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Hazel stepped onto the slightly damp ground, looking at the rusty iron pipes and the slowly flowing sewage river, she let out a soft breath, clutched the package in her hand, and murmured after looking around: "The scenes in my dreams are all real, could there really be Beyonder powers in this world...?"
For the past week, Hazel had the same dream every day. In her dream, she left home, opened the manhole cover of the underground passage again and again, and at the end of the underground passage, she saw a mysterious woman in a black robe.
Each time, Hazel would receive different, never-before-heard Beyonder knowledge from the mysterious woman and was also asked to collect some strange materials Hazel had never heard of before.
As a believer of the Evernight Goddess, in such a situation, Hazel should have immediately gone to the Church of the Evernight Goddess for shelter and help, but under the influence and interference of the dream, Hazel did not do so.
Instead, she actively collected materials and decided to explore the sewers today.
Withdrawing her gaze, Hazel quickly moved forward with a clear purpose, following the route from her dream.
After walking about ten meters, she turned into a more secluded and eerie passage, where moss and dirty things covered the walls and ground.
Hazel stopped, her voice unconsciously lowered, and she called out: "Senior, are you there? I've brought what you wanted."
Her voice echoed in the secluded, eerie passage, sounding even stranger. Hazel couldn't help but shiver, she pulled her clothes tighter and placed the package from her embrace on the ground.
Just as she felt a little lost, a familiar, slightly hoarse female voice sounded: "Well done, you possess all the potential to become a Beyonder."
"I will fulfill my promise. From today onwards, you are my student. I will guide you into the world of Beyonders."
As the words fell, the package on the ground instantly disappeared, replaced by a necklace.
This necklace was strung with seven translucent emerald stones, spaced equidistant from each other, surrounded by tiny diamonds, and even in the secluded and eerie passage, a faint glow still emanated from them.
Hazel's previously anxious mood instantly turned excited and joyful. She quickly picked up the necklace, which was eerily floating in the air.
At the same time, mysterious symbols and patterns appeared in her mind, allowing her to instantly understand the miraculous abilities of this necklace.
Ignition Necklace: Can temporarily steal others' Beyonder abilities for one's own use, with a chance to steal one ability from a target within a 50-meter radius.
The more one understands the target, the easier it is to steal the desired ability; the more ignorant, the closer to random, relying on luck.
With the dream teachings of these past few days, Hazel was no longer the ignorant girl she once was and had gained a certain understanding of the Beyonder world.
She instantly realized that the necklace in her hand was a very powerful Mystical Item.
Hazel joyfully tucked it into her embrace, planning to have an identical-looking necklace custom-made tomorrow to hide the original, so she could legitimately wear it every day from then on.
Although she didn't see any figure, Hazel still bowed first and said excitedly: "Thank you, Teacher, I will definitely diligently complete your tasks in the future and help you recover from your injuries as soon as possible."
The deep, hoarse female voice sounded again: "Very good, then you may go back for now. Be careful not to be discovered by others."
Hazel clutched the necklace in her embrace, nodded heavily, and returned the way she came.
As Hazel's figure disappeared at the end of the passage, a large, grayish-white rat scurried out from a corner, seemingly chewing on something, with the package spread open behind it, its contents long gone.
The grayish-white rat's crimson eyes looked towards the end of the passage, and a low, hoarse, resentful female voice came from its mouth: "I never thought I would fall to such a state. Where exactly is the hope of the Jacob Family?"
The grayish-white rat withdrew its gaze, and its hoarse voice echoed: "I need to cultivate her quickly. When the time is right, I can completely parasitize her and escape this rat's body..."
Flora Jacob had been severely injured when she explored the family treasure last time. Even though she managed to escape with the help of an ancestral treasure, she still ended up parasitizing a rat.
To avoid potential pursuit from the major Churches, she had been hiding in the underground passage.
After much difficulty accumulating some power, she wanted to use her Sequence to exert the power of a Dream Stealer.
Using dream guidance and mind interference, stealing thoughts, and other methods, she sought a suitable target.
Initially, the ideal state was to guide a Marauder Pathway Beyonder, but she couldn't sense even one Marauder Pathway Beyonder on Backlund Street.
In desperation, she finally found this curious noble young lady, whose councilor family background was also a decent choice.
The necklace she gave away contained her power, which could subtly change Hazel's thoughts, making her trust her teacher more and more, and become increasingly obedient...
-----------------
Backlund, side hall of the Sodela Palace.
After a period of random thoughts, Aaron reined in his mind and walked towards Earl Hall and his wife, and Audrey, who was hiding behind them.
Earl Hall looked at Aaron with a smile, satisfaction evident on his face. Unlike Audrey's worry, Earl Hall was very supportive of young people going out to experience and train.
It was with this mindset that he had supported his second son, Alfred, in going to the Southern Continent for training.
Thinking of this, Earl Hall's heart stirred, and he spoke with a smile: "Aaron, when are you planning to depart for the Southern Continent?"
"My second son, Alfred, is currently in North Cookawa City on the west coast of the Balam Empire in the Southern Continent."
"He wrote to me last time, saying that he led a special operations team of over thirty people, ambushed an Intis army of a thousand, completely defeated them, and is about to be awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel."
"Because of this, he is also about to be transferred back to the East Coast. He even complained in his letter that once he returns to the comfortable East Coast, there won't be as many opportunities to earn merit."
"Going to the Southern Continent, Alfred..."
Audrey, who had been hiding behind her Mother, troubled and unsure how to face Aaron, couldn't help but secretly prick up her ears.
Looking at Earl Hall, whose meaning was clear, Aaron understood and nodded in praise, saying: "What an excellent young man..."
He then realized that this statement was somewhat inappropriate, coughed lightly, and changed the subject: "If Mr. Alfred doesn't mind, I would like to invite him to my jurisdiction. I can personally submit a report to apply."
"As for when I'm going to the Southern Continent?"
Aaron paused, his peripheral vision meeting Audrey's eyes, which peeked out from behind her Mother.
Watching Audrey shrink back her head as if startled, Aaron's lips curled slightly as he continued: "The King's appointment letter requires me to report to MI9 in Paz River Valley by the end of February next year. There are still more than two months left."
"I plan to leave Backlund after the Evernight Goddess's Winter Solstice Festival next week, first return to East Tucker County for a period of rest, and finally travel to the Southern Continent by ship."
In fact, the original appointment letter required reporting by the end of January next year, because MI9 had prepared a military airship for Aaron and some other officers who were going to the Southern Continent for rotation, which would greatly reduce travel time.
As a strategic resource, airships were not even owned by the East Tucker Family, which held significant influence within the Loen military. To use one, an application had to be made in advance.
Although he was very curious about the airship's structure, Aaron still held back his curiosity and declined the invitation.
The reason was simple: unlike previous operations in mainland Loen or coastal areas, this time he would be far from mainland Loen, crossing the Berserk Sea to the Southern Continent.
Even for the protection of the strategic airship, at least one military demigod would accompany the airship.
If he really went, Aaron would not be naive enough to believe that the military demigod sent would be biased towards the East Tucker Family; it was more likely to be a demigod from the King's faction.
Aaron had too many secrets, many of which could not be known by others, especially the King's faction. Even with the protection of Concealment, there were many things Aaron could no longer do.
Therefore, Aaron decisively chose to travel by ship on his own. Perhaps as compensation for assigning Aaron to the Southern Continent, MI9 readily agreed to Aaron's request and even granted an additional month of leave.
At the same time, all of Aaron's positions in MI9 in Backlund were also revoked, and the message conveyed was very clear, but Aaron did not care about this.
It is worth mentioning that the original captain, Glenn Weil, was also awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel this time and would travel to the Southern Continent with Aaron.
Because of this, Joseph Weil, who had previously been transferred to garrison Paz River Valley, also personally sent a telegram, thanking Aaron for promoting his grandson, and also very "looked forward" to future cooperation with Aaron.
"The Evernight Goddess's Winter Solstice Festival..." Audrey lowered her head, silently noting down the time.
Earl Hall nodded with satisfaction, his smile gradually widening.
"Then I will thank Aaron on Alfred's behalf. I will send an urgent telegram and write a personal letter to him when I return today. I believe he will be very happy too."
After expressing his gratitude, Earl Hall glanced at the nobles and councilors around him, who looked expectant and anxious, sighed, and said softly: "I'm sure you know their purpose. As soon as they heard you were leaving Backlund, they couldn't sit still."
"You can make some preparations these days and put their minds at ease."
"Moreover, as a follower of the Evernight Goddess, the Winter Solstice Festival is indeed a holiday not to be missed, and it's also a very good social venue."
Aaron nodded noncommittally. The establishment of the Kingdom Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee also facilitated the implementation of George III's new social order, which aligned with His requirements for the deification ritual, so Aaron was not at all worried that this bill would not pass.
Since some things were destined to happen, Aaron didn't mind taking the initiative to propose them, accumulating more prestige and connections.
-----------------
December 20th, Berserk Sea, Bayam, the capital of the Rorsted Archipelago, Dock District.
Ferran and Danitz, already made up and disguised, stood in the Dock District. During this time, they had completed the tasks assigned by the captain, and the news of the "Golden Dream" treasure hunt failure had spread throughout Bayam and even the Rorsted Archipelago.
After learning about the complex background of the resistance from Aaron, Ferran never again actively contacted the resistance, and even deliberately avoided that area, leaving Danitz utterly confused.
While on Dilius Island near Bayam, Ferran also exchanged some notorious pirates for bounties. Coupled with the wages previously issued by the captain, Ferran repaid the money he owed Danitz, and even had a good amount left over.
As for Danitz, he was currently touching his chest with a silly grin, not because he was a pervert, but because it held a Mystical Item he had recently purchased at a Beyonder gathering in Bayam: the "Shadow Cloak."
Its appearance was a black cloak, allowing the user to hide in shadows and move discreetly and at high speed, corresponding to the Secrets Supplicant Pathway Sequence 7 Shadow Ascetic. The most crucial point was its minimal side effects, only causing photophobia with long-term use.
Because of this, this Mystical Item was sold at an exorbitant price of 1500 pounds, at least for Danitz it was an exorbitant price.
Danitz spent all his gold pounds on it; the money Ferran had just returned to him was paid out before it even got warm, and he even ended up owing Ferran 200 gold pounds.
However, all of this was worth it. With this Mystical Item, Danitz felt his life-saving ability was maximized.
Looking at Danitz's silly grin, Ferran also felt a bit envious. If it weren't for the prohibitive price, he would also want such a Mystical Item.
As he was thinking this, Ferran's spirituality was touched, and he suddenly felt a gaze fall upon him.
Ferran's heart tightened instantly. He turned back casually, seeing an elder with hair as white as snow, no obvious wrinkles on his face, and a black blindfold covering his entire vision, looking at him.
It was a strange feeling; despite wearing a blindfold, Ferran instinctively felt the other person was looking at him, more precisely, at his left wrist.
That was where the great Lord of Order had once left his mark. Ferran instantly realized this and became tense, his whole body stiffening.
Ricciardo seemed to sense Ferran's tension. A gentle smile appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly towards Ferran before turning and leaving.
As a councilor of the Fate Council and a Sequence 4 Misfortune Mage, after entrusting the "Die of Probability" to Roy King, and relying on several other powerful Sealed Artifacts of the Life School of Thought, he escaped the pursuit of Shaman King Klarman and other Rose School of Thought members and came to Bayam.
Guided by fate, he saw Ferran in the Dock District. Through the blindfold and the faint connection, he felt the fluctuations of fate and immediately understood:
It was the mysterious organization behind that young man that had previously lured away and severely wounded the Sequence 3 Disicple of Silence Mahmosi.
Sensing the other party's wariness, he did not initiate contact. Fate always had its own arrangements.
Watching the strangely dressed elder depart, the surrounding pedestrians seemed not to notice him, yet they actively made way for him. Ferran frowned slightly; although he didn't understand what was happening, he no longer had the mood to stay in Bayam.
He pulled Danitz, intending to board a ship. Danitz was still lost in his own fantasy and complained unhappily after being interrupted by Ferran: "What's going on? Can't you see I'm thinking about something?"
"Don't blame me for not reminding you, now that I have this Mystical Item, you can't beat me anymore."
Ferran glanced at the smug Danitz, walked forward alone, and said indifferently: "Including the boat ticket, you now owe me a total of 215 pounds."
Danitz's expression instantly froze. He caught up with Ferran's steps and coughed dryly: "Between us, who's who? Just over 200 pounds, this week, no, next week I'll definitely pay you back..."
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