In the dim and hazy crimson moonlight, Klein threw back the covers and climbed out of bed.
For a diviner, paying attention to dreams was the most basic quality, and the dream he just had could absolutely not be explained as a simple nightmare.
Wearing relatively comfortable clothes, he approached the full-length mirror and said softly:
"I dreamed of the bloodstained door in that room."
The figure of the bodyguard lady slowly outlined itself on the mirror, and she replied expressionlessly:
"The influence of the evil spirit's aura."
"It will gradually weaken until it disappears."
I see... Klein nodded slightly, returned to the bed, picked up the gold pocket watch, and opened it to glance at the time.
Seeing that it was still early, he lay down to sleep again. This time, the dream was fragmented and the previous experience did not repeat.
The next day, Sunday morning, feeling refreshed, Klein made himself a soft-boiled egg to go with his buttered bread.
In the Kingdom of Loen, or rather, in the countries of the Northern Continent, it was a must for gentlemen to read the newspaper at breakfast. Klein was no exception. He spread out the subscriptions: the Tassock Gazette, the Backlund Post, and the Backlund Morning Post.
"The Government Employee Uniform Examination Bill has officially passed the Upper House. The first exam will be held in early December, the second round at the end of January next year, and two weeks later the final interview... Within a week, the government will announce the positions and requirements for this exam and begin registration... Reporters speculate that most of these will be in Backlund..." Klein scanned the lines, picked up his cup, and took a sip of Ceylon tea.
He couldn't help but think of Benson and said to himself in his mind:
"The bill passed at the end of September, positions will be announced in early October, registration completed in early November, and the exam starts in early December... The schedule is very tight, very unreasonable, it clearly shows the king and prime minister's urgency."
"But this is very beneficial to Benson. He started preparing more than two months earlier than others. Even if he can't compare to the elites who graduated from university, he will definitely surpass the vast majority of others. And the positions those elites are aiming for won't overlap with his."
"He should be fine..."
Klein wanted to tap his chest four times, trace a Crimson Moon, and say "May the Goddess bless him," but thinking about the bodyguard lady nearby, he forcibly held back his impulse, after all, his declared faith was the God of Steam and Machinery.
After finishing the last bite of bread, he continued reading the newspaper:
"The Upper and Lower Houses passed the bill to establish the 'Kingdom Air Pollution Investigation Committee,' allowing the government to form this body... The next month will be a critical period for various parties to compete for committee seats..."
"...The separate position of Alkaline Inspector has been approved, targeting factories that produce acids and alkalis to minimize their pollution levels."
"...There is no advertisement for goods purchase by Ernst Trading Company on the fifth page, no need to consider attending the Beyonder gathering tomorrow night."
............
Tingen City, 2 Daffodil Street.
Benson read the news in the newspaper over and over again, completely forgetting the bread on his plate.
"The Uniform Examination Bill passed?" Melissa, wearing a black dress, turned her head to her unusually acting brother.
The newspapers in the previous days had been gradually hinting at the passage of this bill.
Benson finally put down the newspaper, wiped his black hair, and slowly exhaled:
"Yes."
At that moment, both of them suddenly fell silent. The house was quiet, not even the sound of knives and forks hitting plates.
The indescribable atmosphere was broken by Bella, the maid who came out of the kitchen. Benson smiled and said:
"This is foreseeable. Actually, the more important news is the one from before."
"Mm?" Melissa's expression was unusually calm.
Benson took a bite of bread and said with a smile:
"The news about the reorganization of Backlund Technical College into a university."
"It will officially start enrolling students next year. There will be no exams on grammar and classical literature, focusing mainly on technical content. It's very suitable for graduates and current students of various technical schools."
"Melissa, I think you can give it a try."
"But..." Melissa instinctively retorted.
Benson interrupted her and said with a smile:
"Tuition will be half the price of universities in Tingen, Perth, Hoy, Backlund, etc., equivalent to Consdon Polytechnic University in the Interlake County, and there will be more scholarship opportunities. Melissa, don't you like mechanics, steam, and this kind of thing? This is the best chance for you to get in touch with more advanced and in-depth knowledge."
"Give it a try, how about that? Don't worry about wasting money. That sum of money, although it can allow us to maintain our current life without working, we are still young. We can't define our lives like this, define our lives. You see, compared to a few months ago, my grammar level has improved a lot."
"Uh... a change of environment might be better."
"I know you can't bear to leave Tingen, can't bear to leave here. Yes, we will eventually come back, but not when we are young."
Melissa turned her head to glance at the various parts on the tea table, moved her lips a few times, and said:
"What about Bella then..."
After Klein's death, she originally didn't want to hire a maid again, but thinking about the miserable life Bella might face if she lost her job, she gave up that idea. After all, the extra expense of 5 soli per week was no big deal for the Moretti family, which had an annual income of at least 300 pounds.
To this, Benson shook his head and smiled:
"There are still several months. Bella can look for a new job in advance. Before that, we will continue to pay her wages and give her a room. Moreover, her cooking skills have improved a lot. She can go apply to be a family cook. Pity... Hehe, of course, all of this is based on the premise that you pass the entrance exam for Backlund Technical University."
He wanted to say that it was a pity Bella hadn't studied cooking for long, but after glancing at Melissa's gloomy expression, he forcibly changed the subject.