Chapter 203: Mutant

Klein opened the letter, feeling both expectant and nervous before he

began reading Azik's reply.

"...I thought about a few possibilities regarding the scenario you

described, and I remembered a few things about Vampires and Mutants.

"Natural vampires were already on the brink of extinction before the

dragons and giants bowed out of the stage of world history. Later on,

they might occasionally be discovered. The Vampires we usually talk

about, as well as those mentioned in folklore, are more similar to

Beyonders. I recall that the name of a potion in a particular pathway is

called Vampire.

"If your superior is now in a half-insane state, then it's very likely

that he mistakenly consumed such a potion. The result of mixing two

potions from different pathways makes a half-insane state a certainty.

Yes, I vaguely remember the pathway of the Evernight, which is also the

Sleepless pathway as you know it, can be interchanged at High Sequences

with the pathway of Death and the pathway of Giants. But it doesn't

include the Vampire pathway.

"Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that your superior might

have accepted it willingly. After all, Vampires have a long life, an

exceptional constitution, and excellent looks. When compared with these

benefits, accepting a state of half-insanity is reasonable."

Klein froze when he read the letter. He didn't expect Mr. Azik to

provide him with this much information.

*The Death pathway is also known as the Corpse Collector pathway. It can

be interchanged at High Sequences with the Sleepless pathway. I knew

about this from Emperor Roselle's diary. But to think that it can also

be interchanged with the Giant pathway after Sequence 4... The Giant

pathway is the one that the City of Silver possesses, which is also the

present-day God of Combat pathway... I've always suspected that Giant

King Aurmir was the ancient God of Combat...*

*Yes, Emperor Roselle's diary described the Church of Evernight and the

Church of the God of Combat as mortal enemies... Could this be because

the pathways they possess can be interchanged at higher

sequences?*

*If I follow this line of thought, I can find an explanation as to why

the three ancient churches, the Church of Storms, the Church of the

Eternal Blazing Sun, and the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom,

are at odds with each other. That's because the pathways of Sailor,

Bard, and Reader can be interchanged at High Sequences!*

*Yes, during the end of the previous Epoch, the Pale Era, it 's likely

that the fall of Death was caused by the Evernight Goddess and the God

of Combat...*

*The Captain is perfectly fine usually, other than his poor memory. He

doesn't show any signs of half-insanity. I can rule out the possibility

of him consuming the Vampire potion!*

*Mr. Azik has recalled quite a number of things recently... Could the

Creeping Hunger have really stimulated his memories?*

Klein nodded and continued reading the letter.

"Mutant isn't the name of a particular species. It's more like the

description for many similar creatures. Under normal circumstances,

they're no different from an ordinary human, but there is an innate,

suppressed, twisted desire in their hearts. This desire erupts when they

come into contact with a certain scene or object. They become monsters,

succumbing to their desires for blood and massacre.

"After everything settles, they will return to normal again. They become

slightly more merciless and unfeeling after each time their desires

erupt, this will continue until their souls are completely twisted.

"The only example of this that I can recall is the werewolf. They're

similar to humans for the most part, and they cannot be distinguished

using most Beyonder abilities. But, during the full moon, the twisted

desires in their hearts intensify, and their bodies also change

accordingly.

"Your superior might be a potential Mutant. The death of your teammate

might have triggered his true nature.

"These are all my personal guesses. I cannot guarantee that there are no

other possibilities since I haven't gotten all my memories back. Perhaps

your theory of this being a precursor to losing control can also explain

this.

"There's no saving him whether he has consumed the Vampire potion, or if

he's a Mutant. Of course, many people have theorized that Mutants were

originally ordinary human beings, but were put under a strange curse or

corrupted by some evil god or devil, and, thus, transform into a

different monster under certain circumstances.

"Also, I'm not too sure if you can treat him when you notice the warning

signs of losing control. I would advise that you report this directly to

your superior's superior and hope that there's still time."

Klein looked gravely at the desk after placing the letter down. He

slipped into deep thought.

He had to admit that the theory of a Mutant was a very possible one, but

he couldn't eliminate the possibility that it was a warning sign to him

losing control.

*All I can do is wait for Madam Daly's reply... I sent the letter two

nights ago, so she should've received the letter yesterday morning. If

she replied immediately, I should've seen the letter last night or this

morning... It's almost noon... Does that messenger not dare to go near

Chanis Gate? Or was Madam Daly held up by something?* Klein

shook his head. He still felt exhausted and used Cogitation to force

himself to sleep.

In the hazy world, Klein was suddenly jolted to his senses. He knew that

he was dreaming.

He then saw Dunn Smith in his black trench coat appear in front of him.

Responding in a manner congruent with a normal dream, Klein gave a

delayed greeting, "Good morning... Captain..."

Dunn nodded slightly and said, "Leonard found a clue when he was

investigating the Lanevus case. He needs your help. The Mystery Pryer

that the Holy Cathedral sent over won't arrive until tomorrow morning

because of a train fault."

"Alright..." Klein replied in a fleeting voice.

Dunn thought for a moment before adding, "There's no need for you to

return to Zouteland Street. Head to 62 Howes Street directly. Leonard

will be there waiting for you. It's been hard on you."

The moment he finished his sentence, Klein's dream shattered. Klein

instinctively opened his eyes.

*Howes Street... Isn't that the area where the Divination Club, my

classmate Welch, and the member of the Aurora Order lived? There sure

are many incidents lately, one after another, as if they're culminating

in something...* Klein thought as he got up slowly. He washed up

in the bathroom before changing into a white shirt, brown vest, and

black trench coat. He then picked up his hat and went down to the living

room.

It wasn't eleven yet, and Benson and Melissa hadn't returned home. Klein

informed Bella that he was going out and that she didn't need to prepare

lunch for him.

He then took a public carriage to Howes Street and saw the messy-haired

Midnight Poet---Leonard Mitchell, whose hair exuded beauty, waiting for

him in at building 62.

Leonard was still in a thin white shirt despite the chilly September

weather. He had paired it with beige pants. He swept his green eyes at

Klein.

"This might be the building rented by Lanevus under a false name."

"How did you figure it out?" Klein asked out of curiosity.

Leonard pointed to his head.

"Since you found a clue from Hood Eugen and suspected that Lanevus was

likely connected to that member of the Aurora Order---the cloth merchant

Sirius Arapis---I had to change my line of thinking after my normal

investigations revealed nothing. I started investigating the Aurora

Order.

"The previous report told me that Sirius had interactions with many of

the residents on Howes Street, so I searched every one of them and found

a problem with this one."

"What problem?" Klein asked.

Leonard raised his brows. "An obvious problem. The guest here appears

very rarely. He claimed to be going to the Southern Continent to do

business after Hanass Vincent's death and never returned. His records

are very realistic, and the police didn't discover anything."

"This could only be a coincidence." Klein creased his brows.

"Of course, a coincidence. But when I showed the residents around here

Lanevus's picture, an old man felt that he looked similar to the

resident at number 62, other than his different glasses." Leonard took

out a black-and-white photograph from his pocket.

Why didn't you say so earlier... Klein lampooned inwardly. He

entered 62 Howes Street with Leonard, and at Leonard's request, he

started to divine if there were any hidden compartments or secret

chambers.

The result was yes!

"The secret chamber or hidden compartment in this building."

Klein wrote down another divination statement. He took a seat on the

sofa and closed his eyes as he recited the statement.

Seven times later, he entered a dream. His vision was blurry.

In the blurry world, Klein saw a wooden bookshelf. He saw rows upon rows

of books. He saw that one of the books had been taken away. He saw the

wooden surface beside the book open, revealing a hidden compartment.

The scene quickly disappeared as Klein opened his eyes and told Leonard,

"In the study."

Klein wound the topaz pendulum around his wrist and followed Leonard

into the study. He saw the wooden bookshelf he had seen in his dream.

"Pull out that book, the place it's covering has a hidden compartment."

Klein pointed at the book nearest to the sides.

"So it's here... I couldn't find anything when I searched the place, and

I had no choice but to return to Zouteland Street to request for help,"

Leonard grumbled as he walked over. He pulled out the book Klein had

pointed out.

After searching the area, he finally found the mechanism to open the

hidden compartment.

A letter lay silently in the hidden compartment.

A letter? Lanevus hid a letter here? Klein found it extremely

strange.

After he divined to see if there was anything dangerous within the

letter and received a negative answer, Leonard picked up the letter and

opened the unmarked envelope.

Leonard pulled out the letter within and unfolded it.

Klein leaned forward to get a look of its contents. All he saw were the

first few paragraphs of the letter:

"Hahaha, congratulations. Congratulations on finally finding this

letter!

"This means that you're not too stupid, nor too slow. You qualify to

take part in this game of life and death that I've designed.

"Child laborers that die before their time. Factory workers who seldom

live past ten years after entering the factory because of their working

conditions. Female workers who risk severe illnesses for a meager

salary. I see boundless resentment surrounding every factory, turning

the surroundings oppressive and gloomy. This is the worst of times, and

also the best of times. Our game shall take place under such a setting.

"Fools, prepare yourselves, I'm going to issue you a hint!"