"Hello, Benson."
Adrian, noting Benson's weary expression, knew the siblings hadn't slept all night. Understandably so—after a grieving officer reports your family member's death, someone claims they're alive, with a photo to prove it…
No one could sleep soundly.
Given the letter, Benson wasn't surprised to see his boss and friend visit. Struggling to contain his emotions, he urgently asked, "Adrian! The letter you sent…"
"Calm down, Benson," Adrian gestured, addressing the red-eyed Benson. Benson gasped, forcing himself to steady. Managing a strained smile, he said, "Sorry, I got carried away."
"It's only natural; I understand. This is all quite unbelievable," Adrian entered Benson's home, glancing around, his tone serious. Benson and Melissa, tense, watched him sit across from them. Melissa, facing Adrian's silence on the sofa, blurted out:
"Is Klein really alive?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately, instead scanning the room again. He drew a charm from his coat—crafting charms was simple for this Sequence 6 avatar. He had funds for his domain's materials, and the Aurora Order lacked no ritual supplies.
After all, every True Creator devotee, beyond acting and studying, was either praising the True Creator or on their way to do so. It was their core duty, ensuring ritual items were impeccably prepared.
For the High-Dimensional Overseer, crafting charms in His domain wasn't bound to specific metals like the Seven Gods, but He favored transparent materials. He decreed only glass would elicit His response to devotees' prayers.
Self-prayer, though, had no limits. Can you call it prayer when you're talking to yourself?
The charm in Adrian's hand was a swift Wall of Spirituality. Infused spirituality formed an invisible barrier around the living room, isolating it from the outside. Leaning back, Adrian softly asked Benson and Melissa:
"Do you believe in Supernatural Matters or rather Beyonders?"
Melissa looked puzzled, but Benson narrowed his eyes. Years of experience told him some people had "special abilities," varying in strength but undeniably Beyonder. Hearing "Beyonder" from Adrian, Benson connected the dots.
Could Klein… His mind raced, cautiously asking, "You mean…"
"Beyonders exist, though most are unaware," Adrian told Benson, tapping the table with his right hand. Under Benson and Melissa's stunned gazes, he raised his hand, a photo floating up as the table vanished. With a wave, the table reappeared.
"This is a Beyonder's power," Adrian spread his hands, addressing Benson. "Now you can trust me, right? You know, Benson, some people in this world have extraordinary abilities."
Benson inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly, his tone heavy and serious. "Adrian, is Klein a Beyonder like you? Did his job's generous pay come from this identity, and that's why…"
"Correct. Klein is a Sequence 8 Clown of the Seer pathway, and I'm a Sequence 6 Photography Expert of the Scholar pathway," Adrian paused, speaking to the attentive Benson. "You're right; Klein's disaster tied to his Beyonder identity. But I can't say more now, Benson. Klein's entangled in a massive conspiracy."
"Conspiracy…" Benson rubbed his chin, pondering, then sat heavily. He looked at Adrian, awaiting more. Adrian's lips curved slightly, gazing at Benson, slowly recounting the Beyonder world's truths…
Two potion bottles in the room's corner faintly glowed with misty light.
…
Klein carefully adjusted the formal suit Mr. A lent him. Over two weeks, he'd grown a long beard and combed his hair back. Unless someone knew him well, his disguise was nearly foolproof.
A beard and hairstyle drastically altered one's appearance, making recognition tough even for close colleagues.
As per Aurora Order envoys' investigations, Ince Zangwill's next move likely targeted Backlund. The Demoness Sect began supporting Mr. Z, a prominent Backlund figure, hinting at covert Aurora Order collaboration.
At Backlund's new university, the Aurora Order placed key personnel. With Adrian's financial backing, Backlund Technical University was largely under their control. Learning Klein, a Favored, had ample historical knowledge and refinement, Mr. Z arranged a professorship for him.
Even as a "connected" candidate, an interview was required. Klein's knowledge sufficed, securing his spot.
First, the pay was generous. Second, Klein could be a vital insider at Backlund Technical University. As the saying goes, no one suspects an Aurora Order member as a public-facing professor. Plus, Klein could leverage the role to mingle with Loen's upper nobility.
Why didn't the Aurora Order previously plant professors? Simple: their education levels fell short.
Now, Klein nervously prepared for his interview, wryly noting that the interview his pre-transmigration self never completed was happening under these circumstances…
He took a deep breath, grabbed his cane, and, in formal attire, boarded a carriage.
On the carriage, Klein's thoughts slowed. Gazing at fleeting street scenes, his eyes recalled joyful Tingen moments.
Benson, Melissa, Captain, Lady Daly, Leonard, Old Neil…
You're all alive and well, but I can't go back…
Klein sighed inwardly, noticing the carriage had crossed bustling streets, speeding toward Backlund Technical University. He gripped his silver-edged cane, adjusting his suit again.
Despite two weeks of preparation, Klein felt uncertain. Like a student nearing an exam, the closer he got to the interview, the more nervous he became. In Tingen's battle, he'd lost an arm. Though Mr. A gifted a prosthetic, it still moved stiffly.
—And this prosthetic was crafted from flesh…
Adrian had gone to Tingen days ago to handle Klein's affairs, like ending Benson's job, bringing Melissa to Backlund for university exams… As a Backlund University professor, Klein could see Melissa often without excessive contact.
"Hello, Professor Moriarty, welcome to Backlund Technical University. The principal and interviewers await. Allow me to guide you…"
A smiling attendant stood at the newly built campus gate, warmly greeting "Professor Moriarty."
...
"Relax, Benson," Adrian smiled on the Backlund-bound train, addressing the siblings. Benson, used to travel, was calm; Melissa, rarely venturing out, gazed like a curious fawn at passersby and the train's novelties.
Melissa's face showed clear curiosity, eager to master the train's strange mechanisms. Having taken a Scholar potion, her complexion was pale, her spirituality fluctuating unstably.
Adrian, watching Melissa, smiled. "Ahem, little Melissa, rein in your spirituality. Don't let the potion's power control you."
…
Sequence 9 Scholar potions caused side effects initially. Though Adrian used his Earth-extended Sefirot to purge Melissa's cosmic knowledge, mental imprints still affected her.
The Scholar stage's deadliest side effect was a dangerous, insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Without reverence for knowledge, Beyonders could lose control.
In this world, much knowledge was inherently perilous, toxic to fragile humans. Without the Hidden Sage's corruption by the High-Dimensional Overseer, Scholar pathway Beyonders might chase the Hidden Sage as knowledge incarnate.
Yet, each Scholar seeking knowledge let the High-Dimensional Overseer erase the Hidden Sage's occult presence, linking Himself to "knowledge" to aid accommodating *The Hermit*'s uniqueness.
His Sefirot's influence ensured His two pathways' Beyonders' advancements depended on Him.
"Oh, I understand," Melissa, engrossed in a mechanical casing, snapped awake at Adrian's reminder. Blushing, she returned to her seat. Benson chuckled, tipping his hat. Melissa, red-faced, elbowed her brother in annoyance.
"Ahem…"
Benson choked, his face flushing. Smiling at the puffy, pufferfish-like Melissa, he gently patted her head.
Since Klein's "death," Melissa hadn't been this happy. Joy at regaining her brother lifted her spirits.
"Don't worry, Melissa. We're almost at Backlund," Adrian smiled. "Once there, I'll arrange work for Benson. I own factories and land in Backlund; Benson can shine there."
"I promised Klein: you'll attend Backlund Technical University, and Klein will be a history professor. I'll arrange a reunion. You can't publicly acknowledge each other, but you'll find excuses to meet."
"I need to scold Klein! That idiot always does this, never considering our feelings…" Melissa mumbled, eyes reddening. "As long as he's alive… I thought we'd lost him forever…"
With a steam hiss, a roar filled the carriage. The doors opened, revealing Backlund's bustling crowds. Thick fog and smog cloaked the city, casting it in shadow.
This was the City of Hope, Backlund.
It held the grandest splendor and the darkest shadows.
(End of Chapter)
Translator's Note: Due to the butterfly effect, he has now become a Professor instead of a Detective. The Moretti siblings become Beyonders and learn that Klein is alive—a reasonable development.
This story was difficult to translate, so I will reduce the number of translated chapters I upload each day. Starting tomorrow, I will upload only three chapters per day.
Arigathanks! for understanding...
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