Chapter 22: The Beginning of a Sequence

Chapter Twenty-Two
The Beginning of a Sequence

After climbing the stairs and returning to the reception hall, Klein was just about to say goodbye to Rozanne when the brown-haired girl spoke in her usual bright tone.

“The Captain said you should come back on Monday. Take care of your family matters first.”

“…All right.”

Klein had not expected the management of the Nighthawk team to be so humane, and for a moment he felt rather grateful.

He had originally planned to rise early the next morning and, while doing his “wandering” work outside, make a trip to Tingen University. There he would find the teacher responsible for interview arrangements and explain that he would no longer be taking part in the remaining steps. After all, the original owner had entered the interview process with a letter of recommendation from his tutor. Whatever the case, giving the matter a proper beginning and end was basic courtesy. Even if he did not think of himself, he had to respect his tutor’s favor.

With no telephone, telegraph fees charged by the letter, and letters obviously unable to arrive in time, taking a public carriage there directly was the most economical and appropriate method.

Now that the Captain had granted special permission, Klein no longer needed to wear himself out. He could sleep until he had rested enough, then go at an easy pace.

He was about to remove his hat and take his leave when he suddenly remembered something. Looking around, he lowered his voice and asked, “Rozanne, do you know what the starting point of the complete sequence controlled by the church is?”

This was the question he had forgotten to ask Old Neil earlier.

Rozanne widened her eyes and stared at him in surprise.

“You want to become a Beyonder?”

Was I that obvious?

Klein touched the corner of his mouth and answered with slight embarrassment, “Once you know there really are extraordinary, mysterious powers in the world, it is hard not to long for them a little.”

“My Goddess, do you know how dangerous that is? Did the Captain not tell you? A Beyonder’s enemies are not only cultists and black wizards. They also include themselves! Almost every year, people lose control. People sacrifice themselves! Have you considered how your family would feel?”

Rozanne reinforced her words with gestures, her reaction somewhat excessive.

“Klein, I think honestly being a civilian staff member is the better choice. There is almost no danger, and your salary rises every year. After a few years, once you have savings, you will be able to rent a detached house in the North Borough or near the suburbs, form a happy family with a charming young lady, and have adorable, mischievous little angels…”

“Rozanne, stop! Stop for a moment!”

Seeing the brown-haired girl go further and further off course, Klein hurriedly interrupted, sweat almost appearing on his forehead.

“For now, I only want, want—mm, yes—to understand some basic common knowledge.”

“All right…”

Rozanne fell silent for several seconds. She lowered her gaze, a little embarrassed.

“Because of what happened to my father, when it comes to similar matters, I always become, well, you understand, a little emotional. But to be honest, I deeply respect every gentleman and lady who voluntarily becomes a Nighthawk.”

“I understand. I do.”

Klein quickly echoed her.

Rozanne blinked her light-brown eyes and added, “My father once said that you must not think becoming stronger, becoming a higher-sequence Beyonder, can solve hidden dangers or resist danger. In truth, it is exactly the opposite. You will encounter more and more terrifying things. When you meet certain unknown, dreadful existences, madness and death are the only two outcomes. Heh. He died in the line of duty the week after he said that… Klein, do not look at me with pity. I am living very well now. Truly very well! You should be frightened of these things instead!”

“I only want to understand some basic common knowledge…”

Klein did not know whether to laugh or cry as he repeated his earlier answer.

Captain Smith explained it more clearly and more thoroughly than you. And even if I do not become a Beyonder, I have already encountered something extraordinary…

“All right.”

Rozanne struck a thinking pose.

“I have heard the Captain and Old Neil say that because extraordinary species have dwindled and gone extinct, high-sequence powerhouses are almost nonexistent in the present age. Simply becoming a Beyonder is already very, very impressive! In Tingen and its suburbs, there are several hundred thousand people—probably, maybe more—and only a little over thirty Beyonders. Mm, that is my guess… Mm, I am not counting those cultists and black wizards living in dark corners…”

Before Klein could speak, she seemed to regain her vitality. She clenched her fist before her chest.

“And among those thirty-something Beyonders, Sequence 9 makes up the majority! Uh, I seem to have gone off topic…”

“It is fine. This is also the sort of common knowledge I want to understand.”

Klein rather hoped Rozanne would remain as she usually was, pulling in one topic after another and unintentionally revealing more information.

“In short, becoming a Beyonder is already very, very impressive!”

Rozanne repeated herself once more.

“The starting point of the complete sequence belonging to our church is Sleepless. Sequence 9: Sleepless!”

As expected…

Klein nodded almost imperceptibly and heard Miss Rozanne lose control of her mouth again.

“You should be able to guess from the name. A Sleepless is someone who does not need to sleep at night. During the day, three or four hours of rest are enough. Whew, I envy that so much… No, I do not envy it at all. Sleep is the Goddess’s blessing and the happiest thing in the world!

“Where was I? Ah, right. Sleepless can see through darkness even without light. The deeper the night, the more powerful they become. I mean powerful in every aspect: their strength, their inspiration, their thoughts. However, although they can discover unknown dangers hiding in the dark, when they encounter monsters that cannot be solved by ordinary means, they still have to rely on things like Demon-hunting Bullets. My father was once a Sleepless.”

Before Klein could ask further, Rozanne went on by herself.

“After that is Sequence 8, Midnight Poet. Above that is Sequence 7, Nightmare.”

Nightmare?

Klein immediately thought of Dunn Smith guiding his dream. As if seeking confirmation, he asked, “The Captain?”

“You know?”

Miss Rozanne’s mouth nearly formed a perfect O.

“The Captain once entered my dream…”

Klein glanced left and right and lowered his voice again.

“I understand…”

Rozanne suddenly understood and answered just as quietly.

She picked up the coffee cup beside her, took a sip, and sighed with feeling.

“There are only two Sequence 7s from the church in all of Tingen, I think. The Captain is one of them. Even if he went to a major diocese like Backlund, he would still be someone formidable. Some deacons might not even be stronger than him!”

“So the Captain is that impressive.”

Klein smiled and played along.

To be honest, Dunn Smith’s appearance in the middle of the night had left a deep impression. Almost instinctively, Klein believed he was a very powerful Beyonder.

“Of course!”

Rozanne straightened her back proudly.

Immediately afterward, with her thoughts leaping elsewhere, she said with a troubled expression, “I do not know what comes above Sequence 7. Perhaps in the entire Nighthawk team, only the Captain knows.”

“What about the starting points of other sequences? The incomplete ones.”

Satisfied, Klein shifted the topic.

He had to admit that the Sleepless described by Rozanne did indeed fit some of his expectations and fantasies about Beyonders, but it was not the kind he hoped to become. The perfect Sequence 9 in his mind should be able to study and master a great deal of mystical knowledge, laying the foundation for him to understand the cause of his transmigration and, in the future, to return.

Rozanne thought for a moment and sighed.

“I am not very interested in that side of things. I only know we have more than other churches. After all, the Goddess is also the Mother of Concealment… Mm, there should be two or three kinds. Some team members are always cold, frightening, and carry a strange smell. Some team members—mm, I mean Old Neil—know a great deal and can perform quite a few interesting magical rituals. Let me think. Let me think. He once mentioned the title of his Sequence 9, which is the name of the potion formula… Ah, right! It is Mystery Pryer!”

Quite a few interesting magical rituals? Mystery Pryer?

That sounds very close to what I want…

Klein felt faintly delighted.

“I also know the name of one Sequence 7 from an incomplete pathway!” Rozanne, prompted by the memory, suddenly thought of something else and spoke in a tone of showing off.

“What is it?”

Klein was exceptionally curious.

In an age where high-sequence powerhouses were scarce, or perhaps did not exist at all, Sequence 7 should already count as a core force within the church, right?

Rozanne revealed a sweet smile and answered with a touch of pride.

“Spirit Medium!”

“Madam Daly?”

Klein asked instinctively.

After the initial surprise, he felt the matter was not so unexpected. Only a Sequence 7 powerhouse could have displayed spirit channeling like Madam Daly’s.

Rozanne’s eyes widened again. She asked in disbelief, “You—you know that too?”

“I have met Madam Daly,” Klein said without hiding it.

“All right.”

Rozanne’s voice filled with longing.

“If I could directly become a Spirit Medium, a Spirit Medium like Madam Daly, then I would also be willing to become a Beyonder. No, I would seriously consider it for ten minutes…”

“Mm. Madam Daly satisfies every fantasy I had about Beyonders.”

Klein echoed with a somewhat exaggerated tone.

Having achieved his expected purpose, he chatted idly with Rozanne for several more minutes. Seeing that there was no further information to obtain, he removed his hat, bowed, said goodbye, and went out.

As he descended the stairs, Klein had only gone a few steps when he suddenly stopped and reached again to touch the banknotes in his inner pocket.

Then he took out the twelve gold pounds, clutched them tightly in his left palm, and shoved his hand into his trouser pocket. He refused to loosen his grip or pull his hand out again. A smile rose on his face without his realizing.

According to the custom of the great foodie nation, after receiving money, one had to go out and have a proper meal.

Tonight, he would treat his little sister to something good.