Chapter 113: A Request

Chapter One Hundred Thirteen
A Request

Mr. Azik can see that I am a Beyonder? His ability truly is impressive…

Klein was stunned for a moment, then frankly answered, “Yes.”

After thinking, he added, “Because of the matter with Welch and Naya.”

“Indeed. Just as I suspected…”

Azik sighed.

“When the police came to the university to question Cohen and me after that incident, two of them possessed extraordinary abilities.”

That should have been the Captain and Leonard. They were the ones who took over Welch’s case…

Klein nodded almost imperceptibly and did not interrupt.

Azik raised his cane slightly.

“You should already have entered that circle. I hope you can help me find clues to my origins. This does not require you to make any special effort. Merely remember it if you happen to encounter anything.”

At this point, he smiled bitterly.

“Other than you, I do not know anyone else who possesses extraordinary abilities… You can never imagine what sort of emotions a person without a past carries. It is like a ship drifting upon the sea. The most terrifying thing is not encountering storms, but being unable to find a harbor, unable to find a route to land. It can only meet disaster again and again, endlessly, never once feeling calm or safe.”

No, Mr. Azik, I can understand that feeling very well, because I am the same kind of person. I am merely fortunate to possess the original owner’s memory fragments, and to have Benson and Melissa…

Klein answered silently. Then he asked, “Mr. Azik, possessing such miraculous abilities, why did you not personally enter a similar circle and search for useful clues yourself?”

Azik looked into Klein’s eyes and laughed self-mockingly.

“Because I am afraid of danger. Afraid of death.”

He sighed.

“I am used to my current life, and I like this life. I do not wish to take risks, nor do I have the courage to do so. Therefore, I can only ask you.”

Klein said no more and made a promise.

“If I encounter relevant clues, I will pay special attention.”

“Good. It is time for us to return to the office. Once Cohen finishes his work and comes back, we will go enjoy lunch together. You remember, yes? The East Balam restaurant at the university is quite good. Heh, I will treat you.”

Azik lifted his cane and pointed toward the direction from which they had come.

Sorry, I really do not remember. When the original owner was in university, how could he have had money to visit the East Balam restaurant? Even if Welch and the others offered to treat him, he would refuse such a relatively extravagant place…

Klein pressed his hat and followed Azik back to the history department’s three-story gray-stone building.

After walking a few steps, Azik suddenly spoke again.

“When the university’s affairs are done, I will be entering my summer vacation. You may come visit my home afterward, or write to me.”

Klein nodded and casually chatted, “Mr. Azik, I thought you would go to Desi Bay for vacation.”

“No. The south is too hot at this time of year. I do not like so-called sunbathing. Look at my skin tone—I tan very easily. In comparison, I would rather go to Winter County, or to the northern part of the Feysac Empire: skiing, looking at the scenery, fishing for seals.”

Bronze-skinned Azik answered with a smile.

I want to go too…

Klein, a newly employed Nighthawk, revealed an expression of envy.

After lunch, he returned home, napped briefly, then began reviewing and studying advanced knowledge regarding charms and amulets. He hoped to grasp it quickly and make products that could barely be used in combat and provide initial assistance to himself.

A few minutes before three in the afternoon, Klein put away his things and sealed his bedroom with a wall of spirituality.

…

Above the gray fog, within the grand and majestic temple, the ancient and mottled bronze long table rested quietly.

Klein, shrouded in dense gray-white fog, sat at the seat of honor. Before him, Justice and the Hanged Man appeared in their fixed positions, still blurred and indistinct.

Hm. Miss Justice’s emotions are not very stable. Worry, unease, and confusion…

Having already activated spirit vision, Klein noticed the abnormality of the Tarot Club’s only female member with a single glance.

Audrey Hall’s current mood was almost impossible to describe in words. The fact that Susie had suddenly begun speaking had given her a shock of the highest degree.

In her imagination, future developments should have gone like this: Audrey, the great detective or famous psychiatrist, brought with her assistant, the big dog Susie. But if it became Susie, the big dog detective, bringing with her assistant, Miss Audrey, then that was… a little… a little…

No, not merely a little. It was extremely strange. It left one entirely at a loss!

Audrey suddenly sat up straighter, wanting to consult Mr. Fool and Mr. Hanged Man.

Yet just as the words came to her lips, she swallowed them again.

“Uh, how am I supposed to ask this? What should I do if my pet becomes abnormal?

“How do I get along with a fairly intelligent pet that can speak?

“No, no, no. This is the Tarot Club, not a pet-raising experience-sharing meeting. I dare swear that if I really ask something like that, my good image in Mr. Fool and Mr. Hanged Man’s minds will shatter on the spot!”

Thoughts racing, Audrey finally organized her words.

“Honorable Mr. Fool, Mr. Hanged Man who has always helped me, there is a question I would like to ask. What can a pet that possesses extraordinary power do for its owner? Simply put, what use can it have?”

The moment her voice fell, she discovered that both Mr. Fool and Mr. Hanged Man had fallen silent. The atmosphere instantly turned somewhat strange.

Hey, hey, hey! Say something. Do not look at me like that. I did not do anything! Truly! I am asking for a friend!

Audrey was so ashamed that she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

She deeply regretted asking such a question.

Combining this with Miss Justice’s earlier question about what would happen if ordinary animals consumed Sequence potions, did she let a potion she concocted be shared with her pet? This really is something Miss Justice would do… With such a member, I, the boss of this “evil cult” organization, feel a chill on my back…

Klein raised his right hand, pressed it to his forehead, and pinched twice. He did not answer.

The Hanged Man, Alger Wilson, remained silent for more than ten seconds. His tone grew slightly odd as he replied, “That depends on what sort of extraordinary ability the pet possesses. For example, if it is a Spectator, then it can observe and listen in certain situations on your behalf. You understand—people will be wary of their own kind, but they are unlikely to suspect a pet of eavesdropping, even if that pet is crouching right at their feet.”

That makes sense!

Many times, when Papa and other nobles, members of parliament, and ministers discuss important matters, they avoid me. They lock the study door. But as long as Susie avoids the initial clearing of the room, she will not be driven out… And those madams and young ladies also like to communicate privately in little circles…

Audrey listened with shining eyes and immediately let her imagination run.

And Susie can talk now. She can directly tell me what she hears… Susie is wonderful! I must treat her well. I must teach her words and standard pronunciation…

Uh, should I teach Susie noble pronunciation, or a more normal Backlund accent? If she goes out and greets other dogs in the future, will they be able to hear where she is from? Wait. Why am I thinking about that? She would not use human language to communicate with other dogs…

Hold on. Mr. Hanged Man, why did you directly use Spectator as the example?

Could it be—could it be that you all guessed something?

Audrey’s expression shifted slightly. She sat upright again and said with a shallow smile, “Mr. Fool, I have found another page of Emperor Roselle’s diary.”

This was something she had obtained from Fors Wall.

“Very good. Your debt has been repaid in full,” Klein answered in a pleasant mood.

“I am very sorry. This page does not contain much diary content.”

Audrey expressed the contents she remembered upon the manifested parchment.

With a lift of his right hand, Klein made the parchment appear directly in his palm. He said casually, “That does not affect my promise. And the diary you brought last time was written on both sides.”

The diaries gathered by Justice and the Hanged Man were not Emperor Roselle’s originals. They were later researchers’ copied or transcribed versions. Some people, in order to preserve them, wrote only on one side. Others, for convenience, preserved the original format unchanged.

As he spoke, Klein lowered his gaze and looked toward the first few lines of the diary.

“December 20th. A new year is about to begin again, but the feedback I have received one piece after another has left me extremely confused and troubled.

“This world actually cannot find oil! It actually cannot find oil!”