Southern suburbs of Tingen City, Tussock River.
The dark clouds covering Tingen City had gradually dispersed. The red moon revealed its face, casting crimson moonlight on the endlessly flowing river surface.
A figure appeared and disappeared among the waves. She was naked but covered with glittering scales, like an elegant mermaid, flowing downstream.
She seemed naturally suited for water movement. Even with only her left hand, she could control direction in the turbulent river water. Her flexible lower limbs swayed, moving forward at extreme speed, gradually distancing from Tingen City.
While swimming, she spoke softly, seeming to talk to herself yet like communicating with some distant being.
"Yes, they indeed came looking as expected. Their strength was somewhat stronger than I anticipated, and they used several mystical items. But I've successfully escaped. Gabrio sacrificed himself to cover me."
She listened attentively, nodding constantly, then continued:
"...I can reach Backlund before dawn and will stay at Mr. A's place for a while... It's fine. I shepherded an 'Astrologer' and can interfere with divination. But they should know I left Tingen. Search targets will focus on surrounding cities, even Backlund. You're temporarily safe. Continue executing the follow-up plans."
"Heh, I didn't kill her, but even if I wanted to, the difficulty would be great. Is she really only Sequence 9?"
The female slowed her water-paddling movements, raised her head above water. Scales seemed hidden under her skin, her expression somewhat obscure, but still recognizable as Ms.D who had just escaped from Tingen's northern district.
"...I understand. You be careful too. Don't relax vigilance toward those two people. They definitely have their own calculations."
Finishing this sentence, Ms.D turned back to look at Tingen City faintly visible in the night.
——————
"I last saw Old Neil two years ago. He still hasn't retired?"
In the Blackthorn Security Company reception hall with doors locked and curtains tightly drawn, three exhausted Night Watchers sat discussing tonight's battle over cold coffee.
"Soon. He said once Klein learns all his ritual magic, he'll apply for retirement."
Dunn replied. His coat hung on the door's hat rack, revealing his shirt and black vest. After some rest, this "Nightmare" had eliminated some fatigue.
Sost nodded, his red-gloved right hand picking up the coffee cup, drinking the entire cup like water. His left hand remained swollen, powerlessly resting on his knee. Angel guessed this might be negative effects from that silver ring.
The more seriously injured Henry and Lares had been sent to the underground alchemy room where Old Neil was treating them through prepared ritual magic.
To accommodate Angel who was in "fear of fire" state, all gas lamps in the hall were extinguished. Fortunately, all three present had night vision, so the pitch-black room didn't affect their conversation.
The only exception was Klein, who had been on standby at headquarters. He not only couldn't move in darkness but also needed ritual candles for the upcoming divination.
So he volunteered to conduct divination in the adjacent rest room, avoiding affecting others and avoiding his candles frightening Angel.
——————
Using the excuse of needing to light candles, Klein left the hall for the rest room, carefully locked the door, and used his ritual dagger to construct a spiritual wall sealing the entire room before pacing to the sofa in the center.
When four Night Watchers returned to Blackthorn Security Company carrying an unconscious teammate, his heart nearly jumped to his throat. Only after seeing clearly did he realize his captain and Angel were uninjured - only a "Red Gloves" member was lying down.
Though he knew this mindset was unhealthy, if there had to be casualties, he didn't want them to be his teammates.
Just last week, he had witnessed a "Punisher" member lose control at the docks, becoming a monster covered in scales, ultimately dying at the hands of other Punishers - his former teammates.
Having felt those Punishers' sad emotions, he couldn't imagine his reaction if this happened to teammates he spent days and nights with.
Clearing chaotic thoughts from his mind, Klein sat on the sofa, unfastened the gold chain on his left wrist, gripping it and letting the purple crystal pendant hang above the table, gradually stopping its sway.
Looking at this purple crystal gleaming under lamplight, his somewhat low mood gradually recovered. He then closed his eyes, entered meditation, muttering:
"Ms.D is currently still within Tingen City."
After reciting the divination content seven times, he opened his eyes and unsurprisingly saw the pendulum showing randomly interfered swaying.
"Indeed interfered. Good thing I guessed and came here alone for divination."
Klein murmured, without hesitation quickly putting away the pendant and standing up.
He glanced at the locked door, slowly walked counterclockwise four steps on the carpet, accompanied by incantations memorized by heart, arriving at the gray mist space belonging to "The Fool."
Through multiple experiments, Klein understood this gray mist space had special effects, greatly enhancing his divination abilities, even isolating the attention drawn when divining high-level beings.
"Detailed situation of tonight's battle between Night Watchers and Ms.D."
He manifested parchment with divination content, gripped the paper and silently recited seven times, then leaned back and entered the "dream."
Illusory gray-white mist enveloped him. As the mist dispersed, a luxurious villa's through-hall appeared before him.
He saw Ms.D appearing under the "True Creator's" statue, wearing black robes with an absolutely beautiful face.
Saw Night Watchers attempting ambush but getting counter-ambushed, awkwardly dodging flame spears.
Saw the "Shepherd" continuously changing shepherded souls, silver-white armor instantly appearing, gripping a two-handed sword striking at Angel.
Furniture scattered by radiant light and hurricane winds, spirit world creatures expelled by "prohibition," armored warriors controlled by "Nightmare," Night Watchers blown away by the black-haired man jumping from shadows.
Angel pushing Dunn away then becoming shattered paper figures in the explosion.
Finally, Ms.D with her strange smile, passing through walls.
Even knowing the parties had safely returned to headquarters and were chatting outside, Klein still drew a sharp breath.
"No wonder the captain didn't let me participate. This really isn't where a 'Seer' like me should go..."
Exiting dream divination, Klein muttered.
Having gained sufficient information through dream divination, he manifested new parchment reading:
"Ms.D is currently still within Tingen City."
Using the purple crystal pendant that entered gray mist space with him for "Pendulum Method," Klein got his answer through the counterclockwise rotating pendulum.
"So she has indeed left Tingen City... 'Red Gloves' Captain Sost's guess was correct."
Learning this Sequence 5 "Shepherd" had left Tingen City, Klein breathed a sigh of relief.
If this "Aurora Order" divine envoy were still hiding in Tingen, having witnessed her methods, Klein would worry even about eating and sleeping.
About to leave gray mist space to tell those waiting in the hall this good news, Klein's mind stirred and he stopped.
He remembered the few words Ms.D said before passing through walls in the dream divination.
"As he said? You will see?"
This gave him a very uncomfortable feeling, as if missing some important clue.
"Just delay two more minutes..."
Klein manifested parchment with new divination content.
"People who had contact with Ms.D in Tingen City."
Limiting to Tingen City was because since his "transmigration," he'd never left this city, lacking information about other areas. If divining other places, expanding content to "Ruen Kingdom," divination would likely fail due to insufficient information.
Re-entering meditation, Klein saw faces flashing quickly in the dream. Most were shrouded in hazy mist due to lack of divination information, while others he'd never seen - not including Ms.D's "Aurora Order" subordinate who had died in tonight's battle.
Trying to remember those visible faces, Klein suddenly discovered someone familiar among them.
Because he'd seen this person on wanted posters, had multiple contacts with his "family," and had once wanted to find his whereabouts through divination.
"Lanrvus?"
He spoke the name of this fraudster who had absconded with over ten thousand pounds, falling into contemplation.