Dream Divination

"You just asked me a question, so I should ask first." Aster took a pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at it. "My time is tight—where is the Antigonus Family's Notebook?"

"It was taken away by a descendant of the Antigonus family," Klein answered calmly, growing even more vigilant.

He had developed something of a PTSD response to the Antigonus Notebook. Anyone who intended to get involved with it, or already had, would put Klein on guard.

Seeing Klein's faintly hostile expression, Aster shook his head without concern. "Not a sincere enough answer... All right, your turn to ask."

He had not actually expected to get any answers from Klein. In Aster's eyes, this guy was just a lowly newcomer to the Nighthawks, not even Sequence 8. What information could he possibly have that Aster needed? Could he know more than Aster, a transmigrator?

His true goal was to pass along the information that was difficult to convey to the Nighthawks! Reporting it directly by letter was far too inefficient. Only by personally stepping into the situation could Aster effectively make those official Beyonders take it seriously.

Swain had already gone with his men to the Nighthawks' headquarters to find their boss, so Townsend Neil's matter was provisionally resolved. But Tingen City had more than one problem, especially Lanevus, who could be called the root of all evil in Tingen. Unless he was dealt with, Aster would not dare leave Tingen at ease.

"Why are you investigating Old Neil?" After thinking for a few seconds, Klein quickly raised the question he cared about most.

"Not stupid. At least you didn't ask something like 'Who are you?'" After offering that praise, Aster stared at Klein's youthful face, still carrying a trace of boyishness. "I bear no ill will toward the Nighthawks, so you can rest assured about that. As for the more specific reason, you'll know once you return to your Nighthawks headquarters."

So he really knows Old Neil and I are Nighthawks... Why did he say I would know after returning to headquarters? Biting his lip, Klein waited uneasily for the other man's question.

"Let me think..." Resting his chin on his hand, Aster considered what question would not diminish his air of mystery. A few seconds later, he asked his second question, "Do you know the Acting Method?"

"...I do."

Seeing Klein's face stiffen for a moment, Aster finally showed a hint of interest.

According to the setting, official Beyonders would only learn of the Acting Method at least at Sequence 6. Yet this guy had figured it out himself at Sequence 9... Or had someone told him? Either possibility suggested that there was something unusual about him as well... Unfortunately, I barely did Klein's side quests back then. Otherwise, things would be much easier now.

Aster had only casually asked because, in the game, Klein often appeared at the Divination Club as a Seer. He had not expected to gain a small, if not insignificant, harvest.

"Your turn." Hearing Aster's casual words, Klein carefully chose his phrasing and asked, "What is your purpose in pursuing Lanevus?"

"To stop his illegal fundraising scam." Aster briefly summarized the conspiracy Lanevus was carrying out on the surface. He had actually wanted to say more, such as how Lanevus was involved in the descent of the True Creator, but he could not provide any details. Aster did not even know what Lanevus had done or whom he had worked with!

Illegal fundraising... That was definitely another term invented by Emperor Roselle...

Klein did not blindly trust Melvin's side of the story. Though Lanevus was most likely truly suspicious, judging from his actions and Klein's divination result just now, Klein still did not intend to believe him without conclusive evidence.

"Time's almost up. Last question, make it quick." After urging Klein along, Aster glanced at his pocket watch again. He had not left much time for Klein.

"What special fate do I have? What did you see in me?" Klein frowned and asked another question. This was the matter most closely tied to his life!

Aster really could not answer that question, because he did not know what was going on either. He only knew that Klein had joined the Nighthawks because of the Antigonus Family's Notebook. As for what came after... Klein had died very early, so even Aster did not know whether there was anything unusual about his fate.

I only made up that line back then to make an impression on you... After thinking for a few seconds, Aster finally shook his head helplessly. "Ask another question. I can't answer this one."

Can't answer... Klein suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

He knew very well that being unable to answer was an answer in itself!

It seemed that Antigonus Notebook was still entangled with him. He did not know whether this development was good or bad. No, he had to assume the worst... Hopefully, the Captain and the others would find the escaped Ray Bieber as soon as possible and recover the notebook from him...

Hearing the other man's urging, Klein abruptly raised his head and asked his final question, "What is your purpose in appearing before me now?" Why was he playing this question-and-answer game with him?

"Of course, it's to pass some information to your Nighthawks." Aster spoke truthfully.

"..." Klein fell silent again. Passing information? Why use this method? What else was he plotting? Why did it have to be through him?

Rubbing his chin, Aster considered what other information he needed to pass to the Nighthawks. This kid Klein did not ask questions according to the script, leaving Aster with so much unsaid.

Without waiting for Klein to react, Aster stood up and rattled off a string of words like pouring beans from a bag. "That's it, then. Ah, you can also mention Lanevus to your captain and have him put out a warrant for the guy. Hmm... Tell him tomorrow instead. Also, once Gracis wakes up, remember to tell this gentleman not to inform Lanevus that I'm looking for him. Otherwise, he might become alert in advance and flee Tingen."

After saying that, Aster grabbed his hat and put it on, raised a hand to snuff out the candle on the table and pocketed it, then strode out of the divination room, leaving behind only one final sentence: "If I need you, I'll come here again."

...Was that guy insane? He just said a whole pile of things on his own. Was he treating me like an underling? What made him think I would listen to him?

Klein stared dumbfoundedly as the strange man vanished through the divination room door. He only felt that Melvin was both twitchy and scatterbrained, leaving him annoyed yet amused. This was practically a wanted criminal ordering a police officer around!

Could this inexplicable Melvin be some kind of Beyonder vigilante? Like Batman, running around every day punishing evil and upholding justice?

But he had been following Old Neil. That did not seem likely... Klein drew out his pendulum and performed a simple divination on whether he should heed Melvin's request.

"I should follow his request..." Looking at the citrine spinning rapidly clockwise, Klein fell into thought.

Then, using the tools in the divination room, he performed another Dream Divination.

This divination concerned the consequences of trusting Melvin.

Leaning back in his chair, he swiftly entered slumber. In the dream, Klein found himself falling into a black sea, dragged by countless hands into deeper waters.

Just then, a hand wearing a strange ring grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the water.

The instant his head emerged from the surface, Klein found his surroundings abruptly changing. He stood in lightless darkness, before a long, thick grayish-white stone pillar. Beneath it was a pile of blazing firewood.

Klein stepped closer and, by the firelight, discovered a naked girl with wings bound to the pillar by thick iron chains.

The girl's pretty face was covered in blood and pale yellow grease. Her tightly shut eyes suddenly opened, meeting Klein's gaze.

Blood tears flowed from her eyes, and her expression was twisted in pain. Klein noticed that the girl had a strange pair of heterochromatic eyes: silver in the left, bronze in the right.

"Mr. Moretti? Mr. Moretti! Oh, praise the gods, you're finally awake!" Immediately afterward, Gracis shook Klein awake.

"Damn it, what did that guy do to me? What did I do?" Gracis spoke somewhat incoherently, his expression filled with shock and rage. "Damn it, that must have been evil witchcraft. Whatever he asked, I answered. It was terrifying. I have to report this to the police... He even asked me about Mr. Lanevus's whereabouts. He must—he must be a criminal!"

"Calm down, Mr. Gracis..." Klein helplessly rubbed his temples. For now, he still had confidence in his divination, so Klein decided to listen to Melvin and help him find Lanevus.

Before that, he needed to calm Mr. Gracis down and keep him from reporting the matter.

As for interpreting the dream from his divination, he would probably have to wait until he got home to find the time.

"Anti-Divination." After getting out of the hired carriage, Aster glanced at the sign across the street bearing the words "Rose Hotel," then silently turned into the alley beside it.

He bit his finger and smeared a symbol representing concealment and peaceful sleep onto the wall of the dark alley with his blood, summoning an undead creature with only one eye and one arm.

After issuing an order in Hermes, the undead creature slowly passed through Aster's body before vanishing.

This was an undead creature contracted to Aster, skilled at divination and Anti-Divination. The price of summoning it was his blood.

"I, in my name, summon..."

Taking the necklace from around his neck and placing it on the ground, Aster pulled out the candle he had swiped from the Divination Club, lit it, and began an undead summoning ritual right there.