Mystery: A Spark

But Arthur didn't care much about it, because he only drew it to pass the time and supplement his family's income.

Of course, because of Miss Audrey's more than ten thousand pounds, this sum of money, which would be considered a considerable amount by most people, could only be regarded as Arthur's pocket money.

But in any case, it's better than nothing.

Most importantly, Arthur can gain a good reputation from the publication of the comic, just like Fors became famous after her "Stormy Mountain Villa" became a hit.

Reputation is a rather important thing for what Arthur has done.

In addition, after Arthur became famous through comics, he could also use comics as a medium to express his values.

Just like DC and Marvel in Arthur's previous life, they can influence the public on an ideological level, and even use it to fight enemies.

Chapter 146 Audrey's Chicken Soup

Sunday morning.

After waking up, Klein had a quick breakfast and then took out a pen and paper, intending to write a letter to Isengard Stanton.

A few days ago, Klein accepted an invitation from the great detective Isinger Stanton to cooperate in finding the serial killer.

However, due to the sensitive nature of Klein's identity, he was worried that getting too involved would lead to an encounter with the Night Watcher in charge of the matter. Therefore, he used the excuse that he had a temporary assignment and could not spare the time, saying that he could only participate in the discussion, look through the data, and analyze the clues.

Having learned from Little Sun that the murderer was likely performing a demon ascension ritual, Klein suspected that this murderer might not be a first-time offender.

Because before the Demon Sequence, there was a sequence called Serial Killer.

As you can tell from the name, if the other party wants to play the role of the digestive potion, it's impossible for them not to kill someone.

Therefore, during discussions with the other detectives, Klein made a request:

He wanted information on unsolved serial murders in Backlund, and indeed the entire kingdom, from the last twenty years.

Detective Essinger Stanton was amazed by his thinking and quickly sent over the relevant case materials.

What Klein wants to do now is ask Detective Isinger Stanton to help the police department find out the current situation of several suspects in a serial murder case from four years ago—the target of which was a single prostitute with a child.

Klein believes that the circumstances of this case are similar to those of recent serial murders.

After folding the letter and putting it in the envelope, Klein affixed a one-penny black stamp, dressed, grabbed his hat and cane, and went out his front door to mail it at the mailbox at the end of the street.

Just then, he saw Mrs. Starling Summer from next door coming out with her husband, Mr. Luke, dressed up in their finest attire.

A horse-drawn carriage was already parked in front of their door.

"Good morning, are you here for the banquet so early?" Klein asked, slightly surprised.

Luke chuckled:

"It wasn't so much a banquet as it was a chance to help out."

Mrs. Starling raised her chin slightly and added:

“Mary has successfully entered the Kingdom’s Air Pollution Investigation Committee. There will be a grand ball tonight, and we need to go and help her in advance.”

Mrs. Mary's wish has been fulfilled? Impressive... Klein remarked with a smile, and said:

"Please give my congratulations to Mrs. Mary, both of you."

Luke Summer nodded and said:

"You haven't read this morning's paper yet, have you? It has already published the full list of members of the Air Pollution Investigation Committee."

"The chairman of the committee is Sir Des Shaw, and the chief secretary is Mr. Hilbert Hall."

Sir Des Shaw? Mr. Hilbert Hall? Who are these people? I don't know them at all… Klein pretended not to have any questions and said half-jokingly:

"Hopefully they can bring blue skies and sunshine to Backlund."

“Yes, while it’s everyone’s freedom to burn whatever they want in their own fireplace—a right granted by law—blue skies and sunshine are things to yearn for more,” Luke Summer, a member of the Coal Smoke Reduction Association, echoed with a sigh.

He pointed to the rented driveway. “We should go now. Mary desperately needs some help.”

Starling Summer added, feigning modesty:

"Perhaps some members of parliament will attend the banquet, from the Backlund region, or from the Kingdom."

"One can imagine how grand this banquet will be," Klein complimented politely, watching the Summers get into their car and leave.

Just as he turned around to head to the mailbox at the end of the street, a postman in a dark green uniform arrived in a carriage and dropped a letter into the mailbox at his door.

My letter? Klein took out a bunch of keys and casually chose the one with an antique shape and a color that was almost like brass.

Click!

The "master key" easily opened the mailbox.

"From now on, I can just take this one key with me when I go out..." Klein muttered, taking out his subscribed newspaper and the letter from earlier.

This letter came from Eisinger Stanton.

Yesterday, he also reviewed old, unsolved serial murder cases, picked out the most suspicious ones, and, through the police department, made preliminary confirmation of the current status of the corresponding suspects. He then wrote to private detectives like Klein and Kaslana, who were interested in this area, to share his findings.

This includes the two cases that Klein was particularly focused on.

"Great minds think alike... I wasted my time writing that letter..." Klein joked to himself before returning to the living room.

According to Eisinger, the random killings of people returning home late involved investigating many people, but no suspect could be identified. After many years, it was extremely difficult and almost hopeless to find clues again.

In another case, among the four suspects, one was a teenager whose mother was also a victim—a prostitute, single, and his only child. He suffered abuse from his mother, was withdrawn and ruthless, and was the first suspect the police suspected.

But less than six months after that case, he was seriously injured in a gang fight in the East District and died in the operating room of a charity hospital.

His body was cremated and his ashes were buried in the cemetery in the presence of witnesses.

In this way, he would be impossible to connect with the current serial killings.

If there was no cremation, I would definitely dig up the grave to confirm... Klein, who had come back to life, seriously considered the possibility that the other party had come back to life.

Of the remaining three suspects, one has moved multiple times in recent years, and the police have lost track of his situation and need more time to investigate; one went bankrupt and moved from the North District to the East District; and the other has remained unchanged and is still running a grocery store on the same street.

Klein pulled out another sheet of paper, first describing the relevant situation, then asking the recipient to secretly observe the two suspects with specific addresses. He emphasized:

"Serial killers are cruel, vicious, and highly aggressive. Please be careful and do not get too close to them. Observe them as if you were just an ordinary neighbor."

"What I need is their recent mental state, such as whether they are irritable, whether they like to lock themselves in their rooms and rarely communicate with others, and whether they have assaulted others."

This was also information he received from the "Sun." After each murder, the "demon" would eat the victim's internal organs according to the ritual requirements and remain in a bloodthirsty, manic state, wanting to harm others, until a new victim appeared.

After emphasizing the importance of personal safety once again, Klein folded the letter, put it in a new envelope, and affixed a black stamp to the surface.

Then, he wrote down the recipient's name:

"Detective Stuart".

After rewriting the letter, Klein went out again to mail it to the mailbox at the end of the street.

However, fifteen minutes later.

Attorney Jürgen, watching Sherlock Sherlock pass by again and again through the bulging window, finally couldn't resist opening the door and politely inquiring:

"Mr. Moriarty, you forgot your keys?"

"Well, I guess so," Klein said with a forced smile.

"Why don't you come to my house for lunch first, then you can go back?"

Jürgen extended the invitation with a serious expression.

Well, Jürgen's grandmother is a great cook, so it wouldn't hurt to go and have a meal there. The letter can wait until this afternoon... Klein paused for a second, then smiled sincerely:

"It's my pleasure."

He can also pet a cat while he's at it.

After all, Klein was still a little tempted by Arthur's adorable little dog.

Upon arriving at Jürgen's lawyer's house, Klein immediately spotted Brody licking his paws in the corner as soon as he entered.

What if Brody were turned into an extraordinary pet...? This thought inexplicably popped into Klein's mind.

In his opinion, Brody the black cat was actually quite intelligent and humane.

It's a pity this cat belongs to someone else. I'll go ask Arthur another day and see what advice he has for choosing an extraordinary pet... Klein stared at the black cat Brody and thought to himself.

The black cat, which was licking its paws, seemed to sense the ill intent in Klein's eyes. It looked up at him, then flipped over and jumped out of the window, disappearing in an instant.

Klein scratched his face somewhat awkwardly, then sat down at the table as if nothing had happened and began eating the bean and turnip soup that Mrs. Doris had made.

……

Queens, in the luxurious villa of Earl Hall's family.

Susie lay in the corner of the study, seemingly bored as she observed her surroundings.

Meanwhile, Earl Hall was talking to his eldest son, Hilbert Hall, about the Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Association.

At the same time, he was also teaching his eldest son how to become a qualified aristocrat of the new era.

After gathering enough information, the golden retriever Susie slipped away unnoticed.

It went to Audrey's studio and told her everything it had overheard, which was sitting in front of her easel reading a book.

Audrey had no particular reaction to this, but instead sighed:

Life bestows upon us a great and infinitely noble gift: youth. It is full of strength, expectation, ambition, thirst for knowledge and fighting spirit, hope and confidence.

"The person who can write such sentences must be an extremely capable person. I'd like to meet Arthas's master."

The golden retriever, Susie, shook her head somewhat confusedly and said:

"Ugh... I don't think I understand very well."

Audrey smiled and patted Susie's head, saying:

"You haven't been able to read for very long, so it's okay if you don't understand. As long as you keep learning, one day you'll become a knowledgeable person... your dog."

Susie nuzzled against Audrey and muttered:

"But I couldn't even understand what Earl Hall and the others were talking about. Will I really be able to become knowledgeable in the future?"

Audrey smiled faintly:

"Of course, no matter how long the road is, you can walk it step by step. No matter how short the road is, you can't reach it without taking the first step. As long as you keep moving forward, you will definitely grow."

As for what Dad and the others said, it's a good thing that you won't have to smell those pungent odors anymore.