Klein turned towards the captain's office and saw the door wide open. Dunn Smith was leaning back in the chair, sniffing at his pipe.
With a glance, Dunn changed his sitting position and said:
"Your condition is excellent. It's not like you just took the potion."
"This might be the benefit of complete digestion," Klein closed the door casually and pulled the chair out to sit down.
Both he and Dunn knew the "role-playing method", which allowed them to communicate about related matters without being bound by oaths. But at this moment, both of them tacitly refrained from discussing this matter further. After a question and answer session, they both fell into silence.
Klein thought for a moment and asked:
"Lord Cecima has left?"
"Yes, as a senior minister, he has other matters to attend to." Dunn pondered for a few seconds and said, "Well, he took the pair of red eyes left by Old Neil away."
Klein asked in surprise and confusion:
"Why?"
Dunn picked up his coffee, took a sip, and remained silent for a long time before saying:
"We cannot deceive ourselves. The out-of-control team members have actually turned into monsters. And I told you that monsters, after death, leave behind some things that are rich in extraordinary power. If these things are uncontrollable and cause various problems, they must be sealed. Well, this is one of the sources of the sealing objects. The internal rules of the Night Watch are that the items left by the out-of-control team members are stored in a different location to avoid stimulating their companions."
"That's a reasonable rule." Klein nodded slightly with a heavy expression.
Suddenly, he sensed that the captain had overlooked a possibility just now. So he asked in doubt:
"What if the things that accumulate extraordinary power after a 'monster' dies are controllable?"
Dunn looked at him, his grey eyes deep as if they were the most serene night.
He sighed and said:
"You won't want to know the answer." ... Klein paused for a moment, suddenly realizing something:
Normal monsters would leave extraordinary materials, which were used to concoct corresponding potions.
What about the monsters that the out-of-control ones turned into?
If the things they left behind belonged to the controllable type, would they also be regarded as extraordinary materials...
Thinking about this, Klein suddenly felt a strong sense of nausea, unable to help but turn his head and vomit a few times. His vision became blurry as a result.
This was really a chilling speculation... But it was very likely to be close to the truth and the answer! In an instant, he gained a deeper understanding of the words like "To defend against the abyss, one must endure the corrosion of the abyss" and "The guardian is also a group of pitiful creatures constantly fighting against danger and madness".
Could this be the reason why the church concealed "playing the role of a mage"? A certain degree of recycling? But this would also cause the higher-ups to deviate from the church... Klein's mind clearly reflected his changing expression.
Seeing his reaction, Dunn suddenly smiled, with a glimmer of light flickering in his grey eyes:
"You can think positively. Our companions are now accompanying us in a different way."
"They will always be with us."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dunn lowered his head, picked up his coffee, and brought it to his lips.
There was another ten-second silence. He leaned back slightly, raised his head and said:
"And you can rest assured. As long as we can still collect extraordinary materials from normal sources, we won't do what you think."
"Alright, according to the regulations, the newly promoted can have one day of rest. Whether you want to go for martial arts practice in the afternoon is up to you, but you must inform Gervin."
Klein nodded gently, took a deep breath, straightened his back and said:
"Captain, I have finished the mysticism course. I want to use the rest of the morning to learn skills like tracking and monitoring."
He paused, and solemnly added:
"I want to fulfill my duty as a night watchman as soon as possible."
Dunn looked at him closely and said with a sigh:
"You are more resilient than I imagined. Then do as you wish."
"Yes, Captain!"
Klein suddenly stood up and drew a crimson moon on his chest. ......
After leaving Blackthorn Security Company, Klein didn't go home to rest directly. Instead, he took this opportunity to ride the non-powered public carriage to Azk's home.
Tink, tink.
The clear jingling sound of the bells. Azk, wearing a white shirt and black armor, opened the door.
There was a golden watch chain at the position of the buttons on his coat, slantingly hanging there, connected to the pocket watch.
"You don't have to work?" Azk glanced at the sky and noticed that the sun hadn't climbed to the top yet.
"Due to some special circumstances, I'm on leave," Klein explained briefly.
Azk glanced at him, as if he had understood something, nodded, and moved aside the way.
Entering the foyer, Klein placed his walking stick, took off his hat, and followed Azk all the way to his living room.
The living room was furnished with a fireplace, a rocking chair, a sofa, and a coffee table. Klein sat down at the position he usually occupied.
Azk on the opposite side smiled and pointed at the cigars on the coffee table, saying:
"Would you like one?"
"No," Klein firmly shook his head.
Azk didn't try to persuade him and, taking care of himself, lit the match and picked up a cigar to preheat it, while casually asking:
"Has the matter in Morse Town been handled?"
"This must be thanks to you," Klein said sincerely.
Meanwhile, in his heart, he muttered to himself:
Mr. Azk, before losing your memory, you must have left a considerable fortune for yourself. Otherwise, a professor who isn't even an associate professor couldn't often enjoy cigars.
Taking advantage of his concentrating on handling the cigar, he said actively:
"Mr. Azk, I have something I want to ask you."
"What is it?" Azk asked without looking up.
Klein paused for a moment, organizing his words:
"My colleague lost control and turned into a monster. I want to know if his soul has also been contaminated?"
He wasn't sure if Mr. Azk understood the meaning of losing control, so he was ready with the corresponding explanations and descriptions, waiting for him to ask.
Azk stopped his hand movements, raised his head, looked at Klein, and nodded gravely, saying:
"This is undoubtedly so."
"In similar situations, you need to carefully distinguish. If the direct factor of his losing control is the temptation of evil gods or demons, then try to avoid spiritual communication. This is likely to bring you fatal danger."
"I understand," Klein let out a somewhat disappointed breath.
When he was at Old Neil's house, his mood wasn't stable, he forgot the spiritual communication, and Dunn Smith didn't remind him either, so he completely missed the opportunity.
Now thinking about it, the captain wasn't forgetful, but deliberately didn't mention it... Klein thought for a few seconds in silence.
He didn't dwell on this matter anymore and instead mentioned the previous encounter:
"Mr. Azk, I tried to divination the source of the haunted incident in Morse Town, and saw a pyramid tomb that was inverted and extending downward. My companion told me that this is the symbol of Death, and it is the glory that His descendants can obtain."
Azk just put down the match, picked up the cigar cutter, suddenly froze there, and didn't move for a long time.
He leaned back, rested against the back of the sofa, with an unusually solemn expression.
After a while, he spoke in a slightly low voice:
"This gives me a familiar feeling, but it doesn't remind me of more things."
"Very regrettable," Klein sincerely sighed.
He also thought that he could use the enlightenment gained from that divination to further awaken Mr. Azk's memory.
Azk cut off the cigar cap, shook his head with a bitter smile:
"If it were so easy to recall past events, I think I would have found a way to escape fate long ago."
"Of course, I must be grateful for your kindness, grateful that you always remember me."
He thought for a moment and said:
"By the way, I will be leaving Tingen recently."
"Why?" Klein asked in astonishment.
Didn't we agree to jointly uncover the mastermind behind the theft of your child's skull that affected my fate?
Azk took a cigar in his hand and sighed, explaining:
"The target might have sensed my attention and investigation. There has been no movement for some time, leaving me with no clues. So, I plan to temporarily leave Tingen and head to Beckland. On one hand, I'll take the opportunity to search for the traces left by me before I lost my memory. On the other hand, I'll make the target less vigilant."
Yes, Mr. Azk. The last time I lost my memory was near Beckland University... Alas, you can't replace me to investigate the Red Chimney House... Klein nodded emphatically:
"I will keep a close eye on this matter. Once the target takes any action or reveals something, I will inform you immediately."
"Well, Mr. Azk, how can I notify you in time?"
In Klein's mind, if Azk was a descendant of the Grim Reaper or had some connection with him, then his power type should be close to the "Grave Collector" sequence. There must be a way to create something like "Daly Messenger".
In other words, this can prove from the side whether Azk is related to the Grim Reaper or is a descendant of Him.
Azk took a puff of the cigar, thought for a dozen seconds, and then removed a piece of jewelry from the cuff on his left sleeve.
This was a delicate, old copper whistle with many peculiar patterns that added a mysterious charm to it.
"This was an item I carried with me when I woke up in Beckland. As long as you blow it, you can summon a messenger exclusively for me." Azk held the copper whistle and explained in detail.
So many years have passed. Can this whistle still work? It must be a magical item, right? Klein was both surprised by this and delighted that he had indirectly proven that Mr. Azk had some connection with the Grim Reaper.
Looking at Klein, Azk brought the copper whistle to his lips and demonstrated.
He forcefully puffed his cheeks on both sides and blew hard.
No sound came from the room, but Klein instantly felt a cold and icy sensation.
He quickly tapped his left teeth, and saw a row of blurry white bones being thrown out from the floor, forming a strange fountain.
After a few seconds, an illusionary monster appeared in the living room.
It was entirely composed of white bones, with black flames flickering in its eye sockets. It was nearly four meters tall and was looking down at Klein, who was less than one meter and seven and a half inches tall.
Seeing that the other was almost about to pierce the ceiling, Klein blankly flashed a thought:
"Mr. Azk, is your 'Messenger' too exaggerated?"
Azk didn't notice his thoughts at all. He smiled and said:
"After giving the letter to it and blowing the copper whistle, the summoning can end. And it can quickly deliver the letter to my hands in a covert way."
After saying that, Azk shook his wrist and threw the old copper whistle over to the other side.
Klein's right hand reached out and accurately grasped it. He felt the touch was cold but gentle.
Thanks to the "Jester" potion... he silently sighed in relief, wiped the mouthpiece clean, and blew hard.
In the silence and stillness, that huge messenger disintegrated into a bunch of blurry white bones, and they burrowed into the floor. ......
The Tasok River flows through Beckland, leaving behind numerous docks here.
Alger Wilson, dressed in the priest's robe of the Storm Church, slowly descended from the passenger ship.
He saw people coming and going on the docks, and countless porters were sweating profusely, creating a lively and noisy scene.
"Long time no see, Beckland," Alger said to himself in a low voice.