organize his hat, pinched his brow twice, opened the “spiritual vision”.
Inside the open parlor, the square-faced Sir Devereux is rubbing his forehead, his spirit is quite poor, his dark blonde hair and azure eyes are dry or dull, the whole person seems to have aged five years.
”Good morning, Sir.” Klein, Toller, and Galt saluted at the same time.
Sir Devereux rose and barely managed to squeeze out a smile in response:
”Good morning, three officers, I hope you can solve my troubles.”
At this, Klein narrowed his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed.
He didn’t notice anything wrong with Sir Devereux other than the fact that he was in very poor spirits.
This is very odd …… He thought about it and said:
”Sir, in which room did you first hear the moaning?”
”My bedroom.” Sir Deville shook his head.
”Can we go and have a look?” Klein inquired.
”Haven’t you checked it a few times?” The middle-aged butler next to him frowned back.
Obviously, he didn’t recognize Klein as the companion of the good samaritan who “picked up the gold”.
Klein smiled gently:
”That’s my colleague, not me.”
”Sir, this is the expert sent by the police department.” Toller seized the moment to introduce him.
Deville gave the young expert a deep look and said:
”Yes, Karen, you show them to my bedroom.”
”Sir, I would like you to come with us.” Klein said seriously.
Deville hesitated for a few seconds and said:
”If it will help solve the problem ……”
He picked up his cane as he spoke, and walked with a wobbly step towards the stairs, with the butler, Callum, and several of his bodyguards clustered beside him, ever ready to assist.
Klein looked around the room and followed silently but calmly.
One step, two steps, three steps …… they arrived on the second floor and entered the master bedroom.
Before he had a chance to examine his surroundings, Klein’s sweaty hairs stood on end.
It was feedback from his inspiration!