"Mass hysteria?" Sir Deville, who had recently consulted with many psychiatrists, chewed on the term Klein had provided.
His butler, his bodyguard, and his servants, even if they were curious, did not utter a single word without his permission.
However, Sheriff Gat, looking puzzled, glanced at Klein, with an expression that suggested he had never heard of such a concept before.
Klein controlled the inertia of tapping the armrest of the sofa with his fingers, and calmly and deeply explained:
"Human beings are very prone to being deceived by their own senses. Mass hysteria is a psychogenic problem that occurs when mental stress and other factors interact within the same group."
He listened to the series of professional terms in a daze as Sir Deville and Sheriff Gat and others were confused. They instinctively chose to believe.
"Let me give you a simple example. This is a case I once handled. A certain gentleman held a dinner party, inviting a total of thirty-five guests. During the dinner, he suddenly felt nauseous and vomited on the spot. Later, he had severe diarrhea, once, twice, three times. He began to think that he was food poisoning. While going to the hospital, he told his guests his speculation."
"During the next two hours, more than thirty of the thirty-five guests had diarrhea, and twenty-six had vomiting. They crowded the emergency room of the hospital."
"The doctors conducted detailed examinations and comparisons and concluded that the first gentleman did not have poisoning. The reason was the combined effect of weather changes and cold spirits on the stomach."
"And the most astonishing thing was that not a single guest who came to the hospital was poisoned, not even one was truly ill."
"This is mass hysteria."
Sir Deville nodded slightly and praised:
"I understand. Humans do tend to deceive themselves. No wonder Emperor Roselius said that a lie repeated a hundred times becomes truth."
"Officer, how should I address you? You are the most professional psychiatrist I have ever seen."
"Inspector Moretti." Klein pointed to his epaulets and said, "Sir, your problem has been preliminarily resolved. You can now try to sleep. Let me confirm if there are any other issues. If you have a good dream, please allow us to leave early and not wait for you to wake up."
"Okay." Sir Deville rubbed his forehead, took his cane, and walked upstairs, entering the bedroom.
Half an hour later, a carriage with police insignia left the fountain in front of Sir Deville's mansion.
When Sheriff Gat got off the carriage halfway and returned to his police station, Inspector Toler looked at Klein, half complimenting and half jokingly saying:
"I just thought you were a real expert in psychology..."
His words were not finished because he saw the young man in the black and white checkered uniform opposite him almost not showing any expression. His eyes were dark and deep, and his mouth pulled up slightly:
"I just have some previous experience with it."
Inspector Toler quieted down until the carriage stopped outside 36 Zortlan Street.
"Thank you for your help, allowing Sir Deville to finally get rid of his troubles and regain sleep," he extended his hand and shook hands with Klein, "Say thanks on my behalf to Dunne."
Klein nodded gently:
"Okay."
He walked up the stairs, step by step, back to Blackthorn Security Company, knocked on the door, and entered the captain's office.
"Resolved?" Dunne was waiting for his lunch.
"Resolved." Klein rubbed his forehead, simply and truthfully said, "The root of the problem lies in the lead and porcelain factory under Sir Deville's name. Since its establishment, there have been too many incidents of lead poisoning deaths, and each incident has given Sir Deville a little residual spirituality that turns into resentment."
"Normally, these do not cause major problems, at most making people have nightmares." Dunne had dealt with similar cases and was quite experienced. Klein nodded slightly and said:
"Yes, the course of events was supposed to develop like this, but unfortunately, one day Sir Deville met a female worker who was suffering from lead poisoning on the street. She happened to be lying beside the road and had just seen the coat of arms of Deville's family. At the same time, she also had strong feelings of resentment, anxiety and longing. Only after Sir Deville gave her parents, brothers and sister a compensation of 300 pounds did these emotions subside."
"This is a social issue, and it is not uncommon in this era of steam and machinery." Dunn took out his pipe, sniffed it, and sighed, "The workers who make linen, because they wet the materials while doing so, also wet themselves. They generally suffer from bronchitis and joint diseases. In factories with severe dust, even if there is no poisoning, lung problems will accumulate... Hehe, we don't need to discuss these. With the development of the kingdom, I believe they will all be resolved, Klein. Tonight, tonight we'll go to a restaurant to celebrate your becoming a full member?"
Klein thought for a moment and said:
"Tomorrow night... Captain, I used my clairvoyance for too long today, and I used the 'dream divination' technique to communicate directly with those resentments. I feel very tired. I hope I can go home in the afternoon and have a good rest. Is that okay? Well, I'll go to the divination club at four or five o'clock and observe the members' reactions to the sudden death of Hainas Vanson."
"Sure, that's what it should be." Dunn chuckled and said, "Then tomorrow night, at the old Wil restaurant next door. I'll have Rosanne make a reservation for us."
Klein stood up with his police cap and saluted, "Thank you, Captain. See you tomorrow."
Dunn raised his hand and said:
"Wait a moment. You just said that Sir Deville gave that female worker's parents a compensation of 300 pounds?"
"Yes." Klein immediately understood the captain's meaning when he nodded. "Are you worried that they will encounter misfortune because of this fortune?"
Dunn sighed:
"Such things I have seen many. You give me their address, and I'll have Cohen-Lee arrange for them to leave Tingen and go to another city to start a new life."
"OK." Klein replied in a low voice.
After doing all this, he left Dunn's room and entered the lounge across from it, changed into his original formal suit, and left his police uniform in his own closet.
Taking the public carriage, Klein walked silently and unsteadily back to Narcissus Street, took off his coat, removed his hat, found the leftovers from last night, heated it, and with the last oat bread, filled his stomach.
Then, he climbed to the second floor, hung up his clothes, and collapsed onto the bed, lying down.
When he woke up, the watch had reached 2:55 p.m. The bright sun was high in the sky, and the light pierced through the clouds.
In this brilliant golden light, Klein stood beside the desk, looking out the bulging window, looking at the old and tattered pedestrians, and watching them enter or leave the Iron Cross Street.
Hehe... He slowly exhaled, finally getting rid of the heaviness.
The road needs to be walked step by step, the sequence needs to be improved layer by layer, and everything has to be like this.
He shook his head, sat down, and began to summarize and sort out the experiences of the previous week, repeating the key points he had memorized before, to avoid forgetting and making mistakes.
2:55 p.m.
Above the hazy, boundless, gray, and empty mist, a magnificent and grand temple stood tall, and an ancient and weathered bronze long table was quietly placed there.
And at the highest back chair of the long table, a man covered in thick gray fog was sitting.
Klein leaned back against the chair back, thought silently for a while, and suddenly reached out to gently tap the deep red stars symbolizing "justice" and "the upside-down man". ......
Beckland, Queens.
Audrey carried her skirt and walked lightly towards the bedroom.
Suddenly, she felt something stirring within her, and she turned her head, looking into the shadow of the balcony. To her surprise, she saw the golden-haired dog Susie, sitting quietly and observing calmly.
Audrey sighed silently, drew a crimson moon on her chest, and then moved closer, looking down at the golden-haired dog from a superior position and saying:
"Susie, you're not doing it right. You're peeping. 'Audience' should watch from their own positions openly and honestly."
The golden-haired dog looked up at its owner and wagged its tail in agreement.
After a few words, Audrey didn't dare to delay and walked back towards the bedroom.
During the few seconds of opening and closing the door, she suddenly had a strange thought:
"I wonder if Mr. Fool could let Susie enter that mysterious space too. Then our Tarot Club would have four members! And all of them would be extraordinary beings!"
"No, Susie can't talk. What if it were to express its opinions or exchange ideas? Woof woof woof? Woof woof woof? Pfft, why would I learn to bark like a dog here... "
"Such a scene just imagining it feels very strange... A mysterious and serious gathering suddenly has barking... Mr. Fool will definitely kick us out of the Tarot Club directly..."
Audrey locked the door of the room, walked to the edge of the bed, sat down, and took out a yellowish-brown, old piece of paper from under the pillow.
She read it over and over again, and began to enter the state of an "audience". ......
In the sea area of Sunia, the ancient sailing ship chasing "The Listener" had already left the Rosd Islands.
"Navigator" Algier Wilson was worried about the mechanical clock's error and entered the captain's cabin half an hour earlier than scheduled, in case something unexpected happened and was seen by his subordinates.
In front of him was a glass-like strong drink, with a rich aroma penetrating his nostrils one by one.
Thinking of the upcoming party, of the boundless gray fog presented before him in the hotel corridor and of the mysterious fool sitting in the center of the fog, Algier shivered once again.
He picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and relieved his feelings with a burning sensation in his throat.
Soon, he regained his composure, still as calm and steady as before.