“Okay.” Klein bowed slightly, took off his short top hat and put it back on his head, imagining the appearance of the Sealed Artifact “0-08” in his mind.

An ordinary-looking quill?

No ink needed for writing?

So what is its real function? Why is it kept highly confidential and considered "very dangerous"?

Could it be a cause and effect pen that writes about someone’s death?

No, that's too outrageous. There's no need for Ince Zangwill to escape...

Klein just turned around and was about to leave when Dunn Smith suddenly called out to him from behind:

"Wait a minute, I forgot something."

"What?" Klein turned around, eyes full of confusion.

Dunn put away his pocket watch and said with a smile:

"Remember to ask the accountant, Mrs. Orianna, for an advance of four weeks' salary, a total of 12 pounds. After that, you will only receive half of your salary every week until you pay it back."

"It's too much. There's no need for that. It can be less." Klein said subconsciously.

He had no objection to the advance payment, after all, he didn't even have enough money for the public carriage fare back home, but he was still a little scared to take out a huge sum of 12 pounds at once.

"No, this is a must." Dunn shook his head and smiled, "Think about it, are you still willing to continue living in your current apartment? Even the bathroom has to be shared with several households. Not only do you have to consider yourself, you also have to consider the ladies, and..."

Seeing Klein nod in agreement, he paused, looked at the other person's clothes with a smile, and said meaningfully:

"And you'll need a cane, and you'll have to buy new formal clothes."

Klein was stunned for a second, then he realized it and felt a little hot on his face because the suit he was wearing was cheap.

Normally, a top hat is made of silk and costs 5 to 6 sori, a bow tie is 3 sori, a silver-studded cane is 7 to 8 sori, a shirt is 3 sori, trousers, vest and swallowtail suit are about 7 pounds, and leather boots are 9 to 10 sori. The total cost of such a set is more than 8 pounds 7 sori. Of course, a decent gentleman also needs a watch chain, pocket watch and wallet.

The original owner and his brother Benson lived frugally and saved some money. They went to a clothing store to ask, but they didn't even dare to bargain and left in shame. They ended up buying a set each in a cheap store near Iron Cross Street for less than two pounds in total.

It was because of this incident that the original owner was deeply impressed by the prices of clothing.

“Okay, okay.” Klein replied with a slight stutter.

Like the original owner, he is also a man who cares about his reputation.

Dunn took out his pocket watch again, opened it and took a look.

"Or you can go find Mrs. Orianna first? I don't know how long you'll stay at Old Neil's place. If you wait a little longer, Mrs. Orianna will be home soon."

“Okay.” Klein felt deeply impoverished and did not object.

Dunn walked back to the table and pulled one of the hanging ropes.

"I'll let Roxanne take you there."

The rope was running and the gears were turning. Luo Shan, who was in the reception hall of the "Blackthorn Security Company", heard the bell hanging next to her ring softly. She quickly stood up and went downstairs carefully.

Not long after, she appeared in front of Klein.

Dunn Smith said with a humorous smile:

"Is it not disturbing your rest? Well, take Moretti to Mrs. Orianna."

Luo Shan curled her lips quietly and answered "happily":

"Okay, Captain."

“That’s it?” At this time, Klein blurted out in surprise.

I want to go to the "Finance" department to get an advance on my salary. I don't need a note from you, the captain. What should I write on it?

"So?" Dunn asked in confusion.

"I mean, don't I need your signature to get an advance on my salary from Mrs. Orianna?" Klein said in the simplest terms possible.

"Oh, no, that's not necessary. Roxanne can prove it." Dunn Smith pointed at the brown-haired girl and replied.

Captain, there is almost no "financial management" here... Klein resisted the urge to complain and followed Roxanne out of the room.

Just then, he heard Dunn shout again:

"Wait a minute, there's one more thing."

Can we finish what we are saying at once? Klein turned around with a smile on his face and said:

"You go ahead."

Dunn pressed his temple and said:

"When you go to Old Neil, remember to pick up ten rounds of 'Demon Hunting Bullets'."

"Me? Demon-hunting bullets?" Klein asked in surprise.

"Isn't Welch's revolver in your possession? You don't have to hand it in." Dunn put one hand in his pocket and said, "With the help of the 'Demon Hunter Bullet', you can protect yourself if you really encounter any strange danger. Well, this can at least give you courage."

No need to add the last half sentence... Klein was worried about this matter, and answered without hesitation:

"Okay, I'll remember that!"

"This requires me to write a formal document. Please wait a moment." Dunn Smith sat down, picked up a dark red absorbent pen, quickly wrote a "note", signed his name, and stamped it.

“Thank you, Captain.” Klein took it sincerely.

He stepped back slowly and turned around again.

"etc."

Dunn shouted again.

...Captain, you look only about 30 years old. Why do you have signs of premature aging? Klein forced a smile and turned around to ask:

"Anything else?"

"I just forgot. You have never practiced shooting, so the 'Demon Hunter Bullets' are useless. So, you should get 30 more normal bullets every day. When you go out, go to the streets, or practice at the underground shooting range at 3 Zouteland Street. Most of the area belongs to the police department, but there is an area dedicated to us Nighthawks. Oh, by the way, you also need to get a badge from Old Neil, otherwise you can't enter the shooting range." Dunn slapped his forehead, took the "note" back from Klein, quickly added other content, and added a stamp.

"Good gunmen are fed with bullets. Don't underestimate them." Dunn handed the modified "note" back to Klein.

"I understand." Fearing the danger, Klein wished he could go today.

He took two steps out, then suddenly turned half-way cautiously and spoke carefully:

"Captain, is there anything else?"

“No more.” Dunn nodded affirmatively.

Klein breathed a sigh of relief and walked out the door. During this time, he wanted to turn around again and ask, "Is it really gone?"

He resisted the urge and finally "smoothly" left the "duty room".

"The captain has always been like this, often forgetting things." Luo Shan walked beside him and slandered in a low voice, "My grandmother has a better memory than him. Of course, he only forgets small things. Well, small things. Klein, I will call you Klein from now on. Mrs. Orianna is a kind person and easy to get along with. Her father is a watchmaker with great skills..."

Listening to the brown-haired girl's chatter, Klein walked up the stairs and returned to the upper floor. He met Mrs. Aureliana in the outermost office on the right.

This is a black-haired lady wearing a long ruffled skirt. She looks to be in her thirties, with fashionable curly hair, a pair of clear green eyes with a smile, and she looks delicate and elegant.

After listening to Roshan's retelling of Dunn Smith's arrangements, Aureliana took out a note and wrote an advance form:

"Sign your name. Do you have a seal? If not, just put your fingerprint on it."

“Okay.” Klein completed the formalities expertly.

Aureliana took out the copper key and opened the safe in the room. She counted the gold pounds and said with a smile:

"You're so lucky. You have enough cash today. By the way, Klein, were you invited by the captain because you were involved in a supernatural incident and have special skills?"

"Yes, ma'am, your intuition is very accurate." Klein did not hesitate to praise.

Aureliana took out four bills with a light gray background and dark black lines, locked the safe again, and turned around while smiling:

"Because I am the same way."

“Really?” Klein expressed his surprise.

"Do you know the serial killer who caused a sensation in the entire city of Tingen sixteen years ago?" Aureliana handed four gold pounds to Klein.

"...I remember! He was the 'Bloody Butcher' who killed five girls in a row, taking out the hearts of some and the stomachs of others? When I was a child, my mother often used this incident to scare my sister." Klein thought for a moment and said.

He took the banknotes and found that they were two 5-pound notes and two 1-pound notes, all with black lines on a grey background, and complex patterns and special watermarks on the four corners to imitate counterfeiting.

The former was slightly larger. In the center was the fifth king of the Kingdom of Loen, the direct ancestor of George III, Henry Augustus I. He wore a white wig, had a round face, narrow eyes, and an extremely serious expression. But in Klein's eyes, he looked indescribably close.

This is a 5 pound note!

That’s equal to Benson’s salary for nearly four weeks!

In the center of the 1-pound note is George III's father, the former King William Augustus VI. This "strong man" has a thick beard and a determined look. During his reign, the Kingdom of Loen got rid of the old shackles and once again reached the top of the countries.

This is all "The Good King"... Klein vaguely smelled the soothing scent of banknote ink.

"Yes, if the Night Watchmen hadn't arrived in time, I would have been the sixth victim." There was still a hint of fear in Mrs. Orianna's tone, even though this incident happened more than ten years ago.

"It sounds like the serial killer, no, the butcher, is a Beyonder?" Klein carefully folded the banknote and put it into the inner pocket of his suit. He then touched the area several times to confirm.

"Yes." Mrs. Orianna nodded heavily. "He has killed many people before. The reason he was caught that time was because he was preparing a demonic ritual."

“No wonder different internal organs are needed… Sorry, ma’am, for bringing back bad memories for you.” Klein said sincerely.

Aureliana chuckled and said, "I've stopped being afraid... At that time, I was studying accounting at a business school. After that, I came here. Okay, I won't keep you any longer. You still have to go find Old Neil."

“Goodbye, ma’am.” Klein took off his hat and saluted, then left the office. Before going down the stairs, he couldn’t help but touch his inner pocket to make sure the 12-pound note was still there.

He turned at the intersection and walked to the right. Soon he saw a half-open iron gate.

Boom, boom, boom.

There was a knock on the door, and an old voice said:

"Come in."

Klein pushed open the iron door and found that it was a narrow room that could only accommodate a table and two chairs.

On the other side of the room, there was a tightly locked iron door, and behind the table, an old man with gray hair and wearing a classical black robe was reading a few yellowed pages of a book in the light of a gas lamp.

He raised his head, looked towards the door and said:

"Are you Klein Moretti? Little Roxanne just came over and said you are very polite."

“Ms. Roxanne is such a friendly person. Good afternoon, Mr. Neil.” Klein took off his hat and greeted.

"Have a seat." Neil pointed to the intricately patterned silver tin can on the table. "Would you like a cup of hand-ground coffee?"

The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were deep, and his dark red eyes were slightly cloudy.

"You didn't seem to drink anything?" Klein keenly noticed that there was water in Neil's ceramic cup.

"Haha, this is my habit. I don't drink coffee after 3 pm." Neil explained with a smile.

"Why?" Klein asked casually.

Neil looked into Klein's eyes with a smile and said:

"I'm afraid I won't sleep well at night, and I'll hear some inexplicable whispers."

…Klein didn’t know how to respond, so he asked:

"Mr. Neil, what documents and books should I read?"

As he spoke, he took out the "note" written by Dunn Smith.

"Those related to history are complicated and fragmentary. To be honest, I have been trying to learn them, but I can only grasp the basics. The rest are too troublesome, such as people's diaries, popular books, epitaphs, and so on." Neil complained, "For example, the ones I have on hand require more detailed historical records to infer the specific content."

“Why?” Klein was a little confused.

Neil pointed to the yellowed pages in front of him and said:

"This is the diary that Russell Gustav lost before his death. In order to keep it secret, he used strange symbols he invented to record it."

Emperor Roselle? A senior time traveler? Klein was stunned for a moment, then listened attentively.

"Because many people believe that he is not really dead, but has become a hidden god, there have been cultists who worship him holding various rituals to try to gain power. We occasionally encounter such things and obtain a few original or copied notes." Neil shook his head and said, "To this day, no one has been able to decipher the true meaning of those special symbols, so the 'Sanctuary' allows us to keep the copies for research, hoping to have unexpected surprises."

At this point, Neil showed a proud smile:

"I have deciphered several of the symbols and confirmed that they are numerical expressions. Look, what have I discovered? This is actually a diary! Well, I hope to compare the historical events of different dates at that time, especially the events around the emperor, with the records of the diary on that day, so as to decipher more symbols."

“A genius idea, right?” The old gentleman with gray hair and deep wrinkles looked at Klein with shining eyes.

Klein nodded in agreement:

"Yes."

“Haha, you can also take a look. You will have to start helping me with this work tomorrow.” Mr. Neil pushed the yellowed pages to Klein.

Klein turned them around, took a quick glance, and froze in place!

Although those "symbols" were copied and depicted very ugly and slightly deformed, I would never make a mistake...

Because this is the text I am most familiar with:

Chinese!

TM is still simplified Chinese!

PS: Please vote for recommendation~