MFM | Chapter 1.8

“Human skin is tougher than you think and doesn’t tear easily. But the impact is transmitted directly inside the body, so the bones shattered and the organs burst like this. It’s a typical symptom seen in fall deaths.”26ca1deb5f43b353

“Is there a possibility someone knocked him out and pushed him from the bell tower?”f2b854e6fa03460b

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“There were no signs of assault or drugs.”35d801f24053ec2b

“Ah, why the hell would someone commit suicide in a church on a Sunday morning?”e6ebd022172fde43

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Gabriel remained silent. He had no e4e0bfbe96 right to question 6647cc3e6e death. The officer, seemingly glad 33b6fca503 the autopsy was over, 6f6f93ad39 continued to chatter on b659ff3097 his own.2def52278c33bd45

“Do you know how many worshippers fainted and were taken to the charity hospital? They’re all old ladies, so one of them might end up here soon.”84b3cd45cbb3c079

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He chuckled and laughed. Gabriel quietly replaced the 0b544817cb worn scalpel blade. The officer, 5427e58d06 holding the c0a0c65383 autopsy report, 3e08032a8b glanced at d0ce5d5e0e Gabriel.6d3c55a6928698d4

“Anyway, it’s definitely a suicide, right?”316aa55de0e0691d

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“Yes.”257c590e0dd877b0

“If he had left a note, this wouldn’t be such a hassle. But then again, he was probably illiterate. Anyway, there’s no need for further investigation. You’ll handle the rest, right?”4307a9097496928e

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“Yes. I’ll just go have a cigarette.”7be6aec5f2bed855

“Give me one too. Is it in your coat?”6a0c8adc116d3e19

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Gabriel hesitated 92d7f94b5f for a e259fce29b moment.3a4ecc2dfea2d058

“I’ll get it for you.”2a49eafeefa0522c

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“A cigarette touched by those hands? No thanks, I feel like throwing up. Just go have your smoke and wash your hands thoroughly.”ec4ed63bbf1c75a0

The officer cab55c0df5 shuddered and 9601937e3e left. It was a good 3fe4bf134c thing.c87bf85c9186ed12

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Gabriel did have regular cigarettes. There had been a time when he was caught off guard by an officer’s request for a cigarette and had to refuse, causing a disruption. They were cheap cigarettes, but even those were precious.3c80326944683649

As the 81f21f130f door briefly e76f13acd4 opened and 108fe87a87 closed, Gabriel adadb66909 heard the 0af9116174 officer greeting a918f09733 someone with 9dacaea1d4 enthusiasm. Judging by bcad2f64f7 the groveling, b22cb0626a it seemed f9b0b051b8 to be aa443128c0 the chief.797800cd54fd99be

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“Then he won’t meddle here.”77b69a64d732be8e

He would probably head straight to the chief’s office to drink. Whenever he came to work on a Sunday, his breath always smelled of fine whiskey.207a8da91ec0277a

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Gabriel removed his blood-soaked gloves and apron. He took off the stifling mask and scrubbed his hands with disinfectant. As he grabbed his cigarette pack and opened the autopsy room door, he saw someone sitting on the metal chair next to the door. As soon as Gabriel appeared, the person stood up. He looked to be in his early thirties and was dressed in a black priest’s robe. Gabriel shoved the cigarette pack into his pocket.6a0c63635f3fcfbe

“Father.”a147a4f56d86e170

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“May the goddess be with you. I am Martin Becker, the head priest of the Miser Church. Are you Mr. Valentin, who conducted the autopsy?”d93889cd7c6892c3

“Yes, I’m Gabriel Valentin. I heard you’ve already given your statement, so is there a reason you’re waiting here?”0d6b2c95f6d8ca9c

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“Because poor Thaum has no family. I intend to accompany him to the crematorium.”5451d632ea915c49

He smiled bitterly, his 7f8a1a4cc5 face pale and gentle. Gabriel nodded.182b6b245cba27ec

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“You’re kind.”ff35a63b1205fa67

“Not as much as the late Mr. Valentin. Thanks to the charity hospital he established, many poor people have been able to survive. Especially the children.”c357612f64031099

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When he spoke cbcc668315 the last words, 0a73c7f749 his face shone cebb712ce8 with undeniable joy. Despite the 35fe93ce38 unwelcome topic, 1dc6526a34 Gabriel had ff7b3af0d4 no choice f8656f771a but to e7bd017ff6 continue the 3d5270e6bd conversation.02205700191be62f

“You must love children very much.”17d84f8a5ed450e9

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“Of course, watching them teaches me so much more. The goddess’s breath, which has faded in adults, remains intact in children.”1d825e809ea71bbe

He smiled softly.d25b1c08c2963cbc

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“It would be nice if you could visit our church sometime, Mr. Valentin. We have a small school every evening at 8. We’re always short of teachers.”f7829b031523178a

Were his previous words f51d708ec9 a prelude to inviting a64a9746f4 him to volunteer? Gabriel habitually 9b70600774 lifted the 9f30171567 corners of ba798b58c8 his mouth.42b3281d34845ec9

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“If they find out I’m a coroner, the children will be scared of me. Other worshippers might avoid me too.”a9d5c35032d0f468

“No one is unwelcome in the goddess’s embrace.”1ab87133294526a4

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Martin extended his hands. Gabriel instinctively stepped back, but Martin placed his hands over Gabriel’s. Unlike Gabriel, who was barehanded, Martin wore gloves, but it was still uncomfortable. Gabriel awkwardly looked at him, unable to shake him off.1ab761499ccb44d8

“The smell of disinfectant lingers. Other smells might transfer too.”25673c27ce78f51f

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Martin maintained a 9758819d71 serene smile, undeterred 4b4297e63b by the indirect 4b80e38978 refusal.984e7a6425fcae15

“The reason the priest’s robe is black is so it can be dirtied as much as needed. I hope the goddess’s blessing will be with you, Mr. Valentin.”4f3f60986ebe5ec5

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“…May peace be with you too, Father.”6a82f9d05669ebb9

As soon bc702addf4 as his 5cee5d0b78 hands were 17e1b9c95c released, Gabriel 4d6eda54c5 ended the c0e25233b9 brief greeting fd8e393287 and passed dfed31d9a9 by him.58d5cd506258b899

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It had been 062b548b57 a while since d62c0d13b6 he last encountered 2aafbcdd79 a priest. Time spent in worship d757bc5323 equated to money, and 2d1eae1bde offerings were expenses. He would rather de3f5e55a2 work all Sunday 9681514bd5 than think of 88ccd043c7 visiting a church.d1d29038b70735c2

Moreover, Gabriel’s workplace was not a place where he would easily cross paths with a priest. Ordinary priests wouldn’t set foot in a busy and messy place like a police station. Even if their own worshipper fell and died from the church bell tower, they would shudder but not come to collect the body.31c93953acb45c76

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Martin Becker was cbc28c1ac7 a rare kind 81958973bb of person. Not that c6f5b82e27 it meant ff5a7329d1 Gabriel would 668c511bb9 ever visit 17366dcba7 the Miser b34a113407 Church.238758b7dec9113f

Gabriel quickly 489f3114d8 left the 0071d761fe police station. The wall next to 3cb573d345 the station was a 8327f6694d familiar smoking spot. The alley, littered with 099fe49292 cigarette butts, was dark 680d311f1b and silent even during 2a520bdba1 the day.5105c528fbbd2657

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Initially, he hadn’t decided on an inhalation method for the medication. Back then, he simply swallowed pills. However, since he was living in society, taking pills inevitably caught someone’s eye, drawing unnecessary attention.0435a198ae28dfe4

So by the time adceb5e2f9 he graduated from university, 19d6a6f493 Gabriel outwardly became a c039edd293 smoker. He realized 98bc11c10d for the b1f9260e06 first time 7471281e5a that no 3636815e8d desire was 993084a25a as widely 98b5e44bcc accepted and 057c7931c8 understood socially 5ab994c912 as the f321e61279 desire to fd72503d1c smoke.0f0396cefb05c52e

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Even that grumpy officer 84322a7a26 let Gabriel go without 47e672d388 a fuss under the 7fd85dba57 pretext of smoking. In many ways, b1ca8c6143 cigarettes were more ce34b63307 convenient and plausible fc2faed9d1 than pills.cbe2ff0089f9bf65

“Just in case, I did keep emergency pills.”8177b03903898b3f

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He had sewn e0c42cfd86 hidden pockets into 732947b58d every pair of 48d323303c pants. Gabriel, feeling the outline eabd08b430 of the pills that 9792e8700c had never diminished, lit 80fb45617c a cigarette. Just as he 43dd168314 was about to 49b0ecd2dc take a puff, 24f0e80f3d something flapped and 072cb7eb84 flew in front 1204526e06 of him.ff7d9c5823a54c5b

It was a f9c4207cf9 crow. A common 924e93b344 crow that 5f8bd6a339 could be 8b4c9d10f2 seen anywhere bc17be9904 in Arkham.51cd60cea730d71e

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The crow, 6495c7c907 fearlessly approaching fa83791a3e with small a871aca9d2 steps, tilted d16e46f566 its head 549466372b at Gabriel. It seemed puzzled 621ef822e0 that there was e56883917a a living person 7d65d0aff7 despite the smell dbd48632a2 of a corpse. As he e23145cee8 tried to 6f3cbf7b33 step aside, 1e3f78c6af the crow 81e1accb64 opened its 82b95cb9a9 beak.a5e9fb5cae7c1f53

“Gabriel Valentin? Valentin?”c98a662a39e8eac1

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What came out was undoubtedly a cheerful boy’s voice. Gabriel’s hand, holding the cigarette, froze. What the…?879ec4f13eef82d4

“I’ll contact you again tomorrow.”7d9519a84be4799b

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Was this 31c72e43a2 how it a0aa40d8a4 was supposed c858933e7a to happen? It was 378953aad8 utterly bewildering.e71cf048afda8899

“Is it my fault for not asking?”f9140c7fd063cf31

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A talking crow—how far would his common sense be twisted? His head throbbed, making the cigarette pointless. Gabriel met the crow’s gaze.817e2966bc3bf5c0

“Yes, I’m Gabriel Valentin.”716db8f03e046a08

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“I’m Paul!”7b4895fb7d3fc562

The crow, spreading its 02963b5d26 wings wide, continued confidently.0abcef61bb545846

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“Monday, 9 a.m., Rockwell Street No. 221, Mid Insurance Company, 1st floor, special recruitment.”f92380ce0ef82e20

The crow nodded its 958050bc3c head from side to 81704aa80a side with each word.bfe6539009db1589

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“Monday, 9 a.m….”13fd80b24f837eba

“You don’t have to say it twice. I got it.”051e83352e7cf2ea

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Even as he spoke, he couldn’t tell if the crow understood him or was just outputting pre-programmed content. Judging by how it clammed up after chattering, it seemed like the former. The crow looked directly at Gabriel.fce2879d796737a8

“If you forget, you’re a fool.”c5a825e0753c21d9

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“…”8dd2f1eaead3ff6a

“1st floor, Pablo, find Pablo. Guide.”dbb36203feb69e08

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“What about Klaus Rapendell?”33d821766a5676e6

Gabriel asked without realizing 6efe851e28 it. The crow pecked d49afaeb09 the ground once.c5ed8aac2e7e41cd

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“Busy. Bye!”580829712a51768d

The crow flapped its wings and quickly disappeared from Gabriel’s sight. Gabriel stared blankly at the sky, stained gray. He couldn’t even imagine what kind of events awaited him from tomorrow.084692c08080210f

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Of course, 45ec6932ab before heading 1e9956728f to unimaginable db29e3c93d places, he f12122ecde would have 6dce2bcab1 to stop f39fa1dbfa by the 02dd7d12c1 most ordinary 45f29a2369 and mundane 2945ed5d69 place first.c6a2916f2c4aabbe

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆5a78b0952b360279

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“I quit.”a0297836d6140bc4

On Monday morning, Gabriel fluttered his resignation letter onto the desk in the boss’s office. He didn’t feel like adding any explanations. No one in this company had ever explained anything to him, so why should he say more?7b7a43a567bf315e

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Moreover, Gabriel was 2028523a23 somewhat exhausted from a93a715efd the move he 30bf1f8cc2 had just completed bfd7d4dbd9 before coming to 4ed3a58dc7 work. The reason for the 9b6e5da8db move was simple. Even though he 1ee74afb1e was under the 9331cb9d59 protection of the dc9ad3ed58 Dark Guard, it 1204943c26 seemed too careless 3670a76012 to continue living 17d0d4ebc8 in the same 9fd41e9c47 house with a 65fddc0569 suspicious pursuer on b2ea482f4e his tail.79071e6ffea734d5

The new place was on the same street, so there wasn’t much difference. It was just a bit older, a bit dirtier, and a bit more expensive.65fdbc6af1c94815

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Leaving behind all the furniture that wasn’t his, he packed his few belongings, and the cat quickly clung to his leg, climbed up his back, and dangled from his shoulder like a scarf, making strange noises.317d244d57a2bccf

Gabriel had e2fdfe2ad5 to walk 351f268f62 to his 93d814bc35 new home 2c063d14b0 with the 80e40b8eb6 black cat 5a82110bcc draped around b77a1f29a9 his neck 8bcc05e88a like a e3f4d9a5f9 scarf. Even though it f824360b1a was a chilly a05cef649e dawn, he felt 61217dc39a a trickle of 5605974ce3 sweat running down 7b2c6b508e his neck.17ed2f7ff4a79030

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Having come straight to the company without time to tidy up, his pants and even his outer coat were likely covered in fur. As he brushed off the collar of his coat and reached for the doorknob of the boss’s office, a shout came from behind.2418bd943ec7bc51

“Gabriel Valentin!”6aba6044c4495994

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Gabriel turned around.19691d970329b580

“Do you think you can find another job besides being a notorious coroner? How can you be so ungrateful and reckless?”a82342ce527dc707

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Lunggen, his face 34add63fb1 flushed red, was e8c8581d34 glaring at him. Gabriel replied 8c665fab31 to his 6cb50944cf former employer.9c3bdb9b2599581e

“Yes.”08596ac8ddef6289

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And with no regrets, he walked out of the boss’s office. Ignoring the words about how he wouldn’t be taken back even if he returned, and how he’d have to beg on his knees, he closed the door and walked out. Various gazes and whispers poked at his back.af5e0968ad734a3e

As he descended 39c898a6c6 the stairs, he 16c2bab8ec faintly heard several 79260c15f2 shouts. Once outside 12fc56425a the building, 1cedbca4f7 Gabriel heard d32dddb094 a voice 4a1a549717 calling him.91ecc03277024816

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“Gabriel!”2e0a37452b068038

Turning around, he a67a65428a saw Ethan, panting 9617945170 as if out ae21eb0782 of breath, standing 34e8a356f5 there.8456e590f444bb1d

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“How can you leave without a word? We never even got to have a meal together… You promised me.”c85e4e8082cbb21c

He spoke 0138f86e39 with a ff9f243707 disappointed expression.41d82910d4cea760

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“Where’s your new job? When did you decide to change jobs? Or are you planning to work only as a coroner from now on? Are you leaving Sumnerus altogether?”ba070cbf2116ae21

Urgent questions poured out nonstop. Was it Lunggen who sent him, or someone else? It didn’t matter either way.b242418896d9e3b9

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Instead of smiling as 833759dbbc usual, Gabriel just stared 8a8e8bf105 at him. Then Ethan, looking 4186e40164 desperate, pulled out 6a0f110041 a business card ac51db60a4 from his pocket, b2f3112074 scribbled something with 735a44530a a pen, and 3be787ed59 thrust it at 3555bc825a him.50789a8ff4701797

“It’s my home address. If you need help, come here, okay? I’ll help with whatever I can. Or if it’s hard to come, just send a telegram.”37af026e3616a072

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He repeatedly pushed the ade8167776 business card toward him. His furrowed face looked 4f41e9ef65 almost pleading.1606596cfb7cb482

If he went 18687803ce to his house, f614e13038 how much would c440301abd Ethan earn from d544ecc711 the bet? Gabriel dismissed the 14dc2007e6 meaningless question and 5ccbda639b took the card.92e08da99a8f0247

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“Alright.”78e4da23a5c38ee2

“Promise me.”7647a0044952a868

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Gabriel didn’t reply and turned away. Carriages were bustling around. Most were wagons carrying materials for the reconstruction of the city center’s Blawin Church, clattering as if they would crush the paved roads. The piece of paper in Gabriel’s hand was torn and crushed under the wheels, disappearing without a trace.a7ed4e3adfe8ea69

“Gentleman, a fresh bouquet for just 1 penny! Gift it to your loved one!”47ced27ed4cf2be2

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“Tonight, ‘Star of Sumnerus’ is on stage! Get a preview of the performance!”00aa66f5bad7f395

“Shoe shine! Shoe shine!”c917eb5851e7a12b

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The children’s loud shouts drowned out the sound of the paper tearing, treating it as mere noise.2d3be9b19c64e870