Faced with his sister's question, Klein could only smile bitterly and say:
"Muscle soreness."
He had originally thought that after taking the Sequence potion and becoming a Beyonder, his physical fitness would improve to some extent, but the cruel truth told him that the "Seer" skills were all focused on spirituality, spirit, intuition, and interpretation, and could not help him quickly adapt to combat training.
Moreover, the original owner had focused on studying for years and was somewhat malnourished, so his physical fitness had always been below average. Having such "aftereffects" today was quite normal.
"Muscle soreness? I remember you came back after dinner yesterday and didn't do anything else... Could alcohol cause muscle soreness?" Melissa asked with a spirit of inquiry.
Could alcohol cause muscle soreness... Sis, your question... it really makes one think wrong... Klein dryly laughed twice and said:
"No, it has nothing to do with alcohol. It was yesterday afternoon. I joined the company's combat training."
"Combat?" Melissa was even more surprised.
Klein quickly organized his words and said:
"That's right. I considered, I think, that as a history and cultural relics consultant for a security company, I can't always stay in the office, in the dock warehouse. Maybe one day, I'll need to go with them to the countryside, to ancient castles, to the original locations of artifacts. Along the way, I'll climb mountains, cross rivers, walk a lot, and face various tests of nature. That requires having a sufficiently healthy body."
"So you joined combat training to improve your physique?" Melissa understood her brother's meaning.
"Yes." Klein gave an affirmative answer.
Melissa frowned slightly and said:
"But that's not gentlemanly... Haven't you always been standardizing yourself as a professor? Professors just need to read literature, think about difficult problems, and be cultured and graceful."
"Of course, I'm not saying it's bad. I like men who can solve problems with their hands, whether they use muscles or brains."
Klein smiled and said:
"No, no, no. Melissa, you have a misunderstanding of the definition of a professor. A true professor can communicate politely and gently with people, and when communication encounters obstacles, they can pick up a cane and use physical means to convince the other party."
"Physical means..." Melissa didn't react immediately, but soon understood what her brother meant, and found no words to refute.
Klein didn't say much more and painfully moved his legs towards the bathroom.
Melissa stood there, watching for a few seconds, then suddenly shook her head and caught up with him in two steps:
"Do you need my help?"
She made a gesture to support him.
"No, I don't need it. I was just acting a bit earlier." Klein felt insulted, suddenly straightened his back, and walked normally.
Watching her brother walk steadily into the bathroom and close the door, Melissa pursed her lips and muttered:
"Klein is getting more and more exaggerated... I thought his muscle soreness was really that serious..."
Inside the bathroom, Klein stood behind the closed door, and his face suddenly twisted.
"Pain, pain, pain..." He held his breath, tensed his body, and paused for seven or eight seconds.
It wasn't until he had painstakingly gone downstairs, finished breakfast, and watched Benson and Melissa leave that he felt the soreness was no longer so deadly.
After resting for a while, Klein took his cane, put on his top hat, and slowly walked out, heading to the streetcar stop.
......
Hoy University during summer vacation, with green trees and lush birds, peaceful and tranquil.
After walking along the river for a while, Klein turned onto the road leading to the history department and found the three-story gray stone building that had seen years, and found the office of his mentor, Cohen Quentin.
He knocked and entered, and was surprised to see the instructor Azik sitting in his mentor's position.
"Good morning, Mr. Azik. Where is my mentor? We had agreed to meet at ten o'clock." Klein asked puzzledly.
Cohen Quentin's friend, the instructor Azik who often argued with him over academic issues, smiled and said:
"Cohen had a temporary meeting and went to Tingen University, asking me to wait for you here."
His skin was bronze, of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes, soft features, and always had an indescribable sense of vicissitudes in his eyes. Below his right ear was a small mole that couldn't be seen without careful observation.
After explaining the reason, Azik suddenly frowned and looked Klein up and down a few times.
"Is there anything inappropriate about me?" Klein looked at his own attire in bewilderment:
Tailcoat, black vest, white shirt, black bow tie, dark trousers, buttonless leather boots... Very normal...
Azik relaxed his brow and chuckled:
"No need to worry. I just suddenly noticed that you are much more spirited than before, more like a gentleman."
"Thank you for your compliment." Klein accepted it frankly, then asked, "Mr. Azik, did my mentor find that book 'Research on the Ancient Ruins of the Hornacis Peak' in the school library?"
"Yes, with my help." Azik said with a gentle smile, then opened a drawer and took out a gray-covered book. "You are no longer a student of Hoy University, so you can only read it here, not take it away."
"Alright." Klein took the academic monograph with joy and fear.
The book's design perfectly followed current trends. The covers were made of hard paper with patterns, forming an abstract image of the Hornacis Peak.