Searching for Someone
Dear Mr. Azik:
I have received your reply and understand your situation.
I am currently in East Balam. You know about my past with Ince Will. Perhaps you could consider bringing Ince Will to East Balam. I would be willing to help you with this.
Furthermore, Neph told me that she has recently been in contact with the Artificial Death God Faction of the Numinous Episcopate and needs your help with something. She would like to meet with you, and her address is also in East Balam ----
Klein reread his letter, carefully put away the envelope, then used his Copper Whistle to summon Messenger and mailed the letter.
He did not explicitly mention the "0-08" incident in the letter. He had already received warnings from Leonard and Neph regarding this matter and had experienced it firsthand, so he naturally dared not cross the line.
However, he repeatedly emphasized the matter of coming to East Balam in his letter, and the reasons he gave were rather far-fetched. He was certain that Mr. Azik could see through his intentions and would seriously consider the proposal.
Hmm, I'll write another letter to Leonard about this—it's so frustrating to have to go through No. 7 Pinsters Street even though we're in the same city. But I can't send the Messenger directly to Leonard; he's at the Church of Evernight. Sigh, maybe I should think about how to get Leonard to say my Honorific Name —that way I can save some Gold Coin. Neph is such a jerk; she's clearly going to see Leonard, but she won't even bother to deliver a letter for me.
Klein sighed heavily and pulled out another brand new sheet of paper.
"Leonard?" A female voice suddenly rang out from the shadows, startling Leonard, who was walking back.
He turned his head to look, and Daly, dressed in a black dress and wearing a black veil, emerged from the shadows, her gaze falling on him, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"You startled me, Miss Daly," he complained.
"Usually, only people with a guilty conscience are so easily frightened." Daly's voice carried the chill of the night, devoid of emotion.
Upon hearing this, Leonard smiled and shook his head, saying, "Miss Daly, you're still as fond of joking as ever—"
"I'm not joking," Daly took two steps closer to him and spoke calmly, "Leonard, you've been acting very strange lately."
Leonard paused for a moment, subconsciously pondering where he might have acted strangely. He wasn't sure, though. The news about Ince Will and the subsequent series of intelligence reports had a profound impact on him, preventing him from remaining calm. Perhaps, at some point, he had indeed slipped up in front of his teammates.
But this memory itself is a flaw. Daly looked at him quietly, her voice deep and somber. "While retrieving the data, I discovered something interesting."
"Leonard, you recently accessed the files on Ince Will and Sealed Artifact 0-08, along with the corresponding internal Wanted Notice and information on the events in Tingen City."
"What are you doing? Why do you need to look at these? What have you found?"
Leonard froze. The Nighthawks team's access to information was recorded, but apart from the person who made the record, no one would bother to look through these Record —unless they suspected their teammates!
He realized he had to say something, which was easy to explain, since he wasn't investigating anything significant, and it would only take a few words to explain. But Daly didn't give him a chance to speak. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice was soft. "I don't know what secrets you're hiding, nor do I know what you possess. It doesn't matter."
"But if you need any help or cooperation regarding Ince Will's matter, feel free to contact me."
Leonard's mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, but Daly didn't even look at him and turned away.
"This is—" Palenque Tasibu picked up a black and white Wanted Notice and read the text aloud, "Ince Will, male, forty years old, former Archbishop, Gatekeeper who failed his ascension," tempted by the Demon, fell into evil, and fled with the Sealed Artifact "0-08." His specific characteristics are—"
Palenque Tasibu had never seen the contents of the internal Wanted Notice, but as a minor leader of the Numinous Episcopate, which had been fighting against the Church of Evernight for many years, he had certainly heard of Ince Will and had some knowledge of his appearance and background.
He quickly skimmed through the Wanted Notice poster, then looked up at the person opposite him. The Oracle Messenger's fingernails were slapping against the table, the rhythm of the sound revealing obvious impatience.
Palenque Tasibu then asked seriously, "What do I need to do?"
"Keep an eye on him," Neph said calmly. "No need to search for him specifically, just keep an eye on him in general. Once you spot him, immediately utter my Honorific Name."
This order surprised Palenque Tasibu, who tentatively asked, "I thought you weren't planning on appearing in public for the time being?"
To be honest, I didn't originally intend to do this. I didn't even tell you not to tell anyone—I just didn't plan to be so conspicuous— Neph slightly curved her lips and replied, "I was asked to do it."
Entrusted by someone----?
Palenque Tasibu subconsciously glanced down at the Wanted Notice in his hand. It was printed by Leonard from within the Nighthawks at Neph's request, and it also included Ince Will's file, showing clear traces of the Church of Evernight.
Palenque Tasibu had suspected the information came from the authorities when he was reviewing it earlier. Now, hearing the phrase "entrusted by someone" and recalling the vague statement about "knowing" the Evernight Goddess, he immediately had a bad feeling.
It couldn't possibly be at the behest of the Evernight Goddess—
He suddenly looked up at Neph, who seemed oblivious, then quickly dismissed the thought.
No, that's not right, how could that be? A traitorous Archbishop is certainly hateful, but he doesn't warrant the personal attention of the True God —even if he stole a level 0 Sealed Artifact, it wouldn't be enough to force the Church to seek help from civilian organizations—in terms of influence in the Southern Continent, the Church of Evernight is definitely more powerful, while the Numinous Episcopate is simply easier to spread—
The belief in the God of Death God is deeply rooted in the Southern Continent. Even today, many people still believe in the Death God of Death openly or secretly. This is because although the Church of the True God does not recognize the belief in the God of Death God, it does not, like it does with Evil God such as the "True Creator," immediately add them to the Wanted Notice upon discovery. Instead, it adopts a more conciliatory policy.
This has led to the fact that the Numinous Episcopate, which is based on the Death God Reaper, is particularly easy to recruit members in the Southern Continent, especially among the common people, with a large number of grassroots and peripheral members.
This is meaningless because it doesn't change the current state of the Numinous Episcopate. Under the relentless attacks of the Church of True God, especially the Church of Evernight, the Numinous Episcopate's leadership is dwindling. (The text then abruptly shifts to a seemingly unrelated topic. "Haiter and Sia Palenque Ai...")
Apart from Guts, not a single other Angel was born among them!
Even among the "0" level Sealed Artifact, they only possess the one held by Sia Palenque Eggers; as for "1" level Sealed Artifact, they do have a few.
This sounds quite rare, considering that even in the harsh environment of the "Aurora Order" where advancement is so difficult, Angel have been born!
However, that's not entirely true. Although it looks extremely bleak, the "Aurora Order" at least has True God overseeing it, as for the Numinous Episcopate—
Neph looked at Palenque Tasibu and shook her head, saying, "It's not Him."
This was a denial of Palenque Tasibu's possible speculation. Neph clearly knew what implications such a copy of an official internal document, coupled with the words spoken on behalf of someone else, would have. After the denial, she carefully chose her words and said, "I have a friend."
"One of His—well, one of His followers."
"He has a grudge against Ince Will and came specifically to ask me for help."
Friends' loved ones----
Palenque Tasibu looked somewhat bewildered. Neph's hesitant manner made him suspect that this "friend" was also a True God. This made Palenque Tasibu wonder just how close their True God Oracle was to that when the other's followers encountered difficulties, their first reaction was not to contact their own God, but to directly contact their Oracle.
Or perhaps they have a good personal relationship? But in that case, it wouldn't be a "friend's caregiver," but rather the friend himself seeking help.
Seeing Palenque Tasibu's puzzled expression, Neph felt a little relieved of the pent-up frustration of having something to say but not being able to. She really wanted to tell him about "the Spectator" Adam so that Klein wouldn't have to worry about the role and the Ritual anymore. But this wasn't something she could just casually mention, nor was it something she would warn him about beforehand. It was simply that she had some gossip to share, but no one was there to talk to her about.
She couldn't very well use this news to tease Adam, could she?
Actually, I might be able to discuss this topic with Amon —but the thought of that scenario is just too bizarre. Telling his father that he sat in the Spectator, helping the future "Lord of the Mysteries" complete his Demigod ascension Ritual? That sounds too much—I think Amon would probably teach me a lesson for bringing the news to him and gloating before he goes to Adam.
Neph shook her head, not explaining the Concealment story about how the incarnation, the familiar, and the God were actually the same person, nor revealing whose plea for help it was. She simply bent her fingers and tapped the table twice.
This was different from the clattering sound of fingernails tapping on a table; the sound of knuckles striking was much duller and louder. With Neph applying a little force, Palenque Tasibu snapped awake and said, "I will pass the relevant information to the others and will fulfill your request as soon as possible!"
Neph frowned and glanced at him, then emphasized again, "There's no need to go looking for it specifically; just report when you see it."
Palenque Tasibu didn't understand the meaning of those words. Like most people, he didn't grasp the horror of "0-08," but despite Neph's repeated emphasis, he still rose and bowed, saying, "Your will is my will!"
"----" Never in her wildest dreams would anyone say that to her, Neph glanced at him indifferently and disappeared from the spot without expression.
"Squeak?" The Rat Ais looked at Neph, who had been staring at it for a long time with her head flat on the table, and her squeak revealed a strange tension.
Neph tilted her head slightly and asked, "Are you able to split into Worm of Time now?"
This is the Mythical Creature Form of the "Marauder" Pathway, and also the carrier of parasites. Sequence 4 can split off, but whether it can do so, and how many can split off, actually depends on the state.
Ais wasn't in a very good state. With Neph's protection, and after genuinely accepting that she was a Rat, she no longer worried about losing control. However, this didn't mean the root of the problem was solved—she still lacked Beyonder Characteristic.
Neph had never given Ais any Beyonder Characteristic, and lacking Beyonder Characteristic Ais shook her head vigorously, letting out a sharp cry, "Squeak squeak squeak!"
Its resistance was so obvious that Neph had no choice but to give up on forcing it, sighing, "I'm starting to regret it, um."
"Before letting Hazel leave, I should have retrieved that Mystical Item from her. It can at least restore some of your Beyonder Characteristic, perhaps enough for you to split off Worm of Time— "
"Tsk, Pallez, who hasn't replenished his Beyonder Characteristic, also refused my request, saying he was too weak----"
"Am I really going to feed you to Him?"
"Squeak squeak squeak!" Ais screamed and pounced on Neph, grabbing her fingers.
Neph raised her head, patted the Rat's back reassuringly with her other hand, and coaxed, "Alright, don't worry, I don't have that plan yet, I was just saying—well, I have a way to find Beyonder Characteristic for you."
She rubbed the Rat twice, and after her hands were released, she picked up a pen and drew the Symbol for summoning Arrodes on the paper.
The full-length mirror in the room rippled, the image inside disappeared, and the mirror surface revealed a slightly mysterious depth. A line of silver text appeared. "Dear Miss ' Pure White,' may I ask what brings you to my presence?"
"I need the Beyonder Characteristic of the 'Marauder ' Pathway," Neph slowly straightened up, "People or items, it doesn't matter."
The mirror remained still for a moment, then a series of images flashed by. Neph saw a Chanis Gate, a seated nobleman, a deliveryman riding by on Pedal Bicycle, a Lawyer in a suit—
A dozen or so images flashed by. Neph stroked her chin, muttering thoughtfully, "Quite a few... that Lawyer looks kind of familiar..."
She frowned slightly as a memory surfaced in her mind: a man in a suit sitting opposite her, raising a knife and slashing it down at Black Glove on her plate. The glove was sliced apart by this invisible force, revealing its Beyonder Characteristic!
It's Amon!
Neph's eyes widened as she looked at the shimmering, mirror-like surface of water, where a line of text slowly appeared. "Oops~ I've been found out~"
"How did you find me?" she demanded. "You shouldn't have been able to find me—this is clearly not a place for a chance encounter."
"My half-father told me that you might need some help from me," the silver text replied.