"Who'd mind something like that?" Evah shot Azik a displeased look, grumbling, "It's obvious Klein needs the copper whistle more than I do. My fate's not being messed with—I can just set up a ritual to contact you, Mr. Azik. Klein's the unlucky one who needs an instant-use item like this to save his skin. I get it. And am I the type to snatch stuff from my student?"
Evah understood why Azik gave the whistle to Klein—not because he was closer to Klein, but because Klein genuinely needed it more.
Truthfully, Evah didn't care much about who got the whistle. In fact, even if Azik had offered it to him, he'd have refused. Azik could likely track the whistle's location, and Evah, with his multiple aliases, couldn't afford to carry something so traceable.
"Student?" Azik looked puzzled.
Klein's brow twitched.
"Yeah, Klein's my student…" Evah nodded matter-of-factly.
Azik blinked, glancing at Klein, then back at Jack Jones, uncertain. "Klein, you're Jack's student?"
"Uh, yeah," Klein said, left with no choice but to nod.
"That's… surprising," Azik said, his face showing unmasked astonishment.
"What's so surprising? Can't I be someone's teacher?" Evah, catching the implication, huffed indignantly.
"Well, considering a certain teacher isn't exactly the most dependable, it's not strange that Mr. Azik would be surprised," Klein said with a smile, his mischievous streak peeking through.
Azik nodded in agreement. "Jack doesn't exactly seem like teacher material."
"You guys—" Evah glared at them, exasperated. "Have you forgotten my actual job is being a teacher?"
Azik exchanged a glance with Klein, then chuckled. "Sorry, I forgot. Though you don't seem all that reliable, Jack, you're definitely a qualified teacher."
Klein, worried he'd teased too much, smiled. "Yeah, exactly. Teacher's at least very qualified in the teaching department."
"I feel like there's a jab in there somewhere…" Evah, no stranger to their teasing, didn't mind too much. This was the effect he'd been aiming for, after all.
He just huffed twice, then turned to Klein, his face openly worried. "Klein, should I contact my teacher?"
Klein's heart stirred, thinking of Jack's supposed fellow transmigrator teacher, "Lucifer Zoroast." After a few seconds of consideration, he nodded. "I'd appreciate that, Jack."
"Helping my student is only natural, right?" Evah waved it off, then looked concerned. "But my teacher's been super busy lately, so I'm not sure he'll have time. Ugh, I hope he replies soon. He hasn't even answered my last letter…"
"Did your teacher mention what he's been up to?" Klein asked, half-curious, half-probing.
"He said he's investigating the whereabouts of the War Angel, but nothing specific beyond that. He hasn't written back in days…" Evah shrugged, complaining with a scowl. "That guy's always so secretive, total riddle-master, no consideration for his student."
"War Angel?" Klein's curiosity piqued.
"Something about one of the ancient Angel, I think? I'm not too clear on it. If you're curious, Klein, I can ask him when I write," Evah said, scratching his head.
"That'd be great, Teacher," Klein said, well-versed in the art of accepting favors gracefully, even switching to a formal address. He then asked curiously, "Jack, do you know what Pathway your teacher is?"
"Nope, he never told me," Evah said, shaking his head with a blank, innocent look, perfectly embodying his naive persona.
Klein's reaction was half-resignation, half-amusement, yet somehow not surprised.
Evah, as if struck by a thought, turned to both of them. "Oh, by the way, I'm heading to Backlund in a few days. Need me to bring anything back?"
…
Evah wasn't joking about going to Backlund. A few days later, he boarded a steam train bound for the capital.
Of course, with Azik's abilities at his disposal, Evah could now travel swiftly through the spirit world—slower than a Traveler, but faster than a train. But there was no need.
This trip to Backlund was all about openly obtaining The Fool's honorific name, so his travel had to look aboveboard.
Upon arriving in Backlund, Evah quickly met Xio at the agreed-upon location.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Evah said, lowering his voice. "I read your letter, but it wasn't very detailed. Can you fill me in?"
Xio nodded and explained recent events. After receiving Jack's letter and finding his reasoning sound, she and Fors had done some digging and decided to approach Viscount Glaint, a well-known figure in occult circles. Through him, they successfully connected with Audrey Hall, daughter of Earl Hall.
"I haven't asked them about The Fool yet. I figured I'd wait until after this Beyonder's gathering, once we're more familiar," Xio said, then paused, looking at Luo Lin. "Oh, when Fors introduced you to Miss Audrey, she said you're an erudite Beyonder from an ancient family. You don't mind, right?"
Since they'd be attending the Beyonder's gathering together, Xio and Fors had already mentioned Jack Jones to Audrey and the others, though without giving his name.
"No problem, I don't mind," Evah said, shaking his head. He had no issue with that.
"Then let's go pick up Miss Audrey…" Xio nodded. The two took a carriage to the outskirts of Viscount Glaint's villa, where Fors, in disguise, soon emerged with a man and a woman.
The man, visibly frail, was clearly Viscount Glaint from the original story, dead-set on becoming an Apothecary.
The cloaked girl beside him was none other than the famed Audrey "Justice" from the original story.
Her beauty rivaled that of a Witch, her demeanor poised and impeccably elegant, a clear product of refined upbringing. Even in casual clothes, the quality of her fabric was unmistakably luxurious, paired with obviously expensive jewelry. She radiated an aura of "money talks."
(End of Chapter)
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Translator's note:
Money talks, mm-hmm, money talks
Dirty cash, I want you, dirty cash, I need you, oh
Money talks, money talks
Dirty cash, I want you, dirty cash, I need you, ohMoney talks, mm-hmm, money talks
Dirty cash, I want you, dirty cash, I need you, oh
- Dirty Cash (Money Talks)Song by The Adventures of Stevie V ‧ 1989