Wisdom's Invitation

That reaction was so fast. I still need more practice. Neph sighed in admiration. Her gaze swept over the people on the street. She did not jump down after him, but silently planted the thought "leave this place at once" in the minds of all the ordinary people who were not Beyonders.

That was not enough. Neph erased Kircheis's memory of having just sensed danger, concealed Klein's figure, and left a message in his mind:

"Don't attack yet. Wait until the ordinary people are farther away."

Klein, who had intended to leave this part to Neph anyway, obediently stopped and watched the sparse crowd on the street scatter.

Neph did not interfere any further. Against Beyonders below the demigod level, a demigod had an overwhelming advantage. If she stepped in, it would become difficult to say who had actually killed Kircheis.

By the time Neph finished eating, Klein still had not returned from collecting the bounty. After thinking for two seconds, she called a waiter over to settle the bill and had Klein's unfinished meal packed up. Then she entered the Pure White Space to remind him:

"Have you finished collecting the bounty? Come find me when you're done. I had the rest of your meal packed up."

"For pirates at the Slaughterer's level, the Church of Storms delays payment of the bounty," Klein explained as he sat opposite Neph, eating his reheated meal. "It's 9,500 pounds, after all. Both approval and getting the cash ready take time. I haven't actually received the money."

"Huh?" Learning this for the first time, Neph looked at Klein in surprise, though she also found it reasonable. "That makes sense. It's 9,500 pounds, after all. The cathedral might not have that much cash on hand. Did they give you any kind of proof?"

Klein