Just then, two figures—one tall, one short—walked over. Xio happened to have her back to them. Hearing the approaching footsteps, she instinctively tightened her grip on her trilateral stiletto.
"Good morning, Miss Xio, Miss Fors."
"Huh?"
Xio blinked and turned her head up to look. "Miss Audrey? What are you doing here?"
Priscilla grumbled unhappily, "Hey! Did you not see me or what?"
"???"
Xio looked down, stunned, to see a little girl puffing up her cheeks and glaring at her. For a moment, she was completely lost—Where did this kid come from?
Before she could make sense of anything, Fors hurriedly closed her manuscript pages and said, "Miss Jus—Ahem, Miss Audrey. And…" She glanced at Priscilla.
"I'm Priscilla."
"Oh, oh, Miss Priscilla. You're here!"
Xio finally caught on. "Fors, don't tell me…the backup you brought is…them?"
She could sort of understand Audrey being here. After all, ever since the "kidnapping" incident, she knew the girl was also a Beyonder. But this little kid? What's going on with her?!
This isn't a picnic trip—we're about to fight Beyonders!
Fors firmly pushed Xio back into her seat and whispered, "Don't make a fuss. Audrey is a powerful Sequence 7!"
Audrey hurriedly added with a flustered smile, "Miss Fors, you really don't need to use the word 'powerful'. Sequence 7…really isn't that impressive."
"To us Sequence 8s, it is!"
"…"
Xio wasn't too shocked by Audrey being Sequence 7. With the kind of wealth Miss Audrey possessed, even if she'd claimed to be a Sequence 4 demigod, Xio wouldn't have batted an eye.
She lowered her voice. "So…what's the tactical plan?"
Fors looked at Audrey. Audrey gave a little "ah!" and then turned to Priscilla. Priscilla scratched her head and glanced to the side—at Medici.
The former King of Angels currently wore a deep scowl, and muttered just loud enough for Priscilla to hear, "You rotten brat, this is what you call a relaxing outing? Why do I feel like I've been dragged out to play babysitter?"
Priscilla beamed, "A stay-at-home dad is the best~ Right Medici?"
Medici: "...Then you should've brought those two old hags. They're the professionals."
Xio stared in confusion at Priscilla talking to thin air.
Audrey finally said after some thought, "How about this: the three of us will take the lead in combat. Priscilla will oversee the whole field. If anyone runs into danger or if the enemy turns out to be too powerful, then Priscilla will step in. Sound good?"
—Of course, Audrey had her own reasons. She'd come here specifically to gain combat experience. If Priscilla just did everything herself, wouldn't Audrey end up as nothing more than a spectator?
Oversee the whole field?
Priscilla's eyes lit up. I love that kind of role!
She placed her hands on her hips and declared, "No problem! You all go ahead and fight—leave the rest to me!"
Audrey turned to Fors. "Miss Fors, what do you think?"
"I'm good with it. With Miss Priscilla watching over us, I feel at ease."
"Alright then, let's—"
Xio shot to her feet, looking utterly incredulous. "Hold on a second! You two are serious?"
Audrey barely held back a laugh. "Of course!"—Isn't this just like what Emperor Roselle always called 'the pig who pretends to be weak'? It's so amusing! If Xio turns out to be the type who charges in without thinking, this is going to be even more fun…
"But she…"
Fors quickly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Priscilla is a Sequence 5 Beyonder."
"…"
Xio froze for a moment. Then, clearing her throat, she muttered, "I'm fine with this too."
Priscilla struck a commanding pose and waved her hand. "Let's move out!"
———
Inside Birch Tree Inn.
Dorian Gray had been feeling a strange, subtle sense of foreboding since early morning. It wasn't quite danger, but it was unsettling nonetheless.
He'd been staying here for almost a week. During that time, no one had approached the house across the street again. This left him both disappointed and relieved—If the person who left that message was targeting the Abraham family, then staying here any longer would've been far too risky.
So, after careful consideration, Dorian had decided to leave Pritz Harbour at noon today. As for Lawrence's information, he'd find another opportunity to head to Backlund and dig deeper.
He packed his clothes and personal belongings, double-checked his disguise, pulled on a hat and scarf, and glanced one last time through the window at the house he had lived in for years. Then he turned and left.
As soon as he stepped out of the inn, he saw two girls walking toward him. He recognised them—they were the travelling friends staying in the room next door. They'd passed each other often these last few days, and that short one was particularly unforgettable.
The taller girl paused and greeted him politely, "Good morning, Mr. Terry."
Dorian gave a slight nod and briskly walked past them, heading toward the train station. His ticket was for the 10:30 AM train to the Feynapotter Kingdom.
As he got farther from the inn, that uneasy feeling slowly faded. Dorian finally relaxed a little, reassured that leaving today had indeed been the right choice.
Just then, another pair walked toward him: a girl in a pale dress with a translucent hat tied with pink-and-blue ribbons, holding the hand of a six-or seven-year-old girl. The two were chatting and laughing, a picture of warmth and affection.
The sight unexpectedly stirred something in Dorian. He'd once enjoyed carefree days like this too, with his siblings…
But after they took their potions and became Beyonders, not only did they have to endure the terrifying monthly whispers, but they also had to guard against other Beyonders coveting the Abraham family's legacy.
To find a way to stop the whispers—and to ensure the family's survival—they'd scattered across the continent, each going their separate way. Years, even decades, might pass without meeting. More often, they'd lose touch completely.
Just like him.
Now, he was all alone.
Sigh…I thought I'd grown used to it over the years. But maybe…the older you get, the more nostalgic you become.
He let out a long breath, pulling his silk hat lower to shade his eyes, and quickened his pace—wanting to put as much distance as possible between himself and that happy pair.
The little girl looked up at him. Her dark eyes shimmered with a hint of curiosity—a kind of curiosity that made Dorian feel strange.
It was almost like…she recognised him.
But that's impossible, right?
In the next second, the Astrologer's spiritual intuition surged violently—an overwhelming sense of danger suddenly enveloped Dorian.
Years of vigilance kicked in as he turned on his heel to flee without hesitation. But before he could take a step, a wave of panic overtook him—his body started moving erratically on its own, out of his control.
This was the Psychiatrist's Awe!
Dorian knew what was happening, but he couldn't resist the chaos it brought.
The girl in the light-colored dress raised a wand that shimmered with a pristine, crystal-like glow.
"Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus!"
Luckily, the confusion vanished just in time for Dorian to drop and roll, narrowly dodging the first spell—but he got hit squarely by the second one. His body rapidly stiffened.
But just as quickly as the stiffness came, it faded. Dorian flung his hands out, casting Freezing and Electric Shock to ward off the girl's advance, then sprang to his feet—Only to be met with a sudden jumping strike from the short girl he saw every day!
Poor Dorian, with his old bones, took a clean blow to the back of the neck from Xio. If he'd passed out right there, that would've been the end of it—but no, he remained conscious, and the pain shot like lightning down his spine.
Gritting through it, Dorian reached into his coat for a charm—but before he could channel spirituality into it, a ball of fire came hurling straight at his face. As he tried to dodge, his foot slipped, and he fell flat, the back of his head cracking hard against the ground.
He blacked out.
The last thing he saw was that brown-haired girl charging at him with a fierce look in her eyes.
All of this sounds like a lot, but it happened in less than thirty seconds.
As passersby began noticing the commotion, Xio immediately flashed a badge, declaring in a commanding voice:
"MI9 in action. Civilians, clear the area immediately!"
"…"
The onlookers wasted no time—they fled the scene in a hurry.
"Let's go!"
Audrey cast a Levitation Charm on Dorian, and the group quickly darted into an empty alley, then disappeared with a Disapparition, reappearing on an empty beach near Pritz Harbour.
As soon as they landed, Medici exploded, "Just for some low-sequence old man, we went through all that trouble? I could've spent this time finding the last Conqueror characteristic!"
Priscilla scoffed.
"And if you did, so what?"
"Then she won't be able to jump to Red Priest before me!" Medici growled, face dark. He had been running around for ages chasing that last characteristic, only for it to fall into someone else's hands.
Anyone else getting it wouldn't have been an immediate threat, but that woman was different. She really might advance to Red Priest at any moment!
Medici was fuming. Why was he always getting played by women? First the two old hags, then this brat, and now that insane woman!
Damn it all! S*&%$#!!!
While Medici muttered curses under his breath, Fors and Audrey watched as Xio expertly tied Dorian up, wrapping him in rope like a seasoned pro.
"Done!" Xio clapped her hands.
"Even I couldn't get out of that quickly."
Audrey raised her dragonbone wand and cast a Rennervate spell.
A few moments later, Dorian groaned awake, pain wracking his neck and head.
As his vision cleared, he saw the three girls standing over him: one looking stern, one trying to look fierce, and the third frowning with faint sympathy.
Dorian slowly remembered the ambush just moments ago. The attack had come so fast, he barely had time to react. But now, seeing that his assailants were…three—or four—girls, he was completely dumbfounded.
Something didn't feel right.
Faces can lie, but the eyes often reveal the truth. Dorian found it hard to believe these girls were malicious criminals—unless they were all Faceless in disguise.
After a few seconds of silence, Dorian couldn't help but ask, "Why did you attack—"
"Shut up! We're asking the questions here!" Xio barked, her voice fierce.
She turned to Fors.
"Fors, go!"
"Huh?"
Fors was caught off guard, but quickly forced a stern expression.
"Who are you?"
"…Terry Pitt. I told you that already."
"I meant your real identity!"
"…"
Dorian's heart sank.
So they were after the Abraham family after all…
Fors pressed harder.
"Don't think staying silent will help. We've been watching you for a long time. Why have you been sneaking glances at that house across from the inn every day?"
Huh?
Dorian blinked, stunned.
"What's your relationship with the man living there—Dorian Gray? Were you planning something? Do you even know where he is?"
"???"
Dorian was even more confused now.
At that moment, Xio handed Fors her polished, razor-sharp trilateral stiletto.
"Fors, show him some pain. Guys like him never talk unless you rough them up!"
Seeing Fors accept the weapon with a hesitant gleam in her eye, Dorian hurriedly said:
"I—I'm a friend of Dorian Gray! I'm looking for him too!"
"Friend?"
The three girls exchanged glances, clearly uncertain.
Audrey couldn't help but think, If only I knew Legilimency…or had advanced to Hypnotist… this interrogation would be so much easier.
That's when Priscilla suddenly chimed in, "Medici says this old man's from the Abraham family—he can smell it. And based on his reactions, he's at least eighty percent likely to be Dorian Gray himself."
Huh?!
Fors froze.
The dagger slipped from her hand.
Oh no.
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.