Hand of the Void!

Arthur found a sheet of paper in the inner pocket of Gram's vest.

The paper was slightly yellowed, its edges neatly trimmed. It was covered in unfamiliar writing Arthur couldn't read, yet the rain hadn't blurred any of it.

Both the paper's apparent age and the properties of the writing told Arthur it was no ordinary sheet.

But he didn't reach for it right away. Instead, he took a handkerchief from his coat pocket.

Unable to tell whether the paper was poisoned, Arthur was exceedingly careful. He shook out the handkerchief and laid it over his palm before picking up the paper.

Only then did he see words in the common tongue, which he could read, written in the gaps between the unfamiliar characters.

Both sides of the paper were covered in writing.

And now Arthur understood what was recorded on it.

No!

More precisely, this page of the [Herc Notes] recorded a Mystic Art called "Hand of the Void."

Arthur immediately felt a measure of gratitude toward Gram.

There was no question that the translation of the unfamiliar writing was his work.

Without his translation, Arthur wouldn't have been able to read any of it.

And since he could read it, naturally-

[Checking Spirituality...]

[Spirituality meets the minimum requirement. Check passed!]

[Spend 10 XP to learn Hand of the Void? Yes/No]

The ability granted by his talent, [Omniscient Cuisine], revealed itself once again. Having just earned 20 XP from killing Gram, bringing his total to 36, Arthur naturally didn't hesitate.

[Hand of the Void Lv1: While traveling through the Talin District in the Empire's South, Herke discovered the original version of this Mystic Art in a fallen tower. The Mystic Art was incomplete at the time. Only after Herke devoted considerable effort to completing it and made numerous alterations did its present form emerge. This Mystic Art closely resembles the widely known "Hand of the Void," but is fundamentally different; effect: using Spirituality as a foundation and consuming stamina, create a Hand of the Void to serve you by uttering Ei a.]

(Note 1: The Hand of the Void will resemble its creator's palm, with flexible fingers and part of the wrist retained. It will always remain visible to its creator.)

(Note 2: The Hand of the Void is invisible to others, but they can touch it, and it can sustain damage. Once its damage limit is reached, it disappears.)

(Note 3: At its current level, the Hand of the Void can lift objects weighing no more than 5 kg, moves at an adult's walking speed, and can travel a maximum of 3 meters from its creator.)

(Note 4: After creating a Hand of the Void, its creator continuously consumes stamina. Stamina consumption increases when the Hand of the Void lifts an object.)

(Note 5: When dismissed, the Hand of the Void disappears, but the expended stamina is not restored.)

(Note 6: At this stage, you must pronounce Ei a in full to create a Hand of the Void.)

"Herke?"

"It actually has something to do with Herke!"

Surprise flickered in Arthur's eyes as he read the text before him. Then his body began synchronizing with the knowledge.

Unlike before, this synchronization took a little longer.

Not only did a wealth of unfamiliar knowledge appear in his mind, but a spot of coolness also appeared on his heart and moved across it.

Arthur could clearly feel that cool spot tracing a tiny palm-like shape on his heart.

Almost instinctively, he chanted-

"Ei a!"

Thump, thump!

His heart beat hard twice. In Arthur's perception, the tiny palm-shaped mark on his heart filled with blood and lit up.

With a flick of his left hand, a transparent glove appeared, though it felt like wool.

The next instant, Arthur willed it to move.

The glove immediately slipped off his left hand and hovered in midair.

Arthur gazed at the Hand of the Void he had created, delight shining in his eyes.

He had witnessed the Mystical Side more than once, but this was his first time using its powers himself.

Excitement and exhilaration welled up from deep within him.

Soon, however, Arthur frowned.

It wasn't because [Hand of the Void] consumed too much stamina.

In fact, at that moment, [Hand of the Void] consumed only as much stamina as a steady jog-a level of exertion Arthur could maintain for an hour without resting.

Arthur frowned because he had 26 XP left, and raising [Hand of the Void] to Lv2 or [False Swiftbird Swordsmanship] to Lv3 both required 20 XP.

Simply put, he could only choose one.

After a moment's thought, Arthur chose [Hand of the Void].

It wasn't that [False Swiftbird Swordsmanship] was bad, but [Hand of the Void] would be more useful for what he planned to do next.

Of course, it was also because Arthur believed another large influx of XP would arrive soon.

[20 XP spent. Hand of the Void Lv1 → Lv2]

[Hand of the Void Lv2: Possessing Spirituality but exceptionally mediocre, you demonstrate to the world that diligence can compensate for a lack of talent. Your "Hand of the Void" advances another step; effect: using Spirituality as a foundation and consuming stamina, create two Hands of the Void to serve you by uttering Ei a.]

(Note 1: Omitted.)

(Note 2: The Hands of the Void are invisible to others, but they can touch them, and they can sustain damage. Once their damage limit is reached, they disappear. If one of the two Hands of the Void disappears, you cannot replace it. You must wait until the remaining Hand of the Void disappears before creating them again.)

(Note 3: At their current level, the Hands of the Void can lift objects weighing no more than 10 kg, move at an adult's jogging speed, and can travel a maximum of 6 meters from their creator.)

(Note 4: After creating Hands of the Void, their creator continuously consumes stamina. Stamina consumption increases when a Hand of the Void lifts an object. When both Hands of the Void are present, stamina consumption doubles.)

(Note 5: Omitted.)

(Note 6: Omitted.)

His body synchronized with the knowledge just as before.

The cool spot continued tracing the mark on his heart.

The tiny palm-like shape on his heart grew more intricate, progressing from a rough outline of a hand to clearly defined finger joints.

"Ei a!"

Once again, unfamiliar syllables sounded from Arthur's mouth.

Thump, thump!

As before, his heart beat hard, and the palm-shaped mark filled.

But unlike before, when it appeared only on his left hand, this time it appeared on both hands.

The [Hands of the Void] appeared over Arthur's hands in the shapes of a left and right hand, then detached and floated beside him.

Then, at Arthur's command, they floated up to the rooftop.

Arthur's umbrella, the Medium's Case, and "Anna" were all up there.

The right Hand of the Void lifted the Medium's Case.

The left Hand of the Void held the umbrella, hooking its little finger around "Anna."

As the two [Hands of the Void] descended, Arthur first took the umbrella, tucked "Anna" and the page of the [Herc Notes] inside his coat, then took hold of the Medium's Case.

Maltz happened to witness the scene.

From Maltz's perspective, all he saw was Arthur raise his hand.

Then the umbrella, "Anna," and the case floated down, settling securely into Arthur's hands.

The Third-Rank Police Officer's pupils contracted.

His breathing quickened.

Almost instinctively, Maltz wanted to flee right then and there.

But a moment later, he saw Arthur turn and smile at him.

Without question, Arthur had done it deliberately.

In his own way, he was strengthening his "working relationship" with Maltz.

It was just that...

Wasn't Maltz's reaction a little excessive?

Or had Maltz experienced something similar, something that had left an indelible memory?

Arthur speculated inwardly, but that didn't stop him from walking to the doorway with his umbrella raised.

"The next step?"

He asked softly.

Maltz nodded firmly and said meaningfully-

"This year's rainy season has lasted a whole month longer than in previous years..."

"Please leave it to me!"