Author Note:
-In early chapter, you may have read something about "Selina digested her potion" it's a line I failed to edit. It's supposed to be "digests her potion soon", I'm very sorry!
...
Leonard saw him as well and both sides of his mouth curled up.
"Okay, that's him from the drawing right? I'll approach him first, see if he'll cooperate. Otherwise, I'll recite a lullaby to put him into sleep. Watch from the sidelines and enter once he became sluggish. Then assist me in escorting him to the pantry."
Klein thought about it carefully and suddenly inquired, "Is conventional warranties out of the picture?"
"Correct." Leonard commended half-heartedly. "This person might be a beyonder. In a public setting, their capabilities are limited. Unless they're insane and would allow the churches to take immediate action.
"That also applies to us. But the difference is that we hold the background. I can casually approach him, ask a few measly questions before confirming whether or not he'll cooperate.
Then, he gestured with an open hand before saying, "Otherwise, we'll put him to sleep with a little lullaby."
Klein was stunned and watched helplessly as Leonard accepts his silence as confirmation and does it nonetheless.
...
Harper is a young man between the age of thirty. He wore a suit and bowtie, coupled with dark trouser.
He had left the entertainment center and since his hunger pang kicked in, he went into the cafeteria.
At this moment, he sat on a one table away from a corner. A young man with emerald eyes, dark long hair and a carefree flare walked up to him with an expectant smile.
"My name is Rodriquez. A pleasure to meet you." He slicked his hair and extended a hand.
On the sidelines. Klein was mingling with the queue of people when he heard this and almost broke out.
Rodriguez? He criticized the name inwardly.
After a gulp. Harper wiped his hand, stood up and introduced himself similarly, "Harper Colrett. The pleasure is mine."
Suddenly he sized the strange young man up. He immediately asked, "Are you new? I'm sorry if that would be rude of me but I haven't seen you around."
"Very perceptive Mr. Colrett." Leonard let go of the handshake and sat right on the opposite of the gentleman.
"You see. I am indeed new. I saw you and thought of how conservative you are and assumed you're familiar with the place."
In this day and age. Being alone in a classy establishment usually meant social independence for the newcomers. It made one appear approachable and reliable.
"I am indeed." Harper kindly took the compliment.
Leonard feigned a positive image and genial comments throughout the time. Due to the wait, Klein decided to request for an apple quench as he monitors their affair.
After a few casual exchange. He finally saw the flippant poet murmuring right as he got close to the target.
Harper's eyes suddenly became heavy and thoughts delayed.
In just a quarter of twenty seconds. He fell. Luckily Leonard caught him, preventing a scene.
Klein placed his drink down rushed to cooperate. He held Harper's right hand over his neck and clavicle while Leonard handled the side.
There were many eyes lingering at them. But Leonard easily shook them off by displaying his badge.
On their way to the pantry. Philomore, along with Selina, Royale and Seeka were walking in a single unit when they saw them.
It's quite the rare sight.
Selina had a look of befuddlement, wearing a "what are you doing?" plastered to her face.
Klein wearily smiled as her turned and paced with Leonard.
The group went all into the pantry. The cold and grim space only allowed a few to enter. Thus leaving Royale and the rest outside while Klein, Selina and Leonard went in.
"Is he?" Selina blurted out but was interjected by Leonard.
"An accomplice."
Klein corrected internally. Galopin's accomplice...
"Should we leave him to you?" Leonard was fully aware of the Seer's expertise.
After seeing him nod. Both Selina and him left without saying anything else.
Klein began setting up a simple altar with a candle and a pouch of salt. The contents of the bag was already running out, he have to buy another gram afterwards.
Once the it was done. He prayed and asked for the Evernight's power to allow a dream divination.
A terrifying, wildering and obstructing power beyond the planes engulfed Klein's senses. Upon entering cogitation, he began muttering.
"This gentleman's knowledge regarding Fauland...
...
Seven lines passed by and through cogitation. Klein easily drifted to sleep.
When the gray and dark foggy world illuminated his surroundings. He saw the gentleman's image standing and looking in the distant.
Klein gulped his saliva and walked forward. In close proximity of a few inches, he patted his back and the man turned.
Through his eyes, the world shifted into a break room. At the center was a table. There he sat with a gentleman handing a piece of paper, likely filled with terms of contract. He signed it.
After seeing the contents of the contract. He saw multiple company names that holds a share and funding of the Noir Lounge. Thankfully one of them was the Halzter Van Company.
Quiet peculiar for a retrieval company to be linked to an underground hostess club.
...
When there was no helpful feedbacks anymore. Klein decisively left the dream world and began analyzing.
Galopin's image flashed multiple times in different scenes, this confirms Harper's connections with him as he frequents the indulgents corner...
After committing some of the names from the contract into his mind. He finished the ritual and left Harper to "rest" in the pantry.
When he opened the door. He quickly told the group of what he discovered.
"...Ardenis Manufacture and Halzter Van Company." Leonard reviewed the list of funders that Klein had suspected of.
Right then, his lips curled up and he leaned in, "Are you trying to lead this case somewhere?"
Klein was stunned and bewildered.
"Haha, I'm merely joking." Leonard laughed as he turned to the others. "So what do you think? Which company should we try to investigate?"
Selina thought and suggested, "The Halzter Van Company."
Leonard's smile did not wavered when he asked, "What caught your attention?"
Around this point in time. Klein realized what Leonard was getting at.
It seems he'll actively going to question the motive if he didn't get into their circle of what he calls "protagonists of the age".
Seems our dear poet is in desperate need for validation... Klein's mouth twitched as he watched.
He's not least bit threatened of the inquiry. Besides, that suggestion is traceable to when they checked for Huddsman's accomplice across Pua Doe's cafe. Matters of needing a retrieval company to relocate their belongings would likely be the Halzter Van Company.
"From Huddsman's case." Selina calmly said as she began to explain. "Back then we have considered checking the city's retrieval services that could potentially be aiding Huddsman's accomplice is relocating his belongings.
"Luckily, points to consider for narrowing our options down is quite specific. The company should have enough reputation to skim away from police investigations, patience for constant returning and diligence for having that much furnishings into their vans."
Vans are the mode of transportation similar to a carriage but with difference that it specialized in carrying loads for relocations.
Klein for once grinned. Smearing it on Leonard's face as he glanced at him.
"So we're going to the Halzter Van Company?" he asked.
Leonard paused before saying with a weird smirk, "What a great deduction."
It was a joint effort between Selina and Klein to give Halzter Van a significance.
"Alright. Otherwise we'll only be stalling our time for elimination."
Just as they leave. Royale stopped for a second and then said, "Seems all of us are going to the same place. I'll head to captain and report our findings."
"No problem." Leonard and the rest saw her off after reaching the entrance.
...
In Birchwhite street.
Selina gazed around the familiar three story building. With a plot reserved for wooden roofed carriage vans to park.
Earlier on their way, the two officers settled on who to stay behind and guide the team. Philomore was left while Louis returned.
Thanks to the presence of an officer. Discussing with the receptionist wasn't an issue. The group entered and decisively parted at the hall.
While Selina, Seeka and Philomore are at the surface to inspect the registry counters and administrator's office. Klein and Leonard went into the basement.
"The manager isn't here. Said he have a few business trips to take outside of city." explained the receptionist, Carl Pellis.
Carl wore a vest and a gentleman's suit to greet the clients and exhibit professionalism. Of course it was also mandatory.
"Did he said where specifically?" Philomore's said in a hoarse voice, prominent of age.
Carl thought and said, "No, actually he entrusted the whole operation to me until he returns. The steward also left with them which usually he's crucial."
Steward... Selina had an epiphany. The Ivory manor also had a steward...
"Did you had any involvement with the staffs outside of work?" Philomore pressed on behalf.
In response. Carl nodded succinctly before saying, "I do, but it was usually for lunch. My coworkers even complains sometimes that I rarely went with them."
"That's good." Philomore averted his eyes from Carl and started gazing around.
"Pardon?" said Carl.
Philomore didn't mind the two ladies as he said, "This workplace. Does it ever came across to you that it was being operated by an organized group?"
"Organized Group?" Carl was dumbfounded.
The group took a left turn and stopped soon after reaching the corner door.
"As long as you remain oblivious. There won't any issues." Philomore took out a pen and a paper from his dark, trench coat and wrote something.
After which he produced a stamper from another compartment of his coat. It was accompanied by a metallic pan.
He opened it and said to Selina politely, "Miss, could you hold this for me?"
Is this an ink pad? Selina was handed with the item and asked to open it.
She was right and Philomore used it to give the stamp enough ability to leave an imprint on the paper.
Officers always carry around things like this? How practical of them... Selina secretly mused.
When this was done. He wiped the ink off, placed the two items back and gave the stamped note to Carl.
He said, "Tell the other workers here that they're dismissed. Later, when you return tomorrow, hand this note to one of the officers. They'll handle your migration to another job."
Carl paused when he saw the note. He lifted his face and was compelled to purse his mouth, seeing Philomore's stern face and leave.
With the receptionist gone. They entered the office.
Orange dusk illuminates the room in a pallid glow. Highlighting the specks of dust coming from the shelves and potted plants. All suspended in a tapestry of twilight color.
Selina quickly went to the drawers behind the desk, while Seeka and Philomore checked for the receipt and contacts that was neatly arranged at the table.
Unit 20 Iron Cross Street, West Borough.... She muttered after fishing out and reading another batch of receipts.
The middle Iron Cross Street is where Pua Doe's Cafe is situated and also where Huddsman's accomplice lives.
This confirms it. Halzter Van helped this suspect in moving his furnishings out...
"Did you find anything?" Seeka walked over to Selina's side.
Selina shook her head regrettably. Both ladies turned to Philomore who also gave a similar reply.
None of the documents present in the office held any significance in the case. Since they had already searched the loading area and the registry, they could only rely on Klein and Leonard's findings.
There was a safe on the desk however. But regardless of Carl being there, the administrator likely wouldn't entrust the codes to someone they could easily leave behind.
Selina, Philomore and Seeka all rationally let the safe be handled by the officers who'll come later.
When they arrived back at the registrar. Dunn arrived by the horse-drawn carriage on the sidewalk. The door was open when they saw him entered.
"Captain." Selina said, then wondered, "Where's Ms. Reideen?"
"I had her take care of something. Where's Klein and Leonard?" Dunn answered first before returning with a question.
Seeka Tron turned to where the basement was and replied earnestly, "They're in the basement."
While scanning the area. Dunn followed up in a deep voice. "There was no issues about the members here?"
"No." Seeka firmly shook her head. "The members have seemed to be informed of the investigation that alerted them to abandon their operation."
Dunn's grey eyes swept the three and landed on Selina. He nodded, "It seems because of you, the issues about narrowing our options was resolved."
Selina was a bit flattered when she said, "I believe that the others have also played a role in this investigation."
Especially Klein. Actually, that was his idea...
Right on the heels of that. Dunn turned toward where the staircase is based on Seeka and said, "Let's check on Klein and Leonard and see what they've discovered."