Chapter 1000: Prelude

In the grand palace above the gray fog.

Through Enuni's prayer point of light, Klein saw the scene inside his

valet's room.

As his vision pulled out and slowly extended out, he began taking in all

of Böklund Street. Among buildings covered in fresh flowers and grass,

Intis parasol trees that shielded the sunlight slowly swept past. There

were slow-moving carriages that were elegantly or beautifully adorned,

and youths dashing quickly on bikes.

Finally, Klein locked onto Unit 39---Member of Parliament Macht's

residence. He then lowered his field of view and began observing every

animal and human to see if there was any black-haired, black-eyed,

monocle-wearing man.

Phew... There's no switching or grafting of fate... Nearly ten

minutes later, Klein heaved a sigh of relief.

At this moment, a carriage drove into Macht's residence and stopped at

their doorstep.

A young lady with curly black-green hair and bright, dark-brown eyes

alighted from a carriage. It was none other than Hazel who had returned

home.

She was wearing a dark green dress that didn't expose her shoulders. Her

lips were slightly pursed, and she wore a relaxed look with a hint of

joy.

Upon seeing Hazel in such a state, Klein's heart skipped a beat.

This was definitely abnormal!

From Klein's point of view, the rat demigod had only two outcomes after

meeting Amon's avatar. She either had a trump card and managed to escape

successfully at the cost of being heavily injured, or she had turned

into a Beyonder characteristic to strengthen Amon's avatar. And

regardless of the outcome, there was no way Hazel could find her

teacher. She would definitely be in grief and pain, feeling dispirited

and sad. So how could she be relaxed and happy?

*With her taking the risk to head to the manor in the suburbs to inform

her teacher, she's not a cold and selfish person... Her present state

indicates that she has confirmed that her teacher, that rat demigod, is

fine. She has even been rewarded, perhaps obtaining all kinds of

knowledge about the supernatural world... This is in conflict with my

theory of the rat demigod's outcome. No, it's not in conflict. Once you

eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable,

must be the truth...* Klein leaned back into his seat and came

to a conclusion:

Amon had not only obtained the rat demigod's Beyonder characteristic,

but he had also stolen her fate and had replaced her identity!

*Therefore, to Hazel, her teacher hadn't encountered any mishaps and

would only need a period of time to lie low...* After making the

confirmation, Klein silently exhaled and felt a little relaxed.

To him, the most terrifying aspect of Amon was that no one knew what

form or identity "He" would use to appear. It could be possible that

Member of Parliament Macht would one day wear a monocle, or that insects

in the garden would turn around with monocles on their faces. Therefore,

after grasping the identity Amon might use to appear, Klein couldn't

help but feel more assured.

As for Amon's performance being problematic in front of Hazel, Klein

believed that it was impossible. After all, Amon was a King of Angels

that was fundamentally good at deceit. Even if "He" mentioned something

that differed from what the rat demigod had said, "He" could easily use

the excuse of it being a test with what "He" now said being part of her

formal education to fool her.

*Of course, based on Pallez Zoroast's depiction, Amon definitely

wouldn't appear as a rat demigod, so I shouldn't be careless...*

Klein did some observations before retracting his gaze and leaving the

gray fog.

Inside his room, he sat on a reclining chair and drank some black tea

with a lemon slice. He half-closed his eyes and considered how he could

deepen his relationship with Qonas Kilgor.

After an unknown period of time, Klein suddenly opened his eyes and

activated his Spirit Vision.

At the demigod level, he could already activate it at will.

Almost at the same moment, Reinette Tinekerr walked out of the void with

the four blonde, red-eyed heads in hand. One of them had a letter in its

mouth.

"Whose letter is it?" Klein asked as he reached out his right hand.

"Sharron..." Reinette Tinekerr's other head answered.

*Miss Sharron? She should be making her final preparations for the

advancement. Why would she suddenly write to me?* Klein was

slightly puzzled as he received the envelope.

After he opened it, he found very little content. There was only a

simple line:

"Emlyn White is seeking out the Rose School of Thought."

Emlyn is seeking out the Rose School of Thought? Klein pricked

up his brows in surprise.

His opinion of Emlyn was a Sanguine who was afraid of trouble. Unless

necessary, he didn't even wish to head out. So how could he actively

search for the Rose School of Thought?

*This definitely isn't Emlyn's own will... Yes, Emlyn had mentioned that

some important figure of the Sanguine was meeting him... This is a new

mission that the Sanguine gave him? It's very possible! However, why

didn't he mention it in the Tarot Club? Oh, it was focused on the

punishment operation, and he had other clues, so he temporarily kept it

from us?* Klein thought as he leaned forward. Under the watch of

Miss Messenger's eight eyes, he took out a piece of paper and a fountain

pen from his coffee table.

He wasn't curious about Emlyn's clues, because it was an obvious matter.

Since Miss Sharron knew that Emlyn was seeking out the Rose School of

Thought and had asked their mutual friend, Detective Sherlock Moriarty,

about this matter, it meant that this Sanguine had likely asked the help

of the black market arms dealer, Ian, from the Bravehearts Bar.

This also meant that, in Emlyn's previous commissions, he must've

noticed Sharron or Maric; otherwise, it was impossible for him to

mention the Rose School of Thought to an ordinary person.

*I don't know enough about the Apothecary pathway. I can't determine how

Emlyn discovered a Wraith or Zombie...* Klein crossed his right

leg as he placed the letter on his thigh and began scribbling:

"This is likely a mission the Sanguine's upper echelons gave Emlyn. They

hate the Rose School of Thought members who believe in the Primordial

Moon, and they have directed this anger at the other factions of the

Rose School of Thought..."

Upon writing this, Klein paused and added, "I suspect that the Mother

Tree of Desire has the intention of encroaching onto the authority of

the Moon domain, but I'm unsure why the Primordial Moon believers would

join the Rose School of Thought. This secret existence seems to have a

very complicated relationship with the Mother Tree of Desire. They are

at odds, but they have also cooperated. It's hard to tell..."

Putting down his pen and folding the letter, Klein looked at Miss

Messenger who had been waiting. He asked with a chortle, "How did you

know that I'll be replying?"

One of Reinette Tinekerr's heads succinctly answered, "Inkling..."

Right on the heels of that, the four blonde, red-eyed heads spoke one

after another, "You..." "Seem a..." Little livelier..." "Recently..."

"Your expression..." "Has also..." "Become much..." "Richer..."

As Klein pulled out the box that was connected to his golden pocket

watch, he took out a gold coin from it and said with a self-deprecating

smile, "Repeatedly wearing a thick mask isn't good for one's mental

health. I realized that after becoming a demigod."

Therefore, unless he was in situations where he needed to disguise or

hide his feelings, he limited the use of his Clown's power to control

his emotions.

Reinette Tinekerr didn't say a word as the heads bit on the gold coin

and letter before vanishing.

Watching Miss Messenger leave, Klein leaned back slightly and inwardly

muttered,

*I wonder if Miss Sharron and Maric will use the Sanguine to deal with

the Rose School of Thought members in Backlund...*

*Miss Sharron is probably focusing her time and efforts on her

advancement. She might not involve herself, but I can't be sure about

Maric...*

Emlyn changed into his Church of Earth Mother priest robes, and then

wore a red coat and a silk hat before walking out the Harvest Church. He

then got into a rental carriage by the roadside.

After saying his destination, he casually cast his gaze out the window.

At this moment, Emlyn sensed something as he abruptly moved his body,

leaving shadowy afterimages in his wake as he moved to the side.

Then, he saw a figure appear out of nowhere.

It was a young man whose coat wasn't buttoned, revealing the white shirt

and black vest within. His brown hair was a little moist and messy as

though he hadn't combed it in a while. His brown eyes were filled with

temperance, as though he was restraining certain urges deep within his

heart.

Upon seeing this pale corpse-like face, Emlyn tipped his chin and said

with a smile, showing no signs of nervousness, "You have finally come."

"Aren't you afraid that I'm a member of the Rose School of Thought

that's here to finish you off?" The young man's figure turned somewhat

transparent.

Emlyn scoffed and said, "Would I not be aware of the Rose School of

Thought's history? Or matters about the betrayal of the temperance

faction and their escape?

"Well, how do I address you?"

"Maric," the young man replied. "Is this the information you received

from the upper echelons of the Sanguine?"

Emlyn was taken aback as he tsked.

"You are smarter than I thought."

He used such a remark to confirm the other party's guess.

Maric slowly drew a breath and leaned forward slightly.

"How did you notice our existence from Ian's side?"

Emlyn leisurely leaned back into the carriage and said with a smile,

"Humans have the smell of humans. Wraiths have the smell of wraiths."

Maric fell silent for a few seconds before asking, "You Sanguine wish to

deal with the Rose School of Thought members in Backlund?"

"The important members," Emlyn replied by making an emphasis.

"If that's the case, we can use ourselves as bait to help you fish out

the Rose School of Thought members. However, I need confirmation." Maric

rubbed his eyes and said directly, "I know you are unable to make the

decision. You can first return to seek permission from the Sanguine.

After you obtain their assurance, you know where to find us."

Having said that, he handed a dossier in his hand.

"This is from Ian. It's the initial feedback from tracking Ernes Boyar.

Many bounty hunters have completed this together."

Emlyn received the dossier and nodded in a rare look of solemnity.

"Okay."