Part 2: The Faceless Man Chapter 151: The Church of Tranquility

　　How to summarize the rest of the “Magician’s Code”? Klein thought about the question that was so important to him as he flipped idly through the newspaper he had read so long ago.

　　He had already considered the difference between “with or without the audience’s applause”, but this alone did not seem to be enough.

　　With this thought, Klein’s mind quickly spread out, inexplicably associated with something:

　　When I was still in the stage of “Diviner”, getting the approval of others and being praised as a true diviner would give me a feeling that the magic potion would be digested faster, but after summarizing the “Diviner’s Code”, I began to think that there was no direct correlation between this and other people’s opinions and feedback were only manifestations rather than reality. Feedback is only the performance, not the substance, play well enough, will naturally be recognized, will naturally make digestion faster.

　　In other words, I had always believed that the two were different manifestations of the same harvest, not a cause-and-effect relationship.

　　But now, with the “option” of “audience applause” ……, if it does help me digest potions, does it mean that there are plays that really need feedback, and that other people’s perceptions subtly influence how I digest potions? I’m not sure if it does help me digest my potion.

　　Ergo, by extension, does the fact that the seven orthodox deities established churches, spread their faith, and cultivated their followers factor into this?

　　…… This is really a blasphemous idea, I really am not a person who reveres the gods from the bottom of his heart, I can praise, but I won’t be a fanatic …… Klein hurriedly adjusted his thoughts, looking for another point of entry.

　　He repeatedly compared the subtle differences between “diviner”, “clown” and “magician”, and gradually came up with an idea:

　　In comparison, does the “magician” who needs to “perform” imply “initiative”?

　　Is the “magician”, in contrast to the “performer” who needs to “perform”, “proactive”? Is he actively looking for an opportunity to perform, unlike the “soothsayer” and the “clown”, who are passive?

　　From the perspective of fate, this is also in line with the “soothsayer” who fears fate, to the “clown” who is teased by fate but still has to keep a smile on his face, to the “magician” who actively challenges fate, even if it is only to obtain a false fortune. To the “magician” who takes the initiative to challenge fate, even if it is only to obtain false results, only to get the applause of the audience through deception. ……

　　Klein nodded his head imperceptibly, intending to try and take the initiative to do a performance.

　　Where to start? It’d have to be something relatively less dangerous, er, that vampire called Emlyn White being held captive by Father Utravski could be something to consider ……

　　But only if I can confirm that their group of non-humans are consistently law-abiding and at best a bit of thieves …… What part of Bridge South does Emlyn’s companion live in? I can’t remember, so I’ll try to recall it later… Well, I’ll make sure it’s dangerous, by the way ……

　　Thinking about this, Klein put down the newspaper, got up and marched upstairs.

　　It had to be said that it was not in his character to actively get involved in something that had almost nothing to do with himself without the rest of his motives, but for the sake of playing the role, he could only force himself to do so.

　　It was easy for me, but what would a straight man do as a “witch” or “pleasure witch”? No wonder Silver City emphasized that “you’re just playing”…… Klein suddenly understood the words of caution.

　　……

　　Silver City, in a dimly lit room at the top of the round tower.

　　The chief of the “Council of Six”, Colin Iliad, was standing in front of the window, gazing at Silver City, which was shrouded in darkness and lightning.

　　The bright light illuminated his white, disheveled hair, the old scars on his face that were either twisted or grim, the deep lines in his face and his worried eyes.

　　After an indeterminate amount of time, Colin turned his body, looked into the dark corner, and asked in a hushed voice:

　　”Anything?”

　　In the corner, a shadow stood up, darkly projected onto the wall, and twisted and brayed.

　　Its voice was rather harsh with the feel of metal being rubbed against it:

　　”Derek Berg has shown certain abnormalities since returning to his home, but nothing that needs immediate attention yet.”

　　Colin nodded softly:

　　”What kinds of things has he done?”

　　After taking on the form of a light man with the help of that magical item at the bottom of the round tower and resolving the runaway and the mysterious man who wasn’t his own body, he had always suspected that things hadn’t been completely resolved.

　　The former exploration squad leader had suddenly lost control, and the mysterious man had held back for a full forty-two years but recklessly launched an operation without considering the traps and consequences …… All of this made Colin, who had hunted and killed many monsters, instinctively feel that something was not right.

　　Therefore, he thought that this was a choice deliberately made by the mysterious person, although the real purpose of the other party is unknown for the time being, but there must be a corresponding means of follow-up, will not be that simple to be removed.

　　After using the ability of the “Demon Hunter” did not find any abnormality, he intentionally pretended to be deceived by the past, and directly sent the teenager called Derek Burger to go home, but secretly sent people to carry out close monitoring.

　　This was very different from the previous handling of the incarceration inspection, and was a change that Colin had to make.

　　The ever-so-slightly shaking black shadow replied:

　　”After he entered the room, he sat down on the edge of the bed and whispered to himself for quite a while, because I was worried about being discovered by that mysterious person, I didn’t get too close and didn’t hear exactly what was said, but I can confirm that it was a sign of abnormality.

　　After talking to himself, Derek seemed to become very tired, and soon fell asleep, but not long after sleeping, he suddenly woke up and performed a ritual, I suspect that at this time he was not awake, in a state controlled by that mysterious person.

　　By the way, that ritual had a mystic element to it.”

　　Colin pondered for a while with a pensive expression and said:

　　”Sure enough …… maybe he is communicating with his essence through this way.”

　　”What exactly is his purpose? Why would he be at ease spending forty-two years at the bottom of a round tower?”

　　The black shadow naturally could not answer this question and continued:

　　”After the ceremony, Derek didn’t show any more unusual behavior.

　　Does this matter need to be dealt with immediately? We may not be able to deal with it if that mysterious person’s main body is drawn in.”

　　”Council of Six,” Chief Colin said after a few seconds of silence:

　　”Continue to observe. That mysterious person hasn’t shown substantial enough malice for the time being, so our reaction can’t be too drastic.

　　Hey, do you still remember that prophecy? It’s almost time for disaster to strike …… We’re exploring farther and farther, finding more and more odd relics, and harvesting more and more dangerous things ……”

　　”At your will, Lord Chief.” The black shadow slowly retracted into the ground and disappeared.

　　At that moment, in the Berg house, Derek suddenly coughed violently, coughing so hard that his heart seemed to be cracking as a result.

　　Cough cough cough!

　　He crouched down and kept coughing until his throat tickled and he coughed up something!

　　Snapping, a translucent thing slid across his throat and fell to the ground, a worm the size and thickness of a finger!

　　It had some fully translucent areas on it that formed a circle.

　　Derek had seen something similar at the base of the round tower before, and used it to be utterly certain that he was free of Amon’s influence.

　　He bent down and picked up the translucent bug, finally counting a total of twelve circles on the other side.

　　What was its use? What can it be used for? It seems to be dead …… Derek was deep in thought.

　　……

　　Winter County in the northern part of the Kingdom of Rune.

　　A spiked gothic black church towered over an extremely large area of snow-filled mountains.

　　In front of it was a cliff, and it was surrounded by a white blanket without the slightest sound.

　　This was the Serenity Church, the headquarters of the Church of the Goddess of the Night, commonly known as the Holy Church.

　　The ink-haired, blue-eyed Leonard Mitchell put on a black trench coat and red gloves and walked out of his room.

　　Having been successfully promoted and solidified he had yet to be given a chance to participate in the action, along with some practice and so-called occult lessons.

　　Rounding the corner, Leonard saw a staircase leading down and saw the likes of Captain Dunn Smith, dressed in a black trenchcoat with ethereal gray eyes, and Klein Moretti, with a faintly bookish air, standing there, smiling and waiting.

　　He tilted his head slightly and sighed silently:

　　”My memory’s gotten worse, too.

　　I’d forgotten you guys were gone ……”

　　Leonard withdrew his gaze and descended the stairs to the first floor of the church, knocking on the door and entering a modest room.

　　The room was lined with chairs and scattered with red-gloved night watchmen.

　　Leonard took a seat at random and smiled and chatted with a friend he knew.

　　After a while, the senior deacon, Krystai Sesima, whose collar was up high, covering his chin and lips, walked in and sat at the front of the room, facing the crowd:

　　”Today’s lesson is going to show you some things to keep in mind.

　　As ‘Red Gloves’, you will be traveling all over the place, and there is a certain probability that you will encounter dangerous High Sequence Extraordinaires.

　　If their malice is obvious and they want to kill you, the only thing you can do is to covertly leave traces so that the subsequent investigators can get the corresponding clues, the specific ways are ……

　　However, very often, those high sequence extraordinary beings will not necessarily do it directly, and will utilize you based on various factors.

　　You must be vigilant enough not to be fooled, and the following are a few scenarios that we have summarized.”

　　Leonard, sitting in the back, listened with a smile on his face, attentive; the object of his vengeance was a High Sequence Extraordinary!

　　Senior Deacon Cecima paused for two seconds and continued:

　　”In the first case, there are High Sequence Extraordinary Beings who will disguise themselves as hidden existences and trick you into chanting his corresponding descriptions with promises and hopes.

　　In the second case, some High Sequence Extraordinary Beings may be in the state of being detained and sealed, and they will pretend to be magical items that fulfill wishes to entice you to help him get out of the trap, for example, a divine lamp that can fulfill three wishes, for example, a wishing pool.

　　In the third case, the name of a certain high sequence magic potion is called ‘Parasite’, they often claim that they have lost their bodies and can only coexist with your spiritual body, and can only rely on you and cannot harm you, then give you knowledge, recipes and all kinds of favors in the hope that you will be strong enough to help him rebuild his body or take revenge. ”

　　”And in reality, the parasitized extraordinary will only become their sustenance as a way to continue their life and state.”

　　Leonard’s smile faded as he listened.