853 Comparison of Experience in Sophistry (1/2)
What do I think? If I were to know the answer, why would I be here? I'd have long handed this information to my superiors! Leonard silently mumbled as he deliberated over his words.
During this process, he discovered that, although he was standing straight and looking down on Dwayne Dantès, the tycoon who was sitting leisurely in the reclining chair held the aura of having the advantage. It was like a high-ranking personage casually listening to his subordinate's reports.
This made Leonard feel a little uneasy. He subconsciously surveyed the area and pulled a chair over as he leaned back into it, half out of habit and half as a deliberate action.
”I believe he, or all of you are searching for something.
”Back in Tingen, he infiltrated the Nighthawks to search for something. In Backlund, he also infiltrated Chanis Gate to search for that item!
”His search was fruitless the first time, so he escaped by feigning death by using Ince Zangwill's assault.
”He still failed to find it the second time. Hence, he didn't take anything and directly left Chanis Gate!”
While speaking, Leonard used a very certain tone to divulge that he had figured out that Gehrman Sparrow was Sherlock Moriarty and also Klein Moretti. He wished to use the effect of pressure to make Dwayne Dantès not appear that calm or have any thoughts of resorting to sophistry.
Indeed, he went to dig my grave… Klein sighed inwardly as he chuckled. He picked up the glass of red wine and gently swirled it.
”Do you think that we would consecutively make two rash attempts before having any confirmed intelligence? You should know that such matters can only be done once. Once there's a failure, there's no way it can succeed again.
”Therefore, who would use an operation to verify one's guess when the target isn't clear?”
He has tacitly confirmed my explanation. Klein Moretti is Gehrman Sparrow, Hero Bandit Black Emperor, a member of the secret organization who believes in The Fool… Leonard tried hard not to frown as he crossed his right leg and said, ”So, it's not that nothing was found, but that there was a failure due to other factors?
”During these two attempts, Tingen City's Saint Selena Cathedral and Backlund's Saint Samuel Cathedral only shared two common items: Sealed Artifact 2-049 and the Antigonus family's notebook.
”Antigonus family's notebook… That's it? Klein Moretti joined the Nighthawks because of it!”
Although the process of inference is wrong, the answer is actually correct… Klein chuckled and said, ”Our brains aren't there just for show.
”If his goal was the Antigonus family's notebook, there was no need for him to join the Nighthawks. Before you obtained it, he had plenty of opportunities.
”And even after you obtained it, he had no lack of opportunities to obtain it. You should understand the situation back then better than I do.
”Also, since the target was the Antigonus family's notebook, why didn't he take it away?”
Upon being mocked by Dwayne Dantès, Leonard Mitchell realized that the theory he came up with on the spot was filled with logical contradictions. He felt ashamed as he showed some anger.
He slowly took a deep breath and said, ”Then why would he infiltrate Chanis Gate using two different methods? And not only didn't he take something away, but he didn't even leave anything behind. He even entered a strange state.”
Just as Leonard said that, he saw Dwayne Dantès with his gray sideburns produce a deep, profound smile.
”I'm not sure of the reason for the latter matters. Perhaps you should ask the Evernight Goddess.”
Goddess… What does he mean? Leonard instantly felt alarmed and puzzled. He found it unimaginable as to what had happened behind Saint Samuel Cathedral's Chanis Gate.
Right on the heels of that, he heard Dwayne Dantès say with a deep laugh, ”As for your first question, I believe you are mistaken about something.
”Our organization's members come from different places and join for different reasons, choosing to change their own faith in the process. As for what happened before that, their lives remain their own.
”Just like me. I had a past and have a present as well. The reason why I came here is because of the last name I gave myself.”
Dantès… The Return of the Count… He joined the secret organization that worships The Fool for revenge, and came to Backlund? Leonard nodded in thought.
Klein paused for a few seconds as he casually sipped the red wine and wore a smile. He continued, ”Similarly, he, who was resurrected because of the Antigonus family's notebook's curse, does it for vengeance as well.”
Klein had deliberately mentioned his present last name, Dantès, and mentioned revenge. It was to preemptively distinguish himself from Gehrman Sparrow and Klein Moretti. It was to prevent Leonard from later finding similar objectives between the two and begin making a deeper connection from the similarities.
By personally mentioning it, it framed the listener's thought processes and made them subconsciously follow the logic of the content; thus, treating Dwayne Dantès and Klein Moretti as two completely different people. The only similarity was their thoughts of revenge. And in this world, there weren't only two avengers.
Leonard lowered his crossed right leg unknowingly as he leaned forward.
”Vengeance?
”Who does he wish to seek revenge on?”
After asking the question, the elegant and handsome middle-aged gentleman curled the corners of his lips.
”Lanevus and…
”Ince Zangwill.”
”Ince Zangwill…” Leonard blurted out as he couldn't help but have his expression repeatedly change. Finally, he fell silent.
His green eyes looked ahead, unfocused; his thoughts a mystery.
Phew… After a long silence, Leonard exhaled and released his originally clenched hands.
He asked with his voice a little hoarse, ”Lanevus was really killed by him?”