"How long has that, that Mr. Menard been dead?" Klein asked, getting up and getting straight to the point.
If it's been more than 15 minutes, the information that can be obtained will drop sharply. If it's been over an hour, only very superficial things can be gained. If it's been more than a month, the divination itself has a very high chance of failing.
"I'm sorry. The initial examination report shows that Mr. Menard died between 9 and 11 last night," Dunn shook his head and said. "You just need to provide assistance. Don't worry about whether there will be any gains."
"Understood." Klein took off his coat, picked up his hat and cane, and headed towards the duty room. Dunn Smith took over his shift at Charnis Gate.
In theory, as a supernatural being, as long as one's spirituality is enhanced, things like clairvoyance, divination, and ritual magic can all be learned, especially the "Sleepless" sequence is known for its high inspiration.
But in reality, the differences between various "professions" in different sequences in similar aspects are still very obvious. For example, both Dunn Smith and Leonard Mitchell currently have clairvoyance, but the auras they see are only light white or light blue, and they cannot accurately distinguish the states of different parts of the human body. Of course, when in a clairvoyant state, they can definitely see ghostly spirits and the like, but this is not as simple and effective as having one's own inspiration.
This is also the reason why "Sleepless", "Midnight Poets", and "Nightmares" don't like to activate clairvoyance.
The same goes for methods like pendulum divination, divination rods, and dream divination. If they want to, they can learn them, but the success rate is not worth expecting.
The situation is the same in the field of ritual magic.
As they passed each other, Dunn suddenly said:
"I forgot to mention earlier. This case is also handled by Inspector Toller. He's waiting for you in the security company's reception hall. Remember to change into your new uniform and take your new ID."
Klein smiled and asked without surprise:
"A new uniform and new ID? The efficiency of the Tingen Police Department is quite high."
He was only promoted to Sequence 8 yesterday...
"Because this case is very important, so..." Dunn spread his hands and sat down in Klein's previous seat.
Klein went all the way back upstairs and didn't rush to the reception hall. Instead, he entered the Night Watchers' rest room and went to the attached washroom to take care of his personal needs - the duty room only provided a toilet, a water bottle, and a basin.
Then, he changed into the specially made police uniform with two silver stars and the "crossed swords and crown" soft cap.
After transferring the "Sunfire Talisman", "Azik Copper Whistle", "ritual materials", and other items, Klein straightened his clothes and walked out of the rest room with his cane in hand.
Just as he passed through the partition, he saw Inspector Toller sitting in the sofa area.
After a while, the tall police officer had become even more plump, with a more prominent belly. Coupled with his thick beard and hair, he looked like a brown bear that had just escaped from the circus.
"Nice to work with you again," Toller said with relief when he saw a familiar Night Watcher, leaning forward and extending his bear-like hand.
No, palm... Klein corrected himself silently and shook hands with him in a polite manner.
"Me too," he replied with a smile that was obviously forced.
At this moment, Toller glanced at the two shining silver stars on Klein's shoulder and said enviously:
"We're at the same level now. It's been less than a month."
Klein was about to solemnly say, "We may face ten times the danger you do," but the words stuck in his throat. He remembered his current identity - Sequence 8 "Jester".
Maybe I can try this... He used his mind to control his facial expression and replied with a smile:
"Perhaps in another two or three months, you'll have to call me sir."
"You're really humorous," Toller chuckled and pointed to the door. "Shall we go?"
"Sure." Klein didn't give up his cane. To him, after becoming the "Jester", this "weapon" was truly worthy of its name.
Exiting the Blackthorn Security Company's gate, Klein and Toller walked down the stairs side by side, one thin and one fat, the contrast was very obvious.
"I think we could even go to the circus and make those audiences laugh," Klein suddenly said with a smile.
Toller nodded in agreement:
"Yes, I think our contrast has a very comical effect. You know, some circuses are trying to use pairs of clowns with different body types for performances."
No, actually I meant the animal trainer and the brown bear... Klein, of course, wouldn't say such impolite words. He echoed:
"Unfortunately, we don't have a permanent circus in Tingen."
"Yeah, but we still have the opera house, the big theater, and the concert hall," Inspector Toller replied with a hint of regret.
The two chatted as they got into the police station's carriage. It wasn't until then that Klein turned the topic to the case:
"Is it certain that Councilor Maynard was murdered?"
"Not certain, but his wife, his two sons, all refuse to believe the possibility of a sudden illness. Well, there were indeed some problems at the scene. When Maynard was found, he wasn't wearing a single piece of clothing, just lying on the bed in the guest room like that," Toller said after some consideration.
"Did he and his wife sleep in separate rooms?" Klein leaned back against the carriage wall, imitating the protagonists from various detective films he had seen in his previous life.
Toller shook his head:
"No, his wife wasn't in Tingen these past few days. She went to Beckland to attend an important social ball. You might not know, she's the daughter of a New Party leader and a member of the House of Commons. She's still on the steam train back to Tingen, but she sent a telegram in advance to express her attitude."
"Maynard was also a member of the New Party and has served as a councilor in Tingen for over ten years. He was planning to aim for the position of mayor in next year's election."
"So, his death might be related to this?" Klein asked casually, then laughed, "I'm just helping with the 'autopsy', other matters are not within my concern. You don't have to answer."
Toller sighed indifferently:
"Autopsy... You're very cautious."
"As for your guess, I can only say maybe. Last night, Councilor Maynard held a party at home. There were too many guests coming and going. We can't determine the main suspect for the time being. Moreover, these guests all have respectable identities. We must be cautious and not make mistakes."
"Understood," Klein nodded slightly, then asked with interest about some details of the scene.
Maynard's house was located in the Golden Wisteria District, a detached house surrounded by gardens and lawns in front, back, left, and right. There was a stable, a fountain, and a wide road paved with cement.
Klein put on the soft hat with the police emblem and followed Inspector Toller, passing through the ineffective cordon, and entered the main door of the two-story building under the gaze of the police officers.
In the living room area, four probationary inspectors were separately talking to people and collecting statements.
Klein took a glance and saw many gentlemen in tailcoats and several ladies in courtly long dresses with fine black lace veils covering their faces.
"These are all the guests who stayed here last night," Toller explained as he led Klein towards the staircase, heading straight to the second floor.
Along the way, perhaps due to the inspector's shoulder badges, the police officers searching the house all showed respectful looks and didn't obstruct them in the slightest.
"This is the guest room where Councilor Maynard's body was found," the tall and burly Toller stopped in front of a deep red wooden door.
Klein thoughtfully asked:
"Whose was this guest room last night?"
"Nobody's. This house has too many guest rooms. It wasn't used," Toller put on white gloves and turned the deep red wooden door handle. He motioned for the guard inside to leave temporarily and nodded at Klein, saying, "Inspector Moretti, it's all yours now."
"May the Goddess bless you and me. I hope we'll have some results." Klein also put on white gloves and locked the door from the inside.
He paced to the bedside and saw the dark red bed sheet was in a mess. On it lay a body covered with a white cloth. Klein was no stranger to such scenes and pulled the cloth away without fear, looking at Senator Maynard.
The man was in his forties, with short blond hair. His face still bore an expression of mixed pain and pleasure.
Klein stepped back two paces, took out the necessary materials and quickly made the preparations for the spirit communication ritual.
After reciting a series of incantations, he whispered the divination phrase he had prepared earlier in the quiet and distant fragrance and the cold wind surrounding him:
"The cause of Senator Maynard's death."
"The cause of Senator Maynard's death." ...
While muttering to himself, Klein retreated to the high-backed chair and slowly sat down. His eyes turned dark as he leaned back and quickly fell into a deep sleep. In the illusory, hazy and dreamy world, he suddenly saw the gentleman from earlier. Maynard, with his blue eyes wide open, was on top of a tall and fair-skinned lady, thrusting with all his might. At first, he wore an extremely satisfied and delighted expression, but then he suddenly pulled his right hand back and pressed it against his chest, his expression twisting into a hideous one. *Slap!* As Maynard fell down, the scene shattered rapidly. Klein opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. I didn't expect I could watch a dirty movie in this way... So, did Maynard die on the bed while having an affair, due to overexertion? Klein chuckled and rubbed his temple. He took out a pen and paper and used the ritual again to draw the lady he saw in the dream, of course, omitting the parts below her neck. This was a woman whose exact age was hard to determine. She had the mature charm of a woman in her thirties, but also retained the innocence of youth. Her eyes were moist and shiny, giving off a pitiful impression. After glancing at his "own" work, Klein put away the ritual materials and dismantled the spiritual wall. He turned his body and reached out to grab the silver-inlaid black staff beside him. Suddenly, he heard the hoarse sound lingering in his throat, a sound that made goosebumps rise on his skin! Klein quickly looked at the bed and saw that Maynard, the congressman, was tightly grasping the dark red bed sheet, his knuckles turning black and bulging. With a swish, the congressman who died between 9 and 11 last night sat up, drooling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes blankly open.