"By the way, do you know what the 'beautiful world beyond the mountains' is?"
Zavi quickly opened the newspaper and pointed to three paragraphs on the left page, accompanied by a colored illustration.
It was truly beautiful, so breathtakingly beautiful that words alone were not enough to describe the magnificence of that world, both as they knew it and as humanity at large understood it.
Zuhen looked at him, resting his chin on his hand as he slowly stroked it.
"The same question, huh?" he muttered in a hoarse voice.
After thinking for a moment, he watched the crowd in front of him for several seconds, glanced to his left at the people waiting for the train, then looked straight ahead again.
"I don't know the details, but as far as I know, the 'beautiful world beyond the mountains' is connected to the 'Ancient Supreme One,'" Zuhen said calmly.
Zavi frowned.
'Who is that? I've never heard that name before. Is it an ancient being, or something similar to... ah, forget it.'
Holding his breath, Zavi thought for a moment before asking,
"Who exactly is this 'Ancient Supreme One' you're talking about?"
Zuhen seemed reluctant to answer. The problem was that they were in a public place, and speaking quietly was not enough to keep their conversation private.
Continuing this discussion risked attracting the attention of others, including faction envoys and disguised individuals nearby.
"It would be better if Mr. Actitus asked about that another time," Zuhen said, holding his breath.
Zavi barely blinked.
"I see."
After a brief pause, during which Zavi examined another paragraph, this one about the hunt for an important public figure in Ninesorals, a memory suddenly crossed his mind.
Unable to suppress the urge, Zavi decided to ask because it had been bothering him throughout this journey.
"Do you know of someone whose whereabouts can be tracked through the spirituality within their body or by some other means?"
Zavi grimaced. The person he was referring to was himself.
"That's something I know the answer to," Zuhen said.
"Then what is the answer?" Zavi asked earnestly.
Zuhen glanced at him briefly before replying.
"Simply put, they've marked that person's body with something supernatural. Maybe a second-tier spell, or a diviner using a supernatural ability? I'm not sure. There are many ways to do it, and it can interfere with a person's fate."
Only after those words left his mouth did Zuhen feel something strange stirring in his mind.
But what was it?
Zavi pondered the answer.
'Someone's fate? That reminds me of something.'
"And that mark can disappear when that person releases the spirituality within their body," Zuhen continued confidently.
"Releasing the spiritual energy inside the body?" Zavi murmured, seeking confirmation.
Zuhen nodded without hesitation and said quietly, "Yes. It's a kind of wound transfer technique that uses spiritual energy as the price. However, it requires an extremely high level of concentration to... avoid losing control. In short, if you want to do it, you have to be prepared to face unimaginable risks."
Zavi, already familiar with the wound transfer technique because he had learned it quickly by treating the process as though he were making a contract with someone, hesitated at the idea of a technique that involved leaking his own spiritual energy.
"What are the benefits of leaking one's spirituality?" Zavi asked, his voice barely audible.
It had become a habit for them, or at least for Zavi, to ask about supernatural matters in public places.
Once or twice might have been forgivable, but this was the fourth time, and with a different person each time.
With Albert. With Celvira. With Aaron. And finally, at least for today, with Zuhen.
It was difficult to suppress that innate curiosity. Zavi knew it, regretted it, yet honestly, he was addicted to it.
Zuhen nodded slowly.
"There are two benefits. The first, just as you asked, is the ability to expand your vision so you can track objects moving faster than light, or at the very least, at speeds exceeding the speed of light itself."
It sounded exaggerated, yet this technique was frequently used by mid- to high-level Receivers precisely because the speeds involved were immeasurable.
Zavi fell silent, having just learned this and trying to comprehend the concept for himself.
As for both techniques, there were no instructions on how to execute them. One had to practice and master them independently.
"This has tremendous potential, but are you really willing to give it away so easily?" Zavi asked seriously.
Zuhen chuckled.
"You're actually pretty funny. You don't have to be so stiff," he said gently.
As for the man they had been talking about earlier, Zavi had no intention of discussing him any further, although he carved that name deep into his memory.
Siong Samano.
The name felt familiar to him, especially after their conversation a few minutes earlier. "He" had lived since the dawn of the Lunar Calendar era and survived into the present age, as though "he" had defied death itself.
Although the explanation regarding "his" existence was incomplete, Zavi was half convinced by the information and by just how dangerous it was.
In fact, the fifth-tier evil spirit, "Ruler," had delivered a single message after accidentally overhearing their conversation.
It was a lie that he passed on to Zavi.
The message read:
Beware of that being. "He" stands on equal footing with the Primordial Tale of Heaven and Earth, the Ancient God of Salvation, and Jakharot Hevetuse.
Oh, right. You won't know who they are, and you'll definitely be confused.
I can't explain it in detail because I can't stay here for long, but I'll tell you one important thing.
He is connected to the disappearance of the Nine Myths, the beautiful world beyond the mountains, and the falling comet that reshaped the world's map.
The message ended there.
Though brief, it was enough to make Zavi realize that he lived in a world where entities beyond comprehension were entangled in conflict.
The falling comet?
Who exactly was that mythical figure?
Who exactly was Siong Samano?
Zavi shuddered, his mind briefly ceasing to function as he contemplated those questions. Even so, in this peaceful world, he had never expected the existence of entities capable of effortlessly destroying anything. Dealing with the Finiscya Sect was already more than enough.
Was all of that merely a popular tale across the Najasma Continent and the islands near the Eastern Continent, or was the truth the exact opposite?
The atmosphere around their seats became tense as they sank into their own thoughts, the sounds filling the station seeming as though they no longer reached their minds.
Zavi wanted to ask more, but he chose to hold himself back.
Still, he truly did not understand the information he had gathered and wanted clarification from those who did.
His only choice was to go there himself.
"Oh? By the way, Mr. Zuhen, aren't you afraid of wandering around crowded places like this?"
Zuhen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What is he talking about?"
He paused for a moment before answering flatly, "No."
"The truth is, they can't roam around crowded places because they won't be able to catch me."
Zuhen was confident in that statement because the only way to capture him was to seal him, which required at least a second-tier Receiver of the Exorcist path to kill him.
Yes, as time passed, Zuhen's existence had become almost impossible to detect. Ever since he left for Havanuheta, he no longer had to worry about that, and he was confident they knew nothing about that place.
Zuhen honestly stated that Havanuheta's technology and territory were different from those of Ninesorals and Vinohoshi.
It sounded strange, but it had proven effective for an entire year.
After that?
He was ready to face them the moment he decided to enter the enemy's nest, fully aware that such an act was incredibly foolish.
That was why Felina firmly rejected the idea.
Yet Zuhen calmly insisted, as though carrying no burden at all, that everything would be fine.
"We'll be leaving in an hour and a half," Zuhen said as he stood up. "Don't you intend to look for them?"
Zavi immediately realized what he meant and replied sarcastically, "Those kids are probably crying while trying to find their way back."
Zuhen almost smiled.
"You're always joking."
Then they walked, weaving slightly through the crowd at the station, until they found the other three, who were looking for something to eat and drink, along with supplies for the next leg of their journey.
...
Moran City, the city square.
After making their preparations, a team dispatched by the Cevenose Security Department emerged from the city, a place that felt dead and terrifying with each passing day.
They had identified the figure responsible for causing an uproar among the higher-ups. More importantly, they had brought back an object that had previously been misunderstood but had turned out to be the key to the city's destruction.
The appearance of the ten demon horses.
Far from the Cevenose Security Department headquarters in Vleco, on Jikusuma Street, a man walked alongside a beautiful woman, looking uneasy.
He was not nervous about admitting his feelings. Rather, something weighed heavily on his mind, leaving a constant sense of unease in his chest.
"It's been four days, and there's still no word from him," said the woman, dressed in an elegant burgundy gown.
The two of them climbed the stairs toward the house, but their steps slowed as they reached the door and looked at each other.
Luis had informed them that James Moriarty was being hunted by two members of the "Corsturetion the Corps" club.
Evelina knew what to do and chose to send a message to the address Zavi usually used.
Despite all her efforts, nothing came of it. To this day, they had received no news whatsoever.
They fell silent, afraid that their earlier hypothesis, that James Moriarty had merely used them, might actually be true.
Evelina was furious. James Moriarty's disappearance meant she could no longer proceed with the plan.
Yet deep down, Evelina had sensed a sincere quality beneath James Moriarty's cold and indifferent demeanor.
'Just wait. I'll find you.'
After a brief conversation, the two decided to go inside and continue their discussion.
They then talked about the return of the Cevenose Security Department team, who had brought back something astonishing.
The newspaper reports remained unchanged, but the strange and inexplicable deaths that had plagued the city had begun to decline.
No one knew why, but the situation had taught the residents a lesson. They had become cautious about going outside and interacting with strangers.
Parents even forbade their children from playing anywhere without direct supervision. And another major headline announced the launch of a magnificent airship in the city of Monitty, seven weeks from next Monday.
...
Far from Kuranda, in Dahsu Street, Makoli City, Verce.
Monday, 9:50 a.m.
Albert and his companions set out that day with the sole purpose of visiting Gerry, a member of the Supervisory Council of the Supernatural Investigators Association.
However, after reaching the city center following several hours of travel, they were confronted with a horrifying sight.
"What the hell is this?" Sodet exclaimed in disbelief.
"I can't believe it," Albert muttered to himself.
Luke swallowed hard.
'I knew this would happen!'
Feyne glanced at them. Holding his breath, he said, "We should leave this place."
Indeed, what was supposed to be the headquarters of the Supernatural Investigators Association had been transformed into a graveyard.
The air itself felt frozen, standing in stark contrast to the stunned onlookers and authorities who stared in horror at the strange and terrifying incident that had taken place the previous night.