Chapter 14: Threshold of Mysteries
Klein stood before the weathered door of the Blackthorn Security Company, his hand hovering over the doorknob. The peeling paint and unremarkable facade belied the supernatural world that lay beyond. A wry smile tugged at his lips as realisation washed over him.
*So this is it,* he thought. *My future workplace. Well, Klein's future workplace. Our future workplace? This identity crisis is going to be the death of me.*
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. The door loomed before him, a gateway to a realm of mystical intrigue and danger he had only glimpsed through the pages of a novel.
*In the story, this place was just a name, a backdrop for Klein's adventures. Now I'm about to step into it myself. How surreal.*
As his fingers finally made contact with the cool metal of the doorknob, another thought struck him.
*Wait a minute. If this is real, then... China Gate.*
The name echoed in his mind, carrying with it a weight of mystery and foreboding. In the scant chapters he'd read, Chanis Gate had been mentioned only in passing, a place of power and secrets that had piqued his curiosity.
*In the novel, Chanis Gate sounded so mysterious, so distant. A place of legends and danger. And now... now I might actually see it with my own eyes.*
The realisation sent a shiver down his spine, a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
*I'm really doing this, aren't I? Stepping into a world of Beyonders, secret organisations, and mystical gates. No turning back now.*
With a final deep breath, Klein turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, ready to embrace whatever fate awaited him on the other side.
```
[Skill Activated: World Awareness (Level 4)]
[New Location Discovered: Blackthorn Security Company]
[Possible Future Event Foreshadowed: Visit to China Gate]
```
The system's notifications flickered in the corner of his vision, a reminder of the strange reality he now inhabited. As Klein stepped across the threshold, he couldn't help but wonder what other mysteries and adventures awaited him in this new world.
The interior of the Blackthorn Security Company was a stark contrast to its unremarkable exterior. The air hung heavy with the scent of old paper and something Klein couldn't quite place – perhaps the lingering traces of mystical energies. Rows of filing cabinets lined the walls, their drawers likely holding secrets beyond his imagination.
A young woman with striking features and alert eyes looked up from her desk. "Can I help you?" she asked, her tone professional but tinged with curiosity.
Klein cleared his throat, suddenly aware of the weight of the moment. "Yes, I'm here to see Mr. Dunn Smith. My name is Klein Moretti."
The woman's eyebrows rose slightly, a flicker of recognition passing across her face. "Ah, Mr. Moretti. We've been expecting you. I'm Rozanne. Please, follow me."
As Rozanne led him through the office, Klein's mind raced. *Rozanne... I remember her from the novel. A fellow Nighthawk. Soon to be my colleague, I suppose.*
```
[New Character Encountered: Rozanne]
[Skill Improved: Novel Memory Recall (Level 5)]
```
As they walked, Klein keenly noticed that there was a "Dark Sacred Emblem" every few metres—the symbol of the Evernight Goddess. A deep black background dotted with sparkling embellishments, as they clustered precisely half the crimson moon.
These emblems did not seem special, but walking between them gave Klein a sense of serenity. Rozanne also stopped talking, unlike her previous talkative state.
Before long, an intersection appeared up front. Rozanne briefly introduced,
"The path to the left will lead to the Saint Selena Cathedral; to the right are the armoury, storeroom, and archives. And straight ahead is the Chanis Gate."
*Saint Selena Cathedral? Then, Zoutelande Street is just behind Red Moonlight Street?* Klein was a little stunned.
Saint Selena Cathedral of Red Moonlight Street was the headquarters of the Church of the Evernight Goddess in Tingen, a sacred ground where local followers yearned to visit. Along with "Holy Numerics Cathedral" of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery in the suburbs, and the "River and Sea Cathedral" of the Church of the Lord of Storms in North Tingen, they sustained the religious circles in Tingen city and its affiliated towns and villages.
Aware that his status made it unsuitable for him to ask more, Klein only listened silently.
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They passed the intersection and moved straight ahead. In less than a minute, a black iron split gate carved with seven sacred emblems were seen.
It stood there, heavy, cold and domineering, like a giant guarding in the darkness.
"Chanis Gate." Rozanne reminded him and pointed at the room beside them, saying, "Captain is inside. Go on by yourself."
"Alright, thank you." Klein replied politely.
The room Rozanne was referring to was just in front of "Chanis Gate." The windows were opened, revealing the lit room inside. Klein took a deep breath to calm himself.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in." He heard Dunn Smith's deep and amiable voice.
As Klein stepped into the office, he found himself face to face with the man who would shape his destiny in this world. Captain Dunn Smith, a middle-aged man with greying hair and piercing eyes, stood up from behind his desk.
"Mr. Moretti, welcome," Dunn said, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."
Klein sat down, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it – the moment he would officially step into the world of Beyonders.
Dunn leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Before we begin, Mr. Moretti, I must ask: are you absolutely certain you want to proceed? The path of a Beyonder is not an easy one. Once you step onto this road, there's no turning back."
Klein met Dunn's gaze, drawing upon every ounce of determination he possessed. "I understand, Captain. I'm ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Dunn's face. "Very well. Then let me tell you about the world you're about to enter – a world of extraordinary abilities, ancient mysteries, and ever-present danger."
As Dunn began his explanation, Klein listened intently, his mind absorbing every detail. The system hummed in the background, recording and categorising the influx of new information.
```
[Skill Activated: Beyonder Knowledge (Level 3)]
[New Knowledge Acquired: Potion Brewing]
[New Knowledge Acquired: Sequence Paths]
[Skill Improved: Occult Knowledge (Level 4)]
```
With each revelation, Klein felt a mix of awe and trepidation. The power of the potions, the risks of losing control, the different Sequences – it was all so much more real and immediate than it had been in the novel.
As Dunn outlined the five types of risks Beyonders faced, Klein couldn't help but wonder which ones he might encounter on his journey.
```
[New Skill Unlocked: Beyonder Risk Assessment (Level 1)]
```
Finally, Dunn placed a contract on the desk between them. "This is a five-year agreement to join the Nighthawks. It includes your weekly wage and risk compensation. Take your time to read it carefully."
Klein picked up the contract, his mind racing. This was the moment of truth – the point of no return. As he read through the terms, he considered using his Negotiation skill to perhaps improve some conditions. But a part of him knew that in this world, in this organisation, there might not be much room for negotiation.
With a deep breath, Klein made his decision. He picked up the pen, his hand steady as he signed his name – Klein Moretti – at the bottom of the contract.
As he set the pen down, a sense of finality washed over him. He was now, officially, a member of the Nighthawks.
```
[Status Effect Gained: Nighthawk Initiate]
[Contract Bound: 5 Years]
```
After shaking hands, they sat down. Klein glanced at the stamp on the contract, it read: "Nighthawks Squad, Tingen City, Awwa County, Loen Kingdom."
"I can't believe you guys would use the name 'Blackthorn Security Company' as a disguise," he laughed and said.
"Actually, we have other signboards." Dunn pulled out a piece of paper from the drawer.
It was stamped with the stamps of the city government and the police department. The contents were as follows: "Seventh Unit, Special Operations Department, Awwa County Police, Loen Kingdom."
"The first four units are the regular police responsible for general security, like the VIP Protection Unit and Key Installations Protection Unit. And from unit five onwards are the ones dealing with supernatural incidents in each city. Our unit is responsible for incidents related to the followers of Evernight Goddess in Tingen. If there are different types of followers, then we divide the area accordingly; we are mainly in charge of places like the north, west and the Golden Indus region."
Dunn briefly introduced, "Unit Six of the Mandated Punisher squad under the Church of the Lord of Storms is in charge of the pier region, the east, and the south. The university area and the suburbs are under Unit Five, which is the Machinery Hivemind squad in Tingen."
"Right." Klein had no questions about it. He then laughed. "What happens if someone really comes here due to the 'Blackthorn Security Company' signboard and requests for our services?"
"We'll take those requests; why shouldn't we? As long as it doesn't affect our daily operations," Dunn said slowly and humorously. "Any earnings would be considered additional bonuses, so our members are quite willing to take those jobs. Anyway, the market for trivial and troublesome matters such as finding dogs and cats have been monopolised by private detectives."
"So how many people are there in this Nighthawks squad?" Klein asked since they were on this topic.
"There aren't many supernatural incidents, so there are even fewer Beyonders. There are only six formal members of the Nighthawks in the entire Tingen City, including me. Heh heh, as for civilian staff, there are six including you."
Klein nodded his head, and eventually asked the question that he was most concerned about, "So, Captain, what do you mean by Beyonders losing control? Why does it happen?"
Dunn nodded, a look of approval in his eyes. "An important question, Mr. Moretti. Remember the words of our founder: 'We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wretches that are constantly fighting against dangers and madness.' Your training begins tomorrow. Be here at dawn, and we'll delve deeper into these matters."
As Klein left the office, his mind swirled with everything he had learned. The weight of his decision pressed upon him, but alongside it was a sense of excitement and purpose.
*So begins my journey as a Beyonder,* he thought as he stepped out into the evening air. *Klein Moretti's journey. Our journey.*
The path ahead was fraught with danger and mystery, but as Klein made his way home, he felt ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. After all, he had knowledge from another world, a unique system to aid him, and now, a place in this extraordinary new reality.
As Klein made his way home, he took a moment to check his status, noting the changes that had occurred during this pivotal encounter:
```
Name: Klein Moretti
Age: 22
Sequence: Fool's Path (Sequence 9)
Spiritual Power: 98% [Recovering]
Attributes:
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Constitution: 7
Intelligence: 10 (+2)
Spirituality: 8 (+3)
Luck: ?
Mental Skills:
- Acting (Level 5)
- Authority (Level 2)
- Beyonder Knowledge (Level 3) [Improved]
- Beyonder Risk Assessment (Level 1) [New Skill]
- Cultural Adaptation (Level 2)
- Deception (Level 3)
- Dream Manipulation (Level 1)
- Genre Savviness (Level 2)
- Historical Analysis (Level 3)
- Investigation (Level 2)
- Negotiation (Level 2)
- Novel Memory Recall (Level 5) [Improved]
- Occult Knowledge (Level 4) [Improved]
- Quick Thinking (Level 3)
- Self-Awareness (Level 3)
- Spirit Sense (Level 1)
- Stress Management (Level 3)
- Tarot Knowledge (Level 1)
- World Awareness (Level 4)
Physical Skills:
- Beyonder Abilities (Level 2)
- Culinary Improvisation (Level 2)
- Fog Manipulation (Level 3)
- Gathering Management (Level 1)
- History (Advanced)
- Mystical Identity (Level 1)
- Precognition (Level 1)
- Talisman Making (Novice)
Status Effects:
- Nighthawk Initiate [New]
- Contract Bound: 5 Years [New]
Condition: Determined, Slightly Anxious
[New Location Discovered: Blackthorn Security Company]
[New Character Encountered: Rozanne]
[New Knowledge Acquired: Potion Brewing]
[New Knowledge Acquired: Sequence Paths]
[Possible Future Event Foreshadowed: Visit to Chanis Gate]
```
Klein examined his status, noting the significant changes that had occurred during his meeting at the Blackthorn Security Company:
1. His Beyonder Knowledge skill had improved, reflecting the wealth of information he had gained from Captain Dunn's explanation.
2. A new skill, Beyonder Risk Assessment, had been unlocked. This would undoubtedly prove useful in navigating the dangers of his new life.
3. His Novel Memory Recall had improved to Level 5, likely due to actively recalling and applying knowledge from the story he had read.
4. His Occult Knowledge had increased to Level 4, a testament to the arcane information he had absorbed during the meeting.
5. Two new status effects had been added: "Nighthawk Initiate" and "Contract Bound: 5 Years," marking his new affiliation and commitment.
6. His condition now included "Slightly Anxious," reflecting the weight of his decision and the challenges that lay ahead.
Klein also noticed the system had recorded his encounter with Rozanne, the discovery of the Blackthorn Security Company, and the new knowledge he had acquired about potion brewing and Sequence paths.
The foreshadowing of a possible visit to Chanis Gate intrigued him, stirring a mix of excitement and apprehension.
As he continued his walk home, Klein couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment mixed with trepidation. He had taken his first real step into this world of Beyonders, and while the path ahead was uncertain, he felt mo
re prepared than ever to face it.
*Tomorrow,* he thought, *the real training begins.*
With that, Klein steeled himself for the adventures to come, ready to embrace his new identity and the mystical world he now called home.