Earl Hall's Mansion, Audrey's private chemistry laboratory.
After returning home from Williams Street, the first thing Audrey did was to find the golden retriever Susie and bring her to the laboratory.
She wants Susie to be the "audience" dog.
In the laboratory, pure water is ready, beakers, glass rods and other instruments are all available, and the materials for the "spectator" potion are also on the table... all that is left is the final configuration.
When things came to a close, Audrey had some hesitation.
She remembered the rumors she had heard before. After someone drank the magic potion, not only did they not gain extraordinary abilities, they also turned into terrifying monsters!
And Valeela said that the risk of animals taking magic potions is greater than that of humans...
Susie won't turn into a monster, right?
Thinking of this, Audrey paused the action of configuring the potion, squatted down sideways, tilted her head slightly, and carefully observed the squatting Susie with a close-up gaze.
She looked very smart and cute... Audrey couldn't help but reached out and touched Susie's head, thinking that she should test it again.
She spread her palms and said to Susie, who was wagging her tail:
"Susie, shake hands."
Susie opened her mouth wide and exposed half of her tongue, which looked like a warm smile.
It cooperated by raising its right front paw and placing it on Audrey's palm.
Audrey closed her palms, held Susie's front paw and shook it up and down. After letting go, she said again:
"Susie, other hand."
The squatting golden retriever cooperated again.
"Get down."
Susie did as she was told and lay down.
"Wall around."
Susie waggled her tail for a few seconds, and then turned over and rolled before she could wait for a new request.
After sitting down again, it barked a "woof".
Seeing Susie's spiritual performance, Audrey finally gave up her worries and stood up to start preparing the potion.
Soon, a cup of thick silver-white potion was prepared.
"Susie, stand up."
Audrey picked up the beaker with her right hand and gave instructions with her left hand, telling the golden retriever to stand up and lie down on the edge of the table.
Susie wags her tail and accomplishes this task well.
Audrey smiled, held Susie's chin, and fed the potion into her mouth.
In this way, Susie drank a whole cup of potion and licked her black nose, as if she just drank a glass of water, nothing strange.
For a moment, Audrey had some doubts as to whether the drink she gave Susie was a magic potion.
…
Evening, Tingen.
After get off work, Klein did not go home directly, but took a detour to Besik Street, which is connected to Zotland Street.
According to the description in the newspaper, he found the Henry Private Detective Agency at 27 Beswick Street, which was said to be very trustworthy, and entrusted the task of finding the "red chimney house" to Detective Henry.
At around nine o'clock in the night, Klein was awakened by an illusory call from his light sleep.
Someone prays to me, who could it be?
Klein sealed the door, walked four steps backward, and passed the "transfer ritual" to reach the gray fog. After a brief observation, he found that the crimson star corresponding to "Temperance" Valeera was beating in rhythm.
How could she take the initiative to pray to me that she is not afraid of me anymore?
Klein responded to the prayer and spread his spirituality to contact the stars. He saw the scene of Valeela praying and heard the content of her prayer:
"Mr. Fool, I found a card, which is suspected to be the 'blasphemous card' made by Russell."
This is really... pie in the sky.
Klein immediately decided to summon Valeera above the gray mist and ask for details.
Of course, he had to take a moment to get over the surprise before that happened.
After a moment, the crimson color on the stars stretched and lengthened, transforming into Valeela's illusory figure.
"Did you find a 'Card of Blasphemy'?" Klein asked with a calm tone with a hint of curiosity, sitting on the high-backed chair at the top.
"I'm not entirely sure, Mr. Fool."
"You know, it is said that the 'blasphemous card' made by Russell has anti-divination and anti-prophecy properties. I have no way to determine whether it is true or false."
Klein knocked on the table twice and said, "Please explain the discovery process in detail."
Valeera nodded and told her the rough process of getting to know Audrey as expected. The focus was of course the transaction of bronze mirrors and cards.
Of course, they all said it in a rather vague way, and even Audrey's identity was replaced by "a lady of noble status".
However, this did not affect Klein's understanding of the whole matter.
He began to think about how to deal with this matter in order to conform to the character he had set for "The Fool".
Ignoring it will definitely not work.
Mr. Fool's curiosity about Russell is obvious. He even wants to collect Russell's diary, so how could he let go of the more mysterious "blasphemous card"?
But when it came to action, Klein couldn't figure out how to act at the moment.
It seemed like the only choice he had was to consider whether to let Valeera risk stealing.
Of course, this is definitely not a good idea.
While he was thinking about it, he heard Valeera speak in a cautious tone and ask:
"Mr. Fool, that lady is beautiful and kind. She is my friend. Can you please not hurt her?"
"I am going to reveal your honorable name to her secretly so that she can establish contact with you. Do you think I can handle it this way?"
"Okay." Klein nodded calmly.
After Valeera reminded him, he realized that the honorable name he had envisioned had more uses than just "sending offline messages"... Klein once again felt that his knowledge of occultism was weak.
Then, he had an idea and thought that this was still an opportunity to appease Valeela, so he said:
"As I said, I am a person who likes exchanges of equal value. I will not harm others at will, nor will I use force to coerce transactions."
"You did a good job this time, how should I reward you?"
When asked this question, Klein felt a little guilty.
If he could not give the reward Valeela requested, it would obviously damage the character of The Fool.
But he had no choice.
Because if he never mentions rewards, then "equivalent exchange" is just empty talk, which will also damage the character of "The Fool".
While Klein waited anxiously, Valeela gave her answer:
"Mr. Fool, I have two requests."
"One of them is, I hope you don't let that young lady join the party right away, lest she suspect who I am in reality."
"The other thing is that after the next party, I plan to do something. Before it is completed, I may not be able to spare time to attend the party. I hope you can allow my absence."
Klein nodded and replied, "Of course."
"It's just a small thing, something that doesn't need to be exchanged for rewards."
“You can also think about the rewards you want.”
In order to maintain the status of "The Fool" and relieve Valeela's nervousness and fear, Klein had no choice but to take another risk.
Valeera pretended to think for a moment and asked:
"Mr. Fool, can I accumulate rewards first and ask you to cash them in when needed?"
"Okay." Klein breathed a sigh of relief and nodded again.
Even if this thunder will explode in the future, at least for now, he has escaped... and that's enough.
