"That's already plenty." Xio said quickly, though she frowned in thought. "Money and the sea… Could I get thrown into the ocean over some unexpected windfall?"
She couldn't imagine what danger tied to both money and the sea might look like.
Alaric, however, had a good guess. Connecting it to the original story, his divination clearly pointed to the incident a month from now, where Xio, due to a commission from Justice Audrey, would cross paths with Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos and nearly die.
Speaking of Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos… Alaric's eyes lowered, a glint of contemplation in them.
Truthfully, he wasn't too interested in Creeping Hunger. For most Beyonders, it was a minor divine artifact, but without sealing, it demanded a human sacrifice daily. Even sealed, it required feeding after each use, or it would backlash. Quite the hassle.
Unlike Klein, who had the Sefirah Castle to suppress Creeping Hunger, Alaric risked backfire if he couldn't meet its demands... a potential disaster.
When it came to borrowing power, Alaric preferred investing time in building favorability with Beyonders from various pathways. Still, if he could get his hands on Creeping Hunger, he could sell it for a fortune or use it as a favor.
What really piqued his interest was the information Qilangos held... the coordinates of an island teeming with Beyonder creatures. Though tied to Adam, Alaric was eager to explore it once he had enough strength.
Who knows? He might snag a Tyrant pathway Card of Blasphemy.
Adam wasn't above investing in him, after all.
Plus, that island was a natural treasure trove of Beyonder materials. Even if Alaric couldn't use them, they'd fetch a good price.
Of course, all this hinged on him being able to take down Qilangos when the time came.
Glancing at Xio, Alaric hinted, "Could it involve pirates?"
Since he planned to get involved with the Qilangos incident, he needed to lay some groundwork.
"Pirates?" Xio blinked, caught off guard.
"Here's my thinking: you're a bounty hunter, and Backlund's a port city. Maybe in the next two months, you'll head out to sea for a job, or some pirate sneaks into Backlund and crosses your path."
Alaric spoke earnestly, his words entirely truthful. "Many pirates carry bounties, perfectly fitting the conditions of money and the sea."
Xio's face lit up with realization. Though there was no proof, she had to admit Alaric's reasoning made sense.
"I get it. Thanks, Jack. I owe you one." Xio said sincerely, adding mentally, If the divination's accurate.
"I thought you'd waive the rest of my commission fees." Alaric teased with a grin.
"There's an old saying: even with close family, settle accounts clearly." Xio replied seriously, then smiled. "Trust me, my favor's worth more than 40 pounds."
"Fair point." Alaric said, as if mulling it over for a few seconds before nodding.
They chatted a bit longer before Alaric took his leave.
He had plenty to do.
After Alaric left, Xio soon departed the café, ensuring no one followed her. Back at her apartment, she found a certain lazybones sprawled on the couch, engrossed in a novel.
Xio wasn't surprised. She poured herself a glass of water and sat beside Fors. "I met a wild Beyonder like us today."
"What?" Fors glanced at Xio, her tone languid. "Which pathway? You didn't clash with them, did you?"
"No, he's a Seer." Xio recounted the day's events, then added with some worry, "Do you think he's telling the truth?"
Xio didn't fully trust Alaric, but the divination's result gnawed at her.
"Well… could be fake, but maybe it's true." Fors said, finally getting serious. She sat up, thought for a moment, and reassured, "The divination only says potential life-threatening danger, not certain death. Maybe you'll take down the other guy and claim a bounty."
The "other guy" being the hypothetical pirate.
"That's possible…" Xio nodded, accepting Fors's logic, though she sighed.
"Don't worry, don't worry. Worst case, you stay home for two months, or I'll stick with you." Fors said, as if steeling herself. "With me around, we can escape any danger."
Xio caught her meaning instantly. Fors had a magical stone bracelet that could consume its stones for "travel." instantly teleporting them elsewhere.
"But won't that worsen your condition?" Xio asked, concerned. She knew Fors's curse from using the bracelet caused her to hear terrifying ravings every full moon.
"It won't. My condition's not as bad anymore." Fors said with a smile, masking her unease.
Her state was far from good, but she hid it to spare Xio worry.
"Alright…" Xio, unaware of the deception, nodded, her concerns easing. Then she added, "If Jack's divination is real, we should keep in touch with him. Divination's a useful skill, after all."
Fors nodded in agreement.
…
Though Alaric had struck a deal with Xio, Beyonder gatherings weren't daily events. According to Xio, there were none for the next two days, but his timing was good... a high-end gathering was set for July 2, and she could introduce him.
Alaric wasn't in a rush. He calmly crafted his new alias and arrived in Tingen on June 30. For the next two months, he'd likely shuttle between Tingen and Backlund.
Without teleportation abilities, it was a hassle, but steam trains made it manageable.
That same day, Klein visited Tingen University. Over the past few days, he'd cleared his name, proven his innocence, and received an offer to join the Nighthawks as a civilian staff member.
His visit to Tingen University on June 30 was to address an interview invitation his predecessor had received. Though Klein wouldn't take the teaching job, he needed to explain in person.