Chapter 15: Invitation

Chapter 15: Invitation

"Why?" Hearing Dunn's words, a massive wave of shock surged in Klein's heart, and the question escaped his lips instinctively.

Beyonders had serious hidden dangers? To the point where the judicial organs within the Church, the Beyonders who handled supernatural incidents, were also prone to problems?

Dunn Smith stepped into the carriage and sat in his previous seat, maintaining a calm expression and tone

"This is not something you need to know, nor is it something you *can* know, unless you become one of us."

Klein was momentarily speechless. He sat down and asked, half-amused and half-confused

"How can I make a decision to join without understanding this?"

And if he didn't join, he couldn't understand it; it had become a circular deadlock...

Dunn Smith took out his pipe again and simply held it to his nose for a puff

"You have likely misunderstood. Being one of us includes civilian staff."

"In other words, as long as I become a civilian staff member for you, I can learn the relevant secrets, understand the hidden dangers and potential risks faced by Beyonders, and then consider whether or not to become a Beyonder myself?" Klein rephrased the other man's meaning in his own words while organizing his thoughts.

Dunn smiled and said

"That is correct, with one exception: just because you consider becoming a Beyonder doesn't mean you will definitely succeed. In this regard, the major Churches are equally strict."

*It would be strange if they weren't strict...* Klein grumbled inwardly, then gestured with emphasis

"What about civilian staff? That should also be very strict, right?"

"If it's you, there shouldn't be any problem." Dunn's eyes were half-closed, his expression slightly relaxed as he smelled the pipe, though he did not light the tobacco.

"Why?" Klein fell into confusion once again.

At the same time, he began to mock himself in his mind

*Is my uniqueness, my transmigrator halo, as vivid and outstanding as a firefly in the night?*

Dunn opened his half-closed eyes, his gray pupils as deep as before

"First, being able to survive such an incident without our help proves that you possess qualities different from others—for instance, luck. And lucky people are always very popular."

Seeing Klein's somewhat stunned expression, he smiled slightly

"Alright, you can just treat it as a bit of humor. Second, you are a graduate of the History Department at Hoy University, which is something we desperately need. Although Lulumi's attitude toward women as a believer of the Lord of Storms is loathsome, his views on society, humanities, economics, and politics remain sharp. He once said that talent is the key factor in maintaining a competitive advantage and healthy development. I agree with this point very much."

Noticing Klein's slight frown, he explained casually

"You can imagine that we frequently come into contact with documents and artifacts from the Fourth Epoch or even earlier. Many cults and various heretics attempt to derive power from these things. Sometimes, the things themselves can cause eerie and terrifying occurrences."

"Aside from Beyonders in specialized fields, most of us are not good at studying, or rather, we are past that age." At this point, Dunn Smith pointed to his head, the corners of his mouth curling slightly in self-deprecation, "That dry, tedious knowledge always makes people want to sleep; even a Sleepless cannot resist it. In the past, we would collaborate with historians and archaeologists, but that carries the risk of leaking secrets and might bring unpleasant experiences to professors and associate professors. Therefore, having a professional join us as one of our own is an opportunity too good to refuse."

Klein nodded slightly, accepting Dunn's explanation, and then asked with a wandering thought

"Then why didn't you just, um, develop one directly before?"

Dunn continued on his own

"That is the third, and final and most important point. You have already been exposed to a similar incident, so inviting you does not pose a problem of violating confidentiality clauses. However, if I were to develop someone else and fail, I would be responsible for the leak of secrets. Most of our members and civilian staff come from within the Church."

After listening quietly, Klein asked curiously

"Why are you so strict about secrecy? If many things were publicized and spread, wouldn't that allow more people to know and prevent the same mistakes from happening again? The greatest fear comes from the unknown; we could turn the unknown into the known."

"No, human stupidity exceeds your imagination. This would instead lead to more imitation, greater chaos, and more serious incidents," Dunn Smith replied with a shake of his head.

Klein gave an "Mm" of realization

"The only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity learns nothing from history, and always repeats the same tragedies."

"That famous quote by Emperor Roselle is indeed full of philosophy." Dunn expressed his agreement.

*...Emperor Roselle said it? This transmigrator senior really leaves no blind spots for successors to show off...* For a moment, Klein didn't know how to respond.

Dunn turned to look out the carriage window, where the dim yellow of the streetlamps intertwined into the glow of civilization.

"...Within the judicial organs of the major Churches, there is a similar saying. This may be the primary reason for the strict secrecy and the prohibition of ordinary people knowing."

"What is it?" Klein's spirit lifted, feeling the thrill of peering into a secret.

Dunn turned his head back, the muscles in his face twitching imperceptibly

"Belief and fear bring trouble; more belief and fear bring even greater trouble, until everything is destroyed."

After saying this, he sighed

"And besides praying for the protection and help of the gods, humanity cannot solve truly massive troubles."

"*Belief and fear bring trouble, more belief and fear bring even greater trouble...*" Klein repeated the words in his mind. He couldn't quite grasp them, and because he couldn't grasp the unknown, he felt fear—as if in the shadows of the streetlamps outside, in the darkness where no light reached, there were pairs of eyes filled with malice and mouths waiting to open.

Hooves were nimble, wheels rolled, and Iron Cross Street was in sight. Dunn broke the sudden silence and formally extended the invitation

"Do you want to join us and become a civilian staff member?"

Thoughts surged in Klein's mind, and for a brief moment, he could not decide. After thinking, he said

"Can I consider it?"

This was a matter of great importance; he could not make a choice hastily or recklessly.

"No problem. Just give me an answer before Sunday." Dunn nodded. "Of course, remember to keep it confidential. You cannot tell anyone about the Welch-related incident, including your brother and sister. Once violated, it will not only bring them trouble but could also lead to you facing a special tribunal."

"Okay," Klein answered solemnly.

Silence returned to the carriage.

Seeing that Iron Cross Street was approaching and they were almost home, Klein suddenly thought of a question. After hesitating for a few seconds, he spoke up

"Mr. Smith, what are the salary and benefits for your civilian staff?"

This was a serious question...

Dunn froze for a moment, then smiled

"Don't worry about that. Our funding is jointly guaranteed by the Church and the police department. For a newly joined civilian staff member, the weekly wage is 2 pounds and 10 shillings, plus an additional 10 shillings for confidentiality and risk subsidies, totaling 3 pounds. It's not much different from a formal university lecturer."

"Later, as your seniority increases and you earn corresponding merits, your salary will gradually grow."

"For civilian staff, we generally use five-year contracts. After five years, if you no longer wish to do it, you can resign normally, though you must sign an additional lifelong confidentiality clause. You cannot leave Tingen without our approval, and if you move to another city, you must register with the local Nighthawks immediately."

"Oh, and there are no Sundays; there are only rotating shifts. We must ensure three civilian staff members are always on duty. If you want to go to the south or to Dice Bay for a vacation, you will need to coordinate with your colleagues."

Just as Dunn finished speaking, the carriage stopped, and the apartment where Klein's family lived appeared to the side.

"I understand." Klein turned and stepped down from the carriage, stopping beside it. "By the way, Mr. Smith, if I decide to join, where should I look for you?"

Dunn gave a low chuckle

"Go to the 'Hound Pub' on Besic Street and look for their owner, Wright. Tell him you want to hire a mercenary squad for a mission."

"Huh?" Klein was completely bewildered.

"Our address is also confidential. Until you agree, it is impossible to tell you directly. Well then, Mr. Klein Moretti, I hope you still have a good dream tonight." Dunn offered a smiling farewell.

Klein tipped his hat in greeting and watched the carriage depart, moving from slow to fast.

He took out his pocket watch, clicked it open, and saw it was just past four in the morning. A cool breeze blew through the streets, and the streetlamps cast a dim yellow glow everywhere.

Klein took a deep breath, feeling the profound stillness of the night around him.

The busiest and noisiest district during the day was so desolate and quiet in the middle of the night; it was a stark contrast to the silent gazes and the hallucinatory mediumship within the Welch residence.

It was only at this moment that he realized the back of his linen shirt was soaked with sweat, cold and clammy.