Chapter 45: Ning Lu's Preaching and Klein's Current Situation
Admisol swallowed, feeling as though he stood at a fork in the road of fate.
The others called him "Monster," an outcast who could see misfortune; even the church's priests had told him he carried calamity and kept his life under watch.
He certainly refused to trust the "Aurora Order envoy" before him—he was a believer in the true gods and, though poor, walked a path of safety.
But… but what if the man was right?
Admisol swallowed again; whispered words bored into his heart:
"In our doctrine there is a saying: everything bears divinity."
"Every member of the Aurora Order is a lamb of the creator, bound by blood as brothers and sisters. We are part of the creator; even without blood ties, the bond of faith lets us care for one another."
—This narrowed the gap between Beyonders and commoners, letting the "Monster" Admisol empathize with the Order.
"The world calls the Aurora Order the greatest terror, murdering nobles and officials, scorning law and order. But who knows the crimes those nobles and officials committed?"
"If the law could punish them, they'd be in prison and wouldn't die by our hand; if we don't answer violence with violence, who will hear the cries of the poor girl beaten to death by a noble?"
—This justified the Order's actions, using the girl's fate to stir a poor youth's rage against aristocratic crimes.
"I won't force you to believe in the creator. If you choose not to, the fault is ours—we failed to let you feel His grace, leaving you still in an evil god's embrace."
"But I hope you will believe in the creator's angel of fate, for the potion you are to receive comes from Him."
—Finally, stressing freedom of belief, admitting fault, and softening Admisol's resistance.
Ning Lu's gaze was calm.
"I see your heart. You are pure, clear; you shouldn't waste your precious youth to madness and confusion. Stay, and you will be freed from the misery that has bound you all your life."
When Ning Lu finished, the room sank into silence. He didn't press; he simply waited for Admisol's answer.
After a long pause, Admisol lowered his head and murmured, "I'll stay, Mr. L. Only… I'm still afraid…"
"Of course you may stay. Rest assured, you have plenty of time to adjust," Ning Lu said gently.
"Mr. Z, help this new brother join our older ones."
Ning Lu guessed Mr. Z was nearby.
Indeed, as the words left Ning Lu's mouth, Mr. Z pushed open the door. His eyes were rimmed red; he spoke heavily: "Your words shame me. When you have time, I hope you will hear my confession."
"No problem, whenever I'm free." Ning Lu added, "Admisol's spiritual perception is strong; for now he can't receive the Lord's grace."
"Understood."
With that, Mr. Z extended his hand to Admisol and said gently,
"Come with me. The envoy favors you—don't disappoint him."
Admisol followed Mr. Z in a daze, Ning Lu's words still echoing in his mind. After several corridors he asked blankly,
"What… what should I do for the envoy?"
"First, let you hear the Lord's doctrine." After Ning Lu's preaching, Mr. Z was unusually patient: "The envoy says your perception is strong, you can't yet receive the Lord's grace—so read our doctrine first; our brothers will prepare the Sacred Meal for you."
At the words "Sacred Meal," Admisol's Adam's apple bobbed.
He hadn't eaten today… "Huh?"
Arriving at Blackthorn Security Company, Klein looked at the report Dunn Smith handed him:
"Triss was spotted yesterday, but the arrest failed?"
Exactly," Dunn said.
"You were off duty, and we had trackers—but even so the Instigator Triss vanished on Iron Cross Street as if evaporated."
Klein recalled Constable Monbatten whom Benson had seen, and the unease he himself had felt; urgency flared in him and he offered,
"Need my help?"
Dunn eyed him. "Divination? No—the Machinery Hivemind has a Mystery Pryer, a veteran Beyonder hardly inferior to Old Neil…"
Dunn's voice trailed off.
Klein knew Dunn had fallen silent at the mention of Old Neil, and he himself felt the same pang. He shook it off and whispered,
"Captain, not divination—my other channel…"
Realizing what Klein meant, Dunn glanced toward Roseanne; she guiltily ducked her head.
"Let's go downstairs."
Klein nodded and followed Dunn into his office. Sitting across the desk, he tested,
"I've met Mr. L of the Aurora Order; maybe such cults have different intel and know something useful."
Dunn studied him for several seconds, then slowly tapped the desktop. "You seem to trust your friend. But a cult is still a cult, Klein."
His voice turned stern:
"The Aurora Order's bloodbaths outnumber those of any other cult. Klein, I must remind you—your friend is an envoy of the Order; his hands are stained with blood."
But he's a Transmigrator… I can't say that… Klein grumbled inwardly, then drew a breath:
"Captain, I'm willing to swear before the Goddess. As you say, I can't gamble on a cultist's conscience—but I want to catch the Instigator sooner."
Klein met Dunn's gaze and gave a bitter smile:
"After all, my family's in Tingen too; they're threatened by such a vicious criminal."