Fors Wall sat at the table, visibly uneasy. She had heard the "Abraham" surname from the old woman who introduced her to the Beyonder world, and thus harbored deep wariness and fear toward this ancient Beyonder family. Despite her calm facade before Audrey and Glaint, she was, after all, just a novice Beyonder, ignorant of many secrets in the Beyonder realm.
"…The potion you took, was it left by Aulisa?" Adrian asked, adopting a "nostalgic" tone, addressing Fors solemnly. In truth, he didn't know *Aulisa*, the Abraham Family widow; even his body's original owner was only distantly related to her husband.
But what did that matter? Fors wouldn't know, and an Outer God wouldn't reveal the ruse. By speaking words that stirred her tension and nostalgia, he could smoothly advance his goals.
"Ah… yes, Mr. Abraham," Fors replied, prompted by Adrian's lead, briefly recounting how she acquired her Beyonder characteristic. Adrian nodded thoughtfully. When *Fors* finished, sipping tea and glancing nervously at the silent Adrian, he sighed deeply, saying with "emotion," "It seems Aulisa saw you as a daughter… Sigh, with her husband gone and bearing the Abraham Family's fate, I can understand her choice. Otherwise, she wouldn't have passed her 'Beyonder characteristic' to you. But, Miss Fors, let me think… Did she also leave you a bracelet?"
"Mrs. Aulisa brought warmth to my motherless life, acting almost like a mother," Fors said, curious about "Beyonder characteristics" but emphasizing, "The bracelet… yes, she left me one with supernatural effects. If you're here to reclaim it, I can return it now…"
Adrian raised a hand, stopping Fors from removing the bracelet. After a "pensive" pause, he said, "You're a woman who values loyalty. Keep the bracelet—I don't lack Beyonder items, but it might save your life someday. However, Miss Fors, I must warn you: unless absolutely necessary, do not use this item."
"Huh?" Fors blinked, about to ask about the warning and "Beyonder characteristics," but Adrian's grave expression silenced her. Her writer's intuition told her this touched Abraham Family secrets, so she held her tongue. Adrian, rubbing his chin, mused, "But if you want to know… there's another way. You've touched the Abraham bloodline, so you could…"
Fors's ears perked up.
"Would you become my… or rather, the Abraham Family's student?" Adrian asked, his expression stern. "This would repay your sending off Mrs. Aulisa and reward your sincerity. If you become our student, I can even provide the potion formula for the next sequence, Trickmaster."
Fors's heart raced.
...
"Are you really taking her as a student? Why?" the True Creator asked, his voice low. After Adrian reformed the Aurora Order's followers, the True Creator's mental state visibly improved, shifting from tormented madness to an occasionally grumbling schizophrenic. Though still battling his chaotic humanity, he could now confine his ravings to the Forsaken Land of the Gods, sparing the Secret Supplicants.
"Not me. The Abraham Family's student," the High-Dimensional Overseer clarified.
"Hmm…" The True Creator turned, eyeing the tantalizing food illusions Adrian conjured, resisting the urge to curse. "When will you advance to Hermit?"
"No rush," the High-Dimensional Overseer said, shaking his head. "Last time, my low strength and the 'True Creator's favored' excuse barely fooled Leodero. He grudgingly accepted my 'altered' truth. But advancing again so soon would insult his intelligence. Brainless as he is, he's far stronger than that traitor Badheil.
"I recall… Twilight Giant… Why say that?" the True Creator asked, intrigued, clearly still bitter about past betrayals.
"It hasn't happened yet," the High-Dimensional Overseer said casually. "Just visions I've seen. Sadly, in most, *Badheil's end is utterly disgraceful. If the Circle of Inevitability saw his life, it'd applaud his 'glorious' deeds."
A traitor dies by betrayal; the Twilight Giant falls before the apocalypse. Not the High-Dimensional Overseer's favorite ending—too straightforward—but one the weak, fate-obsessed Circle of Inevitability would relish.
"Also," the True Creator added abruptly, "What potion did you give that viscount, and why mark him with your favor?"
"That's Mr. A's doing—Sequence 9 Apothecary, I think. Your pathway's too obvious; anyone with status would know. And divine favor's cheap, especially with so many Sefirah Castle-linked people around him," Adrian said, lips curling into a strange smile. From the carriage, he glanced at Viscount Glaint's excited face. Behind Glaint, transparent, near-indifferent eyes opened, silently watching. The Apothecary potion formula in Glaint's pocket warped, transforming into an unprecedented recipe.
Dimension pathway, Sequence 9: Actor!
"With my favor at this pathway's peak, you won't lose control from its pollution…" Adrian whispered to himself, lips splitting into an expectant grin.
"A Loen noble, a youth craving Beyonder powers, the future stage's finest actor…"
An emperor losing control at a ritual—neither perfect nor despairing. The High-Dimensional Overseer disliked such scripts. Following his Sefirot, he'd watch this emperor lead his kingdom to ruin in the most tragic way. Oh, and Cheek—he didn't yet know the divine descent vessel he'd chosen was already in the High-Dimensional Overseer's sights. Would the Primordial Demoness, seeing Him toy with Trissy, curse like the Supernova Dominator?
...
"Black Emperor, could this aid your fall? A favored one from the stars, an Outer God coveting reality… Don't you think you're neither as ruthless as Roselle nor as clever as Solomon? How dare you die so cheaply?" Adrian noticed Mr. A glancing over, flashing an affable smile. "Let's go, Mr. A."
"Back to the Aurora Order. Time's short. I'm heading to Tingen tomorrow morning, so you'll handle the Order's activities here," Adrian said. "If anything urgent arises, summon my messenger to contact me."
Mr. A watched, seemingly awaiting the messenger's incantation.
"Eyes wandering in delusion, sage hidden behind the curtain, messenger of Adrian Abraham," Adrian instructed carefully. "And always pray to the Lord first."
Adrian gripped Mr. A's shoulder, solemn.
Sunlight bathed Tingen's streets, rousing even listless vagrants. Benson checked his watch, sighing. Even the wealthy had woes—despite that generous, enthusiastic gentleman, sudden matters forced Adrian back to Backlund. Thankfully, last night's letter confirmed Adrian's wish to finalize their business deal this morning.
For stable salary growth, Benson arrived early at the agreed spot to show sincerity. Now on his third coffee in Adrian's reserved room, he wondered if he'd come *too* early. As he stood to stretch, the door opened, and Adrian entered, dressed formally.
Today, Adrian skipped his monocle, wary of Tingen's Amon tracing occult links to parasitize the Moretti family. Imagine Klein, "Great Master Above the Fog," returning to find Benson and Melissa grinning with monocles, cheerfully ending the game with a GG.
"Hello, Mr. Abraham. You look well today!" Benson stood, complimenting. Adrian chuckled, sitting with a playful tone, "Maybe it's returning home. I relaxed there. Home's always where you're most at ease, no matter its state."
"Indeed, Mr. Abraham," Benson said, smiling at thoughts of his siblings. "You're right—home's always comforting."
Adrian skimmed the contract Benson handed over, casually raising questions about unclear points, while his consciousness, spanning countless timelines, conversed with itself.
"Can we go back?" a sentimental Adrian asked.
"I don't recall my house's look or the smell of egg fried rice in the pan. Once I forget everything, you'll stop fretting," the High-Dimensional Overseer replied coldly. "No home left. This curtain is our home now."
"No going back…" a calm, near-indifferent Adrian mused, rare emotion surfacing. "Fine, this life's not bad."
…
"Pleasure doing business, Benson," Adrian said, smiling brightly, signing the contract fluidly. "In my hometown, we celebrate deals with a meal. Got time for lunch to mark our success?"
"Er… probably not. My sister's waiting. Oh, and just call me Benson," he said, politely declining. "Klein worked a night shift and is likely still snoring. You understand—as a brother, I need to check on him."
"Ah, bad timing then," Adrian said, smiling. "But since I'm back in Tingen, I can have my 'servant' whip up some Intis-style dishes and visit. Mind if I drop by, Benson? And skip the 'mister'—call me Adrian."
With the offer so gracious, Benson couldn't refuse. His lips curved, finding this overly familiar gentleman irresistibly charming. Laughing sincerely, he said, "I'll await your visit, Adrian."
Viscount Glaint, thrilled, gathered materials for the potion formula. Opening a box from Mr. A, he found the main ingredient. Suddenly dizzy, he muttered, "This potion… What are the Actor's Beyonder abilities?"
(End of Chapter)
Author's Note: Due to unavoidable overlap with Patriarch Pathway's sequence, this is retroactively named "Opera Actor." After Volume 2 introduces "Opera Actor," "Actor" refers to Patriarch pathway.
Translator's Note: Yes the author use 'He' as a pronoun for Cheek.