Chapter 163: The Terrified, Confused, and Weak Ms. Salted Fish
"The Fool who doesn't belong to this era—"
"The Mysterious Ruler above the gray mist—"
"—The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
Fors, who was sitting at the table, was stunned for a moment, always feeling as if an inexplicable muttering was coming from her ears. But this muttering was not like the "full moons mutters" she had been able to hear before, which gave her a chaotic and disordered feeling of losing control; instead, it contained a considerable amount of rationality, so she subconsciously identified the content within.
What did I do?
After distinguishing the content, Fors realized this, and her gaze became visibly terrified.
She was still working hard under the moonlight (actually, she had procrastinated until the last day, and tomorrow morning was the deadline), but this forbidden knowledge had suddenly appeared in her mind without any reason.
In a place Fors couldn't see, Nimrod's entire body was hidden in the Darkness, standing in a distant tree canopy watching her, with a faint light flickering in his eyes from time to time.
He was constantly "gifting" the thoughts generated in his own mind into Fors's mind. This was an ability of a "Dream Stealer"—although a typical "Dream Stealer" at this stage did not have the ability of "reverse theft."
However, after Nimrod had completely digested the "Prometheus" potion, the abilities that had been deleted by Amon returned, and his array of Beyonder abilities could even allow him to directly impersonate Amon.
Fors suddenly stood up with a "bang," and then her expression twisted as if she had experienced great pain.
Please don't misunderstand; Nimrod hadn't passed any forbidden knowledge to Fors. It was just that Fors had stood up too quickly and hit her leg.
However, Fors didn't have time to feel the pain. With a nervous expression, she subconsciously used the Beyonder ability of an "Apprentice" to pass through the wall and cautiously looked around outside, trying to see if some Beyonder was maliciously using Beyonder abilities to attack her.
However, Fors found nothing, which made her face look even worse—if she could find the Beyonder who attacked her, she could at least find the source of the voice she had just heard, but she couldn't.
This was a big problem—did I come into contact with something today?
Could it be a sequela of the "full moons mutters"? Or has that muttering changed again? Fors thought with some anxiety in her heart, for a moment not knowing what to do.
However, the "twisted" and "blasphemous" knowledge appearing in Fors's mind continued to pop up sentence after sentence.
Nimrod stole Fors's thoughts, chuckled, and decided to help Mr. The Fool establish some [prestige], while also telling Fors a little trick for Beyonders of the mystery Pathway: "Those chosen by the gray mist may meet Mr. The Fool."
"He is the light when the apocalypse comes."
"Put on a monocle and silently recite Mr. Error's honorable name to directly ascend to King of Angels."
"In the year 1368, at the end of July, Crimson will descend from the sky."
"At the time of the full moon, the mad Mr. Door approaches the earth, bringing a curse to his own bloodline."
Fors had originally blocked her ears in frustration and began to silently recite the honorable name of the "God of Steam and Machinery," but upon hearing the last sentence, she was suddenly stunned.
Full moon? Mr. Door?
Th-this description sounds so much like the "full moons mutters" that has been torturing me—but who is Mr. Door? I've never heard of any of my ancestors being a hidden existence; I've always been an ordinary person!
It couldn't be that the stories in the novels I wrote are true, and I have the bloodline of a hidden existence?
Or is it that the Beyonder item that can take me through teleportation belongs to Mr. Door, and I have blasphemed this hidden existence?
Fors took two deep breaths. The messy sounds surfacing in her ears finally disappeared completely, but her heart was still thumping wildly.
In any case, what happened suddenly tonight was still too stimulating for Fors. She even wondered if she had come into contact with some Beyonder item she shouldn't have today, which caused her to hear the mutterings of this ancient and mysterious existence.
Fors had made up her mind; she planned to use the Beyonder gatherings she knew to find someone with Purification abilities to see if they could find the problem with her body.
Although she herself felt that carrying the burden of the full moons mutters meant she could lose control at any time, it would be too pathetic to die mysteriously because of coming into contact with some strange things like the protagonists in those weird stories.
Just then, Fors heard a thumping knock on her door. She turned her head in a reactive manner and saw her room door being pushed open, and Xio, with her hair in disarray, rushed into Fors's room with a look of terror.
"Fors, I—I made a mistake, a quite fatal mistake. I accidentally recited the honorable name of a hidden existence—"
Fors's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
It couldn't really be that I touched something I shouldn't have! Could it be that it even affected Xio—
"The honorable name you recited, it couldn't be—" Fors said tentatively with a bit of wishful thinking: "Is it—'Fool'?"
Xio's expression froze, and her eyes subconsciously widened: "Fors, don't tell me you have a problem too?"
The cold wind poured in from the open window in front of Fors's desk, making both of them feel a bit chilled for a moment. The two of them stared at each other for a long time, for a moment not knowing what to say.
In the end, it was Fors who broke the silence. She spoke with some difficulty: "It's possible that Miss Audrey and Viscount Glaint's home has something related to this evil, hidden existence called 'Fool' that we just heard. W-we might have learned the Fool's honorable name because we touched something related to the Fool—"
Xio held her forehead: "Let's remind Miss Audrey. After she knows about this, maybe, well, she can still help us. Uh, we also have to find a Sun Pathway Beyonder for Purification; we can't just sit here foolishly and wait—."
Fors nodded, expressing her agreement with Xio's idea.
The next day, after receiving the letter that the two had quite urgently handed to her through Susie, Audrey thought to herself: "Hmm, the note I tucked into the book must have been seen by Xio, but she mistook Mr. The Fool for an evil spirit—it makes sense; most normal Beyonders feel fear and panic when they see the honorable name of a hidden existence, and this won't change just because Mr. The Fool was the one who led me into the Beyonder world—"
"It seems they were quite scared—"
A little bit of guilt toward Fors and Xio rose in Audrey's heart. She sat at her desk and opened Fors's letter. After reading the letter, a hint of surprise suddenly rose in Audrey's heart: "But why did Fors say she heard Mr. The Fool's honorable name? I clearly only added that one note to their books—did another member of the Tarot Club contact her, or did Mr. The Fool choose her?"
"Well, maybe I should ask Mr. The Fool later—"
Audrey found what happened to Fors a bit difficult to understand, but just then, a strong voice came: "Audrey, it's time to set off. The King is conferring titles on the new nobles; this is something you've been looking forward to for a long time."
Audrey remembered that today was the day King George III of Loen was conferring titles on a group of new nobles. The reason she was paying attention to this was because the current identity of Mr. "Lovers," Dionysus Fried, was among them. Ever since she had subtly made her father decide to invest in the Fried Company, the development of the Fried Company had been extremely rapid.
At the Count Hall Family dinner table, Audrey often heard her father, Count Hall, praise this young man's excellent investment vision, considering him a rising star in Backlund.
"Coming, dear Count Hall~" Audrey folded the letter and put it away, then walked out of the room with a smile, temporarily putting this matter out of her mind, planning to find "Fool" later when she had the chance to ask Mr. The Fool about Fors.
In the palace, several brightly dressed people were followed by two old-guard nobles, who led each of these newly promoted nobles to the King for the conferment ceremony. Among these dozen or so people, "Dionysus Fried's" signature long red hair caught Audrey's eye immediately.
In the seats of the observing nobles, some whispering voices came from a distance: "I heard his family has some mysterious bloodline, which is why he has such strangely colored hair—"
Although the voice was very small, it was still keenly captured by Audrey's ears. Just then, Count Hall, who was sitting beside her, whispered to Audrey: "His company has even more potential than I imagined. Audrey, your vision is much better than mine was when I was a youth."
After being praised by her father, a bit of joy suddenly rose in Audrey's heart. However, after the conferment ceremony began, the King's majestic voice drew her attention back. Unlike the other nobles around her, her heart sank after seeing the King—Mr. "Lovers'" words still echoed in her ears to this day.
Did the King of the Kingdom of Loen really deliberately massacre his subjects as Mr. "Lovers" said?
Audrey carefully watched the King, not letting her expression change or exposing her own Beyonder abilities. Audrey knew that there must be many Beyonders around the King, and this matter could only be investigated by her bit by bit.
A slightly strange thought suddenly appeared in Audrey's heart—she always felt that everything she had now was built on the system of the entire kingdom. After encountering nobles with higher titles and greater power than herself, Audrey felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
After the conferment ceremony was completed, Audrey sat in the Hall Family carriage and said seriously to her father beside her: "Papa, I want to set up a foundation."
Count Hall glanced at Audrey beside him and signaled for her to continue.
Audrey summoned her courage and told her father the idea she had already drafted many times in her mind: "Papa, I've seen some news about the people of the East Borough. Once they fall ill, they immediately lose their jobs. I hope to use this foundation to help them."
"Well, not the ordinary kind of foundation. I hope to help them find jobs so they can support themselves rather than accepting relief from the foundation, but I also know that I cannot complete this work alone."
Speaking of this, Audrey took a deep breath: "I think as long as they have a certain opportunity, they can become very good employees."
"—You're right, Audrey. You're much more mature than I imagined. I only realized this when I was in my twenties." Count Hall nodded and said to his daughter in a gentle tone: "Audrey, you are truly very kind-hearted. I will find someone to discuss this matter later. However, this matter involves many things; even the Hall Family cannot help everyone. Can you understand, Audrey?"
At the end of this sentence, Count Hall slightly hinted to Audrey how much she could achieve, but even so, Audrey was very satisfied.
It seems Papa is still a bit different from other nobles; at least he is willing to help those ordinary people who have difficulty maintaining their livelihoods—a bit of relief surfaced in Audrey's heart, but her father's next sentence made her mood sink once again: "You're also nearly of age; it's time to use this matter to make your mark—well, what I thought before was to help you use a similar charitable foundation to gain some support after you come of age, but since you've already brought it up now, let's do it a bit earlier."
Count Hall seemed to fall into thought, entirely failing to notice Audrey's slightly changing expression.
As expected, is it still a calculation—the instinct of a "Telepathist" allowed Audrey to see her father's true thoughts, and her emotions were slightly fractured.
However, she quickly adjusted her mindset and looked into the distance.
The towering buildings of the Empress Borough blocked the view of the Empress Borough nobles looking toward the East Borough, but even so, she could see Backlund's gloomy sky and the iron-black smoke in the distance.
What is Mr. "Lovers" thinking, and what should I do—
A few slightly rebellious and bold thoughts rose in Audrey's heart:
Perhaps I should also become independent from my father and do some things.
I might not have a way to affect my own country like those great nobles, but compared to others, I am very talented in the Beyonder world—
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#164Chapter 164 Exchange
Chapter 164: Exchange
"Just leave it here."
Inside a building in Backlund, a butler directed servants to arrange items neatly for the newly-promoted Baron Fried.
Nimrod conversed with two barons who were close personal friends. Before long, he spoke to the "Shadow Ascetic" disguised as a noble's butler: "I'll leave things here to you. I need to go to the church; the Bishop must be getting impatient."
The Shadow Ascetic butler nodded. He had been able to stand out among the many members of the Aurora Order precisely because he possessed the patience and perseverance to hide his own faith.
For a position that required frequent contact with Backlund's nobility and official Beyonders, this role demanded extreme care and caution; such a person was not easy to find, even within the talent-rich Aurora Order.
After the investiture ceremony, Nimrod moved to a location in Empress Borough closer to the political core. As a new noble with faith, the Church of the Night would naturally guide him according to custom.
Although a Bishop of the Church had already made contact with Nimrod before he received his title—for no other reason than donations.
Once he truly became a noble of the Kingdom of Loen, following the customs of the Kingdom and the Church, Nimrod would be introduced into the Church's circles by a Bishop.
Nobles were tools used by the Church and the State to maintain order and stabilize anchors. While not every noble knew this fact, the highly-watched and rising "Dionysus Fried" would certainly be valued by the Church's Bishop.
Soon, a carriage emblazoned with the Fried family crest arrived at the Church of the Night—the identity personally supervised by Saint of Secrets and The Dark Saint was quite reliable. They had specifically sought out a noble family that had lost its title long ago, so the family crest was naturally preserved within the Royal Family's records.
"Baron Fried." Electra, a Bishop of the Church of the Night's St. Samuels Church, sat in a reception room next to the library, exchanging casual pleasantries with Nimrod, his expression gentle and friendly.
Nimrod employed a method similar to Klein's persona, Dwayne Dantes, disguising himself as a devout Believer of the Goddess and occasionally donating money to the Church of the Night to demonstrate his attitude.
The conversation continued for a while until Electra's voice trailed off. His manner of addressing Nimrod had gradually become friendly and close. Just as he was about to end the meeting, there was a soft knock on the door: "Bishop Electra, I would like to have a few words with Baron Fried."
A voice came from the doorway. Bishop Electra felt the voice was somewhat familiar, but having a dry throat at the moment, he didn't distinguish it further, simply assuming it was one of his colleagues.
"It seems this conversation is coming to an end," Nimrod said to Electra at just the right moment, helping him out of the situation.
Bishop Electra nodded accordingly, stood up, and said warmly to the elderly man standing quietly at the door, "Please come in—"
Bishop Electra's voice faltered. When he saw who the person opening the door was, his eyes widened uncontrollably.
It was a clean-shaven elder with deep eyes—the Archbishop of the Church of the Night, Anthony Stevenson, Archbishop Saint Anthony!
However, Bishop Electra noticed that Dionysus Fried across from him remained seated, wearing the same customary smile from their conversation; he himself almost failed to control his expression.
He watched as Archbishop Anthony merely gave him a slight nod, so he did his best to keep a straight face and quickly left the room.
Anthony Stevenson entered the room, and the door closed naturally. A sense of dark depth suddenly emerged in the surroundings. Nimrod didn't feel much about it, only noticing that the environment had dimmed slightly.
This was a sealing effect similar to a "Wall of Spirituality," but since a "Horror Bishop" had already begun to touch upon the authorities of Horror and Concealment, the applied effect was worlds apart from a "Wall of Spirituality."
Anthony sat before Nimrod. After a long silence, it was Archbishop Anthony who spoke first: "It has been a long time, Your Grace."
His calm tone did not seem feigned, and his words were full of sincere emotion, but—to Nimrod's ears, there seemed to be a well-hidden tension.
"Could it be that I look different to high-Sequence beings than I do to normal people?" Nimrod did not miss this hint of tension, quickly pondering it in his mind.
He hadn't forgotten the strange appearance of his Spirit Body he had seen in the "Circle of Inevitability timeline," and the "Darkness" Pathway—happened to have a very strong connection to the Spirit World.
Nimrod wore a proper smile: "Archbishop Anthony, you must be joking. I am currently just a Sequence 5 Beyonder, far from worthy of being addressed as 'Your Grace.' Such a title is a bit of an overstatement for me."
Anthony gazed at Nimrod before him.
For a Sequence 3 Saint, their vision held many differences compared to ordinary people. In Anthony's current "vision," beneath the skin of this handsome young man, he was truly quite non-human.
Beneath the appearance of the red-haired youth lurked the image of a black-haired young man wearing a monocle with a smile on his face; and beneath the skin of "Amon," one could faintly glimpse an image full of Error and distortion.
It was like casting one's gaze across the long fog of history; even if Saint Anthony only caught a glimpse, he could deeply feel the ancientness and eeriness within.
Anthony suppressed his thoughts and shifted his attention to Nimrod's identity hidden beneath the noble exterior, only to suddenly notice that he was already a Sequence 5 "Dream Stealer."
When did "he" advance?
"He" didn't perform a ritual, had no digestion process, and advanced instantly after the Church brought the "Dream-Eating Rat" to "him"—"he" was a favored of the Goddess, and also an existence revived from ancient times. This perfectly matched the advancement speed of an ancient existence reclaiming characteristics.
Saint Anthony even suspected that if Amon hadn't monopolized the Beyonder characteristics of the "Error" Pathway, this ancient existence, whose status was once at least at the Angel level, would certainly have surpassed his current level long ago.
In the eyes of Saint Anthony, who was not particularly well-versed in ancient history, "he" might even be an existence close to a King of Angels, an enemy feared by Amon, the "Time Angel."
Anthony pondered for a moment, not dwelling too much on this topic, but instead shifted the conversation to the Tingen Squad: "Do you have any thoughts regarding the matter of Ince Zangwill, 'Detective Holmes'?"
Facing an Angel who was at least Sequence 2 in the past, Anthony had no intention of testing "him" and only wanted to find a starting point for the conversation.
Since Nimrod had repeatedly lent a helping hand to the Tingen Nighthawks squad while in Tingen City, it meant that "he" held a considerable amount of goodwill toward the Tingen Nighthawks or someone within it.
Using this topic as an entry point was perfect.
Nimrod did not hide it, speaking sincerely: "I actually hope he dies sooner, because his existence has caused me a lot of trouble."
As a "Swindler," Nimrod felt he possessed the fine virtue of never lying.
"—I see," Anthony said thoughtfully, offering a hint: "Klein Moretti is currently carrying out a mission regarding Ince Zangwill. Perhaps you could provide some assistance."
Nimrod pondered for a moment, likewise speaking to Anthony in obscure, hard-to-decipher hints: "Klein is my friend, and the faith of my current identity is also the Evernight Goddess."
If he were facing a "Singer of God" from the Church of Storms, Nimrod certainly wouldn't express his thoughts this way, as those brutes of the Storm Pathway likely wouldn't ponder the deep meaning in those words. However, Nimrod was quite certain that Anthony Stevenson could understand his hints.
Anthony did not hesitate, maintaining his usual gentle and approachable manner: "That is good, Baron Fried. In the matter of Ince Zangwill, we hope for your assistance, and the Church will do its best to help you hide your true identity in Backlund."
Nimrod said no more, simply walking out accompanied by Anthony. Just as they left the hallway, Bishop Electra came forward, looking at Anthony with an inquiring gaze.
Anthony gave a slight nod and walked in another direction. Nimrod, looking at the somewhat conflicted and nervous Bishop Electra, couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement.
Late at night, in a cleared-out spare room within the Detective Agency, Nimrod pushed a box forward and said to Klein: "Take this. You've accepted the mission to investigate the 'serial killer'; this might be useful to you. Of course, I'm only lending it to you, not giving it outright."
"—This is?" Klein looked at Nimrod with a puzzled expression, a hint of questioning light in his eyes.
"Remember the Sealed Artifact that Qilangos relied on for his fame?" Nimrod signaled Klein to open the box. "creeping hunger. It might be of some use to you."
"creeping hunger" contained five souls: "Faceless," "Nightmare," "Psychiatrist," "Interrogator," and "Priest of Light." It was also a "Shepherd" Beyonder characteristic itself. With the souls working together, its value was several times higher than an ordinary Sequence 5 Sealed Artifact.
But the problem was—the Beyonder abilities stored within "creeping hunger" overlapped too much with Nimrod's other Beyonder items.
The "sun scythe" was itself a product of a Rose Bishop and a Priest of Light combined, while "smiling face" was a Beyonder item that inherited the core abilities of a "Faceless." Even the least impressive "provokers bewilderment" perfectly possessed the "Provocation" ability.
The remaining abilities of "Interrogator," "Nightmare," and "Psychiatrist" were all replaced by Nimrod's "Dream Stealer" abilities. Unless he replaced the souls within, it held no meaning for Nimrod.
Of course, if it were anyone else, Nimrod wouldn't have lent out "creeping hunger." But Klein was someone who always repaid kindness manifold, and Nimrod had specified it was a "loan." Thus, Klein naturally wouldn't refuse this "gift."
As for how Klein, who had not yet mastered part of the Sefirah Castle's power, would use this Sealed Artifact, Nimrod planned to take Klein to talk with Azik Eggers. After all, Klein's fate was entangled with Azik's, and he also hoped to contact Azik, who was currently searching for his past.
Azik involved the "River of Eternal Darkness" and Death's backup plans; Nimrod had to take this seriously.
Klein was quite hesitant about the Sealed Artifact Nimrod placed before him. Looking at the glove, he didn't know what to do for a moment, but still said firmly: "This is too valuable; I cannot accept it."
"That's why I said it's a loan." Nimrod was as persuasive as a serpent tempting humans to eat the forbidden fruit: "Besides, I currently have two Beyonder items at the Sequence 5 and Sequence 6 level. The negative effects of accumulating too many Beyonder items grow exponentially; I have no use for this Beyonder item for the time being."
"Furthermore, the reason you took on the 'serial killer' case was to draw out Ince Zangwill.
If you have a powerful Beyonder item, your chances of surviving an attack by Ince Zangwill will be greatly increased."
"Think of Benson, think of Melissa. They certainly wouldn't want to receive news of their brother dying in the line of duty elsewhere."
"—You've truly convinced me." Hearing the last sentence, Klein could no longer refuse the kindness of this Sequence 5 level (Celestial Worthy version) "Swindler." However, he still took a deep breath: "Is there anything you need help with? I don't know how long I'll need to borrow this Beyonder item; you're losing out too much this way."
"Still what I mentioned at the Tarot Club: the formula for sequence 8 'Robot,' and the subsequent Sequences of the 'Monster' Pathway. I hope you can collect them secretly, without letting the high-Sequence Beyonders of that Pathway know." Nimrod shrugged: "If you insist on paying 'rent,' then that will be enough."
Klein let out a puzzled "Eh?": "You don't need me to help you find the Sequence 4 potion formula and Beyonder materials?"
"I have no thoughts on that for now. To advance to a demigod, one must find a way to hunt an Amon avatar; otherwise, it's very difficult to obtain a Sequence 4 Beyonder characteristic."
Nimrod sighed for a while, not mentioning the matter of the Jacob family's rat demigod he had scouted out. Instead, he turned his gaze to the papers with writing on them next to Klein: "Speaking of which, is this—"
"This?" Klein picked up the papers with writing and drawings, speaking without any reservation: "I just returned from Emperor Roselle's exhibition and saw his diary. I found a bookmark that looks like a 'blasphemy card.'"
Chapter 165: Stealing the "blasphemy card"
"A bookmark suspected to be a blasphemy card?"
Hearing Nimrod's thoughtful words, Klein nodded. "Yes, I found the clue in the Emperor's diary. I happened to see the Roselle Memorial Exhibition in Backlund a couple of days ago, and since the matter with the Ambassador has been resolved, I went to take a look."
At this point, Klein felt a bit of regret. "It's a pity that such exhibitions only take place in big cities like Backlund; otherwise, Melissa would have definitely loved it."
Nimrod pondered for a moment and said, "Do you think I should go and retrieve this blasphemy card?"
Although he already had the Hunter Card, the Black Emperor Card would also be of significant use to Nimrod. Every blasphemy card carried the corruption of the Mother Goddess of Depravity, and it was precisely this that gave the blasphemy cards their extremely high status, even allowing them to attract mid-to-high Sequence Beyonders.
Nimrod had another goal in collecting the blasphemy cards—compared to the statues of the Mother Goddess of Depravity that could be obtained from the "circlet timeline," the corruption on the blasphemy cards had a deeper connection to her. If he could collect them all, Nimrod would have more confidence in stealing Mr. Door's Beyonder characteristic as a safeguard.
After all, he couldn't just pin all his hopes on the Error Pathway. If Amon became a dual-pathway True God one step ahead of him, he would be forced to hide atop Sefirah Castle or attempt to steal the "Eternal Calamity Incarnate" from the "circlet timeline."
As for the corruption of the Mother Goddess of Depravity? Tell that to my status.
Hearing Nimrod's words, Klein, who hadn't originally thought in this direction, suddenly felt that "this might be feasible." He instinctively began to consider the practicality of the matter. "I can provide some help using my identity as The Fool. You know, I'm an Official Beyonder, and it would be quite troublesome if I were caught stealing items exhibited by the Church of Steam."
"But this might take some time. I need to contact the members of the Tarot Club and make some preparations."
"It's worth a try." Nimrod did not refuse Klein's suggestion, saying with interest, "After all, this is my old profession."
As a Sequence 5 Marauder, Nimrod was naturally professional in this regard. After advancing to Dream Stealer, he also needed to find ways to wear down the spiritual imprint of the Celestial Worthy within the Dream Stealer characteristic.
Although he currently had a rough draft of the method for acting as a Dream Stealer, it would still take some time to set up the layout.
After receiving Nimrod's answer, Klein didn't hesitate and made a decision on the spot. "Then I will contact the others and seek help in the name of The Fool's favored."
"Miss Justice has accepted my commission."
"This evening, Justice will go to confirm whether the bookmark tucked inside Roselle's creative manuscripts is indeed a blasphemy card containing magical power."
"I have been investigating Ince Zangwill's possible hiding places and the forces associated with the Demoness Sect in Backlund lately. I've seen many heartbreaking and infuriating sights; I'll discuss them with you next time we meet."
Dusk was approaching, and the sky was beginning to grow dark. It was extremely difficult to see the Sun during this season in Backlund, and by five o'clock, the city was already quite dim. Nimrod held a letter delivered by a Void Messenger in one hand, while the other held a gold-rimmed bone china teacup, which he gently placed on the table.
The liquid in the cup sloshed, and beside it lay an invitation, placed neatly. A young Viscount, who was also a friend of Nimrod's, had asked the Kingdom Museum for an extra invitation and given it to him.
Although according to unspoken rules, a newly promoted Baron like Dionysus Fried would generally not be invited to such a group.
This visiting group consisted of noble individuals such as daughters of Earls, children of Dukes, and young Viscounts. If described in another way, they were a group of "dandies."
But Nimrod was quite wealthy.
And in this era of change, gold coins were equivalent to respect.
Following the crowd into the museum, Nimrod conversed with two friends in a reserved tone. To the side of the crowd, a blonde, blue-eyed young lady stood there, wearing gloves as she touched one of Roselle's flush toilets.
From the face of the large golden retriever beside Audrey, Nimrod could see a hint of an expression that was almost "helpless."
A faint light flashed in his eyes as his Superior Observation ability activated naturally. He quickly deduced the reason for Audrey's actions, which corroborated with his own memories.
Audrey wanted to maintain a persona of an innocent and curious young girl to naturally approach Roselle's diaries and manuscripts and touch that bookmark.
According to Klein's deduction, a bookmark that was essentially a blasphemy card would not be easily damaged. When an attempt was made to damage it, some abnormal phenomena might occur. By trying to cause damage, she could verify whether it was indeed a blasphemy card.
Nimrod had come here to personally identify which bookmark he needed to take. For an ordinary Marauder, only a foolproof plan could ensure success every time.
However, even though Nimrod was now a Sequence 5 Beyonder, he was unwilling to abandon this caution.
He watched as Audrey requested to get a closer look at the items in every exhibition hall, gradually lowering the vigilance of the guide and the Church of Steam Beyonders nearby.
When they arrived at the reconstructed study of Roselle, she made the request again and completed her plan quite smoothly, confirming that the bookmark tucked in the creative manuscripts had an "abnormal reaction" unique to the Beyonder realm!
Audrey walked out of the study with the crowd, her expression composed, but at that moment, she suddenly heard a light chuckle.
A chuckle?
She nearly failed to control her expression, thinking her small actions had been noticed by the Church's Beyonders, but when she turned her head, she met Nimrod's eyes, which were filled with mischievous amusement.
Hiss, Mr. Lovers is here too—I thought he was just here to consolidate his social network, but now it seems he also accepted Mr. The Fool's favored's commission?
"I was the one who suggested this commission. I know Mr. The Fool's favored in the real world."
Nimrod's voice rang out in Audrey's mind, and a look of surprise immediately flashed across her face. However, the emotion disappeared in an instant, and she turned to the guide beside her, asking with feigned surprise and curiosity, "What is this?"
"I haven't seen this invention of Emperor Roselle's before—"
While listening to the guide's voice, Audrey said hesitantly in her heart, "Mr. Lovers? Is this your Beyonder ability? You wouldn't happen to be a Spectator too, would you?"
Nimrod did not hesitate to share; he casually molded a fragment of thought and gifted it to Audrey to provide the answer: "I have completed an advancement and am now a Sequence 5 Beyonder. Although the abilities of my Beyonder Pathway are not in the mental domain, I can use other methods to achieve similar results and communicate with you."
"Once you become a high-Sequence Spectator, you will also possess similar abilities."
Audrey puffed out her cheeks slightly in an inconspicuous manner. "You can feel my thoughts? Mr. Lovers, that is not a gentlemanly thing to do—"
However, Audrey didn't dwell on it for long, only asking in her heart, "Are you also participating in Mr. The Fool's operation? Hmm—I've confirmed the state of the bookmark. What part are you responsible for?"
Although she had experienced the Qilangos incident before, this was the first time Audrey was committing a crime as part of a group with members of the Tarot Club. She briefly swept away the gloom in her heart caused by the King's affairs, her tone somewhat cheerful.
Yes, I am indeed participating in Mr. The Fool's operation. I'm responsible for—responsible for the operation I discussed with Mr. The Fool.
Nimrod complained slightly in his heart, but he couldn't say that aloud. "I am responsible for stealing this bookmark. Mr. The Fool's favored promised me a reward."
Audrey encouraged him in her heart, "Good luck, Mr. Lovers!"
Nimrod: "—"
Nimrod only felt that Audrey's inner thoughts were far more active than her surface appearance; she was still a lively young girl.
Besides, when encountering a Beyonder with mind-reading abilities, shouldn't you feel nervous? —Wait, she's a Telepathist herself, so never mind.
As the tour ended, Nimrod followed the other nobles out of the Kingdom Museum. After politely declining the invitations of several noble friends, he returned home and waited quietly for nightfall.
Once an hour had passed and the streets had grown quiet, Nimrod covertly approached the Kingdom Museum.
Each floor of the Kingdom Museum was very spacious, definitely exceeding the 50-meter range, so Nimrod had to infiltrate the museum to complete the theft.
Furthermore, when he had scouted the place in person during the day, he had covertly sensed that one of the security members at the Kingdom Museum was a member of the Machinery Hivemind, so there were likely two or three more Machinery Hivemind members hidden nearby.
According to Nimrod's memory, these Beyonders also carried Sealed Artifacts with them to ensure the safety of Roselle's notes.
Nimrod vaguely remembered that this Sealed Artifact could control the space of an entire floor; he suspected that yet another unfortunate Door pathway Beyonder had met a grim fate.
However, one had to broaden their thinking. There were only three or four Beyonders responsible for protecting Roselle's notes in the Kingdom Museum, and their Sequences were not as high as his. They would certainly guard the most valuable Roselle notes without leaving their side, rather than the reconstructed scenes in the study.
A Dream Stealer had an excellent memory. Nimrod easily bypassed the security personnel on the first floor and arrived at a position on the first floor directly corresponding to Roselle's study above.
A Sequence 6 Prometheus could steal from a distance of 50 meters, and after advancing, there was an approximately 50% increase (Note 1)—and the buildings of this era, limited by materials, almost never exceeded that range.
So, Nimrod only needed one very simple action to complete the final step of the theft.
With a gentle flick of his wrist, several books fell into Nimrod's hands.
A long-distance "theft"!
As the saying goes, there is honor among thieves. He didn't want Audrey to take the blame for him, so he conveniently "stole" everything around the bookmark she had touched.
After doing all this, Nimrod's wrist shook slightly, and he sent the books up to Sefirah Castle.
At that moment, the air around Nimrod trembled slightly. Black slits appeared in the surroundings, and as each black slit cracked open, an eyeball covered in bloodshot veins emerged, coldly staring at the audacious thief before it.
Bernadette Gustav!
She had been sitting in the study tonight reminiscing about her father; Bernadette's father, Roselle, was one of her most important sources of "humanity." Seeing someone steal her father's manuscripts and bookmark right under her nose, Bernadette naturally wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
"How did you know to take those?"
"Who are you?"
Bernadette's tone carried a hint of interrogation. Nimrod gave a light laugh and looked at the figure gradually emerging in the air.
This figure seemed to appear directly from the ceiling, with most of its body shrouded in Darkness, leaving only its feet in black leather boots exposed.
"I naturally know, Madam Bernadette."
Nimrod said with a smile toward Bernadette, which caused this Sequence 3 Clairvoyant to momentarily heighten her vigilance. Her body didn't move, but in that instant, different lights and shadows flashed.
As the lights and shadows around Bernadette flickered, the "smiling face" on Nimrod's face trembled slightly, quickly fading and falling off, losing its function as a disguise.
In the flash of information, the somewhat living "smiling face" fell into a state of fear.
But this caused the corners of Nimrod's mouth to curl up slightly. He took a monocle from his breast pocket, wiped it gently with a handkerchief, and then placed it on his face.
He tilted his head up, revealing a face that Bernadette found familiar—a face with a smile that, though kind, could make anyone who recognized it feel their hair stand on end.
"Amon—" Bernadette murmured warily.
"Madam Bernadette." Nimrod completed his disguise as "Amon" and sighed softly before speaking to Bernadette. "Sometimes, I also hope to collect some interesting things—after all, Roselle was the Black Emperor after Solomon, and things he derived from the blasphemy slate are naturally interesting enough."
"Or rather, do you want to chat with me about your father? I don't mind giving you a hand, since your father is truly about to die."
Bernadette had originally wanted to vanish instantly from this Amon avatar's side, but she hesitated for a moment upon hearing Nimrod's words—and then vanished even faster.
Who would believe this notorious "Deceiver"? Perhaps the Angel-level Amon was already on his way; Bernadette was unwilling to gamble with herself on that possibility.
Amon's face was simply too useful.
In terms of reputation.
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#166Chapter 166 The Arranger The Arranger The Arranger
Chapter 166: The Arranger Arranges the Arranger
Amon's face was still far too authoritative.
Seeing Bernadette disappear before him at high speed, a smile immediately appeared on Nimrod's face. He then used the previous method to leave the Kingdom Museum. The sound of clattering footsteps came from overhead—but that no longer had anything to do with Nimrod.
After crossing several streets, Nimrod suddenly whispered to himself, "The time for the museum visit organized by Count Hall hasn't changed. In other words, the murder case that should have happened after the bookmark was stolen hasn't changed either—"
"This is a bit too much of a 'coincidence'."
In Nimrod's memory, after Klein stole the blasphemy card, he got lost because of the master key and eventually stumbled into the murder scene of the Demon Dog.
"Before coming here, Klein mentioned to me that he would be patrolling the surroundings as usual tonight, and would approach the vicinity of the Kingdom Library as my 'insurance'—"
"Although 0-08 has always wanted to write its owner to death, Ince Zangwill has, after all, become a demigod now. Although he might receive much less information, he should be able to know that Klein could obtain a powerful beyonder item—"
"Even if Ince Zangwill doesn't know about this, I now need to consider the possibility that Adam also knows and has conveniently arranged for Ince Zangwill to expose his true form at a critical juncture, so as to take away 0-08 when Ince Zangwill is killed by the Nighthawks."
"So, regardless of whether he knows or not, I'll act as if Ince Zangwill is planning to set up Klein today."
"Although Adam's gaze cannot penetrate my level, He can see the matters the Aurora Order is currently quietly preparing. He might come to stop it, or He might utilize it—but one thing remains the same: Adam needs to avoid the current true god, the Lord of Storms."
"If there's anything that can make the Lord of Storms briefly shift his gaze and not deal with Adam and Amon, these two Sons of the Creator, the only possibility is for the fellow true god, the True Creator, to descend in Backlund in a sober and rational state."
"Adam is likely happy to promote this. After all, even Amon doesn't know yet that the True Creator is actually Adam's half. It's just that one inherited the humanity of the Ancient Sun God and the other inherited His divinity; it's a conspiracy that has spanned over two thousand years."
Nimrod felt that Adam had chosen the wrong Pathway; He was the Conspirer who should have taken the 'Hunter' Pathway most. Since the era of the Ancient Sun God, He had been weaving conspiracies that would only come to fruition after a vast amount of time, and He had never stopped until now.
However, considering that God Almighty once accommodated the City of Calamity, there was a certain possibility that Grisha Adam still possessing self-will after becoming the vessel for God Almighty was a joint scheme between the Celestial Worthy and the Calamity of Destruction.
The Celestial Worthy popped up: [Correct, everything is within my plan.]
Nimrod ignored the Celestial Worthy who had come out to assert his presence and whispered the honorable name of the Fool, asking Klein about his current status through prayer.
After doing all this, Nimrod wasn't anxious at all. Instead, he continued along his previous route away from the Kingdom Museum, arriving at a hidden street to wait for communication with Klein.
Soon, a gray mist surged around Nimrod. This was Klein arriving above the Sefirah Castle and pulling Nimrod's spirit body up as well.
Normally, when Klein ascended to the Sefirah Castle, Nimrod only needed to actively resist the pull of the Sefirah Castle on his spirit body to ignore this power, but this time he had no need to do so.
A crimson light appeared before him, taking him from one patch of gray mist to another. The blurry-featured "Fool" sat there, looking at Nimrod beside him.
Klein nodded and directly answered Nimrod's previous question: "I am patrolling matters related to the serial murder case. My current position is—"
Klein stated his current location. Nimrod recalled for a moment; the street Klein was on happened to be an area with terraced houses. One could only say this was a bit too coincidental.
Nimrod felt that Klein was about to run into some "good luck."
Nimrod immediately told Klein his judgment: "There's a coincidence involved here. Don't reveal that you know about this yet. I'll come find you. Ince Zangwill might be using this serial murder case to make a move on you."
The serial murder case was a ritual for a Sequence 6 'Devil' to advance to Sequence 5. However, Klein didn't know that under deliberate arrangement, an unprepared Klein would suffer certain injuries once he encountered the Sequence 6 'Devil'.
Nimrod could only be certain now that there were traces of an arrangement, but he didn't know if it was Adam's arrangement or Ince Zangwill's.
But regardless, Klein was unaware of the traces Adam played in this matter, and the script of '0-08' could not directly read Klein's thoughts. This was also the key point in finding traces of Ince Zangwill.