Upon hearing Audrey's affirmative answer, Mrs. Norma smiled warmly. "Such a honest child." "I know a few highly knowledgeable esoteric experts—would you be interested in meeting them?" "Yes, that's exactly what I'd like to do," Audrey exclaimed, drawing a vibrant red moon on her chest with a look of genuine delight. Mrs. Norma smiled gently and nodded. "How about we meet for afternoon tea tomorrow?" "Perfect," Audrey said, her eyes sparkling with both enthusiasm and innocence. As she bid farewell to Mrs. Norma and walked toward the living room, her smile softened, and her demeanor settled into a calm, serene grace. Her body language, the hue of her emotions, the subtle shifts in the details reflecting her inner mind—all indicated that she had no ill will, but was quite tense. It seemed that Mrs. Norma truly might be a member of the Psychological Alchemy Circle. Hmm, she had been continuously observing my expressions and movements, yet could not regulate or conceal her own emotions. Perhaps, like Susie, she too was an "observer"—only she didn't realize that before her stood a "mind-reader." Audrey thought this with a mixture of nervousness and pride, and couldn't help moving her feet in alternation, gracefully pacing in a straight line. Although the vampire's self-account painted him as a law-abiding, disciplined being, this was based solely on his own narrative—his earlier life remained largely uncharted, and Klein couldn't be certain whether he had truly never harmed the innocent. Consequently, he lacked the motivation to seek out Father Utravsky to rescue him. After all, Utravsky was a formidable "Dawn Knight"—skilled in combat, equipped with magical artifacts, and fully unweakened! Moreover, it would be easy for him to reveal his true identity before both Father Utravsky and Emlyn White. He hoped Emlyn White would soon gain the veteran's recognition and thus emerge from his current predicament—“sentenced” to redemption—Klein silently gave Emlyn White a clockwise nod four times in his mind. Once the share of the reward was distributed, the detectives began to depart, and Klein received the highest honor of all—being personally escorted to the door by Detective Esgen. Aethel held his pipe, clearing his throat lightly. "There are still several unresolved points in the series of murders. Perhaps behind the killer lies an even more formidable figure. You must be especially cautious in the coming days, and refrain from making your significant role in this case too public." It seems even the official authorities suspect that the demonic giant dog has a master... Caine responded seriously. "I'm aware of that, and I have my own suspicions as well." "Mr. Stanton, you too must remain vigilant—you are the organizer of the gathering and the police's primary partner." Aethel inserted the pipe into his mouth, then withdrew it. "Sherlock, that's how I'll call you. Rest assured, though I am no longer young, I remain an excellent fighter, a skilled marksman, and possess an instinctive sense of alertness." And you're likely a distinguished individual of considerable standing—though it's unclear which path you belong to... Klein mused. "Mr. Stanton, you don't seem to be from Beckland, do you? Your accent is closer to that of the western region of the Vale." "Indeed, just as your accent along the eastern shore of the Inner Sea," Esgar acknowledged calmly. The two detectives exchanged a smile, both recognizing the subtle yet keen observation skills on display. Before dusk, Klein returned to 15 Minster Street. Well, now I have 1,224 pounds in cash, five gold coins, and a few change coins—compared to when I first arrived in Bakersland, this is certainly sufficient. Still, the extraordinary materials from Sequence 6 are priced at at least 1,500 pounds per piece, and sometimes even double that due to their rarity and infrequent appearance. Those extraordinary individuals who possess such items typically aren't far below Sequence 6, so they never misjudge their value or sell them at a discount—therefore, there's no chance of finding a bargain. Although the lady with the "Craftsman" behind her is particularly eager for the elixir formula along the path of the "Black Emperor," one must also consider her progress. When she was still at Sequence 9, it would have been nearly impossible for her to spend a substantial sum to pre-order Sequence 6 formulas unless her family had mines or a bank. After all, one can't always keep catching sheep to pull their wool. As thoughts flowed through him, Caine didn't rush to prepare dinner. He returned to his bedroom, drew the curtains, and stepped into the gray mist above. He'd just had an idea that needed verification. Sitting down at the Fool's position, he reached for the ancient, yellow-bronze "Universal Key." Based on the notes from Abraham's lineage he'd received last night, he suspected that the other party had lost control precisely because they'd been promoted during a full moon. Therefore, the curse-like ability of the "Universal Key"—which caused people to become lost in unfamiliar or unfavorable places—was not only due to the lingering resentment and unfulfilled aspirations inherent in its extraordinary nature, but also likely significantly influenced by the fantastical murmurs of the "Gate" gentleman. "What changes will it undergo during a full moon?" Klein mumbled. He materialized a sheet of paper and pen, writing down the carefully prepared incantation: "Its behavior during a full moon." Holding the parchment in one hand and the "Universal Key" in the other, Caine leaned back against the chairback, chuckling to himself with a touch of self-mockery: "I'm going to die again...". "But this time, the danger shouldn't be too great—the 'Door' gentleman has drifted far from the real world, lost deep within the darkness, and I'm also shielded by the gray mist." Under these circumstances, the risk of divination was no different from that of directly predicting an event. With experience, Caine half-closed his eyes, deepening the hue of his gaze as he recited steadily: "Its behavior during the full moon." ... After seven repetitions, Caine slipped into a dream. In that hazy, fragmented, ethereal realm, he once again saw the basement where the descendants of Abraham had perished. The flesh there had long since dried out, and the silver watch, set with diamonds, as well as the ancient "Universal Key," remained untouched, still lying on the ground. Suddenly, a sharp, hollow, phantom voice resonated in Caine's ears. It was like a fine needle being inserted into his head, slowly extending and gently probing, as if it were about to peel off his entire scalp! This intense pain woke克莱恩 instantly, and he sat up straight with a sudden jolt. He saw the blue veins on the back of his hand rising one by one, then quickly subsiding. "Hmm, much easier than peering into the 'Eternal Sun' and eavesdropping on the 'True Creator's' wrath..."克莱恩 thought, adjusting his grip to a light tap, and calmly mused. Of course, if this were outside, he would have surely reacted far more dramatically. "If the Lady Magician had been hearing this plea all along, she would have broken down long ago... It seems the 'Universal Key' has, due to the curse, made the voice clearer—no, Father Utravský should have carried the 'Universal Key' through the blood moon night; clearly, he wasn't affected at all..." "Perhaps he placed the 'Universal Key' in the bedroom while he himself remained in the hall, confessing. Yes—only upon touching the Universal Key could one hear the plea during a full moon?" "Ah, I used to be so afraid of hearing it in the real world before reaching high sequence. Just now, it sounded like the word for 'request for help' in the ancient Hermes language..." Klein recalled it several times, confirming his hearing. With that, he could only twitch his lips, unsure whether to cry or to laugh: "This is truly a death-warrant plea!" "Unfortunately, if the members of the Rosy Academy could hear Mr. Door's plea during the full moon, their already cold and warped personalities would inevitably shatter—one by one." After carefully considering whether there was an indirect way to achieve this effect, Caine returned to the real world and proceeded with his scheduled plan—enjoying dinner, then changing and stepping out. He transferred twice, eventually arriving outside the "Brave Ones" bar, where he merely browsed around, ordering no drinks before leaving. During this time, he noticed that Caspary had returned. After walking down one street, Caine hired a cab and instructed it to head toward the Joewood district. As the horses took their first steps, a translucent figure began to take shape—none other than Miss Sharon in her black court gown. "Are you ready?" Sharon asked calmly. Her small, soft hat pressed firmly against her light golden hair, and with her pale complexion and refined features, she exuded a doll-like grace. Caine answered calmly: "Not yet." "I'm still waiting for an item," said Serene, her蔚蓝色 eyes remaining steady and unchanging. So that's why she agreed to the three-day bodyguard contract for one thousand pounds a day? She had noticed the item, but the money wasn't sufficient at the time? Caine smiled with a growing sense of clarity. "Don't worry—we the more thoroughly we prepare, the greater our chances will be." Moreover, the magical items from the Sun Domain—I can use them regularly, which perfectly complements my current strengths," Caine added mentally. Seeing that Serene remained silent, he took the initiative to say: "I came today to ask you to assist us with a trial." "What?" Serene asked simply. Klein spoke with a serious, trustworthy expression: "Based on Marić's description, I believe your manifestation of the curse is different. When the full moon comes, he suffers so intensely from the relentless killings and his bloodthirsty urges that he can no longer fight. Whereas you, when you fail to draw human souls, enter a state of weakness—correct?" Sarlen listened quietly and nodded gently: "Yes." "As for your issue, I don't have a solution at the moment. However, regarding Marić, I believe there is still a possibility of temporary suppression—for instance, by administering a specific potion that keeps him emotionally stable. Under such conditions, he would not suffer and could fully participate in the battle." Klein outlined his idea. Sarlen shook her head: "No." "The potion no longer has any effect on him." Already? That means it once did? Klein pondered and asked: "Why?" "He's been injected with too many varieties before. Even with a different type, only the first few doses—three or four—have been effective. We've simply run out of new varieties...," Sharon said, pausing suddenly as if remembering something. Hearing her words, Caine smiled gently. "I have a type of sedative that's different from the others, from that pharmacist." Seeing that Sharon didn't find it ineffective, Caine clasped his hands and continued, "I'll give her one dose first, and have Mariqi try it at the full moon. Tonight is the full moon." "If it works, before the battle, have him take two doses—perhaps even three." As for whether resistance will develop later on—that's not something to worry about now... Caine thought calmly.