"Damn, how did you figure that out?" Frye watched as Kenley carefully retrieved a piece of paper, wrapped the hair within it, and tucked it into his pocket.
"Simple reasoning," Kenley replied. "Now, let's return to the team. I guarantee you'll want to hear my entire thought process."
"Reasoning? Like what those detectives do in stories?" Frye rubbed his head thoughtfully. "Fascinating concept."
The two made their way back to the team, arriving just as everyone was preparing to leave. Kenley placed his discovery on the table and began his presentation.
"We already know that prolonged contact with the Antigonus family notebook causes partial memory loss." Kenley gestured toward Klein. "Klein only spent a few hours each day with that notebook, but it's been with Riel Bieber for at least three days."
"Furthermore, we now understand this notebook chooses its holder according to its own criteria. Its selection process should be related to its origins—specifically, to the Antigonus family lineage or blood relations."
"That's a reasonable hypothesis," Dunn acknowledged.
"The notebook chose Riel Bieber, but the diluted Antigonus bloodline in his body could no longer withstand the continuous erosion from the knowledge contained within. After three days of exposure, he became 'invaded.'" Kenley looked toward Old Neil. "Or should I say 'contaminated'?"
"Both terms accurately describe his current condition," Old Neil nodded.
"This leads us to a logical conclusion. At this point, Riel Bieber's mental state had severely deteriorated. Faced with the locked door, the 'contaminated' individual had lost most of his rational thinking—he couldn't conceptualize opening the door, or opening and then relocking it. In this state, his mother's corpse triggered whatever remained of his sanity, compelling him to flee the house."
"The window was his only exit."
"After the erosion took hold, Bieber escaped through the window. Though he'd lost his reasoning, instinct remained. Simply jumping would have caused serious injury, but climbing down using the drainage pipe was the safer choice."
"That's where and why I found these hairs."
Pop, pop, pop. Leonard initiated the applause, and everyone followed suit, encouraging and acknowledging Kenley's deductive reasoning.
Kenley placed his right hand over his chest and bowed slightly to his teammates, exactly like an actor graciously thanking the audience after a successful performance.
"So now we're dealing with a mentally altered individual—or should I say, something barely human?" Dunn said thoughtfully. "This is going to be quite the headache."
"Klein, try divination on this hair sample. See if you can find any clues about Bieber's whereabouts or the notebook's location."
Klein placed the hair alongside Old Neil's portrait, suspending the yellow crystal from his left wrist above them while chanting softly.
This time, he intended to use the most effective method: "dream divination."
Repeat the question, commit it firmly to memory, then allow one's astral body to roam the spirit world through dreams, obtaining revelation.
"Riel Bieber's current whereabouts..."
"Riel Bieber's current whereabouts..."
"Riel Bieber's current whereabouts..."
After repeating the phrase seven times, he leaned back slightly, his eyes opening involuntarily as though something had blocked his divination.
The dream divination had failed.
"I'm sorry, Captain." Klein shook his head regretfully. "Something appears to be interfering with my divination."
"If the Diviner's methods don't work, then mine will be equally useless," Old Neil said, spreading his hands. "There are no other suitable rituals for locating people in this situation."
"You're all dismissed for the day. Frye, I'll need you to perform the autopsy tonight. I'll send a telegram to the Sanctuary, asking if they have better solutions for handling this type of problem."
"Understood, Captain."
"Kenley, your reasoning was crucial," Dunn nodded approvingly. "We all need to go home and bathe—wash this smell from our clothes."
"I've prepared several bottles of night vanilla essential oil. Soaking your clothes for a few minutes before washing will leave a pleasant vanilla fragrance." Old Neil produced several bottles of pale green essential oil from his robes, distributing them to those who had participated in the mission.
Old Neil's foresight was truly admirable.
This would definitely qualify for reimbursement. During Old Neil's lessons, he'd classified such items as "reasonable consumables."
Kenley could already envision tomorrow's scene: Old Neil producing a yellow reimbursement form and presenting it to the captain.
"Very impressive reasoning," Leonard said as they walked out of the team station's main entrance, patting Kenley's shoulder. "How did you come up with that?"
"This Thief potion has been incredibly helpful," Kenley replied, rubbing his chin. "The old me definitely couldn't have thought through it like that."
"Good night, Leonard." He turned right outside the door. It wouldn't take long to reach home and enjoy a thoroughly satisfying sleep.
Leonard watched Kenley's departing figure with dark, contemplative eyes, speaking as if to himself: "Do you think there's something off about him? He used to be quite simple-minded, never able to think more than one step ahead, let alone produce reasoning like that."
"Not everything needs to be suspicious," came the familiar voice in his head. "I think he's a good person. You should befriend him instead of doubting your teammate like this."
"Old man, I've never heard you speak so highly of someone," Leonard responded mentally with some irritation.
"Show some respect to your elders, you loose-tongued fool." Palles Zoroaster had grown accustomed to Leonard's manner of address.
"Everyone has their secrets. At least he's your teammate now."
"Teammate..." Leonard gazed thoughtfully at the darkening night. "Alright then, teammate."
The following Saturday and Sunday returned to their usual quiet rhythm, with no new cases to disturb them. Kenley began enjoying a peaceful life of reading and study. After more than a week of dedicated learning, his command of Hermes had reached the level where he could freely read documents written in both modern and Ancient Hermes. However, his mastery of other languages wasn't nearly as advanced.
It seemed the Thief's linguistic abilities were currently limited to the Hermes language family.
"Still reading?" Old Neil entered from outside, noticing Kenley absorbed in an Ancient Hermes report. Neil had read that same report before—it was notoriously obscure and difficult to understand, but judging by Kenley's reading pace, he seemed to genuinely enjoy the intellectual pleasure it provided.
"Young man, you should get out more. See the world, attend the opera, converse with like-minded individuals, or visit bars for drinks and conversation with attractive young ladies—all far better than this lifeless existence you're maintaining."
Had he really become so reclusive? Kenley looked up at Frye, who sat across from him. Frye nodded, confirming Old Neil's assessment.
Well then, after work he'd first visit the bank to make a deposit, then find a suitable divination club.
It was time to explore the mysteries of that ring.