After settling their cooperation, they chatted about various odds and ends before Julian left Khoy University with Klein.
"Klein, I heard from Captain Dunn that you're joining the Nighthawks?"
Julian asked with a smile.
"Yes, Professor Albrecht."
Klein nodded.
"Then you're very close to becoming a Beyonder."
Julian gave a slight nod.
"That's both a good thing and a bad thing. But if I had to choose again, no matter how many times, I would still take this path."
"Professor, may I ask why?"
Julian's words piqued Klein's curiosity, and he pressed for an answer.
"Because in this world, gaining supernatural powers puts you at risk of losing control."
Julian chuckled.
"But without the strength to match, you'll struggle even to protect yourself when disaster strikes."
"...I see."
Although Klein could not quite grasp the full meaning of those words, his experience with the "suicide" incident gave him some sense of what Julian meant.
"Keep at it. I have something else to take care of, so I'll be off."
Julian patted Klein on the shoulder.
"Also, we'll be working together soon... so just call me Julian from now on. It'll make things easier.
"After all, I'm only two years older than you. Calling me professor all the time makes me sound old."
"All right, Julian."
Klein shook hands with Julian, then watched the assistant professor stroll leisurely away.
Julian was in no hurry to go home. Instead, he filled his stomach with a plate of Feynapotter noodles at a roadside restaurant, then took a carriage toward the neighborhood where Welch's house stood.
As he walked, Julian looked up at the signs on either side of the street.
"Harold Department Store."
"Veterans' Club."
"Divination Club... found it."
Suddenly, Julian stopped.
If he remembered correctly, after Klein became a Seer in the original story, he had performed divinations for people at this club, earning money while digesting his potion.
Besides that, Hanass Vincent of the Aurora Order was this club's resident divination instructor-and one of Julian's current targets.
He wanted to approach Hanass partly to conduct further experiments with the Colour Out of Space's corruption on a member of the Aurora Order. He also had a theory involving Ince Zangwill and 0-08 and needed to pin down some details.
After tidying his appearance in the shop window, Julian pushed open the door.
At that moment, a beautiful woman with brownish-yellow hair piled high on her head was busy at the Divination Club's reception desk, apparently sorting through various records and documents.
"Hello, lovely lady."
The woman looked up at his greeting and saw a young man wearing a beige trench coat and a gentleman's hat.
He had well-defined features, oak-brown hair, and green eyes. His handsome appearance carried a hint of scholarly seriousness.
"...Ah, hello, sir."
The woman paused, then quickly collected herself.
"Would you like a divination, or would you like to join our club?"
"I'd like to join the club."
Julian glanced at the name "Angelica Barehart" on the woman's badge, then asked,
"How much does it cost, and what's the procedure?"
"Certainly. You only need to fill in your details and pay the annual membership fee.
"The initial fee is five pounds, and it's one pound a year after that. Those are all the requirements."
As she spoke, she handed Julian a set of documents.
They listed membership privileges and benefits, along with the members of the Seer Club who currently offered lessons and divination services.
At the bottom was an application form.
Hanass Vincent... there he is.
After confirming the name, Julian readily took out the pen he carried with him and began filling in the form.
When he reached the field marked "Preferred divination method," Julian thought for a moment, then wrote "Physiognomic Divination."
In the "Divination fee" field, he wrote "4 soli."
This matched Hanass Vincent's price. In other words, he had displayed ample confidence right from the start.
"Physiognomic Divination?"
Angelica, the receptionist, looked puzzled.
"Mr. Albrecht, reading faces... can that really be used for divination?"
"It can."
Julian chuckled.
"What, you've never heard of it?"
"No. How does it work?"
Angelica pressed him with considerable curiosity.
"Everyone's outward condition is closely tied to their mind and thoughts, and fortune is the result of what those thoughts shape.
"For example, subtle changes in the size and proportions of facial features, or in skin tone-even the lines on a person's palm can aid divination.
"If you can pick up on the relevant details, you can predict the future associated with them."
Julian clasped his hands and rested them on the counter.
"I'm very observant. More importantly, I can perceive more color information than ordinary people, so it's very easy for me to pick up on the details of someone's condition.
"After that, I can use special methods to perform a divination... that's more or less how it works."
"I see."
Julian's explanation left Angelica rather bewildered, but she did not dwell on it.
After all, a place like the Divination Club never lacked eccentric mystics, and most of them had abysmally low accuracy rates.
As far as the club was concerned, anything was fine as long as they paid on time.
Besides, Julian was quite good-looking, so Angelica showed no contempt and politely acknowledged his explanation.
But then she added,
"Since you've only just joined our club and haven't built a reputation yet, I would suggest lowering your divination fee a little.
"It would help you attract clients."
"There's no need."
Julian shook his head with a smile.
"As Emperor Roselle said, gold will always shine."
While the two were talking, Julian suddenly heard a voice drifting
over.
"Angelica, has another diviner joined the club?"
Julian turned and saw a man entering through the club's front door.
He looked to be in his forties, with thick, stiff brown hair that stood on end like a hedgehog's spines. He had heavy dark circles under his eyes and wore a classical black robe, giving him an air that seemed out of place in his surroundings.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Vincent."
Seeing him, Angelica immediately greeted him warmly.
Vincent? Hanass Vincent?
Julian's eyes flickered. Before he could do anything else, Hanass Vincent had already walked up to him and was examining the application form.
"Julian Albrecht... specializes in facial divination, charges four soli per session?"
Hanass looked surprised.
"To charge the same fee as me, you must have some skill, sir.
"But forgive my ignorance-I've never met a diviner who uses this... hmm, Physiognomic Divination."
At that, Hanass put down the application form and turned to Julian.
"If it's convenient, could you take a look at my upcoming fortune?
"I'm very curious about it... and I'd be happy to pay four soli."
He smiled, his eyes gleaming with both curiosity and a desire to test him.