Hermann spoke with undisguised pride—
"In the hierarchy of 'Mystics,' there are four primary ranks—
Fate, God, Mystery, and Ability."
Then, with a smug look—
"And I, am an 'Ability-tier Mystic.'"
📌 Lorien silently processed this.
So…
Hermann was at the lowest level of the supernatural world?
Lorien kept his face neutral—
But internally, he was making comparisons.
Where exactly did he stand in this ranking system?
Hermann continued, casually throwing out more unfamiliar jargon—
"Becoming a 'Mystic' is another matter entirely, but it's irrelevant for now.
You won't have access to the necessary pathways anytime soon.
What matters is this—
After awakening as a Mystic, one must practice 'Meditation' to refine their 'Spirituality,' deepening their 'Consciousness Sea' and developing their own 'Spells.'"
📌 Ah.
A clear attempt to bait Lorien into paying for more information.
Hermann paused deliberately, waiting.
📌 Lorien narrowed his eyes.
Fine.
He pulled out three more ten-pound notes, tossing them onto the seat.
"Third question—What is a 'Spell'?"
Hermann smirked.
Pocketed the cash.
And continued—
"Think of a revolver.
If 'Spirituality' is the gunpowder and bullets, then a 'Spell' is the gun itself.
Without a properly shaped Spell, your Spirituality can't be fully utilized.
Every time a Mystic ascends in rank, they unlock 1-3 new Spells.
Some Spells, however, are universal.
Meaning, they can be learned and used by anyone—so long as they have the right knowledge."
📌 Lorien immediately handed him six more notes.
"Fourth and fifth questions—Tell me about 'Meditation' and 'Consciousness Sea.'"
📌 Hermann looked genuinely surprised.
"Damn. You really are loaded."
📌 Lorien smirked.
'Generous donations from East London's most enthusiastic volunteers.'
Hermann pocketed the money but suddenly asked something odd—
"Why do you have so much cash?"
📌 Lorien arched an eyebrow.
"Why are you so broke?"
If Mystics possessed supernatural power, why wasn't Hermann living like a king?
Why was he nickel-and-diming Lorien for information?
📌 Hermann chuckled, pushing down his hat.
"I knew you were thinking that."
Then he explained—
"As far as I know, no Mystic—not even a high-ranking one—can fully resist modern firearms.
Take me, for example. As an 'Ability-tier Mystic,' I can run faster, jump higher, and react quicker than a normal person.
But a bullet will still kill me just the same.
The only difference is…
A regular guy dies in one shot.
I can take two."
📌 Lorien immediately lost interest.
Weak.
His own abilities—
The ring's spectral projection, for instance—
Could completely ignore bullets.
His own regenerative ability let him tank an entire clip (painful, but survivable).
If Hermann was considered "supernatural," then Lorien was in a whole different league.
📌 However…
One thing still didn't make sense.
"Then why the hell are you hunting 'Jack the Ripper'?"
If you can barely handle an armed man, how are you planning to take down a supernatural killer?
Hermann's smug smile disappeared.
He spoke in a low, meaningful tone—
"Jack the Ripper sounds terrifying.
But in reality, all he's done is ambush some defenseless people.
Even if those prostitutes weren't his doing, he's not as powerful as you think.
And more importantly…"
His eyes darkened.
"Someone like him… who disrupts the balance of this world…
Will always be punished."
📌 Lorien's mind raced.
So there really is a supernatural enforcement agency.
A hidden authority.
He had suspected as much—
But hearing it confirmed…
📌 That changed everything.
Lorien leaned forward—
"There's an organization that handles supernatural crimes?"
Hermann nodded.
"Of course. Without them, the world's order would have collapsed long ago."
📌 Lorien's eyes gleamed.
"What's it called?"
Hermann's lips curled into a knowing smile—
"The name varies by country…
But here, in Great Britain…"
📌 He stared directly into Lorien's eyes.
"It is known as—
Scotland Yard."
📌 Lorien's thoughts ground to a halt.
'Scotland Yard?'
📌 Wait.
In his previous world, that was just another name for the London Metropolitan Police.
But here…
It was a separate, supernatural law enforcement division?
📌 It made sense.
If no such group existed, supernatural beings would be rampant.
Jack's killings alone would have already drawn serious attention.
And if Scotland Yard was involved…
It meant he and his 'Bloodbound Cross' had to be very careful.
📌 Or they'd end up in a mass grave.
For now, it was unclear whether Scotland Yard had noticed them yet.
But eventually, they would.
📌 Lorien needed to plan.
Fast.
He cleared his thoughts, returning to his final paid question—
"Alright. Tell me about 'Meditation' and 'Consciousness Sea.'"
Hermann nodded—
"'Meditation' and 'Consciousness Sea' are intrinsically linked.
Simply put, Meditation is the only known way for a Mystic to cultivate their Spirituality.
It allows you to enter a deep, tranquil state to access your soul.
Your 'Consciousness Sea' is where your soul resides."
📌 Lorien listened carefully, committing it to memory.
Then—
📌 He asked his final question.
"Do supernatural objects exist?"
Hermann chuckled.
"Clever. You caught onto that quickly."
Then—
A sinister glint flickered in his eagle-like eyes.
"If Mystics exist, and if supernatural power exists…
Then it is only natural that objects imbued with such power exist as well.
These are called 'Relics.'"
📌 Lorien felt his breath still.
Relics.
📌 A fitting name.
He already had one—
The Silver Ring.
It granted a spectral projection.
A power beyond normal human capabilities.
"Why call them 'Relics'?"
📌 Hermann's eyes gleamed.
"Because, my dear friend…
This world is not kind.
Good men do not always survive.
Evil men do not always perish.
And in the endless struggles of the supernatural world…
When a Mystic dies…
Their soul does not simply vanish.
Hermann's voice dropped to a whisper—
"It lingers.
It transforms.
It becomes a 'Relic.'"
📌 Lorien felt his grip tighten on his ring.
🩸 Had he been wearing the soul of another Mystic all along?
TO BE CONTINUED…