Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 56 Relief
Escort Backlund's colleagues to the train, make joint police arrangements for the aftermath, conduct further autopsies on the bodies of the Secret Order members, and further investigate those involved in the case...

The finishing touches on the Antigonus Notes case kept the Night Watchmen busy until nightfall.

During this time, there was news of a disturbance at Frye's morgue.

At that time, Claire heard Dunn muttering that the corpse of the Secret Order had released extraordinary properties, which Klein regarded as a supernatural event.

After a Beyonder dies, their Beyonder characteristics cannot be immediately released. This requires a coagulation process, so they often only release some time after death.

The extraordinary characteristics released after the death of such extraordinary people will contain the characteristics of all the potions that the deceased swallowed during his lifetime.

"Hmm... Everyone speculates that the enemy Klein killed was a Sequence 7 of the Diviner path. So, when Klein applies to advance to Sequence 7, can he directly consume this Beyonder characteristic?"

"Although that would be equivalent to taking an extra dose of Sequence 9 and Sequence 8 potions, if I could use 'acting' to help with digestion, it wouldn't be a big problem."

"They may even possess strength beyond the average level due to taking too many potions."

At night, walking under the light of a classic gas lamp, Claire casually thought about the extraordinary properties extracted from the corpse of the secret order member in the afternoon, and walked towards the public bathroom with a change of clothes.

The night watchmen were often too busy to go home, so in addition to places for rest and entertainment, public bathrooms were also specially arranged.

One is the public bathhouse within Blackthorn Company, and the other is the bathroom at St. Selina Church.

The latter has better conditions and also has hot springs.

The night watchmen, especially the female ones, were willing to go there even if it meant walking a little further. Even Roshan and the accountant, Mrs. Orianna, often went there on their days off, to "enjoy life," as Roshan put it.

Because of this, Claire chose to go to public bathrooms more often.

Although it is a public bathroom, it is well done from design and construction to daily maintenance, and there is even a square bathtub.

After scrubbing and soaking in the bathtub, Claire has now adapted to the living habits of women. At least when facing her own body, she does not feel any psychological strangeness or pressure.

Claire cleared her mind and planned to go out for a while.

But I didn't expect anyone to come in at this time.

Xijia, wrapped in a short bath towel and with his long silver hair tied up, saw Claire soaking in the pool and smiled slightly, "Claire? I was wondering who was in there."

After untying the bath towel, Xijia stood closer to Claire and took a bath. The powerful and elegant figure of this female "Midnight Poet" was clearly visible to Claire.

Claire looked away awkwardly, but since she was close enough, she could still see it with her peripheral vision. Furthermore, Claire's observation skills had greatly improved after her promotion...

Claire simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

Ripples of water gently hit Claire's exposed shoulders. It was Xijia who entered the pool.

Xijia sighed contentedly: "Taking a bath every day makes me feel alive."

"But the church is still more comfortable. They didn't even notify us in advance about this maintenance." Xijia came to Claire's side and said, "I don't think I've seen Claire go to the church bathroom very often. Do you always wash here?"

Claire opened her eyes again, now facing Xijia, she controlled her micro-expressions and did not show any fear in her demeanor.

When people are exposed to greater stimulation, their adaptability will be fully demonstrated.

Moreover, having lived in a female body for over a month, Claire was able to control the ripples in her heart when faced with such a scene.

It was just that the education she received made her subconsciously keep a distance from other strange women in private.

Claire nodded calmly and said, "I've always been washing here."

But Xijia, who is a writer, still delicately sensed Claire's slight avoidance from her subtle expressions.

Xijia could confirm that it was not avoidance caused by shyness.

It was more like an avoidance caused by lust. Xijia looked at Claire in surprise and suddenly said, "Claire, do you like women?"

"Ah?" Claire's eyes showed a slight panic, but she gradually regained her composure. After a few breaths, she responded honestly, "Hmm..."

"No wonder I never see you in the bathhouse over at the church." Xijia laughed and said, "Claire, did you suddenly become like this?"

Claire looked puzzled, not knowing why Xijia asked this.

Xijia continued, "In the church, in the girls' school, and among the Nighthawks, it's not uncommon for women to like other women. But they don't avoid women like you do, Claire."

"People who suddenly change their sexual orientation for various reasons will have a period of time when they react like you."

"Claire, is this because of...Ty Perslan's betrayal?"

Suddenly, Xiga asked directly.

"Tai Perslan..." Claire was lost in thought, and sighed softly at the name.

Xijia was a little surprised after hearing this.

"You seem...to say that name without hatred?"

"You don't hate him?"

Hatred?

Claire responded with a wry smile.

Tai is her, so how could she harbor hatred towards her past self?

The one she hated was that woman...

Claire whispered, "I hate her."

"Her? Yeah, the captain said the other day that those on the 'Assassin' path' would change gender upon reaching Sequence 7. It seems that guy relied on that gender change to escape our Nighthawks' pursuit."

As he spoke, Xijia looked at Claire with a strange look in his eyes. "When that guy was a man, you liked men. When he became a woman, you started to like women..."

"Claire... could it be that you've got that 'hostage identification syndrome' that Emperor Roselle once mentioned?"

Seeing Xijia's increasingly outrageous remarks, Claire was speechless and blushed slightly. In a panic, she could only say, "I've always liked women!"

After saying this, Claire suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if a burden had been suddenly lifted off her shoulders.

Xijia tilted his head and looked at Claire and smiled: "Are you feeling better?"

Claire was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xijia and smiled with relief.

Xijia splashed water and said calmly, "I've always felt you were too tense, but I couldn't find the reason. You can do your clerical work perfectly, and you're not afraid of field work either. You seem to be very comfortable with the role of Nighthawk."

“I didn’t expect it to be this kind of distress.”

Claire sighed and said, "Thank you, Sister Xijia."

Seeing that Claire's expression was much more relaxed, Xijia said, "That Tai, Claire, don't get hung up on that guy. Forget that he is the best self-love for you."

Claire smiled stiffly, not knowing how to answer such a question.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the Night Watchmen had to stay in their jurisdiction and couldn't go outside to pursue criminals without permission, Claire would have wanted to track down that woman.

Suddenly, Claire thought of those special teams among the Nighthawks:
"Sister Xijia, do you know 'Red Gloves'?"

(End of this chapter)