Instant Kill

He wasn't a "Secrets Suppliant"? None of the Sequences of the Secrets Suppliant pathway had an ability like this that let them merge into the air!

After watching Nimrod vanish right before his eyes, the Tuxedo Clown's state of mind underwent a subtle change.

The Secret Order was a clandestine organization that had existed since the Fourth Epoch. Thanks to its leader, Zaratul, and its policy of concealing its activities, even its lower- and middle-ranking members knew something of the Beyonder abilities of other pathways.

What was more, this tuxedo-wearing "Clown" of the Secret Order was a Sequence 7, the same Sequence as Church of Evernight deacons like Dunn Smith.

Was he a "Shepherd"? The Tuxedo Clown felt his eyelid twitch. A host of unpleasant possibilities surfaced in his mind, and he instinctively wanted to retreat.

But just then, he felt his thoughts begin to grow sluggish, filling his heart with considerable terror.

I haven't moved an inch. How could that marionette be controlling me...

I haven't stepped into that marionette's control range!

"Actually, a few words would be enough for me to make you lose control outright. But if I spoke about knowledge related to the cosmos here, those beings out there would probably realize that an old friend was still alive and kicking down on the ground."

Just then, Nimrod's amused voice sounded beside the Tuxedo Clown's ear:

"Do you know how to kill a Beyonder instantly? It's simple. Bring in a High-Sequence Beyonder of the same pathway, and he won't have any room to resist."

"Although there's no High-Sequence Beyonder of the same pathway here, there happens to be a High-Sequence Beyonder item."

But... how... could you... not be... affected... Hearing Nimrod's voice behind his ear, the Tuxedo Clown forced his head around in disbelief, trying to see where his enemy was with eyes that refused to accept reality.

But he turned far too slowly. Smiling, Nimrod lowered "2-049," which he had lifted, as though it were an actual marionette, turning its painted face toward the Tuxedo Clown.

Of course he wouldn't be affected. Antigonus was half a "Fool," while the "Fool" was one-third of the "Celestial Worthy." By the time Antigonus passed on his bloodline, the Celestial Worthy's will had long since taken root within him.

Although Nimrod couldn't enter Sefirah Castle of his own accord at this point in time, the power of Sefirah Castle he carried differed from Klein's: it protected him in reality. And since he was, to some extent, equivalent to the Celestial Worthy, he happened to bear a certain resemblance to Antigonus himself, wolf that he was.

Thus, both the terrifyingly high-level aura Nimrod possessed and his resemblance to Antigonus were enough to keep "2-049" from attempting to control him.

With a thud, the Tuxedo Clown fell to the ground, toppling stiffly like a marionette, all signs of life gone.

Nimrod turned to look at Klein, whose eyes held something difficult to describe. Right in front of him, Nimrod pulled a patch of gray fog out of the air beside him and stuffed "2-049" into it.

Klein stared, dumbfounded. "Nimrod, you... didn't you say..."

"Shh. The walls have ears." Nimrod gave Klein a smile that didn't reach his eyes and said:

"We can discuss our business the next time we have a meal together-but I only came to save you because I heard your 'voice' coming from Above the Gray Fog. Haven't you been hiding things from me too?"

Klein immediately found himself at a loss for words. Fortunately, Nimrod didn't say anything more. He simply walked toward Leonard, whose face showed barely restrained terror, the corners of his mouth gradually rising.

"Nimrod!" Seeing Nimrod move, Klein grew nervous as well. Although he was wary of the mysterious Leonard, they were still fellow Nighthawks. He hurried to Nimrod's side and said anxiously:

"They're my colleagues..."

He had never felt such a terrifying sense of pressure from his fellow countryman.

"I can see that. They're all wearing uniforms." Nimrod waved a hand at Klein:

"I don't intend to make enemies of the Nighthawks. That would hurt both you and me. But this colleague of yours has more to him than meets the eye. I need to give him a few words of warning so he doesn't run into someone who eats Beyonders of his own pathway."

So there really was something unusual about Leonard?

Wait, Beyonders of the same pathway... surely he didn't have another hidden pathway?

Dual pathways, or an old man living in a ring?

The corner of Klein's mouth twitched. Still, he quickly made his choice and went over to shake Dunn awake:

"Captain, Mr. L is here."

Dunn opened his eyes a sliver and whispered, "I know. Keep quiet. You did well just now."

So you were pretending to be unconscious? Klein's expression didn't change, but inwardly he was dumbfounded:

"He took '2-049' away."

"Perhaps that was also part of the reason he suddenly appeared here to save you." Dunn's voice remained very quiet:

"None of us are in good shape right now. Let's observe the situation first. What's he doing?"

Klein's expression suddenly turned odd:

"...Threatening Leonard?"

"He's threatening Leonard."

"Leonard Mitchell." Nimrod smiled as he addressed Leonard, who was half seated on the ground:

"Or should I call you 'Pallez Zoroast'? Oh, you haven't fled at the sight of me. It seems he hasn't subjected you to Deep Parasitism."

At this, a delighted expression appeared on Nimrod's face. He took a Monocle from his pocket and put it over his left eye.

In this timeline, without Sefirah Castle's gray fog around him to act as a barrier, he had no intention of imitating Amon completely.

"...All right, don't be in such a hurry to run, Pallez." Nimrod watched Leonard's expression shift several times and said casually:

"If I really were Amon, you'd both be wearing Monocles by now. Unfortunately, I'm not. I've only come to give you a reminder."

Nimrod spoke with feigned nonchalance. The space around him gradually came alive, making him disappear from before Leonard:

"What's happening in Tingen City right now is connected to Amon's brother. You should understand what that means."

Watching Nimrod vanish before him, Leonard finally took several ragged breaths. He was just about to speak instinctively when he noticed his colleagues watching him.

The corner of his mouth twitched, and he lowered his voice:

"Shut up," Pallez said, in a thoroughly foul mood.