Tuesday, October 16, 1349
The noise of engine rumbling filled the empty plains as Kiyotaka drove his 'Car,' in the outskirts, alongside Klein.
Both of them were wearing matching black tuxedos.
After a while of driving the car around and showing Klein the different mechanics on how it worked, the two of them returned back.
"So, are you going to do something about the fuel? I mean, I doubt you're going to sell the patent to anyone. But since the idea of fuel is not yet patented, are you going to keep it the same way in future as well?" Klein asked as he climbed down his seat.
"There is no such need for now. And besides, by the time they are able to replicate the quality of our current fuel, there would've been further progress in this field. Such a thing is unnecessary to worry about." Kiyotaka explained, switching the car off.
He slid the keys to the car inside his pocket as the two of them locked the small, garage-like place and began walking side-by-side.
As Klein matched his pace and began walking by his side, he looked at Kiyotaka from the corner of his eyes and hummed. "Wait, did you grow taller?"
"Seems to be the case." Kiyotaka shrugged. While being a little shorter than Klein at first, he was now a bit taller than him.
Klein let out a slight "tsk" but then puckered his lips and sighed while smiling. "You've done quite a lot in, what, how long has it been since you transmigrated?"
"One full month today." Kiyotaka hummed and then looked at Klein from the corner of his eye. "And you?"
"1 month? That's irritating." Klein went silent for a moment. "Uh, about 3 months."
"Sequence 7 in 3 months. That is impressive." Kiyotaka commented in a flat manner. "Where were you before coming to Backlund?"
Klein's expressions did not betray any emotion. Instead, he kept his facade of a neutral expression using his Clown powers and refrained from biting down on his lower lip. "Still here."
He was sure that Kiyotaka did not possess the means to dig so deep into him that he would eventually find out the truth. Not only this, but Klein was also quite sure that Kiyotaka had neither the capabilities nor supplementary mystical items for divinations that could blow his cover.
"I see." Kiyotaka's reply was even flatter than before.
'If he was already in Backlund, why did he have such hatred for Lanevus who was active in Tingen and ran away to Backlund just recently? Hmm... It could be possible that some relative of the original body of Sherlock in Tingen was affected.
That said, Sherlock does not have attachment to this place from my observations so far. He is warm, but in the end, he intends to leave this place and return to his home—if that's possible at all. This can only mean one thing.'
"Well, regardless, it is a good invention. And I think with time you will be able to make a lot of improvements to it." Klein complimented genuinely. "Did you find any customers for your first model? I mean, is it even ready? This one is a prototype, right?"
"This was the prototype, yes. The first model is ready, and Leppard did say there was a letter involving someone who wanted to buy the first ever model of the car." Kiyotaka did not feel any harm in telling Klein about his business developments.
"Cool. You'll be rich!" Klein almost spat the words. "I wonder when he is going to develop my design!"
"It should be ready by the end of this month. As I told you before, I have been working with him on your project, so the time it would take to finalize the product would be less than the projected one."
"Alright, alright. If you say so. But you ought to give me a car for free."
"No."
Kiyotaka's reply was so dry and flat that it made Klein let out a dry chuckle.
The conversation died out for a long moment until the two of them arrived at Klein's house on Minsk Street. Just as the two of them did arrive, Kiyotaka spotted an elegant man with a letter clutched in his hand, standing in front of Klein's door.
Klein hurried his stride and shook the man's hand. "Good evening, Mr. Stanton."
"Good evening, Mr. Moriarty. I hope I am not disturbing your activities." Isengard Stanton casted a sidelong glance at Kiyotaka and tipped his hat.
Kiyotaka did the same and nodded his head, acknowledging the silent greeting.
"Oh, no, you did not. Please come inside, we were about to have some tea ourselves. Please join us."
"Thanks for your hospitality." Isengard smiled and walked behind Klein to enter his house.
Meanwhile, Klein, who had sensed the formality in Isengard's tone, theorized that he might be here to talk about the case of serial murders in Backlund. He knew from Kiyotaka that the cause was due to a Beyonder Animal from the Criminal Pathway.
However, they were unable to pinpoint the owner of the dog or its location.
Isengard saw Kiyotaka still standing in the door frame.
Kiyotaka turned towards Klein. "I will take my leave now. I have something important to attend to."
"Äh, really? Well, take care. I will see you later then." Klein did not stop him. There were two reasons for this.
The first reason was that he had judged by Isengard Stanton's tone that whatever he wanted to discuss, it was to be in private. Klein was quite sure that Kiyotaka, who in his opinion was quite a genius person, also understood this and decided to excuse himself. The second reason was something involving his intuition, which refrained him from stopping Kiyotaka.
Kiyotaka was about to tip his hat when Mr. Stanton smiled at him and huffed a deep breath with smoke before exhaling it.
"Mr. Holmes. Would it be alright with you if I can get your mailing address? As Mr. Moriarty told me before, you had helped him in brainstorming about the serial murders happening around Backlund." Mr. Stanton spoke in a rather calm and friendly manner.
Kiyotaka only momentarily glanced at Klein and then nodded. "Of course."
Isengard took out a piece of paper and a heavy, round and polished pen out of his inner coat pocket.
Kiyotaka took the pen in his left hand and began writing an address for a flat that Klein had rented in the East Borough.
Isengard took the sheet of paper, looked at it, and then smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Holmes." He extended his hand.
Kiyotaka shook his hand meekly before bidding his farewell to Klein and finally departed from there.
Inside Klein's house, Mr. Stanton sat down on the couch as Klein walked and stood in front of him.
"Was there something worrying? You look troubled."
Isengard stroked his chin, as if deep in thought and then shook it off. "Oh, no, nothing. Nothing of those sorts. However, something troubling is indeed about to happen."
Klein's lips pursed as Isengard took out a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it in front of him.
While Klein read the letter, Isengard glanced over at the address that Kiyotaka had left and smiled before crumpling it discreetly and pushing it inside his pocket.
*****
The Bravehearts Bar had begun to be filled with people at this time of the evening.
People of different professions could be seen inside, some wearing suits while others wearing dirty rags. A woman brought giant mugs of beer and food to tables, and the entire bar was filled with sounds so loud that it was hard to understand anything.
A beautiful man with pale skin, curly black hair and olive eyes walked inside the bar. He was around 1.79 to 1.80 metres tall. He was wearing a black sweater, pants and shoes, with a grey overcoat.
His eyes had a crazy look in them, and it looked like he was ready to fight at any given moment.
As he walked towards the front bar, the man looked forward and pinched his brows. "Where is Kaspars?"
"What business do you have with him?"
The pale man narrowed his eyes and an indescribable feeling washed over the person across the bar table. He was not afraid, however, he was sure that if he did not tell this crazy looking man about Kaspars, he would definitely cross the table and smash his head in.
"He was kicked out..." The barman replied in a rather calm tone, hiding the sudden feeling of consternation.
"Ok." The pale man answered and then stormed towards the back where there were multiple rooms where people played billiards and cards.
Relying purely on his memory and judgement, the pale-man soon entered a room.
Inside, he saw a man that was around twenty-eight years old with a pale face and malicious brown eyes, wearing a white shirt and black vest.
He walked towards him and stood in front of him. The man with malicious brown eyes looked up and at the same time, all of the other players who were playing poker with him stopped as well.
"You are Maric, I presume." The pale-man spoke in a firm voice.
The look in Maric's eyes turned a bit more malicious as the people sitting around him began to stir and stood up. At the same time, they walked away, however, they occupied the room in a way that it surrounded the pale-man from all directions.
"And who are you?"
"A Man." The pale-man replied after a quick moment of deliberation.
"I can see that. What is your name?" Maric did not become grouchy; however, he was certainly more on the edge.
After the recent developments with Kaspars being cast out and the Indulgence Faction of Rose School of Thought hunting him and Sharron down, this encounter had started to become more and more dangerous.
"'A Man' does not have a name."
"Are you trying to mess with me?" Maric's eyes turned cold as he shifted in his seat, pushing the chair a little back. This was a precaution, in case the "Man" attacked him.
"A Man has no such intent. I am merely here as a messenger, sent by Mr. Holmes."
Just as he finished saying the words, a figure floated outside the mirror right behind Maric. It was a young woman with blonde hair, blue eyes and a doll-like face. She was wearing a long, gothic dress and a small hat.
Maric looked to his side as Sharron floated 2 inches above the ground. "Do you know him?"
"Holmes, I know that name." Sharron acknowledged lightly, her face still deathly pale and calm.
The "Man" nodded his head and sat down on the empty chair. "I bring a proposal. A proposal of equivalent exchange."
Sharron floated a little forward and then settled on the seat between Maric and the "Man." She did not say another word and instead Maric cleared his throat and motioned with his head to one of the men that had surrounded the entire room.
The hooded man ran towards the door and locked it before standing in front of it.
Maric looked at Sharron for confirmation before turning his attention back to the "Man."
"Speak."
*****
After about 30 minutes of talking to each other, Maric sank back into his seat. Sharron was still sitting there, her expressions as cold as ice.
"So, you were aware of it."
"'A Man' knows a few things."
"Alright, we will do what you require. But we need to do some confirmations first, and then it will be done. However, you need to tell us the specifics of it, and not just vague riddles."
The "Man" shook his head and immediately left the room which was unlocked by the hooded figure.
As he left, Maric looked where Sharron was previously seated, only to find her gone.
Letting out a deep sigh, he took a piece of paper and began writing.
*****
West Borough
Looking down at the letter, Viscount Glaint hummed before slapping his thighs.
"Well, I suppose I owe this much to him." He spoke while standing up and walking towards a room that had a small lock on it.
*****
Empress Borough
"Please proceed with the investigation. There is an underlying threat of something really nasty brewing in the underbelly of it all." A gentleman who had loose skin and an obvious potbelly spoke with a tone of concern. His blue eyes darted between the plethora of people clad in neat uniforms around him.
"That is a plausible cause for us to take action, however, we have to inform you, Count, hiding the identity of the one who tipped you might result in drastic ramifications later on, should this person divulge the information to someone else or is shown to be a part of something eviller." The man with deep-black sideburns and calm brown eyes spoke.
Two senior-personnel from MI9 were seated right in front of the Count while two other men stood behind each of them.
"Take five men and begin the operation today, Wendel. If the intel from Count Hall is true, then a lot of lives can be saved in a single night." The man with thick, but un-messy black brows ordered the man who had spoken before as he left immediately.
The man who had ordered took out a cigar and ignited it, before taking in a heavy puff.
"Do not fret, Count, we will take care of it. Whatever heretic it is, he would not be able to escape our grasp."
Count Hall let out a slow breath and picked up a glass that had a small quantity of wine. "I hope that is the case."
"In the meantime, why don't you take mother and Audrey to the countryside and have some time away from this place. If the operation is underway, then it is not far-fetched that it can be indisputably tied back to you. For your own safety, I would recommend leaving for a month." A man with brilliant blond hair combed back and blue eyes like lakes under a clear sky suggested.
"A non-stationary target is much easier to surround, and put-down as compared to a stationary one. I would recommend him staying in the estate." The man with thick brows looked to his left, at the man with the brilliant golden hair. "Alfred, ask if Mr. Celt is available. If so, then you and him will be stationed here to ensure Mr. Hall and his family's safety."
Alfred nodded before casting a slight glance in Count Hall's direction before nodding at the giant man. "I will see if he is back in Backlund."
Count Hall and Qonas both nodded at Alfred as he took his leave, leaving the two alone in the dark study-room.
*****
After buying a moderately priced room beside the Church of Evernight Goddess, Kiyotaka opened the letter from Leppard.
[The person interested in the "Car" will arrive the day after tomorrow. His arrival was delayed due to some circumstances. I will prepare the required documents for the sale beforehand.
For now, I would require £1.000 to set-up the company and to fulfill other obligations such as opening a company bank account, acquiring an office for the company and posting jobs. As for the name of the company, you can send me some recommendations, and I will see its availability with the Loen Economic Department.
This money will also be used for registering for Taxes. All in all, £1.000 is more than enough money to set everything up. Mr. Dwayne would be required to pay 25% of this money, so kindly deposit £750 in my bank account. Mr. Dwayne will deposit his share tonight, as discussed in person.
I will buy refreshments for your meeting with our first customer and give you the balance amount once you visit me.
Thank you.
~Leppard]
'Hmm, he is doing his job well. I was wondering if it is ok to let him deal with such matters, given how talkative and awkward he is at the same time, but it feels like he is quite good. But while he is a good assistant, I need him as a front for further developments.
Hmm, maybe I should hire someone as my assistant and let Leppard be the face of the engineering department. But that is for later. Let's just focus on the task at hand.'
Kiyotaka closed his eyes, clasped his hands and murmured.
"The Fool that does not belong to this era,
The Mysterious ruler above the Grey Fog,
The King of yellow and black who wields good luck."
Just as he recited the Fool's honorific name, he felt the boundless fog increase around him, as if Klein was waiting for this moment.
At the same moment, Kiyotaka set up a sacrificial ritual.
At that instant, he felt his consciousness drift up as he found himself in the mysterious space above the grey fog.
"How did you come up with this method?" Klein, who was sitting at the high-back chair of the Fool, asked as an illusory door materialized in front of Kiyotaka.
"Just a thought process. If it works, it is good, if not, then well, it was nice knowing you." Kiyotaka replied in a humorous manner, but it sounded quite ominous to Klein.
Shrugging the negative thoughts, Klein cleared his throat. "May the Goddess help you."
Kiyotaka glanced at Klein from the corner of his eye. He had the urge to say "really?" but refrained from doing so. He wanted to stay focused on the task at hand.
At the same time, Klein handed a copper whistle to Kiyotaka. At the same time, Klein presented a red bracelet and a fishnet glove to Kiyotaka.
Holding the whistle, Kiyotaka equipped them by hiding them inside his spirit body and then covered the whistle with his spirituality.
Right at the heels of that, Klein directed Kiyotaka's Spirit Body towards the illusory door and before long, Kiyotaka saw himself floating in front of his physical body.
His vision grew clear and he soon realized that he had succeeded!
Not wasting a single moment, he suddenly rammed into the wall to his left and phased through it.
He was unsure how he was flying around, but it came to him as an instinct. Just like how running and walking were mere instincts, he flew like a bird. Within 10 seconds, he flew above the small church that belonged to the Evernight Goddess and floated above a giant structure.
He was not in the mood to waste any time.
Just as he arrived above the giant structure, Kiyotaka performed a dive towards the top of the structure.
The giant structure looked like a museum.
A museum that held the Roselle Memorial Exhibition!
*****
Author's Note: Hello, hello. I am alive and well, much to the disdain of many.
This chapter took a lot of time to come out, despite how lacklustre it is. I am really busy with my real life stuff these days and with everything going on in the Gulf Region, it is really stressful. Regardless, the long-promised action scenes are coming in the next chapter.
So, stay tuned and cut me some slack on the delayed uploads.
Thank you for your attention to this matter (🤪)