Outside a slightly old two-story house in Hillston District.
Klein accepted Detective Isengard Stanton's invitation and came to discuss the latest progress of the case with him in person.
Over the past two days, his cooperation with this industry senior had been quite pleasant. Although a trace of awkwardness remained in his heart because he had once been investigated by the other party, Eisinger Detective didn't seem to care much about it.
Perhaps it was because Klein didn't seem like a bad person, or perhaps it was because he had the Guild's guarantee. At least in terms of work, they got along quite well.
"A cup of black tea, light on the lemon, thank you." After being received by Eisenger's assistant, he walked toward the living room. Just as he raised his hand to knock on the door, a thick scent of blood wafted out from the crack in the door.
Through the gap, he saw that the living room was filled with traces of intense fighting, and the expensive carpet and walls were splashed with large patches of dark red blood.
An accident had happened here!
At that moment, the assistant also came over carrying the black tea.
"You—killed—Stan—ton—Mr—"
With every word he spat out, a large chunk of flesh fell off his face, dripping with blood. By the time he finished speaking, his entire body fell apart with a "shua" sound, turning into a pile of disgusting remains on the floor!
Klein stood in place, making no unnecessary movements. It wasn't until the sound of hurried footsteps and the shouts of the police came from downstairs that he felt the terrifying gaze that had been shrouding him disappear.
"I didn't expect you to come in person to bail me out—"
After leaving the interrogation room, Klein saw Director Charles, who had been waiting for him in the lobby of the Police Station.
Originally, a Lawyer should have come to bail him out. But just now, during a gap in the interrogation, he used a communication Talisman to briefly inform Charles of the situation here. Unexpectedly, this superior actually stated that he would come over personally.
"I happened to have some time, so I came by to take a look." Charles stood up and patted his shoulder.
"Besides, I have some connections in the Police Station here."
"Look, you didn't even have to pay a single penny of bail this time."
Hearing this, the corner of Klein's mouth twitched slightly. This was indeed true. In a case involving murder, even with the help of the best Lawyer, he would have to pay at least dozens of pounds in bail before possibly being allowed to leave.
The two walked out of the Police Station one after the other and boarded a carriage parked by the roadside.
Inside the carriage, Klein reported the recent information he had obtained, as well as the bizarre event that had just occurred, to Charles in detail.
"Mm." After listening to the report, Charles nodded slightly.
"You don't need to worry too much about Isengard Stanton. He is an experienced Sequence 7, and he has a considerable number of Mystical Items on him, so there shouldn't be any danger to his life—"
"What Sequence is... Eisinger Detective?" Klein asked curiously.
"Reader Pathway, Sequence 7, Detective." Charles did not hide it and shared this information directly. "Of course, nowadays everyone commonly calls it—'Detective'."
"Detective"?! That truly fits his profession perfectly. No wonder he became one of the most famous private Detectives in Backlund; his daily work is the best form of acting—Klein understood in his heart.
The carriage traveled through the evening streets of Backlund for about ten minutes, eventually stopping at an intersection near Minsk Street.
"I have some matters to handle next, so I won't see you to your door." Charles looked at Klein, his tone as usual.
Klein quickly said it wasn't necessary and that here was fine.
"Sherlock."
Just as he was about to get off and leave, Charles suddenly called out to him, his tone serious.
"If you encounter danger you cannot solve, contact me immediately using the Talisman. Also—prioritize your own life above all else."
15 Minsk Street.
"Irene isn't home again?" Klein frowned slightly and pushed open the door. The house was pitch black and silent.
However, as soon as he stepped into the living room, his spiritual intuition was suddenly triggered!
Someone—had been inside his home!
He warily observed his surroundings and finally discovered a letter on the coffee table in the living room.
On that white piece of stationery, a line of words filled with malice and madness was written in congealed, dark red blood: "You will all die!"
The carriage continued forward, and eventually, Charles arrived at the entrance of a detached villa in the West District—this was his private residence. However, he rarely came here. In most cases, to coordinate work more efficiently, he slept directly at the Guild. He only returned when he needed to host social parties or on rare days off.
"Sigh—" He pushed open the door, and before long, he felt a familiar aura filled with corruption and desire.
He turned around and saw a man with high cheekbones and cold blue eyes sitting quietly in the shadows of the living room.
The "Desire Apostle," Patrick Jason.
"Have you gone mad lately? Acting so high-profile!" At first sight of the other man, Charles showed no fear; instead, he scolded him roundly.
"Right now, all the official Beyonders in Backlund are looking for you!"
"Hmph," Jason let out a cold sneer from his nose, "that includes you too, doesn't it?"
"In the matter of cornering me, the people from your Guild haven't exactly been idle."
"Police Headquarters sent us a formal request for cooperation; we have no reason or standing to refuse," Charles answered as if it were a matter of course.
"This is the price that must be paid to maintain a superficial cooperative relationship."
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the irritability in his heart, and tried to communicate in a more rational tone: "Listen, Patrick, the situation is already showing signs of spiraling out of control. It's only a matter of time before the official uncover your identity.
"I don't care what you're actually planning or what desire has clouded your mind; while things haven't reached an irreversible point, leave Backlund immediately. I can use my channels to help send you safely to the Southern Continent.
"Heh," Jason's mouth curled into a mocking arc, "you're afraid I'll be caught by the official and then, under their interrogation, spill all those 'pleasant' cooperative experiences between you and me, eventually implicating you, aren't you, dear Director Charles?"
"What else?" Charles shrugged without reservation, a trace of merchant-like candor appearing on his face. "Isn't our 'friendship' always built on mutual benefit and—mutual leverage?"
"By running straight to my house today, aren't you afraid I've set an ambush for you here?"
"Hmph. What do you think?" Jason's tone was full of confidence, even carrying a hint of contempt for Charles's question.
A Beyonder of the "Devil" Pathway possesses the "Malice Perception" ability. If someone could cause him fatal harm within a short period and had taken practical action toward that end, he would be able to sense it in advance and perceive the source of the danger.
This was the reason Jason had repeatedly escaped capture and the source of his confidence in directly seeking out Charles.
Truly a troublesome ability—Charles cursed inwardly: "What exactly did you come to me for today?"
"Don't tell me it's simply to reminisce about old times."
"I want you to—do me a favor." Jason stopped beating around the bush. "I know you have a type of specialized interrogation equipment that can quickly manipulate a person's emotions, making them fall into extreme fear or excitement. Moreover, your Intelligence Department has—"
"Stop!" Before he could finish, Charles interrupted him sternly.
"Are you joking?"
"All our past cooperation consisted of private transactions that did not touch upon the organization.
"If you were to take our things and have an accident outside, how would the Church and the official see it—" Charles's brow furrowed tightly.
"Besides, why should I help you? Based on those few insincere threats and empty promises just now?
"I won't have an accident. Do you have so little faith in me?" Jason said word by word. "As for the reward—"
"I can give you a—High-Sequence Potion Formula."
"Believe me, this formula is absolutely worth your help. Moreover, if you can submit it, it will definitely allow your status within The Society to rise to another level.
"A High-Sequence formula?" Charles subconsciously repeated.
"Where did you get such a thing?"
Jason glanced at him: "That is a secret that cannot be told."