The mausoleum

Their discussion of the matter ended after they coordinated their stories. The following evening, Klein sought out Neph again.

"I discovered something."

"What?" Neph asked obligingly.

Klein thought for a moment before answering, "Perhaps I should start from the beginning? A few months ago, I met a surgeon named Aaron Ceres-"

"Oh," Neph said, remembering the name. "Will Auceptin's father."

"-?" Klein's eyes widened in shock. "So that child really became-?"

"Yes." Neph smiled at him. "Hadn't you already guessed? He's a Snake of Mercury."

"Even if I guessed, having it confirmed is still surprising." Klein shook his head. "Will this affect Doctor Aaron in any way?"

"Doctor Aaron..." Neph searched her memory. "A promotion and a raise?"

"...Anything else?" Klein was taken aback.

"I don't know." Neph shook her head. "If the future hadn't changed, it wouldn't have any effect beyond making him wealthier. But the problem now is-the future really has changed."

She paused, then added, "According to the original timeline, Duke Negan should have been assassinated earlier today. But now-"

"What happened now?" Klein asked.

Neph shook her head. "The man who would have assassinated Duke Negan died yesterday."

Klein looked stunned for a moment before frowning. "Why was he going to assassinate Duke Negan? Who assigned him that mission?"

"I can't say." Neph shook her head, refusing to answer.

Can't say... Klein paused. He couldn't imagine what his fellow transmigrator, who dared to gossip even about gods, could possibly be unable to discuss. It didn't sound like a secret that only those above the level of Angels could know, either.

He frowned, scrutinizing Neph. After a few seconds, she sighed. "I really can't say."

"All right." Klein gave up. "I've finished digesting the Magician potion. Once I get the blood of a Thousand-Faced Hunter and the