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Sitting at the head and foot of the long, mottled bronze table, Kiyotaka and Klein rubbed their heads in tandem.
A few moments of silence later, Klein lifted his head, only to see Kiyotaka's eyes piercing into him. Despite his features being muddled, Klein could tell that there was definitely a look of curiosity in them.
"So, what was it that you wished to talk about? Given you only wanted to talk in this place, it has to be something very important... Or of dire nature."
Klein rapped the edge of the table and sighed. "The woman from before... Her name is Trissy. I do not know much about her background, but she was involved with Demoness Sect's schemes in the small town called Tingen. I believe you understand where I am going with this."
'Tingen? The Marauder Pathway Swindler — Lanevus was from there as well. After we locked on to him in Backlund and decided to hunt him down, it was revealed that he had a remnant imprint or a seed of True Creator in him, allowing his descent.
The Demoness Sect was involved in it... Then it means they are in cohort with True Creator — and in extension, with Aurora Order. Which means that they too, want the descent of True Creator.
But why? True, both of the organisations are evil, but the Demoness Sect worships the Primordial Demoness. It could be possible that the descent of True Creator is somewhat involved with Primordial Demoness' own plans.
What could it be? Reclaiming lost strength? Descend herself?
Regardless, this has become a lot more messy. The Aurora Order wishes to involve the Zmanger Gang with them, which at first feels natural since the gang has become a dominant underground force in the past two months.
That said, if it were to be involved with Aurora Order, involvement with Demoness Sect is inevitable as well. And Trissy wished to come into contact with one of us... Hmm, it makes sense to come into contact with me now, but why Sherlock?
Is he originally from Tingen? He implied that he's not by saying "a small town called Tingen" but it was a very quaint misdirection. What could be the reason for hiding that he's originally from Tingen?
How interesting.'
"I understand." Kiyotaka's voice was low.
"She or he, whatever, is tied to the tragedy of Tingen. I am unsure of the exact specifics, but by colluding with Aurora Order, they are definitely planning another descent for True Creator. I mean, look at East Borough, it's teeming with negativity and suffering.
Well, whatever it is, her coming to meet either you or me is not a good sign. Goddess knows how she came into contact with the Prince... But we really need to do something about her before it is too late."
Kiyotaka was about to say something, however, he felt a ragged breath escape Klein's mouth.
"There is also something else... Other than the incident of True Creator's potential descent, there was something else that occurred as well. The information is highly classified, and I was only able to know it through a connection." Klein began talking as Kiyotaka shifted in his seat.
It was not out of nervousness but there was a certain realisation that was dawning on him. Of course, it was not a "realisation" in the strictest sense of the word and more like a hypothesis, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
"There was once a traitor of the church. He is in possession of a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact. In simpler terms, it corresponds to powers of a Pathway above that of a Demigod. It's able to write coincidences into reality and make them make sense." Klein rapped the edge of the table once.
A sudden swell of emotions made his heart ache as he remembered all of the faces of his friends and all of the lives Ince Zangwill had ruined. Biting back the bitter feeling felt like biting his own tongue, but keeping his anger at bay, he continued narrating in the same detached manner as before.
"That is all I know about the Sealed Artifact alongside it's name... The Quill of Alzuhod. Using the fray, that person was able to complete his own advancement ritual."
'He did not mention which Church, nor did he say his name. It's on purpose... Because he doesn't want certain connections to be made. But he is not subtle about it either, which means that he's not too reluctant to let me know about it.
How quaint... But it explains how I lost my footing and the piece of paper burned.
That said, Alzuhod? That name was mentioned in one of the Roselle Diaries. I should probably make an effort in collecting diary entries myself. Relying purely on Tarot Club is the most convenient thing in the world.
A lot of things in my life make sense with this revelation as well... But why does this person, who is at most a Demigod, want me to ascend quicker? It was not Law of Beyonder Characteristics Convergence that led me to the Black Emperor Card of Blasphemy — I just happened to be in a mood for it.
Which means that I was led there... But that much I had already deduced earlier. But if Churches were unable to find about it, despite being in possession of it, then how did a mere traitorous Demigod know about it?
Why is he helping me? What's the motive? Is it to groom me into a High Sequence Beyonder and then take my Beyonder Characteristics since he himself is too much in the limelight and hence can't openly progress?'
"What Pathway is the traitor from?"
Klein looked at him and frowned. "He was originally from the Corpse Collector Pathway. However, later on, he switched to Evernight Pathway."
'So a Church of Evernight Goddess traitor. Hmm... So grooming me into a Beyonder Characteristic for his own benefit is not the case since as far as I know, Black Emperor Pathway does neighbour those two.
This is... exciting. How long has it been since I felt such a challenge? Having such a thrill in life, it's what I have been searching for.
"I see. Well, if you require my help, I will help you out."
"Alright. Ah!" As if remembering something, Klein called out. "Don't you have a party to be at?"
"I do. I had made the preparations beforehand. The wardrobe in your room has a suit. It should more or less fit you." Kiyotaka's mind was occupied with a lot of questions and formulating answers to those questions. "As for you, you did mention during dinner that you were going to change your disguise."
"I did make preparations. I am planning on going to the sea for my Sequence 5 Ritual and to digest my Sequence 6 Potion. I already have the documents ready. But since an opportunity presented itself, I will happily take it, if its going to help me digest my potion." Klein explained.
"Alright. We should get ready and leave soon."
"Okay."
Klein cancelled Kiyotaka's summoning and sent him back. However, he stayed back for a little time, as if trying to organise his thoughts. Then, he took out a piece of paper and a pendulum before writing something on it.
As he did, he raised his hand and the pendulum dropped with a dramatic motion before stopping barely above the text.
Klein closed his eyes and his lips moved in a barely discernable manner.
*****
After their discussion was done, Kiyotaka and Klein both changed into their respective attires.
Currently, they were in Kiyotaka's room.
Klein had changed his appearance. He had a thin and angular face with sharp features, sharp nose and hunter eyes. He looked particularly handsome. His black hair was slicked back and his hazel eyes looked dangerously enchanting.
Other than that he had added a few centimeters to his height, making look about as tall as Kiyotaka.
"Alright, guess what I named myself. I will give you a hint, since I am going to the sea, it has something to do with it and then something related to hunting as well."
Kiyotaka, who was tying his bow-tie, spared a glance at him and then looked back at himself in the mirror. "Uhh– Poseidon?"
Klein blinked in an incredulous manner ."...No."
"I see."
"Don't "I See" me. Take another guess."
"Neptune."
"What the fuck? No?!"
"Ahab?"
"...That's closer in spirit, but still no. Also, what the hell are these names? Did you live under a rock? I mean, I know you did, but this is just ridiculous. Ok, one last hint, souls games."
Kiyotaka picked up a comb and parted his hair. "Dark fantasy?"
Klein stared at him. "...It's a video game."
"I never played video games."
"Right... I was wrong, You didn't live under a rock. You lived even below the bottom of the well. How do you not know about that? Your country literally made the genre!"
"We... Never really had access to those things, growing up."
"Oh... Uhh, sorry... I didn't mean it in that way."
"I understand."
Klein let out a slow breath before trying again. "Have you heard of Bloodborne? Like at all?"
"No."
"Dark Souls?"
"I've heard the title."
Klein's eyes lit up. "Finally! Then you should know Gehrman."
"I assumed it was a religious novel."
"What...? So you don't know what that is. Sigh... Elden Ring?"
"No."
"Demon's Souls?"
"No."
Klein suddenly fell into despair. Fighting back the urge to cry out of pity, he asked once more. "Any FromSoftware game?"
"I don't know what FromSoftware is."
The room suddenly fell silent. Klein looked at Kiyotaka as though he had just discovered a new species as he palmed his face. "I am going to cry."
"The tissues are by the bedside."
"I did not mean that literally, geez ...Alright, anyways, fine. Forget the games and forget the first name. Try to guess my surname, it's much easier and not related to games."
"What is it?"
"Bro..." Klein could not believe it was the same man who had caused a Sequence 6 Devil and Sequence 5 Desire Apostle to die without even participating. "Sigh... Anyways, it's Gehrman Sparrow. You should at least know where it's from."
Kiyotaka considered it. "Of course, I do. There are two sitting at the balustrade of the balcony at the moment."
Klein looked outside the window and saw two... sparrows sitting there.
"Not the bird."
"A sailor? Since you said it's connected to the seas, and your first name isn't connected to it."
"Now you're close."
"...A pirate?"
"YES!" Klein exclaimed and picked up a glass of water to moisten his parched throat. "Now we're getting somewhere!"
Kiyotaka nodded. "Long John Sparrow?"
Klein nearly choked. "No! Who the hell is that?!"
"A fictional pirate from Treasure Island."
"Oh... Well no, but you are very close."
Kiyotaka thought for a few more moments before eventually shaking his head. "I don't know."
Klein sighed dramatically. "Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean."
"...I've heard of Pirates of the Caribbean."
Klein looked a little hopeful. "You've watched it?"
"No."
"...Read it?"
"I wasn't aware it was a book." Kiyotaka tilted his head and gave his hair one last shake to give it that parted look which made his face look handsome, but at the same time gave him a rough look as well.
"It isn't. ...Did you play the game?... Wait, don't answer, you didn't know it was a game, right? You just heard about it, happened to hear about it, right?"
"Uh, yes."
Klein stared at him in complete disbelief. "You don't know Jack Sparrow... You don't know Gehrman... You've never played a Souls game... ...And you've never watched Pirates of the Caribbean... You're unreal. I never knew people like you existed! Well, I mean, sure there are people who don't know any of that, but you are certainly from a well off family, given how learned you are about many things which even fairly educated people are not. So it's just... Baffling."
"I can understand your confusion." Kiyotaka turned around and picked his coat up before wearing it. "That said, I do think 'Gehrman Sparrow' is a good name."
"...I'll take the compliment."
With that little segment of banter between them reaching its conclusion, Klein chuckled at the absurdity of Kiyotaka's ignorance and wore his own coat.
However, at the same time, he gave Kiyotaka something.
It was a small boat made out of a simple piece of paper. There was no mystical effects hidden in it. Kiyotaka looked at it and narrowed his eyes.
'He has Flame Controlling. So is this going to be some kind of alarm?'
As Klein did not explain why he was giving him this, Kiyotaka first opened the boat and flattened it out into a full sheet, and then folded it back into a boat before pushing it down his coat pockets.
As he did, Freya entered Kiyotaka's room with a leather bag.
Inside the bag were various vials that were wrapped in thin leathery pockets, avoiding them from colliding with each other and cracking. As she entered, the happy smile on her face instantly vanished.
Right beside Kiyotaka was a handsome but dangerous looking man who wore his gold trimmed glasses as soon as she entered. As soon as she saw him staring at her, she felt a shiver down her spine.
After all, it felt like she was in front of a hunter.
Bringing her out of her stupor was Kiyotaka. "Are they ready?"
Peeling her eyes away from him, she looked up at Kiyotaka and nodded her head furiously. "Yes, Sir. They are all ready. I tested... One of them. It's really effective." She explained energetically.
"Alright. Any other thing which I should know about them?"
Freya's eyes and her fingers twitched. "This has to be taken when a person is really exhausted. Otherwise it can really... Overstimulate a person."
Kiyotaka's eyes travelled from her face to her body and then to her arms before going back to her face. 'What a strange effect.'
"Ok." He then turned towards Gehrman who suddenly seemed to have filled the suit and had gained some muscle mass, appearing much broader than Kiyotaka who had a toned body but was mostly lean. "We will be taking our leave. Bring Daisy back from her school and lock the house until I come back."
Freya's lips pursed. It was quite obvious that she wished to say something, however, she rubbed her right fist into her clammy left palm and nodded obediently. "As you wish, Sir."
Kiyotaka looked back at Klein who was now disguised as Gehrman Sparrow. Taking this as confirmation to leave, the crazy but handsome looking man took his leave as Kiyotaka began to do the same.
However, just as he was about to leave, he turned around, standing just a step away from Freya. He reached into his pocket and took out an unassuming ring out of his pocket.
"Your hand."
Freya frowned and then froze. She looked down at the ring in his hand and then up at his face.
It was as impassive as ever, but she had gotten used to it. However, her mind seemed to have started spiraling.
A little taken off-guard, she bit her lip and extended her hand delicately forward while her face flushed red.
Kiyotaka looked at the downturned hand and held it before forcing her palm up. Leaving the ring in her palm, Kiyotaka took a step back.
"It will enhance your physical abilities and acrobatics to an extent. Practice with it inside your room, without breaking anything. Do not wear it for longer than five minutes at a time. Understand?"
Freya, who was still frozen in place, nodded her head as if her neck has rust in it. Getting the confirmation, Kiyotaka picked his cane and hat before leaving.
He wished to arrive at Macht's Residence right on time.
After all, this was going to be his first ever interaction with a lot of important people. And with that, he was going to gain a lot of opportunities to digest his Briber potion.
Meanwhile, in his room, Freya clutched Guile in her palm and formed an expression that seemed to be a mix of an embarrassed and an exasperated one as she palmed her face.
'Stupid... I am so stupid...!'