Tuesday afternoon, East Borough.
Silas carried his suitcase and took one last look around the entire house before leaving.
This was his second residence since arriving in Backlund.
Compared to the first, this place was quiet and desolate, with only him living here.
Through many lonely nights, he'd been tormented by painful, maddening hallucinations, with only a speechless black cat for company.
It could be said that here, he hadn't left behind any pleasant memories.
No, actually, he hadn't spent many happy days in Backlund at all.
He'd only struggled against madness and despair, only witnessed ordinary people suffering in poverty, only seen the greed of those in power and the cruelty of conspirators.
Supporting this magnificent, glorious "City of All Cities" from beneath its foundations were the bones and blood of countless impoverished people.
Leaving was for the best. Silas was already sick of the endless fog on these streets.
He wanted to go to sea and see the bright sunshine there, feel the fresh wind, hunt those arrogant, reckless pirates.
There wasn't much to pack, just a few changes of clothes and miscellaneous items that all fit in one suitcase.
As for the beyonder characteristics he'd harvested during this time, he'd already sent them all to sea.
Silas planned to take the steam train to Port Pritz, then catch a ship to the Sonia Sea.
Although using Travel could get him to his destination very conveniently, first, he had no "anchor point" at Port Pritz or at sea, and second, Travel was a recorded ability.
Each use meant one less available, so he should avoid using it when possible, at least not waste it on trivial matters like this.
"Meow!"
When he reached the hallway, the black cat Luna called out, then jumped onto the cabinet.
"Come here."
Silas stroked her small head, scooped her into the crook of his arm, then pulled open the front door.
"Bang!"
The door shut firmly. From this moment on, this house returned to silence.
***
At the same time.
Jowood District, 15 Minsk Street.
"Silas's preparing to leave too. I need to hurry up..."
Klein put down the letter from "Mr. James Moriarty" and walked to the mirror.
Over the past few days, he'd performed his role sufficiently, fully playing a helpless detective, a tragic character who'd exhausted every method yet still couldn't uncover the truth.
With this performance, he should be able to satisfy the third prince.
Right, there's this too...
Klein ran his hand over his face.
When he lowered it, his appearance had undergone subtle changes: enlarged bags under his eyes, obvious dark circles, stubble emerging.
He looked thoroughly exhausted, as if he'd spent all his energy.
He left the house, got into a carriage, and headed straight for Prince Edessak's Red Rose Manor.
"Your Highness, my spirit channeling, my divination, my investigations and inquiries all tell me that Talim died of a sudden heart attack."
After going through layers of security checks, Klein finally met with Prince Edessak.
In a heavy tone, he responded to the prince's expectations.
"In every aspect, I'm far too weak to obtain the truth. You should seek more powerful, more capable help."
Even though the real killer is right beside you, the forces in the shadows absolutely won't allow me to reveal the secret.
Otherwise, the next one to be eliminated will be me.
"I understand."
The prince saw the obvious "fatigue" on his face and nodded slowly, no longer demanding that he continue the investigation.
After turning over the investigation materials, Klein finally gained his freedom and walked out of Red Rose Manor feeling relieved.
Unfortunately, his relief didn't last long.
"Creak..."
The door of the carriage he was riding in suddenly opened from outside while it was moving. Immediately after, a figure leaped into the carriage, quickly materializing inside.
She wore a black dress and a blue gemstone ring.
It was someone close to the prince, the real killer who'd murdered Talim!
The newcomer was probably eighteen or nineteen years old, with a round face and a sweet temperament. She was a rare beauty.
"Trissy!"
When Klein saw her face clearly, he couldn't help but freeze, then cry out in shock.
That person who'd changed from male to female and escaped the Nighthawks' pursuit in Tingen!
"Hehe..."
Hearing him expose her true identity, Trissy wasn't alarmed but delighted.
She revealed an alluring smile and said, "So you do recognize me..."
***
Inside the train station, crowds pressed together in lively, noisy chaos.
Yet oddly, a large empty space appeared around Silas.
Everyone seemed oblivious to him, walking around him in a wide berth.
"Meow?"
Luna turned her head, curiously watching everything around her, not at all frightened by the noise and crowds.
Near year's end, there were quite a few passengers heading south.
This was a Loen tradition. Many citizens with financial means preferred to vacation in the sunny south to welcome the new year.
"Whooo..."
After a brief wait, the train to Port Pritz slowly pulled into the station.
White steam gushed from its body, making the platform even foggier than the streets outside, creating quite a spectacular sight.
"Alright, let's go."
Silas spoke to Luna, then followed the flow of people into the carriage and found his seat.
The other passengers acted as if they didn't notice him at all, chatting with each other, stowing luggage, finding seats. The carriage was quite lively for a while.
"Whooo..."
The train whistle sounded loudly, reminding people that it would depart in half a minute.
Silas stroked the black cat in his arms, waiting quietly.
Through the carriage window, he looked toward the platform outside, and further beyond.
Those shadowy buildings hidden in the thick fog seemed like malevolent beasts spying on the mortal world.
Goodbye, Backlund.
When I advance to Sequence 4, I'll come find you again.
"Whoosh!"
A sudden flash of crimson light interrupted his thoughts. It was a message from The Fool, transmitted directly before him through spirituality.
Silas looked on in surprise as the crimson light dispersed, revealing a kneeling figure in prayer before him.
"Mr. Fool, please warn [Temperance], his parish is about to be attacked by a Witch!"
The voice cried out urgently.
Gray fog obscured the figure's appearance, but the words he spoke shook Silas to his core.
My parish is in danger?
How does he know I have a parish?
Who is this guy?
Is he The Fool's devotee?
Many thoughts flashed through Silas's mind in an instant, leaving him momentarily stunned.
But very quickly, he suddenly turned his head, looking toward East Borough through the window.
"!"
His spiritual intuition went into frantic warning mode, stabbing at his nerves and producing maddening hallucinations.
In a daze, he saw the pale yellow fog turning into a filthy, black-iron color.
Within the fog, an alluring snake-haired gorgon turned her head and gave him a seductive smile.