When he returned to the living room, Klein picked up a letter opener and opened the envelope before taking out Isengard Stanton's letter.
The famous detective wrote:
"Your idea has greatly helped us. Please allow me to thank you here first.
"After receiving your letter, we immediately organized some people to sweep through crucial areas. As expected, we found some clues, and quite a few stray animals that had frequently appeared and were remembered by the residents had disappeared.
"In the process, we also noticed an interesting thing. Four years ago, in the serial murder case, yes—the targets were single prostitutes with a child. Quite a few people living near the scene of the crime had mentioned that although the most suspicious teenager was eccentric and vicious, he was quite fond of animals, especially a large black dog.
"After the boy died in the gang firefight, the people who lived around him never saw the dog again.
"I'm curious. Who is its current owner? Was it the murderer of some unsolved serial murder case from even further back?
"The above facts have all been proven to be true at the scene of the 12th murder case, and it has played a key role in giving the police a preliminary idea of the suspect. If all goes well, and the culprit is arrested, we will be able to get the majority of the reward money.
"My friend, I clearly remember your contribution. I will not forget your share."
...
Isengard Stanton seems to suspect that I knew the truth about the Devil, so he had deliberately hinted at something? Klein put down the letter and mumbled silently.
However, this letter also made him feel relieved.
The official Beyonders weren't looking for the wrong person!
If the gigantic Devil dog didn't get receive any additional help, then it was only a matter of time before it was caught and killed.
As for Isengard Stanton's prediction that there was another master, Klein didn't have enough evidence to confirm the matter, so it could only be said that there was a certain probability.
In short, my mission ends here. The job is now left to the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind squads. Klein pulled out a fresh sheet of paper, picked up a fountain pen, and replied Isengard Stanton with a letter filled with humility. He also ignored his subtle hints like a real, ordinary private detective.
After cutting another paper figurine and sending the letter, Klein strolled to the public carriage stop to wait. He thought in a relaxed manner, The next thing to do is wait for the money...
Leppard said he would be visiting the Roselle Memorial Exhibition for three days straight. I'll have to wait until Saturday before visiting to find him and make the final payment. Hopefully, the patent for the bicycle will be filed by then. Sigh, the Backlund Patent Office seems to be known for its inefficiency.
Klein had already made plans for the day. Since there was no Beyonder gathering, resulting in him being unable to buy the appropriate items, he suddenly had a lot of free time. He didn't need to busy himself for a short period of time.
In the morning, I'll go to the Quelaag Club, practice my marksmanship, practice my Beyonder powers, have lunch there, and then find a better circus to observe the magician's performance and see if I can get some inspiration. He took out his golden pocket watch and looked at it. He boarded the public carriage in a good mood.
...
Hillston Borough, Quelaag Club.
Since Klein came by at least twice a week, the attendants remembered him and didn't require him to show his proof of membership or his Frost constellation badge.
It was Wednesday morning, and since most of the Quelaag Club's members belonged to the middle-class, where they still had fixed and decent jobs, it was difficult for them to visit the club unless it was Sunday, tea time, or when they took time off from work.
The spacious and bright hall seemed abnormally empty. There were only a few people sitting in the corner where the coffee tables and sofas were.
Glancing around, Klein spotted an acquaintance and went up to greet him, "Talim, with such terrific weather today, you should be at the turf club."
The acquaintance was Talim, the aristocratic equestrian teacher who had introduced him to the club at the request of Mrs. Mary Dumont. He had once brought Klein business—the protection of Daily Observer reporter Mike Joseph on his trip to the Golden Rose for investigations.
Talim looked up, touched his short brown curls, and smiled.
"Oh my, it's the honorable great detective. What have you been up to? I haven't seen you in a long time. "
That's because you haven't been to the club for days... Klein smiled as he sat on the sofa next to Talim.
"I've been helping the police with the serial murder case. Although it might not necessarily yield any results, the reward is tempting enough. Besides, establishing good relations with the police is very important for us private investigators."
What I just said was bragging. I'm just an unremarkable character who'd been summoned...
he mocked himself inwardly.
Among the few members sitting in the same sofa area behind them, a man who appeared to be a stockbroker initiated a discussion on the latest Western Railway shares and East Balam Plantation shares.
Talim didn't doubt Klein's answer. He chuckled and said, "This is indeed something that will busy a great detective."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, he gradually entered a pensive state.
Just as Klein was about to bid him farewell and leave for the underground shooting range, Talim suddenly looked at him and said, "Mr. Moriarty, may I ask you a question?
"Uh, you can charge me a consultation fee."
"This one is free. Also, just call me Sherlock." Klein laughed.
Talim nodded gently and said hesitantly, "I have a friend who has fallen in love with someone he shouldn't have. How should he deal with such a situation?"
Although I had always believed that anyone who asks a question prefaced with "I have a friend" basically means "I myself," Talim's emotional colors implies that it's not for himself. He's in a dilemma, but I can't see any traces of pain... After activating his Spirit Vision, Klein leaned back slightly, clasped his hands, and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not a psychiatrist or any of the experts in the newspapers or magazines who are good at solving emotional problems.
"My only advice is not to break the law.
"Heh heh, that was a joke. First, we need to understand how this 'shouldn't have' arose. Is there a feud between the family?"
Talim glanced at him and said in resignation, "No, this isn't Romeo and Juliet!"
Upon hearing Talim's reply, Klein seemed to hear an illusory murmur in his ears.
Author: Roselle Gustav... Author: Roselle Gustav... Author: Roselle Gustav...
Shaking his head, he apologized to Shakespeare and smiled.
"This piece of work by Emperor Roselle is just too classic. When it comes to love that shouldn't be, I can't help but think of it.
"Then why shouldn't they be together?"
Talim fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "I have to keep it confidential. I'm sorry, just pretend I didn't ask."
Confidential? That must be someone with certain standing... In love with someone of the same sex? In love with someone who is related by blood? Klein held back his curiosity and said with his hands spread out, "Then I can only give you one more suggestion. Read best-sellers about passionate love like Stormwind Mountain Villa and Love and Jealousy."
Talim quivered his lips a few times, sighed, and said, "Sigh, that can only be used as the last resort. In my opinion, the feelings present in those best-selling novels simply don't seem to occur among normal people."
"I think so too!" Klein echoed in full agreement.
After exchanging a smile with Talim, he got up and went to the underground shooting range to practice his shooting and Beyonder powers. When it was almost noon, he returned to the first floor and went straight to the buffet cafeteria.
He had noticed earlier that the cuisine that was in limited supply today was red wine fried foie gras, paired with sliced apples and bread soaked in butter.
After taking his food, Klein carried his tray to the table where Talim was sitting. At that moment, there was another acquaintance of his, who, by the same token, had recommended his membership. He was the surgeon, Aaron Ceres.
Before he could sit down after setting the tray down, Klein noticed a crutch leaning against the chair of the famous surgeon.
"Aaron, what's wrong?" he asked with concern.
The tall and thin man wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and had a cold appearance. He lightly patted his right leg and said, "No, don't mention it. It's really bad luck! I fell down the stairs and suffered rather serious fractures, so I could only fix it with a plaster."
"You really were unlucky." Klein sighed in agreement, cut a piece of foie gras, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his mouth. The fragrance that was emitted the moment they melted in his mouth stimulated all of his taste buds.
"I've been out of luck for a long time." Aaron nudged his spectacle frames and rubbed his temples in passing.
He then looked at Klein, then at Talim before asking hesitantly, "Mr. Moriarty, do you—do you..."
"What?" Klein looked up.
Aaron lowered his voice.
"You're a famous detective. You should know a lot of people, right?"
"It's quite alright," Klein didn't understand what Aaron was up to as he answered perfunctorily.
Aaron looked at Talim again and took a deep breath.
"Do you know anyone who's like a village witch doctor? No, I mean, some of the more capable fortune-tellers or mysticism enthusiasts. I think... I feel that my recent string of bad luck is too abnormal...
"I know it's likely to be a fake or a scam, but there's no other way of shirking my bad luck. I've tried to go to church, praying, donating, attending Mass, but it didn't work at all."
Capable fortune-teller and mysticism enthusiast... You seem to be talking about me... Klein pondered and said, "Aaron, tell us in detail about what happened to you."
By his side, Talim nodded as well.
"Don't worry, I may be a believer of the Lord, but I don't reject things regarding mysticism."
Aaron sighed in distress.
"There are a lot of things. For example, making mistakes at the operating table. Encountering an accident on the steam locomotive. I found that my house had been burgled when I returned home. When I went to the hospital, I ended up falling down the stairs... Do you think someone has cursed me?"
Yes, I've heard Aaron mention something like this before... Klein frowned slightly.
As a former Nighthawk, it was easy for him to associate this description with a Sealed Artifact: Misfortune Cloth Puppet!
Could it be a similar item? He activated his Spirit Vision and asked seriously, "Aaron, think back carefully. Before those unfortunate events began happening, one after another, did you or your family—yes, your family—encounter any unfortunate events?"
-x-X-x-
Klein had wanted to ask if Aaron or his family had brought home anything which was relatively more unusual—such as a slightly dirty rag doll—before the unlucky events befell him.
But as soon as the words reached his mouth, he suddenly felt that it was too direct and could easily expose the fact that he knew a lot about mysticism. Although this could be explained away by the fact that he was experienced and knowledgeable, there was no need for him to take the risk.
Instead, he took a more roundabout approach and asked Dr. Aaron if his family had suffered the same ill luck.
Upon hearing his question, Aaron Ceres carefully recalled and said, "No, except for the steam locomotive accident that occurred to them as well, they were the same as before. Most of the time, they didn't experience anything especially lucky or unlucky. The rest can be said to be of both types, so they can't be considered especially unlucky."
That's not right... If it was an item that needs to be sealed like the Misfortune Cloth Puppet, it would definitely affect people within a certain range... Could it be that Aaron has dripped his blood on it, and the two of them have established a firm connection? In Klein's Spirit Vision, Aaron's aura and mood matched his physical and mental state, and there was nothing special about him.
He asked after some thought, "Is there any colleague at the hospital that is as unlucky as you?"
"No, so I think I must've been cursed by someone." Aaron pulled at his bow tie, looking anxious and uneasy.
Under Talim's curious gaze, Klein thought for a moment and said, "Before you became unlucky, did you encounter any relatively stranger matters, such as cutting yourself? In folklore, blood is the powerful medium through which curses can be formed."
"After I suspected that I was cursed, I have confirmed this point. I have not lost any blood in the past three months," Aaron replied with a heavy mood as he held his knife and fork.
That's a little strange... I can't perform a more complicated divination in front of them... Klein asked again, "Then, were there other strange matters?"
"Aaron, think back carefully. This kind of matter can't happen without a reason. Have you offended anyone recently? Or have you become an obstacle towards others?" Talim echoed with concern.
Aaron looked down at the food on the plate and fell into deep thought. Klein didn't stay idle either. He took care of his food before it turned cold and unpleasant.
By the time he started enjoying the dessert, Aaron finally raised his head and said, "I'm not a very sociable person. I don't have a good relationship with my colleagues, but it's hard to believe that they would come up with a way to curse me.
"Well... After your reminder, I do remember something. It might be related to mysticism."
"What is it?" Klein and Talim's spirits were lifted at the same time.
"Before my continuous bad luck streak, I was in charge of a patient, a child who wasn't even ten years old. He was very pitiful. Due to some complications, I had to amputate his left leg." Aaron nudged his glasses and recalled. "I just became a father not long ago, so I'm always filled with sympathy for the misfortune of a child. Every time I check the ward, I would chat with him, encourage him, and comfort him."
After a pause, Aaron's thoughts turned more fluid.
"I remember that it was the day before his surgery. I specially went to his ward to look for him, and he was really upset. He was playing tarot cards, which he had brought with him when he was admitted to the hospital. His family wasn't even allowed to take them away.
"In order to calm him down, I began playing tarot cards with him.
"Back then, I drew a card. It was the reversed Wheel of Fortune.
"That child looked at me and said with a pure and innocent smile, 'Doctor, your luck will get worse.'"
"Doctor, your luck will get worse..." Talim drew a breath and said, "Why do I feel that such a scene and such words make my body feel cold... Did the child die on the operating table?"
Aaron shook his head.
"That operation was a success. It didn't take long for him to be discharged from the hospital. He even specially thanked me.
"So, I've never suspected this, but now that I think back, I find that this is the only time in the past two months that I have come into contact with something related to mysticism. No matter what, regardless of whether it is useful or not, tarot cards are still used for divination."
At some point, a brass coin had appeared in Klein's hand. It was bouncing and rolling at his fingertips, seemingly symbolizing the analysis process of a "famous detective."
The coin was flicked up and fell into the palm of his hand. Klein glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and asked, having "ended" his thinking, "What's that boy's name? Where does he live?"
Aaron answered without hesitation, "His name is Will Auceptin. As for where he lives, I don't remember. @@novelbin@@
"What is your suggestion, Mr. Detective?
"Do you know any experts in the field of mysticism?"
Klein took a sip of his black tea and said with a smile under the expectant gazes of Aaron and Talim, "My suggestion is to go to the cathedral of the deity you believe in, tell the bishop about your recent misfortune, and then ask him if he has a solution. Aaron, I remember you were a believer of, uh—the Evernight Goddess, right?"
He had almost said Goddess, but fortunately, he remembered his identity as a detective who believed in the God of Steam and Machinery.
"However, my prayers to the Goddess, my participation in Mass, and the donation of money and items were all useless. I think I should find some capable fortune-tellers." Aaron didn't agree with Detective Moriarty's suggestion.
Talim echoed with a nod, "Yes, the deities wouldn't care if you were lucky or not. Luck is a blessing, and misfortune is a test."
Friend, your faith isn't pious enough. Be careful, the Lord of the Storms might zap you with a lightning bolt... Klein looked at the two separately and laughed.
"This suggestion is based on very simple logic.
"If—and I mean if—there exists useful and effective mysticism in this world, then the ones who are best at it are definitely the seven Orthodox Churches. If not, they would've long been replaced by other forces who have mastered mysticism.
"If there isn't such a thing as true mysticism, then finding a fortune-teller or witchdoctor won't be of any help. It would be better to see if there's a solution to this problem with the help of a relatively higher-ranking bishop."
Aaron carefully analyzed the situation and finally nodded.
"That makes sense.
"Perhaps I will need the bishop's help to pass on the message to the Goddess to protect me."
No, accurately speaking, with the bishop passing on the message, the Nighthawks would be able to notice the abnormality on you... Klein retorted inwardly.
He had no intention of helping Aaron himself, because to solve the problem regarding luck, aside from finding the root cause of everything, he would have to set up particular rituals.
Ignoring the fact that Klein didn't know any real luck enhancement rituals, and even if he did, he would be exposing his Beyonder powers to someone he was unfamiliar with, which would increase the risk for no reason.
Since I can get the Nighthawks to take up the role of helping you, there's no need for me to do it myself... I just don't know if the problem came from that boy or the tarot cards in his hands. If it's the latter, then it might be a suitable Sealed Artifact for me...Klein shook his head, suppressing his greed and emotions.
At this moment, Aaron had already made up his mind. He looked at Klein and grinned.
"Thank you, Mr. Moriarty. Although you don't know mysticism, you relied on strict logic to provide the best suggestion."
Yes, I don't know mysticism... Klein smiled.
"Just call me Sherlock, Aaron."
Yes, ever since I've stopped being a Nighthawk, the composition of my mysticism knowledge has become stranger and stranger. On the one hand, I've grasped quite a few secrets which are related to High-Sequences and deities, and on the other hand, I only understand the more basic ritualistic magic. Among the more complicated ones, I only know the sacrificial rites and bestowment rituals. As for charms, all I know are those three... Klein sighed to himself, feeling an urgent need for a more comprehensive and in-depth book of mysticism.
As for the knowledge required to separate a Beyonder characteristic from the spiritual corruption of an evil god, he had no clues whatsoever at the moment.
...
After a short afternoon nap at the club, Klein rode in a public carriage to the Rice Circus near the Tussock River in Cherwood Borough.
Today wasn't a holiday nor was it a weekend. There weren't many visitors at the circus, and the clowns that were responsible for entertaining and amusing the visitors all seemed listless.
Passing between the Divination Lodge and the tents that sold pies, pancakes, fruit pies, and alcoholic beverages, Klein walked along the edge of the circus and found a small theater. On the blackboard at the entrance, it read: "Non-holiday and weekends: four performances a day, one hour per performance."
The first performance in the afternoon was at two o'clock. It had just begun.
After buying his ticket, Klein entered the theater and heard cheers.
At this moment, a beast trainer was on stage, holding a whip and ordering a black bear to perform in a charmingly naive manner. Next to him lay a tiger, with criss-crossed yellow-black stripes, and a seated dark and curly-haired baboon.
Pa!
The black bear rolled awkwardly as the trainer whipped it.
"I say, this guy wanted to give you a slap just a moment ago!" In the front row of the rows of seats, someone suddenly shouted loudly, which immediately attracted the laughter of a handful in the audience.
They thought it was a new way for the circus to amuse them.
However, Klein didn't think so, for he noticed that the color of the trainer's emotions leaned toward anger and annoyance.
He smiled and went to sit in the first row, watching the performance on the stage so as to not waste the price he paid for the tickets.
At that moment, the person who had just spoken shouted again, "That tiger wants to bite your neck off, that curly-haired baboon wants to use you as a cushion!"
Amidst the laughter of the audience, the beast trainer's actions clearly stiffened.
This... Even though those words sound like they're causing trouble, why do I detect a hint of a warning... Klein looked over his shoulder at the speaker in the same row and saw that he was a chubby-faced man in his thirties.
This tone, this way... It's kind of familiar... Klein mumbled silently to himself.
-x-X-x-
Inside the small theater of the Rice Circus.
As long as something felt familiar, there was no problem for a Seer to recall it. Klein nudged his gold-rimmed glasses up on his nose, leaned back, and murmured something almost soundlessly.
Soon after, he pretended to close his eyes to rest for more than ten seconds. In reality, he had used the help of Cogitation to quickly fall asleep and be reminded through his dream.
It was a rather dim room, with only one candle flickering on the coffee table. The people sitting around it were all wearing black hooded robes and iron masks that covered only half their faces.
Deliberately massaging his glabella, Klein opened his eyes and continued watching the beast taming performance.
He had interpreted the revelation and knew the source of the familiarity: the scene in the dream was of the Beyonder gathering organized by Old Mister Eye of Wisdom. @@novelbin@@
There was also an Apothecary with a chubby face who enjoyed using sarcasm as a warning. Although he was clearly a kind-hearted fellow, he always gave others the feeling that he deserved a beating.
Could it be that Apothecary? That shouldn't be the case. When did he learn beast taming... According to the confidential records of the Nighthawks, an Apothecary doesn't have Spirit Vision like those of the Seer pathway who were able to distinguish emotional colors in detail. Well, when it comes to the color of auras, they're actually quite good at it... Klein's thoughts slowly dispersed without affecting his appreciation of the performance onstage.
In his Spirit Vision, the emotional colors of the black bear, the tiger, and the curly-haired baboon were indeed unstable. If there was an addition level of provocation to a certain degree, they might very well rampage on the spot. This indirectly confirmed that the chubby man who had just spoken wasn't causing trouble. He seemed to be able to read the thoughts of the three animals and understand their impulses.
Having received the warnings, the beast trainer's face darkened with anger, but even so, his actions were instinctively gentler. He was more careful, and the show ended without a hitch.
After that, there was a simple but comedic skit. Only when it was over was it the magician's turn to perform.
This magician wore a tuxedo. He wore a bow tie of the same color, as well as a large top hat. The moment he appeared, he spat out fire from his mouth, which immediately caused the audience to applaud and cheer.
Such a simple trick... Klein, who had excellent eyesight and had watched quite a few magic lesson programs, understood the gist of it with just a quick glance.
Next, the magician performed: the classic escape act, releasing flying doves from his hat, pulling out flowers, card tricks, and so on. Klein thought he could easily see through every one of the magician's tricks, but he was surprised to discover that, at some point, he actually failed to do so because his attention had been drawn to where the magician wished it to be, causing him to ignore the key details.
He clearly doesn't have any Beyonder powers, but his technique is still able to fool my eyes. Hmm, the key point is grasping attention... The Magician's second rule is fully divert a target's attention, thus achieving the desired effect? Klein made a guess in his mind which he wasn't sure if it was right or wrong.
It needed him to "act" it out to receive feedback.
At this moment, the magician's performance came to an end. The audience weren't stingy with their warm applause and cheers. The atmosphere in the theater reached its peak that afternoon.
Heh heh, the third rule. A Magician's performance requires the applause of the audience for his performance? Klein muttered to himself in a half-joking and half-guessing manner in silence.
Shortly after three o'clock, he pulled the collar of his black double-breasted frock coat and left the small theater. He didn't try to come into contact with the chubby man who was suspected to be the Apothecary and only secretly remembered his appearance—soliciting him suddenly might result in extreme reactions.
He took a tracked public carriage back to Minsk Street.
The carriage was divided into two floors and each of them had a few passengers. According to his usual practice, Klein chose the spot next to the window on the first floor.
The carriage proceeded and stopped from time to time. Klein, who had half-closed his eyes to recall the inspiration he had just had, suddenly felt his heart palpitate. He became sober and rational—the reaction was like someone had forcibly intruded into his dream or channeled his spirit.
At this moment, he clearly knew that he was no longer in the real world!
As someone rich with experience, he pretended to be unconcerned. He looked around and saw that the gentleman in a tuxedo and top hat to his left was still flipping through a newspaper. There were two children who were being reprimanded by a vexed woman in a light blue dress for being disobedient troublemakers. Beside her, people were chewing on bread or drinking tea that they had brought with them... Everything was the same as before.
However, when Klein quietly activated his Spirit Vision, these passengers didn't emit any of the corresponding auras or emotions!
They don't have Ether Bodies!
They're clearly talking, eating bread, and reading newspapers, but none of them have any signs of life!
Is this an illusion, or did they just suddenly die and are just moving according to the inertia of their lives? Klein tried to remain calm as he looked out the window and saw carriages and pedestrians passing by. It was still an afternoon scene.
However, they also have no aura colors... As the carriage moved forward rather slowly, Klein became more and more serious, not understanding what had just happened.
He lowered his head and examined himself. He saw a clear spirituality luster which was completely different from the people around him.
At that moment, he suddenly heard an angry roar. It didn't sound like it came from a human!
Klein looked up and saw a large black dog on the street.
Its sharp white teeth were stained with traces of blood and rust. It was the huge Devil dog that had committed heinous crimes!
The black dog quickly swelled into a tall devil. It had bat-like wings on its back and goat horns, filled with mysterious patterns, that grew from its head. It looked up at the sky and said in the devil language, "Corruption!"
Almost as soon as it opened its mouth, Klein confirmed that it was real, because it possessed aura and emotion colors while strong spirituality lusters were being emitted from it!
Following the howls of the huge Devil dog, a few illusory pedestrians exploded and turned into a black mist that filled the air, blocking his line of sight.
However, Klein could vaguely see that there were quite a few "real people" with aura colors in midair and around him. They were using Beyonder powers which emitted spirituality lusters.
What's going on? Ordinary people are illusory, but the Beyonders are real... Have the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers found the Devil dog and used a Sealed Artifact to create a battle environment which wouldn't disturb reality? That Sealed Artifact is only aimed at Beyonders, and it has no effect on normal people? Thus, I, who just happened to pass by, was pulled in out of bad luck? Klein's mind raced as he roughly guessed what had happened to him.
What a ridiculous disaster... Just as he was sighing with emotion, he suddenly heard a blood-curdling shriek, a blood-curdling scream, and a loud scream.
The black gas that screened his vision suddenly dispersed, and the gigantic Devil dog fell heavily onto the ground. Its body was divided into two halves, and all the light in the air converged on something, making it look like a clean, pure moon shining down on the dark environment.
The gigantic Devil dog tenaciously roared again, and its body suddenly exploded. Using its soul and flesh as fuel, it ignited blue and red flames that soared into the sky.
However, the flames lost all of their brightness as soon as they reached midair, having been absorbed by that bright and resplendent moon-like object.
It disappeared without a trace, and that huge Devil dog died so simply and completely, not even leaving a speck of it behind.
So powerful... As Klein was sighing, he suddenly thought of something. Would those official Beyonders discover that he—another wild Beyonder—was sitting in the carriage, different from the other illusory people in the surrounding area?
His heart tightened as his scalp went numb. He pulled out a paper figurine, and with a shake, he transformed it into himself, a copy that was without any aura or emotional colors.
As for him, with the help of the substitution spell, he hid in the paper figurine's "shadow."
At this moment, Klein heard a light snort from across the street.
The snort was clearly filled with anger and indignation.
Who is it? It doesn't seem like the sound an official Beyonder will make... Klein was puzzled, but he didn't dare to dispel his double and peek his head out to look.
Following which, a few pairs of eyes swept across the crowd, not stopping for even a moment.
When all this faded away, Klein saw that the void around him had cracked and shattered like glass.
Then the feeling of reality inundated him, and he knew he was back in the real world.
After removing the double, he sat back in his seat. The passengers in the carriage were doing their respective deeds—reading newspapers, chewing bread, and scolding children. It was no different from before.
But in Klein's vision, they had regained their aura and their emotional colors.
In addition, compared to earlier, the tracked carriage had clearly moved forward by quite a distance.
It seems like in that special battle environment earlier, time and space are synchronized with reality. If that battle had continued for a long time, then the carriage would've left the area of influence, leaving me alone there. Alone there... That would be an obvious exposure... Fortunately, Backlund is the Capital of Capitals and the Land of Hope. There are High-Sequence Beyonders from the three major Churches residing here... Klein thought with a lingering sense of fear.
He had originally thought that even if they had locked onto their target, it would still take the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and others several days to find the black Devil dog. Moreover, that was on the premise that the dog hadn't left Backlund. That was something certain, because leaving Backlund would mean stepping out of the range of the ritual, and the advancement would fail. And to the Devil, the negative impact of a failed ritual would cause it, who was already struggling at the edge of bloodlust, to immediately lose control.
Who would've thought that just after one night and half a day, the gigantic Devil dog would be discovered, executed, and cleansed!
Terrifying! This is Backlund... This is the true power of the three Churches! A Sequence 6 Beyonder who's just about to advance was merely exposed and had left behind the tiniest of traces. Yet, he was quickly found and killed so easily... This is a Devil that can sense danger ahead of time! From the looks of it, some Sealed Artifact perfectly hinders this trait... In the future, I must be even more careful! Klein felt that he had learned a great lesson.
At this moment, he remembered the strange snort he had heard earlier.
It seemed to be the companion of that gigantic Devil dog? Its master? He was actually not discovered. Perhaps the final explosion of the gigantic Devil dog was secretly orchestrated by him... Of course, it's also possible that he's a member of some secret organization that is unsatisfied with the official Beyonders... Klein abruptly looked out the window on the opposite side of the carriage. All he saw were people walking past looking ordinary. They either wore tweed coats, half top hats, or bright long skirts. He couldn't tell if there was anything wrong with them.
-x-X-x-
The wheels of the carriage pressed down on the track as the horses dragged it along. The heavy carriage steadily advanced, and soon, they were moving away from the street as though nothing had happened.
With a normal expression, Klein held onto his cane and waited until the tracked public carriage passed two stations before he got off ahead of time. He took a large detour and slowly headed back to the place where the gigantic Devil dog had been killed.
He wasn't looking for its Beyonder characteristics, as it was impossible for the top experts of the Church to not know about this matter. They would've definitely taken it away long ago. He also wasn't investigating the source of that slight snort. After all, with so much time having passed by, the carriages moving on the streets, and the people that were coming and going, how could there be any clues left behind? Even divination would fail to obtain an answer.
Klein's purpose was to look at the subtle details that remained along the street, and to see the nature of the Sealed Artifact that had created the strange environment for the battle, so as to prepare for what might happen in the future.
This is a Magician's acting... He sighed silently as he walked under the gray sky, along the edge of the street which was marked by the gas lamps.
The reason why he had to wait two stops before getting off and taking a detour, was because he was worried that there would be an official Beyonder who would sweep the battlefield in secret. He didn't want to meet them, so he tried his best not to.
Klein, who was dressed decently and holding onto a cane, took some time before he returned to the huge Devil dog's place of death. However, there were no traces of its presence on the street, and the passersby clearly didn't know that a fierce Beyonder battle had taken place here.
That Sealed Artifact is really magical. It's even more powerful than large-scale hypnosis. Klein activated his Spirit Vision and slowed his footsteps, like a gentleman on an outing rather than on an errand.
It took him over half an hour to complete his tour of the area, but his efforts with his Spirit Vision was futile. There was nothing out of the ordinary about his target area.
However, Klein's spiritual perception sensed one thing: its scope and its boundaries.
When I entered the block and left from another direction, I felt a subtle and illusory feeling, as if I entered a different world from another world. That is to say, the Sealed Artifact's scope of influence can reach at least one block, and its upper limit is temporarily unclear. Klein stood outside the target street, and nodded thoughtfully before returning. He went to a decent cafe, ordered a cup of Southville coffee, and sat down by the window.
As he drank the fluid with a rich aroma, he observed the street outside, which was beginning to bustle as time passed by, hoping to see any changes.
Unfortunately, what he had been looking forward to didn't happen.
Of course, he wasn't without gains. At the very least, he confirmed that a Magician "never performed unprepared," which was one of the rules of acting.
He felt that the characteristics of the subtle precipitate in his body stirred a little.
In the evening, Klein stopped his observations and returned to Minsk Street in a public carriage.
At this moment, the gas lamps on both sides of the road had already been lit, illuminating the slightly wet cement ground with withered leaves that fell from the trees along the road with a blue hue.
Holding his cane, Klein strolled past the house of Lawyer Jurgen and strolled to Unit 15.
As he was walking, he suddenly thought of something. He had finished all the ingredients at home. If he went back now, he wouldn't be able to cook dinner!
Uh, should I go to the meat shop and fruit shop, or find a restaurant to fill my stomach first? Klein hesitated for a moment, he then finally decided to take a break tonight and eat something ready-made.
Many of the dishes in this world were made quite simply and very quickly, so it didn't become a situation where an hour was spent cooking for five minutes of eating. However, there was still a certain amount of work to be done. Furthermore, he had to wash the dishes and wash the knives and forks himself.
After touching his wallet, Klein turned around and walked in the direction of the area, where according to his memory, there were restaurants.
Once again he passed the house of Lawyer Jurgen's.
Standing behind the open oriel window and looking at the "confused" expression Detective Moriarty had, Jurgen raised his voice and said, "Mr. Moriarty, did... I mean, did you forget your key again? Or did you drop your key?"
Why is he saying "again?" Klein replied with a chuckle, "No, not really."
Jurgen solemnly nodded his head.
"Then why don't you come to my place?
"You can return when it's completely dark after we have dinner."
... Klein hesitated for a second and smiled.
"It will be my honor."
When he entered, the black cat, Brody, was licking his paws in a corner. Jurgen didn't make much small talk as he stepped into the kitchen.
After Klein had hung up his coat and hat and put away his black cane, he stepped into the dining room and saw that the table was already covered with food—blackened steaks and mashed potatoes of the same color.
He wasn't surprised by this. This was how Mrs. Doris, Lawyer Jurgen's grandmother, cooked in her old age. The food didn't look appetizing, but they were delicious.
She's a good chef... Klein sat in front of Jurgen, smiled and made some small talk.
"Were you about to have dinner?"
"Yes, it's a habit of mine to look at the scenery outside before my meal. It allows my thoughts to spread without boundaries." Jurgen spread out his napkin and picked up his fork and knife.
Klein looked around in puzzlement and asked, "Where's Mrs. Doris?"
Jurgen sighed and replied seriously, "The weather is getting colder and colder. Her chronic lung problems are back, so she has no choice but to be admitted to the hospital for a while."
"May God bless her." Klein drew the triangular Sacred Emblem of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery on his chest unfamiliarly.
Then he cut a piece of steak and forked it before stuffing it into his mouth.
At that moment, he suddenly thought of a problem and hurriedly asked, "So, you were the one who prepared dinner?"
"Of course. It was done a few minutes ago," Jurgen answered simply.
If it isn't the work of the great chef, Mrs. Doris, then this food... The corner of Klein's mouth twitched. He held back the fear in his heart and still bit down on the small piece of steak on his silver fork, slowly chewing on it.
His brows furrowed a little as he forcefully swallowed the food. He squeezed a smile as he asked, "Why did you prepare two servings in advance?"
"One serving was prepared to be taken to the hospital for my grandmother." Jurgen glanced up at Klein. "I'll make another one later."
"... So that's how it is." To be polite, Klein secretly took a deep breath and steeled himself as though prepared to do battle with the food in front of him and finish it.
By the time he was finished, Jurgen still had a tiny bit left. The senior solicitor put down his fork and knife, picked up the glass beside him, took a sip of red wine, and asked without expression, "How's it?
"Which dish do you like the most?
"I know there's still a large gap between my skills and my grandmother's, but it shouldn't be too exaggerated."
Mr. Lawyer, I suspect you have problems with your sense of taste besides facial myopathy... Can't you realize your standards? Klein smiled, moved his head from left to right, and said, "The white bread isn't bad."
"That was bought from Dodge bakery." Jurgen reburied his head and finished the rest of the food.
After drinking the remaining wine, he thought for a moment and said, "Detective Moriarty, I want to entrust you with a simple task."
"What is it?" Klein kept drinking water.
The mashed potatoes were too salty!
"My grandma's been in the hospital lately. I might not be able to return because of my cases. This will lead to Brody being hungry." Jurgen glanced at the black cat. "I want you to feed Brody when I'm not back, clean up his litter box, and play with him for a while. He loves to be scratched under the chin. Yes, every night at ten, if there's no light in the house and it's dark, you can come in, Two soli every time, until my grandmother comes home."
Klein saw the solemn and prim look on Jurgen's face. He smiled and said, "It's a simple task. The reward is quite generous. I have no reason to reject it."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Brody the black cat and smiled at it.
Brody slowly turned his body and faced Klein with his back.
Klein's smile couldn't help but freeze on his face.
...
After drinking his fill, Klein excused himself from Jurgen's place. He strolled back to his rented house in the completely dark streets.
By this time, the people who had finished their work had already returned home and were enjoying their dinner. There were very few pedestrians on the streets and not many carriages. It was very quiet.
Walking under the light of the gas lamp, Klein, who had no urgent desire to return, slowed down. So did the black shadow at his feet.
When he passed by the Sammers, he saw through the oriel window that the interior was brightly lit. People were moving back and forth, and sounds of chatter and laughing could be heard.
As for next door, 15 Minsk Street, it was dark and silent.
With a sigh, Klein quickened his pace, took out his key, and opened the door.
Before he went in, he checked the mailbox out of habit and found another letter lying inside.
Who sent it? Klein took out the letter and glanced at it under the light of the street lamp.
No stamps... It looks like Isengard Stanton's handwriting... He nodded slightly, went inside, closed the door, switched on the light, and opened the letter.
The great detective Isengard said in the letter:
"... I'm very pleased to inform you that the murderer has been found and killed on the spot.
"The police think that our work is worth at least half the bounty. They should be disbursing it to me this week. When that happens, I will invite you and our other friends to come over and share this bounty."
...
Isengard received the news so quickly? He sure has a close relationship with the Backlund police... Oh, it's without a stamp. That means that he got someone to deliver it directly. The Loen Kingdom's postal system isn't that efficient. How could a letter sent in the afternoon arrive in the evening? Klein sighed, put down the letter, and got ready to change into a new outfit before heading out.
With the serial murders out of the way and the situation in Backlund easing, he could try to do a couple things.
For example, find Kaspars at the Bravehearts Bar and contact Maric to see if the Beyonder who could control zombies and Miss Sharron had any books regarding mysticism.
If my guess is right, they should be the defectors of the Rose School of Thought. They were previously in an official organization, and they must know a lot of mysticism knowledge. And now, I have enough money to buy them! Klein touched his wallet and thought in anticipation.
-x-X-x-
Backlund Bridge area, Bravehearts Bar.
Klein pressed down the cap on his head, carefully protecting the wallet in the inside pocket of his grayish-blue worker's jacket. He walked around the customers who were surrounding the boxing ring and headed for the bar. @@novelbin@@
On the way, he looked around and didn't see the black market arms dealer, Kaspars Kalinin.
He's either playing cards or playing billiards... Klein nodded to himself, sat down at the bar, and said to the bartender, "Half and Half."
He had seen someone drink this type of alcoholic beverage the last time, and he felt that it likely suited his palate.
At least it's better than pure malt beer... Klein thought to himself.
The bartender raised his head and glanced at him.
"Which two alcohols do you want mixed? Different choices, different prices."
"The typical one; the typical one will do." The last time he saw someone drink it, the person had used alcohol of the worst quality. The whole glass of Half and Half was only worth two and a half pence.
"Four and a half pence." The bartender watched as Klein arranged the brass coins on the bar and then went back to mixing. He said in passing, "You here for Kaspars? He's not here anymore; his business has been snatched."
"Huh?" Klein didn't expect such an answer.
Before the bartender could reply, a man with a protruded mouth next to him laughed and said, "Yes, we've chased Kaspars away!
"Heh, how can a lame old man like him do such a business?
"If you have anything you need, feel free to come to us. Find our boss."
A gang war? Klein subconsciously came up with this idea, wanting to reject the man's suggestion.
However, he soon thought of another possibility.
Could it be that the Rose School of Thought has deliberately sought out a gang to suppress Kaspars so as to force Maric and Miss Sharron to jump into a trap?
Yes, it's quite possible. Kaspars had been working here as a black market arms dealer for a long time; he's definitely not someone who can be chased away just like that. A while ago, because of the series of murders, the atmosphere in the whole of Backlund was rather tense, and the Rose School of Thought or other hidden factions wouldn't dare to recklessly kill and use spirit mediumship on Maric and Miss Sharron, even if they found them. This would result in a lot of bloodshed, and since they obviously only have a few suspects, and are unable to confirm anyone else having a way to contact Miss Sharron and Maric for the time being... Klein swallowed the words he was about to say and asked instead, "Can I first get a quote before deciding whether to purchase?"
He planned to observe the faction made up of ordinary people who had taken over Bravehearts Bar's black market. If he discovered any problems, then he could use them as a favor to give to Kaspars, Sharron, and Maric.
In any case, Klein didn't want any conflict. He only planned on observing via normal processes, so there was no risk.
"Yes, the only requirement is..." The man made a zipping motion with his hand in front of his protruding mouth.
"No problem." As soon as Klein answered, he saw the Half and Half in front of him, and the copper coins had been taken away by the bartender.
Without any intention of wasting it, he tipped his head and drank it. His brows gradually furrowed.
It's not what I thought it would be. The taste of the spirit is too heavy, the grape flavors are too mild... Klein put down his glass and followed the man to the third billiard room where Kaspars used to stay in.
When he was about to reach the door, he suddenly thought of something.
As someone who doesn't know much, even I can guess that this is a trap. I wonder if Miss Sharron and Maric who have been hunted for so long know about it? They definitely wouldn't appear...
However, Kaspars knows more than one Beyonder. He has connections with several different circles of Beyonders, and he might be able to get other helpers. That would complicate things.
At that moment, the man with the protruding mouth stopped at the doorway of the billiard room, and the distracted Klein almost bumped into him.
He pointed inside and said, "Don't talk nonsense later. Our boss doesn't have a good temper.
"Everyone in the Backlund Bridge area and East Borough knows this."
"Alright." Klein nodded.
Satisfied, the man with the protruding mouth turned and pushed open the billiard room's door.
As the door opened, Klein saw a figure hanging in the air, gently swaying.
It was a burly man with a full beard. There was a rope tied around his neck, a rope that was tied in a dead knot.
His feet were off the ground, the tip of his tongue was protruding out, and his face was purple. He wore a contorted expression.
"Boss..." the man with the protruding mouth cried out in disbelief.
As soon as the tension in Backlund's atmosphere disappears, someone takes action...
Klein tilted his head and glanced at the subordinate, he then solemnly drew a triangular Sacred Emblem on his chest.
"May he find peace with God.
"I hope his temper is cured as a result."
The man with the protruded mouth didn't even hear what he said. He suddenly shouted, "Boss!
"Murder!
"Boss is dead!"
Klein took two steps back as a result of the loud and shrill voice, and he also activated his Spirit Vision to take a look inside the room. There was nothing special other than the scattered billiard balls all over the place.
Did a Beyonder from Kaspars do it? What would the faction who planted the trap do? If there was actually such a trap... Klein quietly moved away and slunk away into the crowd when the other gang members swarmed over.
He glanced at the kitchen of the Bravehearts Bar and, with some thought, went over and familiarly passed through to the back door.
As soon as he pushed open the not-so-heavy wooden door, Klein felt a cold wind blowing against him which caused him to shiver.
And amidst the cold wind was the faint smell of blood.
He listened for a moment but saw nothing. He took out his penny and flicked it up.
The landing sound was cut off by the wind, and Klein looked down at the copper penny in his palm, confirming that it was heads.
Putting the coin away, he carefully walked forward, heading in the direction that his spiritual perception told him to.
He walked to a dark corner where there wasn't any illumination from the street lamps. The smell of blood suddenly became stronger.
With the help of the weak moonlight that penetrated through the clouds, Klein almost gasped when he saw what was in front of him.
The floor here was littered with bloody thighs, calves, boots, ribs, a heart, arms, eyeballs, and other human parts. On the wall hung a portion of pale red intestines. The background was a large patch of bright red with milky white markings.
Seeing this, Klein felt like he was looking at a slaughterhouse, a slaughterhouse specially prepared for humans.
Is the murderer afraid that the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and the others are too idle? This is so exaggerated that the police would immediately transfer the case to them... Klein muttered in his mind to resist the discomfort caused by the scene.
He walked around the blood and approached the opposite wall. To his surprise, there were quite a few deep scratches.
It was like a thick and sharp claw that forcefully scratched out a mark!
The claw is similar to the one the Devil dog had after its transformation. Could it be that there's another one? Could it not be dead yet? No, no, no, I know what's going on... Klein suddenly came to a realization.
The deceased must be the Beyonder who killed the bar's gang leader. He was finished off by the faction who had set the trap...
According to Little Sun's description, I've always suspected that the faction is the Rose School of Thought because they grasp the Prisoner pathway, which is also the mutant pathway.
And one type of mutant was the werewolf!
This was in line with the traces of the crime scene before him.
It also indirectly proves that Miss Sharron and Maric are defectors of the Rose School of Thought...
Klein calmly retreated out of the scene, one step at a time.
During this process, he confirmed that there weren't any Beyonder characteristics present. Of course, it was possible that it hadn't appeared yet.
Then he turned and walked towards another street, intending to get someone to inform the police, lest such a scene frighten the commoners and make them suspect that Backlund had been infiltrated by some ferocious beast.
Because he didn't want to get into trouble over greed, Klein didn't wait for the possibility of a Beyonder characteristic appearing.
Just as he reached the end of the alley, he suddenly saw a brown carriage slowly approaching in the night.
The carriage didn't continue to move forward like the other carriages. Instead, it stopped right in front of Klein!
Klein narrowed his eyes as he prepared to do battle. However, whether it was his spirituality intuition as a Seer or the battle sense of a Clown, neither of them gave him a warning.
At this moment, the window of the carriage was opened, revealing a pale face which wore a hint of madness to it. Its brown eyes seemed to conceal deep malice.
Maric... Klein recognized him.
It was Maric, Miss Sharron's companion who controlled zombies!
He was only wearing a white shirt and a black vest, and he didn't seem to be afraid of the cold at all. He gestured for Klein to board the carriage.
For a moment Klein hesitated, wanting to use his spirit pendulum to divine right there on the spot.
At this moment, a figure appeared behind Maric. She wore a complex black regal dress and a small, soft hat. It was the blonde Miss Sharron with blue eyes.
She can easily do me harm if she wants to. She can directly come out from the wall behind me... Klein thought for a moment, then he deliberately took two steps forward casually. He opened the carriage door and took note of it.
After he sat down, the carriage began to move slowly. It was unknown where its destination was.
"Why did you come here?" Sharron asked simply.
Klein answered frankly, "I wanted to contact the both of you and ask if you have any books on mysticism. It would be best if they went in-depth. As you know, I lack such knowledge."
Maric continued looking over with malice-filled eyes as he said in a slightly hoarse and low voice, "We do have a lot of knowledge regarding mysticism, such as Shaman King Klarman's Book of Secrets, but what can you use to trade for it?"
Shaman King? Which pathway and Sequence is that? As these thoughts flashed past his mind, Klein deliberated his tone and said, "I can trade for it with gold pounds.
"Or do you need anything else?"
The pale, but exquisite-looking Sharron looked at him and replied stoically, "Help.
"We'll use your help as barter."
-x-X-x-
Help? Klein repeated the word silently and was momentarily a little stumped.
Back when Sharron had taken on the mission of protecting him for three days, it was mostly because of the money. For a Sequence 5 expert to be willing to take on such a mission was, in itself, a low probability. It could be chanced upon, but it wasn't something that could be forced. Furthermore, back then, Klein was desperately trying to save himself and was so frantic that he wasn't willing to give up any sliver of hope. As such, he still felt very grateful for being able to receive the help of such a powerful Beyonder, even if it was because of the money.
However, that was all. He wouldn't recklessly interfere in an unknown, dangerous situation in complete disregard of his own strength and circumstances for the sake of the other party.
Klein's original plan was that the mysticism knowledge from Little Sun could basically be verified as belonging to the pre-Cataclysm era. At that time, the ancient gods who wielded power and the current seven gods and evil gods didn't seem to have any overlap with each other, so it was possible that the two mysticism systems were definitely hugely different. So, even if he knew the details, he didn't dare to carelessly try it out. He had to receive indirect verification in order to know which ones could still be used and which ones didn't have any effect.
It was just like the sacrificial ritual from before. Klein had already figured out the procedure from The Sun, but he waited for Mr. Azik's reply before he dared to conduct the experiment. It was to prevent anything unexpected from happening.
As for The Hanged Man, he was at the rank of bishop or captain of the Church of the Lord of Storms, so he definitely possessed quite a bit of mysticism knowledge as well. However, the problem was that this was too orthodox and too involved with the Lord of Storm's domain; thereby, making it not necessarily suitable for Klein to use. Not all rituals could be performed by asking oneself for help, and he had to consider the spirituality burden he had to bear by praying to himself.
With these factors in mind, Klein turned his attention to the former members of a secret organization, Sharron and Maric. The knowledge they possessed was more suitable for wild Beyonders to use as a reference. There were also quite a few unorthodox and strange ones that were effective.
Of course, this wasn't to say that he would give up on exchanging information with The Sun and The Hanged Man. By having knowledge from ancient times, orthodox knowledge, and secret and unorthodox knowledge, it would result in him being more all-rounded, giving him a deeper understanding of mysticism!
And that was exactly what Klein wanted.
He had never forgotten that his ultimate goal was to return to Earth, so the more mysticism knowledge he had, the better. The more comprehensive, the better; the deeper the knowledge was, the better it was!
Of course, the premise of pursuing this goal is to get rid of Ince Zangwill, and avenge myself and the Captain...
Klein looked at Sharron and Maric and said with the corners of his mouth curled up, "I need to know what kind of help you need from me before I can consider agreeing. @@novelbin@@
"I won't, nor is it possible for me to joke about my life."
Sharron, who was wearing a small black hat, nodded slightly and acknowledged Klein's words.
Maric, who was seated on the other side, leaned forward and put his fist to his mouth.
"We originally belonged to a rather old and secretive organization."
That I can guess... Klein maintained a serious and stoic expression.
"That organization took shape at the beginning of the Fifth Epoch, after the storms of the Berserk Sea cut off the Northern and Southern Continents, forming the Southern Continent's Highlands Kingdom and Paz Kingdom. However, I'm only talking about it taking shape. This organization's origins can be traced back to before the Fourth Epoch, all the way before the Cataclysm." the pale Maric continued describing.
That, I know that too. The Rose School of Thought, isn't it... It's traceable back to the time of the Mutant King... Klein wore an attentive look.
Maric scratched his slightly messy hair and said, "This organization believes in an evil god, and they believe that magic is a science and art that changes according to one's will to change things. This requires the establishment of a religious ritual system, including law and order. Yes, before the invasion of the Northern Continent, they were an orthodox organization in the Paz Valley and the Star Highlands, alongside the Church of the God of Death.
"At the same time, they believed that their wills originated from various desires. Combined with Beyonder powers, they were able to accomplish all sorts of unimaginable things.
"Because of these ideas, they retained an ancient and bloody tradition of primitive sacrifice, including the skinning of people and using the skulls of children as ritual objects, letting a large number of believers fervently release all sorts of desires.
"We couldn't accept the cruelty of such deeds, and we also felt that it was very problematic in the way that they handle their desires, so we looked for an opportunity to escape from that organization.
Problematic in the way they handle their desires? Klein knew that the Rose School of Thought was famous for its bloody sacrifices, so he wasn't very curious about the former.
The blonde and black-dressed Sharron replied in an ethereal voice, "The way they do it is to indulge and burn.
"Our philosophy is to repress and show temperance."
So that's how it is... Klein suddenly thought of the description of the Prisoner Sequence. The body was the cage of the heart, and the world was the cage of the body. Madness was bound, and desire was suppressed.
If the Rose School of Thought did grasp the Mutant pathway of Prisoner, Miss Sharron's and Maric's philosophy is clearly more suited to the needs of the acting method. Why couldn't the other members notice this? That's not right... He frowned slightly.
Seeing his reaction, Maric thought he didn't understand and explained in a slightly hoarse voice, "They were influenced by that evil god, and they believe that indulging in their desires would help to strengthen their own willpower. When many people let their hair loose, they would also affect each other, adding to their fanaticism, allowing their condition to reach its peak.
"Our views are the exact opposite. We believe that desire must always be suppressed in one's heart, just like the flames and magma underground. Only at a crucial moment can it be unleashed, producing terrifying power."
Simply put, it's the difference between lust and abstinence... The influence that the evil god has is in contradiction to his own pathway's requirements. It feels like something is amiss... Klein thoughtfully asked, "So you escaped to Backlund, and now they're coming after you?
"Did the dead man in the alley end up involved in this?"
"We didn't get him involved. He got himself involved because of something else," Maric rebutted Klein's second guess, acquiescing to Klein's first question.
Then, why don't you just run away from Backlund? There are quite a few big cities along the border of the Loen Kingdom and Desi Bay. Furthermore, you can go to Intis, Feysac, Feynapotter, Lenburg, Masin, and other countries... In other words, you have a reason not to leave Backlund? What could it be? Klein thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I've got the general gist of it. Hmm, what kind of help do you need?
"My Sequence isn't high, and I don't know any powerful Beyonders. There's no way I can go against that secret organization directly."
After obtaining the potion formulas for Sequence 7, 6, and 5 of the Seer pathway and killing Lanevus, Klein actually didn't have to stay in Backlund.
There was still a huge gap between him and his next target of vengeance, Ince Zangwill who had Sealed Artifact 0-08. There was no hope of success within a short period of time. He didn't even dare to approach it, so it wasn't impossible to leave Backlund. At the very most, he would feel the pinch for wasting the rental fee that he had paid upfront.
The reason why Klein was still staying in this large city was because there were a lot of Beyonders here. There were also many resources and ingredients that appeared here. It made it one of the most convenient places to advance his Sequence. It suited the revelation of his divination back then.
When I become a Faceless and am almost done digesting it, I'll have to head out to sea and look for a mermaid... This thought suddenly flashed through Klein's mind.
Sharron replied calmly, "Be our support.
"To kill a Sequence 5 Beyonder, together."
Klein was slightly surprised as he asked, "With your strength, that organization only sent one Sequence 5 Beyonder to hunt you down?"
Could it be that the common characteristic of a cult was to be brainless?
"He has a Sealed Artifact that greatly restrains me," Sharron answered calmly, her face pale but her expression delicate. "The person in charge of this matter is indeed a High-Sequence Beyonder."
"But he has been led elsewhere by the clues that we deliberately left behind," Maric added. "It's not like we only have Backlund as our only base. If we can kill the person in charge of the nearby boroughs and take away that Sealed Artifact, we will immediately disguise ourselves and flee. After that, we will no longer be afraid of being hunted down normally."
Klein tersely acknowledged.
"But why do you think I can help?"
I look so weak...
And the target is a Sequence 5 Beyonder with power and that strange Sealed Artifact!
"You're not just at Sequence 9. You're also very special," Sharron looked at him silently with her blue eyes and said with certainty.
"Haha." Klein could only reply with a dry laugh.
Sharron's ethereal voice sounded once again.
"Besides, you still have that 'eye.'"
That eye? Are you referring to the All-Black Eye left behind by Nimblewright Master Rosago? Klein nodded slightly.
"But I can only use a small portion of it, and it can't produce too much of an effect since it was corrupted by the True Creator."
"That's enough." Sharron was always so terse with her words.
Maric added, "The Sequence 5 Beyonder we are dealing with has similar characteristics as Sharron. Only that 'eye' of yours can help us find him."
At that moment, Sharron spoke again.
"Maric will be the first bait.
"I'll be the second.
"As for you, you are the hunter responsible for solving the problem.
"I can't guarantee absolute safety.
"But you will definitely be safer than us."
Sounds sincere enough, but I'll need to make sure through divination... Klein pondered for a few seconds and said, "I want to understand the situation about the other person's characteristics and Sealed Artifact. Only then can I make a decision."
-x-X-x-
Dressed in a black regal dress, Sharron pursed her bloodless lips and tilted her head to look at Maric, nodding slightly.
Maric clasped his hands and said while concealing some of his madness, "You know about the Prisoner pathway, don't you?"
"Yes, I've heard of it in the Beyonder circles," Klein answered frankly.
Of course, these Beyonder circles refer to the Nighthawks and the Tarot Club... He sighed in his heart as he added.
Maric seemed to recall something, and he was silent for nearly twenty seconds. Outside the window, he could hear the rhythmic sound of the carriage wheels rolling across the concrete pavement.
He ruffled his messy brown hair and spoke with a slightly twisted expression on his face.
"Prisoners are those who are locked up in prisons, and that also corresponds to having their spirituality and desires constrained by reason, body, and the world. The Beyonders of this Sequence have strong bodies and keen senses, often possessing both a staid appearance and a crazy heart within them. They possess many criminal techniques and are proficient in killing with whatever they can casually acquire.
"Their corresponding Sequence 8 is Lunatic. I believe you aren't aware of this because even an orthodox Beyonder organization like the seven Orthodox Churches aren't fully aware of such matters. That secret organization's member wields powers that far exceed your imagination. Those nearly twisted bastards are bound, be it their bodies or souls. It would be difficult to obtain any useful information by just relying on mediumship and divination.
"Sharron and I had also put up with this and waited for a very long time before we found a way to remove this binding and successfully escape.
"As all the Beyonders in this pathway are cursed and have crazy characteristics, we don't want to rely on the seven major Churches. We would lose all our freedom, without leaving anything behind."
So that's the case... It's no wonder the Nighthawk's confidential information doesn't have much about this. It even lacked the corresponding Sequences 8 and 7 of Prisoner. It's something I could know based on the level I had at the time... Klein replied with a sense of enlightenment, "I really am not aware of the situation beyond Prisoner."
Maric didn't nod as he looked at Klein with his brown eyes and continued, "Compared to a Prisoner, a Lunatic's greatest characteristic is to be able to autonomously sacrifice their rationality and let their desires run amok in exchange for strength and enhancements in every aspect. Apart from not having clear thoughts during this period, there isn't much of a problem. They can even gain stronger resistances towards Beyonder powers that can disrupt one's thoughts and influence their mind."
To put it simply, I'll get rid of you first, and that will make it impossible for you to kill me... Klein couldn't help but lampoon.
"From this Sequence onwards, the curse will gradually appear. Lunatics easily lose control," Maric said as his facial muscles twitched. @@novelbin@@
Isn't that obvious? If a person's mental state has been operating at a nadir for a long time, or if there are frequent abnormalities, it would be abnormal if the possibility of losing control isn't higher than other Beyonders! Klein had his own understanding of this. He turned to look at Miss Sharron, feeling that it was hard for him to imagine what she would look like when she was in the Prisoner and Lunatic stages. And throughout this, Sharron maintained her ghostly silent and ethereal state.
Seeing that he hadn't said anything, Maric slowly exhaled and said, "The next sequence is Werewolf."
The mutation begins? However, in the eyes of normal people, the crazy Prisoners and the Lunatics who are prone to losing their minds are actually similar to such mutants... Well, Werewolf being a Sequence 7 is lower than I expected... Klein's thoughts suddenly wandered.
Maric didn't notice how he had gone adrift as he continued on, "A Werewolf is a fully cursed person. Every time the crimson moon becomes full, they will lose part of their sanity, grow black fur, and their bloodlust and desire for tasting blood would reach its peak..."
His voice gradually became a bit erratic, as if he recalled that bitter experience of enduring and repressing himself.
"A Werewolf has rather powerful rejuvenation abilities, as well as terrifying strength, agility, and speed. Their claws and teeth are in no way inferior to Beyonder weapons of the same Sequence, and they contain venom. They also know some darkness-related spells. For instance, targets who are under the Werewolf's control would become subordinates after a period of time, when a Werewolf's venom infiltrates their body for a period of time. They would become a monster like a Werewolf, and typically, these monster's possess very short lifespans..."
After hearing Maric's explanation, Klein made a pertinent conclusion.
At the level of Sequence 7, the Werewolf is above average in terms of actual combat ability.
"A Werewolf who is always unable to suppress their instinct to kill and their bloodlust during a full moon will turn increasingly cold and more twisted. Gradually, they will lose their feelings that a normal human would have," Maric added. There was an undisguised pride in his tone.
It fits Mr. Azik's description of mutants... Klein subconsciously looked at Miss Sharron, instinctively imagining her Werewolf form. However, her cold gaze almost made him shiver, and he quickly turned his head back.
Maric unconsciously licked his lips. It wasn't the seductive kind done by women, but the kind that gave people a sense of danger.
His gaze seemed to momentarily lose focus; leaving his recollections an unknown.
After a few seconds, he opened his mouth again.
"I'm at the corresponding Sequence 6, Zombie."
Zombie... Your outer appearance really does resemble one... It's no wonder you often play cards with a bunch of your own kind. It turns out that you are also a special kind of zombie, a real living zombie... Klein thought for a moment and said, "I heard from Kaspars that you aren't afraid of bullets?"
Maric nodded and said, "My body can be as hard as steel. Even if you used a revolver to fire at my head, I'll only feel dizzy at best. You'll need to shoot me five times in the same spot before you're able to break my defenses.
"And even if you break through my defenses, to a Zombie, all other forms of damage isn't lethal if the brain isn't destroyed.
"And my strength has been raised significantly from the foundation of a Werewolf. Furthermore, I wield a portion of death-related spells and can easily summon zombies and control ghosts. I can direct them and am proficient at using cold and decaying Beyonder powers."
Every Sequence in the Mutant pathway has different characteristics. There are very few changes in the progressive pathway... Klein pondered for a moment and asked, "Then, what about the curse of Zombie?"
Maric clenched his teeth and said, "I will thirst for the warm blood and fresh meat of humans. During the full moon, this state will be particularly serious. The only thing to be gratified about is that a Zombie's curse replaces the Werewolf's and Lunatic's curse. They do not exist together, and it's the same later on.
"Every time the crimson moon is full, I will be in great pain. If I don't give up on self-control, I will be in so much pain that I will lose my ability to fight. And if I indulge myself, I will also become less and less like a human, and the risk of losing control is very high.
"Even in normal times, I would always resist the desires in my heart and the strong malice in my heart."
Phew. Compared to the Beyonders of other Sequences, the others are so much better. Well, except for Abyss and Demoness... Klein suddenly had such a thought.
Maric paused and glanced at Sharron.
Sharron parted her lips and said in an illusory voice, "Sequence 5, Wraith."
Wraith? There's such a Sequence? It really is a Mutant pathway... Klein was slightly surprised at first, but then he felt that this was indeed the characteristic of a spirit body that could be easily transformed.
Having received the prompt, Maric added, "After becoming a Wraith, one can turn one's body into a real wraith and obtain the corresponding powers, such as moving through obstacles, hiding in mirrors, and directly attacking the soul of the enemy. They can jump through most things with reflections.
"And unlike ordinary wraiths, even with Spirit Vision, one will find it difficult to discover such a shadow unless they were a High-Sequence Beyonder.
"Yes, Wraith wields many death-type spells. There are many strange techniques, such as forcefully possessing the body and controlling the enemy...
"Her curse is that on the night of a full moon, she either consumes a certain number of human souls, or she becomes extremely weak. Choosing the former is equivalent to being on the brink of losing control at any moment."
Without waiting for Klein to speak, the similarly pale Sharron suddenly said, "Our target is also a Wraith."
"The Beyonder powers of Zombie, Werewolf, Lunatic, and Prisoner won't be lost as a result of advancement," Maric emphasized.
It sounds like my nemesis. I'm precisely afraid of the type who are impervious to revolver bullets and do not suffer immense damage when burned by ordinary flames... Simply put, I'm afraid of "ghosts"... Klein felt his heart thump a little.
After pondering for a few seconds, he asked, "What is the effect of the Sealed Artifact?
"Why would they restrain you?"
It actually made you willing to tell me your weaknesses and your curses... Klein had some general guesses.
Maric's expression was somewhat gloomy as he replied, "That cursed artifact that needs to be sealed is called 'Scarlet Lunar Corona.'
"Up to a certain range, it can create effects similar to a full moon. For those who are already cold and warped, it would aid them with explosive strength, but we will become weak and lose our ability to fight. If I give up on myself, then I'd rather choose death!" Maric growled hoarsely.
I didn't expect a perverted and cowardly fellow like you to be a persistent person. Hmm, to be able to last until the Zombie Sequence is indeed extraordinary... Klein didn't interrupt him and listened to the next part of the story.
"The person who wears the Scarlet Lunar Corona is immune to the effects of the full moon, and they will gain terrifying speed and unimaginable rejuvenation abilities, as well as a number of relatively powerful darkness-related spells. However, it will make the wearer's blood gradually turn cold. They will freeze up, bit by bit, and if they do not stop in time or drink the blood of a living person, they will ultimately die as their blood freezes up completely." Maric seemed to greatly fear the Scarlet Lunar Crow.
After he was done, Sharron looked over at Klein with her calm blue eyes.
"Together with Steve are Zombie Jason and Werewolf Tyre.
"But as long as Steve is finished off, the others wouldn't be a problem."
Maric added, "If we succeed, the Beyonder characteristic left behind by Steve will be mine. The Scarlet Lunar Corona will belong to Sharron. The remaining spoils of war and the Book of Secrets will be your payment."
-x-X-x-