In the opulent bedroom.
Madam Sharon was leaning on her comfortable rocking chair, completely naked. Her fair and excellent figure was completely exposed.
She sometimes turned her head towards the full-length mirror to admire her charming self.
As she looked, her face would flush red as tears welled in her eyes. Her expression emitted a strange tenderness amidst her stupor.
The skeletal statue of the goddess was sitting on the table beside her. The thick strands of hair seemed gentle under the warm, pink light.
Slowly, the frequency in which Madam Sharon looked into the mirror decreased. Bit by bit, her eyelids couldn't help but droop.
...
Seconds turned into minutes when Klein suddenly recalled something.
How was the Captain going to notify Kenley and himself after he successfully dragged Madam Sharon into a dream?
Last time, it was Leonard who notified them. Who exactly knew when to take actions after the Dunn had pulled Morroy into a dream.
Perhaps it's a unique feature among the Sleepless? Klein considered praying to the White Maiden and see if he could solicit Leonard's guidance, setting their differences aside.
At that moment, his mind turned into a blur. He saw a giant crimson moon, as well as Captain Dunn Smith in his black windbreaker under the moon. There was also the short Kenley, his expression dazed.
Klein realized that he too was dreaming!
I've been dragged into a dream by the Captain... So that's how he was going to notify us. He wanted to facepalm himself, but could only maintain his trance-like state while saying muddle-headedly, "Captain?"
Dunn nodded slightly and said, "Madam Sharon has entered a dream. You can take action now."
He then emphasized, "Remember to be careful, and don't be too reckless... We would rather miss the opportunity than take unwarranted risks."
Just as he finished his sentence, the world before Klein shattered. His eyes reflected Dunn Smith again. He was still at the corner of the wall, looking down with his hands clenched tightly into fists.
On the other side, Kenley, who had stopped pacing about, also opened his eyes.
The duo exchanged looks and nodded. Both of them entered a state to execute their operation.
Even though this was the first time Kenley was participating in a relatively dangerous mission, he was still more experienced than Klein. He had attended many official missions, so he quickly adjusted his mental state, becoming calm and sharp.
Of course, this could also be attributed to the augmentation the night had on a Sleepless. This was also one of the reasons Dunn had chosen Kenley over Frye for this operation.
"Let's go." As a Sequence 8, Klein took on the role of the leader, signaling for his partner to follow.
Kenley didn't object. He gripped the tightly-wrapped mirror and softened his footsteps as he followed.
Suddenly, he glanced at Klein's side-profile. He said, "I'm sorry about Selina."
"Why?" Klein was startled, froze, but continued nonetheless in a matter of seconds.
"I was the one who saw her like that. I was scared, so I reported to the Captain. So Captain went and confirmed it without disturbing Ms. Selina." answered Kenley honestly.
Klein's mouth opened, only for it to close without uttering a word.
"You did what anyone of us would've done."
The atmosphere turned rigid and Klein led him to the place where he scaled the wall previously. He grabbed onto the crevices of the wall and made it to the top of the wall with little effort.
He maintained his ridiculous sense of balance and turned around, bending down and grabbing the Spirit Medium Mirror Kenley had tossed over.
The moment he touched the mirror, Klein felt his spiritual perception tighten suddenly. It was as if what was covered by the black cloth wasn't a mirror, but a door to some unknown, dangerous alternate world.
Indeed, any item that requires sealing has some malefic side to it... Klein wistfully to himself inside as he watched Kenley scale the wall.
In order to facilitate movement, Kenley had placed his cane beside Dunn. Klein didn't dwell on that matter.
After making their way through the garden to the side of the building, he climbed the pipe up to the balcony of the second floor, just as he did before.
He then hung naturally from his feet, allowing his body to fall, once again taking Sealed Artifact 3-0271.
Kenley looked at him, puzzled. But immediately, he nodded his head in enlightenment.
At that moment, Klein was shocked by his own actions. He exerted a force using his waist, and, with the support of his left hand, he easily flipped over.
What happened just now? His eyebrows met.
Why did I move like that? It felt so natural... Is that an ability of the Clown? He thought back and felt that he was able to better display the unique characteristics of a Clown in actual practice.
After waiting for Kenley to easily make his way up, Klein handed the Spirit Medium Mirror back to him before pulling open the unlocked door of the balcony.
Kenley carefully pulled away the black cloth wrapped around Sealed Artifact 3-0271. He pointed the object mirror side down, reflecting the tiles on the ground.
One of the rules of the Spirit Medium Mirror was not to use it on yourself or your partners!
After putting away the black cloth, Kenley took out his revolver and followed behind Klein. They made their way past the corridor towards Madam Sharon's bedroom, their footsteps light.
Klein wielded his readied revolver, and, while activating his Spirit Vision, he reached out for the door handle with his left hand.
He didn't dare to be careless since his divination told him that there would be danger present.
The reason why he didn't make another quick divination was that he knew the presence of the Primordial Demoness's statue in the room. At this distance, his divination would definitely be interrupted. He knew that there was no way for him to get a clear answer without relying on the gray fog's obstruction. Furthermore, with Kenley beside him, there was no way for him to enter that mysterious space.
After pushing open the door, what entered Klein and Kenley's field of vision was the warm light from the gas lamp.
Then, they saw Madam Sharon slumped over her chair, as well as her alluring body.
However, Madam Sharon wasn't asleep. She was reclined in her chair with a faint smile across her mouth, looking straight at her two visitors.
Instinctively, Kenley flipped his palm and pointed the Spirit Medium Mirror at Madam Sharon.
Klein first froze, then exclaimed, "No!"
He clearly remembered that there was a full-length mirror on the other side of the chair. But it wasn't there now!
The Spirit Medium Mirror had locked onto Madam Sharon in just a second.
But that image of Madam Sharon became blurry before turning into a full-length mirror.
Kenley looked at himself in the mirror and also Sealed Artifact 3-0271 reflecting his own image.
A figure instantly appeared within the Spirit Medium Mirror. It was an expressionless, sinister image of Kenley himself!
Klein felt his limbs turn rigid as if he had been entangled by invisible threads.
An elegant figure appeared beside the full-length mirror. It was Madam Sharon, wearing a nightgown.
She glanced at the two intruders and chuckled.
"If it wasn't for the fact that the statue happened to be beside me, I should be deep asleep now, waiting for you to wake me up with a kiss."
At that moment, Klein suddenly shouted a simple term in ancient Hermes, "Crimson!"
He had no idea when he dug his left palm into his pocket. He deftly flicked his fingers and tossed out a Slumber Charm.
...
Due to being a Sleepless. Leonard got across the streets from his apartment and back to Zouteland Street.
However, instead of going to the Blackthorn Security Company to resume his shift. He took the chance to visit the Awwa County Police Department at Indus Region.
Leonard resorted to afoot due to the road devoid of carriages.
Awwa County Police are intended to be open twenty-hour seven, in consideration to any mishaps that might occur. In addition, since the department is in jurisdiction of the Evernight Church, some, under voluntariness are allowed to intake Sleepless potions and remain as a Sequence 9.
This opened up an advantage for a highly efficient forces.
"Hello. Where's Officer Mountbatten?" Leonard asked to the front-desk officer at the entrance.
"Mr. Leonard. My apologies, Mr. Mountbatten had just taken a leave this afternoon." The man said in a civilian staff uniform.
He's one of the few exceptions of the Sleepless potion who are strictly in night or day shifts. Mountbatten was not due to his preferences.
"I see. Well, I need to recount the confidentialities of a lady involved in the Lanevus case." Leonard smiled and gladly presented his badge.
"Sure, please come to the Head Chief's office and file the request." The front-desk officer stamped a receipt with the seal and handed it to Leonard.
Leonard nodded, "Thank you."
Along the way, he thought about the fact that he will visit Selina. Maybe tomorrow, or today, depending if she's awake.
Because of this. Klein's words echoed, "If what the Captain said is true about encountering Ince Zangwill and leading to a death in line of duty. Selina will be safest in the department..."
Leonard's pupils deepened as he look straight forward, falling deeper into his thoughts.
...
Osna Street.
As everything unfolds. Klein recovered from the deep dream as easy as if it were merely just a nap. He witnessed multiple fine threads, Kenley squeezing his own neck, saliva and tongue protruding out as he looked helplessly in his image.
At this point in time. He's on a confrontation with Madam Sharon.
Klein quickly took out another silver charm without having the luxury of time to think about it.
It was a triangular-shaped item: a Requiem Charm.
"Crimson!"
Klein said the ancient Hermes word while he instilled his spirituality into the charm and threw it out.
Then, he pressed down his left hand and grabbed the Spirit Medium Mirror.
He used the corner of his eye to determine that the Sealed Artifact was facing downward so it wouldn't reflect himself.
The triangular silver charm ignited into icy-blue flames. The gentle and serene darkness blanketed Kenley and affected Klein himself.
The nervous emotions dispersed in that instant. Kenley relaxed his hands on his throat, while Klein felt like he was standing before his oriel window at home, overlooking the quiet streets. His physical and mental state was at peace.
That was exactly what Klein wanted!
At that very moment, he entered an extremely serene state. He appeared to be the only person left in the entire world with nothing else in existence.
Within this sense of calmness, he suddenly had a gut feeling in his mind.
Madam Sharon is about to attack my right waist! Without any hesitation, Klein lifted the Spirit Medium Mirror and rolled to his left.
Just as he moved, a dagger, burning in dark flames, pierced the spot where he had stood earlier.
Madam Sharon's figure was outlined once again.
As he rolled, Klein suddenly lifted the Spirit Medium Mirror and pointed it at Madam Sharon!
Besides saving his teammate, his main goal when he got close to Kenley was to pick up the Sealed Artifact.
Otherwise, he didn't believe that anything good would come out of waiting for the Captain's reinforcements while being next to Madam Sharon.
If it really didn't work, Klein could only take the risk and use Azik's copper whistle.
Regarding how he would explain it, he would think about it after he managed to stay alive!
However, things developed better than Klein had predicted. Madam Sharon opted for assassination. She didn't interrupt his use of the Requiem Charm and the Spirit Medium Mirror.
Therefore, Klein had instantly formulated a simple plan. He didn't avoid the repercussions of the Requiem Charm but relied on it to enhance his foresight ability as a Clown. Then, he seized the opportunity to dodge the attack while he used the Spirit Medium Mirror to reflect the enemy!
When Madam Sharon missed her strike, she immediately wanted to chase after her agile opponent who was rolling away. She suddenly saw a mirror with three cracks.
The surface of the mirror rippled, and a woman's figure appeared. Her hair was black and thick, hanging low and blocking her face.
Klein's left hand shook, and the Spirit Medium Mirror glided on the carpet for a dozen centimeters with the front facing upwards.
A pale hand extended out of the mirror, and a woman in a white bedsheet-like dress climbed out of the mirror quickly and pounced at Madam Sharon.
Madam Sharon's expression became gloomy, there was a layer of darkness above her innocent brown eyes.
Her surroundings ignited with seven black flames.
With a swoosh, a black flame flew out and hit the woman in the white dress.
Whoosh!
The woman caught on fire and wailed in pain. Very soon, she vanished into thin air.
Sou! Sou! Sou!
The black flames flew at Klein one after another like bullets.
Klein's pupils constricted as he quickly rolled away. He didn't dare stay in that spot.
However, his action of rolling gradually became slower because there seemed to be fine threads entangling him again. They slowed him down and affected his motion.
It seemed like the nemesis of the Clown's combat abilities!
The black flames flew past Klein's face and fell onto Madam Sharon's bed. However, it didn't burn, seemingly effective on items with life or spirituality.
Klein had yet to feel rejoice over his successful dodge when another premonition flashed through his head.
He twisted his spine and changed his forward flip into a side roll.
A transparent ice crystal suddenly appeared like a spear and stabbed into the carpet where Klein had originally intended to land.
The white frost expanded and struck Klein whose actions were affected by the fine threads.
He suddenly shivered, and his body became stiff. Although he could still move, he was much slower.
Madam Sharon had black flames surrounding her again, and there was a transparent ice spear that condensed in her hands. Klein didn't hesitate any further as he shoved his hand into his pocket and grabbed Azik's copper whistle.
He, he, he.
Just then, Kenley shook off the effect of the Requiem and Slumber charms. He got up and looked towards Madam Sharon with a pair of vacant-looking eyes.
His face seemed to be blanketed by a shadow, making him look silent yet creepy.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Kenley leaped at Madam Sharon who was the closest.
Madam Sharon narrowed her eyes and shot the black flames surrounding her one after another at Kenley.
Poof! Poof Poof! The black flames disappeared like snowflakes and didn't have any effect.
Klein was stunned at first, then he lifted the gun in his right hand and pulled the trigger while aiming at Madam Sharon.
Bang!
Madam Sharon dodged ahead of time and threw the frost spear towards Kenley, but it only penetrated his clothes and not his skin. Hence, it didn't create a freezing effect.
Bang! Klein fired again, and Madam Sharon dodged to the side of the broken full-body mirror and picked up a palm-sized fragment.
She continued to walk swiftly and dodged another bullet. She then used the irregular fragment to reflect Kenley as he leaped over at her.
Right on the heels of that, Madam Sharon dodged to the side as she swiped the mirror with her palm which was covered in black flames.
At that moment, Klein had emptied his revolver. He had no choice but to throw it, letting the empty shells and revolver fall to the carpet.
Just as he rolled over to pick up Kenley's revolver, he heard his teammate's tragic scream.
Kenley stopped before bending over and vomiting. It was bile at first, then a red heart, followed by his lungs and stomach that were burning with black flames.