"Huh? So Charlie didn't actually pray to Guardian Saint Vives... but to a prostitute named Susanna?"
Adam let out a quiet sigh and lowered his gaze to the bowl of meat broth before him, eating at an unhurried pace while reflecting on everything he had encountered throughout the day. Only after finishing the last of his own meal did Adrian finally break the silence.
"Susanna Matisse was once a regular guest at Trier's high society banquets and was frequently involved in scandals with members of parliament, high-ranking officials, and the wealthy. It was rumoured that she earned an astonishing income every year, but she vanished from the public eye two or three years ago. No one knows what became of her. Some believe her dangerous associations eventually caught up with her, while others think she simply abandoned that life in search of somewhere peaceful to begin again."
Adam frowned thoughtfully. "If she associated with members of parliament and influential figures, she must have been quite well known. Then how did Charlie mistake the woman in the painting for Guardian Saint Vives?"
Adrian smiled faintly. "That's the problem with you Spectators. You analyse every thought and emotion before reaching a conclusion, when sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one. Charlie was merely an unfortunate fellow who made a mistake."
Although Adrian's words left Adam feeling slightly insulted, he calmly replied, "Perhaps he did make a mistake, but that isn't what truly matters. What matters is that Charlie believes it was divine intervention that changed his fate. Isn't that what everyone longs for? When people reach the end of their rope, don't they all pray for a little fortune or divine favour to change their lives?"
Adrian fell silent. Seeing no response, Adam continued, "Have you never found yourself in a situation where everything seemed lost?"
Adrian paused, his gaze drifting into the distance as though recalling a painful memory before quietly sighing. "...I have."
The nostalgic expression quickly disappeared as he turned back to Adam.
"You know, I intentionally tested you just now, and I have to admit... I'm surprised."
Adam smiled faintly. "What have you realized?"
Adrian folded his arms. "While you were observing Charlie and the woman, I wasn't watching them. I was watching you because I wanted to determine which pathway you belonged to."
Adam remained silent, listening carefully.
Raising a finger, Adrian continued, "First, when you observed them, you became distant and detached, as though their situation had nothing to do with you. You simply watched. That's the acting principle of a Spectator: observe, but never become attached."
He raised a second finger.
"Second, when I dismissed Charlie as nothing more than an unfortunate man clinging to false hope, you immediately objected. You weren't defending Charlie. You were defending hope itself. A Bard naturally inspires courage, hope, and faith. Your response reflected those qualities."
Adrian paused before raising a third finger.
"And lastly, the way you organised your thoughts frightened me the most. You separated assumptions from facts and analysed everything logically without ignoring the emotions driving people's actions. A Spectator observes emotions while remaining detached. A Reader interprets knowledge, logic, and human nature. Yet you somehow accomplished both."
Adrian looked directly into Adam's eyes.
"My conclusion is simple. You're not merely a Beyonder of the Spectator and Bard pathway. You're also a Beyonder of the Reader pathway."
Leaning back slightly, he added, "The reason I wanted to confirm this is because Spectators and Readers possess remarkably similar analytical abilities. To most people, they're almost impossible to distinguish. But after observing you, I finally understood the difference."
As Adam gradually understood Adrian's conclusion, anxiety quietly crept into his heart.
He had already displayed characteristics of three neighbouring pathways, something that had never been documented. Even dual-pathway Beyonders were extraordinarily rare, let alone someone exhibiting traits from three.
For the first time, Adam couldn't help but feel like an outsider among Beyonders.
In truth, Adam had realised that Adrian was testing him from the moment the conversation changed direction. Adrian wanted to determine whether he also belonged to the Reader pathway, and although his method had been rather blunt, Adam chose to play along.
He also believed Charlie had mistaken the identity of the woman in the painting. However, instead of focusing on the mistake itself, he had considered the outcome.
Whether Charlie had prayed to the wrong person was no longer important. His faith had changed his life, and that alone was enough to refute Adrian's argument.
Now that Adrian had explained his reasoning, even Adam found himself agreeing. It was, after all, the most logical conclusion.
Compared to Adrian, Adam knew very little about the Beyonder pathways, and Adrian's understanding far surpassed his own. This only made Adam ponder his unusual condition more deeply as he hastened to finish his meal.
After settling the bill for both of them, the pair left the basement of Auberge du Coq Doré and entered Le Marché du Quartier du Gentleman, situated along the southern bank of the Srenzo River in the southeastern corner of Trier, officially designated Quartier 13.
Although Trier's districts were numbered, almost every one possessed a historical nickname that citizens preferred over its official designation, to the point that even government officials frequently used the colloquial names.
Quartier du Gentleman derived its name from the bustling Gentleman Market, while its proximity to the Srenzo River allowed the construction of a Suhit steam locomotive station serving travellers from southern Intis. Surrounded by the marketplace and railway station, the neighbouring streets had gradually become overcrowded with labourers, drifters, and the poor, making it one of Trier's largest slums.
Directly north of the market district lay Quartier 5, the Quartier de la Cathédrale Commémorative, more commonly known as Quartier Universitaire, where Trier Normal College, Trier Higher Mining College, and the Intis Academy of Fine Arts were located. To the northeast, across the northern bank of the Srenzo River, stood Quartier 12, the Noël Quartier, home to the Veterans' Home, Wounded Soldiers' Hospital, and several large medical institutions. Northwest of the market district was Quartier 6, Quartier de l'Observatoire, where the primary entrance to Trier's vast catacombs could be found, while Quartier 14, Quartier du Jardin Botanique, lay to the southwest and contained the Mason Café as well as the massive factories that had earned it the additional nickname Quartier du Sans-Culottes.
With the map he had purchased from the bookstore in hand, Adam occasionally unfolded it while walking, comparing the streets around him with the landmarks marked upon it.
Not far away, an elderly couple stood beside the roadside, quietly approaching groups of travellers while discreetly offering paper-wrapped parcels. Both appeared to be in their sixties. The old man was barely one metre and sixty-five centimetres tall, while the woman was even shorter, and their dark jackets and yellowish cloth dresses were tattered and stained with oil.
Curiosity stirred within Adam, prompting him to change direction.
Behind him, Adrian rubbed his aching legs and muttered, "...What does he want to buy this time? My feet are beginning to protest."
A grey-haired old man hurried over with surprising agility and lowered his voice.
"Good day, sir. My name is Ruhr. Would you be interested in photographs of a maîtresse d'atelier?"
"A maîtresse d'atelier?" Adam repeated, unable to conceal his confusion. "What's that?"
Although the pungent smell clinging to Ruhr's clothes made him instinctively uncomfortable, Adam showed no trace of disgust. After everything he had witnessed in Quartier du Gentleman, he understood that merely surviving into old age here was already no easy feat.
Ruhr smiled knowingly as he shook the paper bag in his hand. "In Trier, beautiful young women who pose for painters are called maîtresses d'atelier. After cameras and photographers became popular, they also began posing for photographs. Some are sold to artists as painting references..."
He paused before flashing a sly grin.
"...while others are collected for rather different reasons."
Adam narrowed his eyes.
Two elderly civilians living in one of Trier's poorest districts were unlikely to possess connections to photographers or art studios. Even if they really had such photographs, obtaining them in large quantities would hardly be easy.
Most likely, they were ordinary pictures being advertised with suggestive words to attract curious customers.
His gaze lingered on the worn paper bag before shifting towards Adrian.
Adrian had a knowing smile on his face, but there was something deeper hidden within his eyes. He clearly knew more about such matters than he was letting on.
Adam remained silent and turned his attention towards the surrounding street.
Countless workers, clerks, and laborers hurried past in grey, blue, black, and brown clothing, occasionally stopping to purchase inexpensive food from street vendors, while women carrying wooden baskets moved more leisurely between stalls, comparing prices and inspecting the quality of the goods.
Everyone seemed to have their own method of earning money.
Adam with a slight smile spoke
Hello yes I would like to buy a few of the photos How much per bag.
Adam also wanted to ask why they were still working at this age but it felt too invasive.
Four licks per bag, with two photos inside!
Others sell them for over 10 licks! Ruhr replied a sly grin and brought out the paper bag in his hand again.
He watched them for a moment before asking, "At your age, why are you still working?"
The question clearly caught Ruhr off guard.
He and his wife exchanged a glance before falling silent.
They were hesitant to share their private lives with a stranger, but Adam's eyes were clear and innocent, showing no trace of ill intent. Eventually, Michael took a breath and spoke.
"It's actually because of our age. We've had to work more because of it. We came to Trier when we were young and took whatever occupations we could find, but the wages were never enough to cover our daily expenses. As our health and strength gradually declined, we began to fear what would happen to us in the future. We don't know what fate has prepared for us."
As Michael spoke, her eyes gradually became watery. Ruhr immediately moved closer and gently comforted his wife.
Adam was moved by their story and asked in a softer voice, "Isn't there some kind of charity or organization that supports the elderly?"
He deliberately avoided asking whether they had children that could take care of them. Given their current state, some possibilities were already obvious. Perhaps they had never had any, or perhaps their children had died before reaching adulthood.
More importantly, the question was partly directed at Adrian. As an official member of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, he should at least know something about such matters.
Feeling reassured by Adam's kindness, Ruhr nodded. "We've heard of something called the Aging Society somewhere in Trier, but we know very little about it or which district it's located in, and we're not sure whether they would accept us. Organisations like that normally rely on pension insurance, which we clearly don't have."
After a moment of silence, Adrian finally spoke.
"If that's the case, just search for charitable organisations in Trier. They usually receive financial support from members of parliament and should have plans for the benefit of Trier's citizens, especially the elderly. Particularly with the election approaching."
Ruhr and Michael were momentarily stunned.
Adrian's suggestion made perfect sense, but the bluntness of his delivery left almost no room for tact.
the election was near and various candidates will definitely put thing in place that will get the attention and admiration from the citizen of trier prompting their changes of winning the election.
Adam was equally dumbfounded.
Doesn't a Reader have any method of navigating other people's emotions? without calling them out like that.
Are all Readers like this, or is it just him? even the old librarian wasn't this blunt.
He silently sighed before turning back towards the elderly couple.
"What kind of photographs are you selling?"
Ruhr hesitated before answering with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Scenic photographs of the Srenzo River, as well as pictures of Trier's castles and palaces."
Adam understood.
The elderly couple had already noticed his kindness and decided not to scam him for a few licks. Of course, that wasn't why Adam had asked so many questions. He had genuinely been affected by their situation.
"Does anyone cause trouble for you?" Adam asked, maintaining the air of a kind gentleman concerned about their circumstances.
Ruhr swallowed before shaking his head.
"The people who buy them don't dare open the packages in front of us or come back to confront us later. They feel guilty."
He gave an awkward smile.
"Besides, the police won't bother us if we're only selling landscape photographs."
Adam nodded, having grasped their situation.
"I'll take four bags, then."
Ruhr's eyes widened slightly before he hurriedly handed them over.
"Thank you, sir."
Adam paid without bargaining and accepted the paper bags. He had no particular need for scenic photographs, but buying them allowed him to help the elderly couple without simply handing them money and potentially making them feel pitied.
After taking several steps, Adam suddenly turned towards Adrian.
"Does anyone really sell photographs of street maîtresses d'atelier?"
Adrian glanced at him.
"Of course. Last month, the police arrested a group of photographers and art dealers. They claimed to have confiscated more than ten thousand photographs."
He paused, then added with an indifferent expression, "If only they had given those photographs to us. Who knows how much we could have sold them for?"
Adam stared at him for several seconds.
So that's what was going through their minds.
He finally understood the elderly couple's original intentions.
They had indeed been trying to attract customers with the implication that their photographs were something more scandalous than scenic landscapes.
Yet when they realized Adam genuinely wanted to help them, they had chosen not to deceive him.
The two groups soon parted ways and continued along their respective paths through the crowded streets of Trier.