Startled by Klein's question, Emlyn White scrutinized him and said:
"You're richer than I thought."
He had originally thought that Sherlock Moriarty would need at least a week to scrape together 2450 pounds.
"I've been saving up for a long time." Klein sighed.
Emlyn nodded thoughtfully:
"Does being a private detective pay so well?"
"It's just a convenient cover. Without a major bounty, it amounts to only two or three hundred pounds a year." Klein said frankly.
Emlyn shot him a glance and asked nonchalantly:
"Then what do you actually do? Smuggle weapons, rob rich people's vaults? For beyonders at Sequence 7 or below, there aren't many ways to quickly save over two thousand pounds; most of them skate on the edge of crime."
"A vampire lecturing me about crime? Looks like you're quite attracted to making a quick buck…" Klein chuckled. "Take on some dangerous jobs. If you're not afraid of death, you can try too."
Emlyn shut his mouth and said after a long pause:
"Come to me in the evening; I'll take you to the seller's place."
What a timid vampire… Klein was about to agree, but then felt it was too risky.
What if the seller becomes greedy? What if he doesn't have the beyonder materials at all and just wants to lure me into a robbery? Emlyn White can be trusted, but the seller he introduces may not… I need an excuse to go above the gray fog and divine to check the danger level… Hmm, no need to overcomplicate; there's a better way… As thoughts raced through his mind, Klein turned to Emlyn:
"No, you go alone.
"I'll give you 1000 pounds as advance payment. You bring the two materials to the Harvest Church. After verification, I'll pay the balance. I think the seller will accept this arrangement. It will show the trustworthiness of a noble blood."
Flattered, Emlyn unconsciously lifted his chin:
"There's no problem with this transaction method."
At this, he gave a snicker:
"Are you afraid of them cheating you? Will you feel safe in the Harvest Church?"
"Of course. With a Blessed of Mother Earth standing by who's over two meters twenty and extremely muscular, anyone would feel safe." Klein smiled and pointed at Father Uutravsky. "Anyone who can deal with him wouldn't care about two or three thousand pounds."
Emlyn's expression darkened, and he snorted:
"Aren't you afraid that I'll embezzle the thousand pounds advance payment?"
Klein gazed into the distance leisurely and said:
"Why be afraid?
"You come back here every day, so you're easy to find. And a live specimen of vampire would sell for more than a thousand pounds even if dismantled."
Hit where it hurt, Emlyn muttered angrily:
"Blood! Got it? Blood!
"And don't use the word 'specimen'!"
Klein chuckled softly and said nothing, waiting for the other to calm down.
"Let's do it your way." Finally, Emlyn rubbed his temple.
Klein immediately took out the envelope he had received that morning and handed it, along with the thick stack of 1000 pounds in cash, to him:
"See you here at 8 p.m."
Emlyn counted the bills, confirmed the amount, gave a wary glance at Father Uutravsky, and lowered his voice:
"Mr. Private Detective, you who often come across all sorts of information and tips, have you ever heard of a false god called 'The Fool'?"
"Fa... false god?…" Klein nearly cursed in his mind.
He replied with a calm expression:
"Lately, many people have been looking for the followers of 'The Fool.' Do you want to join them and claim the bounty?"
Emlyn sighed and said:
"No. I'm just considering whether to pray to this false god or spirit to help me remove the mental suggestion. You know, His specific honorable name has been circulated. If translated into Hermes or Ancient Hermes, He might respond... What do you know about Him? What harm does He cause to followers? Does He force them to change their views?"
Even though the target is me, I still want to say: Dear vampire student, you're rushing to any doctor when ill... Klein said with complicated feelings.