"It sounds like a cliché—since the discovery of the new sea routes, stories of adventurers who become wealthy through bold ventures have never ceased." Sostre casually commented on the telegram's content, then glanced toward a "red-gloved" colleague, thinking, "I remember we previously investigated Daven Thonats; he actually had a dream in which we exchanged words with him." "Yes." The "red-gloved" colleague nodded. "I didn't directly ask about this, but it's clear that Daven Thonats is very familiar with the Southern Continent—he's had numerous experiences there." Hmm, perhaps Daven Thonats shared this information with you willingly... Leonard wasn't entirely convinced by the telegram's content; he suspected it might be another layer of disguise employed by the immortal creature surviving from the Fourth Age. Yet, he didn't present his own hypothesis, as his grounds for this suspicion couldn't be shared with his teammates. Sostre didn't give it much attention, instead saying, "What questions do you have about the line of inquiry involving Gerem Sparo?" "Since this adventurous wanderer has been seen at sea recently, when exactly did he arrive in Baelen?" Cindy, representing the 'Nightmare,' repeated her earlier concern. "I'm not particularly concerned about the precise timing, but whether he had enough time to reach Baelen—given the considerable distance between the city and the sea." Sostre nodded gently. "During the meeting, a steward also raised this very point. Based on Gerem Sparo's last known appearance and location, he would typically not have been able to arrive in Baelen last night to carry out his infiltration." "Of course," he added, "I mean, under normal circumstances." "The missing servant told us that he was sweeping the outer plaza when suddenly he lost control of his body, becoming rigid in place and unable to call for help. Then he saw a vibrant abstract oil painting and felt as though his body was floating upward. After that, he lost consciousness and awoke in a room in the eastern district. The first account aligns with the description of an internal guard experiencing the 'spirit haunting' phenomenon, while the second appears to match the 'transportation' experience of a 'Traveler.' If it truly is a 'transportation,' then Germán Sparo could appear at any moment in Beckettland." As elite members of the 'Night Watch,' the 'Red Gloves' possess a deeper understanding of the knowledge surrounding extraordinary pathways than their peers, and are well familiar with both the 'spirit haunting' and the 'Traveler' phenomena. Upon hearing the captain's explanation, another 'Red Glove' added thoughtfully, "It is said that the 'General of Blood' previously hunted down by Germán Sparo was itself a 'spirit haunting.'" "The details are now beginning to align! The hypothesis that Germain Spalro acquired the ability of 'haunting' is not particularly hard to accept—indeed, the most straightforward approach would be to seek out 'craftsmen,' using the victims as raw material to create magical artifacts. With this, Cindra recalled additional information: "It's said that Germain Spalro can change his appearance... and the infiltrator has disguised himself as the internal guard." Another detail matches perfectly! "Excellent insight," said Sostre, raising his hand to rub his temple. "With these details, we can now preliminarily conclude that the infiltrator is indeed Germain Spalro. Consequently, some of our earlier assumptions and the corresponding lists of suspects may be incorrect. Germain Spalro does not necessarily need regular companions to come to church, pray, or gather intelligence—he can simply change his appearance each day, enter the building, and become familiar with the situation. This method would be far less conspicuous than relying on others." "—As the most sacred church of the Night Church in Beckland, the Saint-Semuel Church sees countless pilgrims and worshippers come each day; no bishop can remember the faces of those who have only visited once. 'So, does that mean our current list of investigations is likely meaningless?' Leonard raised his hand, spreading his brows with a slightly exaggerated tone. 'Clearly, our current focus should remain on Germain Sparo. We can set aside the other targets and maintain only basic monitoring.' With that, Sostre clapped his hands. 'Well, then, let's get busy.' Leonard agreed without hesitation—he was just about to go and gather information from the 'Heart of Mechanism,' the 'Agent of Punishment,' and MI9. ........ On a Tuesday morning, Caine woke naturally, feeling refreshed and at peace, with a quiet joy slowly blossoming within him. The extraordinary abilities of the psychiatrist are still quite useful... They complement the highly infectious optimism and sunny spirit that the "Justice" lady naturally carries... Caine suddenly sat up and pulled back the curtains. He calmly enjoyed the view outside and the sun casting golden rays, regaining his momentum and formulating plans for the coming months, even up to a year: "First, seek out new secret companions; Second, leverage the identity of Daut D'Artagnan and his influence over the secret companions to stage a series of dramatic performances, accelerating the absorption of the magic potions; Third, gradually gather the materials required for the 'Sorcerer of Deceit' potions—querying the little 'Sun' about any clues regarding the strange creatures of illusion, and seeking Mr. Azk regarding the spirit raiders, since the Underworld is itself part of the spirit realm; Fourth, continue investigating the great smog event in Beckett, uncovering the true culprits behind the scenes—this includes Ins Zangewell, and the half-god who killed the 'Mad Captain'—no one is more suitable as candidates for the promotion ceremony than these two. Yet, one must remain vigilant about '0–08,' always watching for any overly deliberate coincidences... Yes, I will maintain regular contact and provide supportive assistance here. Any direct investigations involving risk will be entrusted to the witch Tristress." Klein's thoughts gradually became clearer, though his mind still held concerns and fears—these no longer affected his mental state or his ability to act. Drawing his gaze back from the balcony, Klein stepped into the bathroom to attend to his personal hygiene. Soon, he opened the door with a refreshed demeanor, finding both his personal servant Richard and the butler Walter waiting outside. The latter, wearing white gloves, bowed respectfully: "Good morning, sir. Your only engagement today is at three in the afternoon, when you will join Mr. Mahert at the 'East Baylen Officers' Club for an event. Mr. Mahert is a member of the New Party; accepting his invitation signifies your initial political alignment, and you still have time to reconsider." Klein paused and then said: "Thank you. I'll take that as my choice." He paused, speaking in the tone of a consulting advisor: "This is my first visit to the 'Eastbourne Officers' Club. What should I keep in mind?" Walter, the butler, offered his suggestion: "Praise their achievements in establishing the club in Eastbourne, and make a donation—neither too small nor too large. Five hundred pounds would be most appropriate." Five hundred pounds... Indeed, no matter which circle one wishes to enter, substantial financial contributions are essential... Ah, that's precisely why Daven Tout lacks a distinguished background—money has to pave the way. Klein nodded gently, expressing his agreement with the butler's proposal. At the same time, he quickly calculated his current assets in his mind: "The artisan has not yet completed the 'Sea Singer,' but the funds obtained from the exceptional traits of the 'Chaos Mentor' and the 'Druid' have already arrived, totaling 16,000 pounds... "Adding the original cash, subtracting the 13,000 pounds paid for the 3% share of Coyim Company, as well as daily household and church donation expenses, he now had 23,985 pounds and 5 gold coins... "He also paid back a sum to the messenger lady, though he still owed her 3,413 gold coins... "The 500 pounds have exceeded 2% of my total cash..." Without further comment, Caine stepped out of his bedroom, descended to the second floor, and entered the dining room to enjoy breakfast. ........ In the underground offices of Saint Samuel's Church, Leonard Mitchell returned to his office earlier than the other teammates. He had gathered the relevant information and learned of an otherwise unremarkable detail: Prince Edsack, who passed away during the Great Beckland Smog, had commissioned a private investigator to examine the cause of death of equestrian instructor Talim Dumont. The name of that private investigator was: Sherlock Moriarty! Indeed! His presence had also been on the periphery of the Great Beckland Smog event. Leonard felt both delighted and energized, lifting a hand to smooth his hair. Then, he clenched his fist and struck the documents on the table, preparing to pursue further leads. Yet, suddenly, he paused for several seconds before awkwardly lifting his cup, taking a sip of coffee, and murmuring to himself, "I'm not sure what I was trying to do—after that little tap, I simply forgot." After a careful recollection, Leonard finally remembered, opening his drawer and drawing out a set of tarot cards. Then he found the "Knight of Cups" card, placed it on a white sheet, and beneath it wrote three names: "Sherlock Moriarty, Germaine Sparrow, D'Artagnan Thonard." After a moment's hesitation, Leonard drew lines from each name to the card, connecting them to indicate that they were likely members of a secret organization devoted to the "Knight of Cups." He was slightly uncertain about Germaine Sparrow's identity, so he added a question mark beside it. Next, he drew the "Emperor" card and positioned it next to "Sherlock Moriarty," labeling it as "suspected." "Germaine Sparrow and D'Artagnan Thonard also correspond to separate Tarot cards?" Leonard murmured silently, taking up the adventurer's file and carefully reviewing it. Suddenly, he felt a familiar date: early January! Germaine Sparrow first appeared in early January! Phew… Leonard took a deep breath and flipped open another document. At the end, it read: “By the end of December, Sherlock Moriarty left Beckett for a holiday in the south and has not returned since.” End of December… early January… Beckett… Port Priz… Gilbert Spargo would change his appearance… really? While murmuring these thoughts to himself, Leonard drew a dashed line equating “Sherlock Moriarty” and “Gilbert Spargo.” The detective was key… Leonard pulled out Sherlock Moriarty’s ritual portrait and studied it carefully. Considering the element of “changing appearance,” he began mentally imagining various versions of the detective. As he continued to envision these changes, Leonard’s gaze gradually froze, and his brows furrowed, growing increasingly concerned.