Qilingus

Requesting help from Mr. Fool's Blessed... Alice lowered her head, bit her lower lip with her upper teeth, and coughed twice to hide the laughter she had almost failed to suppress.

Seated at the head of the Bronze Long Table, Mr. Fool responded with increasing familiarity beneath the cover of the Gray Fog. "Provided that my Blessed happens to be in Backlund."

"Alright." Alger withdrew his gaze, somewhat disappointed yet somewhat expectant.

"What was special about Qilingus's Mystical Item?" Audrey began asking about her target, while Alice quietly pricked up her ears as well.

Facing Audrey's question, Alger seemed to have been prepared. He answered without hesitation, "The item's true name isn't known, but those who know something about it call it 'Creeping Hunger.' Every other day, Qilingus must satisfy it with a living person's soul and flesh. Otherwise, it will use its owner as a substitute."

That description made Alice frown. Having yet to witness the cruelty of the Supernatural World, she instinctively loathed such an evil item that craved the blood of living people.

"This could be an important clue for finding Qilingus," Audrey said with a slight frown, clearly disliking the Mystical Item as well.

"Yes, but in a metropolis with a population of at least five million, the disappearance of a few vagrants won't draw anyone's attention," Alger reminded them. Alice suddenly froze, realizing that the Alice from before had also been a Wandering Girl whose disappearance would have gone unnoticed.

Alger continued, "Ever since obtaining Creeping Hunger, Qilingus has become extremely difficult to deal with. He was originally only a Wind Blessed, possessing decent Extraordinary Abilities in the domains of water, wind, and weather. But later, people discovered that he could drive targets mad, enter other people's dreams, summon light to purify the undead, strengthen himself with song, and take on different faces. He was almost omnipotent."

At the end of his explanation, Alger offered a guess. "We suspect all of this was brought about by Creeping Hunger..."

"Shepherd!" Derrick and Alice blurted out almost in unison.

Klein had thought of it too—after all, there was currently a Shepherd in Tingen City, and information about Shepherds had been made available to every Nighthawk.

"Shepherd?" Audrey and Alger asked at the same time.

Alice looked towards Derrick, stopping him with her gaze when he tried to explain, then raised her brows at Audrey and Alger.

"I'll do my best to gather more information you want, or you may ask for other compensation. Mr. Fool can bear witness to this," Alger immediately stated.

"I can pay compensation as well," Audrey promptly added.

"Mr. Sun can supplement the incomplete parts of what I've said." Alice glanced at the innocent Derrick, realizing that the child's purity was genuinely worrying. "I'll split this compensation equally with Mr. Sun... Mm, we can discuss the specifics later. Right now, I only need information on the School of Life and clues about Beyonders of the Monster Pathway."

Realizing the value of his intelligence, Derrick gave Alice a grateful look. Although Alger regretted losing the chance to get information for free, he still accepted it. Audrey had clearly realized how innocent Derrick was as well, and her trust in Alice rose a little—after all, Alice really was doing a kind thing.

Alice slowly began:

"'Shepherd' is Sequence 5 of the Mystic Prayman Pathway, a Pathway controlled by the Aurora Order. The characteristics you listed for that Mystical Item are very similar to a Shepherd's abilities.

"'Shepherds' can 'shepherd' souls, including Wraiths and Evil Spirits. They can devour souls into their bodies, command them, and use the corresponding Extraordinary Abilities of those souls, just as though they were shepherding lambs for a deity.

"There is a limit to the number of souls a Shepherd can shepherd, but they can be replaced. A Shepherd who reasonably combines Extraordinary Abilities is publicly acknowledged as the strongest in encounters below the Demigod level."

After saying that, Alice looked towards Derrick. Derrick Shook Her Head. "Miss Fate's introduction was very comprehensive. I have nothing to add."

Alice then gave Alger and Audrey a warning look. "If you happen to encounter Qilingus, my only advice is to run."

"The strongest in encounters below the Demigod level" was a rather hollow concept to Alice. She had not even seen many proper battles between Beyonders. Still, after Dunn's repeated warnings, she had at least remembered one thing: run if she encountered Mr. A.

Alger and Audrey both nodded. Compared to Audrey, who like Alice lacked knowledge of battles between Beyonders, Alger's expression was much more solemn. He understood the weight of "the strongest in encounters below the Demigod level" better, and he knew even more clearly how terrifying a reasonable combination of multiple Supernatural Abilities was to Low Sequence Beyonders.

But since it was merely investigating intelligence, the adventurous Miss Justice felt she could give it a try. "Mr. Hanged Man, I'm willing to accept this commission, but I can't guarantee that I'll find Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilingus."

"There could be no better answer. Regardless of whether you succeed, as long as you make an attempt, I'll pay you a certain reward afterward, such as some concealed knowledge and intelligence. And if you succeed, perhaps I can directly provide the Main Ingredients for Mind Reader. Of course, that depends on us knowing what they are." The Hanged Man was quite generous, and Alice felt that the information she wanted might finally be settled.

"Deal."

The transaction was declared concluded in Miss Justice's voice. With Klein's permission and assistance, Alger manifested a portrait of Qilingus.

Alice memorized Qilingus's appearance as well—well, just in case it came in handy someday.

One of the Seven Great Pirate Generals, he had a distinctive broad chin. His brown hair was tied into an ancient warrior's topknot behind his head, and his dark green eyes seemed to hold a smile, yet were exceptionally cold.

After the Trading Segment ended came the information-sharing and discussion segment. Once Alger and Audrey both fell silent, Alice pondered for a moment, then spoke for the first time during this segment. "...An ordinary woman became pregnant with the child of the true... Fallen Creator due to some accident. Mr. A of the Aurora Order left Backlund because of this. Perhaps before long, Mr. A will return to Backlund with her."