Raphael could not turn down a Beyonder Characteristic delivered right to his doorstep. Even if he had no use for a Hunter Pathway Beyonder Characteristic, it was still a considerable fortune.
Before attending the Iron and Blood Cross Order's banquet, however, he needed to make some preparations.
First, he needed to learn about their important figures in Backlund, so he would know what to expect if a fight really broke out at the banquet.
Although the Aurora Order's forces in Backlund had suffered a heavy blow, its intelligence gatherers had survived, so there were still channels through which he could inquire about another organization's important members.
Second, he needed to report this to Botis, the Saint of Secrets, and ask him to watch out for demigod-level opponents.
As for targets below the demigod level, Raphael could deal with them himself.
None of this interfered with Raphael's offerings to the devils. During the day, he arranged the confrontation between the Aurora Order and the Iron and Blood Cross Order. That night, he completed another commission for the Mechanic Company and sacrificed the soul to a High Demon.
However, actively acting as a Serial Killer still required some preparation.
After all, the Mechanic Company's targets were largely unprepared. With two major grain merchants already dead, the remaining merchants were bound to have tightened their defenses, even if they had no idea what Raphael intended. He needed to wait a couple of days until they grew weary.
Before that, Raphael felt he should give some thought to his advancement ritual.
The ritual for advancing to Wraith was to undergo three near-death experiences, each of which had to allow him to sense the Netherworld.
When Raphael first saw this ritual, he found it a little strange. It seemed more like an advancement ritual for