Chapter 907: The Power of Mysticism

Most of Kolain City's buildings were built on paths that spiraled

upwards. There would be squares or small towns in the middle or on

rather flat, open spaces.

Klein carried his luggage, and with his spiritual intuition as a Seer,

he randomly chose a direction to proceed in and found a relatively

lively bar along the way.

There weren't many carriages on the streets, and the rental types were a

rare sight. The most popular means of transportation in East Balam was a

"Coffin." This stemmed from their traditions of worshipping Death.

People viewed coffins as items that brought about serenity and peace;

therefore, Klein often saw people walking past him carrying a black

coffin. The lids were lighter than the usual kind and were just like a

carriage door that could be opened at any time.

*They're carried via two, four, or either people; or by horses or

single-horned goats... Such a tradition is quite terrifying at night.

Hmm, it's not much better in the day. The entire city feels dark and

creepy...* Klein took in the "scenery" around him as he walked

into the square. On the left was a cathedral of the Lord of Storms, and

on the right were restaurants and bars.

When he stopped in his tracks, a coffin being carried by four men was

also lowered.

As the lid was opened, the passenger inside the coffin stood up and took

a step forward. He was a Northern Continent-styled gentleman dressed in

a white shirt and black vest.

The gentleman's formal coat was slung against his arm, something he wore

only after he left the coffin.

Then, Klein saw the man head straight for the Lord of Storms cathedral

and enter it.

*This sure is quite discordant... Doesn't the Church of Storms enjoy

changing the traditions of the colonies and forcefully implementing

those of Loen? Why don't they do that in East Balam? Is it because the

Death pathway and Evernight pathway are similar, so the Church of Storms

wishes to preserve some of the traditions of Death worship, so as to

curb the proliferation of the Church of Evernight?* Klein nodded

in thought as he turned to the buildings on the right, prepared to enter

one of the bars there.

Having experienced it personally, he came to the realization as to why

the dressing style of the ancient Balam Empire was written as such in so

many history books.

*They enjoy wearing trousers, those that are light and breezy. They find

creases beautiful... Isn't this to make it easier to lie in a coffin

when outside?* Klein shook his head with a smile as he pushed

open the heavy wooden door. Squeezing through the drunkards, he walked

towards the bar counter.

And at this moment, the two military "followers" had deliberately opened

up a distance from Dwayne Dantès to prevent themselves from being

exposed. They had walked to the door side.

Taking this brief reprieve, Klein suddenly switched directions and

passed through the crowd like a fish in water, heading straight for the

bar's backdoor.

Although he didn't know Dutanese, he could read drawings on signs and

knew where the washrooms and places where entry was forbidden to

customers.

After circling to a blind spot from the door, Klein quickly took off his

coat and slung it on his arm.

Immediately, with his golden cane, he reached out his palm to cover his

face and slow down his pace. Turning directions again, he headed for the

bar's entrance.

After opening up a distance of nearly ten meters from where he took off

his coat, Klein lowered his face-shielding right hand to reveal a

completely different face.

His white sideburns, deep eyes, and elegant demeanor was all gone. He

had switched to a common Loenese face that could be seen anywhere on the

Northern Continent.

With luggage and cane in hand, Klein walked staidly towards the two

military "followers." As they were looking for Dwayne Dantès, he walked

past them and left the bar.

Be it tracking or anti-tracking, they were both strong traits of a

Faceless!

Returning to the square, Klein turned into a sloped alley that led to

higher ground. He planned on finding a hotel elsewhere.

As he walked on a rather deserted path, he suddenly heard a woman's

frantic cries.

The voice was only maintained for a very short moment before it was

silenced.

Although he didn't know what she was shouting, Klein could sense the

horror, fear, and panic in her voice. Hence, he switched directions and

entered a narrower and more deserted trail.

In less than ten seconds, he saw a local man in his thirties who was

pressing against a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl in a secluded

corner and was using violence against her. His skin was brownish, and he

had rather soft facial features.

Klein took a glance and slowed down his pace before stopping in the

nearby shadows.

At this moment, the girl's face was extremely horrified and distorted.

However, regardless of how she struggled, she was unable to free herself

and had only received a beating in response.

Her tears and snot flowed out while her mouth was stuffed with cloth.

All she could do was produce muffling sounds.

At this moment, she was surprised that the rotten egg's attempts to take

off her clothes had slowed down.

"..."

Without having the time to consider what was happening, she

subconsciously looked at the rotten egg and found that his eyes had

widened. His facial muscles were writhing slowly, but he was unable to

form a complete expression on his face. Then, his limbs twitched and

paused as they continued doing what they were doing but were easily

avoided.

The girl instinctively pushed him, which had ended up having

surprisingly excellent results. Freed, she immediately stood up and

fled. However, she couldn't help but feel her legs go limp. After a few

steps, she tripped over a stone and nearly fell to the ground.

At this moment, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Reeling in

anxiety, she fumbled to her feet.

But almost immediately, the sounds of footsteps suddenly ceased.

The girl subconsciously looked back only to see the rotten egg standing

two meters away. His joints were making strange actions as though they

were rusted.

What's happening... The girl felt as though she was having a

nightmare.

The brown-skinned man struggled for a moment before quietening down.

Revealing a smile, he said in Dutanese, "In the future, when you meet

someone like me, remember to head for the nearest cathedral or somewhere

where there's plenty of people."

The girl was taken aback for a moment before she screamed. Turning

around, she ran as fast as she could.

Subconsciously, she chose to run in the direction of the square where

the cathedral was.

When the calm and silence of the deserted spot was restored, the

brown-skinned man turned to look at the nearby shadows where Klein

walked out from.

*A new marionette... His body isn't strong enough, and he's not nimble

enough. He lacks Beyonder powers and looks rather fierce. Apart from

knowing Dutanese, he's completely useless,* Klein simply

evaluated. *If it wasn't because he was committing a crime and that I

wasn't proficient in the local language, I would've buried him

immediately.*

He couldn't help but make a comparison with his former marionette,

Admiral of Blood Senor.

*Senor was a Wraith and was capable of Mirror Blink. He could hide in

gold coins and reflective surfaces. I didn't need to worry that he would

be seen by others... He also had Shriek and the ability to possess

others. Together with a Marionettist, it's a perfect

combination...*

More importantly, he also knew Dutanese...

*Comparing this marionette and him is like the difference between a

penny and 42,000 gold pounds.*

*I've no idea what his name is, and I can only use powers to sense some

superficial thoughts. I have no way of obtaining deeper memories unless

I encounter someone or something familiar. There would be a

corresponding change in the spirit to release more information... I'll

just call him "Ah Fu." Ah, no---that's too Chinese. "Oaf" it

is.*

Klein rubbed his temples and sighed. He needed to leave the area with

his new marionette, Oaf, before the girl led the clergymen over.

Before long, with the help of his marionette's translations, he found an

inn to stay in at the border between Kolain City's flourishing and

backward area. This place didn't need him to provide any proof of

identity, even though Klein had already changed his appearance to that

of a regular local.

*There's an even greater lack of administration management than the

colonies at sea...* Klein put down his luggage and threw most of

the cash he brought with him above the gray fog, leaving only 50 pounds

for his daily expenses.

Meanwhile, having crossed the Berserk Sea, and without needing to be

afraid of causing any further anomalies, he took down the copper whistle

and iron cigar case from the mysterious space above the gray fog so as

to make it easier for Mr. Azik to locate him.

After finishing all of this and having had dinner on the liner, he had

the spare time to seek out his second marionette.

As for how he could find one, Klein, who didn't understand Kolain City

well enough, decided on using his traits as a Seer and do so with

mysticism means!

With Oaf, he left the inn. Klein snapped a branch of a Donningsman Tree

and used it as a dowsing rod. With great familiarity, he used Cogitation

and muttered, "Location of my new marionette."

In the silent environment, pairs of cold eyes seemed to pierce through

the obstruction of the incorporeal and the corporeal and landed on the

dowsing rod.

The branch fell to the ground and pointed in a direction.

After advancing forward a little, he did another divination and followed

his new revelation. Seven to eight turns later, he arrived at a steep

staircase.

This staircase was connected to many roads in Kolain. One had to look up

to see the top, and there was no one at all.

*The divination's revelation is pointing here... Why isn't there anyone

here? The result isn't accurate because I didn't do a divination above

the gray fog? But I'm already a Sequence 5 Marionettist. My divination

abilities are definitely one of the best below that of High-Sequence

Beyonders...* Klein frowned slightly as he surveyed the area,

but he failed to find any targets.

After some thought, he walked towards the staircase and sat in the

shadows of the lowest step. He then waited in boredom despite a lack of

confidence.

After a few minutes, he stood up again and made Oaf sit where he was

sitting.

Then, Klein opened up a gap from him and hid two hundred meters away in

a hidden spot.

Kolain City. Lower Lip District.

Leonard Mitchell and Daly Simone arrived at a nearby district with the

Red Gloves team captain, Soest.

With the night as cover, Soest emphasized the operation to all the

members once again.

"Our target this time is Ulika who's living at Unit 13. He's a rather

important member of the Numinous Episcopate and is in charge of

communicating with the different small teams in Backlund.

"Although all our intelligence points to him not being a demigod, I have

applied for a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact to be safe. Her Excellency,

Goddess's Eye, is also ready to provide her assistance to us at any

time.

"Also, most of the residents of this district are locals. We have to be

wary of them also being members of the Numinous Episcopate."