Outside Red Rose Manor, Klein walked out of the carriage whilst carrying his cane.
He closed his eyes and calmed himself as he looked at the red-uniformed soldiers standing guard at the door.
After being searched and handing in the gun holster and revolver, he followed a male servant’s lead and walked across the gray slate road, past a fountain spewing clear spring water, and entered the main house. They arrived at the second floor and arrived outside the room that was supposed to be a solarium according to the layout.
During this entire process, Klein had his heart in his mouth, worrying that something unexpected would happen. He was afraid that the situation would develop in the worst possible manner.
After a full ten seconds of silence, a heavy voice came from inside the room.
“His Highness has invited him in.”
The door creaked open and warmth spread outwards, with a temperature that was warmer than the hallway.
Under the watchful gaze of the two tall guards, Klein stepped onto the thick, patterned yellow carpet.
He took a few steps forward, skirting the cabinet that separated the inside from the outside, and he saw Prince Edessak sitting by the full-length windows, enjoying the rare winter sun of Backlund.
The round, impressionable face didn’t have the slightest trace of a smile, and this naturally created a solemn and repressed atmosphere.
Because of the combination of the elegant fireplace and the metal pipes, the room was warmer than late spring. Prince Edessak wasn’t wearing a coat, and his upper body was covered with a white shirt with cuffs which resembled blooming flowers and a pale yellow vest.
Seeing this, Klein was actually secretly relieved, because the woman wearing the sapphire ring wasn’t accompanying the Prince.
Thus, he quickly stepped forward and bowed.
Edessak held a steaming cup of black tea in his hand and didn’t invite Klein to take a seat.
He maintained his previous expression and asked in a deep voice, “Any results from your investigation?”
“No, my divinations, my spirit channeling, my interviews, my investigations all tell me that Talim died of a heart attack,” Klein said with a heavy, painful expression with obvious signs of self-blame. “I’m just too weak in every aspect. Your Highness, you should hire a stronger and more powerful helper.”
It was only then that Edessak seemed to clearly notice Detective Sherlock Moriarty’s face. He felt as if he had aged considerably, as though he had been unable to sleep at ease for a long time.
It wasn’t an illusion, because Klein had used his Faceless powers before he left to adjust the state of his face, making his skin look dry and lusterless. He made his beard appear messy and his eye bags bigger, darker, and more obvious.
Edessak was silent for a moment before he put down the white porcelain cup with a golden inlaid rim.
“I understand. It’s indeed like forcing a square peg in a round hole…
“I will have someone else follow up on the matter. Prepare an investigation report and don’t leave anything out.”
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to wait, as I always have the habit of recording things in writing.”
After instructing the attendants to take the report, Prince Edessak casually flipped through it and put it aside.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No, Your Royal Highness, please allow me to take my leave. Ah, right, I will be heading south for some time; I want to use the warm sunlight there to melt the pain in my heart.” Klein sighed in response.
“It’s a New Year’s custom of many in Loen.” Prince Edessak nodded slightly and turned to Funkel, the old butler. “Send Detective Moriarty out and get him a carriage.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the old butler bowed and said politely.
Klein didn’t let down his guard and quickly took his leave.
He followed the old butler all the way to the entrance of the manor and took back his underarm gun holster and his weapon.
Less than a minute later, he was seated in a Red Rose Manor carriage.
He leaned against the carriage wall and watched the manor turn smaller as the distance grew. Klein relaxed and let out a long breath, letting his hanging heart calm back down to its original position.
He knew that he had left the center of the stage.
Suddenly, his spirituality stirred as his spirituality tensed up as he saw the door to the carriage quickly open and then silently close!
Before he could respond, he saw a figure quickly outline itself. It was wearing a heavy black dress and had a sapphire ring on its hand.
This was a terrifying person who possessed a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact or was a demigod of a similar level!
The lady’s age was completely different from her dressing style. She looked about eighteen or nineteen, had a round face, slender eyes, and a gentle and refined temperament. Deep down, she was sweet and was an outstandingly gorgeous beauty.
“Trissy!”
When he looked again carefully, he saw that there was something different about Trissy. Her facial features, which weren’t outstanding alone, were softer and more delicate, but when placed together, they were stunning.
Hearing his surprise, Trissy became happy instead of being alarmed. She revealed a sweet smile and said, “You know me…
“I knew you know me!
“A detective with Beyonder powers definitely pays special attention to the wanted posters!”
He clearly remembered that the person before him wasn’t a good person. Tris had single-handedly created the tragedy of Alfalfa via instigation, while Trissy had caused the deaths of many innocent civilians in Tingen City.
Trissy pursed her lips into a smile and said, “Very simple. Quickly report me to the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, or the Machinery Hivemind! Get them to come here and capture me!”
He soon figured out the meaning behind her message: Trissy would rather be locked up behind Chanis Gate than stay at Red Rose Manor. She’s trying her hardest to get out of here!
Trissy stood dazed for a second before she widened her eyes and said with her unfocused eyes, “There’s someone manipulating my life. There are always coincidences that horrify me after they happen.
“And I’m becoming less and less like myself.”
Saying this, the corners of her mouth curled up as she said, “Can you imagine? Being someone who loves those shy and cute maids, can you imagine the pain when I wake up in the morning in the arms of a naked man?”
Trissy continued with a self-deprecating smile, “I thought that by working hard to advance, to become ‘Pleasure,’ that I would be able to free myself from that weird state. Hence, I sought people to help me search for the corresponding Beyonder ingredients, but the outcome only turned worse.
“Sometimes, I forget a lot of things, but they end up really happening. I endured the disgust, seduced Talim, and tried to get him to help me escape. Who knew that I ended up killing him with a curse without me even realizing it… Do you believe that?
“Heh heh, they even changed my name. They wanted me to completely abandon my past self. No! Absolutely not!
“They thought I could only overcome the coincidences for a short period of time and that I would soon get back on track. Humph, it was just an impression I deliberately created for them, so I have managed to meet you, Mr. Detective!”
As he was organizing his thoughts, he asked casually, “What did they change your name to?”
Trissy furrowed her beautiful brows as she answered with a somewhat blank look in her eyes, “Trissy Cheek.”
At this very moment, there was only one page of Roselle’s diary that was madly reverberating in his mind.
