788 Hidden Passage (1/2)
”It's fine,” Klein replied with a warm smile.
Although he didn't seem to notice anything, thoughts were flying through his mind. He began considering what the anomaly that happened during that instant meant.
Previously, the Keepers would head upstairs along the nearby staircase. It can be preliminary determined that they live there, coinciding with the area where the anomaly happened… The Keepers aren't in the best of conditions, so the chances of them losing control are greater than ordinary Beyonders, causing them to suddenly release a sense of an evil and diabolical will?
And this was suppressed and quelled by the core seal deep behind Chanis Gate?
If that's the case, there are two possibilities. One, the core seal behind Chanis Gate can sense all the anomalies in Saint Samuel Cathedral, and then react instinctively. Second, during the Keeper's watch over the years, they are constantly corroded by the core seal's powers. In a certain sense, they are a part of it, or they bear the weight of the corresponding traits. Once any abnormalities happen, their bodies will immediately intervene.
If it's the former, that means that when I knock a Keeper unconscious and replace him, it will easily be detected by the core seal behind Chanis Gate. It will produce an anomaly like before, causing my plan to fail right at the beginning. If it's the latter, I'll definitely be repelled when entering Chanis Gate, even when disguised as a Keeper…
I need to figure out the problem before coming up with a direct countermeasure…
It's really difficult to steal Sealed Artifacts from the various Churches. It's no wonder almost no one is willing to do so…
As Klein's thoughts wandered, he superficially paid attention to Bishop Elektra's explanation of Saint Samuel's experiences and letters that he left behind. When it was almost time, he politely bade him farewell.
After returning to 160 Böklund Street, he saw his butler approach just as he handed his hat and cane to Richardson.
”Sir, do you plan on holding a ball or banquet next weekend and invite the neighbors?” Walter wasn't using a suggestive tone, but a tone of inquiry.
However, Klein knew very well that since his butler had raised the matter, it meant that it was almost time.
He nodded gently and said, ”Saturday night then. A ball.
”I'll have to trouble you and Taneja to make the preparations.
”Is there enough money?”
When saying the last statement, Klein looked to his housekeeper.
Taneja sternly nodded and said, ”There's enough.
”The various alcoholic beverages in your wine cellar is enough to handle several banquets.”
When moving into 160 Böklund Street, Klein had handed her 1,000 pounds in cash for the household expenses. From the looks of it, even with the need to replenish fine wine, tea leaves, and coffee beans, it wasn't something that could be spent in a month.
The gold pound is rather strong after all… Klein nodded and smiled.
”Let's not use wine that's too expensive for our first ball. It's common to be reserved in Loen.”
”Yes, sir.” Although Walter was very aware of how to run a ball, he still paid serious attention to his employer's instructions.
He paused and said, ”There are only two things you need to do. First, it's to settle the guest list with our help, thinking up some small talk for each guest, matching the person's corresponding status and experience. Second, it's to order a suit for the ball.”
How troublesome… When greeting Hazel, can I say that the sewers here are cleaner than the squares in the Southern Continent? As Klein sighed and lampooned, he nodded slightly.
”No problem.”
…
Deep into the night, the crimson moon hung high in the sky. The smog which had significantly thinned made Backlund have an additional sense of tranquility.
In Dwayne Dantès's master bedroom, Klein set up a ritual to summon himself.
He planned on entering the sewers tonight to confirm that Trissy had left. He then planned on heading for the fork she had described, to explore the so-called hidden passageway to see if he could discover anything.
Klein didn't have extravagant hopes of gaining anything. He was only worried that the secret hidden in the sewers would pose a hidden risk that would one day explode. This could easily involve Dwayne Dantès who lived nearby, spoiling his plans in stealing the Antigonus family's notebook.
On this matter, I can't be an ostrich that buries its head in the sand and pretend not to know anything… I should discover the problem early and destroy what needs destroying or report what needs reporting before it completely erupts. That's the most effective solution… Of course, I also need to be sufficiently careful. I mustn't let my exploration end up lighting a fuse… Klein's Spirit Body tore out of the candlelight, and with Azik's copper whistle augmenting him, he possessed the physical body of Dwayne Dantès, controlling him to walk to the boundary of the wall of spirituality and sit in the reclining chair.
To the external world, it looked as though the tycoon had dozed off reading the papers.
Summoning my soul to possess my own body feels different from returning to my body. There's an obvious barrier in between… Klein did a comparison of the experience and floated to his desk, cleaning up most of the items on the altar and leaving behind the candle that maintained his summoning to burn silently.