The professor at Tingen University was understanding. Upon learning Klein had taken another job, he offered no objections, only polite congratulations.
Klein exchanged a few pleasantries, preparing to leave, when he ran into his mentor, Professor Quentin, and Mr. Azik from the history department, accompanied by an unfamiliar young man.
"Good morning, Mentor, Mr. Azik." Klein greeted, then glanced curiously at the stranger. "May I ask how to address this gentleman?"
The young man, about Klein's age, early twenties, had sunlit golden hair and emerald eyes. His striking appearance wouldn't look out of place on a fashion magazine cover.
Professor Quentin explained his presence, then introduced, "This is Mr. Jack Jones, a new history department teacher at Tingen University, recently graduated from Backlund University. Quite exceptional."
Jack Jones? What, are you a pirate from the Caribbean?
Klein couldn't help but quip internally. The names Jack and Jones, tied to iconic pirate figures, were too ingrained for someone familiar with those tales not to react.
Still, he maintained a polite smile, extending his hand. "Hello, Mr. Jones. I'm Klein Moretti, Professor Quentin's student, just graduated." He added playfully, "Pity... if I hadn't found a job already, we might've been colleagues."
No worries, we may not be colleagues, but we could be fellow transmigrators!
Alaric, under his alias, thought to himself, mirroring Klein's smile as he shook his hand. "Hello, I'm Jack Jones, but just call me Jack. Nice to meet you, Mr. Moretti." He paused, then teased, "Though I'd prefer if people called me Captain Jack."
Klein's gaze flickered, quickly returning to normal. "Alright, Jack. You can call me Klein too." He said, feigning curiosity. "Why Captain Jack?"
Did the Emperor adapt pirate stories too? Or…
"It just sounds like a name fit for a captain!" Alaric said, his expression tinged with mock regret, as if he'd told a joke no one got.
"..."
No way, an actual fellow transmigrator?
Klein wasn't shocked that other transmigrators existed... Roselle was proof... but he hadn't expected to meet a potential one so soon in this world.
It thrilled him, yet he held back. He couldn't confirm if this man was truly a transmigrator, and even if he was, Klein wouldn't rush to reveal himself.
Meeting a fellow transmigrator was exciting, but not all were trustworthy. Caution was best.
Alaric, unsurprised by Klein's restraint, had no intention of pushing further.
His current identity was the result of two days' work: Jack Jones, Backlund University history graduate, recommended by a mentor to teach at Tingen University, freshly hired.
As a seasoned Joker with multiple aliases, Alaric knew how to craft a convincing identity. "Jack Jones" Had a file in Backlund University's archives, complete with four years of impeccable academic records... no one would find fault.
Even if the Nighthawks investigated, they'd confirm the identity's legitimacy. It was real, just not originally named "Jack Jones"... Alaric had changed it.
The best disguise was to replace an existing person. Alaric wasn't cruel, though. He'd found a struggling Backlund graduate with similar features, struck a deal, and sent him to another city. Then, disguised as him, Alaric took the recommendation letter to Tingen, aced the interview, and became Jack Jones, history teacher.
It wasn't flawless, but in an era without instant communication or common photography, exposure was unlikely. Alaric didn't need the identity long-term... just enough to build favorability with Azik and Pallez. After that, exposure wouldn't matter.
Klein, unaware that "Jack Jones" was a fresh alias, chatted with the professors. The conversation drifted to the "Welch and Naya" case... publicly framed as a robbery-murder, since Beyonder incidents weren't disclosed.
Though Klein knew some details, he played it off, subtly dropping keywords like "Solomon Empire" And "Antigonus Notebook" To see if the knowledgeable history professors knew anything. These weren't restricted topics.
"The Antigonus family?" While the professors pondered, Alaric feigned surprise, as if privy to insider knowledge.
"You know about the Antigonus family, Jack?" Klein asked, genuinely surprised and hopeful.
He was desperate to learn about the Antigonus Notebook.
"Well, I read about them in my ancestor's diary... er, I mean, old texts." Alaric said, catching himself. "They were a mysterious and powerful family in the Fourth Epoch, tied not just to the Solomon Empire but also the Tudor Empire."
He paused, eyeing Klein with a mix of curiosity and probing. "But the Antigonus family faded long ago; hardly anyone knows them now. Why do you ask?"