Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 19 Newcomers
Sitting in the Nightwatch carriage with the police badge for the second time, Claire listened to Dunn explain the mission to her:

"After becoming a Nighthawk, you must handle a separate incident as your joining mission."

"Your joining mission hasn't been arranged yet. I happen to have a mission that's not too dangerous. Please follow me to familiarize yourself with the process... This mission involves an ancient book from the Fourth Epoch..."

After listening to Dunn's story, Claire felt a faint sense of familiarity. Flipping through Leonard's half-finished case records, Claire asked curiously, "Can I read this ancient book from the Fourth Epoch?"

Dunn looked at Claire with deep eyes. "Not to mention that it hasn't been found yet, even if it was found, the ancient book would be very dangerous. I don't recommend viewing it directly before processing it. Two graduates have already died around the ancient book."

Claire looked through the death list:

Naya drowned herself in a basin of water.

Welch banged his head against the wall several times and died.

Welch...

"I've met this person before." Claire suddenly remembered something as she held the report between her fingers. "He approached me in the Tingen University cafeteria and invited me to interpret an ancient book from the Fourth Epoch."

Dunn's eyes were filled with emotion, and a trace of thought flashed across his face. "I heard from Daly that you might have encountered something strange at Tingen University, and it's actually related to this case..."

Thinking about the strangeness of this case, Claire felt a little scared: "In other words, if I had accepted the invitation at that time, I would probably have died of suicide like them?"

She was just an ordinary person at that time.

Dunn pondered, "Perhaps we Nighthawks might have noticed some clues in advance."

Because at that time, Claire was still under Daly's supervision.

Dunn made a deduction based on his experience: "So your amnesia at that time could have been the work of someone behind the scenes, or it could have been your own higher spiritual power avoiding unknown dangers... or perhaps both."

Claire continued reading:

"Is there a survivor?"

"Klein Moretti."

The information above describes that Klein Moretti may have attempted suicide by shooting himself, but did not die.

This description is too suspicious.

Claire even guessed from the deep handwriting that Leonard, who wrote this paragraph, also had strong doubts about this person.

"Leonard and I had our first contact with him this afternoon. I'll be entering his dream shortly. Claire, stay by my side and don't act on your own! There's no chance of wild Beyonders hiding nearby, and there's no chance he's been contaminated and transformed into a monster."

Dunn explained the plan for contacting the survivor, first guiding him through his dreams, and then bringing him to Daly depending on the situation.

The "Comprehensive" potion did not bring any improvement to Claire's combat power, but thanks to the Sword of the Goddess in her body, she was able to be strengthened to have the physical qualities of an insomniac.

Claire checked the guns and ammunition she was carrying again and assured Dunn, "Okay, Captain."

It was her first real combat mission, and Claire couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

I kept reminding myself to concentrate, and even the whispers in my ears didn't seem so annoying anymore.

It was Dunn who activated his ability.

Claire had no idea what happened in the dream.

Claire only saw Dunn wake up, gave her some instructions, and then got off the carriage and walked towards the window of the Moretti family's house.

The black windbreaker blends into the night, like a nightmare coming true.

Looking at Dunn's back, Claire suddenly thought, "Isn't that Moretti going to be scared to death by the captain's appearance..."

Of course, Klein Moretti wasn't scared to death by Dunn. Instead, he got into Claire's carriage in a "friendly" atmosphere.

Claire noticed that the other person was looking at her awkwardly.

They probably didn't expect there was a lady in the carriage. "Could this be the 'expert'? Didn't they say they were waiting for us at the Welch's?"

Although I didn't hear the conversation between Dunn and Klein Moretti, from the sound of it, did he mistake her for Sister Daly?

Claire remembered that when she was rescued, she was also sitting in this carriage with Dunn and Leonard.

Dunn had been quite friendly to her along the way.

Recalling those memories, Claire smiled kindly: "I'm just an ordinary team member, Claire Meazza. You can simply call me Claire."

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Klein Moretti. You can also call me Klein."

Claire noticed that Klein was a little more relaxed. It seemed that Dunn had put a lot of pressure on him.

Actually, it was because of her noble status that she was spared this somewhat terrifying dream experience.

Claire took advantage of the other person's relaxation and suddenly asked, "Don't you know me? Welch once invited me to participate in the interpretation of that ancient book."

Klein was clearly surprised and even thought for a moment before saying, "I haven't heard about it from Welch?"

"But I...I might have some problems with my memory."

Dunn and Claire were observing Klein's words and actions, but they didn't find any signs of him lying.

"Claire... Madam, have you also seen that notebook? Have we met before?" Klein asked.

This confusion didn't seem fake, but Claire naturally wouldn't answer the other party's questions before further investigation.

Dunn spoke at the right time and shifted the topic to the experiences of those who had come into contact with the supernatural events.

In particular, the court cited the example of a reporter who had no abnormalities in the case. After a long period of happy life with a wife and children, he strangled himself to death in his office in March this year.

Klein fell silent.

Claire secretly admired the captain's experience. By now, Klein must have been thinking of asking the captain for help.

It also laid a good foundation for Sister Dai Li's subsequent inquiries.

"Mr. Steve, we're here at Welch's residence." The driver's voice came.

Welch's residence is a single-family house with a garden.

With both Dunn and Daly here, it can be considered the safest place in Tingen at the moment.

Here, Claire observed Daly's spiritual communication for the first time as a Beyonder.

That is a mysterious ability that is different from Old Neil's style.

While taking detailed notes on the case, Claire observed and verified what she had learned. She also realized that her current inspiration was not enough to try it out.

Perhaps I could invoke the Night Goddess and use ritual magic to achieve similar effects.

But the aftereffect is that I am more polluted by the goddess...

Therefore, you still have to work hard to improve your sequence, and promotion is the right way.

Dunn's dreaming and Daly's psychic communication hadn't yielded any clues from Klein. As someone who had experienced this, Claire understood that there were only two possibilities:
First, Klein is a lucky guy with no problems.

Second, Klein's problem is even more serious.

Regardless of the possibility, there is only one best way to deal with Klein—

As Claire expected, on the return carriage, Dunn formally invited Klein: "Will you join us as a civil servant?"

Claire closed her notebook and raised her head, wanting to yawn out of boredom. However, in the darkness, she, a follower of the night, became increasingly energetic.

(End of this chapter)