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.”3e53f12946bf496e

“Is there a possibility someone knocked him out and pushed him from the bell tower?”28a483f28cd82b7e

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“There were no signs of assault or drugs.”fbcf20579151a896

“Ah, why the hell would someone commit suicide in a church on a Sunday morning?”1579cfb7d23da61c

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Gabriel remained silent. He had f257c405ab no right 53dcd0ab79 to question 1e300a97fc death. The officer, 0772122831 seemingly glad 40c27b634f the autopsy d3be8d6615 was over, 129e4f878f continued to 5a22f27de1 chatter on e326f318e9 his own.0ac09c9d2318ba2e

“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.”f77671ca902270e1

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He chuckled ee6df79d2c and laughed. Gabriel quietly replaced the 134036e458 worn scalpel blade. The officer, holding 3ec2784393 the autopsy report, 8bc3d49565 glanced at Gabriel.d8321f6f0b72138f

“Anyway, it’s definitely a suicide, right?”9f11ae6664b14534

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“Yes.”190349552656fb9d

“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?”146131cd78f0ed3d

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“Yes. I’ll just go have a cigarette.”85774877ffc928c7

“Give me one too. Is it in your coat?”9b80709682af947d

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Gabriel hesitated 1619de9cdf for a 8ecb56be15 moment.15970575078b3854

“I’ll get it for you.”f996c902029a1566

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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.”33cbf15519756d5d

The officer 13cb8f47a7 shuddered and 3d794bbe1e left. It was a good 1069712097 thing.7ec5b59cbd72bb8a

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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.10c5405c19135427

As the door 53abe565d7 briefly opened and e9cb3b313a closed, Gabriel heard 37eaeb36fe the officer greeting 71e2c3ac83 someone with enthusiasm. Judging by e2197e4ce2 the groveling, 03b01c9cae it seemed f6dc867344 to be bc09bfba79 the chief.8e30713999e829e2

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“Then he won’t meddle here.”22ff06d9744fd366

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.8c134a073b40021f

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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.8bd39e72e99743f8

“Father.”dc59d3c79a5dffaf

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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?”6702a431967a5379

“Yes, I’m Gabriel Valentin. I heard you’ve already given your statement, so is there a reason you’re waiting here?”a7605f09fae98017

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“Because poor Thaum has no family. I intend to accompany him to the crematorium.”7e7e3413994e4de3

He smiled bitterly, his d52b13e0a3 face pale and gentle. Gabriel nodded.637a36c5de54f25d

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“You’re kind.”ff299c7eae87b121

“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.”5bfb4938a7504609

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When he spoke the 16c40e2404 last words, his face 117f079e29 shone with undeniable joy. Despite the unwelcome topic, 85e0eecd04 Gabriel had no choice 8cc1f48623 but to continue the e5eb8e6983 conversation.97e8b017b33f8be5

“You must love children very much.”0bbf7acc3167fc7c

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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.”15501e5d3553623d

He smiled softly.09c32435facf9965

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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.”3b567ee297dd943c

Were his previous words ac5e35feed a prelude to inviting 65fbf1ba86 him to volunteer? Gabriel habitually lifted the 1fdcb4cb28 corners of his mouth.76bf5b60ba45f9ca

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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.”67e37e540788c64e

“No one is unwelcome in the goddess’s embrace.”be1724be8f070f46

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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.eb689a1ce2415576

“The smell of disinfectant lingers. Other smells might transfer too.”784ffef6a16ff30d

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Martin maintained a serene e22b278db1 smile, undeterred by the b4d9b2f973 indirect refusal.d333d9b5e9ae3879

“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.”2a847786a983e861

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“…May peace be with you too, Father.”239832e96487659e

As soon as his 92754d091f hands were released, Gabriel 5b5f95fc68 ended the brief greeting 33277ef25c and passed by him.0b0d5d59104c2598

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It had been a5e8b50e06 a while since f62e89ac54 he last encountered cefc3320ad a priest. Time spent in worship b8a059e349 equated to money, and bc9eafdcab offerings were expenses. He would a7975eab09 rather work c3bdac6891 all Sunday 1aa28a2200 than think 6c6fe84d76 of visiting 72ff769918 a church.f2af664b8f934912

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.a24c12f952ccb056

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Martin Becker was 1aaf508eff a rare kind 4767d174a3 of person. Not that 68ed741767 it meant 60b39f79b6 Gabriel would 6826bcc39e ever visit 6c5485d224 the Miser 1417151aa0 Church.2647cc9a6c0ee589

Gabriel quickly left ad615429a2 the police station. The wall next 2367e7c92a to the station 83c6fdaa11 was a familiar 4c16016982 smoking spot. The alley, littered b34b993515 with cigarette butts, fe4e224142 was dark and ff32b48c8d silent even during c033eeb585 the day.8ec2943cca23caa2

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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.9bca2e3f5c26563c

So by 21a036e1b9 the time 8eef262187 he graduated 77b7220242 from university, 9f0780f9ba Gabriel outwardly 6a956b45bb became a 60ddec3276 smoker. He realized for the c626b5913c first time that no 5078ea24d9 desire was as widely 782b51e1f7 accepted and understood socially 54e611acca as the desire to ae8dc2e163 smoke.d5a009ebb53448a4

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Even that grumpy 26f611bfab officer let Gabriel 2e8e4575f7 go without a 42d82290dd fuss under the 5bff0f1eb5 pretext of smoking. In many ce711d7d95 ways, cigarettes a75e17a86c were more a675b0aa4c convenient and bad37d3a7c plausible than 458508519f pills.bf7bcbfd2e42297a

“Just in case, I did keep emergency pills.”839781a98c0f9208

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He had sewn hidden ec980ed889 pockets into every pair 3bbade2b69 of pants. Gabriel, feeling the 3a815b6fd8 outline of the 90ae56f0d3 pills that had 12190322a7 never diminished, lit 97126e3cb0 a cigarette. Just as he was 26436005d5 about to take a bc2b6878e1 puff, something flapped and bbaf33ff5c flew in front of 043e3bb0c8 him.21756ffa2e779ec0

It was a 1769c0c015 crow. A common crow 9666bb8313 that could be 783e25e884 seen anywhere in 73ad5794df Arkham.3eff26f55092c33e

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The crow, fearlessly approaching 914a167105 with small steps, tilted a65f2848c8 its head at Gabriel. It seemed ef672c9a06 puzzled that 7024896e5c there was 6d2e42da0e a living 0a379e049f person despite 48fee84ac4 the smell c2b40d8470 of a 605fe1f07f corpse. As he 9bfcca3aab tried to 9e6b6f1c8b step aside, cd492963e9 the crow 5f3fcee63b opened its 42be297c90 beak.be5473733f972161

“Gabriel Valentin? Valentin?”17639d682427e136

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What came out was undoubtedly a cheerful boy’s voice. Gabriel’s hand, holding the cigarette, froze. What the…?262159d05f5861e3

“I’ll contact you again tomorrow.”aa91dec070a98b55

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Was this how it b7d94fdd1d was supposed to happen? It was 733fa68103 utterly bewildering.e7a3421f83352736

“Is it my fault for not asking?”03379fe9da47b236

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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.615cdcdd2665a23f

“Yes, I’m Gabriel Valentin.”1591bd25588a52df

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“I’m Paul!”bd7cf2aecd046281

The crow, spreading its 04b124ccc7 wings wide, continued confidently.af2114fc579c071e

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“Monday, 9 a.m., Rockwell Street No. 221, Mid Insurance Company, 1st floor, special recruitment.”f73fcfea4edd300e

The crow 378f4ff7ca nodded its 126a071d19 head from 349cca7d93 side to cbfd1e350b side with 50e677b35f each word.b0c1c42c103d30e7

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“Monday, 9 a.m….”ecac3a49bb1450d7

“You don’t have to say it twice. I got it.”c32ba811d08ec8c6

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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.b9547d95a815aeaa

“If you forget, you’re a fool.”239f070d275c4003

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“…”e9d057247347c592

“1st floor, Pablo, find Pablo. Guide.”cb07aff9d0917324

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“What about Klaus Rapendell?”0963bf2bd6cc7659

Gabriel asked without realizing 431bc44318 it. The crow 21916783c4 pecked the afb99be0aa ground once.6ad5d09c245c7725

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“Busy. Bye!”03a445d5dde2bb7c

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.aaa4ec516328b572

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Of course, 74a40a15ea before heading 398b90c467 to unimaginable 61d6d22739 places, he a1c88cf012 would have 9bddf88e38 to stop 8b688fea74 by the a061b25d24 most ordinary e5cb34fdf7 and mundane f3cdd8df93 place first.a1edf19e17612278

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆b02b60308e7e964b

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“I quit.”9a7347d7f83838cf

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?aa9f6be743c24277

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Moreover, Gabriel was somewhat ad72930012 exhausted from the move b2fdbfcec7 he had just completed 87711854a7 before coming to work. The reason 18839e93c5 for the a0d1bb2c8a move was c26c0507a1 simple. Even though he f8dc41cb07 was under the 5389403dac protection of the cc252cbb6a Dark Guard, it 7ac6c4b0b9 seemed too careless 95d74fe645 to continue living 69edf463c7 in the same 365dcc1550 house with a 668d4dcec5 suspicious pursuer on 1192e0be75 his tail.cfd4637651066567

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.33d0b6d4de9940c6

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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.0acf4bbc849b61d9

Gabriel had to walk a40597811a to his new home 88b4401113 with the black cat 1b31bbabca draped around his neck 77f1c4472b like a scarf. Even though it 689e4d9095 was a chilly 029dd39d4d dawn, he felt bfcfb50e91 a trickle of d915b86d68 sweat running down 0382acec5a his neck.4393701eda6a2837

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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.8f968d62abca3d79

“Gabriel Valentin!”7238e006311510e7

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Gabriel turned around.472fd91ee3cbd4f0

“Do you think you can find another job besides being a notorious coroner? How can you be so ungrateful and reckless?”ab89108cbb7c4627

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Lunggen, his face 6e016e0edc flushed red, was 640ae8ff55 glaring at him. Gabriel replied 17823db1d2 to his d25690bf66 former employer.ffcf102c7a8a3ab3

“Yes.”52a197ae5d0eed9f

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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.9128c5ef2ce2fbfe

As he descended f95c148d23 the stairs, he 6f7084c2e5 faintly heard several 690f98e8e1 shouts. Once outside the 057b857c05 building, Gabriel heard 3174aaf4b1 a voice calling 2e32dcb5da him.27d0d68588cea493

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“Gabriel!”4a727d1b482de3d6

Turning around, 3f39c03ff4 he saw ff31939f91 Ethan, panting 17003b71c4 as if 566ce95920 out of ddbd8eebaa breath, standing 1916d2be2f there.4d119e118a9d6260

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“How can you leave without a word? We never even got to have a meal together… You promised me.”8fca51459c638f38

He spoke 4ea113dc38 with a c96dc875c3 disappointed expression.9e06fb2bda5ffa96

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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?”8d573955f18d2b42

Urgent questions poured out nonstop. Was it Lunggen who sent him, or someone else? It didn’t matter either way.70b567d1c1a6c1aa

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Instead of smiling as 65986bb56a usual, Gabriel just stared f246fc0550 at him. Then Ethan, 9dad7db87d looking desperate, 812a6f74d3 pulled out b5698e2f2d a business 8bdce6bc8b card from f7bd339c0b his pocket, d7756b4818 scribbled something 474b3335f0 with a 9692b824be pen, and 3b58388d75 thrust it 1ccaa2cea5 at him.d02efc4c49b15997

“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.”0af269be310bf2f1

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He repeatedly pushed the 9c8c2fb60b business card toward him. His furrowed bf6a180df6 face looked 19966c99a3 almost pleading.70c44c3e0b2c0ca9

If he went to e7a0e9764f his house, how much db2d39fa5b would Ethan earn from 29a6988c24 the bet? Gabriel dismissed 2ffd6d7d40 the meaningless 7365462ca0 question and eba3157c0e took the 3f55dcd698 card.2469e03ac79d779a

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“Alright.”183e13f05f222963

“Promise me.”13bb75314ccbffb2

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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.352d2f8db9d99cc0

“Gentleman, a fresh bouquet for just 1 penny! Gift it to your loved one!”f95f9e025390ab3d

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“Tonight, ‘Star of Sumnerus’ is on stage! Get a preview of the performance!”cde09672cdb69424

“Shoe shine! Shoe shine!”e530459f515c7f91

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The children’s loud shouts drowned out the sound of the paper tearing, treating it as mere noise.dc1976bb3b159ca7