"We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wretches constantly fighting danger and madness."
The corridor outside the window was enclosed, its stone walls cold. Inside, lamplight shone bright and yellow. In this setting, the words Dunn Smith had recounted lingered in the air, striking Klein's heart again and again, leaving him briefly speechless.
Seeing Klein fall silent, Dunn shook his head and smiled.
"Disappointed? Beyonders aren't what you imagined. We walk alongside danger all the time."
"Every gain must come at a price." Recovering from his shock, Klein chose his words carefully.
He truly hadn't expected such hidden dangers behind the glorious, extraordinary side of Beyonders that set them apart from ordinary people. But perhaps because he had only heard descriptions and had yet to actually encounter them, or perhaps because he was already caught in this vortex and might find some bizarre incident befalling him at any moment, his fear, unease, worry, and dread soon subsided to a manageable level.
Of course, thoughts of backing out inevitably arose, tangling together and refusing to leave.
"Good. Very mature, very rational..." Dunn finished the last mouthful of coffee, then added, "Also, Beyonders aren't as powerful as you think. Low-Sequence Beyonders-heh, why use 1 for the highest rank and 9 for the lowest? It goes completely against intuition and logic. What we usually call low Sequence refers to low ranks and high numbers, the starting end of a Sequence chain."
"All right, where was I? Right, Beyonders aren't as powerful as you think. The 'power' of low-Sequence Beyonders is no match for firearms, let alone artillery. It's just that in certain respects, they're more wondrous than guns and cannons, and harder to guard against. If you have a chance to become a Beyonder in the future, you must carefully consider everything I've told you today. Don't make a rash choice."
Klein gave a self-deprecating smile.
"I don't even know when I'll get the chance."
If such an opportunity came, he felt he wouldn't let it slip away. Taking the wrong potion or one beyond his Sequence were risks he could avoid to the greatest extent possible. The main hidden dangers lay in the subtle effects inherent to the potions themselves, and the unknown "dangers" he would hear and see after his spiritual perception improved.
For the former, there was the experience of generations of predecessors to consult. As long as he didn't rush impatiently to advance and steadily mastered his power, the probability of losing control should remain relatively low. Besides, he was taking this step mainly to resolve the potential dangers he currently faced, understand the essence of mysticism, and find a way to transmigrate back. He wasn't aiming for a "position" in the high Sequences. If losing control really proved easy, he could simply stop advancing, remain at his original Sequence, and rely on knowledge to plan his "return home."
As for the latter danger, there was even less to say. Klein still vividly remembered the whispers and murmurs during the Luck Enhancement Ritual that had nearly driven him mad and made his head feel ready to explode. This wasn't something he could avoid just by not becoming a Beyonder. Since that was the case, he might as well gain some power to fight back.
Thinking this through, Klein found the advantages and disadvantages so clear that most of his thoughts of backing out vanished.
Dunn picked up his pipe again, a faint smile in his gray eyes.
"I can't give you an exact answer about that. To become a Beyonder, first, you have to earn enough merit. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, you'll decipher a crucial ancient document or offer some very useful advice on one of our cases. Second, it depends on whether those above have any new ideas. No one can say for sure about that."
"All right, I think you should have a fairly good understanding of Beyonders now and won't make an impulsive choice in the future. Now I'll introduce you to the clerical work in our Nighthawks team."
He stood, paced to the doorway, and pointed in the direction opposite the Chanis Gate.
"We have an accountant and someone responsible for buying necessities and collecting supplies issued by the Church and the police department, who also works as a coachman. They're both professionals and don't need to rotate duties. They have Sundays off. The other three clerical staff are Rozanne, Brett, and Old Neil. Their work includes receiving visitors, cleaning rooms, writing case files and item requisition lists, and watching over the armory and the materials and document repositories, strictly recording entries, exits, withdrawals, and returns. Each takes one day off a week on a rotating basis, excluding Sundays. There are also rotations for night duty and rest, which they arrange among themselves."
"Will I be doing the same things as Rozanne and the others?" Klein set aside his thoughts about Beyonders to confirm his own "job responsibilities."
"No, you won't need to. You're a professional." Dunn smiled. "For now, you have two tasks. First, go out for a walk every morning or afternoon, focusing on the various routes between Welch's residence and your home."
"Huh?" Klein looked utterly bewildered.
What kind of 'work' was this?
Was it very professional?
Dunn slipped his hands into the pockets of his black trench coat.
"Once we confirmed that you really had lost your memory, Welch and Naya's case was considered closed. Likewise, that Antigonus Family notebook had vanished completely. We suspect you took it with you when you left and hid it on your way home, which is why we couldn't find any clues at your place. This should also be a possible reason why you 'killed yourself' at home rather than at the scene."
"Although a mysterious influence made you completely forget those memories, the human spirit and brain are wondrous things. Perhaps some traces remain. Just because Daly couldn't obtain them through her Spirit Medium methods doesn't mean they definitely don't exist. Perhaps in familiar places, at crucial locations, you'll get a feeling that you've seen something or done something before."
"That's what we're hoping to gain."
"I understand." Realization dawned on Klein.
The Nighthawks' deduction about the notebook's whereabouts was indeed reasonable.
Among those present at the time, he was the only one still alive, and the only one with the time and "motive" to take the notebook away and hide it along the way!
"If you can find the notebook this way, you should earn enough merit to become a Beyonder." Dunn Smith offered some encouragement, indirectly revealing that the notebook was fairly important.
"Let's hope so." Klein nodded.
Dunn returned to the previous subject.
"Second, you'll have one day off each week. For now, you can decide which day yourself. When you're not outside, go to the armory and read the documents and books we keep there. That's work for a history professional. Once you've read everything, you'll have to rotate duties with Old Neil and the others."
"All right, no problem." Klein quietly sighed in relief.
It wasn't anything too difficult...
At that moment, Dunn half turned and pointed at the black iron double doors engraved with seven sacred emblems.
"This is the Chanis Gate, named after Archbishop Chanis, the founder of the modern Nighthawks system. There's one beneath the central cathedral of every major city."
"Full members of the Nighthawks take turns guarding it. Inside, there are at least two internal Church 'Keepers,' as well as countless traps. You must never approach it casually, or you'll be afflicted with misfortune."
"Sounds impressive," Klein remarked.
"It's divided into several areas. They hold potion formulas for certain Sequences and all kinds of extraordinary materials, and temporarily imprison heretics, nonhumans, cultists, and members of secret organizations. Heh, they'll eventually be sent to the Holy Cathedral," Dunn explained casually.
The Holy Cathedral? Serenity Cathedral, the headquarters of the Church of the Evernight Goddess in Winter County in the kingdom's north? Klein nodded slightly, as though in thought.
"There are also copies of all kinds of highly classified documents and books inside. Once your clearance rises, you might have a chance to read them." Dunn paused in thought, then continued, "On the lowest level behind the Chanis Gate, there are also some Sealed Artifacts."
"Sealed Artifacts?" Klein mulled over the term.
It sounded like a specialized term.
"Among the Beyonder items we collect and obtain, some are too important and too wondrous. If they fell into evil hands, they would cause tremendous destruction, so they must be kept strictly confidential and closely guarded. Even we can only use them under specific circumstances. And..." Dunn Smith paused before continuing, "And some of them are extremely unusual. They possess certain characteristics of being 'alive.' They can entice their guards, influence their surroundings, escape on their own, and cause catastrophic consequences. They must be strictly controlled."
"How wondrous," Klein said with feeling.
"Nighthawks headquarters divides these Sealed Artifacts into four grades. Grade 0 means extremely dangerous, requiring the highest level of attention and confidentiality. They must not be inquired about, disclosed, described, or pried into. They can only be sealed underground at the Holy Cathedral," Dunn explained in detail. "Grade 1 means highly dangerous, with limited use permitted. Clearance is restricted to diocesan bishops, Nighthawks deacons, and above. Central cathedrals at diocesan headquarters, such as Backlund, may keep one or two. The rest must be handed over to the Holy Cathedral."
"Grade 2 means dangerous, to be used cautiously and in moderation. Clearance is restricted to bishops, Nighthawks team captains, and above. The central cathedrals of major cities may keep three to five. The rest are handed over to the nearest Holy Cathedral or diocesan headquarters. Grade 3 means somewhat dangerous and must be used carefully. Only operations involving at least three people can apply to use them. Full members of the Nighthawks have clearance."
"When you see the relevant documents in the future, you should understand what they represent from the numbers. For example, 2-125 means dangerous-grade Sealed Artifact number 125."
As Dunn spoke, he suddenly turned, walked back into the room, and retrieved a sheet of paper from the bottom of a drawer.
"Right, take a look at this. Three years ago, a newly appointed archbishop lost control. Somehow, he broke through layer upon layer of protection and mysteriously disappeared with a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact. Familiarize yourself with his photograph. If you spot him, don't alert him or disturb him. Come back and report it. Otherwise, you're a thousand percent certain to die in the line of duty."
"What?" Klein took the paper and found that it had no heading, only a black-and-white photograph and a few lines of text.
"Ince Zangwill, male, forty years old, former archbishop, a Gatekeeper who failed to advance. Enticed by the devil, he fell into evil and fled with Sealed Artifact 0-08. Distinguishing features include..."
In the photograph, Ince Zangwill wore a pure black, double-breasted clerical robe and a soft cap. His hair was dark blond, and his eyes were so blue that they looked almost black. He had a high nose bridge and tightly pressed lips. His features resembled a classical sculpture, without a single wrinkle. His most striking feature was that he was blind in one eye.
"A detailed description of the fallen man, but only a code number for the Sealed Artifact..." Klein honestly voiced his first impression.
"That's why it has the highest level of confidentiality. Instructions for the search for Sealed Artifact 0-08 are all conveyed orally, never in writing, and include only a little information about it." Dunn sighed. "0-08 looks like an ordinary quill, but it can write without ink. That's all."
Dunn said no more on the subject. Following the gold chain on his black trench coat, he took out an ornate pocket watch of the same color, clicked it open, glanced at it, and pointed outside.
"I've told you everything I should. Go to the armory and find Old Neil. Have him arrange the specific documents for you to read. He isn't an ordinary clerk. He used to be a full member, but he's grown old without advancing, and his health is poor. He's no longer suited to handling cases, and he isn't willing to become an internal 'Keeper' or simply rest at home. He only wants the company of documents and books."
P.S. Second update. Please vote with your recommendation tickets.