Chapter 248: Waiting From Both Sides
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
With both sides being aware of the whereabouts of Helmosuin’s ma.n.u.script, this matter would come to an end tonight… Therefore, the amba.s.sador would have the freedom to take revenge… Is this the reason for the impending danger? Klein gained a rough understanding of the divination results and the inexplicable omen.
If he didn’t have the Language of Foulness charm or the powerful bodyguard that cost him 1000 pounds for three days, he would’ve shamelessly gone to the police station or the Church of the G.o.d of Steam and Machinery’s headquarters in Backlund, Saint Hierländ Cathedral for a temporary stay. He could avoid any possible attacks and await the a.s.sa.s.sination of the amba.s.sador. As for how successful the a.s.sa.s.sination would be, Klein wasn’t confident either. He had already considered the worst outcome and had a plan for it.
But now, with the double the preparations, he no longer wanted to avoid it. He would stay at home and pretend that he knew nothing.
Deep down, he was even looking forward to having his attackers come knocking at his door.
Sequence 9 Hunter Meursault was killed by me. If they send someone else again, They would at least be a Sequence 7, or even a Sequence 6 or 5. They might even come in numbers, but regardless, as long as I finish them, I’ll obtain formulas and Beyonder characteristics. I can then make up for some of my losses… Yes, I’ll tell Miss Bodyguard that I had good luck and managed to benefit from the black ear that I bought and became a Beyonder. After all, when the battle becomes intense, there’s no way to hide it at that point. Besides, what I’m saying is nearly the truth. I did benefit quite significantly from the black ear… As Klein considered what would soon follow, he almost instinctively drew the sign of the crimson moon on his chest.
May the G.o.ddess bless me that the Beyonder who comes is the one from the Seer pathway! He prayed silently.
As he thought of this, he looked around the room for his bodyguard. He was worried that she would run away without a sound after hearing the whole story.
The lights in the dining room were warm, illuminating the coffee table, sofa, and chairs. There was no one else in the room except him.
As Klein gradually grew nervous, he suddenly saw a face appear on the gla.s.s cover of the gas lamp in the living room. The face was pale, with pale gold hair and delicate looks.
This lady is quite confident in her own strength… Klein’s mind calmed down, and he whispered to himself, “I’m also a Beyonder.
“I made a gamble on an item I bought from Kaspars’s gathering and benefited from it, but it was only beneficial for me.”
What he said was true. No matter what method he had to face, these sentences would endure a truth test.
But when these two sentences were put together, one would think that the benefits made him a Beyonder.
The face on the gla.s.s cover nodded slightly and quickly disappeared without any other reaction.
Klein’s expression didn’t seem to change, but he secretly exhaled in his heart.
Without taking off his coat, he went back to the sofa and picked up a newspaper and started reading.
After a while, the tinkling sound echoed again. Someone had rung his doorbell again.
Who is it? Klein immediately tensed up. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, touching his tarot cards and Language of Foulness charm.
He slowly walked towards the door, and with the help of his abilities as a Clown, he predicted what he would see after opening the door.
The crimson moon was still faintly visible, the elegant gas lamps were unchanged, and a sergeant in a black-and-white checkered uniform with three chevrons on his epaulets was impatiently waiting by the door.
He had a short, brown beard and he was none other than the sergeant who had dealt with Sherlock Moriarty’s case of self-defense.
I think Jurgen mentioned his name. Sergeant Faxine? Well, I can receive the ten-pound bail tomorrow or the next day… What is he doing here? Did MI9 send him to find Ian Wright? Or to inform me that I should temporarily hide away from danger?Confused, Klein grabbed the handle.
…
Inside the Intis emba.s.sy of Backlund’s West Borough, the lights were on. The scent of various perfumes and alcohol, accompanied by melodious melodies stretched out to every corner.
A ball was being held.
During his years as an amba.s.sador, Bakerland had often held b.a.l.l.s at the emba.s.sy, inviting the kingdom’s bankers, big factory owners, philanthropists, and other well-known, rich and powerful people, as well as lawyers. Random opportunities were also given to some of the lower-ranked merchants.
In this atmosphere, he would tell the guests about the prosperity and openness of Trier, and how the Intis Republic was no longer dominated by the likes of the n.o.bles, bankers, factory owners, and lawyers. They, directly and indirectly, took over a large portion of the parliamentary seats, determining the direction of the government policies, enjoying true freedom and high statuses.
Today, Bakerland was doing the same thing. With a wine gla.s.s in hand, he flitted around the guests, as if to prove that he was present at the ball without leaving.
They should’ve gotten the ma.n.u.script by now… After learning that Ian Wright appeared at the telegraph office from that trembling detective, I’ve been putting plans into action. Now is the time to reap the rewards… Bakerland, with his thin but cla.s.sy face, took a sip of the blood-like Aurmir wine and headed for the balcony, intending to take a breath of the cool night air.
After learning that Ian had sent the telegram, as a veteran conspiracist and professional intelligence officer, Bakerland was acutely aware that Ian was contacting his superior’s superior. Therefore, he quickly made the double-spy, that had infiltrated the Feysac Empire’s Backlund intelligence team, investigate and obtain the meeting time, location, and manner agreed upon by Ian and the “team leader.”
After that, he pretended that nothing had happened and continued to send people to look for Ian near Bacardi Street. He successfully found Ian and also attracted the attention of MI9.
According to his plan, his intelligence officer had deliberately let Ian go, so that MI9 would think that they were on the same starting line.
After paralyzing his main opponent, he called in other unexposed intelligence agents to ambush Ian and the Feysac Empire’s “team leader.” He wanted to find the ma.n.u.script and smuggle it out of the Loen Kingdom without being detected by the MI9.
The situation had progressed as smoothly as he had expected, but the news that came back in the evening left his heart heavy.
People from MI9 had actually appeared!
They had appeared despite being supposedly fooled!
With Rosago around, it’s definitely not because of divination. Besides MI9 isn’t good at divination at all… That means we have a spy among our ranks… Let’s hope that Rosago can be one step ahead of them and grab the ma.n.u.script to hand over to Shadow for extraction… Bakerland had deliberately organized the ball in order to avoid suspicion, but as such, he was unable to involve himself with the developments. All he could do was pray that his subordinates would amount to something.
According to his plans, once Rosago succeeded, he would immediately transfer the items to another intelligence officer, one that had never been activated before. Then Rosago would lure MI9 away and, by creating some trouble, keep them out of “sight” and distract them from his partner. During this process, Bakerland requested Rosago to kill the detective while he was at it.
If it wasn’t for him, no one from MI9 would’ve known about it. Everything would’ve gone smoothly… My involvement with the Zmanger gang wouldn’t have been revealed, and I wouldn’t be transferred back to the country… He actually didn’t run away, thinking that MI9 would keep protecting him, and that staying at home is safer than running away? Bakerland rubbed his face.
He had already received orders that after the operation regarding the ma.n.u.script had been completed, and he would hand all intelligence matters to the highest ranking military officer at the emba.s.sy and await the arrival of the new amba.s.sador.
Bakerland was rather reluctant to part with Backlund. Despite the bad weather and heavy pollution, Backlund was one of the most prosperous cities in the world.
Besides, the ladies here are more conservative unlike those s.l.u.ts back home. Slowly seducing them into bed and removing their restraint, bit by bit, is a very satisfying and fascinating achievement. Unfortunately, I have to bid farewell to these beautiful ladies… Bakerland thought gloomily, and he felt more and more resentful of the detective who dared to put up resistance.
As for Rosago’s own safety, Bakerland wasn’t worried at all. He believed that as long as Rosago wanted to, as long as he wasn’t targeted by a High-Sequence Beyonder, he would be able to escape immediately. This was because Rosago had special Beyonder powers.
As he lost himself in thought, Bakerland’s eyes suddenly lit up. He saw a young lady in a crimson dress standing at the edge of the balcony with a gla.s.s of wine in her hand.
She had a pretty face and a gentle temperament. Her hair was ink black and luxuriant, and her light brown eyes seemed to speak volumes.
Bakerland went over at once and began to chat with her. He learned that the lady was the daughter of a timber merchant named Eileen, and that her father wasn’t very rich and was trying to make his way up the ranks.
With his status as Intis amba.s.sador, Bakerland quickly received Eileen’s affection.
After sharing two dances, their bodies became more intimate.
“Beautiful lady, I’d like to invite you to my room to sample some Aurmir wine of 1286.”
Eileen replied, almost without any hesitation, “Alright.”
The two of them left the ballroom and secretly went to the second floor. They entered Bakerland’s room, and he ordered the guards to stay away from them and not to disturb him.
Before the so-called Aurmir wine 1286 appeared, Bakerland had pa.s.sionately brought Eileen to the bed.
While romping around in bed, Eileen’s simple skirt came undone as her pure, fair arms hugged him.
While her hands gripped Bakerland’s shoulders, her nails and veins suddenly sprouted black, thin, fluffy “spider feet!”
Bang!
Eileen’s eyes suddenly bulged as white foam poured out of her mouth.
Bakerland retracted the fist that he had used to hit her abdomen and stood up from the bed. He no longer had the hasty actions from before and instead, wore a cold expression.
“Who sent you?” Bakerland asked in a deep voice.
Eileen attempted to stand up, but the pain was too much to bear. Her eyes were filled with shock and fear.
Seeing the expression on the pretty girl’s face, Bakerland smiled and said, “It’s true that I’m into beautiful ladies, but I know this problem of mine. So, every time I meet a beautiful lady, I’m especially careful.
“Speak, who sent you?
“Don’t bother resisting. I’m very good at using fire.”