Klein turned toward the captain's office and saw the door wide open, with Dunn Smith leaning back in his chair, sniffing his pipe.
With a quick glance, Dunn shifted his posture and said:
"You're in great shape, not at all like someone who just took Potion."
"Perhaps this is the benefit of being promoted after fully digesting the information." Klein casually closed the door and pulled out a chair to sit down.
Both he and Dunn knew about the " Acting Method," which allowed them to communicate about related issues normally without being bound by oaths. However, at this moment, they both tacitly avoided mentioning it and fell silent after their question and answer.
Klein thought for a moment and then asked:
"Lord Cesimir has left?"
"Yes, as a high-ranking deacon, he had other matters to attend to," Dunn said after a few seconds of contemplation. "Well, he took the pair of red eyes that Old Neil left behind."
Klein, both surprised and bewildered, asked in return:
"Why?"
Dunn picked up his coffee, took a sip, and remained silent for a long time before saying:
"We can't deceive ourselves. The out-of-control team members have actually turned into Monster. And I told you, when Monster die, they leave behind things rich in extraordinary power. If these things are uncontrollable and cause various problems, they must be sealed. Yes, this is one of the sources of Sealed Artifact. The rule within the Nighthawks is that items left behind by out-of-control team members are stored in a different location to avoid agitating their companions."
"Understandable regulations." Klein nodded somewhat gravely.
Suddenly, he keenly realized that the captain had overlooked a possibility, and asked in confusion:
What if the supernatural power-rich substance left behind after the ' Monster ' dies could be controlled?
Dunn looked at him, his grey eyes as deep and unfathomable as the most tranquil night.
He sighed and said:
You don't want to know the answer.
... Klein paused for a moment, then suddenly realized a possibility:
Normal Monster leave behind extraordinary materials, which are used to concoct corresponding Potion.
What about the Monster that the out-of-control individuals become?
If the things they left behind were of a controllable type, would they also be considered extraordinary materials...?
Thinking of this, Klein suddenly felt a strong wave of nausea and couldn't help but turn his head to gag a few times, blurring his vision.
This is truly a chilling guess... but it's very likely to be close to the truth and the answer! In an instant, he gained a deeper understanding of the words "to resist the Abyss, one must endure Abyss Corrosion; the Guardian are also a group of pitiful creatures constantly fighting against danger and madness."
Could this be one of the reasons the church concealed the " Acting Method "? A certain degree of recovery? But this would cause the higher-ups themselves to turn away from the church... Klein's mind clearly reflected his changing expression.
Seeing his reaction, Dunn suddenly smiled, a glint of light flashing in his gray eyes:
"You can look at it positively; our companions are showing us companionship in a different way."
They are always with us.
As soon as he finished speaking, Dunn lowered his head, picked up his coffee, and brought it to his lips.
After another ten seconds of silence, he leaned back slightly, raised his head, and said:
"And you can rest assured, as long as we can still collect extraordinary materials from legitimate sources, we won't do what you're thinking."
"Alright, according to the rules, you're entitled to a day off after your promotion. Whether you want to practice combat this afternoon is up to you, but you must inform Gawain."
Klein nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and straightened his back, saying:
"Captain, I've finished my occult course, and I'd like to use the rest of the morning to learn techniques for tracking and surveillance."
He paused, then added with a serious expression:
"I want to fulfill my Nighthawks duties as soon as possible."
Dunn gave him a deep look and sighed:
"You're more resilient than I thought, so do it your way."
"Yes, Captain!" Klein stood up abruptly and drew a Crimson Moon on his chest.
After leaving Blackthorn Security Company, Klein did not go straight home to rest. Instead, he took the opportunity to travel by trolleybus to Instructor Azik's house.
Jingle bells, jingle bells.
Amidst the crisp sound of bells, Azik, dressed in a white shirt and black vest, opened the door.
A gold watch chain hung diagonally from the button of his vest, connecting to his pocket watch.
"Don't you have to work?" Azik glanced at the sky and noticed that the Sun hadn't yet reached its zenith.
"Due to some special circumstances, I was arranged to take turns resting," Klein explained briefly.
Azik glanced at him, nodded as if he understood something, and stepped aside.
Upon entering the foyer, Klein set down his cane, removed his hat, and followed Azik to his living room.
The living room was furnished with a fireplace, rocking chair, sofa, and coffee table. Klein familiarly sat down in his usual spot.
Across from him, Azik smiled and pointed to the cigars on the coffee table, saying:
Want one?
"No." Klein shook his head firmly.
Azik didn't try to persuade him further, but instead lit his own cigar, picked up a cigarette to preheat it, and casually asked:
"Has the matter in Morse Town been resolved?"
"I have to thank you for this," Klein said sincerely.
At the same time, he silently complained to himself:
Mr. Azik, before you lost your memory, you must have left yourself a considerable fortune; otherwise, how could a teacher who isn't even an associate professor afford to enjoy cigars so often?
Taking advantage of the other person's focus on fiddling with the cigar, he took the initiative to say:
"Mr. Azik, I have something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?" Azik asked without looking up.
Klein paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts as he spoke:
"A colleague of mine went out of control and turned into Monster. I'm wondering if his soul was also corrupted?"
He wasn't sure if Mr. Azik understood the meaning of "out of control," so he prepared the corresponding explanations and descriptions, waiting for the other party to ask questions.
Azik stopped what he was doing, raised his head, looked at Klein, and nodded solemnly:
"That's without a doubt."
"When you encounter a similar situation, you must carefully discern the cause. If the direct factor causing him to lose control is the temptation of an evil god or Devil, then try to avoid Spirit Channeling, as this could potentially bring you fatal danger."
"I understand." Klein sighed somewhat dejectedly.
While at Old Neil's house, he was emotionally unstable and forgot to Spirit Channeling, and Dunn Smith didn't remind him, so he completely missed the opportunity.
Looking back now, the captain didn't forget; he just deliberately didn't mention it... Klein remained silent for a few seconds, lost in thought.
He stopped dwelling on the matter and instead brought up his previous experience:
"Mr. Azik, I tried my hand at Divination in the Morse Town to find the source of the hauntings. I saw an upside-down pyramid-shaped mausoleum extending into the ground. My companion told me that it is a symbol of Death, an honor that only His descendants can receive."
Azik had just put down the match and picked up the cigar cutter when he suddenly froze, remaining motionless for a long time.
He sat back, leaning against the back of the sofa, his expression unusually solemn.
After a while, he spoke in a slightly low voice:
"It feels familiar, but it doesn't remind me of anything else."
"It's a pity," Klein said sincerely.
He also thought that the revelation he received from that Divination could further awaken Mr. Azik's memory.
Azik cut open his cigar cap, shook his head, and smiled wryly:
"If recalling the past were so easy, I think I would have found a way to escape my fate long ago."
"Of course, I must thank you for your kindness, for remembering me."
He thought for a moment and then said:
"By the way, I'll be leaving Tingen soon."
"Why?" Klein asked in astonishment.
Didn't we agree to work together to find the mastermind behind the theft of your child's skull that affected my Fate?
Azik, holding a cigar, sighed and explained:
"The target may have noticed my attention and investigation. They've been completely silent lately, leaving me with no clues. Therefore, I plan to temporarily leave Tingen and head to Backlund. On one hand, I'll take the opportunity to search for traces I left before losing my memory; on the other hand, I'll lull the target into a false sense of security."
Indeed, Mr. Azik's most recent memory loss occurred near Backlund University... It's a pity you can't search the Red Chimney houses for me... Klein nodded solemnly:
"I will keep a close eye on this matter, and I will notify you immediately if the target takes any action or is exposed."
"Well, Mr. Azik, how can I inform you in a timely manner?"
In Klein's mind, if Azik was a descendant of Death or had some connection with Death, then his power type should be close to the " Corpse Collector " Sequence, and he would definitely have a way to create something similar to " Daly Messenger".
In other words, this could indirectly prove whether Azik is related to Death or whether he is a descendant of Him.
Azik took a puff of his cigar, thought for a dozen seconds, and then took off an ornament from his left sleeve.
This is an exquisite, antique bronze whistle, adorned with many unique patterns that lend it a mysterious charm.
"This is an item I carried with me when I woke up in Backlund. You can summon a messenger just by blowing it," Azik explained in detail, holding the brass whistle.
So many years have passed, and this bronze whistle still works? It must be a magical item! Klein was both surprised and delighted that he had indirectly proven that Mr. Azik had some connection with Death.
After glancing at Klein, Azik brought the bronze whistle to his lips and began to demonstrate.
He puffed out his cheeks and blew hard.
There was no sound in the room, but Klein instantly felt a chill and coldness.
He quickly tapped his left teeth and saw that one after another, hazy white bones were thrown out of the floor beside him, forming an eerie fountain.
A few seconds later, a phantom Monster appeared in the living room.
Its entire body was made of white bone, with black flames flickering in its eye sockets. It was nearly four meters tall and was looking down at Klein was less than 1.75 meters tall.
Seeing that the other person was almost breaking through the ceiling, a thought flashed through Klein's mind:
"Mr. Azik, isn't your 'messenger' a bit of an overstatement?"
Azik, completely oblivious to his thoughts, chuckled and said:
"After giving it the letter, blow the brass whistle once to end the summoning, and it will soon deliver the letter to me Concealment."
After saying that, Azik flicked his wrist and threw the old bronze whistle to the other side.
Klein reached out with his right hand and accurately grasped it, feeling only a cold yet gentle touch.
Thanks to the " Clown " Potion... He silently breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the whistle clean, and blew it hard.
Without a sound, the enormous messenger disintegrated into hazy white bones that burrowed into the floor.
The Tussock River flows through Backlund, leaving behind numerous wharves.
Alger Wilson, dressed in the robes of a priest from the Church of Storms, slowly stepped off the passenger ship.
He saw people coming and going on the dock, countless dockworkers sweating profusely, a lively and bustling scene.
"It's been a long time, Backlund," Alger murmured to himself.