Above the Gray Fog, the seemingly eternal gray mist flowed quietly. Klein sat at the head of the stone table, gently resting a hand against his chin as he pondered in silence.
Today, for the first time in this lonely, foreign world, he had met someone from his homeland. For the first time, he had recaptured a little of the familiarity he had once felt on Earth.
-Except this fellow countryman's identity had exceeded Klein's expectations. He was an "Oracle" of the Aurora Order, a powerful Sequence 7 Beyonder, and an unattainably important figure in the eyes of Klein, who had only just joined the Church of Evernight and become a Sequence 9.
"...Let's divine it."
The two lines written on the business card Nimrod had given him at the café resurfaced in Klein's mind. He extended his right hand, letting the pendulum made of pure silver hang downward. The same words began to echo Above the Gray Fog:
"Telling Captain Dunn about Nimrod will lead to a favorable outcome for me..."
"Telling Captain Dunn about Nimrod will..."
"Telling Captain Dunn about Nimrod..."
Klein murmured under his breath, repeating the same statement seven times Above the Gray Fog. Finally, he watched the direction in which the pendulum swung and slowly put it away. After a brief internal struggle, he made his decision:
"The divination says it will lead to a favorable outcome for me... Tomorrow. Yes, I'll report this to Captain Dunn tomorrow!"
"I need to consider what else I should hint at to Captain Dunn. Right, Nimrod's business card said someone was watching us... Hiss! Could this have something to do with that Antigonus Family notebook again?"
"Could everything, starting from 'my' death, have been orchestrated by someone?!!"
The possibility made Klein's teeth ache, and he could not help breaking into a cold sweat. Still, he did not stay Above the Gray Fog for long. After completing his divination, he returned to the real world and fell into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, Klein stretched his limbs and struggled out of bed, still weary from staying up late to perform divination. After a quick wash, he went over to the dining table.
"Klein, it looks like you had a good evening yesterday. Did you meet an old friend?" Benson sat at the table, cutting bread with his knife and fork and spreading butter on it. He greeted Klein with a smile.
"Yes."
Klein smiled and sat down.
"Hmm... A friend I met before we moved. I hadn't seen him in years. I never expected him to have become a man of standing."
"You're doing quite well yourself now, Klein," Benson reassured him.
"You have an income now that you've found a new job, and you're much more mature and confident than before. I think you can become one of those men of standing too."
Listening to him, Klein understood that Benson was worried he might feel inferior-before he transmigrated, Klein Moretti's living conditions during university had been far from good.
Compared with his classmates, Klein had been extremely frugal during his studies, since the Moretti family had only their father's death pension and the meager wages Benson earned through tireless work to pay for his university education.
At that thought, Klein could not help sighing inwardly again.
If I hadn't transmigrated here, Klein Moretti's suicide at his desk on the eve of his interview would surely have dealt Benson and Melissa a terrible blow...
Klein deliberately paused for a moment, waiting until Benson looked at him before changing the subject.
"By the way, Benson, I'll be meeting that friend again at this time next Saturday-you know, I work at the Blackthorn Security Company now, and his current work is similar to mine. Perhaps we'll have more dealings with each other in the future."
Benson nodded at Klein's words.
"You're right. Friendships from your student days really are a good bond for you... But Klein, I need to remind you to weigh things carefully before making a decision. Otherwise, you could easily fall into an abyss of despair."
"After all, well, my work involves dealing with all sorts of people. For some of them, friendship and affection are merely tools for making a profit."
Benson offered that explanation.
"I understand. I'll be careful enough," Klein said with a smile. "Of course I won't be as foolish as a curly-haired baboon. I'll think things through before making a decision."
Afterward, Klein watched Melissa board a public carriage. She seemed somewhat reluctant to take a carriage to school, hoping to save on living expenses. Then he parted ways with Benson at the street corner.
When he reached the entrance to the Blackthorn Security Company, Klein spotted Rozanne sitting behind the reception desk, looking rather bored. He pressed his lips together, a jumble of emotions rising within him.
Sigh, Old Neil... When he was teaching me about the Mystical World, I hadn't even really understood his situation. Although being reported for "worshipping an evil god" and "showing signs of losing control" was a good thing for him...
At least he won't actually lose control...
I just wonder where Nimrod got his information about Old Neil.
Perhaps he obtained it through the Aurora Order's channels?
While Klein was thinking about Old Neil, Rozanne had already noticed him. She waved cheerfully at him.
"Klein, why aren't you coming in?"
Klein sighed softly. He walked into the lobby before speaking to Rozanne.
"I was just thinking about Old Neil. If he hadn't left us, I'd still be studying the Mystical World with him today."
"If he hadn't left us... Why does that sound so strange?" Rozanne muttered.
"Sigh, now that you mention it, I miss Old Neil a little too... But I heard Captain Dunn say that this might be the best outcome for him. Otherwise, Old Neil might have lost control completely before long..."
Although Rozanne did not understand much about Beyonders, she knew what it meant to lose control.
In her view, that report letter had actually saved Old Neil's life.
Hearing Klein bring up such a serious topic, Rozanne fell silent for a while. After exchanging a few more words with her, Klein changed the subject.
"By the way, I'm looking for Captain Dunn. I have something very important to report."
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