Having granted Klein advice for the Seer acting method, Lin Ruo bid his farewell and returned to Backlund.
"Since the Mandated Punishers are taking action, the subsequent plans can proceed accordingly." Stretching lazily, Lin Ruo's expression suddenly turned sly, and he conjured a fountain pen that symbolized truth in his hand.
He wrote:
[Hanass Vincent and Sirius Arapis will be exposed this week as members of the Aurora Order.]
Exposing the identities of Hanass Vincent and Sirius Arapis was a way to show the Mandated Punishers that the Aurora Order was indeed ready to stir up trouble in Tingen.
Lin Ruo knew that if Hanass Vincent and Sirius Arapis were indeed exposed, Ince wouldn't just sit back. They would surely take corresponding measures.
"Should I write them off entirely, cutting off any trails? Or should I abandon this move and initiate other plans while things are just beginning?" Lin Ruo, resting his chin on the pen, contemplated. Suddenly, a dangerous aura emanated from him.
"Or perhaps, it's time for the offspring of the evil god to make an early appearance."
"Hey!" With that, Lin Ruo retrieved the truth-representing pen and proceeded to immerse himself in a day of work and study.
Of course, his main focus was on studying. After all, Lin Ruo was concurrently learning several languages.
In terms of work, while Lin Ruo continued to play the role of a detective to mask any abnormalities, gather intelligence, expand his network, and indulge his penchant for mischief, he had not received any notable assignments in the past few days. The few he had were essentially mundane tasks commissioned by miscellaneous clients.
"Perhaps, this is the fate of every detective?" Lin Ruo thought with a smile, not overly concerned. He was considering whether he should follow Klein's example from the original story and place an advertisement in the newspaper to attract clients.
As if in accordance with some unwritten law, right after Lin Ruo let out an emotional sigh, not too long had passed when the doorbell rang, announcing a visitor.
With a calm demeanor, Lin Ruo set aside his study materials, got up, and opened the door. Standing on the other side was a young man, visibly nervous.
The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, boasting deep blue hair and eyes of the same shade. His looks could easily capture attention, the kind that made people turn their heads in a crowd. He was dressed in a black formal suit.
Ilimi Kati, the person living third to last on the far left of this street, belonged to the middle class with an annual salary ranging from 400 to 600. Despite being somewhat shy, he was a newcomer teacher at Backlund University named Teacher Jin.
Lin Ruo tapped into the original owner's memories, making an initial assessment. As a detective embroiled in secrets and a sea of secrets, Roaldie Fryer naturally conducted thorough investigations into potential neighbors he might interact with before moving to this street.
Lin Ruo responded with a gentle, reassuring smile to the nervous young man before him, saying, "Greetings, sir. Please come in and have a seat."
"Hello to you too!" The young man was still apprehensive, but Lin Ruo's smile seemed to have eased his overall tension. He scanned the surroundings and, upon confirming that no one else was present, followed Lin Ruo indoors.
After Lin Ruo closed the door, the young man recalled something and inquired, "Well, you're Detective Ross, right?"
Given the need for anonymity, Roaldie Fryer wouldn't use his real name carelessly. In fact, Lin Ruo's public alias was Ross Al.
"Indeed, I am Ross Al." Lin Ruo responded with a flawless professional smile. Leading the young man to the living room, he invited him to take a seat. After preparing a cup of black tea, he sat across from his guest and smiled, saying, "Mr. Ilimi Kati, welcome to my detective agency. Is there something you wish to entrust to me?"
"Do you know me?" The young man didn't touch the cup of tea on the table. Rather, he looked at Lin Ruo with a touch of surprise.
"Naturally, Mr. Kati. A detective is usually well-informed. I wouldn't be unaware of those living on the same street." Lin Ruo maintained his smile.
Ilimi Kati was taken aback momentarily, then seemed to accept Lin Ruo's explanation.
Ilimi Kati didn't reply immediately. He glanced around the room, ensuring there was no one else present. Nervously, he began, "Before I say anything, you must assure me that you won't label me as a madman."
"Don't worry, Mr. Ilimi Kati. You must have faith in my professionalism. As a detective, I've encountered far more inexplicable things than you might imagine. What seems absurd to you might not be the same for me. So, please go ahead and share the matter, and I'll do my best to address your concerns, alright?" Lin Ruo's smile dimmed slightly as he spoke, his tone shifting to seriousness and solemnity. In that moment, he appeared mature, reliable, and comforting.
Ilimi Kati seemed to trust Lin Ruo's words, as indicated by his posture. He visibly relaxed a bit but still appeared anxious. He stammered, "Here it is… I believe my girlfriend is an impostor."
With a kind expression, Lin Ruo raised an eyebrow. Before he could inquire further, Ilimi Kati rushed to explain, "I know this sounds unbelievable, and I question my sanity at times, but... I genuinely believe my girlfriend has been replaced."
"Not exactly 'fake.' Someone has taken her place! Despite her uncanny resemblance and identical behavior, she's not the same person! She's just not!"
Ilimi Kati's voice surged with intensity, his excitement palpable.
"Somebody swapped Li Er! Someone's pretending to be her! But I can't locate the real her!"
"Sir, please try to calm down," Lin Ruo said in a composed manner, even as he observed the flushed and agitated man before him.
Though Lin Ruo's voice remained steady, its calming effect was astonishing, almost immediately soothing Ilimi Kati, who had been on the verge of losing control.
Gasping slightly, the excitement in Ilimi Kati began to ebb, and he looked at Lin Ruo with a touch of amazement and apology. "I... I apologize, Detective Ross. I got carried away…"
Lin Ruo inquired curiously, "What did you do just now? It's like… I suddenly became calm."
"Just a few psychological methods, nothing to worry about," Lin Ruo replied with a grin. He had subtly employed his Beyonder abilities, momentarily but effectively quelling Ilimi Kati's tumultuous emotions.
Utilizing his powers not only helped pacify Ilimi Kati but also added an air of mystery to Lin Ruo's persona, enhancing his credibility. Whether this revelation might lead to a report against him, he wasn't particularly concerned. On one hand, it seemed improbable that Ilimi Kati would report him; on the other hand, being the blessed of the goddess of the night, Lin Ruo wasn't unduly fearful even if he were reported.
"Involves psychology, huh?" Ilimi Kati nodded, showing some semblance of belief, though not entirely convinced.
Lin Ruo paid no mind and delved further, "Mr. Ilimi Kati, could you provide more details about the situation? When did you start suspecting that your girlfriend had been replaced?"
This matter intrigued Lin Ruo. It appeared to be tied to something Beyonder. While he couldn't rule out the possibility of Ilimi Kati being overly anxious and mistaken, the idea of a Faceless person masquerading or employing some unique ability to impersonate Miss Lier Uluya was too compelling to dismiss.
There was an undercurrent of secretive scheming involved, and Lin Ruo couldn't just turn a blind eye to it.