The Characteristics of a Reader

In a darkened house on 12 Winster Street, in the Cherwood Borough, a tall, slender figure stood by the second-floor window, gazing down at a carriage that had just passed by.

"What's wrong? Feeling a little unwilling to accept this outcome?" A woman's voice, as intoxicating as a nightingale's song, drifted from behind him.

"Not at all… I never intended to kill that detective in the first place." The man shook his head slowly, watching the carriage disappear into the distance. "I'm just wondering who that Spectator-path Beyonder who showed up out of nowhere was, and why he was carrying so many powerful mystical items."

"I can only be certain that he's not from the Psychology Alchemists… And he might not even be a real Spectator." After a brief silence, the woman's voice sounded again.

The man nodded and asked, "Any guesses?"

"None… You've investigated that detective beforehand—you should know he has a wide social circle. Even if a bishop from the Church of the Evernight or the Church of Steam showed up with a Sealed Artifact to save him, I wouldn't find it surprising." The voice paused before continuing, "Are you still planning to go scare those detectives as per your original plan, to divert attention from your true objective?"

"Of course. Otherwise, how would I convince those fools that I was really avenging that dog? But if that guy from tonight is there as well, I won't be making an appearance." The man sneered. "As for whether the authorities will try to set a trap for me… You know as well as I do—that's impossible!"

"Just be careful yourself… As per our agreement, I won't be providing you with any more assistance until you actually take action." The woman's voice carried a teasing tone, though her words were meant as a warning.

"Heh, don't worry. If I want to escape, even an average demigod won't be able to track me." The man spoke with utter confidence.

"A confident man… I like that." The woman's voice dripped with temptation. "Want to study how the first Succubus came into existence with me?"

The man's breathing grew noticeably heavier at her words, but he still shook his head firmly. "I am an Apostle of Desire, the one who controls Desire—I won't be controlled by Desire!"

"How disappointing."

.....

The Leverage Church was still brightly lit and bustling with activity despite the late hour.

Most of the believers in this district weren't wealthy, and even weekends didn't guarantee them a break from work. Weekdays were even more exhausting, leaving them with no choice but to visit the church for prayer and confession late at night, even as dawn approached.

Disguised as the butler Kenny, Ebner supported the injured Detective Isengard Stanton as they stepped into the church. They were immediately noticed by a priest on duty, who looked surprised. After whispering instructions to another clergyman, he hurried over and asked with concern, "Detective Stanton, what happened to you?"

"Ran into some trouble…" Stanton gave a vague response before asking, "Pastor Orkins, is Eliza here?"

Pastor Orkins nodded. "I've already sent someone to call for Bishop Linton—"

Before he could finish, Stanton interrupted, "I'll go see her directly. There are some things that aren't convenient to discuss in the prayer hall."

Orkins hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Then you can go to the bishop's office yourself. I can't leave my post right now."

Hearing their conversation, Ebner, who was supporting his teacher, immediately came to a conclusion—his teacher was very familiar with this place and was likely a frequent visitor. After all, Pastor Orkins didn't treat him as an outsider at all… Just like how the priests at the Church of the Earth Mother treated me.

But who was this Bishop Eliza Linton that his teacher had just mentioned? Considering that his teacher sought her out first after being attacked, their relationship was certainly not ordinary.

On the way to the back rooms of the Leverage Church, Detective Isengard Stanton seemed to notice Ebner's thoughts and chuckled. "I've told you before—your teacher has a wide network. Aside from the Church of Storms, I have good relationships with all the official organizations in Backlund… and Eliza is one of my closest friends."

At that moment, a slightly resentful voice came from ahead. "One of your closest friends, you mean… Besides me, there's Brittany from the Church of the Evernight, Kesia from MI9, Fiona, the sheriff of the North Borough, and Mia, the former bishop stationed at Harvest Church under the Church of the Earth Mother…"

Why are all these names women? And Fiona, the sheriff of the North Borough—I remember that's my classmate Susan's mother!

Teacher, could it be that your poor relationship with the Church of Storms is because they don't have female clergy?

While Ebner was silently roasting his teacher in his mind, a woman dressed in the vestments of a bishop from the Church of Steam approached. She appeared to be in her early forties.

She seemed like she wanted to say more, but as soon as she saw Detective Isengard's injuries, her eyes widened in shock. Immediately, she took Ebner's place in supporting him and said gravely, "This was caused by an explosion of desire?"

"Yes… I was careless for a moment," Isengard admitted with a slight nod.

"The wound itself isn't too serious, but there are lingering traces of demonic corruption… If not purified, it could be dangerous," Bishop Eliza assessed after examining the injury.

"That's exactly why I came to you for help," Isengard responded with a smile.

"If it were just about purging the demonic corruption, you wouldn't need me. You want me to use a scroll to seal the remnants away, don't you? Planning to take revenge?" Eliza Linton seemed to understand Isengard well, though as she spoke, she glanced at the silent Ebner.

Isengard immediately caught on and said with a smile, "Kenny is my assistant. He's trustworthy."

Only then did Bishop Linton retract her scrutinizing gaze and lead the two of them into her private chambers.

"I've notified the Machinery Hivemind squad. They'll be here soon," she said while preparing a ritual.

"As they should. I was planning to seek official help anyway," Isengard replied calmly.

He had come to Eliza with the intention of informing the Machinery Hivemind about this incident.

"If you needed official help, why didn't you go to Brittany or Kesia?" Bishop Linton shot him a look.

"MI9 has been quite busy lately—they probably wouldn't have time to bother with me… And besides Kesia, I don't really trust anyone else in MI9.

"As for Brittany, she's already been transferred out of the Backlund diocese."

As Isengard and Bishop Linton chatted, the ritual was soon completed. A faint wisp of black mist was extracted and sealed within a scroll placed upon the altar.

Bishop Linton is a Sequence 6 "Scrolls Professor" of the Mystery Pryer pathway? But this ritual's ability to extract aura seems weaker than when I used the "Pure White Eye" to directly extract a monster's aura back when I was Sequence 8…

Just as Ebner was pondering this, a commotion of hurried footsteps sounded outside. The door was pushed open, and a squad from the Machinery Hivemind entered, led by Deacon Ikonse, who held an ancient silver mirror with intricate patterns.

The moment Ebner saw the mirror, his vision blurred for a second, and memories he had suppressed resurfaced in his mind.

Seeing "Arrodes" was one of the triggers I had set for recovering my memories.