That evening, at Earl Wolf's dinner party, Backlund's brightest gem made her glittering appearance. Since the banquet wasn't entirely formal, Susie was allowed to accompany Audrey.
However, it was still a gathering hosted by an earl. Although Susie was permitted to come along, she wasn't allowed into the main banquet hall—she had to wait in Earl Wolf's back garden.
So, carrying a delicate little satchel, Susie stayed in the garden, keeping company with the Earl's hunting dogs.
The party ended soon enough. When Audrey returned home, she took a parcel from Susie's bag, eagerly unwrapped it, and pulled out the contents. On top lay a letter; beneath it rested a small twenty-four-sided die, a soft tube about the size of a palm that looked like a toothpaste container, and a pure white tooth wrapped in red silk.
Audrey's curious gaze lingered on the tooth for a moment before she opened the letter addressed to her. The page was filled with elegant looping cursive handwriting—clearly the work of Mr. Devil.
"Dear Miss Justice,
Though I cannot see you through the gray fog, I am certain that your appearance must be quite stunning.
This parcel contains the mystical items I promised you. Among them, the tooth is a small gift from me. Its name is Pure Spiritual Beauty. I have foreseen that it will be of help to you in the future, so I took the liberty of including it as a present.
I don't know if you'd be comfortable touching a stranger's tooth, so I've wrapped it in a thin transparent film. You need not carry it with you—it will appear by your side when the time comes that you truly need it."
The letter ended with a simple smiley face.
Audrey inspected the tooth and indeed found a thin transparent coating over it. She hid the three mystical items carefully.
A day later, outside the Divination Club, Saires appeared out of thin air, unnoticed by anyone.
With a light, easy stride, he entered the club. The receptionist, Miss Angelica, greeted him with a polite smile:
"Good afternoon, sir. Would you like to have a divination, or are you interested in joining our club?"
"I'm here for a divination," Sairuis replied. "Someone recommended that I look for Mr. Klein Moretti."
Angelica peeked toward the staircase and then said as she led him toward the lounge area,"Mr. Klein Moretti is currently with another client. Please wait a moment."
"Of course." Sairuis smiled and sat down on the sofa.
"Would you like something to drink? We have—"
Sairuis lifted a bottle he had brought with him and gave it a little shake, indicating he already had his beverage. Angelica smiled and returned to her post behind the counter.
Before long, a woman in her thirties wearing a blue high-collared gown descended from upstairs, accompanied by a young lady in a frilled hat. Angelica leaned toward Saires and said softly,
"Those two are Mr. Klein's current clients. It should be your turn soon."
The younger woman kept her head lowered, her brows drawn, while the older one spoke in a soothing tone as they walked—likely offering comfort. When the two left, Angelica led Sairuis upstairs to a room with a yellow crystal door.
"Mr. Klein is inside," she said, smiling her professional smile.
"Thank you." Saires returned the smile, tipped her a sou, and then opened the door.
Inside the yellow crystal room, Klein was seated at a small table.
"Hello, Mr. Klein," Sairuis said, pulling out the chair opposite him and sitting down.
"Good day, sir." Klein pretended not to recognize him.
But the very next sentence shattered his act.
"Mr. Klein, do you know of the Celestial Worthy Of Heaven and Earth For Blessings?"
Klein nearly jumped from his seat. He was about to speak when Sairuis raised a hand to stop him.
"I don't know what that phrase means," Sairuis said calmly, "but since you do, I suppose I've found the right person."
Then he took out a portrait and held it up, comparing it to Klein.
"Hmm… looks quite similar." He turned the picture around to face Klein.
Klein looked at it—
It was a black cat wearing a top hat.
"This… How did you figure that's me?"
Sairuis took it back, squinted, and studied it carefully. "It really does look like you."
"That portrait is supposed to be me?"
"It is you."
"Really?" Klein still sounded doubtful.
"Yes," Sairuis said firmly. "At the time, you were thinner."
"Then that's definitely not me."
"…Didn't expect you to pick up the cue so smoothly. So you've seen Roselle's Let the Bullets Fly, huh?"
Klein suddenly had the urge to cover his face.
"Anyway, that's not important." Sairuis put the portrait away and pulled out a sealed envelope.
"Mr. Klein, I'd like you to read this letter."
Klein took it, and Sairuis explained,
"This was left by one of our seniors two hundred years ago. It says that two centuries later, the letter must be given to the diviner depicted in that portrait—someone who knows the phrase "Celestial Worthy Of Heaven and Earth for Blessings" That would be you. Only the foretold person can open it. You may as well try—nothing to lose, right?"
"I still think the one in the picture isn't me," Klein muttered, accepting the letter. But since the other party had spoken that sacred name, he couldn't afford not to take it seriously.
(End of chapter)