"She's called 'Kay Shaw,' a mentor guiding me to happiness!"
As Mrs. Corsen spoke these words, her spirit in the dream visibly grew more animated.
Leaving your husband may free you from pain, but this path might not necessarily lead to happiness… Klein sighed inwardly. Waiting for Mrs. Corsen's emotions to settle, he repeated his earlier question:
"How did you meet her, and when?"
"About three days ago, she approached me and brought me here for the first time. That's when she shared her philosophies," Mrs. Corsen replied naturally.
Three days ago? But Mr. Thomas said your behavior changed two weeks ago… Frowning, Klein pondered for a moment before asking again, "Did you have thoughts of divorce before meeting Kay Shaw?"
"Yes… but I was hesitant and constantly wavering. Sometimes, after Thomas patiently coaxed me, I'd even think about giving up on the idea… Fortunately, I met 'Teacher.' She helped me realize that as long as I continue placing myself in a subordinate role to my husband, no matter how considerate Thomas is now, it won't be long before he reverts to his old ways." Mrs. Corsen's expression became introspective as she spoke.
I see. Mrs. Corsen had long grown weary of Mr. Thomas. That 'Instigator' merely nudged her in the direction she already wanted to go…
Klein turned his attention to Kay's ongoing speech, listening for a while before nodding thoughtfully.
What she's saying isn't necessarily wrong, just a bit radical for this era. It's unlikely to be well-received by Storm Church believers…
"Are the others here like you? Already dissatisfied with their husbands and considering divorce?" Klein asked after a moment.
"Meyn and Laura are like me; they attended the marital issues seminar and probably feel the same way. The others, I think, were merely discontent but lacked the courage to divorce," Mrs. Corsen answered proudly.
Turning the act of divorce into a badge of courage to spark discord as part of an 'Instigator' roleplay… Kay Shaw truly is a 'genius'…
From this perspective, he may not be a completely bad person. If he were, there are countless more efficient and direct ways to fulfill the 'Instigator' role.
As Klein pondered, he noted an unfamiliar term in Mrs. Corsen's words and deliberately repeated it: "Marital issues seminar?"
During his time with the Nighthawks in Tingen, Melissa had attended a similar seminar with her friends Elizabeth and Selena, only to leave disappointed because the speaker—a Storm Church believer—claimed that "women were inherently deficient in logic and wisdom and should take the words of their fathers and husbands as religious truth."
Melissa later told Klein that she and her friends didn't even finish the seminar; they had quietly slipped out the back.
Thinking of Melissa, Klein's lips curled slightly before he quickly masked his expression.
At that moment, Mrs. Corsen began explaining: "Unlike past seminars, the speaker this time was Mr. Stewart, a deacon of the Storm Church. He advocated for equality between husbands and wives. His lecture left a profound impression on me, but when I shared it with Thomas, he dismissed it as nonsense. That's when I began seriously considering divorce. Meyn and Laura were similarly affected."
Stewart? Isn't he the Mysticism Magister who partnered with Ms. Daly for that joint investigation?
Ms. Daly once told Klein that Stewart had a poor reputation and warned him to advise the captain against associating with him too much.
But how could someone with such progressive ideas about gender roles have a poor reputation in that regard? Either he's a hypocrite, or his views are unpalatable within the Storm Church, leading to exclusion and slander…
Having formed an opinion, Klein asked his final question: "When and where will you next meet Kay Shaw?"
"Friday afternoon at 2 PM, at a house on 33 Iron Gate Street in the Bridge District," Mrs. Corsen replied.
That's very close to the Bravehearts Bar… Klein nodded thoughtfully, then politely placed a hand on his chest and smiled. "Thank you for your answers."
He disappeared from Mrs. Corsen's dream.
---
In His Rented Room
Klein returned the Nightmare Emblem to its box and reverse-walked four steps into the gray fog.
One last step: confirm through divination… Klein muttered as he conjured his spirit pendulum and repeated a prepared question:
"Mrs. Corsen's words in the dream were influenced by supernatural forces."
After seven repetitions, he opened his eyes to see the yellow crystal rotating counterclockwise—indicating no.
It seems the Instigator isn't particularly cautious… Probably a novice…
If this escalates and draws official attention, he'll undoubtedly be caught by the Mandated Punishers.
As Klein pondered, he divined the source of his familiarity with Kay Shaw's hooded cloak.
The answer quickly manifested: a vision of the non-extraordinary gathering held by the "Wisdom Eye" elder, where a participant named "Wild Dog" had posed a series of pressing questions.
Kay Shaw is 'Wild Dog'? He's indeed a man, and during the gathering, he certainly didn't have such an impressive chest…
I remember when someone requested a Widow Spider's silk glands, Wild Dog seemed surprised. It makes sense now; he knew it was a key ingredient for the Pleasure Witch's potion.
He knows the formula but lacks counter-surveillance skills, and he doesn't appear to be part of a larger organization. What's his background? A lone Extraordinary who stumbled upon a 'stroke of luck' perhaps?
Additionally, Wild Dog mentioned that a friend of his had been wrongfully detained by the Storm Church. Could his efforts to incite Storm Church believers' wives to divorce also be an act of vengeance?
Klein tapped his fingers against the edge of the bronze table, pondering for a while before conjuring the spirit pendulum again and murmuring another question:
"Will Wild Dog appear at 33 Iron Gate Street at 2 PM on Friday?"
After seven repetitions, the yellow crystal swung clockwise.
This confirms two things: First, Wild Dog is indeed Kay Shaw. Second, he'll show up, so I can prepare the location in advance tomorrow.
---
Friday Morning, Damir Port
Ebner, still awaiting news of the Fool's "online tutoring session," left his house and immediately encountered Gaston, his hair meticulously combed and his face adorned with a bright smile.
After a brief exchange, Gaston remarked, "I slept exceptionally well last night—perhaps being back on land makes all the difference." He then extended an invitation:
"I promised to let you observe the creation of a 'beyonder artifact.' Today, the opportunity presents itself. Care to join me?"
"Of course!" Ebner's eyes lit up as he readily agreed.
The two entered a simplified steam workshop modeled after the layout of White Maple Palace. Inside, Gaston carefully opened an iron box, revealing a Wind-blessed Beyonder characteristic.
"This will be the primary material for today's creation. You should be familiar with its origin—it's what the Bone Breaker left behind after dueling the Pale Admiral." Gaston's expression grew solemn as he explained. He then looked at Ebner and added:
"Although you're just observing, I'll need your assistance… especially since the Bone Breaker suffered a backlash from summoning a higher demon before his death. It's likely his characteristic still contains unforeseen elements. If anything goes wrong, I'll need you to activate the workshop's purification functions."
Having already activated the Pure White Eye, Ebner silently remarked:
Not 'likely'—the characteristic definitely contains demonic traces! Whether the crafting process runs smoothly or not, the resulting artifact will likely have severe negative effects, potentially qualifying as a high-level sealed artifact.
(End of Chapter)