章 384: Fifth Floor
Klein stared at the dark-golden-haired lady for two seconds, faintly sensing that she looked familiar.
Suddenly, he remembered where he had seen her before:
That rainy night, when he used the "Secret Technique" ritual to channel the powers above the gray fog and cleanse Miss Judgment of the "Black Spots" contamination, she was one of the four women in Mr. Tower's bedroom!
I think her name was "Jane"? Hmm, the woman who live-streamed the naval battle for Mr. Tower, Miss Judgment, and me in the middle of the night was also named "Jane." They should be the same person…
That naval battle was likely the result of Mr. Tower helping Miss Jane report to The Hanged Man… At the time, Ludwell was hunting the Future…
So, does that mean Miss Jane is a subordinate of Admiral of Stars? And the woman next to her now is the 37,000-pound bounty, Admiral of Stars Cattleya?
Klein observed for a few more moments before naturally withdrawing his gaze. First, staring at women was impolite, and second, if the lady truly was Admiral of Stars, it might be dangerous for her to realize he recognized her.
As for why Klein knew Cattleya's bounty? He had asked a friend for details after hearing The Hanged Man mention the bounties of subordinate fleet commanders under the King of Immortality during a Tarot meeting.
The dark-golden-haired lady was indeed Jane. She noticed Klein's fleeting gaze but didn't think much of it. Standing next to the "Queen of Mysteries" inevitably drew such attention.
Once the other visitors had followed the guide to the next exhibition hall, Jane noticed that the "Queen" was still gazing at the chessboard and pieces encased in the glass display. In a low voice, she asked, "What kind of chess is this? Do you know how to play?"
"This is chess… The rules aren't complicated, but playing well isn't easy," replied the chestnut-haired woman—none other than the "Queen of Mysteries" Bernadette. She sighed and finally looked away from the display.
"Chess? It seems quite different from Intis Chess," Jane muttered, puzzled.
"The rules are entirely different… If you're interested, I can teach you," Bernadette offered in a soft voice.
"Wonderful!" Jane beamed. She loved board games.
Bernadette said nothing further. As she stepped toward the next exhibition hall, she casually asked, "Sharon arranged to meet you tonight?"
Jane was startled. She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before nodding hesitantly and answering vaguely, "Yes..."
"Don't worry. Unless there's an angel nearby, no one can eavesdrop," Bernadette reassured her. After a few seconds of silence, she added, "What you're planning is somewhat dangerous…
"Tell Sharon, 'The operation can only succeed with the help of a detective.' I believe she'll understand what it means."
"Detective?" Jane was momentarily stunned, thinking, Could she mean Ebner? But he's not in Backlund…
---
Elsewhere, Klein followed the guide through several more exhibition halls and arrived at a reconstructed version of Emperor Roselle's study.
The layout resembled a library, with rows of bookshelves stretching up to the height of two stories. Stairs led to the higher shelves, and passages interconnected the various levels, creating a three-dimensional paradise for books.
At the center of the bookshelves were a desk, chairs, a brass lampstand, and other furnishings—all encased in glass, isolated from the outside world.
Klein leisurely admired Roselle's various manuscripts while internally mocking the emperor for not leaving future transmigrators any "easy routes." That was when he noticed a book with a bookmark tucked inside.
I remember reading in Roselle's diary that he disguised a "Card of Blasphemy" as a bookmark and tucked it into a book!
Could it be this one? Klein discreetly examined it for a few seconds but found nothing unusual.
As expected. Roselle said the "Cards of Blasphemy" resist divination and prophecy. Normally, their special nature would be undetectable… If it were that simple, the Church of Steam and Machinery would've taken it long ago.
Klein shifted his gaze to other books and noticed several volumes with bookmarks, each of varying designs.
After some thought, he asked the guide whether these were authentic items once used by Roselle. Upon receiving confirmation, he began inspecting the bookmarked books one by one, eliminating possibilities until his attention was drawn to a stack of manuscripts detailing Roselle's "plagiarized" ideas.
These also included a bookmark, this one depicting Roselle in imperial attire.
After pondering for a moment, Klein decided to entrust Miss Justice with verifying its authenticity. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he turned to the guide and asked, "Excuse me, could you tell me where the restroom is?"
---
Meanwhile, at her home, Audrey was playing the piano when a dense gray mist suddenly appeared before her. She received a commission from The Fool's "Blessed" to "destroy a bookmark."
After some contemplation, her gaze fell on the open jewelry box nearby, lingering on a pair of gemstone earrings adorned with fine needles.
Audrey's lips curved into a small smile, her eyebrows arching slightly as she murmured to herself, "With Susie's help, that should be enough..."
---
At Damir's school, after performing an "exorcism" ritual for Terrance and gaining a small amount of digestion progress, Ebner warmly saw off the blue-haired youth.
"The root of his problem is a lack of confidence… Once he gains confidence, he won't need to seek others' approval. Instead, others will strive to please him.
"But building confidence isn't something that happens overnight. He needs guidance to showcase his strengths, allowing him to recognize his own advantages and gradually build his self-assurance…
"Still, how does someone from such a privileged background—wealthy, good-looking, and capable—develop such an inferiority complex?
"It's like he walked straight out of a Japanese manga about dysfunctional rich kids…"
After a brief round of self-amusement, Ebner shook his head, putting the matter aside. He picked up his gear and entered the underground passage to the illusory gate of the "Dream Labyrinth Tower."
Without the need for a talisman, Ebner simulated the ability of a "Dream Walker" and reappeared within the inverted high tower that reached into the clouds.
Placing most of the extraordinary items he brought into his personal resting room—a perk earned by clearing the seventh floor—Ebner proceeded to the passage leading to the next level.
He didn't hesitate, stepping forward without pause.
After a moment of dizziness, his vision cleared, revealing a grand clock tower painted boldly in red, blue, and yellow.
Not far from the clock tower stood a church. Judging by the emblem hanging outside, it belonged to the Church of the Storm.
Before he could further assess his surroundings, the door of the clock tower creaked open. A tall yet slightly hunched man emerged.
The man appeared to be around forty years old. Individually, his facial features were unremarkable, but together, they formed a jarringly asymmetrical visage.
One eye sat higher than the other, one nostril was larger than the other, and the muscles on the left side of his face sagged slightly, pulling his mouth downward, while the right side was taut in contrast.
Even his body was uneven—one leg longer than the other, one arm thick and muscular, the other thin and weak. The overall effect was grotesque.
He looks like a creation from the Solomon Empire of the Fourth Epoch… Ebner squinted, piecing together the scene and original text from his memories. He ventured a question:
"Are you the Bell Ringer, Kano?"
The man's lopsided mouth curled into a crooked smile as he replied, "Someone as ugly as me could hardly be anyone else.
"I assume you're the 'Investigator.' If you want to know your mission, follow me."
(End of Chapter)
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