After pursuing the Antigonus family's notes and battling the Beyonders of the "Secret Order," the Tingen City Nighthawks squad had once deduced that the opponent possessed Sequence 7-level strength. Whether it was "Flame jump" or "Paper Substitute," they searched through internal materials and ancient texts but found no relevant records. They had no choice but to report the matter to the cathedral for verification.
After Kavi personally confirmed that Thomas was only Sequence 8, and even directly denied that this Beyonder pathway had such abilities, then the various Beyonder powers he displayed in battle could only be explained as magical items.
Just like how Angel, after absorbing the witch's Beyonder Characteristics with "Bloodthirst," gained partial corresponding abilities—perhaps Thomas acquired a similar item through some channels, one that also absorbed a certain Beyonder Characteristics, allowing him to use abilities not belonging to his potion's sequence.
After figuring this out, Kavi's eyes lit up. He stood up from the chair, ignoring the messy clock shop he was in, and paced back and forth over broken glass. Amid the creaking footsteps, he muttered:
"That explains it… The two abilities he used in the battle just now—turning into a paper figure and teleporting through flames to another location—are very similar to a wild Beyonder I once saw. He was Sequence 7 on the 'Seer' pathway, and the potion's name was 'Magician.'"
Mid-sequence of the Seer pathway… Magician?
Angel was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected that the Seer pathway, which was only good at divination and ritual magic and lacked any combat enhancements, would at Sequence 7 possess strange and versatile powers like a clown in a tuxedo.
She could hardly imagine someone as elegant and polite as Klein, face painted in clown makeup, wearing a tuxedo, leaping about, dodging attacks while making faces to mock his enemies.
Unaware of Angel's inner monologue, Kavi continued analyzing:
"That Beyonder was extremely troublesome. Not only could he teleport everywhere like Thomas, use paper figures to dodge fatal attacks, and confuse us with illusions, but he could also shoot invisible bullets barehanded, and with a swipe of his hand move fatal wounds from his chest and abdomen to harmless spots…"
"He used that move just now—damage transfer,"
Angel added.
Kavi had fainted when Thomas fled using flame jumping and damage transfer after being attacked by the steam rifle, so he didn't witness that move. Upon hearing Angel's supplement, he nodded.
"Then it's certain—he must be carrying a magical item with 'Magician' abilities… wait, could it be…"
As if something occurred to him, Kavi's expression changed, and he stopped walking.
"That guy must have stolen the Beyonder Characteristics from the warehouse. No wonder he looked sneaky when I saw him that day he was on temporary duty—like he was afraid I'd discover something."
"Beyonder Characteristics… So you guys really took down a 'Magician,' and the Characteristics was stolen by Thomas and turned into a magical item… But could a Sequence 8 even create a magical item?"
By this point, Angel already understood the situation roughly, but according to Kavi, Thomas shouldn't have had the ability to make a magical item.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be handcrafted. Letting a Beyonder Characteristics come into long-term contact with an ordinary item can also have a chance of forming a magical item. But that makes the magical item's effects highly unstable, and its side effects much stronger—just like your weapon."
She pointed to the "Bloodthirst" in Angel's hand.
"Thomas knows this kind of knowledge. He's always been studious… I need to go check if that Beyonder Characteristics is still there. Were you hurt in the battle just now? Go back and rest quickly. Thanks for helping out today. I thought you'd run away…"
I did want to run, but Thomas didn't give me the chance…
Angel wasn't dumb enough to say that aloud.
Watching Kavi hurriedly head toward the shop entrance, she asked:
"By the way, how did you guys take down that 'Magician'?"
"I wasn't part of the operation, not clear on the details. But that guy injured several people. In the end, the captain brought in two heavy cannons and blew the whole building sky high. All they found in the rubble was the Beyonder Characteristics…"
I see, so that works too.
Angel now understood the "Mechanical Heart's" combat style. Her approach to dealing with Beyonders suddenly broadened significantly.
——————
Sitting beside Table 15 on the first floor of the "Carrion Bird Tavern," Angel sipped her fruit wine in small sips, eyes glancing toward Table 13 next to her.
It was nearly 3 p.m. Angel had returned to the "Silver Bullet Detective Agency" to report the morning's events to Clement, handled her battle wounds briefly, then rushed over here nonstop—all to meet the seller offering the "Instigator" potion.
Of course, she didn't intend to expose herself so easily, so she sat at the neighboring table to first observe who the seller was, evaluate the feasibility and risk of the deal, and then decide.
As the clock on the wall neared three, hearty laughter came from the central bar. Several burly men dressed like dockworkers, holding large mugs and a few plates of snacks, sat down at Table 13.
They chatted about work and daily life. The atmosphere grew lively, with toasts and clinking glasses.
Angel raised her glass to her face, using it to hide her gaze as she observed the group. She couldn't determine whether her trading target was among them.
Did he bring companions to make a move difficult? Or was the potion being sold by a whole group rather than an individual?
As she hesitated about whether to test the waters, faint footsteps came from behind.
Without thinking, she set the glass down and reached for the weapon at her waist. She turned to look behind her.
A familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared before Angel.
Familiar because she had seen him just yesterday. Unfamiliar because his outfit was completely different.
Gone was the fitted vest and shirt. Now cloaked in black, the "Justice" lady's bodyguard walked over slowly.
"Relax, I mean no harm."
Seeing Angel reach for her waist, the short black-haired man, whose figure looked slightly thin beneath the cloak, quickly raised both hands to show he was unarmed.
"The last one who said that nearly got his head blown off."
Angel stood up from the table, body turned toward him, hand still on "Bloodthirst."
"You're the one who left the message on the third floor? Table 13, three o'clock?"
"Yes, though someone else took the table…" He glanced at the lively Table 13, showing a hint of awkwardness. "If you don't mind, shall we talk on the third floor?"
Angel noticed many patrons already looking their way, so she nodded.
She followed the bodyguard up the stairs at the back of the bar toward the third-floor market.
"I thought you were just a bodyguard. Didn't expect you to sneak out and sell Beyonder materials behind your employer's back… How did you know it was me?"
As they stepped onto the quieter second floor and walked around the red carpet to the next flight of stairs, Angel couldn't help asking.
"I'm not a bodyguard. You can call me Mr. Dominic. I followed Sonia yesterday because I was worried she'd be scammed."
The "bodyguard" turned and retorted.
So that naïve girl is called Sonia… Angel silently remembered another "Justice" name.
"I arrived half an hour ago. You stared at Table 13 for so long without finishing your drink—who else could it be? Also, you're drinking fruit wine? Don't tell me you're underage?"
"You talk too much…"
Angel suddenly felt inexplicably irritated.
"Didn't you start asking questions?" Dominic scratched his short black hair, retorting innocently. "I was surprised to see you. So you sold the star crystal yesterday to save up for this Beyonder Characteristics…"
"Wait, Beyonder Characteristics?"
Angel stopped walking. They were just one step from the bustling third-floor market.
"Aren't you selling materials for the next Sequence in the 'Assassin' path?"
"Why would I have other sequence potions? I'm selling a Beyonder Characteristics—taken from a dead Beyonder…"
"I know what a Beyonder Characteristics is," Angel interrupted, suppressing her irritation. "But your message said you were selling the next stage of 'Assassin.' Isn't that a potion?"
Dominic frowned and thought for a moment, then looked like he suddenly understood.
"Oh, that message? I wrote that last week. Back then, I didn't know which path the Characteristics belonged to. Didn't I leave another message later? Selling a 'Instigator' Beyonder Characteristics."
So that one was from you too…
Angel felt like the two of them were talking on different channels, and she was getting short of breath.
For some reason, Dominic's words always felt provocative. After just a few exchanges, she already wanted to hit him—but if he really had a Sequence 8 Characteristics, she probably wouldn't gain the upper hand in a fight.
Right, the Beyonder Characteristics…
Angel recalled the sentence that the "Artisan" Kavi had hesitated to say earlier.
If it really is the "Instigator" Characteristics, then could she also, like the "Mechanical Heart" Characteristics Or—Thomas who tried to steal Kavi's Characteristics—to use a Beyonder material to advance?
Too bad there was no further information. The risk was great… How exactly should a Beyonder Characteristics be used? Swallowed directly, or turned into a potion using special methods?
The only one who might know the answer was Kavi. But judging by his "this is top secret" expression, asking probably wouldn't work.
Angel currently had just over 400 pounds—enough to buy the main material of a Sequence 8 potion, but not necessarily enough to purchase the "Instigator" Characteristics from Dominic. If he didn't know how valuable it was, that would be good. But if he did know…
Looking at Dominic climbing the stairs calmly ahead, Angel's mind raced, thinking how to lower the price and obtain the Characteristics.