Chapter 46: Grazing

Chapter 46: Grazing

At dawn, the sky faintly brightened. In the alley beside the wall, most of what remained was quiet, motionless gloom.

Using Danitz’s cloak, Klein merged into the shadows and swiftly traveled through them. He only felt the surroundings turn gray-black and transparent, reality detached and blurred, while all sounds seemed to come from the depths of the starry sky, empty and distant.

After moving as far as possible from Fragrant Tree Avenue, he identified his location, then “grew” out from the shadows and appeared within an empty alley littered with broken bricks and rubble.

With both hands, Klein shook out Steel Maviti, who was wrapped in the peacock-blue flying carpet, and tossed him in front of himself, aiming to complete the grazing before the other man’s spirit body began dispersing.

He threw aside the flying carpet, stepped forward, extended his left palm, and spread his five fingers slightly, aiming down from above at the still-warm corpse.

Creeping Hunger then revealed its original form, thin as though made from human skin.

At the center of its palm, two eyes split open, their pupils blood-red as if dyed with blood.

Woo!

A breeze cold enough to seep into the marrow suddenly blew through the alley. It circled around Steel Maviti’s corpse, twisting into a nearly transparent human figure in which one could faintly make out thick lips and curls like steel balls.

Maviti’s spirit-body expression was abnormally pained. He struggled desperately against Creeping Hunger’s attraction, while motes of gray-white and black-green light, like a surging galaxy, flew rapidly from his body of flesh and blood and merged into that transparent figure.

“No!”

Maviti released a silent scream. It was too late even to beg for mercy. In despair, he burrowed into the human-skin glove, was fixed onto the blank finger, and spread out his Beyonder characteristic, creating a certain connection with the surrounding environment.

That connection determined which of Steel Maviti’s abilities could be used after his soul was grazed—perhaps one, perhaps two, no more than three. Before they were fixed, the exact contents were not under Klein’s control; they were purely random.

Creeping Hunger swiftly became covered in pallor, then finally returned to its previous disguise: an ordinary black glove.

Klein closed his eyes and sensed for a few seconds, then let out a breath that was both slightly relieved and slightly regretful.

This time, his luck could not be called bad, but neither was it especially good.

He had successfully obtained three of Steel Maviti’s Beyonder abilities, but among them was not the one he most wanted: the “body like steel” that feared neither bullets, fire, nor a certain quantity of explosives, together with tenacious vitality.

First was the strength of a Living Corpse, allowing me to deliver savage attacks and make up for the shortcomings of my previous agility-focused combat style. Second is mastery over ice. Although it cannot gather ice spears or create blizzards like the Witch pathway, and cannot be used for the most direct attacks, it can freeze the ground nearby, lower the air temperature, and effectively hinder the opponent’s movements. If there is physical contact, it can even freeze the enemy and stiffen their flesh—perfectly matching close combat. Third is control of living corpses. Heh. In the future, I will not need to fear lacking enough people for a card game… Klein thought briefly, then bent down and began checking Steel Maviti’s belongings.

He soon found 26 pounds, 11 soli, and 8 pence in cash, along with a pile of things that looked normal but were actually rather strange, such as candles, clamps, spiked leather whips, and so on.

Considering that Steel Maviti was very likely a member of the Rose School of Thought, and that he belonged to the faction that indulged desire, Klein vaguely understood something. He spat once and put away the cash.

“Werewolves have extraordinary self-healing, while Living Corpses have steel-like bodies. They truly do not need to carry healing potions or items… This matches Danitz’s judgment. Maviti had no mystical items… That makes sense. Mystical items are rare, and many have clear flaws and negative effects. Not everyone wants to own one, and not everyone can own one. The earlier combination of Wraith, Living Corpse, and Werewolf had only two mystical items among them—the Crimson Moon Coronet and the Biological Poison Bottle…” Klein nodded, took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket.

He unfolded the yellowed paper and placed it on Steel Maviti’s body, covering the other man’s face.

It was a bounty notice, printed with Maviti’s portrait and corresponding bounty amount:

“6,000 pounds!”

Klein straightened, stepped back, stood on the peacock-blue flying carpet, and pulled out a paper figurine.

Snap!

He swung his forearm and shook his wrist, throwing the paper figurine out. It turned into fiery scraps that drifted down in showers.

Immediately afterward, he became a shadow again, vanishing from the alley together with the items.

Two or three minutes later, Cordova Royer arrived hurriedly with several Mandated Punishers, just in time to see a cold breeze lift the bounty notice, revealing Steel Maviti’s face—his flesh dissolved, his eyes wide open.

Rustle. The bounty notice fell beside him, still face-up.

…

Having lost all traces of the target, Cordova and the others silently returned with Steel’s corpse to the area where the battle had occurred earlier.

After glancing at the team members inspecting the scene, Cordova, as a deacon, restrained his emotions and asked in a deep voice, “A believer of the Sun?”

To him, and to this diocese, that was the most important question.

The Mandated Punisher responsible for searching clues and restoring the truth through supernatural means was not a Beyonder of the Storm pathway. He was a Sequence 7 Keeper of Knowledge of the Reader pathway—in other words, a Detective. He did not rush to answer. Instead, he walked over, crouched down, and examined Maviti’s corpse.

After a while, he looked up and said, “Not a believer of the Sun. They most likely relied on the power of a mystical item.”

“Reason?” Cordova asked with a frown.

The Mandated Punisher team member said, “There is evil here originating from the depths of flesh and blood. One of the corpses was devoured in this way, leaving behind only its uniqueness and items. If it were a Sun believer, even one relying on an item, they would not do something like that. To them, things from the True Creator’s domain are filth that must be purified or sealed immediately. They should not, and could not, make use of them.”

Cordova thought for a few seconds and accepted the judgment. He then asked, “Someone from the Aurora Order?”

“No. A true Rose Bishop or Shepherd would not be this crude. They would certainly wrap the corpse inside their own body and deal with it after leaving. There is no reason to dismember it on the spot. That both wastes time and leaves behind a pile of still valuable things. This eagerness to devour looks very much like the negative effect of a mystical item.” The Keeper of Knowledge spoke calmly.

“A mystical item that simultaneously possesses the domains of Sun and Secrets Suppliant? Or something similar to a Shepherd’s ability? Berg, which is your judgment?” As a deacon, Cordova had the authority to know about Shepherds and their special abilities. The Keeper of Knowledge knew because of his role in the team. The other Mandated Punishers, however, had no idea what they were discussing.

Keeper of Knowledge Berg stood up.

“Both are possible.”

“Do you have a suspect?” Cordova asked in a deep voice.

Berg shook his head.

“No target for the time being.

“But one thing can be confirmed: Bloodthorn was killed by Blazing Danitz. The other person is his helper, an extremely terrifying powerhouse, no weaker than the pirate admirals.”

“An extremely terrifying powerhouse…” Cordova murmured gravely. Then his eyes suddenly brightened. “Could it be Edwina? She can simulate certain Beyonder abilities she has seen before!”

Keeper of Knowledge Berg pondered for a moment.

“That possibility cannot be ruled out, but intelligence shows that she was near Sonia Island only a few days ago. Unless—unless she can simulate a corresponding ability and use the spirit world to travel here.”

Cordova paced back and forth a few times, then looked around and said, “Handle the scene. Do not alarm the nearby residents.

“I will submit the mission report and hope we can receive more effective intelligence.”

This matter involved a powerhouse whose combat strength was at least equal to Sequence 5. He could only restrain his irritable mood and make the most rational decision.

…

Inside Old Quinn’s house, within the basement sealed by the heavy stone door.

Alger sat on the low bed, quietly gazing at the candlelight on the table, when his vision suddenly blurred. He saw the gray fog spreading before him, and deep within it, The Fool seated upon a high-backed chair, looking down over everything.

A blurry figure was below Him, hands clasped before his face, speaking in a devout tone:

“Great Mr. Fool, the matter has ended smoothly.”

The matter has ended smoothly? That was Steel Maviti and several Beyonders… The World works truly efficiently. His strength is even greater than I imagined. As expected of Mr. Fool’s Blessed… Heh. He will be selling Beyonder characteristics at the Tarot Club again, perhaps more than one… How did he avoid the influence of Sealed Artifact 2-37? Some special trait of a divine Blessed? Thoughts flashed through Alger’s mind, and he instinctively thanked Mr. Fool.

Then he took out a small metal bottle and rubbed the mint-scented hydrosol inside it beneath his nose.

The sharply stimulating scent rushed into his head. Alger instantly became abnormally clear-minded.

At some point, a white gauze mask had appeared in his hand. He poured Moon essential oil onto it.

Methodically putting on the mask, Alger stood and slowly walked to the heavy stone door.

With steady movements, he took a sealed metal canister from inside his clothes, twisted the mechanical switch, and pulled out a tube.

Then he inserted the tube through the crack beneath the stone door, extending it outside.

Soundlessly, the gas inside the metal canister rapidly spread outward.

This was the Blood Clan anesthetic gas provided by The Moon Emlyn!

It could make strong ordinary people, Sequence 9 Beyonders known for their physiques, and higher-Sequence targets whose bodies were not robust enough fall unconscious.

Even if Old Quinn could endure it, he would be clearly affected. As for his helpers and friends, heh… Alger leaned against the stone door and waited patiently.

When almost a third of the gas in the canister had dispersed, he withdrew the tube and closed the switch.

He turned his body and listened closely to the movement outside, receiving a satisfactory answer.

A faint smile appeared on Alger’s lips. His aura rapidly withdrew and gathered, accumulating force.

Suddenly, every muscle in his body swelled, and he punched forward.

Furious Blow!

Bang!

The lock on the heavy stone door directly shattered, and the door itself swung open.

Alger withdrew his fist and walked out. Outside, all were sleepers.