444 Confession (2/2)
A hundred pounds straight out? Once again, Klein felt Prince Edessak's generosity.
”I'll do my best.” He took the hundred pounds in cash and pocketed it without counting it in detail.
”I hope that we can put Talim to rest.” Prince Edessak clenched his right fist and tapped the left side of his chest.
He turned his head to look out the window at Crown Cemetery which wasn't too far away.
His friendship for Talim still remains strong… Klein sighed before he was led out to a carriage by the old butler.
…
In Empress Borough, the opulent villa of Earl Hall.
Audrey looked at her psychology teacher, whose long hair reached her waist, and she pretended to carefully look from side to side.
She immediately lowered her voice and said, ”Miss Escalante, I recently joined a new Beyonder gathering. There were high offers for a Human-skinned Shadow characteristic and the Wind-blessed potion formula. Uh, different people. These are likely Mid-Sequence items, right? It sounds quite interesting. Ah, right. Will the Psychology Alchemists be interested?”
Escalante was startled. She pondered for a few seconds and said, ”I'll ask when I return.”
”Alright,” Audrey responded briskly, as though she were simply intrigued by such Mid-Sequence transactions.
Escalante retracted her attention and said in a serious tone, ”Miss Audrey, although you are already a Sequence 8 Beyonder, you have yet to receive formal education in mysticism. You still don't understand enough about the techniques and applications of a Spectator and Telepathist, as well as the foundation theories. Starting today, I'll guide you to become a true Beyonder.”
”That's what I wish,” Audrey said sincerely.
The huge golden retriever, Susie, who was sitting by her feet, wagged its tail happily, as if happy for her mistress.
…
Having made up his mind not to work, Klein took the carriage back to 15 Minsk Street.
He opened the door and was just about to take off his hat when he froze.
His spiritual intuition told him that a stranger had entered the living room. Someone had entered his room!
This… He barely hid his tracks… Is it considered a warning? Having a warning is better than not having one… Klein stood in the hall for a long time in silence.
Immediately, he turned around and went to the Steam Cathedral in a rental carriage.
The cathedral towered over the chimneys and clock tower, the former representing the power of steam, while the latter represented the beauty of machinery through the hanging of its intricate clocks.
It was neither the weekend nor noon or the evening, so there were only a few devotees in the hall quietly praying.
Klein sat down in the aisle, leaned his cane, took off his hat, and pretended to pray for ten minutes in front of the Sacred Emblem.
Then, he picked up his things and walked along the aisle to the altar. He said to the bishop standing to the side, ”I wish to make a confession.”
”Good, God is watching you.” The bishop, who had a kind face and hoary hair at his temples, walked to the confessional by his side.
Klein followed closely behind and closed the door.
He sat down on a chair and said to the bishop through the wooden board, ”I confess that I didn't adhere to my principles when facing danger, and I chose to retreat.”
”What were you thinking at the time?” the bishop gently asked.
Klein immediately described in detail about Talim's death; his suspicions; the reminder from the Machinery Hivemind; Prince Edessak's entrustment; and, after how he failed to obtain any answers from his divination, he expressed his heartfelt cowardice in the face of the royal family's strife.
The reason he didn't go straight to Carlson was that he was afraid that not only was he being watched, but Prince Edessak's men were also watching him from the shadows. Once he made his intentions clear, he couldn't be sure if he would encounter another calamity.
The Steam Cathedral was the headquarters of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, and it was one of the three Great Holy Temples. No one could spy on whatever happened inside.
What Klein intended to do was to use the Church of the God of Steam to convey his true thoughts and avoid getting caught up in a deeper conflict.
Simply put, it was to comply with what his heart wanted.
The bishop listened quietly and answered without changing his tone, ”Your choice derives from human instinct; God will not blame you.
”Go back, God will protect you.”
That's good… Klein understood the hint and quietly left the Steam Cathedral.
Standing on the street outside, looking at the misty sky, he sighed silently.
I need to advance as soon as possible.