11 DeShawn Street.
Bryan entered his room and put his clothes and grocery into a knapsack. Then he looked at his room, in which he had lived for the past few years, one last time. Honestly, even living in this dilapidated building was something Bryan couldn't afford.
However, the winter season in Damascus was really cold and he was afraid he would die if he couldn't find a proper place to stay.
Hence, he had to compromise between eating properly and living in a relatively proper apartment to avoid the harsh weather. That's why Bryan used most of his money from begging and stealing in order to pay his rent here, rather than eating properly every day.
'Being poor is truly miserable. Hundreds of people die in the slums every year due to starvation or the weather.' Bryan sighed. 'But things will be different now!'
At times like these, Bryan felt even more grateful towards Detective Watson. Although he had taken him in as his student on account of him having a good aptitude, the truth of the matter was Detective Watson had lent him a helping hand when no one else had. That's why Bryan always did his best to help the Detective as much as he could.
Bryan turned around and left the apartment. On his way down, he knocked on the landlord's door making sure he wasn't at home.
After knocking a few times, there was still no answer. "Hehe, it's good that you aren't here." Bryan chuckled.
He left the building but did not immediately depart. Instead, he looked around, looking for something. He came to the side of the building and picked up a newspaper lying on the ground. Then he walked to the middle of the street, squatted down, and picked up a big pile of horse shit with the newspaper.
Bryan headed back to the building and into the first floor. He stopped in front of Mr. Clark's apartment, kept the horse shit covered with the newspaper on the floor, then took out a thin metal piece as long as his finger with a curved end on one side, out of his pocket.
This was a lock pick Bryan had made himself, based on his years of experience. He spent about a minute picking the lock of the apartment door. Bryan picked up the newspaper full of shit and entered.
He looked around and saw the state of the room. "Oh? It's surprisingly cleaner than I imagined." Bryan raised his eyebrows and added, "But not for long hehe."
Bryan approached the bed and dumped all the horseshit underneath it. He went back to the middle of the street and carried some more horseshit back. He made the trip a couple of times, he also had to change the newspaper once, afraid that it would tear open.
After transferring everything he could, Bryan looked at the bed, precisely what was underneath it. It was full of shit, the smell was already beginning to turn unbearable. He felt satisfied. Then he looked around the room, hoping to steal anything of value.
He rummaged through the bed, the table, and even the wardrobe but found nothing. Bryan sneered, "This pig-looking bastard. Does he have nothing valuable in his own home?" While he was inwardly cursing his landlord, his eyes fell on a floor plank that was slightly raised compared to the others.
"Oh?" Bryan's eyes lit up. He approached the plank and lifted it up with little effort. Beneath the plank was a small compartment. Inside which, there was a stack of 1-pound notes.
Bryan was delighted, he picked up the stack of cash and counted it. "20 pounds? This guy's pretty rich." He kept the money in his pocket and placed back the wooden plank just the way it was. Then he turned around and left the apartment without hesitation.
On his way out he made sure to lock the door again and shut it. Then he left DeShawn Street, wishing to never come back here ever again.
…
Church of Wisdom, North Kingston Avenue.
In an office room behind the prayer hall, Detective Watson was having a meeting with Bishop Halls.
"These blood-sucking leeches have been becoming more and more unruly recently." Bishop's walls stated while sipping tea, with clear animosity in his eyes.
"Well, you know how these members of the Holy Blood Sect are. In fact, the biggest reason why the Blood Path Transcendents are frowned upon and hated is because of the Holy Blood Sect." Detective Watson replied.
"I know, I know. These bastards have committed way too many atrocities over the years. Every time we kill one, a few more pop up afterward." Bishop Walls was disgruntled.
"It can't be helped. Blood Path has the least requirements in order to become a Transcendent. Moreover, it has one of the greatest attack powers among other Paths. It's allure it too great, especially for loose Transcendents." Even Detective Watson felt helpless.
"Anyways, is this why you're here?" asked Bishop Walls.
"That's right. I was given a mission by the Church in Nadir, to investigate and capture a Rank 3 Transcendent. His name is Sean Marx, a member of the Holy Blood Sect." Detective Watson nodded.
"Sean Marx?" Bishop Walls' eyes narrowed. "Is he the scum who massacred an entire neighborhood in Nadir in order to advance, more than a decade ago?"
"Yes, that's the one. He's currently hiding somewhere in Damascus City. His motives are unknown." Detective Watson replied.
"If you need manpower or any resources that can help you in your investigations, let me know. I will do my best to help."
"Thank you." Detective Watson smiled, "By the way, I've taken that kid as my student."
"That vagrant?" Bishop Walls was a little puzzled, "Anything special about him?"
"Yes. He has a supreme-grade aptitude." Detective Watson smiled faintly.
Bishop Walls who was about to take another sip of tea froze in his movements. He was so shocked, his mouth went completely wide. Spiritual aptitude determined how far a Transcendent could go down their path.
It was divided into five levels: low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, top-grade, and finally supreme-grade. Top-grade aptitudes were already rare enough, therefore, one can imagine how rare and extremely valued a person with supreme-grade aptitude was.
And now, he heard that a random beggar Detective Watson had picked up from the streets was someone with a supreme-grade aptitude. One could imagine how flabbergasted he was.
"You're truly fortunate to have found such a student, Detective." Bishop Walls sighed.
"Yes, I am fortunate indeed. By the way, could you please introduce me to someone from the police station? I wish to use their shooting range to teach the kid some combat techniques." Detective Watson chuckled.
"Sure. I can introduce you to the Head-Constable." Bishop Walls readily agreed.
"Great! Thank you."
…
7 Robinson Street.
Bryan reached his new apartment by 4 pm. On the way, he had already bought the necessities for his new place. It took him about an hour to set up everything. After which, he sat on his bed and entered meditation.
Although, he felt that meditation was boring, but once he got into the rhythm, he would enter a trance-like state.
Midway through his meditation, Bryan felt the pocket watch in his pants start to vibrate. He opened his eyes in puzzlement and mumbled, "What the fuck?"
He took out the silver pocket watch from his pocket and saw that it was vibrating slightly. Bryan suddenly thought of something and injected a bit of his spiritual force into it. All of a sudden the pocket watch flashed with a bright light.
This caused Bryan to squint his eyes. The next moment, the light receded and he saw a parchment paper come out of the pocket watch. Bryan's eyes went round as he screamed, "How the fuck!?"
He dropped the pocket watch from his hands and distanced himself from it. A few moments later, after calming down Bryan picked up the paper to read it. Then he was utterly shocked.
Because the paper he was holding was actually a letter. A letter that was written by his mother! Bryan's body trembled as his eyes started to water. He took a few deep breaths, rubbed his eyes, and began to read the letter.
'Dear Bryan,
If you're reading this letter. It means that you have embarked on the Path of a Transcendent. I left this contingency in case something happened to me and I couldn't guide you to become a Transcendent.
This silver pocket watch in your hands is an ancestral heirloom of our Medici Family. There are certain things that I can't tell you right now. But you must be patient. As you continue to advance, you will be able to completely unseal this pocket watch.
Once you've reached Rank 3 Apprentice and have completely refined this watch, inside it you will find another ancestral heirloom that was used by our ancestor when he was alive, as well as a book that belonged to him. Everything will make sense to you then.
Below is the Apprentice Meditation Technique of our Medici Family. Use it well, my child. Only after using this meditation technique will you be able to later step on the Path that our ancestor created.
After memorizing the Apprentice Meditation Technique burn this letter. If you don't, it might bring you endless trouble. I hope you find happiness in your life. Even if I'm no longer by your side, I will always love you, my sweet child.
Mum.'
Tears streamed down Bryan's face as he silently cried on the bed. His body kept trembling as he mumbled, "Mumma, I love you too. Always."
All those years ago when Bryan's mother had given him the pocket watch, she had said that when the time was right, it would show him the Path. 'So this what she meant. I see, she was referring to the Path created by our ancestor.' Bryan thought in his heart.
He wiped the tears from his face and thoroughly memorized the meditation technique. After making sure that he had remembered all of it, he went to the kitchen and burnt the letter on the gas stove.
Bryan had a lot of questions in his heart but he pushed them deep down. His mother had written in the letter that he would get to know everything once he refined the pocket watch.
Now he was more determined than ever, to continue to cultivate and advance. He calmed down his emotions and went to the bathroom to wash his face. After exiting the washroom he heard someone knocking on his door.
Knock Knock.
Bryan gulped and rushed to the door. He opened it and saw Leah wearing the same yellow dress smiling brightly at him, "Hello Mr. Bryan! May I come in?"
"Please." Bryan moved to the side and gestured her in. Leah came inside and sat on the couch in the living room.
Bryan came to the living room and sat next to her. They exchanged pleasantries and chatted with each other about how their day had been. Then the room turned silent. Bryan was so nervous, one could see a drop of sweat roll down his temples.
Leah, who saw Bryan fidgeting around, giggled coquettishly and asked him, "Mr. Bryan, is this your first time?"
Bryan subconsciously nodded his head. Then he realized what he had done and his face reddened. Leah, who saw him act so cute, covered her mouth and started laughing. Bryan was so embarrassed, he wished he could find a hole to hide in.
Leah got up from the couch and stood in front of Bryan. She held Bryan's hand and got him to stand right in front of her. "Don't worry, just follow my lead" she whispered into Bryan's ears.
Bryan was just about to reply when Leah locked her lips onto his. He could feel her twin peaks pressed against his chest. Leah took Bryan's hands and put them on her buttocks, while she locked her arms around his neck.
He was so turned on that he didn't know what to do. His brain short-circuited and ultimately he decided to just go with the flow and enjoy his first night of lovemaking.
Meanwhile, Mr. Clark, Bryan's old landlord, was struggling to breathe in his room. He was fuming with unprecedented anger as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Who the fuck did this!?"
His voice startled all the nearby residents.