This was Adrian's second return to Backlund, but this time, he came discreetly. The last visit's enthusiastic welcome from Aurora Order members, complete with signs, was too unsettling, so Adrian informed no one, boarding the train with just a bag.
Backlund's air quality remained abysmal, smog gathering overhead, blocking sunlight and casting a faint shadow over the city.
Glancing toward Tingen, Adrian spotted Ince Zangwill, seemingly believing he'd escaped scrutiny, and muttered, "This guy's got guts… After all that, he's still writing…"
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. After reinforcing surveillance on Tingen through the gaze left behind Klein, Adrian headed to the Aurora Order's outpost. He felt a twinge of admiration for a certain demigod-hopeful old fool—
When He'd provoked the Celestial Worthy to tamper with His Seer puppet, both wielded Sefirot. Though the High-Dimensional Overseer's Sefirot was symbolically lesser than Sefirah Castle, the gap wasn't so vast that the Celestial Worthy could easily overpower Him. Yet Ince Zangwill, a mere Sequence 5 without divinity, dared meddle with a mythical creature. Who gave him the nerve to orchestrate the True Creator's heir's fate?
Adam's out of the question…
…
…
Yeah, right. Without Adam's subtle guidance, would Ince Zangwill dare target an evil god's heir? Despite his baffling handling of certain matters, Ince Zangwill, a high-ranking Church of the Evernight member, wasn't that foolish. The secrets behind this warranted deeper scrutiny.
But it wasn't Adrian's concern. He wouldn't interfere in Tingen until the events there concluded. His prior actions had already alerted Adam, and only the Evernight Goddess's cover kept the paranoid Adam from realizing Adrian hailed from the cosmos.
Calmly boarding a carriage, Adrian directed the driver toward the Aurora Order's location. On his last Backlund visit, he'd assigned "volunteer" tasks to Mr. A and Mr. Z, such as working at humanitarian aid stations or charity hospitals. Their roles differed: Mr. Z, long preaching in Tingen, was placed among the lower classes, leading Secret Supplicants* to embody the Lord's teachings through action.
Mr. A, with ties to mid-tier nobility, was set up by Adrian as a wealthy Intis-born Loen merchant, "Heathcliff St. Clair." His persona was a Sun faith devotee but generous gentleman, mingling with minor nobles to feign integration into Backlund's elite, much like Klein's future "Dwayne Dantès" identity for upper-class dealings.
The name "Heathcliff St. Clair" was chosen partly to see Klein's reaction when he, as Dwayne Dantès, meets the reinvented Mr. A. Adrian's naming inspiration mirrored Klein's approach to his aliases.
As for Mr. X, an Abraham Family defector… Sorry, per the original host's memories, the Abraham Family treated apprentices decently, yet defectors betrayed and killed mentors. They weren't Secret Supplicant pathway members, limiting the True Creator's influence. Adrian wouldn't entrust them with critical tasks.
After all, a traitor always a traitor. Adrian doubted their character—would they truly be content with their current Sequences? No. If the Aurora Order clashed with orthodox churches and another offered higher-Sequence potions, these Door pathway members would likely defect, eagerly spilling Aurora Order and Adrian's secrets.
Entering the manor he'd previously arranged, Adrian was surprised to find it transformed: every room spotless, devoid of any cult-like traces. New faces roamed the corridors, some malnourished and frail, but their eyes shone with hope.
Using his Hermit-enhanced whispering ability, Adrian listened closely, noting some were newly potioned Secret Supplicants, but most were ordinary, without Beyonder traits. Squinting, he employed his Scholar pathway Sequence 7 Observer ability to assess these Aurora Order recruits. Pausing briefly at the results, he proceeded nonchalantly into the manor's interior.
As Adrian ventured deeper, more Secret Supplicants appeared, healthier, better-dressed, and more vibrant. He lightly knocked on the door of the room he'd designated as an "office," hearing a weary voice: "Come in."
Pushing open the door, Adrian saw Dark Saint Kisma, fretting over a pile of documents, frantically scratching his head—literally, as clumps of brain matter oozed out, making the relatively young elder look eerie and terrifying. Noticing someone enter, the brain matter wriggled back into Kosma's skull with startling autonomy.
Adrian witnessed this but chose to ignore it. He'd seen worse at the True Creator's side—daily seas of writhing flesh when He was less awake.
"It's starting to take shape here," Adrian said, sitting on the sofa with a smile, then cautioned, "But don't gather so many followers in one place. It's too conspicuous. If someone reports it, the *Church of the Storm* could wipe you out."
"We've considered that," Kosma replied, removing his disguise glasses and addressing Adrian seriously. "Mr. A and Mr. Z are primarily responsible for recruiting new believers in Backlund's diocese. As of last week, Mr. A has converted seven devout nobles, all now Secret Supplicants. Mr. Z, working in the slums, has over a hundred believers, and he's advanced to Sequence 5, becoming an honorable Shepherd."
Pausing, Kosma's lips curled into a smile. "Your methods work! Mr. A says the prayers from his noble converts far surpass his old shepherding approach. Soon, the Aurora Order may gain another Saint!"
"Then prepare a Sequence 4 potion early, Kisma," Adrian said meaningfully. "We'll have more Saints soon. Check with Mr. A on his preferred pathway potion. Given our pace, Mr. Z, fully grasping the acting method, will also approach Sainthood."
"I know, but we lack Black Knight characteristics. He'll need to hunt Beyonder creatures… We can scrape together Sequence 4 for Sun or White Tower pathways. Sigh, I wonder if Mr. A would switch pathways," Kosma said.
"No choice—materials are scarce. Keep expanding step by step," Adrian replied.
"I understand," Kosma's eyes glinted, his words carrying a hint of menace. "By then, we'll acquire more Beyonder characteristics. Our adjacent pathways are numerous, so we won't lack Sequence 4 traits."
Adrian caught the killing intent in Kosma's tone.
"By the way, reserve a Visionary characteristic for me," Adrian said abruptly. Kosma blinked, startled. "You're not continuing on the Lord's pathway? Not questioning you, but with the Lord's favor, you could become an angel at His side…"
"The Lord will reclaim the false god's stolen power," Adrian brushed off casually. "My choice of this pathway aligns with the Lord's will. Just safeguard the characteristic. Also, before returning to Tingen, I plan to advance to Rose Bishop. Do we have the materials in stock?"
"We do," Kosma nodded, privately envying Adrian's rapid advancement. Is this a favored one's pace?
"Got it. I'll visit Mr. A and Mr. Z to… inspect their progress," Adrian said, adding offhandedly before leaving, "The royal family's planning new examination systems. See if we can, under Mr. A's name—not mine—donate to the new technical university, maybe secure him a position there."
"Understood. Anything else?" Kosma asked.
"Nope. Keep up the good work. There's plenty left, no rest yet," Adrian said, flashing an "encouraging" gesture before vanishing down the corridor.
Kosma stared after him, gave a wry chuckle, and resumed scratching his head over the documents.
…
"Careful here," Mr. A, dressed impeccably, strolled with a minor noble at the docks. Frowning at the gaunt, sallow workers, he seemed displeased.
"Can such workers perform well? They look like they haven't eaten properly," Mr. A asked the noble beside him. The noble hesitated, then smiled helplessly. "No choice. In Backlund, most workers face these conditions. There are too many poor, far more than factory owners need. Even for jobs paying a single soli a day, countless can't find work."
"Those without work starve or pray for relief rations, right?" Mr. A said heavily.
"Exactly. But shamefully, even we who believe in the Lord know the cause yet can't change it," the noble said helplessly. "If we raise wages rashly, our chamber gets ostracized by other nobles and merchants. Our costs would soar, and our purchasing channels would shrink…"
"I understand," Mr. A waved dismissively. "It's not your fault. I just need to think."
A pair of eyes opened behind Mr. A, coldly observing him.
…
At night, Mr. A sat in his room, deep in thought. A candle flickered, its faint light illuminating his pale, handsome face. His room was spartan—despite residing in Adrian's manor, it held only a bed, a table, a bookshelf, and a small cabinet.
Per Mr. A, his Lord bore the suffering of all beings; how could he indulge? His public persona's expenses were necessary, but he minimized other costs, pouring himself into work.
Servants, drawn from jobless workers, and daily meals were kept frugal, yet crafted to hide "Mr. Heathcliff's" financial strain. While Mr. Z fought for the Lord's lambs at the bottom, Mr. A polished his image to become a Shepherd for the Lord.
Today, he'd faced his powerlessness again. Those people, like his pre-salvation self, couldn't survive without aid. The Lord's teachings said all were His flock, His divinity in every soul… So why did oppression and cruelty abound?
For the first time, Mr. A felt helpless hatred. As "himself," he understood why the Lord opposed the Seven Gods.
Mr. A was mad but not foolish; powerless lambs meant punished shepherds.
He rubbed the book before him, silent for a long time.
After a while, Mr. A let out a long sigh.
---
Scholar Pathway
Sequence 7: Observer
This Sequence doesn't significantly enhance physical attributes like its predecessors but grants the Beyonder the ability to "observe" structures. By thoroughly understanding an object, one can peer deeper into higher-dimensional spaces, though Observers can only observe, not interfere, with these dimensions.
Through observation, Beyonders gain sharper insight, allowing attacks to target weaknesses. Skilled Observers can also read expressions and surroundings, mimicking Spectator techniques, though this depends entirely on the Beyonder's skill.
Those who obsess over observing and believe they can control higher dimensions will lose control.
(End of Chapter)