Chapter 19 - The Seal

"We are guardians, but we are also a group of pitiful creatures constantly fighting against danger and madness." The corridor outside was sealed, the stone walls were cold, and the room inside was illuminated by the light, bright and yellow. The recitation by Dunn Smith lingered in the air, hitting Klein's heart one by one, making him momentarily unable to speak. Seeing Klein's silence, Dunn shook his head and smiled: "It's disappointing, isn't it? The extraordinary beings are not as you imagined. We have always been in the company of danger." "There are gains, there must be a price." Klein calmed down from the shock and replied carefully, choosing his words. He really didn't expect that the extraordinary beings, apart from their glorious, extraordinary, and different-from-the-ordinary aspects, also had such hidden dangers. Perhaps it was because he only heard the description and hadn't truly encountered them yet, or maybe because he was already involved in this vortex, maybe some strange events would fall on him at some point. His fear, anxiety, worry, and dread quickly decreased to a manageable level. Of course, the emergence of the idea to retreat was inevitable, entangled and reluctant to leave. "Right, very mature, very rational..." Dunn finished the last sip of coffee and added, "Also, the extraordinary beings are not as powerful as you think. Low-level extraordinary beings, huh? Why use 1 to represent the highest rank and 9 to represent the lowest? This is too contrary to intuition and logic. What we usually call low-level is referring to low rank, and the higher numbers are the starting points of the sequence chain." "Okay, where did I leave off? Right, the extraordinary beings are not as powerful as you think. Low-level extraordinary beings' 'power' is not as strong as firearms, let alone cannons. However, in some aspects, they are more wonderful and harder to guard against than firearms. If you have the chance to become an extraordinary being in the future, you must carefully consider what I said today, and don't make a rash choice." Klein smiled wryly: "I still don't know when I'll have the chance?" If there was such a chance, he felt he wouldn't miss it. Taking the wrong potion, overstepping the limit of the potion, were things that could be avoided to the greatest extent. The main danger lay in the subtle influence of the potion itself and the unknown "danger" heard or seen after the inspiration was enhanced. The former had the experience of previous generations as a reference. As long as one didn't be anxious and impatient in the process of improving, and mastered the power steadily and carefully, the probability of losing control should still be relatively low. Moreover, he was only taking this step to solve the potential danger at present, to understand the essence of mysticism and find a way to return, and wasn't aiming for the high-level "position". If it were really easy to lose control, at the very least, he wouldn't advance and stay in the original sequence, relying on knowledge to plan for "returning home". The latter dangers were even less to be mentioned. Klein still had a vivid memory of the whispers that made him close to madness and his head about to explode when using the "transference ritual". This wasn't something that could be avoided just by not becoming an extraordinary being. Since that was the case, it would be better to master some forces that could counteract them. Thinking of all this, Klein felt the pros and cons were so clear that the retreat idea in his mind had largely disappeared. Dunn picked up his pipe again, his gray eyes smiling slightly: "For this matter, I can't give an accurate answer. To become an extraordinary being, one needs to gain sufficient merit. Maybe you could interpret the key ancient documents tomorrow or the day after, or provide very useful opinions for our case? Secondly, look for new ideas above, no one can say for sure." "Alright, I think you should already have a better understanding of the extraordinary beings. You won't make impulsive choices anymore. Now, I'll introduce to you the civilian work of our night watch team." He stood up, paced to the door, and pointed in the opposite direction of "Charnis Gate": "We have an accountant, a person in charge of purchasing necessary items, collecting supplies distributed by the church and the police department, and serving as a part-time driver. They are all professionals and do not need to be rotated. They have Sundays off every week. The other three clerks are Rosan, Brett, and Old Neil. Their duties include: receiving visitors, cleaning rooms, writing case documents and item declaration lists, as well as guarding weapons, materials, and the library. They strictly keep records of entry and return, and each person takes a day off each week, except Sunday. The rest of the three are you, Rosan, Brett, and Old Neil. You are the one who received the mysterious influence and completely forgot this memory. But the human spirit and brain are very curious. Maybe there are some traces remaining. Daley cannot obtain them using 'psychic' methods, which does not mean they do not exist. Perhaps in familiar places, in crucial places, you will have the feeling that you have seen or done something before." "This is the same job you and Rosan do?" Klein put aside his thoughts about the extraordinary individuals and confirmed his "job responsibilities." "No, you don't need to. You are a professional, right?" Dunn smiled and said, "Your current tasks are two. First, every morning or afternoon, go out for a walk. The focus is on the various roads from Welch's residence to your home." "Ah?" Klein looked completely confused. What kind of "job" is this? Is it very professional? Dunn put his hands in the pockets of his black windbreaker and said: "After confirming that you truly have lost your memory, the cases of Welch and Naya are closed. Similarly, the diary of the Antigonus family has completely disappeared. We suspect that you were carrying it away when you left and hid it on the way home. That's why we didn't find any clues at your home. This should be the possible reason why you weren't at the scene but at home 'committing suicide'." "Although you were mysteriously influenced and completely forgot this memory, the human spirit and brain are very curious. Maybe there are some traces remaining. Daley cannot obtain them using 'psychic' methods, which does not mean they do not exist. Perhaps in familiar places, in crucial places, you will have the feeling that you have seen or done something before." "This is the reward we want." "I understand." Klein suddenly understood. The night shifters' deductions about the whereabouts of the diary are indeed reasonable. Among the people present at that time, only they were still alive, and only they had the time and "motivation" to take the diary away and hide it on the way home! "If we can find that diary this way, you should be able to earn enough credit to become an extraordinary individual." Dunn Smith encouraged, indirectly indicating that the diary was still important. "Hope." Klein nodded. Dunn turned the topic back: "Second, you take a day off every week. You can determine which day by yourself. When you are not outside, go to the weapons storage, read the documents and classics we have preserved. This is the work of a historical professional. After you finish reading all of them, you will have to rotate with Old Neil and others." "Okay, no problem." Klein let out a sigh of relief quietly. It's not a difficult thing at all... At this moment, Dunn turned his body slightly and pointed at the black iron double door engraved with seven holy symbols, saying: "This is the 'Charnis' door. It comes from the founder of the modern night shift system, Bishop Charnis. In the underground of each major city's central church, there is one such door." "It is guarded by rotating members of the night shift team. There are at least two 'guards' from the church and countless traps inside. You must not approach it casually. Otherwise, you will be contaminated by bad luck." "It sounds very impressive." Klein expressed his opinion. "It is divided into several areas, storing certain sequences of potion recipes and various magical materials, temporarily detaining heretics, strange beings, cultists, and members of secret organizations. Ha, they will eventually be sent to the sanctuary." Dunn casually explained. Sanctuary? The headquarters of the Night Goddess Church in the northern winter region of the kingdom. "The Peaceful Church"? Klein seemed to be thinking as he nodded slightly. "Moreover, there are various high-level classified copies of important documents and books. Once your access level is increased, you might have the opportunity to read them." Dunn pondered for a moment and then continued, "On the lower floor behind the 'Charnis Gate', there are also some sealed items." "Sealed items?" Klein chewed on this word. This sounds like a proper noun. "In the extraordinary items we collected and obtained, some are too important and too magical. If they fall into the hands of evil forces, they will cause great damage. Therefore, they must be strictly kept secret and closely guarded. Even we ourselves can only use them under specific circumstances. And..." Dunn paused before continuing, "And some of these items have a very special existence. They possess certain 'living' characteristics and will lure the guards, affect the surroundings, and escape on their own, causing disastrous consequences. They must be strictly controlled." "Very mysterious," Klein commented. "It's quite amazing." "The headquarters of the night watchmen divide these sealed items into four levels. '0' level indicates extreme danger, the highest level of attention, the highest level of confidentiality. They must not be discussed, leaked, described, or inspected. They can only be sealed in the 'Holy Hall' underground." Dunn explained in detail, "The '1' level is highly dangerous. They can be used to a limited extent. The confidentiality level is for diocesan bishops and night watchmen deacons and above. The central church of Berkland and other diocesan headquarters can keep one or two, the rest must be handed over to the 'Holy Hall'. The '2' level is dangerous, but it can be used with caution. The confidentiality level is for bishops and night watchmen team leaders and above. Central churches in major cities can keep three, others can be handed over to the 'Holy Hall' or diocesan headquarters. The '3' level has a certain degree of danger. It must be used with caution and can only be applied for by a group of three or more. The confidentiality level is for official members of the night watchmen." "Later, when you see the corresponding documents, you should understand what they represent by the numbers. For example, 2-125 is the 125th sealed item of the dangerous level." Dunn was speaking as he suddenly turned around and walked back to the room, pulling out a piece of paper from the bottom of the drawer: "By the way, take a look at this. Three years ago, a new archbishop lost control and didn't know how he managed to break through all the protection and disappeared mysteriously with a '0' level sealed item. You should recognize his photo. If you find anything, don't alarm anyone, don't disturb, come back and report. Otherwise, you will be 100% killed." "What?" Klein took the paper and found that it was not titled. He had to look at a black-and-white photo and a few lines of text: "Inns Zangwell, male, forty years old, former archbishop, failed 'gatekeeper', was lured by the devil and fell into evil, carrying the sealed item '0-08' and fled. Specific features are..." On the photo, Inns Zangwell was wearing a double-breasted pure black clerical robe, wearing a soft hat, with dark gold hair, pupils blue as deep black, his nose bridge was high, his lips were tightly closed like a classical sculpture, without any wrinkles, the most eye-catching feature was that he was blind in one eye. "Describing the fallen one in detail, and for the sealed item, there is only a code name... " Klein expressed his first impression truthfully. "So it's the highest level of confidentiality. The search for the '0-08' sealed item is conveyed orally, not written down, and only a little about it is known." Dunn sighed, "The shape of '0-08' is a common quill pen, but it can write without ink. That's all." Dunn didn't say much about this aspect. Following the golden chain on the black windbreaker, he took out a similar ornate watch, clicked it open, looked at it, and pointed to the door: "I have covered all the points I needed to. Now go to the armory and find Old Neil. Ask him to arrange specific literature reading for you. He is no ordinary civilian. He was once a full-fledged member, but due to his old age, lack of promotion, poor health, and inability to handle cases anymore, he no longer wants to become an internal 'guardian' or simply prefers to recuperate at home. He just hopes to spend his time surrounded by books and documents."