Klein originally wanted to ask whether, before the string of bad luck began, Allen or his family had brought home something unusual, like a somewhat dirty cloth doll.
But as the words reached his lips, he suddenly felt this was too direct, easily exposing the fact that he knew quite a bit about the mystical realm. Although it could be explained away by saying a great detective had extensive experience, there was no need to take that risk.
So, he changed to a more roundabout approach, asking Doctor Allen if his family was also suffering from misfortune.
Hearing his question, Allen Khriss thought carefully for a moment and said: "No, aside from going through the steam train accident with me, they are mostly the same as before. You can't really say they are lucky or unlucky. The rest of the time it's a mix of both. Nothing particularly unlucky."
That's not right... If it was an item that needed to be sealed, like a cursed doll, it would definitely affect people within a certain range... Could it be that Allen dropped blood on it, thus forming a solid connection? In Klein's spiritual vision, the color of Allen's aura and emotions matched his physical and mental state perfectly, with nothing special about it.
He carefully considered his wording and asked: "At the hospital where you work, is there anyone else who is as unlucky as you?"
"No, so I'm sure I've been cursed by someone." Allen tugged at his bow tie, looking quite agitated and uneasy.
Under Talim's curious gaze, Klein thought for a moment and said: "Before the bad luck started, did you encounter anything strange? For example, cutting yourself? In folklore, blood is a powerful medium for a curse to take hold."
"After I suspected I was cursed, I verified this. I haven't bled in the last three months." Allen held his knife and fork, replying with a solemn expression.
That's a bit strange... And I can't perform a complicated divination in front of them... Klein asked again: "What about any other strange things?"
"Allen, think hard about it. This kind of thing can't happen without a reason. Have you offended anyone recently? Or become an obstacle for someone?" Talim chimed in with concern.
Allen lowered his gaze, looking at the food on the plate, lost in deep thought. Klein didn't remain idle either. Before the food grew cold and lost its taste, he finished it.
By the time he started enjoying his dessert, Allen finally raised his head and said: "I'm not a very sociable person. My relationship with my colleagues isn't good, but it's hard to believe they would go so far as to curse me."
"Hmm... Thanks to your prompting, I recall one thing. It might be related to the occult."
"What thing?" Klein and Talim perked up at the same time.
"Before the continuous bad luck started, I was in charge of a patient. He was a child under ten years old, very pitiful. Due to some issues, he needed his left leg amputated." Allen pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and recalled. "I had just become a father not long ago, so I was always full of sympathy for the misfortunes of children. Every time I made rounds, I would chat with him, encourage him, and comfort him."
He paused, then continued more fluently: "I remember it was the day before his surgery. I went to see him specifically. He was indeed very uneasy, playing with Tarot cards. He had brought them with him when he was admitted to the hospital and didn't even allow his family to take them away."
"To help him relax, I played a game of Tarot divination with him."
"At that time, I drew a card. It was the 'Wheel of Fortune' in the reversed position."
"The child looked at me, smiled very purely and innocently, and said:"
"'Doctor, your luck is going to turn bad.'"
"'Doctor, your luck is going to turn bad'..." Talim took a deep breath. "Somehow, this scene and these words give me chills... Did that child die on the operating table later?"
Allen shook his head: "The surgery was very successful. Not long after, he was discharged smoothly, and he specifically thanked me."
"So, I never suspected this matter. But now that I think back, I realize this is the only time in the past two months that I've come into contact with something related to the occult. Regardless, whether it works or not, Tarot cards are ultimately used for divination."
A brass-colored coin appeared in Klein's hand at some point, flipping and rolling between his fingers, as if symbolizing the analysis process of the 'famous great detective'.
The coin bounced up, fell, and landed on his palm. Klein glanced at it from the corner of his eye, ending his 'thought' and saying: "What's that child's name? Where does he live?"
Allen replied without hesitation: "His name is
"Detective, what is your advice?"
"Do you know any experts in the occult field?"
Klein took a sip of black tea, and under the expectant gazes of Allen and Talim, he smiled and said: "My advice is to go to the church of the deity you believe in, describe your recent misfortune to the bishop, and ask him if he has a way to resolve it. Allen, if I remember correctly, you are, uh, a follower of the