Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 177 Surprise or not?

February 2, 1350, afternoon.

The steam train carried countless hopeful people to Backlund. It was still light, and the fog in the air had thinned considerably. The gas lamps hanging on the platform were no longer lit early.

Benson, with his experience, protected his sister and wallet, carried his suitcase, and followed the crowd out of the station.

Suddenly, they both felt a gaze sweep over them.

Following the trail, Benson and Melissa spotted a young gentleman with neatly trimmed black hair and deep brown eyes.

The gentleman wearing gold-rimmed glasses adjusted his top hat, his gaze passing over them and fixed on the distance.

Benson and Melissa also turned their gaze to the pillars emitting smoke in the park, eager to witness Backlund's underground transportation system.

But just then, a gentleman in his thirties with deep gray eyes and wearing a black trench coat walked towards them against the flow of people.

Benson and Melissa also spotted him and recognized him as Dunn Smith, a police officer.

But when they met Dunn, they didn't feel much joy at meeting an old friend in a foreign land; instead, they remained silent.

Their strongest impression of the officer was the time he came to their home to inform them of Klein's death.

Benson remained silent for a long time, then asked softly:

"Officer Dunn, are you here to see us?"

Dunn nodded slightly:

"Yes, I have something to discuss with you. Let's talk on the way."

"it is good."

Benson nodded silently, neither refusing nor able to refuse.

Although their arrival in Backlund wasn't a last-minute decision, few people knew about it, especially Klein's former colleagues. After all, if it weren't for Klein, they would have had almost no contact.

The fact that Officer Dunn knew their arrival time in Backlund must have been through official channels. For example, he might have used his authority to find out their ticket purchase time and departure number, which is why he was waiting for them at the train station in advance.

Benson and Melissa followed Dunn to the subway station, where they witnessed him buy three first-class tickets and then lead him into the first-class carriage.

Melissa sat hesitantly in the soft leather seat of first class and said:

Where are we going?

Dunn Smith replied:

"North District".

-

"Captain, is it really necessary to go this far?"

On one of the seats behind the three, Klein, who resembled Zhou Mingrui, sighed softly to himself.

He knew his true identity was most likely impossible to hide—

When Dunn first came to see him, it was only a matter of time before his identity was exposed.

Although the incident was disrupted by Will Unsettin, the Sequence 1 "Mercury Serpent," causing the Captain to subconsciously overlook his appearance, he must have discovered something during their second meeting.

He had already guessed what was going on, but he was too afraid to admit it or face it. He didn't know what to say or how to confront the situation. So, he had always instinctively chosen to run away.

It's as if the problem doesn't exist as long as he doesn't think about it.

But now the captain has directly brought this issue to the forefront, leaving him with no choice but to accept it.

The captain must have discovered his identity long ago. The reason he had remained inactive until now was because Sherlock Moriarty had always been in his sights, which was why they had been able to maintain their tacit understanding.

But faced with the disappearance of Sherlock Moriarty this time, the captain was probably panicking.

That's why he deliberately informed Ember that Benson and Melissa were coming to Backlund. This wasn't said to Ember, whom he had only met once, but rather an attempt to pass on the information to him through Ember.

As for how the captain knew about the relationship between Sherlock Moriarty and Ember, the answer is not hard to guess.

A careful investigation of Sherlock's life reveals that he frequents the same café. Further investigation reveals that Ember also frequents the café—a simple matter for a Night Watcher with the ability to enter dreams. To ensure the accuracy of the information, the captain even consults a fortune teller. If all else fails, they can always ask the mirror at the Steam Church for answers.

Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, they still have the common bond of "Dr. Allen" to them, making it difficult for them not to be connected.

Of course, this is essentially a test.

Klein could have easily ignored the challenge, pretended he knew nothing about it, and continued to escape reality.

But after hesitating for a long time, he finally decided to meet with them.

-

North District, St. Samuel Metro Station.

As soon as the subway stopped, Benson and Melissa followed Dunn out of the station. But as soon as they exited, they found a horse-drawn carriage that had been waiting for them by the roadside.

Beside the carriage stood a handsome young man with black hair and green eyes. He wore the same trench coat as Officer Dunn and had a somewhat poetic air about him.

Benson recognized him too; this was Leonard Mitchell, a former colleague of Klein's, with whom he had attended Klein's funeral.

Clang!

The carriage wheels rolled on, carrying the four people inside through clean and tidy streets.

Melissa rolled down the car window, looking out at the scenery with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.

The roadside is lined with exquisite houses, like small villas, which look very valuable.

Perhaps because it was winter, or perhaps because most people owned their own carriages, there weren't many pedestrians on the road. You could only catch a glimpse of a person passing by occasionally, and most of the time, other carriages just brushed past you.

Finally, the carriage stopped at a section of the road.

The Benson siblings got out of the car, and Melissa instinctively looked up. There stood a towering building that seemed to reach into the clouds—

That is Backlund's most famous landmark, a towering Gothic clock tower with the "Clock of Order" hanging on it.

This is the North District, the district closest to Queens, and very close to the location of the Clock Tower, where you can clearly see the entire clock tower.

Benson quickly looked away and at the street sign standing at the street corner, which read "Pinster Street".

Dunn walked straight to a row of houses with the number '6' on the side of the road. Before his hand could even touch the doorknob, the door opened from the inside. An elderly man with gray hair, dressed in a classic black robe, opened the door, smiling and waving to the group of people outside.

"Come in quickly, I've lit the fireplace, it'll be warmer inside."

Dunn and Leonard stood at the door without going in, instead turning their attention to the Benson siblings.

After a moment's hesitation, Benson led Melissa into the house.

In the corner, the fireplace roared, radiating light and heat, a stark contrast to the cold, damp outdoors.

A woman sat on the sofa, wearing a hooded black robe, blue eyeshadow and blush, and a silver chain with a white crystal pendant wrapped around her exposed wrist. Her overall attire gave the impression of a 'witch,' 'fortune teller,' or 'psychic.'

Benson asked hesitantly:

"Officer Dunn, is this your home?"

"no."

Before Dunn could speak, the woman on the sofa said, "He lives next door in number 5."

"It's not my home either."

Leonard, with his poetic air, smiled and said, "Old Neil and I also live next door, but we're number 7."

"That……"

Dunn said softly:

"This is where you live."

Benson immediately understood, and gave a wry smile, saying:

"Officer Dunn, you don't need to do this. We all know that Klein's death has nothing to do with you."

Dunn remained silent, but Leonard spoke very seriously:

"This is indeed related to Klein, but not just because of Klein."

Seeing that he had attracted the attention of the Benson siblings, Leonard continued, explaining, "Klein once successfully thwarted a terrorist organization's plot. Although we have captured most of the organization's members, the mastermind has not yet been caught, and he is very likely to retaliate against Klein's family."

"The police also have a specific witness protection system in this regard, which is for your safety and to maintain the reputation of the police."

Benson remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Melissa asked hesitantly:

"And what about the rent?"

Leonard was about to say it was free, but Neil interrupted him, laughing and saying:

"The first three years are free, which is somewhat mandatory. If we ask you to pay more, wouldn't that be robbery? However, the witness protection program for you is only valid for three years. After that, if you want to continue living here, you will need to pay sixty pounds in rent every year, and that includes utilities."

Melissa opened her mouth and muttered softly:

"So expensive..."

They rented a house at No. 2 Narcissus Street in Tingen for only 12 soula a week.

That works out to only £31.40 a year, while the rent here is almost twice what they paid for their house in Tingen!

Leonard remained silent for a long time, making no attempt to correct Neil.

Three years is not a long time, but it's not short either.

They might have already killed Ince Zangwill within the last three years, in which case Benson and his group wouldn't necessarily have to continue living here. And if they failed to kill Ince Zangwill, anything could happen in three years; they could simply find an excuse to extend the "protection period" after three years.

As for the rent of £100, it's actually not high at all.

Even renting a house like this in the Joewood area would cost at least £50 a year.

In Hillston, the annual rent is generally over £80.

This is the North District, where rents are only going to be higher. For example, the rent for this house is 120 gold pounds per year.

Dunn and his companions didn't stay long. After helping the Benson siblings settle in, they left the house and returned to their own homes. Although it was right next door, at least they gave the Bensons enough space.

Melissa asked in a low voice:

"Are we really going to stay here?"

Benson sat down on the sofa and chuckled softly:

"Stay here, there's nothing wrong with it. Backlund Technical University is right in the North District, so it'll be convenient for you to go to school, won't it?"

Melissa hugged the cushions on the sofa tightly and muttered to herself:

"There's no guarantee you'll pass the exam."

Backlund University of Technology and Engineering was established just two months ago, and everything is still in the planning stages. Entrance exams alone are scheduled for June, and the university itself doesn't even have a full complement of teachers and instructors. Even now, the position of its president is vacant.

Benson smiled nonchalantly and encouraged him:

"You need to have confidence in yourself. When Klein applied to Hoy University, he lacked confidence just like you, but he still got in with excellent grades, didn't he?"

"Klein..."

Melissa pursed her lips and lowered her head in silence.

Benson fell silent, as if it had just happened yesterday, even though more than four months had passed.

"Ding-dong~!"

Just then, the doorbell rang from inside the house.

Benson was slightly taken aback, subconsciously assuming that Officer Dunn had forgotten something, so he got up and walked towards the entrance.

"Click!"

The door opened, but standing outside was not Dunn Smith as he had imagined, nor anyone he had ever seen before, but a strange young man he had never met before.

The young man asked very politely:

"May I come in?"

Benson asked hesitantly:

"Who are you?"

Ember introduced himself:

Ash Black, Klein's colleague.

"Please come in."

Benson paused for two seconds, then stepped aside.

He was actually a little puzzled.

Klein had only been at work for two months after graduation, so why were so many of his colleagues still so attached to him? Is it really that easy for detectives to develop such deep feelings for each other? Officer Dunn felt guilty towards Klein; he had mentioned more than once that Klein had saved his life, and he wanted to make it up to him and Melissa. Benson, while feeling it was unnecessary, could completely understand.

But what is the purpose of this stranger? If it's for personal gain, what are they after? The compensation money for Tuklein?

He and Melissa were just ordinary people, and after thinking it over, the only thing worth their attention was the six thousand pounds in compensation.

"Mr. Ash, is there anything I can help you with?"

Benson didn't close the door completely before standing in the entryway and asking.

Ember spoke:

"In fact, I was commissioned to bring someone to see you."

Benson frowned and said:

"Who?"

They didn't know many people in Backlund, nor did they know many people in Tingen.

Besides, they just moved in, and the house was arranged by Officer Dunn. Who would come knocking on their door so soon?

"Klein Moretti".

Benson's pupils contracted slightly, and he said in a deep voice:

"Mr. Ash, I don't want you to joke about my brother. He's dead! Don't tell me he sent you here six months ago!"

"No, just half an hour ago."

With a sigh, Yu Jin pointed behind Benson, "As for the person you want to see, you can look behind you."

Benson turned around warily, and then witnessed a miraculous scene—

A young man wearing a top silk hat, a double-breasted long dress, and gold-rimmed glasses walked straight through the door in front of him!

And his appearance was so familiar.

Klein smiled, but didn't know how to greet him. After a long pause, he hesitantly waved.

"Benson, Melissa, it's been a long time."

(End of this chapter)