"Within Tingen City, including East, North, West, and South Districts, Golden Plane Tree District, Dock District, and University District, there are 1,203 houses with dark red chimneys. Adding the 550 in Tingen's suburbs brings the total to 1,753."
"Dark red chimneys really are quite popular..." Angel sighed helplessly, looking at the documents covering the table. She set down the paper in her hand, picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and immediately frowned as she set it down.
This coffee shop's brew wasn't even as good as Miss Rozanne's. If not for avoiding other Nighthawks, she wouldn't want to come here at all.
Klein sat across from her, also holding documents with a troubled expression. Spread atop the layered papers was a map of Tingen City, densely marked with red dots that formed an alarming solid mass in residential areas, covering almost every position and rendering the location information seemingly useless.
"I didn't expect your detective agency to be so efficient, completing the information gathering in less than a week. The detective I commissioned is probably still running around the streets."
Setting down the documents, Klein joked bitterly about his own private detective.
"I did spend several times more money," Angel folded up the useless map and set it aside. "Don't cancel your commission either. When you get the materials, we can cross-reference them and might find overlooked houses."
Klein nodded. "That's what I was thinking too. During this time, I'll start checking places with recent tenant changes, especially houses vacated or sold after my divination timeframe. That could very likely be where the mastermind lived after detecting and interfering with my divination."
"Mm, if he discovered being divined, he should change residences or simply leave Tingen to avoid official Beyonder detection... wait, you said 'you would investigate'? What about me?"
Angel was analyzing when she suddenly realized Klein's action plan didn't include her.
"This is a scene I divined. Only I can confirm whether it matches by seeing it with my own eyes," Klein explained. "Even if you help search, I'd probably still need to reconfirm everything, which wouldn't accelerate progress."
"But I can help eliminate obviously incorrect options. The sketch you provided shows gardens and vegetation, but Tingen City obviously wouldn't have so many standalone houses with dark red chimneys and gardens. If I eliminate wrong options in advance, it could greatly save time."
Klein's expression, which had been firmly refusing, obviously softened.
"The longer this drags on, the more likely this mastermind is to leave or make other arrangements." Angel used her persuasion ability to deliver the final argument.
"Alright, I'll draw more detailed scenes for you tomorrow. You start checking buildings in the North District while I visit houses with recent tenant changes first."
After sighing, Klein relented. He sorted the documents on the table, handed Angel the portion marked for the North District, and placed the rest in a document bag.
"I'll pay back the thirty pounds for the investigation commission next month..."
Klein's remaining words were cut off by Angel's annoyed glare.
"This isn't just your affair. Mr. Azik said my fate also contains disharmony. You've already found clues through divination—how can I let you pay all the investigation fees?"
Angel had withdrawn a hundred pounds from Backlund Bank's Tingen branch that morning. Even after paying Jules Detective Agency's final fee, she still had a full eighty-five pounds. Feeling quite wealthy, she couldn't help raising her voice.
Klein, earning the same salary as her, had to support his sister's education and bear rent for the standalone house on Daffodil Street. Even today's meeting was at a rather plebeian coffee shop. Angel wouldn't let him pay this thirty-pound commission fee.
Speaking of commissions... "Klein, I heard today that police are searching for a fraudster named 'Lanevus'..."
Angel shared the news she'd heard at Jules Detective Agency with this cash-strapped Seer. As long as he moved his pendulum and divined, wouldn't this money be within reach?
Klein, hearing the reward was a full hundred pounds, didn't show the surprise she expected. Instead, he smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I also heard about Lanevus at the 'Divination Club,' and even had old clients approach me hoping to use divination to search for him."
"Unfortunately, this fraudster is very shrewd. Most information provided is fake, and he left no personal belongings behind. With just a name—possibly even false—I have no way to perform divination."
As if recalling something indescribable, his expression became somewhat strange. He remained silent for a moment before continuing: "One victim is a relative of Lanevus's fiancée. That poor fiancée is already pregnant with his child. These victims even wanted me to try divining using the unborn child, saying honestly, there really isn't anything more 'close to Lanevus' than that..."
The two looked at each other speechlessly for a moment.
"Pfft—" Angel couldn't help laughing first, making Klein smile as well.
"This really puts our Mr. Seer in a difficult position. Maybe when the child is born, this fraudster still won't be caught, so you'd still have a chance to earn this reward."
"Then I'd have to divine first whether that poor child can be born normally. His aunt keeps urging Lanevus's fiancée to abort."
Klein also laughed in agreement, then grew serious: "But I won't be a 'Seer' much longer. Remember what I told you about the special application?"
"Of course I remember. But according to the Captain, even Ms. Daly, who advanced fastest, took a full year. Are you sure you want to submit an application in less than two months?" Angel replied, somewhat worried he was being too aggressive and would attract attention from Church higher-ups, drawing excessive scrutiny.
Klein smiled as he picked up his coffee cup, seeming to organize his thoughts. After finishing the not-very-good coffee, he spoke:
"This is the groundwork I'm laying next. You should already understand the 'acting method' for quickly mastering potions, right?" Klein's tone was certain. Without waiting for Angel's answer, he continued, "And because I mastered this method and matched the potion's imagery through part-time work at the Divination Club, I quickly completed the acting—how does this explanation sound?"
After the action to destroy the curse altar, he doesn't seem to hide his special aspects from me anymore... Is it because he's been "frank and open" with me and Leonard, so he's stopped pretending? He knows I've advanced to Sequence 8 "Instigator," so he's guessing I mastered the acting method based on my advancement speed?
Watching Klein speak confidently, Angel analyzed silently and asked casually: "Then how will you explain where you learned about the 'acting method'?"
"From Ms. Daly," Klein seemed to have rehearsed this, speaking more fluently as he continued. "I believe you've also heard about Ms. Daly's achievements from the Captain. I derived the acting method that matches potion names from this, and in practice implemented it more thoroughly and effectively than she did."
"So the 'groundwork' you mentioned is preparing for this excuse?"
Angel had already guessed his plan.
"Exactly. I plan to gradually reveal this method to the Captain and other Tingen team members over the next two weeks, making them think it's experience I gradually summarized, then one day 'completely master the potion's power.'"
Hearing this bold plan take shape in his words, Angel couldn't help feeling stirred. She had advanced to Instigator long ago in Enmat Port but had never found a way to reveal this to the Nighthawks internally. This made subsequent advancement extremely difficult, since while "Instigator" methods were easy to hide, a "Witch's" various extraordinary abilities absolutely couldn't be concealed from fighting teammates.
Now Klein planned to submit a special application this month. If she could also apply simultaneously, could she "catch a ride"?
But if internal Church advancement was like Klein taking the "Seer" potion—requiring on-site preparation and consumption—what should she do as someone already an "Instigator"?
Should she risk trying, or wait for Klein to submit his application first and learn from his experience?
Listening to Klein continue perfecting his plan, she fell into inner conflict again.