"Something very important?"
Hearing Klein say this, Rozanne immediately grew serious. She pointed him toward Dunn's current location, then dutifully remained at her reception desk.
Klein strode in the direction Rozanne had indicated, but he caught a barely perceptible trace of sorrow in her gaze.
Was it because of Old Neil?
Klein had a vague guess about the heavy expression Rozanne had concealed so well. But he neither asked nor said anything more, simply continuing toward Dunn.
When he reached Dunn's office, Klein knocked lightly on the door with his fingers. Only after hearing a "Come in" did he push the door open and enter Dunn Smith's office.
As soon as he entered, Klein smelled an overly strong odor of smoke. He instinctively frowned, then realized that after Old Neil had been sent to the Cathedral, Captain Dunn, who had personally arrested him, seemed far less calm inside than he appeared.
"...Captain."
Klein hesitated before addressing Dunn, whose gaze was unfocused, as though he were pondering something.
Only upon hearing Klein's voice did Dunn react. He rubbed his temples somewhat sluggishly and said to Klein:
"...Klein? What is it?"
With that, Dunn seemed to remember something he had forgotten:
"Right... Old Neil can't continue teaching you about the Beyonder world now. I'll arrange for another Nighthawk to teach you mysticism later. For the time being, finish reading the materials Old Neil gave you and memorize them. That will be your assignment for now."
Having said this, Dunn looked at Klein, who was still standing there without moving, and grew a little puzzled:
"Was there something else I forgot to mention?"
Captain, your mental state really isn't looking good... Klein sighed inwardly, but still said earnestly to Dunn:
"Captain, I have something important to report to you."
"Go ahead," Dunn said steadily, seemingly returning to his usual demeanor as captain.
"This is rather bizarre. Please don't be shocked when I tell you..." Klein tried to prepare Dunn beforehand, but still felt uneasy:
"It really is quite bizarre. Even I find it hard to believe. Please hear me out first..."
Dunn frowned. "Just tell me. There's no need to imitate Leonard's exaggerated style."
Klein opened his mouth, momentarily unsure whether Dunn was criticizing him or Leonard.
He studied Dunn's expression, and only after Dunn nodded to him and appeared somewhat prepared did he continue:
"I encountered the Aurora Order's Oracle, Mr. L."
"...What?"
Dunn seemed unable to process it at first, but in the next instant, he sat bolt upright. Every remaining trace of fatigue vanished from his face as he looked gravely at Klein:
"Don't tell me what happened yet. Recite the Goddess's honorific name, now!"
Upon hearing Klein's words, Dunn's scalp had begun to prickle. He scrutinized Klein, studying his eyes, seemingly trying to determine whether this newly recruited Beyonder of the Nighthawks had been beguiled by the True Creator's ravings and become His devout believer.
After all, compared with the Hidden Sage, who had corrupted Old Neil, the True Creator was considered a major enemy by the Church of Storms, the Church of Knowledge, and the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun alike. The Aurora Order was also a leading heretical organization that frequently claimed responsibility for acts of terror in the Loen Kingdom's newspapers. In that case, Klein...
Dunn felt a twinge of pain in his chest. He stared fixedly at Klein, ready to restrain him immediately if the honorific name that left his mouth was the True Creator's.
Seeing Dunn's reaction, Klein immediately understood his intent.
"...Evernight Goddess, higher than the stars and more enduring than eternity, Mother of Concealment, Empress of Calamity and Fear, Lord of Slumber and Silence."
Having finished, Klein calmly raised both hands and said to Dunn:
"Captain, I haven't been corrupted by the True Creator."
"...Tell me in detail what you did before and after meeting the Aurora Order's Oracle." Dunn secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he spoke to Klein, though a little more fatigue had crept into his voice.
Klein merely took a moment to organize his words before speaking:
"This is what happened, Captain."
"Yesterday, inspired by Old Neil's earlier teachings and Miss Daly's desire to 'become a true Spirit Medium,' I likewise had the idea of becoming a true Seer, of 'acting' as a true Seer."
"That was why I officially joined Tingen City's Divination Club and became one of its Diviners. While I was listening to the renowned Diviner Hanass Vincent explain divination, I spotted an acquaintance I'd known in the place where I used to live."
Klein had described Nimrod this way precisely because, as far as he recalled, there was a very good chance that his former school still retained its student records. With the True Creator involved, if the Church of Evernight wanted to investigate, it would be easy for them to obtain a list of Klein's classmates.
When that happened, Klein, who could not reveal that he was a transmigrator, would have difficulty explaining his earlier lie.
However, Klein had carefully considered that sentence. "The place where I used to live" could refer to Earth, where he had lived before transmigrating. Since everything he said was true, even divination would not detect a lie in that statement.
"An acquaintance... This 'acquaintance' you mentioned is the Aurora Order's Mr. L?"
Dunn slowly sat back down and gently stroked his chin. Having confirmed that Klein could recite the Evernight Goddess's honorific name here with a clear mind, he had tentatively ruled out the possibility that Klein had been corrupted by the True Creator:
"In other words, the Diviner at that Seer Club, Hanass Vincent, might also be a member of the Aurora Order."
"Klein, tell me exactly what happened..."
Dunn pressed his temples again. At that moment, his head was throbbing painfully:
"I must report this to the Cathedral headquarters. This matter, heh, is even more serious than Old Neil's..."
Before you continue