732 Destination (1/2)

Desi County, Conant City, 67 Red Indus Street.

Wearing a commonly seen face in the Loen Kingdom, Klein took a step forward and rang the doorbell.

In less than a minute, the door creaked open as a maidservant looked out and asked out of curiosity, ”Good evening, who might you be looking for?”

”I'm here to find Ma'am Neelu. I'm a friend of her father, Davy Raymond,” Klein answered calmly.

Derrick Raymond was the Nightmare who he had released from Creeping Hunger. It was a Red Glove from the Nighthawks, and the first thing on his mind before he dissipated was his daughter, Neelu Raymond. He was very apologetic towards her for not spending time with her while she grew up, making her effectively lose her father when she had already lost her mother. Klein had promised him that he would make a visit to the beautiful coastal city if he had the chance to visit his daughter.

Having probed for more information earlier, Klein had gained a general idea about Neelu Raymond's situation. After this girl graduated from grammar school, she worked at the Women and Children Care Foundation which was run by the Church of the Evernight Goddess. She had a weekly salary of 2 pounds 10 soli and was the target of envy by her neighbors.

She also inherited an inheritance from her ”businessman” father. As for how much it was, no one knew. They just knew that she was richer than most people from the middle-class.

Typically speaking, women with such wealth would place great emphasis on their marriage. They would repeatedly select and observe candidates, resulting in their late marriage. However, Neelu had married to a civil servant just a year later.

As both parties were believers of the Evernight Goddess, she didn't take on her husband's last name. She continued going by the name Neelu Raymond, and she continued staying at 67 Red Indus Street.

After hearing Klein's answer, the maidservant quickly requested him to wait as she entered the living room to report to her mistress.

Before long, a woman in a home dress walked to the door. She had black hair and blue eyes. Her face was rather thin, and she was rather pretty. She resembled Davy Raymond.

”Good evening, sir. I'm Neelu, Davy Raymond's daughter. May I know when you got to know my father?” Neelu Raymond asked politely but warily.

Klein took off his hat and smiled.

”I got to know him at sea. It's been several years.”

Neelu Raymond swept him with a wary gaze and said, ”Perhaps you might not know, but he has already passed away.”

Klein sighed and replied, ”Yes, I know. I got to know him through that disaster. He had some words to say back then which I didn't think too much about. However, the more I thought about it in recent years, the more I felt that I should inform you.”

”Is that so?” Neelu said softly. After some thought, she invited him. ”Please come in. Would you mind if my husband listens in?”

”This is up to you to decide,” Klein frankly replied.

Neelu nodded and led Klein into the study. Her husband had the looks of an ordinary civil servant with a gentleman's bearing. He put down his newspapers and followed them in.

After both parties sat down, Klein looked at the couple on the sofa and deliberated.

”Mr. Davy Raymond once experienced disaster after another. He lost his father, mother, wife, brothers, and sisters.”

Neelu nodded with a deadpan expression.

”I know.”

Klein thought and continued, ”He appears to be a merchant, but he was in fact seeking out the murderers who caused that disaster.”

”I know.” Neelu didn't object to it.

Klein glanced at her and continued, ”He dedicated himself to this matter, and he was very regretful that he didn't manage to spend time with you growing up, making you lose your father alongside your mother.”

Neelu fell silent for a second before she rapidly replied, ”I know!”

Klein swept his gaze to the old books around him and sighed silently.

”He said that his greatest wish was to see you enter the hall of marriage under the witness of the Goddess, to have your own family, and to not be lonely anymore. I believe he should be very happy right now.”

Neelu's gaze slowly moved away from Klein's face as she turned agape, answering only two seconds later.

”… I know.”

Klein leaned forward slightly as he clasped his hands.

”He said that he might die at sea, and he wanted me to tell you that he died as a result of an accident. All the murderers from before have already been punished. You do not need to hate anyone.

”He also said that he loves you very much and that he's very sorry.”

Neelu remained silent for a few seconds as she blinked. She turned her head to the side and scoffed with an unclear attitude.

”Got it…”

Klein gave her a deep look before getting up.

”I'm done passing on the message. It's time I leave.”

Met with silence, Neelu's husband nodded gently as a gesture of thanks.

Klein turned around, walked to the door of the study. Just as he twisted the doorknob, Neelu Raymond's voice sounded from behind him, deep and hoarse.

”What… kind of person do you think he was?”

Klein fell silent for a second, turned his head, and curled his lips. He said with a smile, ”A guardian.”

He didn't stay any longer as he opened the door and walked to the coat rack.

When he wore his hat and left 67 Red Indus Street, soft, restrained sobbing suddenly drilled into his ears.

Shaking his head silently, Klein left the borough and entered a cathedral of the Evernight Goddess.