Chapter 270 The Fool's Followers
In just a moment, Moriarty withdrew his hand holding the banknote, folded the 20-pound note and put it in his pocket, as if the pause just now was just Angel's illusion.
"'The Fool'? The one in the tarot deck?"
He picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee. The heat from the cup floated upwards, causing a large area of condensation to appear on his glasses, blocking his view of Angel.
If it weren't for the detective's momentary daze just now, Angel would have almost believed his disguise. Unfortunately, even with the Joker's control over his body and expression, his subconscious reaction to the sudden questioning could not be hidden from her sharp eyes!
"Stop pretending. The tarot cards you had me spread out at the Capin residence tell it all." She smiled confidently, folded her arms, and straightened up, looking at the detective. "You can try to argue, but what's the point of those tarot cards?"
"Perhaps it's to distract the official Beyonders, making them think our goal is revenge or judgment, rather than saving those girls. Perhaps it's just my personal habit, to be flamboyant and ostentatious, just like when I became the 'Black Emperor' and appeared on the rooftop..."
Moriarty raised his eyebrows and explained the meaning of the tarot cards scattered all over Capin's body in words that seemed to have been prepared long ago. But looking at Angel with an expression of "I don't believe it", he finally shook his head and changed his tone.
"Yes, that deck of tarot cards does have a special meaning. They represent an organization that believes in the mysterious 'Fool', and I..."
"And you are one of His followers, or perhaps His followers, hiding in Backlund, ready to receive His instructions at any time?"
Angel took over and said.
Moriarty opened his mouth, seemingly at a loss for words because he had been interrupted. After a moment, he nodded: "...Yes, that's what you said."
"So, you knew my identity from the beginning?"
She suddenly understood why he kept appearing near her, eagerly helping to find the missing Emily O'Neill, and even chose to participate in the operation without hesitation when faced with the Capin Mansion, which was full of Beyonders.
This may just be in line with Mr. Fool's instructions.
The detective put down his coffee cup and frowned, as if this was a difficult question to answer.
"Yes, since you were within Mr. Fool's sight, I recognized you quickly." He hesitated, his brows relaxed, and he slowly replied, "But I helped you kill Kapin not because of anyone else's instructions, but because of my own choice."
Seeing the sincerity in the brown eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses, Angel was stunned for a few seconds before nodding: "I believe you."
Of course, I'll use divination to confirm its authenticity later... But since he mentioned Mr. Fool, he wouldn't dare lie. This also explains why we haven't met before, and why he could still recognize me as a member of the Tarot Club even though I'm wearing the Ring of Madness. Mr. Fool wouldn't be fooled by a magical item of this level...
Angel's thoughts were churning, and the slight unhappiness he felt because the other party had concealed the fact that he was a follower of the Fool quickly disappeared.
At least his actions in helping me break into the Capin Mansion and rescue those kidnapped girls weren't simply orders from Mr. Fool...
Picking up the coffee cup and taking a big sip of the almost cold coffee, Angel's mouth corners curled up slightly behind the cup.
————
After confirming their identities, Angel didn't inquire further about the other party's experience in the Tarot Club or whether there were other followers of the Fool in Backlund. This would appear to have other intentions and even attract unnecessary attention from the Fool.
The conversation turned to other topics. Angel asked about Moriarty's protection of a reporter who went to the East District for an interview last week. The latter had a serious face and described what he saw and heard in those two days.
Unlike Angel's cursory glance at the East End when he passed by and the few words revealed by Miss Justice at the Tarot Club, the Daily Observer reporter named Mike Joseph visited the East End more deeply and investigated many homeless people who fell into poverty for various reasons. The first-hand information he obtained was more detailed and more worrying.
When talking about an old lady who was interviewed and fell asleep quietly on a chair in a cafe after a rare full meal, Moriarty's face showed an expression that was hard to tell whether it was anger or helplessness.
"I hope that reporter's interview can bring about some changes to the current situation in the East District," Angel muttered after a long silence. "Fortunately, the kingdom's upper echelons and the major churches seem to have noticed the suffering of the lower classes. Perhaps relevant laws and policies will be introduced soon to improve their lives."
"I hope so," the detective, seemingly a pessimist, curled his lips at Angel's words. "Expecting those nobles and factory owners to have a conscience is probably harder than turning evil gods right... But the Church of the True Gods should do something. After all, the people who can't survive might actually convert to faith in those incredible beings."
Speaking of evil gods, Angel thought of the "True Creator" who nearly descended upon the Backlund docks, and Lanevus's death in the sewers. He also remembered what Audrey's friends had told him about the "Queen" cards scattered all over Lanevus's body, and looked suspiciously at Moriarty, who was sighing.
"I have one last question," she said, choosing her words carefully. "In early October, a certain evil god believer, a fraudster named Lanevus, died in the sewers near East Balam Dockyard. What about the tarot cards he had..."
"I put it there."
To her surprise, Moriarty readily admitted his actions, which made her feel as if she had punched the air, and all subsequent questions returned to her stomach.
"That was Mr. Fool's attempt to prevent the True Creator from descending. After I saw you kill Lanevus, Mr. Fool confirmed your identity."
So that's how it is. Mr. Fool is indeed concerned with matters of this magnitude, and his followers act as the specific executors, hiding in Backlund, ready to strike at the opponent's vital points at any time...
Angel understood what the noble son of MI9 had guessed. There really was a secret organization operating under the codename of Tarot cards. And as a member of that organization, he repeatedly thought he was being framed and fleeced...
She felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
Fortunately, Moriarty didn't notice her slightly red face and quickly changed the topic to a lighter one. The two chatted for a while. After Angel's stomach was full of coffee, he finally realized that it was getting late.
After confirming that Moriarty was also a follower of the Fool, Angel felt like she had "found her organization." This was similar to the sense of belonging she had felt in the Nighthawks, but had lost after the Tingen tragedy. Therefore, she sat comfortably on the single sofa by the bay window, as if she had returned home.
Unfortunately, happy times are always short. Looking at the hazy moonlight outside the window, Angel quickly ended the topic and stood up to say goodbye to Moriarty.
"Goodbye, Mr. Sherlock," she changed to a more intimate address, "We may have many opportunities to cooperate in the future."
When Sherlock Moriarty heard the new name, he was stunned for a second and then smiled.
"I hope so, Miss Irene."
…
Watching Angel hailing a hired carriage and slowly driving away outside the window, Klein closed the curtains and sat back on the sofa slightly further away from the bay window, opposite the single sofa that had never been moved. He stared at the coffee cup on the table for a long time before standing up again.
He took out a tarot card from his trouser pocket, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, lit a pinch of spiritual fire, and watched the card burn into ashes in the flames and scatter on the ground.
That's a "World" card.
…
Angel got on the carriage and reported the street location where the Backlund Bridge District and the East District intersected. He listened to the coachman outside the door shouting and directing the horses as the carriage slowly began to move forward.
Although it was late, she still followed her long-standing practice of returning to the safe house in the East District first, and then returning to her home on Red Rose Street in the Bridge District.
Untying the silver chain on her wrist and picking up the topaz pendant, she silently recited the divination words and used the pendulum method to confirm whether Sherlock had lied or concealed something in the previous conversation.
As the carriage swayed slightly, the pendant swung slowly clockwise, giving an affirmative answer.
"The shaking isn't big, but it's definitely clockwise. Does that mean most of what he said... is true?"
Looking at the topaz with a crack, Angel was stunned.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com