13 Mink Street

Chapter 119: Boom!

Bertha looked at Karon very seriously. In her heart, she more or less believed what Karon said, because his reasoning was quite thorough.

He looked at her with a calm expression. In truth, he had simply taken the reasons she had given him, swapped a few labels, and recited them back to her.

“Thank you for your candor, Mr. Karon,” Bertha said with a smile.

“I should thank you for your candor as well.” Karon lifted his glass of ice water and took a sip. “I believe that candor is the foundation of trust. At the very least, as colleagues, we can get along more comfortably during the time ahead.”

Deception was a psychological contest between two sides, and the core effort was not to make one’s lie tighter or more logical, but to make the other party willing, and even eager, to believe it.

Clearly, Bertha had come to that kind of fixed understanding, and had even said herself what she was willing to believe. It was like a sheet of paper stuck to her forehead that read: “Please scam me according to requirements.”

Karon felt there had to be some kind of misunderstanding at work related to what Bertha had said about his behavior toward her yesterday. The reality was that he had mistaken her for Piaget in disguise.

Of course, there was another possibility; Those who believed in Light could be more sentimental. Perhaps she sensed that Karon meant her no harm, and it was true that he held no hostility toward her. On that basis, even a lie was simply both sides taking a step down.

“I also think that nature is a very beautiful thing.” As she spoke, Bertha stood up and took the initiative to walk up to Karon, leaning her body toward him. “It also symbolizes purity, and is even equivalent to cleanliness.”

Bertha placed a hand against Karon’s chest. The tip of her tongue slipped out, creating an image of temptation. Her legs pressed closer as she whispered, “The soundproofing here is excellent, Mr. Karon. Perhaps you can give me some deeper treatment.”

Was it because he claimed to believe in the Berai Church? Karon knew that one reason the Berai Church had such a bad reputation was that, historically, many of its believers had used its name to do shameless things.

Was this also a test?

If Bertha did not resemble Linda, Karon would not have minded cooperating for the sake of maintaining his cover, but the problem was that she looked far too much like Linda.

Linda was the wife of Karon’s friend, and he found it truly difficult to do anything when it came to that face.

For that reason, he recalled how he had acted when he had believed “Linda” had been in Piaget’s office yesterday, and very stiffly, he shoved Bertha away.

She appeared to be confused. “Mr. Karon, shouldn’t you follow nature’s guidance?”

Karon nodded. “I always follow nature’s guidance. I have always opened my chest to embrace everything in nature, including my own nature.”

“Then why.” Bertha pressed close again. Under her collar, if he lifted his head even slightly, he would be able to see an even more impressive scenery.

Yet Karon still shoved her away, and did not hold back. “I follow nature’s guidance. I never conceal the expression of my instincts.”

“Oh.”

Karon looked at Bertha. “I’m sorry. You make me feel physical and psychological discomfort.”

He was being honest. First, because partial truth was the best additive for a lie. Second, because the Berai Church’s notion of nature itself carried traits of being niche and selfish.

Bertha froze. She then immediately withdrew her hand, adjusted her collar, and bowed to Karon with sincerity. “I’m sorry, truly sorry. My behavior was too presumptuous. Please forgive me.”

Karon shook his head. “It’s fine.”

In his heart, he wondered if she might have misunderstood something again.

“Today’s consultation will end here. Thank you very much for seeing me,” Bertha said.

“You’re welcome, but I would rather meet with real patients in the future so that I can demonstrate my professional value.”

“You will, but it will have to be tomorrow. You can actually clock out now. I will select some cases for you from the files and intercept other doctors’ clients for you, as you will enjoy the same level of treatment as the boss.”

“Thank you.”

“The one who should say thank you is me. From now on, I believe we will get along very well. I also have a premonition that the opportunity we are waiting for will not only benefit Light, but will also make Nature more pure.

“The boss is truly fortunate, being protected by both Light and Nature.”

“Even without Nature, I would protect him, because we are friends.”

Bertha nodded. “Oh, of course.”

She left the office. The moment she closed the door, she glanced at her boss’s office, her mind replaying the image of him walking over with a smile as soon as he had entered the room yesterday to hug Karon. The man’s sincere affection for Karon without calculating gains and losses. So that’s it.

Her gaze then fell to Alfred, who was sitting in the waiting area behind a glass partition, drinking coffee. He gave the appearance of a refined and handsome personal valet.

So that’s it after all. Bertha took a deep breath. Mr. Karon truly is a pure Berai Church believer.

***

Karon opened his notebook again, picked up his pen, and began writing and sketching. He first wrote Piaget’s name. Beside that, he wrote Bertha’s name. He then drew a circle around Bertha’s name and noted the Church of Light next to it.

Beside Piaget he wrote “opportunity.”

What kind of opportunity? Bertha had also mentioned a photograph in Piaget’s office.

Karon fell into thought, but since all of his information came from Bertha’s account, the clues were too one sided to allow any three dimensional analysis.

In any case, he did not plan to dig deeper. The remnants of the Church of Light had no ill intent toward Piaget, and even wanted to protect him. Karon’s principle was to deliberately avoid most sources of trouble. He would not let curiosity pull him into some messy affair without some sort of absolute benefit.

Of course, some trouble could not be avoided, but that was simply a part of life. That was fundamentally different from actively courting it.

Karon tore out the pages and slipped them into his pocket. His work for the day was over, so he could clock out. Looking at the time, it seemed only just lunchtime, yet from what Bertha had implied, Karon would receive no work in the afternoon. He simply had to wait a day to receive appointments.

That was fine, he would just leave.

Piaget would not be moved just because Karon sat at the clinic entrance before dawn waiting for work, and likewise, he would not get angry because Karon left early.

Karon opened his office door, but then hesitated. A photograph?

He suddenly remembered how things had worked back home with Tiz. In the Immers household, doubts were never allowed to last overnight, so why would he guess at riddles here instead of directly looking at the photo?

Karon did not go to the clinic’s waiting room to meet up with Alfred, but instead turned and headed to the boss’s office instead.

“Mr. Karon.” The secretary at the door stood and greeted him. “The boss is inside.”

“Alright.” Karon simply pushed the door open. The secretary jerked and immediately moved around her desk to follow after him, but Karon was already inside. Piaget was sitting behind his desk, talking on the phone. He smiled at Karon, and raised a hand to signal his secretary to leave.

She had no choice but to close the office door.

Piaget pointed at the handset, and Karon nodded. He then walked over to Piaget’s side and began to rummage through the drawers.

Piaget looked at Karon in confusion, but then simply stood and moved aside, still speaking into the phone while giving Karon room for his search.

One drawer, two drawers, and then Karon finally opened a drawer with some photographs. He took them out and flipped through them, one by one. Piaget leaned over, still talking on the phone as he observed Karon’s actions.

In the end, Karon found the photo. It was one of Bede, a very young Linda, and Piaget, with a café in the background. It was probably the one.

“Alright, that’s it. Yes, we look forward to further cooperation with you. Thank you.”

Click. Piaget finally finished his call and hung up. Before he could ask anything, Karon pointed at Bede in the photo and asked, “Do you know him?”

“Yes,” Piaget answered. “Back then, I met him while accompanying Linda to an art exhibition.”

“And then?” Karon asked.

“And then what?” Piaget smiled.

“That’s what I’m asking you. If you trust me, tell me the truth, because you should know that I won’t harm you.”

“There has always been a voice in my heart telling me that if I wait here, I can wait for him to appear, and that he can guide me to the world Linda longed for.”

“A voice in your heart?”

“You could say it’s in my dreams. I keep dreaming about that scene of drinking coffee together back then, and I can also sense that during his conversations with Linda, there was some mysterious region or environment that they both yearned for.

“But what my dream tells me is that he will walk up to me in hysterics.”

“In hysterics?” Karon blinked.

“Yes. As if he has suffered a tremendous blow, yet also like he has achieved some great awakening.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“Karon, so what are you doing?”

“Caring about you,” Karon replied. “Also, do you have some obsession with him?”

“I don’t know.” Piaget shook his head. “Life is life, while dreams are dreams. I can distinguish reality from dreams.”

“That’s good.” Karon organized the photos and put them back into the drawer.

“That’s it?” Piaget asked.

“Work well, live well.” Karon patted Piaget’s shoulder. “I know what I’m about to say is going to sound very cliche, and that it’s used all the time in movies, but I’m still going to say it: What you shouldn’t ask, don’t ask.”

“Heh heh heh.” Piaget could not help laughing.

“I’ll even add one more: What you shouldn’t be curious about, don’t be curious about it.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“If you have more dreams or receive more guidance, tell me immediately. I’ll help you—”

“To interpret my dreams?”

“No. I’ll give you therapy. Linda left me a letter, telling me to take care of you. Do you know, Piaget, how difficult it is in this world to have a friend you can go to immediately when you’re short on money, without worrying that he won’t lend it to you?”

“Yes, I know. I’ll listen to you, and I’ll listen to Linda.”

“Mm.” Karon opened his arms and gave Piaget a brotherly hug, patting his back.

“Boss, this is the document from the Veyn Military Academy Psychological Observation Society...” Bertha pushed the door open at that moment. Seeing the scene, she immediately retreated back out.

“I think my personal assistant may have misunderstood something,” Piaget observed.

“I think hiring her as your personal assistant is what truly invites misunderstanding,” Karon replied.

“I won’t treat her as Linda, but having someone who looks like Linda appear in front of me often is also a kind of happiness. Why shouldn’t I face the happiness in my heart.”

“Alright, do as you like. I’m off work. Bertha says my first patients won’t be until tomorrow.”

“I have two meetings this afternoon that I can’t push back. Otherwise, I would go to your place to sit for a while. Also, will you really not consider moving? I asked around last night, and Bluebridge Community is truly quite far from here.”

“I just bought the house, and the mortgage isn’t paid off yet, so I don’t have the money to move,” Karon replied while walking towards the office door.

Piaget smiled. “Money isn’t a problem.”

“Don’t say disgusting things.” Karon turned his head while pointing a finger at Piaget. “Alright, see you tomorrow.”

Karon walked out. Bertha stood at the door and smiled at him again. He nodded to her and went straight to the clinic entrance. When he entered the waiting room, Alfred immediately came over. “Lunch, Young Master?”

“No. I’m off work.”

“Off work now? Hm, what a fine job.”

“Let’s go home. You didn’t get to that pastry shop last night, did you?”

“No, because I had to drive Ciri home.”

“Then after we get home, go this afternoon.”

“Alright, Young Master.”

“Sorry to trouble you.”

“Oh my, Young Master. It is simply an insult to suggest that a man would be troubled by going to a pastry shop to eat pastries.”

“Hmm, then I’ve insulted you.”

“Alright, Young Master.” Alfred smiled and pressed the elevator button. Just then, the doors opened, and a man stepped out while holding a boy’s hand.

“Excuse me, is this floor for the Adams Psychological Practice?”

“Yes. Go right in,” Karon answered.

“Thank you.”

Karon entered the elevator. Alfred pressed the floor, and as the elevator descended, Alfred sighed, “I asked, and the trams aren’t that crowded at noon.”

“That’s nice.” Karon nodded.

“If our hearse were here, it would be perfect. When taking you to work in the morning, you could nap in the hearse,” Alfred joked.

Karon laughed too. “Then we’d need a comfortable coffin. A good coffin has truly excellent shock absorption.”

He remembered when he had been discharged from the hospital after being stabbed. Mason had transported him home in a coffin. Lying in it had been genuinely comfortable.

They exited the building and walked to the tram platform. Beside it, a group of people had set up snack stalls. Most of the vendors had purple hair.

“Young Master, are you hungry? Would you like some flatbread?” Alfred offered.

Karon looked at the tram approaching in the distance. “Forget it. Eating in the tram is no good.”

“Oh. So that’s a thing.” Alfred silently filed it away.

They bought tickets and boarded. The midday traffic was not heavy. Karon walked to the very back, found an empty seat, and sat down. Alfred stood beside him.

“There’s a seat,” Karon commented, seeing an empty one.

“No. I’ve been sitting for a long time. I prefer to stand,” Alfred replied.

Karon nodded. It was then that he noticed that everyone in front of him, behind him, and beside him was eating something, and it was all heavily seasoned food. Of particular note was a little girl who boarded later. She seemed to be riding alone, and carried a bag of chips. Two large spoonfuls of sauce had been added to the chips: one spoon of chili sauce and one of tomato sauce.

She walked over to Karon, looked at the empty seat beside him, and asked, “Big brother, can I sit there?”

“Of course.” Karon moved his legs aside to let her in.

“Thank you, big brother.” She sat down and continued eating her chips. Karon tried to slow his breathing as much as possible.

“Big brother, do you want a chip?” The girl picked up one that was soaked in tomato sauce and offered it to Karon.

“I don’t eat them, but thank you,” Karon refused with a smile.

“Alright.” The girl kept eating her own.

“Are you riding alone? Where is your family,” Karon asked. The child appeared to be only seven or eight. York City’s public security was not terrible, but was not good either. Such a young child was quite unsafe riding the tram alone.

“Oh, I just left Mom’s place. I’m going back to Dad’s place.” She then lowered her voice. “My stepdad gave me one thousand rels extra pocket money to make me go back earlier.”

As she spoke, she nudged her slightly bulging pocket with her elbow.

“In the future, you can’t tell strangers when you have money in your pocket. Do you understand?” Karon warned.

“But big brother isn’t a bad person,” the girl said, sounding as if that were obvious.

She’s the second woman today to think that I’m not a bad person.

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you’re so handsome, big brother. You can easily make money without doing bad things.”

“Heh.” Karon chuckled.

At the next stop, two young men with purple hair boarded the tram. The moment they did, other passengers in front revealed disdain on their faces.

Alfred whispered, “Young Master, their hair was recently dyed; There are stains from it on their necks and collars.”

“Mm.”

The tram continued moving.

Suddenly, the two purple-haired young men pulled out pistols and began shooting the passengers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the gunshots rang out, the passengers who were hit screamed, while those who were not hit screamed even louder.

The tram was long, and the shooting happened at the very front, yet a bullet struck the window beside Karon.

“Young Master, get down!” Alfred shouted. After shouting, he immediately surged forward. His eyes gradually turning red. He intended to deal with the two men and eliminate the source of danger.

Karon immediately bent down, his lips moving rapidly as he chanted, “O’ Supreme God of Order, O’ Chains of Order that judge all things, attend my call. Bestow protection upon your believer, guard my heart that longs for Order and my unwavering faith in Order...”

When his chant reached that point, Karon glanced at the little girl beside him, who was still clutching her bag of chips. He reached out and pulled her into his arms as he continued, “Order—Basic Shadow Guard.”

Then again, “O’ Supreme God of Order, attend my call...

“Order—Basic Black Feather Guard.”

For extra safety, once more. “O’ Supreme God of Order, attend my call...

“Order—Protective Wall”

By this time, Alfred had already taken control of the two shooters. Their eyes were vacant as they stood in place.

Alfred turned his head to look back. His young master’s location had become heavily wrapped in layers of pitch black feathers, barriers, and more. Young Master is truly my Young Master, always decisive and so meticulous.

Alfred was about to force the two men to turn their guns on each other when a row of sticks of dynamite slipped out from within one of the young men’s clothes. The fuse had already been lit, and the moment they struck the floor of the tram, that burning fuse touched the charges.

“...” Alfred froze.

BOOM!!!