Chapter 6: Beyonder
Not only did they speak the same Loen language, they also shared the
same grim and tense vibes.
*Where am I? What do I plan to do here? I would like to know
too...* Calming himself down, Zhou Mingrui silently repeated the
questions posed by the two.
What left the deepest impression on him were neither the sentences
formed by words nor the meanings behind them, but the display of
bewilderment, vigilance, panic, and reverence by the couple!
For some baffling reason, two people had been mysteriously dragged into
this world surrounded by gray fog. As the perpetrator, Zhou Mingrui was
already feeling abnormally dumbfounded and startled, let alone the
couple who was pulled into this mess completely passively!
For them, such events and encounters might already be beyond their
imaginations, right?
Momentarily, Zhou Mingrui thought of two options: The first option was
feigning victimhood to hide his true identity, and in turn gain a
considerable amount of trust. He could then take a wait-and-see approach
and take advantage of his circumstances where necessary. The other
option was to maintain his mysterious identity in the eyes of the
couple. He could then affect the subsequent development while gleaning
valuable information from them.
Without the luxury of time to deliberate over the situation, he grasped
hold of the thought that flashed across his mind. He made an immediate
decision to try out the second idea.
Exploit the psychological state of the others to gain the greatest
advantage for himself!
After a few seconds of silence in the fog, Zhou Mingrui chuckled. With a
low but not heavy tone, he calmly spoke as though he was replying to the
polite greetings from the visitors, "An attempt."
An attempt... an attempt? Audrey Hall looked at the mysterious
guy veiled in the grayish-white fog, and the only thought was that
whatever was happening was absurd, funny, horrifying, and weird.
She was at the dressing table inside her bedroom only moments ago. But
just by turning around, she had "come" to this place that was filled
with gray fog!
How inconceivable!
Audrey took a breath, revealing an impeccable, courteous smile. She
asked in a somewhat perturbed way, "Sir, is the attempt over? Might you
permit our return?"
Alger Wilson also had the intentions to probe Zhou Mingrui in a similar
fashion, but his rich experience made him statelier. He held back his
impulse and only took on the role of a silent onlooker.
Zhou Mingrui looked at the questioner. Looking through the hazy mist, he
could roughly see the silhouette of the person in question. It was a
tall girl with smooth blond hair, but her exact countenance could not be
seen clearly.
He did not rush to reply to the girl's question but turned around to
look at the man. He had messy dark-blue hair, as well as a medium
stature that was not considered stout.
Zhou Mingrui suddenly realized something. Once he became stronger or had
a deeper understanding of the foggy world, perhaps it was possible for
him to see through the fog and discern the girl and the man.
In this situation, they are the visitors, and I'm the master!
After changing his mindset, Zhou Mingrui instantly noticed details that
he had neglected earlier on.
The girl with a melodious voice and the mature, withdrawn man both
looked considerably incorporeal. Tainted by a faint crimson red, they
resembled a projected image of the two crimson red "stars" beyond the
gray fog.
This projection was based on the connection between the crimson red and
himself, an intangible connection that only he himself could
realistically grasp hold of.
The projection would disappear once the connection is cut, and the
couple would then return... Zhou Mingrui nodded mildly and looked at the
blond, chuckling. "Of course, if you make a formal request, you can
return this very moment."
When she did not identify any ill intention from his tone, Audrey heaved
a sigh of relief. She believed that since a gentleman who was capable of
such miraculous things had given his word, he would definitely abide by
it stringently.
With her mind somewhat mollified, she surprisingly was in no hurry to
request her leave. She rolled her virid eyes left and right, which
sparkled with an abnormal radiance.
She said in an anxious, anticipative and tempted manner, "This is such a
wonderful experience... Yes, I have always been hoping that something
like this would happen. I mean---I like mysteries and supernatural
miracles. No, my point is---what I mean is that, Sir, what can I do to
become a Beyonder?"
She got more excited as she spoke, so much so that she was fumbling over
her words. The dream that sprouted in her as a result of listening to
thrilling fantasies as told by her elders finally saw the possibility of
being materialized.
However, with just a few words, she had already forgotten all her
previous fears and horrors.
Good question! I would also like to know the answer... Zhou
Mingrui complained inwardly.
He started to ponder on an answer to the question to maintain his
unfathomable image.
At the same time, he felt that it was quite unbecoming of him to talk
while standing. Shouldn't he be in a palace, sitting at the head of a
long table, and on a mysterious high-back chair engraved with ancient
patterns, while silently observing his visitors?
As soon as this thought surfaced, the gray fog started to churn, giving
both Audrey and Alger a shock.
In an instant, they saw a number of towering stone pillars around them.
Above them was a vast dome that encapsulated them.
This entire edifice looked magnificent, grand and lofty, just like a
legendary palace for giants.
Directly under the dome where the gray fog gathered, a long, bronze
table appeared with ten high-back chairs on either side in a symmetrical
arrangement, along with a chair on each of the two ends of the long
table The back of each chair dazzled and shone faintly with crimson red,
drawing the outlines of weird constellations that differed from reality.
Audrey and Alger sat face-to-face, sitting next to the Seat of Honor.
The girl looked to her sides, and could not help but mumble, "How
fascinating..."
It is certainly fascinating... Zhou Mingrui extended his right
hand and caressed the edge of the bronze table a little while
maintaining an unperturbed expression.
Alger inspected the surroundings, and after a few seconds of silence, he
suddenly opened his mouth, and answered Audrey's question in place of
Zhou Mingrui.
"Are you from Loen?
"If you want to become a Beyonder, join the Churches of either the
Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and
Machinery.
"The majority of us will not meet a Beyonder our entire lives. This has
caused Churches, and even some clergymen within some of the biggest
Churches, to suspect the same. While this is the case, I am certain to
tell you that Beyonders still exist in courts, tribunals, and execution
agencies. They are still fighting against the dangers that grow in the
dark, only that their numbers are much fewer as compared to before and
during the early days of the Iron Age."
Zhou Mingrui listened attentively, but he tried his best to present
himself as paying little attention to Alger's words, much like how he
was listening to kids telling stories.
Relying on Klein's fragmented general knowledge of history, Zhou Mingrui
knew clearly that the "Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, which
was the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago.
Audrey silently listened to Alger finish his sentence before sighing.
"Mister, I know all about what you just said; I even know more than
that, including the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, and the
Machinery Hivemind, but I don't want to lose my freedom."
Alger gave a low-sounding laugh, and said vaguely, "You can't become a
Beyonder without sacrifices. If you don't consider joining Churches and
accepting their given challenges, you can only seek the royal families
and the few nobles with family histories of more than a thousand years.
If not, you can rely on your luck to search for clandestine evil
organizations."
Audrey puffed her cheeks subconsciously and looked around in a fluster.
After confirming that both the "mysterious man" and Alger did not notice
her tic, she pressed, "Are there no other solutions?"
Alger sank into silence. About half a minute later, he turned around to
look at the "mysterious man" who was watching the two of them in
silence.
Realizing that Zhou Mingrui had no plans to make any comment, he looked
back at Audrey and said with deliberation, "I have two sets of Sequence
9 potion formulas."
Sequence 9? Zhou Mingrui muttered to himself.
"Really? Which two sets?" Audrey clearly knew what the Sequence 9 potion
formulas meant.
Alger leaned back slightly, and replied unhurriedly, "As you know,
humanity can only depend on potions to become real Beyonders, while the
names of potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate.' After constant
translations into Jotun[Language of Giants.], Elvish, ancient and modern Hermes, and ancient
Feysac, they have undergone changes to match the day and age of that
era. The essence is not in their names, but whether they portray the
'core characteristics' of the potions.
"I have a Sequence 9 Potion named 'Sailor.' It enables you to have
excellent balancing capabilities. Even if you were on a boat in a
rainstorm, you will be able to walk about freely as though you were on
land. You will also gain immense strength and illusory scales under your
skin. They will enable you to swim like a fish and be difficult to
catch. You will move agilely underwater just like marine animals. Even
without any equipment, you will be able to easily submerge underwater
for at least ten minutes."
"Sounds great... the 'Keepers of the Seas' from the Lord of Storms?"
"It was called by that name in the past." Alger did not pause and
continued. "The second Sequence 9 potion is called 'Spectator.' Although
I am not sure what it was called in the past. This set of potions
enables you to have an exceptionally sharp mind with acute observational
abilities. I believe you can understand what 'spectator' means from
watching operas and plays. Just like an audience, spectators judge the
'actors' in the secular world, catching a glimpse of the real thoughts
of them through their emotions, conduct, and mantras."
At this point, Alger emphasized, "You must remember, regardless of
whether you are at an extravagant banquet or a crowded street,
spectators can only be spectators forever."
Audrey's eyes shone as she listened, and spoke after a long while, "Why?
Alright, this is a follow-up question. I-I think I have fallen in love
with this feeling---of being a 'Spectator.' How can I get this potion's
formula? What can I use to trade with you for it?"
Alger looked like he was already prepared as he said in a deep voice,
"The blood of Ghost Sharks, at least 100 milliliters of it."
Audrey nodded her head excitedly, but subsequently asked worriedly, "If
I can get it---and I'm saying if---how do I hand it to you? How can you
promise me that you can give the potion's formula to me in return for
the Ghost Shark's blood, as well as the authenticity of the formula?"
Alger said calmly, "I'll give you an address. I'll mail the formula to
you, or tell you directly here, once I receive the blood of the Ghost
Shark."
"As for promises, I think that both you and I can feel assured under the
witness of the mysterious sir."
As he said this, he swept his eyes towards Zhou Mingrui who was sitting
up straight at the Seat of Honor.
"Sir, the fact that you brought us here shows that you have tremendous
strength unimaginable to us. Neither one of us would dare violate a
promise with you as a witness."
"That's right!" Audrey's eyes sparkled and agreed with excitement.
From her perspective, the mysterious gentleman who had unimaginable
abilities was definitely an "authoritative" witness.
How could I or the guy opposite me dare trick him!
Audrey half-turned her body and looked at Zhou Mingrui earnestly.
"Sir, please be the witness of our trade."
At that moment, she then realized that she was all too impolite, having
forgotten all along to ask a particular question. She asked hurriedly,
"Sir, how should we address you?"
Alger nodded slightly, and echoed the same question in a serious manner,
"Sir, how should we address you?"
Zhou Mingrui was taken aback. He gently rapped his fingers on the bronze
table. The contents of the earlier divination flashed across his mind
suddenly.
He leaned back, withdrew his right hand, and crossed his ten fingers,
placing them below his chin. He gave the duo a faint smile.
"You can address me as..."
Upon saying this, he paused for a moment. He said amiably and calmly,
"The Fool."