Chapter 6: 6. Chapter 6: Beyonders

Chapter 6: Beyonder

The same Loenese, the same heavy and tense feeling.

Where is this? What do I want to do? I’d like to know that myself... Zhou Mingrui calmed down, silently repeating the two people’s questions.

What left the deepest impression on him was not the sentences formed by the words or the meaning they contained, but the panic, vigilance, fear, and awe displayed by the man and the woman!

Having inexplicably pulled two people into this world above the gray fog, even he, the "culprit," was exceptionally stunned and shocked, let alone them, who were on the receiving end!

In their eyes, this kind of occurrence and this kind of encounter must have transcended their imagination, right?

In this instant, Zhou Mingrui thought of two choices. The first was to pretend he was also a victim, hide his true identity to gain a degree of trust, wait and see how things developed, and fish in troubled waters. The second was to maintain the mysterious and unfathomable image in the eyes of the man and woman, actively guide the development of events, and obtain valuable information from it.

There was no time to think or deliberate further. Zhou Mingrui seized the thought that flashed through his mind, made a quick decision, and attempted the second method.

Utilize the other party's current psychological state and grasp his greatest advantage!

After a few seconds of silence above the gray fog, Zhou Mingrui chuckled. His tone was calm, his voice low but not deep, as if responding to a visitor’s polite greeting

"An attempt."

An attempt... An attempt? Audrey Hall looked at the mysterious man shrouded in gray-white mist, feeling that the situation was absurd, amusing, terrifying, and bizarre.

She had just been in her bedroom, in front of her vanity, and with a turn of her head, she had "come" to this place filled with gray fog!

How inconceivable this was!

Audrey took a breath, put on an impeccable, polite smile, and asked with some trepidation

"Sir, is the attempt over? Can you let us go back?"

Alger Wilson also wanted to make a similar probe, but as someone with rich experience, he was more composed. He suppressed his impulse and just watched silently.

Zhou Mingrui looked at the questioner. He could vaguely see the other party’s figure through the blur—a tall young lady with soft golden hair—but her specific features were not very clear.

He didn't rush to answer the girl's question. He turned to look at the man on the other side. The man had dark blue hair, messy like seaweed, and a medium build, not particularly robust.

At this very moment, Zhou Mingrui suddenly had an epiphany. Once he became more powerful, or understood this world of gray fog more deeply, perhaps he would be able to truly see through the haze and see the faces of the girl and the man clearly.

In this incident, they are the guests, and I am the host!

With this shift in mindset, Zhou Mingrui immediately sensed some details he hadn't noticed before.

The sweet-voiced girl and the calm, reserved man were both quite illusory, tinged with a faint red, just like the projections of those two deep red "stars" above the gray fog.

And this projection was based on the connection between himself and the deep red—a connection that was intangible and invisible, yet one he could truly grasp.

If I cut this connection, the projection will dissipate, and they will be able to return... Zhou Mingrui nodded imperceptibly, looked at the golden-haired girl, and smiled softly

"Of course, if you formally request it, I can let you go back now."

Audrey, who could detect no malice, breathed a sigh of relief. She believed that a gentleman capable of such miraculous feats would surely strictly abide by his promise.

With her nerves slightly calmed, she didn't rush to propose leaving. Her emerald eyes darted left and right, flashing with an unusual brilliance.

She said with trepidation, anticipation, and an eager-to-try attitude

"This is truly a wonderful experience... Um, I have always been looking forward to something like this. I mean, I like mystery, I like miracles that transcend nature. No, my point—what I mean is, sir, what must I do to become a Beyonder?"

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, even to the point of being incoherent. The dream that had sprouted when she listened to her elders tell various strange tales as a child seemed to finally have a glimmer of realization.

In just a few sentences, she had forgotten her previous fear and panic.

Good question! I want to know the answer too... Zhou Mingrui complained to himself.

He began to think about how to use his response to maintain his mysterious and unfathomable image.

At the same time, he felt that standing and talking like this seemed a bit "low." Shouldn't such a scene have a temple, a long table, and numerous high-backed chairs carved with ancient patterns and full of mystery, while he sat at the very head, quietly watching his guests?

As soon as the thought crossed Zhou Mingrui's mind, the gray fog suddenly churned, giving Audrey and Alger a start.

In an instant, they saw towering stone pillars appear around them and saw that they were covered by a vast dome above.

The entire building was magnificent, grand, and towering, just like the king's palace of giants in legends.

Directly below the dome, where the gray fog clustered, a bronze long table appeared. There were ten high-backed chairs on each side, and the same seats were placed at the front and back. The backs of the chairs were inlaid with shimmering, deep red, dark-hued patterns, outlining strange constellations that did not correspond to reality.

Audrey and Alger happened to be sitting opposite each other, in the positions closest to the head of the table.

The girl looked to the left, then to the right, and couldn't help but mutter in a low voice

"This is truly magical..."

It is indeed magical... Zhou Mingrui extended his right hand and rubbed the edge of the bronze long table with a very small movement, remaining calm on the surface.

Alger also looked around. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly spoke, answering Audrey's question on Zhou Mingrui's behalf

"You are a Loenese, right?"

"If you want to become a Beyonder, join the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of the Lord of Storms, or the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery."

"Although the vast majority of people never see the extraordinary in their entire lives, to the point where they doubt the churches are the same, even within the major churches, many clergy members have similar thoughts. But I can tell you clearly: in the Arbitration Council, the Inquisition, and the execution agencies, Beyonders still exist and are still fighting against the dangers growing in the dark. It’s just that their numbers are much, much smaller compared to the early Black Iron Age or before."

Zhou Mingrui listened attentively, but his body language tried hard to show an indifferent attitude, like an adult listening to a child tell a story.

Relying on the historical common sense left behind by Klein, he knew that the "Black Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, the Fifth Epoch, which began 1,349 years ago.

Audrey listened quietly and then let out a soft breath

"Sir, I know everything you said, and even more—for example, the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, the Machinery Hivemind. However, I don't want to lose my freedom."

Alger chuckled softly and said vaguely

"How can one become a Beyonder without paying a price? If you don't consider joining a church and undergoing their tests, then you can only go to the royal family, those nobles whose family history spans over a thousand years, or rely on luck to find those hidden, evil organizations."

Audrey subconsciously puffed out her cheeks, then looked left and right in a panic. Only after confirming that "Mr. Mysterious" and the guy opposite hadn't noticed her small action did she press on

"Is there no other way?"

Alger fell into silence. After a dozen breaths, he turned his head to look at "Mr. Mysterious," Zhou Mingrui, who was watching quietly without saying a word.

Seeing that the other party was noncommittal, he looked back at Audrey and said after some deliberation

"I actually have two Sequence 9 potion formulas in my possession."

Sequence 9? Zhou Mingrui muttered to himself.

"Really? Which two?" Audrey clearly knew what a Sequence 9 potion formula represented.

Alger leaned back slightly and replied in a measured tone

"You know that if humans want to become true Beyonders, they can only rely on potions. And the names of the potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate.' After continuous translation through Giant, Elvish, Ancient Hermes, Ancient Futhark, and modern Hermes, they have long since undergone changes that fit the characteristics of the era. The name is not the point; the point is whether it can represent the 'core symbol' of this potion."

"One of the Sequence 9 formulas I have is called 'Sailor.' It can give you excellent balance; even on a ship shrouded in a storm, you can walk as freely as on land. You will also gain extraordinary strength, as well as phantom scales hidden under your skin. This will make you as hard to catch as a fish, as agile in the water as a Sea Clan member, and even without any equipment, you can easily dive for at least ten minutes."

"Sounds great... The 'Sea God's Kin' of the Lord of Storms?" Audrey asked, half in anticipation and half for verification.

"In ancient times, it was indeed called 'Sea God's Kin,'" Alger said without pause. "The second Sequence 9 formula is called 'Spectator.' As for what it was called in ancient times, I don't know. This potion can give you outstanding spirit and keen observation. I believe you have watched operas and plays; you can understand what 'Spectator' represents. Like a bystander, you examine the 'actors' in secular society, glimpsing their true thoughts from their expressions, their manners, their verbal tics, and their unknown actions."

Having said this, Alger emphasized

"You must remember, whether it is a lavish banquet or a bustling street, a spectator is always just a spectator."

Audrey’s eyes lit up as she listened, and it was a long while before she said

"Why? Well, that’s a follow-up question. I... I think I like this feeling. 'Spectator.' How can I obtain the 'Spectator' formula? What should I trade with you?"

Alger seemed prepared, and he replied in a deep voice

"Ghost Shark blood. At least 100 milliliters of Ghost Shark blood."

Audrey nodded excitedly at first, then asked with concern

"If I can get it—I mean, if—how should I give it to you? And how can I ensure that after you get the Ghost Shark blood, you will give me the potion formula, and that the formula is authentic?"

Alger said in a normal tone

"I will give you an address. Once I receive the Ghost Shark blood, I will mail the formula to you, or tell you directly here."

"As for the guarantee, I think if we have the witness of this mysterious sir, both you and I will be sufficiently reassured."

When he said this, he turned his gaze to Zhou Mingrui, who was sitting at the head of the table

"Sir, you were able to pull us here and possess power beyond our imagination. Neither she nor I would dare to go against a witness provided by you."

"Yes!" Audrey’s eyes lit up, and she agreed excitedly.

In her view, Mr. Mysterious, whose methods were unimaginable, was indeed an "authoritative" enough witness.

How could she or the guy opposite have the guts to deceive him!

Audrey turned her body slightly and looked sincerely at Zhou Mingrui

"Sir, please be the witness to our transaction."

Only then did she realize she had forgotten a certain question all this time. It was too impolite, so she hurriedly asked

"Sir, how should we address you?"

Alger nodded slightly and followed up solemnly

"Sir, how should we address you?"

Zhou Mingrui was stunned for a moment. His fingers, resting on the bronze long table, began to tap lightly. The content of his previous divination suddenly flashed through his mind.

He leaned back, withdrew his right hand, crossed his fingers against his chin, and looked at the two of them with a smile

"You may call me..."

He paused here, his tone soft and plain

"The Fool."

(End of chapter)