Klein didn't go to see Benson and Melissa because he was already involved on a higher level, and getting close to his brother and sister would only bring them disaster. For those who didn't know Klein's original identity, such behavior would help them understand the relationship between Benson, Melissa, and Klein. For those who knew about Klein's past experiences, it would confirm one thing: that Klein still retained his humanity and still cared deeply about his family.
Therefore, staying away from Benson and Melissa is the best way to protect them.
Of course, Klein had already learned about the brother and sister's situation through Miss " Justice ":
Benson demonstrated his experience and shrewdness in the Treasury during the war, earning multiple promotions and becoming the deputy head of the Fifth Division with an annual salary of £300.
Melissa is favored by her mentor, Portland Moment, who gives her an opportunity to become Beyonder —the principal of Backlund University of Technology is a follower of the " God of Steam and Machinery," and has long since embarked on the Beyonder Pathway. He is currently Sequence 7 " Appraiser," and he hopes that Melissa will become Sequence 9 " Reader " so that she can better learn knowledge, improve her memory, and lay a good foundation for her future development in the field of mechanics.
This was Melissa's secret, but it couldn't be hidden from the Demigod- level " Spectator." Moreover, Audrey assured Klein that Melissa was inclined to agree and would make a decision in the next few days.
Klein's attitude toward this matter was tacit approval. On the one hand, the Spirit Intuition gained through the " Reader " pathway was quite limited, so Melissa was unlikely to hear things she shouldn't hear or see things she shouldn't see. On the other hand, with the coming of the Apocalypse, the possibility of Low-Sequence Potion causing madness was further reduced. Moreover, he, as a " Miracle Invoker," would help reduce the risk of losing control.
"For a mechanical enthusiast, Sequence 9 ' Reader ' is sufficient... Momont shared this view; he didn't want a follower of the ' Evernight Goddess ' to receive too many Potion from the Church of Steam..."
"Yes, the Apocalypse is drawing ever closer, the invisible barrier is becoming increasingly fragile, and the Outer Deity ' encroachment on this world will become more and more apparent. The probability of ordinary people encountering extraordinary events will definitely increase gradually. From this perspective, it's a good thing that Melissa became Beyonder. If she can successfully advance to Sequence 6 ' Artisan,' which is 'Mechanical Engineering Expert,' she can both fulfill her dreams and protect herself and Benson..."
"Let Miss ' Justice ' find an opportunity to subtly teach Melissa the ' Acting Method.' How far she progresses after that is up to her. At most, I can give her some good luck—uh, the formula, the ingredients... I'm really like a worried older brother, ha, that's how I am... Would you call this fulfilling a ' Wishes ' in some sense?"
"Wait, Melissa definitely wants to resurrect Klein. If I go directly to her now, will I get enough feedback?"
"... Never mind, this would be devastating for her and Benson..." Klein shook his head, stopping himself from making excuses.
He then adjusted his top hat, turned into a nearby hotel, took out a gold pound coin, and booked a room.
That gold pound was real; it was an item Klein brought back to the real world some time ago.
--In the previous war, Klein donated 14,800 pounds in banknotes, 14,200 pounds in gold bars before the war, and nearly twenty high-quality gems through Miss " Justice ". Currently, apart from the strange items in the junk pile, he only has 39 Loen gold coins and ten high-quality gems left.
Klein glanced at the Soli and pennies returned by the hotel owner, casually put them away, went into the room, and walked to the full-length mirror.
Immediately afterwards, he took out paper and pen and drew the incantation to summon the " Magic Mirror " Arrodes.
Time ticked by, but nothing unusual happened in the room.
The full-length mirror remained silent.
A few seconds later, Klein chuckled, raised an eyebrow, and took a gold coin from his pocket.
Clang, clang, clang.
A Steam train, billowing thick smoke, sped along the tracks, heading west across the continent.
With his hair disheveled, Ikanser and a member of the " Machinery Hivemind " team stood in a carriage, intently staring at the metal cage in front of them.
On the cage, sharp metal spikes stretched outwards, gleaming with a dim light.
"Butler, now that you've gone to Intis, are you planning to return to Loen?" The " Machinery Hivemind " team member, who had a typical Loen appearance, glanced at the plains rushing past the window and couldn't help but ask.
After the war ended, the Church of Steam, which had taken the Error stance, had to swallow the bitter pill of defeat and was required to transfer all Beyonder of Demigod Evernight above and Sealed Artifact of rank "2" or above out of Loen within the time limit set by the Churches of Night and Storm.
In other words, they lost their original status and could only preach in Loen like the Church of Earth, maintaining only a small number of churches.
If it weren't for the large number of people who believed in the " God of Steam and Machinery," some of whom were key figures in the post-war reconstruction, the Church of Steam might not have even been able to retain such treatment.
Similarly, a small number of churches only require a small number of " Machinery Hivemind " members, and most of the Beyonder in the Church of Steam in Loen had to migrate to Intis.
Ikanser was silent for a few seconds, then said with a wry smile:
"I must follow the archbishops' arrangements, but I will voluntarily apply to return to Loen. My childhood, adolescence, and youth are here; there are too many memories I cannot part with..."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted into the distance, and he seemed to see that Capital of Capitals again.
Just then, the metal cage covered in spikes suddenly shook.
Streaks of silvery-white lightning appeared out of thin air and fell one after another, all of which were absorbed by the metal cage and flowed through several rubber-wrapped wires to the ground outside the Steam train, leaving a trail of sparks.
Bang bang bang!
It seemed as if an Invisible Hand was pounding on the metal cage, but no matter what they did, they couldn't break through the barrier.
"The ' Magic Mirror ' reacted very strongly... It used to be very quiet." The member of " Machinery Hivemind " who had just asked the question said with considerable doubt.
Amidst the thumping sounds, Ikanser subconsciously touched his hair.
"That's not the case. It can also show a crazy side at times. If those things hadn't happened, we would still be treating it as a 'Level 2' Sealed Artifact."
"Oh, I see. Haha, I hadn't heard of them before. I thought ' Magic Mirror ' didn't want to leave Backlund," the member of " Machinery Hivemind " joked with a laugh.
Snap!
Bolts of lightning struck down, only to be sucked away by the metal cage.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The slapping sounds gradually lengthened, as if making a final and most feeble wail.
Ikanser took out a slightly old, exquisite pocket watch, turned it on, and glanced at it:
"It only lasted two minutes, much better than in the morning."
Just as the newly transferred " Machinery Hivemind " members were about to ask a question, the banging suddenly stopped, as if affected by some uncontrollable factor.
"Is this the style of ' Magic Mirror '?" he asked, turning the question around.
Ikanser frowned slightly and said:
No, that's not the case.
"Normally, it would last for twenty or thirty seconds with little energy."
"There seems to be a problem..."
"Deacon, don't worry, there's a truly important person on the train, someone who ranks above the archbishops," a member of " Machinery Hivemind " reassured him casually.
This Steam train has too many dangerous Sealed Artifact; it's bound to cause problems if it's not guarded by powerful individuals.
Ikanser nodded, indicating that he was not worried.
On a country road a dozen kilometers away from the Steam train, Klein sat in a summoned carriage, with a mirror placed in front of him.
He had just finished sketching the symbols that blended " Concealment " and "voyeurism" when ripples appeared on the mirror, revealing one golden Loen language after another:
"Supreme, great, and supreme master, you have finally come! Your humble, loyal, and poor servant Arrodes, has missed you so much!"
Hmm... Klein couldn't quite handle this enthusiasm and subtly shrank back.
If " Magic Mirror " Arrodes's previous attempts to please still maintained a shred of dignity, now it was utter fawning, to the point that Klein could even detect a hint of a sob in his voice.
" Trier has a much higher rate of sex scandals than Backlund, which is probably a place you like," Klein joked with Arrodes.
"Because you, Master, do not wish to go to Trier." The golden words on the mirror's surface faded, turning into pale silver.
Klein clicked his tongue inwardly.
I have some questions for you.
"Please feel free to ask any questions," Arrodes replied rather humbly.
"Do you know who the ' Earth Mother ' really is?" Klein went straight to the point.
The mirror suddenly turned deep and dark, and the pale silver words were tinged with a ghastly white:
"I don't know... but during the war of the gods, I heard a voice coming from within the ' Dark Heaven, ' calling out a name... that was, that was the true name of the Progenitor the Sanguine."
This " Magic Mirror " didn't dare to directly display the name Lilith.
Lilith? It was Lilith... Klein was both surprised and felt that many of his questions had been answered.
Then he thought of " The Moon " Emlyn.
This Vampire went through many twists and turns, trying to win himself over, but in the end, he never changed his beliefs.
If Emlyn had Anderson's personality, he'd probably be saying to the Sanguine dukes and marquises right now, "Oh, so you've come to worship the Mother Goddess too..." Klein imagined the amusing scene as he spoke to the " Magic Mirror," Arrodes:
"It's your turn to ask a question."
"Supreme Master, please continue your question; I will ask it all at once." The pale words regained their soft silver hue.
Klein thought for a moment and said:
"What's the situation now? For example, what's the situation in Feysac?"
P. S.: Updated first, revised later.