Klein nodded and said: "Alright, but I still don't know what my mission is."
"It's not a dangerous mission, at least for now there are no signs of danger." Dunn first stressed the key point, then said, "This is a case transferred from the Golden Banyan District Police Station. The famous philanthropist Sir Derville has been receiving strange harassment for a month, but no matter his bodyguards, hired security personnel, or the police, they can't find the culprit. Inspector Toller, who is in charge of this matter, highly suspects it's related to supernatural powers, so he submitted it to us."
I saw Sir Derville at the library before and noticed he was in a bad mood and mentally weak. So it's because of the harassment... Klein frowned slightly and asked: "What kind of harassment?"
This matter has not caused any substantial harm yet, so it's indeed not dangerous.
"Sir Derville hears weeping and groaning every night, no matter where he sleeps, whether he is in Tingen or not. This has made his sleep quality very poor." Dunn flipped through the materials at hand and said, "He has seen a psychologist and asked the butler and servants around him, confirming it's not an illusion, so he suspects someone is harassing him."
Closing the file, Dunn looked up at Klein: "Go to the lounge and change into your probationary inspector uniform. Meet Inspector Toller in the shooting club hall, and he will give you more detailed information."
"Probationary inspector uniform?" Klein instinctively asked.
Dunn rubbed his forehead and smiled: "Half of our salaries are paid by the Police Department. The title of probationary inspector doesn't only exist in the archives. When you first me and Leonard, we were also in uniform. This is a benefit that every formal team member has. Well, that kind of benefit Emperor Roselle mentioned."
It's a pity I can't wear it usually, otherwise I'd have an extra set of clothes to change into... Klein picked up his cane, bowed, took his leave, and exited the captain's office.
He came to the lounge diagonally opposite and saw a black-and-white checkered uniform with leather boots. The soft cap was inlaid with the emblem of "crossed swords flanking a crown," and on the shoulders were badges with a black-and-white base and a shining silver star.
"So this is the probationary inspector?" Klein glanced and noticed an inconspicuous string of numbers under the silver star on the shoulder badge: "06-254."
He had already gained a preliminary understanding of the police hierarchy of the Kingdom of Ruen. He knew that at the top were the Minister of Police and the Chief Secretary of Police, followed by the Directors, Deputy Directors, and Assistant Directors of various police departments. In the middle were Superintendents and Inspectors, and at the bottom were Sergeants and Constables.
Closing the door, Klein took off his formal clothes and hat, and changed into the uniform.
After hanging up his original clothes, he pushed open the door, entered the clerical office, and looked at the full-length mirror that Rosanne had fought for.
The young man in the mirror had neat black hair, gentle brown eyes, and the uniform added a bit more heroism than usual.
"Not bad." Klein complimented himself with a pleased mood, left his cane in the office, turned and walked out of Blackthorn Security Company.
In his pocket, his police ID and the permit for using all types of weapons were all there.
…………
In the hall of the shooting club.
Klein saw Inspector Toller because he was the only person there wearing a police uniform.
Of course, now I'll add to that... Klein silently added.
Inspector Toller's shoulder badge had two silver stars. His clothes were stretched over his belly, his face was adorned with thick brownish-yellow whiskers, and he was tall but not imposing, or perhaps he had been imposing once.
"Moretti? Klein Moretti?" Toller looked him up and down a few times and greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, Inspector Toller. I think you shouldn't have mistaken me." Klein replied wittily and, based on his impression, raised his right hand, closed his fingers, and gave a salute.
Toller chuckled: "I can see you're an easy-going young man. That puts my mind at ease. Shall we go to Sir Derville's house now?"
Although his police rank was higher than Klein's, his tone carried a clear sense of inquiry.
"No problem." Klein thought for a moment and said, "You can brief me on the details in the carriage."
"Alright." Toller touched his thick brownish-yellow whiskers and led Klein out of the shooting club to a carriage parked across the street.
The carriage bore the emblem of "crossed swords flanking a crown" and was driven by a designated coachman.
"Sir Derville is a follower of the Goddess, so we passed the case to you." Toller couldn't wait to explain as soon as he sat down.
"I know. The baronet is a frequent subject of newspaper articles and magazine covers." Klein smiled gently.
Toller picked up the file bag beside him, untied the string, pulled out the documents, and said while flipping through: "Whether you know it or not, I need to give you a detailed introduction."
"Sir Derville is one of the wealthiest men in Tingen City. His career started with lead factories and porcelain factories, and now extends to steel, coal, shipping, banking, and securities. He is also a great philanthropist praised by the king, having established the Derville Charity Fund, the Derville Trust Company, the Derville Library... He was awarded the title of baronet five years ago... If he were willing to run for mayor, I think no one in Tingen would be able to oppose him."
"However, his goal is in Backlund. He wants to become a member of the House of Lords of the Kingdom. We once suspected that the harassment was related to this matter, but we found no clues."
Klein nodded lightly: "I can't rule out that possibility, but I can't be sure of anything right now."
Toller didn't dwell on this issue and continued: "Starting from the 6th of last month, every night when Sir Derville falls asleep, he hears a horrifying moan of pain, like a dying person struggling desperately. He checked the surrounding rooms and found nothing unusual, and the butler and servants confirmed that there were indeed similar sounds, but what they heard was very faint."
"At first, Sir Derville thought it would pass quickly and didn't pay much attention, but the painful moans became more frequent, even occurring during the day, and were joined by a heart-wrenching weeping."
"This caused Sir Derville to suffer from insomnia repeatedly. He had to leave Tingen for a country villa, but it didn't help. The moans and weeping still haunted him. Similarly, even when he went to Backlund, the situation didn't calm down, though it was somewhat less severe."
"He hired security personnel to check the surroundings, but found no leads. Our preliminary investigation also yielded no results."
"After more than a month of torment, Sir Derville's spirit is nearly broken. He has repeatedly called psychologists to his home, but still can't get rid of the trouble. He told us that if the problem isn't solved within this week, he will move from Tingen to Backlund, and he believes that someone there can certainly help him."
After listening to Toller's description, Klein quickly analyzed the various possibilities.