Backlund, North District, inside the luxurious residence at 160 Berkland Street.
After fusing the "Demoness" card into his spirit body and completing his first exploration of the outer areas of Calderón City, Klein returned to reality feeling somewhat fatigued.
He raised his hand and rubbed his temple, mocking himself silently:
"Calderón City really is dangerous. The 'Spirit World Plunderer' is crafty enough too…
"Fortunately, I used the 'Demoness' card and concealed myself well enough. If I'd gone in carrying the 'Sea God Scepter' and the 'Tyrant' card, I might have just charged in headfirst and caused a lot of unnecessary trouble…
"Mm, now that I've confirmed the location of the 'Spirit World Plunderer,' next time I can gather enough manpower and go there together!"
Just as he thought this, he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Then the butler he had hired came in to report that an unfamiliar gentleman had come to visit him and his wife.
Visiting both Dawn and Daly? Could it be a "Nighthawk"? Klein did not dare to be careless. After dismissing the butler to lead the visitor to the reception room, he immediately untied the pendulum at his cuff and performed a divination:
"I will be in danger if I go to meet the visiting guest."
After silently repeating the divination phrase seven times, he opened his eyes and saw the yellow crystal pendulum rotating counterclockwise.
This represented a negative answer—no danger.
Only then did Klein let out a sigh of relief. He tidied his clothing and went downstairs to the reception room.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw a man wearing a white shirt, black vest, and black trousers, with slightly messy hair, sitting on the sofa and drinking coffee.
It was Maric, whom he had not seen for a long time.
"Long time no see," Klein greeted proactively, then deliberately smiled and asked, "Where are your zombies?"
Maric glanced at him with an unclear expression, merely nodded, and said, "It really has been a long time…" Then he turned his gaze toward the full-length mirror on one side of the reception room.
Miss Sharron's figure stepped out of the mirror at just that moment.
However, Maric froze for a moment when he saw Sharron, because her attire was not the small soft hat and matching court dress she usually wore. Instead, she was dressed in a snow-white gown adorned with ribbons.
As she moved, the silk hem of the dress swayed rhythmically with her steps, and the emerald brooch on her chest flickered with light.
Seeming to notice Maric's surprise, Sharron's eyes did not move at all as she simply explained:
"'Marionettes' should be dressed as one pleases…"
As she spoke, she looked at Klein and continued, "It was his 'acting' suggestion."
Under Maric's strange gaze, Klein coughed lightly and said, "Ahem, marionettes are mostly theatrical props… I thought that since the potion is called 'Marionette,' it should also shape different 'roles'…"
At this point, without waiting for Maric's response, he directly changed the topic:
"Is there something you came for this time?"
Maric looked at Sharron. She nodded, and only then did he organize his words and say:
"Next Friday, a ship from the Southern Continent will arrive at Pritz Harbor. It has close ties with the Loen military.
"This ship is carrying a large amount of treasure and cultural relics plundered from the Star Plateau, the Pass River Valley, and the Hagati Grasslands. Among them is a mummy—the nineteenth king of the ancient Highland Kingdom, Tutansis II.
"The original languages of the Southern Continent did not originate from Ancient Feysac and have their own structures. In ancient Highland language, a king was also called 'Kadef,' which is a specific term. Emperor Roselle translated it as 'Pharaoh'—who knows what he was thinking. Also, 'mummy' was a term he coined. In short, 'Pharaoh' means 'son of the gods, king of humans.'
"Tutansis II was once a high-sequence powerhouse, but after his death, the corresponding characteristic was recovered, leaving only his body, which was made into a mummy…"
Before Maric finished speaking, Klein—who had personally helped Sharron create a "mummy"—already understood his meaning.
A mummy made from a demigod's body was, to other Beyonders, at most a material full of spirituality and a good object for making zombies. But to a "Wraith," it was a necessary ritual for advancing to "Marionette."
Mm, Maric obtained the 'Wraith' characteristic during the great battle at the dock warehouse last year. Later, Sharron obtained a method to remove the mental corruption of Beyonder characteristics from the rewards of the 'Dream Maze Tower.' So he may have advanced to Sequence 5 for five or six months already…
Could it be that he's already 'digested' it? That speed isn't slower than mine!
While thinking, Klein exchanged a meaningful glance with the quietly seated Sharron beside him. She directly nodded and said:
"There is a trap. It may be very dangerous."
"Whose trap?" Klein asked directly.
He trusted Sharron. If the danger were truly immense, she would not have allowed Maric to come to him for ideas.
Sharron said succinctly:
"It could be a trap set by the Rose School of Thought targeting us.
"It could also be one set by the Loen authorities targeting the Rose School of Thought.
"A demigod will appear."
Klein thought for a moment and did not answer immediately. He only told Maric that he would consider it, and the "Wraith" understood.
After the three discussed their respective experiences for a while, Maric hurriedly took his leave… He still needed to reach Pritz Harbor before school ended to pick up a child.
—That was the only descendant of a close friend who had died tragically while helping him escape. After being brought back from the Southern Continent by Jane, the child was adopted by Maric and had been living in Pritz Harbor ever since.
After Maric left, Klein looked at Sharron and said meaningfully:
"Actually, we could think of something after three o'clock next Monday afternoon."
Sharron shook her head and said:
"I don't have anything that could move him…"
Mm, so you mean I do… or rather, the 'Fool' behind me does? But in reality, I'm just repaying favors!
Klein felt helpless internally, but on the surface, he directly took responsibility for the matter.
After all, a man can't say he can't, right? Moreover, this was probably the price of letting a "Marionette" be dressed at will.
...
Inside the captain's cabin of the "Ghost Empire," Ebner froze for a moment upon hearing Monica's title for him.
"Father of Succubi, Lord of Desire, Source of Corruption"? What kind of ridiculous name was that? No matter how you listened to it, it didn't sound like a good person at all!
No wonder the 'God of Luck' turned out so lustful—could it be he was influenced at a fundamental level too?
And to be able to claim such a divine title, this 'Liu Bo' probably seized authority over the 'Abyss,' or even the 'Shadow World'… But now both the 'Abyss' and the 'Shadow World' are still on Earth and haven't been offered to the 'Unknown,' which is very strange…
After all, every 'Liu Bo' before the 'God of Luck' would return to the 'Unknown' after death!
Mm… Could it be that he was caught by the Celestial Worthy or God Almighty, and that's why he failed?
As his thoughts raced, Ebner wanted to ask Monica more questions. However, at that moment, his Owen avatar in Backlund relayed a message that George III requested a meeting with him and Alvin to further discuss the alliance and the release of the "Demoness."
Since Alvin, as a trump card, had also come along to the "Ghost Empire," Ebner had no choice but to leave behind a "Clairvoyant Avatar" to continue questioning Monica and to receive Xio and Edwina, while he himself and Alvin directly disengaged from the "Ghost Empire" and "wandered" back to Backlund.
(End of Chapter)