At Backlund's steam train station, the whistle of a steam train sounded as another train from Southville County pulled into the station.
As the doors opened, the passengers who had been cooped up on the train for a long time rushed out of the carriages. Klein was among them.
Setting foot in Backlund again, his face showed the same dazed and excited expression of returning home as the other passengers.
To avoid being recognized by acquaintances in Backlund, Klein had already used the Beyonder abilities of a Faceless to give himself a new identity and appearance.
He was tall and thin, with a slightly sickly pallor on his face and a frail body that looked as though a strong gust of wind could blow him away.
His new identity was that of a sickly young man who had returned to Backlund from the seaside to recuperate.
This was to distinguish himself from Gehrman on the sea.
After leaving the station, Klein naturally hailed a carriage at the entrance and spent 1 soli and 2 pence to travel to the South Borough's Bridge.
The price was a little expensive, but Klein wasn't particularly short of money now. Although the driver had taken him for an outsider, he hadn't overcharged him too badly, so Klein didn't bother bargaining.
He lifted the curtain, his right hand gently rubbing a golden pocket watch as he looked at the streets flashing past outside the carriage window. His mood inexplicably became heavy and oppressive.
If he hadn't faked his death and changed his identity, he could now openly return home and reunite with Benson and Melissa. He could even invite Leonard out for drinks and conversation.
But there were no such ifs. When he had decided to fake his death back then, he had already anticipated that the rest of his life might be spent walking alone.
"I still have to go back and take a look. If I don't see them with my own eyes, I won't be able to put my mind at ease."
Klein sighed inwardly and decided to rent a house on a street not far from the house he had originally rented.
He didn't choose a long-term lease, instead opting for a monthly short-term rental. Because of that, he had to pay a little extra rent.
By the time he had cleaned his new house enough to live in, the sky had already gone completely dark.
There was naturally no way Klein would cook at home by himself. He went out and walked to a restaurant on the street below the house he had previously rented.
He sat at a seat facing the street. From there, he could raise his head and see the lights of his former home.
As the sky grew darker, the lights in the other houses gradually came on.
The lights in the house where Benson and Melissa lived only stayed on for a short while before the entire place fell into darkness again.
Klein ate his tasteless meal while wondering who would wash the bowls, chopsticks, and plates at home tonight.
It should be Benson. Melissa always came home a little later because of her classes. Now that Klein was no longer at home, Benson would surely cherish Melissa, his only remaining family member, even more.
He would definitely say something like, "Your time should be spent studying. Learn more so you don't turn into a curly-haired baboon."
If Melissa tried to argue, Benson would send her back to her room to tinker with her favorite mechanical objects.
As Klein thought about this, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
He didn't choose to meet Benson and Melissa. Tomorrow, he would come here under the pretense of taking an early morning walk.
Benson had already passed the civil service exam and had fixed working hours. Melissa was the same with school, unless it was a weekend when neither of them had to work or attend classes.
A little after nine that night.
Klein arrived at the Bravehearts Bar, where Leonard had always liked to go. He ordered a glass of Southville beer and sat in a corner, slowly drinking it.
Sure enough, at around ten o'clock, Leonard walked in through the entrance.
He was clearly already a regular here. The moment the waiter saw him, he warmly came over to serve him.
Leonard ordered three cocktails in one go and sat at the more conspicuous bar counter, silently drinking alone.
After not seeing him for some time, Leonard actually looked somewhat thinner. His beard had also become scruffy, and his brows remained constantly furrowed.
This appearance was nothing like the Leonard of the past, the poet who cared greatly about his outward image and even had to keep every strand of hair neatly combed.
The current Leonard truly looked like a dejected, down-and-out poet.
Perhaps sensing Klein's gaze, Leonard glanced in his direction, but quickly looked away again and took a large swig of alcohol.
Klein withdrew his gaze and prepared to leave after finishing his glass of Southville beer. He had only come here in the hope that he might get to see Leonard.
But before he could leave, another familiar figure entered the Bravehearts Bar.
Count Hastur Campbell.
He hadn't remained in Southville County and had also returned to Backlund.
Klein patiently remained seated, occasionally sweeping an apparently casual glance toward Leonard and Hastur as they chatted cheerfully.
It seemed Leonard wasn't entirely lonely by himself.
That was good.
Klein smiled, got up, and was about to leave. But then he saw Hastur and Leonard each carrying a glass of alcohol as they walked toward his table.
Could they have seen through his identity? Probably not. If Leonard knew, he would definitely have rushed straight over.
"Sir, would you mind if we shared your table?" Hastur was the one who spoke. Before Klein could say anything, he waved for the waiter to bring over several more glasses of alcohol.
Klein glanced around. The other tables were indeed full.
He smiled and said, "Of course not. I was just about to head back anyway."
Leonard sized him up and teased, "Are you already married? If not, what's the point of going back when you're alone? You might as well stay here and chat."
"Give this gentleman a drink for real men. Put it on my tab."
Leonard thoughtfully ordered Klein a drink. Klein wanted to refuse, but Hastur chuckled and said, "Meeting here can also be considered a kind of fate. Let's have a drink together. Once tomorrow comes, none of us will know one another anymore."
Klein felt that there was some deeper meaning in those words, but he didn't believe the other party could so easily see through his disguise.
"Thank you both for the drink." Klein patiently sat back down, showing no trace of panic on his face.
"Sigh, Hastur, you have to stay in Backlund for a few more days this time. Otherwise, I can never find anyone to drink with. Drinking alone is too boring." Leonard's tone was already tinged with drunkenness.
Hastur ran a finger along the rim of his glass and curiously asked, "Isn't Mr. Klein also in Backlund?"
"He... went somewhere very far away. He probably won't ever come back."
Leonard's expression visibly became desolate. He raised his glass and downed a large mouthful.
"I see." Hastur spoke softly, then raised his glass and clinked it against Leonard's before adding, "Nothing in this world is absolute. Perhaps when he wants to come back, he'll return."
Come back? Leonard opened his mouth, wanting to explain the true meaning behind what he had just said, but in the end, he said nothing. Only a hint of bitterness appeared in his eyes.
Watching this scene, Klein felt touched inside, but there was still no extra expression on his face.
"Do you think what I just said is right?" Hastur suddenly tossed the topic toward Klein.
Klein was momentarily stunned, but he quickly reacted and said with a smile, "I also think that once your friend finishes dealing with his own matters, he should come back."
"You two..." Leonard looked as though he wanted to laugh, but in the end, he still didn't say that Klein had already died.
At that moment, the waiter brought over the drinks Hastur and Leonard had ordered.
Holding his glass, Hastur looked at Klein and said, "You don't seem like someone from Backlund?"
"Mm. I just returned from out of town." Klein answered calmly.
Leonard stared at him for a while before saying, "You don't look very well. Can you really drink?"
Using those words as an excuse, Klein declined the drink Leonard had ordered for him. "I can only have a small amount. I really can't drink too much."
"What a pity." Leonard didn't insist.
Hastur, however, glanced at Klein again and deliberately started another topic, asking about Klein's recent circumstances. Faced with this kind of probing, Klein also began to feel increasingly suspicious.
Could Mr. Hastur have seen through his disguised identity? Where exactly had he revealed a flaw?
No. He was only probing and wasn't certain of Klein's true identity.
It seemed Klein couldn't stay here any longer. Otherwise, his current disguise would definitely be exposed.
Just as Klein came to that conclusion, Hastur completely stopped probing him and instead focused on chatting with Leonard.
They went from discussing the recent situation in Backlund to the Loen Kingdom's full declaration of war against the Feysac Empire, and then to Leonard's personal romantic affairs.
"Hah, love. I'd never believe in something as intangible as that." Leonard said with obvious resistance.
"That's really a pity. Miss Seraphina was only asking me about how you've been recently."
"What!" Leonard's body instantly stiffened, and even his voice rose noticeably.
"You really do still care about Miss Seraphina?"
"..." Leonard remained silent for a moment before saying in a pained tone, "This isn't a question of whether I care or not. There are other reasons."
Hastur smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "It's fine. I made that last sentence up."
"...Hastur!"
Leonard was so furious that he wanted to sever all ties with Hastur. Seeing this scene, Klein also unconsciously felt amused.
But when he raised his eyes, he discovered that Hastur, who should have been fooling around with Leonard, was instead looking thoughtfully at him.