"So, what's this book about?" Will, the only outsider, asked with a puzzled tone.
"Hmm, a book about societal structures?" Alaric replied with a smile, glancing at Will. "If you're curious, you should check it out later. It's quite interesting."
…
Though engrossed in reading Treatise on Wealth, life went on. Klein continued his detective work, taking on cases to earn a living.
One such case came from a detective friend: a missing person inquiry.
"Is Emlyn White still alive…?" Klein mused, lounging on the sofa as he flipped through the dossier his friend had sent. He pulled a gold coin from his pocket and tossed it into the air.
It landed heads-up, confirming Emlyn White was indeed alive... just whereabouts unknown.
"Emlyn White?"
As Klein pondered how to track him down, Alaric, disguised as Jack, sat beside him with a coffee. He glanced at the dossier, noting the name and photo, and smiled. "You're looking for him?"
"You know him?" Klein asked, suddenly remembering Jack's extensive network in Backlund.
"I know of him, but he doesn't know me." Alaric said, shaking his head, then nodding with a grin. "Emlyn White's a Sanguine, quite well-known in their circles. He's a shut-in obsessed with dolls, even bankrupted himself over them. From what I know, he's not a bad guy... just sneaks into hospitals to swipe blood bags now and then."
Klein nodded, his expression odd. "I see. That would make him stand out."
In this era, an obsession with dolls was niche, and a Sanguine going broke over it was bound to draw attention.
"What's up with him?" Alaric asked, feigning ignorance.
"He's missing. Been gone for a while." Klein said, briefly explaining that Emlyn's parents had hired a detective to find him.
"Missing, huh…" Alaric stroked his chin, pretending to think. After a few seconds, he said, "Given Emlyn's personality, he's not the type to stir up trouble. And since you divined he's alive, he's likely being held somewhere. Could the official Beyonders have nabbed him?"
"It's possible." Klein agreed, his expression tinged with helplessness and sympathy.
Wild Beyonders in this era didn't fare well if caught by officials. Even without committing crimes, they could end up as test subjects for Sealed Artifacts.
It wasn't entirely unjustified... wild Beyonders were like walking time bombs, liable to go off at any moment, so the authorities tended to be harsh.
"Don't be too pessimistic." Alaric said, stroking his chin. "If Emlyn fell into the hands of the Church of the Evernight, Steam, or Storm, he'd be in trouble. But Backlund's got more than just those three. If I'm not mistaken, there's a small Harvest Church tied to the Earth Mother. If they've got him, it might actually be a good thing."
"Why's that?" Klein asked, clearly confused.
"The Church of the Earth Mother has a long tradition of taming and recruiting Sanguines." Alaric explained simply, then grinned. "Want to find out if that's the case? Let's visit the Harvest Church." His expression was eager.
He'd long wanted to meet Lilith. As a healer, she had abilities Alaric lacked.
Plus…
"Having Planters and Apothecaries fight and kill is such a waste. One's clearly destined for agriculture, the other for medical breakthroughs." Alaric muttered to himself.
If he had to pick a pathway's abilities for himself, he'd choose the Door pathway. But for societal progress, he'd pick the Earth and Moon pathways without hesitation.
After all, food is the foundation of society. If Earth pathway Beyonders could develop high-yield crops to solve world hunger, that would truly benefit countless people.
It wasn't impossible... Frank, in the original story, created mushrooms that grew in darkness, solving City of Silver's food issues. That proved mystical abilities could enhance agriculture.
The Moon pathway, meanwhile, was the quintessential healer. Emlyn White alone could concoct potions to ease illness. If the entire pathway pooled their efforts, who's to say they couldn't develop cures for terminal diseases?
Rapid medical advancements would be a boon for humanity, maybe even leading to genetic potions and a path to biological ascension!
"With no petroleum in this world, the standard tech tree is broken in the middle. We've got to try alternate routes." Alaric thought, his mind drifting to the upcoming Roselle Memorial Exhibition and the God of Steam and Machinery.
"Of course, a mystical tech route is worth exploring too. Beyonder characteristics are limited, but Sealed Artifacts don't always need them... just spiritual materials will do, even if they have a shelf life. But mass production's the real challenge…"
Alaric pondered for a few seconds, deciding to leave such problems to experts like Roselle.
"And scientific progress needs a bit of luck." He thought, glancing at Will, who was teaching Lil' Amon vocabulary nearby, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Honestly, Alaric felt this world wasted its Beyonder abilities. Everyone was focused on fighting, even pathways like Savant, meant for advancing technology, seemed doomed to combat.
But in truth, Savants could push technological progress, Seers were ideal educators, Planters were agricultural masters, Apothecaries could revolutionize medicine, Apprentices could solve transportation issues, and Monsters' luck was a research boon. Even Storm's old pigeons could regulate weather and mitigate natural disasters.
"Yet everyone's just fighting. What a waste. I can't stand it!" Alaric sighed, muttering, "This world needs a revolution!"
***
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