Chapter 288: Book Rental
The next day, Angel came to Sherlock Moriarty's home at 15 Minsk Street in Cherwood District.
"I was wondering if you would stay out of the spotlight, or even leave Backlund, after what happened that day. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
When Sherlock opened the door, he was still dressed in his homely white shirt and black vest. His coat and hat for going out were hanging by the door. A blazing fire was burning in the fireplace, dispelling the chill of early winter.
Angel's most important purpose in coming this time was to thank Sherlock for his help that day. Although the "Fool" was involved, Sherlock must have rushed to the scene at full speed the night before, so that he could help her lure away the Night Watchmen, allowing her to wait until the characteristics - part of the characteristics were extracted, so as not to return empty-handed.
Therefore, she brought with her nearly all magical items and extraordinary properties.
"You mean I can pick some of the day's spoils?"
Sherlock looked at Angel, who was sitting on the sofa by the bay window, with confusion. After briefly recounting the battle that day, the latter went straight to the point, catching him off guard.
"Yes, you helped me a lot, and this is the part you deserve."
Including the accidental battle with the "demon dog", she has cooperated with this detective and "magician" three times, and the process has been quite pleasant. Angel took the initiative to give up some of his interests out of courtesy and also to maintain this relationship.
"Those are all your gains from the battle. I was just, uh, following Mr. Fool's orders to lure away the official Beyonder."
Sherlock said seriously that he was not tempted by the extraordinary characteristics worth a fortune.
Angel was surprised that the other party refused the benefits that were within his grasp, and he admired this follower of the Fool even more.
Of course, unilateral help would not last long, so Angel offered to give him some cash as a thank you for his help that night, but this would have to wait until she received the 5,000 pounds from "Justice" Audrey.
She counted her assets, including cash and magical items, until late at night yesterday, but when she woke up, she found that she was still the poor witch. She only had 100 pounds in cash, and she had a bunch of formulas, magical items, and extraordinary characteristics, but they were difficult to cash in.
Before she sells the "Sheriff" trait to Miss Magician and justice is fulfilled, the current "blank check" is the limit of her ability.
"Speaking of that night's battle, I've always been curious. Your strength should be more than just 'Witch', right? Have you been promoted again?"
After talking about money, Sherlock asked curiously.
"Yes, I've been promoted to Sequence 6," Angel admitted readily. There was no need to hide such obvious strength, especially since the other party might want to cooperate with him in the future. "The name of my Sequence 6 potion is..."
At this point, she hesitated.
"...'Pleasure Witch'."
Although Angel didn't have any other meaning when he pronounced the name, he always felt a little embarrassed when he heard the corresponding word after knowing most of the ways to play the "Pleasure Witch".
Sherlock, who was sitting opposite him, was obviously not completely unaware of this. He was stunned for a moment and abruptly changed the subject:
"Well, I took some time out last week to go to the Harvest Church. The vampire named Emlyn White said he was going to convert to the Mother Earth, and he was actually released by the priest."
"He swore solemnly at the time that he would never change his faith..."
Angel was also a little surprised. He didn't expect that the vampire who had been locked in the stone door for half a month and still refused to give in would actually surrender like this.
"Of course it was fake. He smugly remarked that the tall priest was easy to fool, then left the church. Less than half an hour later, he hurried back, saying his mind was full of the Holy Emblem of Life and his hands were itching to clean the church. I finally hired a carriage to take him home. Judging by his appearance, it won't be long before he returns, dons his priestly robes, and devoutly serves the faithful."
Is this a case of being possessed by an evil spirit? Or is this some kind of psychological suggestion?
Angel guessed and thought of the priest's "Nightmare Candle", and mourned for the vampire in his heart for a second.
Then she asked Sherlock if he had finished reading the occult book and if she could borrow it. Sherlock readily agreed and went back to the second floor. A few minutes later, he brought back a parchment-bound book. The corners of the black cover were worn out, making it look very old. The title of the book, "The Book of Secrets", and the author "Karaman" were written in Hermetic.
After discussion, Angel exchanged the Abraham family notes he had obtained some time ago and a recipe for "Apprentice" for a week's borrowing of the "Book of Secrets".
Of course, she had copied Abraham's notes separately, deleting the recipes for the "Master of Magic" and the "Astrologer". Otherwise, the value of the notes with the three recipes would be far higher than the price of borrowing the "Book of Secrets".
"Why does this notebook feel like it's coming to an abrupt end..."
After a quick glance through it, Sherlock pushed his glasses on his nose, looked at Angel and asked in confusion.
"Because the owner of the notebook is dead. To be exact, I found this notebook at the place where he died."
Angel told the other party about how he divined the "Master Key", asked the vampire Emlyn, and finally went to Wildy Street in the South District to find the notes.
"The master key that got us lost and led us to the 'devil dog' was actually created after the death of the owner of this notebook?" Sherlock marveled at the fate of this descendant of Abraham. He put down the copied notes and said, "Can I borrow the master key to study it together with this notebook?"
Is he planning to divine the key and get more information? Hmm, perhaps this genuine fortune teller doesn't trust my divination skills and wants to try it himself...
Thinking of "divination", Angel was a little angry, but nodded, took out the brass key that she rarely carried recently from her pocket, and handed it to Sherlock.
"Be careful of the curse contained in it, it's best not to take it out with you."
She reminded the other party carefully.
The detective took it without answering. Instead, he stared at the key in his hand for a few seconds, then suddenly squatted down, pressed it against the carpet under his feet, and twisted it half a circle as if to open a lock.
In an instant, he fell into the carpet that was rippling like water ripples and disappeared from Angel's sight.
"Bang——"
The next second, the flames in the fireplace next to him shot up, and Sherlock's figure walked out of the flames.
"Just as I thought, it works not only on door locks and walls, but also on floors that aren't too thick."
He emerged from the flames in the basement back into the living room looking like he was in control, but the dust in his hair and wrinkled shirt still revealed his recent embarrassment.
The answer he got was Angel's unrefined laughter.
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