The synonym for war… an adjacent sequence of the Demoness pathway… which one could it be? Klein thought about the sequences he knew as he watched the holographic-movie-like scene.
Since he was only a full-fledged member of the Nighthawks, there was a lot of information he still couldn't access. He was almost completely in the dark about the names and corresponding characteristics of the mid-to-high sequences. He only knew the "Light Priest" and "Immortal" from peeking at the knowledge of the Eternal Blazing Sun, the "Dawn Knight," "Guardian," and "Demon Hunter" of the God of War pathway from the "Sun" youth, and the "Spirit Guide" and "Gatekeeper" mentioned by Daly and Dunn.
Therefore, it was difficult for him to accurately determine whether a Sequence pathway was a synonym for war. He could only resort to the method of elimination. For instance, the God of War pathway didn't seem to be about war, but rather individual combat.
As his thoughts wandered, Klein narrowed down the possibilities to five pathways:
First was the "Arbiter" pathway controlled by the Augustus family, the rulers of the Loen Kingdom, and the Castia family of the Feysac Kingdom. However, Klein felt this was the least likely because the Sequence 8 of the Arbiter pathway was "Sheriff," and Sequence 7 was "Interrogator." It seemed to develop towards judgment and adjudication, rather than war.
Second was the pathway represented by the "Black Emperor" of the Solomon Empire of the Fourth Epoch. Its modern Sequence 9 name was "Lawyer," skilled at finding and exploiting loopholes in rules and the weaknesses of opponents, with exceptional eloquence and reasoning logic. This was the second least likely pathway in Klein's opinion. He suspected that this sequence's development involved using rules and walking in the shadow of order. Of course, war was also one of the shadows of order.
Third was the "Hunter" pathway controlled simultaneously by the Einhorn family, the rulers of the Feysac Empire, the Sauron family, the former royal family of the Intis Republic, and the secret organization "Iron Blood Cross Order," which had only appeared in the last two or three hundred years. Klein thought its possibility was quite high.
The internal records of the Nighthawks described "Hunter" as an excellent tracker, an outstanding trap expert, and a skilled killer. The name for its corresponding Sequence 8 was "Provoker," and Sequence 7 was "Pyromaniac." These all had certain connections to slaughter and war.
Fourth was the "Criminal" pathway controlled by the ancient demon-worshipping organization, the "Blood Worship Sect." Just from the name of the sequence, Klein felt it had a high possibility.
Fifth was the "Prisoner" pathway in the hands of the "Rose School of Thought," which was notorious for blood sacrifices. The reason was the same as the previous one.
Just as Klein's thoughts were diverging, the scene changed again. Madam Sharon had just finished bathing, her hair wet and cascading down, her face possessing a charm that was both fresh and alluring.
"I couldn't clearly see the face of that woman in the white robe who led Madam Sharon to become a Witch... My spirit channeling ability isn't enough yet..." Klein withdrew his mind and refocused his attention on the present.
Madam Sharon flicked her hair, seeming to let water droplets slide down her face.
She looked at the man waiting on the bed and chuckled quietly: "Need me to help you deal with Maynard?"
The middle-aged and elderly man on the bed frowned and shook his head, "Unless you can guarantee no traces will be left, but that's impossible. Besides, what methods do you have?"
Seeing this gentleman, Klein was stunned at first, then felt it was within expectations.
The photograph of this middle-aged and elderly man often appeared on the front pages of newspapers like the *Tingen Honest Man Weekly*. He was the current mayor seeking re-election, a member of the Conservative Party.
Madam Sharon smiled and didn't delve deeper into the topic. Her nightgown slipped halfway down, and she subtly walked towards the bed.
The scenes changed one after another. Klein saw many more council members, businessmen, and government employees who often appeared in the local newspapers.
They discussed how to collect donations, how to bypass the *Election Act* to bribe voters, or promised protection and solutions to problems. Madam Sharon played the role of a "broker" in all this.
This is actually a documentary… *Madam Sharon Takes You to Know the High Society of Tingen City*… Hmm, but why do so many scenes involve beds… Aren't many nobles and council members well aware that Madam Sharon has many lovers? Why do they still act as if they can't resist temptation… Is this Madam Sharon's Sequence ability? Klein watched thoughtfully, silently murmuring to himself both an inference and a complaint.
Through the spirit channeling just now, he confirmed one thing: none of those in the high society of Tingen City knew Madam Sharon's true identity, nor did they actively conspire with her to murder Councilman Maynard.
In other words, Councilman Maynard's death was Madam Sharon's own decision? Why did she do it? It wasn't necessary for her to take such a risk!
Of course, from Madam Sharon's perspective, she had extraordinary abilities that interfered with divination and could create a love-related sudden death that seemed perfectly normal on the surface. Solving Councilman Maynard wasn't too risky or likely to expose herself, but her motivation was clearly insufficient! It was not commensurate with the risk she had to bear!
Could it be the need for her "Acting"? But she could have easily found a target that was not so politically sensitive. If she had, the case would not have required the assistance of the Nighthawks, the Punishers, or the members of the Mechanical Heart.
And more importantly, Madam Sharon should have been able to tell that Councilman Maynard's wife hated her, full of resentment, and there was a good chance she would find someone to investigate her. So why didn't she move sensitive items like the White Bone Statue in advance, like burying it somewhere in the garden?
Was she that confident in her safe, the secret compartment, and its corresponding arrangements?
Amidst his doubts, seeing that Madam Sharon's spirit hadn't completely dissipated yet, Klein seized the time and conducted another "Dream Divination."
The content of this divination was:
"The true motive behind Madam Sharon's killing of John Maynard."
After silently reciting it, Klein entered the dream again and saw a new scene:
Madam Sharon was holding a glass of red wine that looked like blood, wearing a loose nightgown, pacing back and forth in the room. Finally, she drank the remaining wine in one gulp, as if she had made a certain decision.
The scene quickly dissipated, and Klein became even more puzzled because it seemed that Councilman Maynard's death was truly done voluntarily by Madam Sharon, without anyone instigating her.
"Strange..." Klein muttered to himself, and tried a few more times with other divination statements, but the answers were no different.
Seeing Madam Sharon gradually becoming transparent and illusory, on the verge of disappearing, Klein thought for a moment and made a final spirit channeling:
"The Sequence potion formula for the Demoness pathway."
"The Sequence potion formula for the Demoness pathway."
……
Klein silently recited the new divination statement and quickly entered the dream through meditation.