Interrogation

"He was backlashed by the Sealed Artifact, limiting his ability to move. It's been less than a day, so he likely hasn't gotten very far. Based on the Scene Recall, he didn't get on the subway but went straight out of the station," Detective Isengard explained as he led Ebner and Xio.

"After being backlashed by a Demon pathway Sealed Artifact, he'll crave a human soul filled with intense desire—a sacrifice that could appease the backlash."

Then, with an interested tone, he posed a question to Ebner, "So, Ebner, tell me, where around here would you find people with the strongest desires who would also make easy targets?"

Ebner thought for a moment before replying, "Intense desire... Could he have gone to a nearby brothel or the estate of a noble or wealthy merchant?"

Isengard was momentarily speechless at his student's answer, astonished that Ebner seemed to equate lustful patrons with the nobility. He had to provide a hint, "Desire comes in many forms... Also, there are no brothels in Chorwood, and charging into noble or wealthy estates would be too risky without preparation. Guards would surely be there."

After listening carefully, Ebner realized his knowledge of this world, especially Backlund, was too shallow, so he took a moment to rethink.

But Xio stepped in confidently, "Bars! There are no brothels in Chorwood, but many women who seek money come to upscale bars to find targets, while lustful men are always drawn there. Plus, the bars have underground gambling and all sorts of entertainment. That's where you'd find people driven by the strongest desires."

"Correct! And there are four bars in all of Chorwood. One is too far from here, so it's unlikely. Two are exclusive places with membership requirements, and they're close to the Saint Wind Cathedral, where there might be Justicar teams around, which would deter someone like him. But the fourth bar is three blocks away: the Blue Spirit Bar. My investigation also indicates he headed that way," Isengard replied approvingly.

In a corner of the Blue Spirit Bar, two groups of six men, visibly intoxicated, faced off while holding up their bottles. Shouting profanities, their words grew more intense and insults sharper until the confrontation escalated to shoving. As the tension reached its peak, a figure crept from an unnoticed shadow nearby, grinning cruelly as he raised a trident-shaped dagger, poised to use the chaos to start a bloodbath.

And he succeeded. The sudden bloodshed ignited the already fraught atmosphere, and soon, both groups grabbed whatever weapons were at hand and lunged at each other, plunging the scene into utter chaos. Meanwhile, that shadowy figure moved from person to person along the edges, with each appearance bringing a life to an end.

When all ten men lay lifeless in pools of blood, the figure slipped into a dark alley beside the bar. Wiping the blood from his dagger, he finally noticed something was off. Despite the commotion, no bar security had intervened. Even more troubling, he hadn't considered this vulnerability until just now.

Realizing his danger, he tried to melt into the shadows and flee.

Unfortunately for him, his attempt failed. At the same time, he faintly heard a command in Ancient Hermes, "No shadow-stepping here."

"Judge… Nightmare." The titles flashed in his mind, leaving him utterly terrified. Why would Sequence 6 and Sequence 7 Beyonder be after him?

Before his thoughts fully formed, a faint floral fragrance reached his nose, and his senses warned him of danger. Yet before he could react, he collapsed into unconsciousness.

At that moment, a phantasmal veil seemed to lift, restoring the bar to its previous state. The men who'd just been fighting now raised their glasses, toasting and drinking as though nothing had happened, the recent brawl seeming like a mere dream.

"It was indeed a dream! The combination of Nightmare, Judge, and Apothecary abilities took down a Sequence 8 Beyonder without so much as a sound. Even with these abilities weakened, that's no small feat," thought Ebner, moving with Xio as they quietly dragged the captive to a secluded alley. Both were in awe of Detective Isengard's techniques.

Isengard removed a ring from his finger and, with a smile, introduced it, "This is one of my magical items. It used to be classified as 2-081, from a Sequence 6 Reader who lost control. It lets me recognize, observe, remember, and simulate any supernatural ability I've encountered. But the stronger the ability, the greater the chance of failure, and even if successful, there's always a big gap compared to the original."

Ebner, already familiar with the item, kept his reaction hidden. Yet he couldn't help but think, Since this ring originated from a Beyonder characteristic, maybe my Pure White Eye can analyze the potion formulas hidden within. Once I start training at my teacher's home, I'll observe it more closely.

Xio, on the other hand, was puzzled, "2-081? What does that mean?" As an independent Beyonder, she didn't know much about Sealed Artifacts.

"Many mystical items have dangerous drawbacks, so the Churches of the Seven Orthodox Gods collect and seal them, labeling them Sealed Artifacts and marking them with numbers for identification.

"After much negotiation and cooperation, the seven churches established a unified system with levels 0, 1, 2, and 3 to indicate levels of danger. Level 0s are the most dangerous and are said to contain items that can destroy nations or even the world.

"Levels 0 and 1 are reported among the churches, with unique labels that don't repeat. For levels 2 and 3, each church tracks its own, meaning numbers can overlap across different churches."

After Isengard's explanation, the three arrived at the mouth of a remote alleyway. The detective knelt, and lifted a manhole cover, revealing a dark underground chamber.

"This is one of my safe houses. It's secure—go on down," he said, nodding reassuringly.

After a quick glance between them, Ebner and Xio took a deep breath and climbed down. Isengard followed, securing the manhole behind them.

Once Isengard lit a candle, Ebner saw that it wasn't a sewer but a roughly 20-square-meter, four-meter-deep underground shelter. On the east wall, there was a door leading somewhere.

"That door connects to the actual sewer nearby. If someone blocks the main exit, it serves as an emergency route," Isengard explained after noticing Ebner's curious gaze. Then he clapped his hands together, "All right, while the sedative is still effective, let's interrogate this attacker. I have a Telepathist skill I can use to ensure he tells the truth."

Ebner and Xio nodded, eager to learn if anyone else was behind the attack.

Under the influence of Mind Reader, the unconscious man's answers were soon revealed:

"My name is Turner. I am a Sequence 8 Instigator, affiliated with the Theosophy Order, reporting to a Witch named Rena. She's my only point of contact within the organization, and I've never met any other members."

"About six months ago, through Rena, I was assigned to assist a few human traffickers in selling people without drawing the Church's attention. I assumed an alias, Hicks, and joined a loan shark gang, where I could fulfill my duties while digesting my potion. I guided the gang leader, Lawson, to draft contracts full of traps, then used my Beyonder powers to convince people to accept the deals. Many were left destitute, and I trafficked their family members as part of my mission."

"A month ago, Rena rewarded me with this trident-shaped dagger for my performance. When I asked her for the Sequence 7 potion formula, she hinted that my dedication was lacking, then left."

"As for that badge, I found it among a debtor's seized belongings. It's a powerful item capable of cursing someone through their emotions! Unfortunately, it was damaged during the backlash, and I'm not sure if it's still usable."

"I also confiscated another odd badge. It looks ordinary and has no apparent function, but the words on it make me think it might be a token from some organization…"

Hearing this, Isengard frowned. He searched Turner's coat pockets and, indeed, found another badge.

"This one?"

"Yes, that's it!" Turner replied, still under the truth-inducing influence.

The three examined the badge. It was about the size of an eye, with symbols representing fate and concealment on the front and a tight cluster of Ancient Hermes characters on the back that read:

"Possession grants membership."

Although Ebner didn't yet know Ancient Hermes, Xio read the inscription aloud immediately.

"Maybe it's a clue to some treasure," Isengard suggested, his detective instincts piqued by the mystery.

But Ebner shook his head, recalling a reference from the novel. He hadn't recognized the badge at first, but the phrase sparked his memory. He informed Xio and Isengard, "This is an invitation token for the Hermit of Fate gathering. It also functions as a communication and tracking device."

"An invitation to the Hermit of Fate… What's that?" Isengard asked, puzzled. Xio also looked at him, waiting for clarification.

"The Hermit of Fate is a secret society founded in the latter part of the Fourth Epoch by a few families from the Marauder pathway. Most members have connections to that sequence." Ebner didn't elaborate much, giving only a brief explanation.

"You know a lot about the secrets of the Fourth Epoch, Ebner!" Isengard remarked in mild astonishment but refrained from probing further.

If I shared what I know about the Third Epoch, we'd be in serious trouble, Ebner thought with a wry smile. He then turned his attention back to Turner and asked, "How often do you report to Rena? And did she know you cursed Xio?"