Chapter 424: The Wind Rises

"Yes, over a month ago." Allen pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and gave an affirmative reply.

"Over a month ago? Wasn't that the time when you were troubled by nightmares about Will Auceptin?" Klein was both surprised and puzzled, but he didn't let his emotions show on his face.

In the blink of an eye, he recalled the two divinations he had performed: Will Auceptin was in a dark room, with the sound of rushing water outside.

Could that be a representation of amniotic fluid or blood? Klein's heart tightened, and he suddenly realized the truth.

When he looked back at Dr. Allen, his gaze was quite complicated.

He suspected that Allen's wife was carrying Will Auceptin, a Mercury Serpent!

In the symbols of mysticism, the Mercury Serpent is joined head to tail, devouring its own tail, implying a cycle of fate... Could it be that Will Auceptin actively, prematurely, and secretly initiated a new cycle to avoid his enemies? Klein speculated based on his current knowledge.

Dr. Allen was completely unaware of the abnormality he was trying so hard to hide, and he said with a smile: "He's going to be a lovely fellow. When he's born, I'll hold a banquet to celebrate his arrival, Sherlock. When the time comes, don't turn down my invitation."

"Perhaps it's a she." Klein replied with a smile.

Frankly speaking, he was a bit curious to see the state of the newborn Mercury Serpent.

However, he also felt some fear and worry. After all, the Mercury Serpent is the Sequence 1 of the 'Monster' pathway of fate, and it involves a struggle for a deity's position. No one can be certain that the path ahead will be smooth and safe.

For Dr. Allen, it was hard to tell if this was fortune or misfortune... On the one hand, there was the question of Will Auceptin's disposition; on the other, whether another Mercury Serpent would discover him... Besides, Will Auceptin hadn't done anything yet. Informing the Nighthawks seemed a bit cruel. I've always been able to understand wild Beyonders... The best choice is to quietly observe the development, not interfere, not take advantage... Maybe I'm just reading too much into it? Maybe Will Auceptin isn't a Mercury Serpent at all! Maybe Dr. Allen's wife's pregnancy is perfectly normal! Klein's thoughts raced through his mind.

"A she? That would be even better." Allen said with great anticipation.

Klein thought for a moment and asked again: "Have you been having nightmares recently?"

"Occasionally, but they're normal nightmares. Will Auceptin doesn't appear anymore. Thank you for your guidance, Sherlock." Allen said sincerely.

No, no, no, this is what's abnormal. As a keyboard strongman, my limited knowledge of psychology tells me that occasionally dreaming of Will Auceptin afterwards is the normal thing. It comes from the standard reaction to a stimulus. Since he caused you so much trouble and left such a deep impression, he would definitely make it into your dreams. So, the correct change would be to occasionally dream of Will Auceptin, but the dreams wouldn't be very clear, and you might even forget the details as soon as you wake up, only knowing that it happened... Klein became more certain.

Just then, he heard a howling sound.

He instinctively looked outside the hall and saw the dimness of the air scattered by a fierce wind, along with the thin yellowish mist that was swept away.

Leafless branches swayed back and forth, and the wind carved out a clear trail, heading straight southeast.

A few seconds later, everything returned to normal, calm as before.

"It's rare to see such a strong wind in Backlund during winter. At least, I don't have any memory of it." Allen also looked out the window and remarked.

This is not a normal wind... What happened? Klein suppressed his doubts, found an excuse to go to the restroom, and performed an ordinary divination, but received no effective revelation.

He temporarily put the matter aside and prepared to go to the underground shooting range to practice.

But at that moment, a waiter in a red waistcoat crossed the warm, spring-like hall, came to his side, and said respectfully: "Mr. Moriarty, your friend is looking for you."

"Who?" Klein asked back, somewhat surprised.

"Mr. Ikanser Bernard." The waiter in the red waistcoat replied.

That deacon who often gets a passive "haircut"... Why would he suddenly look for me? Did he find something new? Klein immediately went to the club's reception hall.

Ikanser pressed down on his hat, which was pushed up by his fluffy hair, came over, and lowered his voice: "The Punishers have found Patrick Jason Beria."

"How did they find him?" Klein asked, half surprised and half curious.

According to the revelation from his divination, Jason Beria was always wearing a human skin. His true appearance and aura weren't what was established. It was almost impossible for him to be found so easily!

Ikanser looked around and said: "I don't know, I just received the news."

He pointed at a small white bird perched on a tree outside the door.

The little bird was leisurely cleaning its feathers with its beak.

Before Klein could ask further, Ikanser roughly described the incident: "The Punishers found a clue and confirmed Jason's location, but this Demon sensed the danger in advance. Before the encirclement could close in, he forcibly killed two Punishers and escaped. This infuriated the higher-ups of the Church of Storms. 'Hymner of God' Aes Sneke personally pursued him. You must have seen that strong wind just now; that was him. He is the Archbishop of the Backlund Diocese of the Church of Storms, and also one of its Cardinals."

It sounds normal, but it feels strange... According to Mr. Eisinger's and my speculation, this could also be understood as Jason, this 'Apostle of Desire', luring away the high-Sequence Beyonders... Klein considered his words and asked: "Are you sure it's Jason Beria who was found?"