Chapter 117: Prelude to Special Application
"Within the city of Tingen, including the East, North, West, and South districts, the Golden Sycamore district, the Dockyard district, and the University district, there are a total of 1,203 houses with dark red chimneys. Add to that the 550 houses in the suburbs of Tingen, for a total of 1,753."
"It seems that dark red chimneys are really popular..."
Looking at the documents covering the desk, Angel sighed helplessly, put down the papers in his hand, picked up the coffee cup, took a sip, and put it down with a frown.
The coffee in this coffee shop is not even as good as the one Miss Roxanne brews. If it weren't for avoiding other night watchmen, she wouldn't want to come here at all.
Sitting across from her was Klein, also holding documents with an awkward expression on his face.
Laying on top of the stacked documents was a map of Tingen City, densely marked with red dots. In the residential areas, the dots were directly connected into a shocking expanse of red, almost covering all locations on the map, making the positioning information seem useless.
"I didn't expect the detective agency you hired to be so efficient. They gathered all the information in less than a week. The detective I hired is probably still running around the streets right now."
Putting down the documents, Klein teased his private investigator with a wry smile.
"After all, I spent several times more money," Angel said, folding up the useless map and setting it aside. "Don't cancel your commission. Once you get the information, you can compare it. Maybe you can find some houses that you missed."
Klein nodded.
"That's what I thought. During this period, I will first check places with recent tenant changes, especially those that have been vacated or sold since the time of my divination. Those are likely where the person behind the scenes who noticed and interfered with my divination lived."
"Well, if he finds out he's been divined, he'll probably move to a new place or leave Tingen altogether to avoid being approached by official Beyonders... Wait, you said 'you'll investigate'? What about me?"
Angel was halfway through his analysis when he suddenly realized that the action plan Klein mentioned did not include him.
"This is the scene I divined. Only by seeing it with my own eyes can I confirm whether it's true or not," Klein explained. "Even if you help me search, I'll probably need to reconfirm it, which won't speed up the process."
"But I can help you eliminate some obviously incorrect options. The sketch you provided shows a garden and vegetation, but it's obvious that Tingen doesn't have so many single-family buildings with dark red chimneys and gardens. I can eliminate these incorrect options in advance, which will save a lot of time."
Klein's expression, which had been intended to firmly refuse, noticeably softened.
"The longer it takes, the more likely the person behind this will leave, or even make some other arrangements."
Angel used his persuasive ability to deliver another blow.
"Okay, I'll draw a more detailed scenario for you tomorrow. Start by checking the buildings in the North District. I'll first visit those with recent tenant changes."
After sighing, Klein finally gave in. He sorted the documents on the table, handed the ones with the North District note to Angel, and put the rest into a file bag.
"I'll pay back the 30 pounds for the commissioned investigation next month..."
Klein's remaining words were glared back at by Angel with anger.
"This isn't just your problem. Mr. Azik said there's something inconsistent with my fate, too. You've already found clues through divination, so how can I let you pay for the investigation?"
Angel had just withdrawn 100 pounds from the Tingen branch of Backlund Bank that morning. Even after paying the balance for the Jules Detective Agency investigation, he still had a full 85 pounds. He felt quite wealthy at the moment, and his voice became even louder.
Klein earned the same salary as her, but he had to support his sister's education and pay the rent for the single-family house on Daffodil Street. Even today, they chose a more affordable coffee shop to meet outside. Angel was unwilling to let him pay the 30 pounds commission fee.
By the way, speaking of commissions...
"Klein, I heard today that the police are looking for a fraudster named 'Lanevers'..."
Angel told the cash-strapped fortune teller what he had heard at Jules's Detective Agency.
As long as he moves his pendulum and does some divination, wouldn't he get the money?
Upon hearing the bounty was a full 100 pounds, Klein didn't show the surprise she expected. Instead, he smiled wryly and shook his head.
"I've also heard about Lanevus's story at the Divination Club. One of my old clients even came to me, hoping to use my divination to find him."
"Unfortunately, this scammer is very shrewd. The information he provided was basically fake, and he didn't leave any personal belongings behind. With just a name, which might even be a fake name, I can't perform divination."
As if conjuring up something indescribable, his expression grew strange. After a moment's silence, he continued, "One of the victims was a relative of Lanevus's fiancée, who was already pregnant with his child. These victims even wanted me to use the unborn child for divination. Honestly, there's really no object closer to Lanevus than this..."
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment.
“Puff—”
Angel couldn't help but laugh, which made Klein, who was sitting across from her, smile as well.
"This is too difficult for our fortune teller. Perhaps by the time the child is born, the fraudster hasn't been caught yet. Then you still have a chance to earn the reward."
"Then I need to divine first to see if that poor child can be born normally. His aunt has been trying to persuade Lanevus's fiancée to abort the child."
Klein also agreed with a smile, then said seriously, "But I will soon no longer be a 'fortune teller'. Remember what I told you about the special application?"
"Yeah, of course I remember. But according to the captain, Ms. Daly, who was promoted the fastest, took a whole year. Are you sure you want to submit your application in less than two months?" Angel replied, a little worried that he was too radical and would attract the attention of the church's top brass and draw too much attention.
Klein smiled and picked up the coffee cup, seemingly trying to organize his words. After finishing the rather tasteless coffee, he spoke:
"This is the foundation for what I'm going to do next. You should already be clear about how to quickly master the 'acting method' of potions," Klein said with a firm tone. Without waiting for Angel to reply, he continued, "And because I mastered this method and worked part-time at the Divination Club, I was able to match the imagery of the potion and quickly complete the performance—how do you put it?"
After destroying the cursed altar, he seemed to no longer try to hide his peculiarity from me... Was it because he had been "open and honest" with me and Leonard that he wasn't going to pretend anymore?
He knew I had been promoted to Sequence 8 Instigator, so based on the speed of my promotion, he guessed that I had mastered the art of acting?
Looking at Klein who was talking freely, Angel analyzed the situation secretly and asked casually, "Then how do you explain where you got the information about 'acting method'?"
"From Ms. Daly," Klein said, his voice becoming increasingly fluent, as if he had already prepared a script. "I believe you've also heard about Ms. Daly's deeds from the captain. I summarized her story and developed a performance method that fits the name of the potion. In practice, I've achieved even more thoroughness and effectiveness than she did."
"So the 'prelude' you mentioned is preparation for this excuse?"
Angel had guessed what he was thinking.
"Yes, I plan to gradually reveal this method to the captain and other members of the Tingen City team within the next two weeks. I will let them think that this is my gradual experience and that one day I will 'fully master the power of the potion'."
Angel couldn't help but feel uneasy as she listened to the bold plan gradually taking shape in the other party's mouth. She had already been promoted to Instigator in Enmat Port, but she had never found a way to reveal this to the Nighthawks. This made her subsequent promotion difficult. After all, the methods of the "Instigator" were easy to hide, but the various extraordinary abilities of the "Witch" could never be hidden from her teammates fighting together.
Now Klein plans to submit a special application this month. If he can also apply at the same time, can he also "free ride"?
But if promotion within the church required preparation and ingestion on the spot, just like Klein taking the "Fortune Teller" potion, what should I do as an "instigator"?
Should I take a risk, or wait for Klein to submit his application first and then wait for his experience summary?
Listening to Klein continue to perfect his plan, she became entangled again.
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