Outside the Red Rose Manor, Klein, holding his cane, stepped down from the carriage.
Looking at the soldiers in red uniforms standing guard at the entrance, he closed his eyes to calm himself.
Since that sealed artifact suspected to be "0-08" had been constantly creating coincidences to prevent the woman with the sapphire ring from meeting me, today would be no exception. No need to worry too much about encountering her. As long as I could fool Prince Edsac with my performance, there would be no problem… Klein calmed his thoughts and walked toward the manor entrance.
After handing over his holster and revolver and passing the search, he followed the butler across the road paved with gray slates, bypassed the fountain spraying clear water, entered the main building, went up to the second floor, and arrived outside a room that, from the layout, should be the sunroom.
During this process, Klein was on edge, afraid of accidents, afraid that the situation would take the worst and most dangerous turn.
Knock, knock, knock. After lightly knocking on the door, the butler leaned close to it and said in a low voice:
"Detective Moriarty has arrived."
After nearly ten seconds of silence, a thick voice came from inside:
"His Highness the Prince invites him in."
With these words, the door creaked open, and a warmth spilled out, slightly warmer than in the hallway.
Under the gaze of two tall guards, Klein stepped onto the warm yellow thick patterned carpet.
He walked forward a few steps, rounded the cabinet that separated the inner and outer parts of the room, and saw Prince Edsac sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the rare winter sun in Backlund.
His round face, which seemed kind and memorable, showed no trace of a smile, naturally creating a serious and solemn atmosphere.
Thanks to the elegant fireplace and metal pipes, the room was warmer than late spring. Prince Edsac wore no coat, only a white shirt with cuffs blooming like flowers and a light-yellow vest. The accompanying cufflinks, tie pins, badges and other accessories were not conspicuous but expensive enough.
Seeing this, Klein secretly breathed a sigh of relief because the lady with the sapphire ring was not by the prince's side.
So he quickly stepped forward and bowed.
Edsac held a cup of steaming black tea and did not invite Klein to sit.
Maintaining the same expression, he asked in a deep voice:
"Are there results from the investigation?"
"No. My divination, my mediumship, my interviews, my investigations all tell me that Talim died of a sudden heart disease." Klein replied with pain and obvious self-blame in his expression. "I am too weak in every aspect, Your Highness. You should hire more powerful and capable helpers."
You better find someone else… he silently added in his mind.
At that moment, Edsac seemed to see Detective Sherlock Moriarty's face clearly for the first time, feeling that he looked several years older than before, as if he hadn't slept well for a long time.
This was not an illusion, because before leaving, Klein had used the ability of the "Faceless" to slightly adjust his facial appearance: making his skin look dry and dull, letting random stubble appear in patches, and making his eye bags larger, darker, and more pronounced.
Edsac was silent for a while, then put down the white porcelain cup with gold trim and said:
"I see. It was indeed too forced… I'll have someone else take over the follow-up. Draw up a report of the investigation, without omissions."
"Good!" Klein clenched his fist inwardly and quickly pulled a stack of folded papers from his pocket: "Your Highness, you don't need to wait. I always have a habit of keeping written records."
Having an attendant take the report, Prince Edsac flipped through it casually and put it aside:
"Do you have anything else?"
"No, Your Highness. Allow me to take my leave. Ah, right, I am going to the south for a while. I hope the warm sunshine there can melt the pain in my heart." Klein replied with a sigh.
"That's a New Year habit for many Rune people." Prince Edsac nodded slightly, then turned to the old butler Finkel: "See Detective Moriarty out and give him a carriage."
The nearest town from Red Rose Manor was a 15 to 20-minute walk, and only there could one hire a carriage.
"Yes, Your Highness." The old butler bowed meticulously.
Klein did not let down his guard and quickly took his leave.
He followed the old butler all the way out, reached the manor entrance, and retrieved his underarm holster and personal weapon.
Less than a minute later, he was in the carriage from Red Rose Manor.
Leaning against the wall, watching the manor become more distant and smaller outside the window, Klein relaxed and slowly breathed out, letting his suspended "heart" return to its place.
He understood that at this moment, he had left the center of the stage.
Next was to say goodbye to Backlund, go south, and make a complete exit… Afterwards, put on a different face and sneak back… He calmly thought about the subsequent plan.
Just then, his inspiration twitched, his spirituality tightened, and he saw the carriage door quickly open and then silently close!
Before he could react, a figure quickly materialized: a woman in a heavy black dress with a sapphire ring.
Sapphire ring! Seeing this, Klein, who was about to attack or jump out, contracted his pupils and sat back down, not daring to act rashly.
That was a terrifying figure who possessed a "0"-level sealed artifact or was herself a demigod of that level!
This… just what I feared… "0-08" or something, where are the coincidences you created? Klein's spirit and body instantly became highly tense as he watched the figure fully manifest.