In truth, my current situation is very similar to Klein's.
Klein would have to face the True Creator in the future, while he himself would need to confront the "Unknown"… and in fact, he was in even greater danger, because his connection with the Unknown might be far tighter than Klein's connection to the True Creator!
The Unknown was very likely his true "original body." It might be the real "Liu Bo."
Thinking of this, images of his friends flashed through Ebner's mind—the faces of Xio, Fors, Edwina, Fanny, Klein, Hazel, and the others…
He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again, as if he had made a decision, murmuring:
"But even if that is myself, I personally do not want to become a part of It in the future…
"I am Liu Bo, and I am Ebner… yet after descending into this world, we are no longer the same!
"And if I truly become part of It, I cannot guarantee that I wouldn't eventually harm my friends.
"So when it comes to opposing the Unknown, my interests align with those gods and angels involved.
"However, I do not want something like the 'Conva experiment' to happen to me…
"But that was ultimately only a simulated experiment. My situation is far more complicated than Conva's, and the Unknown is not the same as the Sea of Chaos.
"There is still plenty of room to maneuver!"
Thinking this, Ebner exhaled softly. Then he took out various materials and resealed the ancient castle at the center of the Delaire Forest—lest some reckless person barge in and lose their life.
—This environment, while harmless to him, was still fatal to mid- and low-sequence Beyonders.
As for the newly born avatar of the Baron of Conva, Ebner captured him once more. After a round of "friendly and cordial" communication, the Baron signed a contract, agreeing to work for Ebner for ten years. Only then did Ebner bring him to Beldane and throw him directly into the city's great construction campaign.
...
Northern District, St. Samuel Church.
After granting the Baron of Conva a momentary "Paper Angel protection" at Mr. Tower's request, Klein walked calmly out of the washroom and returned unhurriedly to the prayer hall.
As for why he dared to perform such things inside a church? Heh—he was helping Ebner. The Goddess would definitely not blame him.
While such strange thoughts spun in his mind, Klein used the specks of light shining through the wall behind the altar to casually sweep his surroundings, taking in all the praying believers.
With just one glance, he locked onto his target. Acting entirely natural, he walked down the aisle.
In the first row sat an elderly man wearing a black clergy robe—cold aura, pale face, dry yellow hair. Eyes shut, praying with focus. Klein had seen him before—one of the internal wardens.
He usually took shifts on Fridays and would enter the underground stairway after prayer… Klein did not approach directly. Two rows away, he sat down, handing his hat and cane to his attendant—his disguised subordinate, "General of Hell" Ludwell.
Then, during the act of sitting, he pressed his left thumb twice against his index finger joint, silently activating his vision of the "Spirit Body Threads."
Suddenly, Klein's eyes were filled with countless illusory black threads, densely emerging from beings within the hall, flowing outward into infinity.
He settled into position, then shifted his gaze, focusing on the internal warden.
The moment he saw it, he nearly let out a surprised sound. But thanks to the Clown's self-control and his expectation that something unusual might occur, he maintained composure easily.
In his sight, although the elderly man with dry yellow hair also had Spirit Body Threads extending outward, his interior was pitch black—a void devouring the origin points of those threads—completely unlike a normal Beyonder!
As expected, he's already been eroded by the sealing core's power. His soul has begun to mutate… In a way, he's become part of the sealing core. Any sign of losing control would instantly provoke the instinctive response of that item, forcibly suppressing him… No wonder internal wardens must volunteer and already be elderly—they clearly know the fate that awaits them…
Feeling a sudden sense of melancholy, Klein prepared to close his Spirit Body Thread vision.
Just then, someone tapped his shoulder.
Klein's scalp tingled instantly. He tightened his grip on the small booklet hidden in his left hand—ready to activate the "Endless Transport Book" and flee.
But the next moment, he saw the face of the person who tapped him. He stopped his escape instinct, used the Clown's ability to maintain his Dwayne Dantès façade, squeezed out a smile, and nodded politely—as if greeting an acquaintance.
And indeed it was an acquaintance. The one who startled him was none other than the man who had just prayed to the Fool for help—Mr. Tower, Ebner Bryan.
Ebner really does show up like a ghost… I thought he wasn't a follower of the Evernight Goddess. What is he doing here praying?
As soon as the suspicion formed, Klein remembered the connection between Liu Bo and the Goddess—and immediately understood.
A few minutes later, after the collective prayer ended, Klein saw Ebner go into the confessional. When he came out, he held a delicate-looking box.
They left the church one after the other and boarded the same carriage.
Only then did Klein finally ask, unable to restrain himself: "Is startling me really that amusing to you?"
Ebner toyed with the box in his hands and laughed. "I wasn't trying to scare you… You nearly caused that internal warden to lose control, you know?"
"Lose control?!" Klein did not hide his shock. Thinking quickly, he guessed, "Was it because I observed his Spirit Body Threads and triggered symptoms of losing control?"
"Yes. If I had arrived even one or two seconds later, that warden would have reacted violently—dragging you into a dream to conduct 'processing'!
"And afterward, the sealing core of Chanis Gate would definitely have been alarmed. Whether you passed that test would depend entirely on your acting skills."
As he spoke, Ebner observed Klein carefully and found that Klein's mental state was far better than in the original timeline. Since he already knew the Goddess was an "Earth compatriot," infiltrating Chanis Gate felt more like a test than a lethal mission.
Not to mention—he now had Ebner as a chaotic friend… and Sharon living with him long-term…
With all this, Klein's psychological risks were far milder, nowhere near the fragmentation of the original. Properly "soothing" him would be beneficial for his future state.
After all, the real catastrophe would come after Klein became a demigod…
Altogether, this was a positive divergence—not a waste of Ebner's transmigration.
As these thoughts flickered quickly through his mind, the brief trace of existential confusion in Ebner vanished completely.
I am Liu Bo, I am Ebner—and above all, I am myself!
Klein didn't notice the shift in Ebner's mood. After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"Do you have any way for me to exhibit the long-term erosion effects of the sealing core beneath Chanis Gate?"
Ebner blinked, then looked up and down at Klein—or rather, Dwayne Dantès—before smirking:
"Has the thirty thousand pounds of sponsorship funds for Beldane City arrived yet?"
Klein's expression froze, but he still answered smoothly:
"The first ten thousand pounds has already been arranged with your company's manager and with Bishop Electra."
"Bishop Electra?" Ebner looked puzzled.
Why involve a bishop of the Church of the Evernight in donations for urban construction? He could've simply used Insight… but suppressing his insight made the guessing game more fun.
"It's because the first ten thousand pounds is mainly for repairing—no, building—the Evernight Church in Beldane City," Klein said earnestly.
This way I fulfill Mr. Tower's transaction AND build goodwill with the Evernight Church. Two birds, one stone. Perfect. he thought secretly.
Originally it was buying Kayim Company shares for donations, but now you're using my deal to buy favor? Truly worthy of you, Mr. Fool…
Despite the internal grumbling, Ebner didn't mind. It was all money being invested into his territory anyway. Whether it built houses or churches—the "meat stayed in the pot."
Then Ebner thought for a moment and answered Klein's earlier question:
"For the matter of the internal warden's condition—just ask Bernadette. You understand—it's better if I don't interfere with the Evernight Goddess's test for you."
The Goddess clearly wanted to continue evaluating Klein. Ebner shouldn't interfere. And honestly, if he really wanted to help, he could just hand Klein the Trickmaster potion formula—no need for theatrics.
Ebner smiled, then added:
"Besides, asking Bernadette for help is much 'cheaper.' You just need to team up with her and clear the 8th and 7th floors of the Dream Labyrinth Tower with her. That should complete the deal."
"Dream Labyrinth Tower?" Klein clearly knew of that place. He even knew it was Ebner's divine "private property," so he frowned. "Aren't you afraid she'll discover it's impossible to reach the 4th floor after passing the 5th?"
Bernadette clearing the 6th and 5th floors? She'd probably fail hundreds of times… That "map" was practically impossible without cheating.
Most demigods who fought together in the first-floor Holy Grail War—except Talers—had spent a hundred years grinding through the 5th floor.
But Ebner simply said confidently:
"It's fine. The Dream Labyrinth Tower will return to normal soon."
Once he handled his current matters, he would take complete control of the tower.
Hearing this, Klein looked at Ebner suspiciously for a few seconds—but never suspected Ebner had already advanced to Sequence 3—Cognizer.
After all, Ebner had only become a Seer in early April, and it was now only late May!
Still, if Ebner didn't mind, Klein felt that using tower-clearing as a trade with Bernadette was a perfectly good idea…
He quickly accepted the suggestion. After a bit more conversation, he finally looked at the ornate box in Ebner's hands and asked curiously:
"What is that?"
Smiling, Ebner flicked the lid open—revealing the item inside, shrouded in a thin layer of "darkness." It was a strange crown, mottled with rust and blood.
(End of Chapter)