After a successful and draining attempt. Klein, Kenley, and Leonard took another journey back.
The latter was confused and bewildered by the time Klein handed the turn to him. Regardless, the subsequent guarding went smoothly.
But before they left during that, they told Priest Siur to take note of the town's situation. If there were any paranormal incidents, he was to immediately send a telegram to Saint Selena Cathedral.
At twenty minutes past seven that night, they finally arrived at Zouteland Street and returned Sealed Artifact 3-0782.
When he had made sure that the Captain didn't notice anything unusual, Klein left the Blackthorn Security Company and arrived home before eight.
A creamy aroma wafted in the air as he entered after pocketing his keys. This means that Selina is cooking, Melissa is studying in the living room with Benson resuming his vocabularies.
But something was off, there was another figure helping Selina in the kitchen.
It was obviously a maiden who wasn't even in her twenties. She was in an old, grayish-white dress, and she was peeling an apple on the counter, bit by bit.
She had black hair and brown eyes. Her eyes were small, her nose wasn't sharp enough, and her facial features were very ordinary.
Who is she? Klein was stunned at first, then he realized that she was most likely the maidservant that had come for a trial.
At that moment, Benson lowered his book and looked at his brother. He smiled and said, "A company that doesn't allow employees to leave the office on time is annoying."
"But it provides a salary that can counteract any kind of dissatisfaction," Klein replied with a laugh.
Once I get a chance to withdraw of Ms. Lover's 300 pounds, I'll inform Benson and Melissa about my raise to six pounds a week, that way they would worry less about our family's finances... Klein thought as he put his cane aside and took off his top hat. He walked to the living hall and lowered his voice as he asked, "Have you made a choice?"
He had divined the information of the three maidservants the day before, and he had found that all three were suitable. Hence, the decision was left to his brother and sister.
"Yes, Bella. Weekly salary of five soli. She's very willing and also capable of learning cooking. She hopes that she can become a home chef, at which point her weekly pay will double. Her father is a factory worker at the Tingen Steelworks Union Factory, and her mother is a laundry worker," Benson replied with a chuckle. "Of course, another thing that led Melissa and me to the decision is that the other two servants believe in the Lord of Storms, and she is a believer of the Goddess. I personally don't mind the believers of the Lord of Storms, but Melissa didn't quite like the idea."
It wasn't that Melissa didn't like it, a more accurate description would be "I grieve at their misfortune and am infuriated at their refusal to resist." Yes, it was said by Lu Xun! Klein recalled his sister's behavior, and revealed a smile.
"What about Selina?" Of course, soliciting Selina of the family matter wasn't necessary at all. However, instinct took over Klein and thus subconsciously wanted her opinion as well.
"What's this?" Benson had lifted his book only to settle it down again. "Already attempting to integrate her into our household? I thought her stay is temporary?"
There was a clear smirk on his brother's face. Klein fought the urge to strangle him.
Reflected in his eyes when he turned. Selina, was dazzling again. In her modest, simple dress that hugs a slender waist, her coiled hair that reveals a beautiful nape, and her gentle smile enjoying the dinner preparation, everything about her is beautiful.
Which was strange, yes, because there are occasions where this fact changes. Klein would see a simple colleague, a guest, then the most beautiful lady, and the maiden who should spark a massive and collective attention.
Sometimes, Klein would even wonder why she's stuck here as an officer. With her looks, her mysterious status, and Ms. Lovers, in no time she would become a figure in Backlund or in any city.
Underneath it all however, is he saw someone, who might stick with him, even after all of this.
Her personality bleeds deeper than looks. And her beauty is also the reason why Klein felt utterly hopeless.
Because behind it, is his divination claiming someone is trying to obtain her.
"Melissa is also starting to get used to..." Benson's voice began to tune away in Klein's drowning thoughts.
He wondered when will this scene, of Selina smiling faintly as she stir a pot, preparing a dinner he didn't even asked for.
...I can't let it all end...
"Sigh look at you. I guess me and Melissa will have a peace of mind knowing what kind of lady you're planning to marry..." Benson drew a breath as he grins happily.
Klein's face snapped. "What?"
His raised voice reached Selina, her hand lifting the ladle filled with curry stopped just near her lips.
"Oh! Klein you're back!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"Seeka escorted me home since you're gone earlier. Now that you're here and the curry is done. Let's eat!"
...
The next day, Klein alighted near the Blackthorn Security Company in a good mood.
"You seem rather in bliss." Selina remarked as she slowly got down with Klein's help. "Was it due to my cooking? Or that you finished the charms you promise yourself to make?"
Klein smiled, seeing her in a three-piece suit reflecting his, "Both. Very much both."
"I'm glad." Selina chuckled behind her right index finger, and right after that, she walked closer to Klein.
All that's left to do is finding the nodes that destiny would inevitably leave behind, feeling secured that if those nodes did not happen to lead to the destiny, they would be prepared.
Next would be the destiny. Yes, that room from which I saw Selina, it doesn't seem too far from the red chimney house. If I find it, I might track it down... otherwise I'll use landmarks instead...
"Uh." Suddenly, Klein quickly snapped back as he saw Selina getting closer.
His face shows changes each steps she take.
Finally, he saw her extend her hand.
"When you get overly excited... You tend to neglect trivial things." Selina spoke softly and curled her lips into a smile.
And as her face gets closer to him...
Ziiip! her fingers pulled Klein's tie neatly.
"Oof!" Klein wimped out a breath.
"There." enjoying the reaction, Selina chuckled. "You look very handsome."
Klein's eyes froze and his heart skipped. Blood rushed to his face as he quickly squeezed out a reply, "Thank you."
He heard her chuckle faintly. In a daze, he watched as Selina strode pass him, "Let's go inside."
"Good morning Klein and Ms. Roy." Rozanne greeted as usual.
"Good morning as well Ms. Rozanne." replied Selina, behind her trailed Klein, hiding his face with a top hat.
After pleasant talk of the weather and some trivial things. The receptionist finally added as oppose to Selina's question of Old Neil.
"Old Neil is sick. Hmm... Oh, Ms. Roy, how about we visit him at noon. What you say?"
"Old Neil is sick?" Selina asked in surprise while Klein shared the same reaction.
Could it be that the ritual for treating diarrhea caused severe constipation? But I explicitly told him to consult me!
I gave him medicines didn't I? Ugh, Old Neil! Don't you realize your headedness may cause us anxiety?
Meanwhile, Klein had an epiphany.
From the way he acted after learning of the "acting method," it's not impossible for him to suddenly fall sick... He's getting old, so once his mind turns frail, his body would also suffer from those ramifications...
Rozanne nodded and said, "Yeah, he sent someone to the Captain to request some time off."
Selina nodded right away. "Let's visit him."
Hearing that, Klein instantly realized that she'll only be going with Rozanne, a normal civilian.
If something were to occur and it requires more than the Flaring Sun Charm or Blood-Curdling Charm he gave to Selina. She wouldn't have anyone but herself to confront it.
Anxiety crept him, and Klein intervened with a smile, "I'll be going too. Sigh, Old Neil sure is pitiful. His wife passed away early, and his son is busy in some other city. When he's sick, all he can do is stay at home in loneliness and helplessness."
"But three is too many?" Rozanne asked, feeling a little lost.
But then she quickly realized and Klein remarked, "The more the merrier!"
However, right at the tip of the sigh. Rozanne added, her lips quivered regardless of the enthusiasm.
With wide, opened eyes, she added in shock, "But when did Old Neil get married?"
...
What? Klein was left dumbfounded when he heard Rozanne's question. He recalled in his daze, "I previously visited Old Neil's place just last month. I saw a piano in the living room and he told me that his deceased wife loved music..."
As he spoke, Klein suddenly became alarmed as he began having unpleasant thoughts.
Following that, Selina turned to him, tensed, "Mr Old Neil... had a wife?"
The apprehension of her grew, and Klein tried to suppress his emotions as he nodded calmly to relax her, "Yes."
Rozanne knitted her beautiful brows and said with uncertainty, 'Perhaps I remembered wrong... No, Mrs. Orianna and I frequented Old Neil's place during the earlier half of the year. There was no piano in his living room back then. I clearly remember asking him why he chose to remain single. His answer was that he hasn't met a lady that he wished to marry..."
There was no piano during the earlier half of the year, and he answered the question of why he chose to remain single... Klein tightened up and asked in a deep voice, "Rozanne, how long has it been since you visited Old Neil's place?"
"Not ever since Kenley became a Nighthawk, and Viola chose to resign as a clerk. I've been either burning the midnight oil or catching up on sleep, so how could I have the time to visit him? It's been... since the beginning of June." Rozanne became a little lost upon receiving the question, so all she did was answer honestly.
Klein's heart sank, as if he sensed something was wrong.
He fished out a halfpence from his pocket and held it between his thumb and middle finger.
He took a deep breath and quickly decided on a divination statement.
"There's something wrong with Old Neil's current situation.
"There's something wrong with Old Neil's current situation."
...
His pupils quickly darkened as he recited the statement silently and entered Cogitation.
Ding!
He flicked his thumb, pushing the brass coin into the air and allowing it to spin.
Pak! The coin fell right into Klein's open palm.
This time, the portrait of George III was facing up.
The portrait signified that it was correct, that it was positive.
That meant that there really was something wrong with Old Neil's current situation!
Seeing this beside him, Selina figured out from Klein's expression. Her intertwined hands quivered from where it was placed beneath her waist.
She suddenly remembered the translucent pair of cold and ruthless eyes without any brows that he had seen behind Old Neil when she had just received her first lesson and experimenting with her Spirit Vision.
Klein's expression was grim, which means he too saw it one time!
Old Neil had explained that the pair of eyes was a characteristic of ritualistic magic!
There was also that almost formless human figure by the door at the periphery of the light. The color of its aura was identical to the surrounding darkness... Wait, Klein also said that Old Neil coughed violently when he was secretly changing his Spirit Vision trigger. I shared the same experience...
Wait, could it be that the Spirit Vision...? No, no way! I also happened to look at him! Those crimson colors...
Scene after scene appeared in Klein and Selina's mind, turning their expression grim and the latter pale.
Did those crimson colors indicates farther than one's health? It gauges their control?
Rozanne looked at Klein and asked in fear, "Did Old Neil lose control? No way, even though he's petty and stingy, and wants to be reimbursed for all of his expenses, he's still a good person. He rarely gets angry. No way, he wouldn't lose control..."
"I cannot be sure, but I think that Old Neil is on the brink of losing control." Klein consoled Rozanne.
"Klein." suddenly, a hem of his coat was tugged. It was Selina, with her heart breaking, "In my Spirit Vision. D-Do a divination of it."
Seeing her in this state anchored Klein. His emotions was starting to erupt but he refuse to let Selina see it all.
"I can."
After a series of seven lined divination. The coin flew in the air and landed on Klein's hand. The sentence is: "Thanks to Selina's Spirit Vision, she can gauge the chances of someone losing control."
Pap! Dang!
It revealed King George's face. It's a positive!
Old Neil and that old man she tested this on, happened to be similar, they're losing control! Not only that, that beggar is a beyonder!
Beyonders are around us... Old Neil is losing control... Selina clutched both her hands tightly and she quickly turned around.
"We need to tell Captain!"