Part 2 The Faceless Man Chapter 158 – Detective Moriarty’s First Fan
”No, it was just luck, just God blessing me.” Klein humbly made way for Stuart to come in.
What he said was actually true, this matter was indeed luck, long before the other party took the assignment, he already knew where Emlyn White was.
Stuart shivered as he took off his tweed jacket, removed his hat, and hung them on a rack in the foyer:
”This damn weather, it’s getting cold, maybe I’ll try one of those cotton stuffed jackets.”
”You can’t call that cold, can you? You go to the north of Mesopotamia and live in Wintershire for a day and you’ll understand what real cold temperatures are, real winter.” Klein laughed.
Whirling around, he asked generously:
”A cup of hot coffee?”
”That’s exactly what I was expecting.” Stuart followed towards the first floor sitting room, “I’ve been to the north side of the Intercounty and know about the cold temperatures and heavy snowfalls there, it was an okay vacation, but the cold in Berkland isn’t so bad, it’s like it’s magical, it pierces through my clothes and seeps into my bones, and oh the fireplaces that make you want to praise them!”
Stuart stood in front of the charcoal-burning fireplace for a full twenty seconds before sitting down on the couch and looking at Klein, who was busy brewing instant coffee:
”I’m planning a vacation down south for the New Year, fishing in Dixie Bay, what about you, what are your vacation plans? We’ve put up with the Bakerland air all year and worked hard and diligently to save up for a vacation like this.”
”Perhaps, too, to Dixie Bay ……” said Crane, hesitatingly, and for a moment the look on his face, which was turned sideways to Stuart’s, was a little dazed.
There was an engagement at stake.
A pact with his brother, Benson, and sister, Melissa.
”Haha, I’ll show you my sea fishing skills then.” Stuart chattered, “We’re still not rich enough, otherwise I really want to travel to Forsak, to Intis, or even the southern continent.”
Klein fixed the coffee and handed the other man the white glazed porcelain cup, himself taking two steps back and sitting across from him.
Stuart held the cup and took two deep breaths of the fragrant, warm gas.
After a few seconds’ reprieve, he set the cup down and said very formally:
”As promised, I will share the payment I have received for this acquisition with you.
”Mr. and Mrs. White gave a total of fifty pounds, and you made a significantly larger contribution than I did.
”Sherlock, how about you take thirty pounds? I still have to pay my informants some hard-earned money.”
Only 50 pounds? A vampire is worth 50 pounds? Crane couldn’t help but bellyache.
However, he also knew that it wasn’t that Mr. and Mrs. White didn’t want to increase the amount of the reward, it should be because they were worried that giving too much money would instead scare the detectives and make them make unnecessary associations, thus attracting the attention of the police or certain official organizations.
For ordinary private detectives, the task of 50 pounds is already tempting enough, Klein when he first hired someone to investigate the entire city of Tingen and the entire red chimney houses in the suburban towns, only used 7 pounds like.
”Also, Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt gave an extra £1, saying it’s your fare for the next few days.” Slightly puzzled, Stuart produced six five-pound denomination bills, and one one-pound denomination.
Crane reached out and took them, casually checking for authenticity without explaining about the fare.
Stuart didn’t ask many questions either, and turned to laugh:
”Apart from Mr. Stanton, you are the most outstanding detective I’ve ever seen, did you join the profession halfway, or have you studied under a great detective before?”
Which great detective did you study under? This is a lot, what Sherlock Holmes, what Hercule Poirot, what 10,000 years of elementary school students, what in the name of grandpa wooing the guy …… Klein silently spat out two sentences.
He thought for a moment and said:
”I’m from Mashai County, and I did a lot of work early on before I became a detective.”
”So you’ve seen enough!” Stuart said indistinctly.
Hey, I’m a little embarrassed by your compliments …… Klein smiled without responding.
Stuart sipped his coffee and said:
”Sherlock, in the future, if I come across a difficult case that I can’t solve, I hope I can ask you for help.”
My connections in the detective world are also spread out ah …… Klein cautiously replied:
”When the time comes, if I’m free.”
After a few more moments of small talk, Stuart had the good sense to offer his farewells, and Klein kept him until he reached the foyer.
Putting on his coat and hat, Stuart was about to pull the door shut and go out, when he suddenly turned back and said sincerely:
”Sherlock, you are too parsimonious.
”Your talent deserves better coffee.”
Huh? Klein froze at first, then became a little embarrassed.
He gave a dry laugh and said:
”I can’t tell the difference between good and bad coffee, it’s all the same to me.”
……
After sending Stuart away, Klein then went out and went to the butcher’s store to buy a few beef bones and some beef, and went to the vegetable store to buy white radishes and other ingredients with the appropriate seasonings.
He was going to prepare beef bone and radish soup for dinner to accompany the rest of the rice, and as for lunch, he found a random restaurant down the street and ate a small lamb chop.
During the leisurely afternoon, Klein continued to study the Book of Secrets, and the more he read, the more he realized that he knew too little about the occult.
Luckily, he had a solid foundation, and he was able to grasp many things quickly once he touched them and pondered over them.
In the evening, he smelled the tantalizing aroma of beef bone turnip soup wafting outside, and the knot in his throat wriggled up and down twice in response.
He heard the doorbell again, which was like a call to dinner.
Swallowing hard, Klein stepped behind the door and reached for the handle.
His mind naturally took on the appearance of his visitor, none other than the handsome but not masculine enough red-pupiled vampire Emlyn White.
Don’t even have to rush it …… It’s a keeper …… Klein pulled open the door to his room and smiled:
”Good evening, Mr. White.”
Emlyn raised his chin, letting his impatience show.
He was about to speak when Klein surveyed the brown clerical robes he was wearing and said with an “I see” smile:
”You just come from Harvest Church?”
Who said last night that it would hold up?
Emlyn was instantly unable to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor and gritted his teeth:
”That old man, that old man ……
”Damn it, what’s the best way to get rid of that damn hint?”
Not waiting for Klein to answer, he patted the clothes on his chest and grimaced:
”Take me to that patient.
”There’s a nice dinner waiting for me.”
As he spoke, he sniffled slightly, as if he smelled something.
Without further ado, Klein grabbed his coat and hat and said:
”Okay, I’ll take you there now.”
Closing the door and taking a few steps, he asked cautiously:
”Do you have a license to practice medicine?”
How else would he convince Attorney Jürgen to agree to Mrs. Doris taking her medication?
Emlyn looked at the sky at a forty-five degree angle and said:
”I don’t need that kind of credential to demonstrate my competence.”
Before Klein frowned, he added absently:
”It’s so simple I just dealt with it and got it.”
…… This tone, sounds quite proud of the license to practice medicine well …… Klein smiled and did not say anything.
Emlyn looked ahead at the wet ground and said casually:
”You know what my favorite thing about Becklander is?”
”What?” Klein echoed without curiosity.
Emlyn chuckled:
”The permanently overcast skies, the fog that blocks out the sun, which keeps me from feeling too uncomfortable even when I go out in the daytime.
”It’s wonderful, except the air isn’t very good.”
That means vampires really do suffer some damage from sunlight? It’s a good thing that I had considered this point yesterday and purposely didn’t bring a sun brooch, otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to communicate with Emlyn……. Klein seemed to understand something.
While talking, they had already arrived outside Jürgen’s house, and Klein went up and pulled the doorbell.
After a while, the door of the room opened, and Mrs. Doris, who was also dressed thickly at home, spoke in surprise:
”Mr. Detective, are you here as a guest?”
Brody, the black cat, crouched down next to him without a word and looked at Emlyn warily, as if he didn’t think the guy was quite right.
Klein pointed at the vampire beside him:
”I’ve newly met a physician who specializes in treating lung diseases, so I’ve specially asked him to take a look at you, this one, Dr. Emlyn White.”
”Yeah? You still remember this, huh? What a good boy!” Doris joyfully invited the two to enter.
The corners of the child …… Klein’s mouth twitched slightly, and in the end he said nothing.
On the way into the parlor, Emlyn lowered his voice and said to him:
”This patient’s problems are irreversible; she’s very old and quite weak.
”Even if I gave her the potion, she would at best survive this winter and pass away in three to five years.
”Unless there’s a legendary magic potion of immortality, and something similar, that’s all that can be done, or, perhaps, turn her into a Blood? But at her age, she can’t handle the changes to her body from extraordinary traits anymore, and my parents and I don’t have any extra traits left.”
Unreversible …… Klein was stunned and sighed silently.
He said to Emlyn:
”Let’s make her a potion first, after this winter.”
”Good, I have a finished potion with me that is just right for this situation.” Emlyn nonchalantly sat down on the couch.
At that moment, Attorney Jürgen took off his apron as he came out of the kitchen and asked for clarification on Klein’s visit.
”Dr. White, what do you think about my grandmother’s lung disease?” Jürgen asked gravely.
Emlyn was obviously very good at this kind of situation, and after first talking about what he knew about lung disease and winding up Yürgen, he said:
”What she needs most of all is warmth and healthy air, and that is my sincerest advice.”
”Also, I have a special medicine that I can try for free.”
As he spoke, he pulled out his license to practice internal medicine and a metal vial.
”Will there be side effects?” Jürgen asked cautiously.
”No. The only problem is that it doesn’t cure the problem, only temporarily.” Emlyn replied in a very professional manner, “If it wasn’t for Detective Moriarty, I wouldn’t just let anyone try it.”
”Maybe try it? Ahem ……” interjected Mrs. Doris.
Jürgen glanced at Klein, and the other, who had done the divination beforehand, gave an affirmative nod.
”Good.” Jürgen finally made his decision.
He watched vigilantly as Mrs. Doris drank the potion, carefully observing her reaction.
Mrs. Doris didn’t change much at first, but gradually she felt that her breathing was becoming a little easier.
She stood up, bent down and hugged the cat, and said joyfully:
”I feel much better!”
Seeing this scene, the corners of Jürgen’s mouth actually rose slightly on his usual serious and unsmiling face.
And all Klein could think of was:
Three to five years.
He sketched a smile and let out a secret sigh:
This is also a kind of magic show, right, making the audience happy with false results created by extraordinary abilities ……