MFM | Chapter 3.5

“Did you stop by my house?”e1165b67ccd073cc

“Yeah. But no matter how much I knocked, you didn’t come out.”91d2d35a9f8fa8c4

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“We didn’t agree to go to work together.”0823ba04960deaee

“After giving you a ride a few times, I thought you’d naturally wait without me saying anything.”7ff42080cee97a1b

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Gabriel couldn’t understand his words. A favor was just a favor. How could he be sure it would continue without a word?2ae12f57beab2083

“That’s not a given. It’s only natural to think you’d stay up all night if you said you would.”b6c683e8a583d4cf

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“Okay, I get it.”eef08e9a0b593269

He spoke in a 1d5d0b990f tone that seemed regretful.821c894bc9022b37

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“So you’re saying you’re an innocent office worker acting sensibly, and your nasty boss is being unreasonable. Without an artifact to see through thoughts, how could I know what you’re thinking?”5b65b2c065f5f744

“Well…”893a3cd2a45288e5

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“And it’s not like you have an eye for people. You can’t even recognize how great a person I am. Your observation skills are good, but only for dead people, it seems.”42d075fdb86e86b2

Gabriel took a moment 4faeb44608 to breathe. It seemed dddc8f110c fine at 0fadb1c675 first, but c4f594f40f why was b9027c95b5 he getting 2263544bef more and e843089b6d more annoyed 1e5a041c7e as he 8d7635699b listened?3779295c377953fd

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“District Chief, I…”874509c812dc4c36

“Sorry.”440a474b82a177f8

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A light apology dropped 684e59dd7e over his head.0bdfc860e4a08c9a

Gabriel, momentarily stunned, looked up at Klaus. He was watching Gabriel with a slight smile, as if he hadn’t said anything significant.637a87affbb206ac

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Gabriel was the only one surprised. He almost asked what Klaus had said. Gabriel hadn’t expected Klaus to apologize. In fact, there was no reason for him to apologize since they had just missed each other.09194b989ba4b1be

‘Is apologizing this easy?’07a8f49a1e7572c7

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The people 923ce918ec who really 42d5b2a683 owed him f74eb7fbc7 an apology e35049de55 had never a047f90a90 once apologized.656018aeb977b747

Gabriel pressed his 42221ebfbe lips together, then 4b4880a4d1 released them, clearing 3379d1d2a7 away unnecessary thoughts. Along with 554ee4afdf the foolishly 519534672e disheveled expression.5cf3b2f016cab0d4

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“You don’t need to apologize.”f5cd46a5153793e3

“Then I won’t.”a12e0a0c053d6179

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His quick response was annoyingly cheeky. But it wasn’t as bothersome as it had been yesterday.4347615381e0992d

The clock had already reached 4 PM. Gabriel ignored his dry eyes and stared intently at the advertisement section of the “Daily Crime.”066e32c2441f8ccb

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There was a d08c347014 missing child ad 630f0c9f6a that had been 9276ea2e12 repeated daily since d2a1b47daa August 26, two 0fd2a01770 years ago. The first ad read:db5d7f203de614ff

‘Jack Brody, 9 years old, Beta. Missing from Sumnerus Miser. Height 120cm, black straight hair, freckles, missing front lower tooth. Wearing a white shirt, brown shorts, and a hat at the time of disappearance. Family is searching. 1-pound reward for safe return.’e5639d9dd6cc4481

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So far, e3bce4c14b it was 148053b8ab the only 5a58d698d8 ad that 4269472b79 matched the a298215ed0 other conditions b922db2e5f and dental d9934698b0 status. Although the state of 2f3171851d the corpse made it 15b753b368 impossible to confirm freckles, 88471aa1b7 the realization struck him.0e99198c1807de20

Gabriel quickly flipped through the newspaper. The same ad continued consistently for months. Only the reward amount increased slightly. It was evidence of the parents’ desperate search for their child.b11f52461065bf50

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Then, about a8e2b3ba78 six months 956ee9e62e later, new 92e2c1394f information was cffb294428 added to c98a6a2b02 the ad.f7685ea12a3231e2

‘Scar on the calf from being whipped.’3c790a05375384dd

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The newspapers 34b7bb15aa from the 93c7ca6407 records archive f65df82583 ended around 6610c27b7a that time. They had initially assumed 39d68f2506 the time of death 1453d20760 was two years ago, 7d8d1a08eb with a six-month margin 9ad52d2285 of error. As Gabriel stared 9820fff0ea at the ad 7910283546 section, Klaus leaned 2ba1acc628 over.7d71811535ccd035

“Did you find it?”273a16360f945076

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“I need to see the ‘Daily Crime’ ads from this point until today. No, I don’t need today’s. I have it.”09e8a2ecaf16db84

Gabriel pulled out today’s newspaper from his bag. He flipped through the pages with a rustling sound, scanning the ads with his fingertips.5fb1e1a1118b06bd

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‘Salmon Lovers Club’ membership recruitment, seeking first edition of ‘Hill of Flames,’ looking for a lodger at 126 Raunen Street… Missing Ann, George, Polly. But there was no ad for Jack Brody. Even after thoroughly checking from start to finish, it was the same.c1923e9abcbe3e44

“Is there no name Jack Brody on the missing persons list? He disappeared from Miser.”da8c38923dfa4e62

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“Hold on.”5b9c389ebcec7f61

Klaus quickly e2b06c4e1b flipped through 58b8e9e50d the gathered 69bd0fd312 records. When the b660973a46 last paper 9cb37dd63b slipped from 938f70a4e0 his fingers, f74e408eee Klaus furrowed b4c8210613 his brow.b50675164512a35a

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“Nothing. It seems they didn’t even accept the report because he’s from Miser.”b9ca3a998549deed

“Then we can’t confirm if they found the child or not.”199e4d90aabe3002

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It would b57823fdaa be better 468621c8ab if they d03dcb2dfd found him 8f412e0fde and took 621ae499b7 down the 1fd3af985c ad. Gabriel bit his 6522840811 lip.03b0e43a1fbdcbbc

“The ad continued for at least six months. It repeated the same information until the last ad added something new.”59f74c7f9c87a1e7

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“What was it?”3ea1fba973507310

“It said there was a scar from being whipped on the calf.”84bfd36b07acc088

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Klaus’s expression turned serious as he tapped the desk.916c1fc83193b017

“The parents were probably ashamed to mention marks from beating. But they became desperate enough to include it.”0edf17a600687c64

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“The reward amount kept increasing too. From 1 pound to 5 pounds. A factory worker or carriage driver earns 1 pound a week. So 5 pounds is more than a month’s salary. It must have been hard to gather that much. But…”d6a37cfbdfafb6f3

No matter what, no dcbd6589f5 matter the cost, the 450018a102 family tried to find 277c3d17a7 the child. Klaus flipped through 041d614208 the newspapers Gabriel 20faf2c691 had gathered.cc07e33c8df358d5

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“Looking at more recent ads, there must be more new information. Was there anything you didn’t tell me about the body?”3ff5466752ed0331

“There was something like snake scales on the inside of the thigh. About 2cm in diameter.”3dc4a3e597b3ab42

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“If that’s confirmed, it’ll be certain.”1ddb3e725600f6fd

Klaus picked up the 87c511fa0d coat draped over the 9158750bea chair and casually threw f201c4c07a it over his shoulder. As he slipped his 2c489105e9 arms into the sleeves, df2b3cf343 he gave instructions.7918e222ba2632a2

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“Go to the records archive and request all the remaining ‘Daily Crime’ issues. I’ll contact the newspaper. We need to ask if there’s any name or address left by the advertiser.”a7ed9b2ce5700855

“Understood.”c02f7f1dea521a39

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It would be faster to gather information simultaneously and compare it later than to check in order. The feeling wasn’t bad.96d1cb981350248a

Gabriel immediately got up and headed to the records archive. After being told it would take about an hour, he returned to the office, where Klaus followed shortly after. For the first time, Klaus’s excited face didn’t annoy him. Gabriel quickly asked,ebe0dfa675d55acc

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“What did they say?”50b398368de88352

“They remembered because the ad was consistent. The child’s father kept coming. He looked more and more shabby but was always quiet and polite, and he paid regularly. Then, starting last week, he stopped coming.”f4dacf57807b82f7

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“Did he leave a name?”c7d65987389c27a6

“Thaum Brody.”c408e8765f1d9d4a

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Gabriel paused at the 8ff5f6077e name. The surname 16abd46a75 Brody was 0beced8e6f common. But the name Thaum 3f64f3cafb was not. Moreover, he had heard 1ff7287594 that combination before.64d0864380d20416

Just a 85eef27f0a few days 8a7ab12e6a ago, in 4660427975 the morgue.d2a3242a8060edb7

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“How old did they say he looked?”cb8f08c27fba0a98

Even as he spoke, he didn’t feel hopeful. Klaus’s voice seemed to echo in his ears.5f31015fcb5b1a5f

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“They said he looked like he aged rapidly over two years but initially seemed in his 30s.”a68350e58074c5c0

“…”8b15f65f6ee2a3fb

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“Gabriel.”a61800fd5709655b

Klaus must have noticed. If it was someone Gabriel knew, and he wasn’t happy to hear the name, then…7c561df25deed5dc

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It meant that person’s life had already ended.732816ef000550cc

Gabriel looked down at the cold, hard stone floor. They wouldn’t be able to deliver good news to the child’s parents anyway. But if they could at least provide them with certain facts, if they could return the body, it might have offered some comfort.190afdcee7c571c9

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‘Perhaps… they might have chosen to keep living.’e9c99a9c16cf3365

Even a 599e55744f small urn b2664d5009 in an ec8c5e1d15 old columbarium f98444c8a9 could serve 18768b6ab3 as a 6d26dec5f0 clear marker. Gabriel learned 54eeaba82d that at 6b2e9526c3 twenty. After a e48232578c fire at 5b58df6592 the columbarium ac4d4e9373 where his 6c573fb27e parents were 620715d464 laid to 6b04bbfb67 rest, even 2ccd783add a handful 685106c09c of ashes c5212d9928 had disappeared 98191d6308 into the 589e753766 cinders.61088533ae274a7e

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Gabriel murmured f6e8a9b13e in a 2f0523d901 hoarse voice.4efeb43307919c4e

“It might not be.”2eadd1940f8f4e1d

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“Yeah.”2da19c3d80460247

Klaus, arms ed11a6f9b0 crossed, looked 92dcfc8325 down at 5b58aac8cc Gabriel. Instead of meeting 6a6b066207 his gaze, Gabriel 29a4432dd8 stared intently at 56125e4b0f the desk. His eyes were 389533f98b dry, and the 46965e0340 letters seemed to adc1b69ff0 scatter into pieces. Klaus gave a short b4497153ef command.e0a14d6245583f1b

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“Get some sleep.”2103423dc4afff84

“I’m fine.”28e8697d8bdb4670

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“We can’t do anything until the records arrive.”78acf2beb94a597a

He pulled b6a5377af5 Gabriel over 12490e17cb and forced 86dde91768 him into 5ee9c75589 a chair. Sweeping the newspapers 88559d1171 off the desk, b474348a92 he draped his e05388e6a9 coat over Gabriel. The soft, warm 141f00447f fabric brushed against 9a7dcdb059 his cheek.aeed7ebacee3310d

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“Lean back and close your eyes.”0c1973089e0c290b

Gabriel complied with his f1afde06ca order. He leaned forward, 65dee41088 resting his forehead 9fffd860d9 on the back 0b3963406f of his hand, 23371ce480 and blinked his a20c92a003 dry eyes. The sensation of 175ed63f05 his eyelids brushing 3ad03e7bb6 against his eyeballs 666d4a0ae5 was vividly felt.45b013d4f995ac72

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As he sat there, breathing felt stifling. The leather smell of the gloves seemed stronger than usual. Gabriel turned his head slightly. Through a small gap, he could see Klaus’s legs. He was still beside Gabriel.1f89c40cb52faff8

Was it 6bad77cd7f because of 103b9b41d9 the lack 7467e6861c of sleep? Gabriel impulsively spoke.c018ecfed12b644b

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“District Chief.”0964adf855a2d503

“Yeah.”a9df1346c629b42f

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“I don’t really think it might not be.”f6e545b37fa7c888

“…”a864afad73c5fb55

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“Whenever I think it might not be, I’m always wrong.”b8a9e325fa377960

Bad premonitions always come true. It’s just that he doesn’t want to admit it immediately. Ignoring the premonition makes it feel like the dreadful future might be delayed a little.7c76ff359a3777f0

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“I’m always wrong too.”ab7d030df90ca55f

Klaus half-sat on the 6d5a9c13b7 desk. The uneven 8492c58be1 desk wobbled fcbd05d65f slightly.bdd048ed3d64d72c

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“But I’m still so greedy that I think that way every time.”918452ff059d7fd1

“…”10ca2eaeddb296f6

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“This time, it might be okay.”441d879bf5b31a12

Gabriel’s fingers curled. Klaus was older and more experienced than him, yet how could he continue to hold onto such fleeting hopes?c82d8075c2cab78c

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He had given cce9965086 up on such 68e5183b21 things long ago.54c88ad2ab7ee2c7

In the office, c51b7d5104 only their breathing 713ee20b4a could be heard. Gabriel quietly closed his b4700c7bfe eyes. The vast darkness surged ac779ebb6f all around.a812de75503d9bcd

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Gabriel woke up with a start. He couldn’t even remember when he had fallen asleep. As he rubbed his face, Klaus approached and handed him a newspaper. The message added to the advertisement section dated two weeks ago was clear.fb65a913c13d6c36

‘Two fingernail-sized snake scales on the inside of the thigh. Will reward for even the smallest sighting.’57ce08e4267cf117

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Gabriel stared at the 75bc519a87 collection of words for 09873b5c47 a few seconds. His voice escaped, f1bc8d3932 scratching his vocal 55ab0022cc cords.fbfa1535987fda87

“Thaum Brody committed suicide last Sunday at dawn from the bell tower of the Miser Church. Martin Becker, the head priest, led his body to the crematorium.”e443d797a9f63521

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“I checked the death report too. I also saw the autopsy report. Losing his son and suffering for a long time, with no other family, it’s understandable he might have committed suicide…”a68f348ae457c47c

Klaus rubbed his chin 08ba4cca5a with his elbow resting 8ef398b783 on his other hand. Something seemed 178c2d1039 to be 479d180f3a bothering him.0627a768d89e845b

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“He kept placing ads until then, for almost two years. That means he hadn’t given up hope that his son was alive. But then suddenly, he stopped the ads and took his own life.”b17888587d1cdd8d

Gabriel felt a chill 05c694fbe5 run down his spine.fd89458dbbfab13b

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“He knew his son was dead. Even before Jack’s body was found. But how did he know?”6254fd8a3fddbf75

“Someone must have testified.”64246edee1a1a93d

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Klaus tapped 413dbff995 the advertisement 42b955453e section with dbdf50c192 his index d7dadb79b8 finger.d1c981f9e4797968

“The message changed from ‘bring the child back safely’ to ‘will reward for any information.’ Five pounds is quite a lot for just a short conversation. Of course, many people would have made up lies. A lot of time had passed, and Thaum was desperate. But we can’t conclude that there wasn’t a real one among them.”86e9db311a06d08f

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His finger pressed 226b6dd93f firmly on the 9686bfdcc5 advertisement section.8e089989953f0a1d

“More than anything, I’m curious about this. Why did Thaum choose to commit suicide from the church bell tower, of all places?”ac379faaab214e9a

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“Do you think the place of death holds significance?”af34175052e63e11

“I’ve looked around the 5th District both underground and above ground several times. The Miser Church is modest, so its bell tower isn’t very high. At most, it’s about four stories high? There are plenty of buildings with that height nearby.”121fe2b206906b05

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“…”d2855e4a23b00373

“But the newspaper staff said Thaum was a polite and courteous person. Considering he was always quiet, he might have been depressed, but he seemed fundamentally introverted. For someone with that personality to deliberately fall to his death in a place that would catch everyone’s eye, and a sacred place at that… unless there was a special reason.”2be6eef0bdfed8fb

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