AIjh

Chapter 24: g



The eyes shone darkly on the back of the elderly man who was at the end of the corridor, moving at the same moment as if he was sinking into distorted space and disappeared entirely from Klein's vision.

 

 Klein was stunned and couldn't help but ask in a daze:

 

— What were those eyes on your back?

 

Neil seemed to stop for a moment, as if he had frozen, and then gave an awkward smile. 

 

— It's just the result of ritualistic magic, it's nothing big. Well, as expected of a Seer, you could tell right away. — he said. His reddish-white eyes were cloudy, but they had a solemn air. 

 

Stirring the tea he was holding with a spoon, he laughed. 

 

— Since they gave you a little insight into the Beyonder world, I just have to explain a few things. Just be careful not to get lost in the corridors. 

 

I'd rather not court death and keep walking around this place. — Klein replied mentally.

 

Neil entered a door full of mysterious symbols carved on it, leaving Klein confused, but he just followed him. From what Dunn Smith had said, it was two hallways away, not just one.

 

— Mr. Dunn got confused? — he muttered as he looked around.

 

There were a few bookshelves with various yellowed papers and thick hardback books. A small table sat in the corner with documents full of words in other languages.

 

The candlelight illuminated everything with a yellowish glow.

 

— Hehe. Dunn tends to forget a lot and that means he's our usual captain. If he started remembering everything, it would be a problem. — Neil spoke in a relaxed tone, placing the cup on the table.

 

A problem? — Klein thought internally. It was probably related to madness, however he could be wrong.

 

— Why? — he decided to ask.

 

Old Neil explained skillfully:

 

— Dunn's path is that of the Sleepless. In Nightmare Sequence 7, they enter dreams, but they confuse dreams with reality and forgetfulness is normal, this is because they still remember that dreams are not real. But when this line between thoughts breaks, they are no longer the same people.

 

It's a form of loss of control. Fortunately, the captain is still forgetful... — Klein thought silently in his heart.

 

He even thought that Dunn Smith had some kind of illness or something, but there was really nothing to worry about.

 

 After that, Neil ended up explaining about the Sealed Artifacts and their different degrees of danger. It was from three to zero, with the last one being the most dangerous, and they should not be investigated, disseminated, described or spied on.

 

A Sealed Artifact of degree one must be kept sealed, being a latent danger to anyone who approaches it.

 

Degree two was a more reasonable danger, as was degree three.

 

Klein remembered the strange watch that the man from the Secret Order was carrying with him.

 

What degree was that Artifact?

 

— They are kept behind the Gates of Chanis. — old Neil finished his explanation.

 

— Chanis Gate? — Klein narrowed his eyes.

 

Neil laughed.

 

After that, he picked up one of the papers that was on the table. It was a document that seemed to have some names of organizations.

 

— Chanis Gate was named by the Archbishop who set up the current church system. — The gate has the necessary seals so that no Sealed Artifact can escape or exert its influence on us. — he handed the papers to Klein and continued simply — You are involved in a lot of trouble so you need to learn about the different organizations for now. Just read this and you can go home. I'm sure you're dying of sleep after all that mess, after all, we are not Sleepless.

 

It was a multi-page document specifically about underground and secret organizations in the Beyonder world. It was actually quite impressive that there were so many.

 

Could I find more information about those nameless organizations? — Klein thought as he glanced at the first page.

 

There was a lot of information about organizations that had their origins in the Fourth Epoch.

 

"The Order of the Silver Court. Its origins were in an unknown era, speculated to be the Fourth Epoch. Its members believe in an eternal and absolute Lord among all things that exist."

 

"There are some connections to ancient aristocracy."

 

"Pathway of the Bard, the Spectator, and the Warrior."

 

The Demon Sect that was vaguely mentioned and possessed the pathway of the Assassin.

 

The Blood Sanctify Sect that were followers of the Devil.

 

 Moses Ascetic Order who follow a deity they call the Hidden Sage, but there wasn't much about it.

 

"Order Blood of Redemption. An organization that appeared during the Fourth Epoch, however the approximate date of its foundation is unknown. Its members believe in an Evil Deity. For them, He is indecipherable. What is known is that for the members, madness is just an event, but not the definitive end. They don't usually act very often."

 

"I suspect they are connected to some fallen families from past times."

 

What a strange organization, as bizarre as the others... — Klein was confused and just read the rest of the information about the organization.

 

In Order Of Blood Redemption, there are Beyonders of the Pathway of the Hunter, the Apprentice and the Assassin. Others may be of other paths such as some who were Marauders and Prisoners. 

 

— Mr. Neil. Why isn't there much information about the Order Blood of Redemption? — Klein asked, looking up from the documents.

 

Old Neil sighed.

 

— I don't know much about them, they're weird. Sometimes scholars of this organization show up, and other times a lunatic. I've had to deal with one of them before, she was a Beyonder in Sequence 7 or 6, she disappeared under everyone's noses after setting a trap for us on our own plane for some reason we never discovered. I'd rather not have to deal with them, they're very bizarre like many members of secret organizations.

 

— She ended up saying something about the deity she believes in. But Sekka, who heard everything, doesn't remember anything, not even about the case itself. None of us saw or could see her face.

 

Don't you remember? — Klein frowned slightly.

 

—They're lunatic devotees of the deity they believe in. From what I've heard, 'He was born from a part of the Creator of all that exists, in the chaos of endless darkness, He rose above the heavens.' Even though they're crazy, they don't go around saying anything like the Aurora Order, so there's not much information. — Old Neil spoke in a deep tone.

 

That doesn't make much sense... — Klein thought before focusing his attention on the paper in his hands.

 

"Knowledge Pursuers. They appeared in the Fourth Epoch. They believe that knowledge and history are completely indecipherable, and therefore, madness is just one result among many. They also use different means to conduct studies, such as astrology, archaeology, machinery, and other means mainly from the mysterious world."

 

"They once had ties with the Moses Ascetic Order and the Church of Knowledge and Wisdom, however the connection was severed when the Hidden Sage began to be worshipped among the researchers of the Moses Ascetic Order. The organization's current main connection is with the Life School of Thougth."

 

Below, the paths of the Reader, the Savant, and the Mystery Pryer appeared.

 

The next few pages talked about the Secret Order, mainly about its origins, which could be linked to the Zaratul family. The order had several connections to ancient families.

 

There was also the name of Sequence 8 of the Seer Pathway, Clown!

 

Clown? Uh... Cunning and agile... What would a Clown be? Is the Seer Pathway a circus performance? — Klein satirized as he moved on to the next words.

 

It talked about Sequence 7.

 

In Sequence 7 are natural-born deceivers... Cunning and strange with mysterious powers... That's what this pathway must look like! — He finally felt that something made sense and continued reading.

 

"Order of Mysteries. The true name of the organization is not known, so another one was given by the official organizations. Their purposes are unknown, as are their principles or what they believe in."

 

 "Some sources point to a connection with an ancient Dynasty and its origin is connected to an important aristocratic family of the Fourth Epoch, among several others."

 

— Mr. Neil, which dynasty is the Order of Mysteries linked to? — Klein asked, even though he thought he might not receive an actual answer, it could be confidential.

 

— From what Dunn said, the Tudor Dynasty. — Neil replied, equally curious.

 

In the lines below appeared Sequence 9 Apprentice, Sequence 8 Trickmaster. Sequence 9 Seer and Sequence 8 Clown.

 

There is not much information here... Which important family could it be? From what you say, it is probably one of the Tudor Empire... But they did not even mention the name...

 

Maybe I could ask at the Tarot Club.

 

No, like the imposing Fool, that would ruin my performance!

 

Well, maybe there is a different way to ask about different subjects. I can ask in a way that doesn't ruin my mysterious image, but in the future it wouldn't be possible… Maybe I can create some kind of puppet? I'll have to climb above the mist to test that… — Klein turned back to Neil who was silently drinking tea and remembered that he hadn't asked him one of his biggest questions.

 

— What is the pay that an official Nighthawk gets?

 

Old Neil choked.

 

Coughing a little, his surprised gaze fell on Klein and explained:

 

— It depends, Nighthawks who start now get six pounds and sometimes, you can get more for certain cases you're involved in. As time goes by, your salary will increase, don't worry.

 

Old Neil turned to the table excitedly and showed Klein some more papers and handed them to him.

 

 — We really needed a history student, do you know what these papers are? Direct copies of Emperor Roselle's diary, codes he created long ago, but no one has ever been able to translate a single word.

 

Klein finally turned his attention to the other papers with familiarity in his eyes, his eyes widening at the same time.

 

Those calligraphy written in a way that no one in that world could tell, even though they were written in an almost indistinguishable and grotesque way.

 

That was simplified Chinese!

 

Damn!

 

"December 18th. I looked up at the sky, remembering that pathetic guy who was trapped in the darkness and yet magically disappeared from the eyes of the world. I suspect he is a little crazy, is he really? Or maybe not... Could that lunatic be lying? It wouldn't be a surprise."

 

"December 19th. Why are my diplomats so dumb?"

 

"December 21st. Miss Florence is truly mesmerizing, but today I saw an even more stunning lady, Miss Ithac."

 

"September 2nd. I lost communication with my ship that was searching for the Forsaken Land of the Gods. Maybe I should send a search ship or invent wireless telegraphs."

 

"September 9th, An alliance opposing me has been established. Feysac from the North, Loen from the East, Feynapotter from the South. The long-awaited day has finally arrived, my enemies are joining forces. Hehe, maybe they've forgotten who I am. As if steam weapons will make up for the outnumbered low-sequence ones! And the high-sequence ones… Haha, it's not like I can't handle them, I'm Roselle!"

 

"January 4th. Why are people so stupid? I've tried to explain a million times! The most important thing about potions is not controlling them, but digesting them! It's not about using powers, but about acting! And the name of a potion is not only symbolic in its essence, but a concrete image and the 'key' to digestion!"

 

"February 1st. Even with Zaratul's warnings about these Pathways, I regret that when I was inexperienced, it was a mistake not to have chosen the Marauder, the Apprentice, or the Seer."

 

"December 10th."

 

"That despicable madman! He must be right..."

 

"Haha, all my thoughts were wrong this whole time, I was a fool to have considered that ridiculous possibility!"

 

"I should have realized it before! It was before my eyes!"

 

"Hahaha, the Abrahams lied!"


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.