Bayam Governor's Mansion.
It took nearly an hour for Klein, carried by two Celestial Sect members through an extremely deep passageway, to finally enter the labyrinthine underground prison.
No—"prison" wasn't quite accurate. This was more like an underground town, reeking of alcohol and forbidden drugs, teeming with crowds indulging in unrestrained debauchery...
Soon, the crystal encasing Klein was placed inside a heavily warded structure. Several cultists immediately attempted to breach its absolute defense using flames, blunt force, and other methods.
Unfortunately, attacks below demigod-level couldn't even leave a scratch. Cursing, they abandoned their hopes of "claiming first blood" and left, sealing the room temporarily.
When only Klein remained in the warded cell, he finally opened his eyes inside the crystal.
Channeling spirituality into a playing card beside him, he pierced through layers of bestial cries to arrive in the mysterious space above the gray fog.
This was his latest application of the "Error Card"—using this Blasphemy Slip to leverage the gray fog's power, "stealing" both the ascension process and his self-summoning ritual, then "returning" them when needed. This allowed access to the ancient space without requiring a bathroom or the four-step counterclockwise ritual.
One of Klein's prearranged plans involved using the crystal's absolute defense to protect his physical body while deploying a special spirit form—one that could instantly retreat to the gray fog—for reconnaissance.
Seated in The Fool's position, Klein laid out several Blasphemy Slips before ultimately selecting the "Demoness Card" for fusion.
After all, the "Demoness" spirit offered optimal stealth for investigative work.
Soon, an alluring female spirit with provocative attire materialized in reality through the "Summoning Gate."
Klein immediately activated invisibility. After studying the cell's wards, he found them strong enough to withstand three or four full-power "Lightning Strikes" from a "Sea Chanters"—but their spiritual defenses were lacking...
"Good. Otherwise I'd need the 'Error Card' to create a backdoor first!" Slightly relieved, Klein phased through the wall into the underground town's streets.
Surveying the orderly buildings and crowds mindlessly indulging their desires, Klein realized the Celestial Sect's surface-level harmlessness masked a deeply corrosive influence.
"But this underground space doesn't feel like true reality... Some spatial-type mystical item?
"Aside from newer constructions, most structures resemble my prison cell... Probably Bayam Governor's original supernatural prison, now hijacked by the Celestial Sect!
"If I'm right, Darkwill's teacher should be imprisoned here too..."
While analyzing, Klein's "Demoness" spirit drifted into a distinct building—an archives.
The administrator lay entangled with a woman, oblivious to the intruder.
"Lax security... Then again, how could Celestial Sect members stay disciplined with their doctrines?
"No wonder Darkwill's guard friend constantly buys potions—such unrestrained indulgence must have wrecked their health!
"Worse news: every Governor's Mansion guard and Beyonder has likely been corrupted. Otherwise authorities or the Storm Church would've been alerted.
"Thank goodness I accepted 'The Tower's' invitation. Had I attended that banquet, I'd be another mindless rutting zombie by now.
"For now, I'll investigate their operations here—ideally uncovering all their hidden bases. When that so-called 'Apostle of Procreation' returns, I'll arrange for someone to expose them in one fell swoop."
With this plan in mind, Klein quietly pulled a file from the shelves, masked by the administrator's heavy breathing.
A quick scan confirmed this was an archive holding prisoner records of Beyonders.
"'Tatsumi, Sequence 9 'Sailor'... 100 pound bearer check... withdrawal cipher...'"
Huh? They even keep interrogation records? Including sequence formulas and ritual magic setups... Pity the checks and valuables were long since claimed...
Klein flipped through several pages, noting all financial entries marked with an "X"—denoting their depletion.
As for formulas and magic, interrogators had left them untouched, unable to verify authenticity...
Unlike 'Judgement,' who can consult Ebner or 'The Fool' to confirm her interrogation findings.
Klein rapidly skimmed files like those "quantum speed-reading" scams from his past life—he didn't need perfect recall, just impressions to reconstruct via divination later.
"'Roy King, Councilor of the Fate Council in the School of Life... demigod... detained in Zone A, Cell 1...'" Finally locating Darkwill's mentor's records, Klein noted he was the prison's sole demigod inmate, housed in their most secure area.
No rush to rescue him yet. Before leaving, I'll just hurl a lightning bolt at his cell—he can handle the rest...
The real question is: with demigod prisoners, are there demigod guards? Could even they be corrupted by the Celestial Sect?
Or did the sect use the Governor to transfer high-level guardians away?
My divination suggests the latter... Otherwise I'd be fighting for my virtue right now!
After this dark humor, Klein replaced all documents. Hovering midair, he mockingly bowed to the post-coital administrator before phasing through walls toward another distinctive building.
The decor instantly signaled this belonged to a high-ranking female member. A search revealed little beyond recreational tools and potions—except one valuable diary by a woman calling herself "Abby."
"I keep this diary so I won't forget who I am."
The first page's declaration gave Klein pause. After pendulum-divining its safety, he continued:
"It all began with that experiment in February 1339..."
"300 subjects... Only I, Bianca, and Lofia survived..."
1339? Eleven years ago?
....
Trier
After touring several newspapers for sale with Fanny and Leon the "Lion," Ebner returned to his mansion to find Butler Bowen escorting a plain-looking woman in her forties into his study.
"Sir, this is Ms. Ancath. She's signed the contract and can begin her duties as housekeeper tomorrow," Bowen introduced.
As Ancath curtsied, murmuring "At your service, Detective Bryan," Ebner nearly dismissed them—until her aura triggered familiarity.
One quick "analysis" later, his gaze sharpened. This was no "Ancath"—but Bianca the "Wizard," former military attaché at the Intis Embassy in Loen!
(End of Chapter)