"Captain, how's Old Neil doing?" Klein, stationed at headquarters, rushed forward anxiously as Dunn returned.
"He's stable. Old Neil's self-control is strong. It's late, but if he stops receiving that knowledge, there's still a chance to save him. With the tense situation, we're short-handed, so he'll stay in the church for now. Once this is over, we'll send him to Backlund for treatment."
Dunn's tone carried palpable relief. Just a hair's breadth, and he'd have lost another teammate to an almost absurd cause.
"That's good," Klein exhaled, relaxing slightly. Dunn sighed.
"But Old Neil can't touch anything occult-related for now, so your mysticism lessons are on hold. Mystical knowledge is dangerous—best not to 'self-study.'"
"No problem, Captain. Old Neil said I've mastered everything I can access for now. The rest is just practice," Klein shook his head. Dunn managed a strained smile.
"We owe this to a wild Beyonder. They didn't reveal their identity or pathway, but their Sequence is likely high. Here's their description… Oh, I forgot, you're not on field duty…" Dunn tucked away the report meant for Klein, ignoring his raised hand and puzzled look, then turned.
"I'm back to inform you. I'm heading out for patrol soon. Stay safe. If anything happens, use the secret passage to Saint Selena's Church…"
…
"I actually digested a portion?!" Meanwhile, Trissy, sensing feedback from her potion, looked stunned.
In mere hours, she'd digested more of her potion than in the half-month of covertly cursing civilians.
"What's the principle here? Is this how Demoness should act? Or is there some hidden feedback mechanism? I know the Acting Method, but why does acting digest the potion… How much would that question cost…?"
The thought made Trissy grit her teeth. That cat hadn't left a contact method, meaning she'd either have to pray to that unknown entity or wait for him to show up.
…
Snow, unaware of Trissy's musings, was holed up in his study, drafting plans in Chinese.
Though digesting his potion had eased his choice paralysis, preventing near-loss of control at every decision, the past half-month had ingrained a habit of preparing contingencies.
With the great sage Lahm as a model, having multiple backup plans never hurt.
By listing all options and weighing pros and cons in advance, he'd avoid agonizing over choices when the time came.
…
In Backlund, a city teetering on edge, dark undercurrents swirled. Aurora Order lunatics attempted dangerous rituals almost daily, but these were irrelevant to Snow, residing in the West Borough. No matter how deranged, the Aurora Order wouldn't stir trouble at Mr. A's doorstep.
His predecessor's "inheritance" exceeded 20,000 pounds—a fortune that, even with Backlund's prices, ensured a comfortable life for years without splurging on luxuries.
Thus, Snow spent his first week back in Backlund's volatile climate quietly. No old clients visited, no new ones sought him out. He stayed indoors, not even stepping out, with meals delivered from a nearby Intis restaurant.
Though this cost over three pounds daily, safety made the price negligible.
The clock ticked steadily. Snow, reviewing his plans once more, glanced at the dial.
Ten minutes to three p.m.
Lighting a match, he burned today's plans to ash, using his Sequence 7 anti-divination ability to erase their last traces from existence.
"Lily!"
"Meow?" At Snow's call, Lily emerged from some hidden nook, eyeing the cat food poured into her dish with a fawning purr.
"No one gets near the house until I wake, but no killing, got it?"
Snow set the dish before Lily, giving his usual instructions. She nodded, flashing a human-like smile, then buried her face in the food.
Snow glanced at Lily, unsure if she was playing dumb or genuinely clueless, then settled into a comfortable position, awaiting the crimson tide of light…
…
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool. Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man. Good afternoon, Mr. Devil…"
Miss Justice's sweet, joyful voice rang out. Snow snapped out of the brief disorientation of ascending the gray fog, adjusted his posture, and joined the Tarot Club's greetings.
"Mr. Fool, I've brought a page of Roselle's diary this time."
After Justice and Hanged Man reported no diaries, Snow pressed a hand to his chest, speaking respectfully.
Mr. Fool, realizing Mr. Devil had returned to Backlund, felt a spark of delight but maintained his Fool persona, chuckling softly, "Very good."
With his words, a crimson fountain pen and yellowish parchment appeared before Snow. Though his first time, with Miss Justice's eager guidance, he quickly "mastered" their use, writing neat Chinese characters.
Capping the pen, the parchment materialized before Mr. Fool, who paused before reading.
It was the first time since transmigrating that he'd seen such impeccably written Chinese.
"Could it be Roselle's original draft?" Klein wondered, but upon reading the text, he nearly broke his Fool facade. The opening line read:
"Finally got the Seer potion formula. Time to gather materials. Roselle, Roselle, I hope you didn't screw me over!"
"This isn't Roselle's diary!" Klein's mind reeled, yet a surge of exhilaration grew within him.
(End of Chapter)
Author's Note:
I. On Trissy digesting her potion faster by saving Old Neil than by killing civilians—
First, I believe the [Demoness] Acting principle revolves around being "a feared, calamity-bringing, mystically powerful woman."
Second, potion digestion requires feedback, which varies by audience. Klein scaring the Red Angel versus ordinary people yields vastly different results.
Killing civilians gave little feedback not because it violates Demoness Acting but because Trissy, to avoid official attention, targeted the near-dead and acted covertly. Only she knew they were murders; others saw natural deaths, generating no fear of her, especially from mere mortals.
Saving Old Neil, however, terrified a Sequence 8 on the spot, showcased "supernatural power" and "femininity," and foretold "misfortune." The news spread among Nighthawks and Punishers, reaching many, hitting multiple Acting elements, and involving higher-Sequence individuals, making faster digestion reasonable.
II. The great sage Lahm refers to Herman Lahm, who redefined U.S. bank robbery standards. Look up his story. He's marked by two traits: extreme bad luck and OCD born from it. His misfortune forced him to prepare numerous contingencies, and his bad luck ensured he always needed them.