Chapter 619 - The Primordial Trick and the Final Conspiracy
In the southern bridge district, at the Harvest Church.
Looking at the sharp-spired building with its golden-yellow walls, Ebner first "piously" traced a simple holy emblem with his hand before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
—When negotiating with an angel, one must first ensure their own patron is pleased.
Since today was Wednesday, a workday, the prayer hall held only a sparse number of believers, most of whom were familiar faces to Ebner.
Emlyn, Hazel, Mrs. Skad, Mrs. Fassin, a girl nad Freya... Hm? Even Aetis is here... Did he co back to Backlund for the New Year?
Although seeing his friend Aetis here delighted him, considering that he was currently not using his "Hero Detective" identity and had important matters to attend to, he refrained from approaching for a chat. Instead, he casually found a seat and waited for Bishop Utravsky's sermon to conclude.
During this ti, he activated the "Pure White Eye," attempting to communicate with the unborn child in Mrs. Fassin's womb through a spiritual connection...
Before long, he received a brief response: "Talk in the washroom."
Has Mr. Fool's influence expanded again, or do you great beings all have a particular fondness for washrooms?
I recall that in the original novel, the little snake also communicated with Klein during a banquet in a washroom...
Amused by his own thoughts, Ebner still stood up and walked toward the church's public washroom.
Speaking of which, the reason Ebner was sowhat confident that the "Chained God" would lend him aid was, first, because the deity was clearly under the Earth Mother's protection. Since he himself was highly favored by Lilith, it was only natural to expect so goodwill in return.
Second, when he last visited the Harvest Church, the deity had proactively greeted him, showing a degree of friendliness.
Lastly, back in the grand hall deep within the "Daniel Labyrinth," it was his "sacrifice" of Sealed Artifact "1-025" that provided the deity with the opportunity to break free... By that count, the deity actually owed him a favor.
Considering these three points, Ebner felt that his request would not be refused. In fact, the deity might even be pleased to repay the favor in such a simple manner.
Muttering to himself, Ebner entered the washroom and locked the door behind him.
Standing in front of the washbasin mirror, he patiently waited for over a minute before his spiritual intuition was stirred.
A mont later, a figure appeared in the mirror—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed doll, dressed in an elegant Western gown, bound to a wooden stick.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness the 'Chained God,'" Ebner greeted politely, bowing with neither arrogance nor servility.
Standing on Lilith's turf, he was not worried about any harm befalling him.
"I... ti... limited... speak... key points." The doll's mouth opened and closed stiffly, each word uttered with difficulty, its tone rigid.
"Also... do not... address ... as 'Chained God'... that title... no longer refers... to
alone..." With a creaking sound, the doll's jaw moved awkwardly as it added another fragnted sentence.
This is completely different from the ssenger in the original novel, yet the speech pattern is oddly similar... Ebner marveled silently, then calmly stated his request. Finally, he asked, "What price must I pay for you to block the curse of that Grade-0 Sealed Artifact?"
The doll in the mirror listened, then clumsily broke off a finger from its left hand with its right, tossing it to Ebner before replying:
"Place... it... on... that person... curse... will transfer... to ... I shall bear it."
Catching the severed finger, Ebner watched as it quickly grew into a new doll, though it lacked the refined elegance of the original. Its "clothes" were also dirty and unkempt.
After a mont of contemplation, Ebner asked, "The 'curse' will transfer to you? Will that cause any issues?"
"A... 'prisoner'... bearing a curse... is normal... no problem." The doll paused for over ten seconds before continuing, "You need not... pay... this is... a debt... I owe."
With that, the doll's image vanished from the mirror.
A debt owed? Is it referring to my sacrifice of Sealed Artifact '1-025'? Is this its way of saying we're even?
And why did it leave so quickly? I still wanted to ask about Daniel...
Ebner sighed but wasn't too disappointed. After all, his primary objective in seeking out the "Chained God"—no, the "God of Spiritual Creature" Tolzna—had already been achieved.
Carefully storing the doll ford from the severed finger, Ebner took a mont to resolve the aftereffects of drinking too much water after choking on mung bean cake. Only then did he wash his hands, step out of the public washroom, and leave.
At this mont, Bishop Utravsky's sermon had ended. Mrs. Fassin was being supported by Aetis and Freya, one on each side, as she made her way toward the church's main entrance.
anwhile, Mrs. Skad had already gone ahead to call a carriage for them.
As they departed, the once sparsely occupied prayer hall suddenly beca even more empty.
Just then, Emlyn suddenly approached, his expression sowhat skeptical as he lowered his voice and asked, "I wanted to ask this yesterday... Have I seen you sowhere before?"
Your scent seems familiar, and your aura is... rather comforting to us Blood Kin...
Your nose is really sharp. You rembered my scent from a single eting at the police station over six months ago? That's almost on par with the 'Pure White Eye's' ability to extract traces.
Suppressing his inner thoughts, Ebner maintained a polite smile and replied, "I've been in Feysac until recently."
Feysac...? But I've never been to Feysac... Could that sense of familiarity and kinship really be just an illusion?
Emlyn pondered for a few seconds but decided not to dwell on it further. Instead, after so hesitation, he solemnly asked, "Mr. Specter, may I trouble you with a favor?"
—Max Specter was the alias Ebner used for his current identity as a lover of the Countess. When he visited yesterday, he had introduced himself by this na to Bishop Utravsky, Hazel, and Emlyn.
"What kind of favor? Go ahead," Ebner asked curiously.
He had never known Emlyn to be this familiar with strangers. His current identity should be little more than an acquaintance to him.
"I want you to keep an eye out for this doll... It's my favorite, a masterpiece by Grandmaster Tano from a hundred years ago... But a few days ago, it suddenly disappeared!
"If you see it in any shop, market, or exhibition, please let
know!"
As he spoke, Emlyn took out a thick piece of cardboard with an illustration of a doll drawn on it. Then, gritting his teeth, he added, "If I find out who took it, I will make them pay!
"Did they think that leaving money behind makes it any less of a theft?!"
At that mont, Ebner struggled to keep his expression from turning strange—because the doll in Emlyn's drawing was identical to the one he had just seen in the mirror of the washroom!
....
Klein left Lina and Shoko's café and returned to Minsk Street in the Chorwood district. The sky had already turned completely dark, and the glow of gas street lamps was even brighter than the faintly visible crimson moon overhead.
He initially planned to visit Lawyer Jurgen's house for a free al and to pet his cat. However, just as he strolled up to No. 15, his spirituality was suddenly stirred—he sensed that soone had been inside his ho.
Who could it be? That fake Baron Larry? Did he co looking for
after failing to find
elsewhere?
Klein perford a divination and determined that there was no imdiate danger. Only then did he cautiously unlock the door, step inside, and scan the room warily. Soon, his gaze landed on an envelope placed on the coffee table.
Lowering his eyes, he scrutinized the envelope for a mont, then pulled out a pair of black gloves and put them on before picking it up and tearing it open.
Inside was a thin piece of stationery. The mont he unfolded it, dark red letters ca into view, accompanied by a faint, lingering scent of blood.
On the letter, words written in dried blood read:
"You will all die!"
A threat? From who?
They used the word 'you all'... The only case I've publicly worked on with others was the Demon Hound serial murder case... Could it be the owner of that dog seeking revenge?
Klein's heart tightened as he swiftly analyzed the situation.
Later, in his bedroom, he found another blood-written threat letter. This ti, he did not hesitate—he imdiately chose to report it to the police.
During this process, he took advantage of a trip to the police station's washroom to enter the world above the gray fog. Through "The World," he inford Miss "Justice" of his predicant.
Miss "Justice" did not hesitate and assured him that she would rush to Minsk Street as soon as possible to provide covert protection.
With Sharon's promise, Klein felt visibly relieved. Though he didn't know what the Demon Hound's owner was planning, one thing was certain: the enemy could not possibly be a demigod. With Sharon's assistance, even if they couldn't win, they should at least be able to protect themselves.
However, upon his cautious return to Minsk Street, he found that one detective after another was showing up at his ho.
Among them was Detective Isengard Stanton, who was seriously injured.
From his account, Klein finally gained a clearer understanding of the enemy he was facing.
.....
A few streets away from Minsk Street, in a safe house—undoubtedly one rented by Xio—Ebner and Xio successfully rendezvoused. There, Xio handed him a Sealed Artifact that could briefly block the influence of "0-08."
It was a pair of earrings, nad:
"The Primordial Trick" and "The Final Conspiracy."
(End of Chapter)
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