After calming his mood, Klein went underground, arrived at the
Lolia Raetin, who was sitting inside, had already packed her personal belongings. Seeing the person taking over her shift had arrived, she immediately tidied her hair and stood up to leave.
After they nodded to each other in greeting, Klein suddenly spoke: «I’ve been making good progress mastering the potion. I just shared my experiences with Fry and the others. You can find them and chat about it.»
Lolia, who usually had little expression, gave him a slightly surprised look, opened her mouth a few times, and then said: «Okay.»
*Madam, I hope you can maintain this calm state later... There’s a bunch of wooden figures sitting in the lounge right now...* Klein smiled, walked behind the table, and familiarly picked up the silver-inlaid tin can that
After making a cup of fragrant coffee, Klein sat down leisurely. Looking at the empty, quiet corridor outside the door, he let his thoughts drift freely: «I hope Mr. Azik’s operation goes smoothly and he doesn’t leave any clues... No, even if there are clues, I’ll pretend I didn’t find them...»
«I wonder where the ‘Mutated Sun Holy Emblem’ is sealed behind the Chanis Gate... Hmm, it doesn’t have the characteristics of a living being, so leaving enough space for it should be fine...»
«Come to think of it, I’ve never actually entered the Chanis Gate. I don’t know what the situation is inside... Being able to keep those dozens of large and small, strange sealed artifacts from causing harm or escaping control must mean there’s something extraordinary about it. Say, Saint Selina’s ashes?»
……
Various thoughts were interweaving when Klein suddenly heard hurried footsteps. He quickly brought his attention back and looked towards the door.
He saw
«...Mr. Neil, did something happen?» Klein let out a dry laugh, picked up his fragrant coffee, and took a sip.
Old Neil studied him for another moment, then sighed and said: «You actually found inspiration from the ‘Mystery Pryer’s’ motto and Daly’s example…»
«I must praise the Goddess for that, and I also thank you for your teachings,» Klein replied with a perfectly straight face.
Neil pulled out a chair with a screech and sat down heavily. He said somewhat dejectedly, «If only it had been earlier. Twenty years earlier... If only...»
Knowing that the other person’s age and physical condition no longer allowed him to consume a potion, even if he had completely digested the previous one, Klein remained silent.
He felt that saying anything in this situation would only stimulate the old man.
«I also tried to find a way to quickly master the potion from the Mystery Pryer’s motto when I was younger. Unfortunately, I never managed to find the right path. Later, Daly’s success gave me a clue, but by then I was over fifty. I had already given up, and subconsciously thought it was something unique to a genius that normal people couldn’t imitate.» Old Neil rubbed his forehead, describing his disappointment in a low voice.
He was silent for a few minutes, then raised his head and looked at Klein: «It’s really a pity... To only understand what I missed at this age.»
*Old Neil must have had some vague understanding of the ‘Acting Method.’ My sharing of experiences gave him a push, and he immediately figured things out...* Klein comforted him: «Actually, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. The Church doesn’t have a Sequence 8 corresponding to the ‘Mystery Pryer’ path.»
«Maybe the Holy Cathedral does… No, if they did, they would at least tell the branch the name… It’s not impossible that it’s on the black market…» Neil muttered a few words, then supported himself on the table, shook his head as he stood up, and said with a smile, «At least I didn’t go mad. I’ve lived healthily for decades... Praise the Goddess.»
He traced a crimson moon over his chest and left the guard room with a gloomy expression, having lost his usual cunning.
Klein watched his retreating figure disappear from view and suddenly let out a long sigh.
He understood less and less why the upper echelons of the Church had sealed the «Acting Method.»
After a long while, Klein snapped out of it and shifted his attention to the Nighthawks’ internal documents in front of him.
Ever since he pulled the youth from the
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard another set of footsteps, an unhurried and steady set of footsteps.
Almost at the same time, the image of Dunn Smith in his long black trench coat instantly appeared in his mind.
*Now that I’ve completely digested the ‘Seer’ potion, my spiritual intuition has also improved...* Klein nodded thoughtfully and saw his captain a few seconds later.
«Your letter.» Dunn raised his right hand, shook his wrist, and tossed the letter towards Klein.
Klein raised his hand gracefully, trying to catch it, but he was slightly off in both his judgment and reaction.
*Slap!* The letter fell to the ground. Klein’s right hand hung awkwardly in the air.
In the sudden silence, his hand first stiffened, then continued its upward motion, smoothly running through his hair.
«The gaslight really isn’t bright enough,» Klein muttered casually by way of explanation, then bent down to pick up the letter. He glanced at the envelope.
*Mr. Hornacis... A letter from Dust Goodian...* He nodded in realization, pulled open a drawer, and took out a letter opener.