"Me? Hunter's Bullets?" Klein responded in surprise.
Dunn nodded with a slight smile, explaining, "It's a necessity for all members, including our clerical staff. You might encounter situations where these bullets could save your life or help you deal with an unexpected threat."
Klein was momentarily taken aback, unsure if Dunn was being entirely serious or just subtly reminding him of the potential dangers ahead. After a moment, he nodded in understanding, deciding not to overthink it.
"Thank you, Captain. I'll make sure to follow through," Klein said, keeping his expression respectful.
Dunn gave him a slight nod and waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Alright, off you go. I won't keep you any longer."
With that, Klein turned back to follow Rosanne out of the room. As he walked through the dim hallway toward the finance office, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his new responsibilities settling on his shoulders.
Klein carefully examined the banknotes, feeling the weight of their value and the unexpected twists of his new position.
"Yes," he said, responding to Mrs. Orianna's question. "The 'Bloody Butcher'—I remember my mother telling me about him. Quite the terrifying tale to share with a child."
Orianna nodded, her smile tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "I was only eighteen when it all happened, newly hired by the police department. I was the first person to find the fifth victim... it was horrific. But that day, I noticed something unusual—there were signs, strange, ominous ones, that no one else could see. It was then they realized I had a unique ability, and the captain at that time thought I'd make a good fit for the Night Watchers."
Klein was genuinely intrigued. "So, you were one of us back then?"
She nodded. "I've been with them ever since. Don't let Dunn's absent-mindedness fool you, Klein. He's quite formidable when it matters." She chuckled softly. "Anyway, good luck. And remember, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Mrs. Orianna," Klein replied warmly. He pocketed the money and left her office, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie and a growing understanding of the hidden, layered world he was now a part of.
"This is Roselle Gustav's diary before his disappearance. To keep it secret, he wrote in strange symbols of his own invention," Old Neil explained.
Roselle the Emperor? A predecessor from another world? Klein felt a jolt of recognition but maintained a focused expression.
"Many people believe he never actually died," Neil continued, "that he became a hidden deity. As a result, cultists who worship him often perform strange rituals, hoping to gain power. Occasionally, we come across these notes or copies during investigations."
He sighed, shaking his head. "To this day, no one has fully deciphered the true meaning of those symbols. The 'Sanctum' has allowed us to keep some copies for study, in case of a breakthrough."
Klein nodded, listening intently as the mysteries of his predecessor deepened around him.
As he spoke, Neil revealed a proud smile.
"I've managed to decode a few of the symbols, confirming they represent numbers. Look at this—I've discovered it's actually a diary! My idea is to match events from history, particularly incidents around the emperor, with the diary entries from the same dates. By doing so, I hope to decipher more of the symbols."
"A genius approach, right?" The elderly man, his face lined and his hair gray, looked at Klein with shining eyes.
Klein nodded in agreement.
"Yes, indeed."
Neil laughed heartily. "Good. You'll get to look over these as well—you'll start helping me with this tomorrow." He pushed the faded pages over to Klein.
Klein turned them around, but as soon as his eyes fell on the symbols, he froze completely.
Though the "symbols" were crudely transcribed and slightly distorted, there was no mistaking them...
Because it was the language he knew best:
Chinese!