Because he was sleeping in an unfamiliar place, Xia De woke up very early the next morning.
He felt for his pocket watch on the bedside table, saw it was half past six, and thought about going downstairs to see if a newspaper had been delivered, as he knew people in Tobesk City generally had the habit of subscribing to newspapers.
The former Detective, by all accounts, could be considered middle class, and his work also required him to read newspapers to keep up with the news, so it was indeed possible that the newspapers would continue for the current Xia De.
Wearing slippers, he walked down the stairs to the first-floor hall, curiously looking at the sealed-off first floor, thinking that when he had time, he could pry open a board and look inside.
He turned on the gas lamp in the hall, but unfortunately, he didn't see any newspaper slipped through the delivery slot onto the doormat.
He shook his head with some regret, thinking of changing his clothes and then going out for breakfast.
But as soon as his slipper touched the first step, he heard the sound of a bell.
There was a door rope outside the apartment building; when pulled, the rope would move a gear mechanism inside the door, ringing a bell on the inner side, which was a simple doorbell.
"The newspaper delivery person? No, why would the newspaper delivery person knock... Could it be time to pay for next month's newspaper subscription?"
Xia De, whose savings were meager, thought with some trepidation, calculating his remaining money, and nervously turned to look at the door.
No matter who was outside, he couldn't possibly know them, and the possibility of them collecting money was small; most likely, they were looking for the previous owner of this place.
"Perhaps a new client?"
In a worse scenario, perhaps the landlord had arrived to collect rent.
There was no peephole on the door, so Xia De could only go to the door and, after translating with the Knowledge he had acquired yesterday, asked:
"Who is it, please?"
He immediately received a reply from outside the door; it was a familiar voice:
"Is this Hamilton Detective Agency? I'm Bill Schneider, do you remember me? The Psychologist from yesterday, we exchanged business cards at the newspaper office across from the Bai Ling Niao Club."
On this morning, also shrouded in fog, one of the few people Xia De knew by name in this world had come to visit him.
Unexpectedly, the visitor was Dr. Schneider, and Xia De stood behind the door, unsure whether he should open it.
His hesitation, though brief, let the Psychologist outside know of the Detective's caution:
"Mr. Hamilton, you don't need to overthink it.
Although it's strange to visit at this time, I have no ill intentions; after all, there isn't much time, please take a look at this first."
The man outside spoke, sliding a piece of paper through the newspaper delivery slot.
"Do you remember what I said yesterday? Adult education, correspondence teaching.
Detective, you have a very special talent."
Xia De bent down to pick up the paper, then raised his hand to slightly brighten the gas lamp in the hall.
By this light, he saw that it was an enrollment brochure.
"Hmm?"
He suspected he was seeing things or hadn't fully woken up.
The paper in his hand, about the size of A4, had silver borders outlining the shape of a parchment scroll; this was an enrollment promotional document for an institution of higher learning named "Saint Byron's Comprehensive College."
Aside from the school emblem in the shape of a "chained book" at the very top, there weren't many other patterns; the printed text occupied most of the paper's space.
Saint Byron's Comprehensive College was not recruiting ordinary students; they were recruiting "correspondence" adult students.
In addition to this, the paper also listed the College's ten departments, specifying tuition fees, admission times, academic years, enrollment conditions and restrictions, and the recommendation-based application process.
At least from these aspects, this was just an ordinary school.
"But why is there no school address?"
Xia De asked after a long moment, then was surprised that he hadn't asked if the other person had a mental illness, coming to deliver enrollment documents to a stranger so early in the morning.
"Your observation is very keen."
The Psychologist outside the door praised, then asked again:
"So, at least let me come inside to talk, please?
Perhaps I can answer your questions, about... the other you, in your head."
The voice in his head did not appear when mentioned, and Xia De inside the door opened his mouth, then opened the door.
The middle-aged doctor, carrying a briefcase, wore a brown overcoat and a small silk cap, standing on the steps with thick black boots on his feet.
He still had a meticulous mustache, and his blue eyes made him seem very likable:
"Don't forget your milk."
He pointed to the milk box to the left of the door, speaking with a standard accent, likely a local of Tobesk City:
"When I arrived just now, the milkman had just left."
"Okay, please come in."
Xia De hesitated, nodding, sizing up the doctor, and tried to show a friendly expression.
He picked up the key from the shoe cabinet to unlock the milk box, and the Psychologist only followed Xia De into the apartment's main door after Xia De had retrieved the milk bottle.
He was also very surprised by the sealed-off part of the first floor, but the doctor didn't say much, and instead, along with the silent Xia De, went up the stairs to Room 1 on the second floor.
Leaving the doctor to wait for a moment, Xia De returned to his bedroom to change clothes, then boiled hot water to entertain his guest.
Although the kitchen had no food, at least there was black tea for entertaining clients of Detective cases; otherwise, Xia De would have had to serve plain water.
Everything was tidied up, and only then did the two sit down to talk.
The fabric sofa set in the living room had a considerable sense of age, and he wondered if it was an antique.
Two long and two short sofas surrounded the wooden coffee table from four sides, very suitable for discussing business with clients.
The doctor and Xia De sat on the long sofas facing each other.
"There's no need for introductions; first, I need you to trust me."
The mustachioed Psychologist, Schneider, spoke first, smiling as he thanked Xia De for the black tea:
"I came today truly for the College promotional paper I just gave you.
First, let me describe your current symptoms—"
"Wait a moment, are the symptoms related to the school?"
Xia De asked, but he already had a guess in his heart.
He was not a "local," having witnessed those crazy fantasies, and was more adapted to this situation.
The "Saint Byron's Comprehensive College" mentioned by the other party was probably a type of school like Hogwarts.
"Of course, they are related, please listen to me.
Mr. Xia De Hamilton, can you hear another voice in your head?"
Although Xia De tried to control his expression, he saw his failure in Mr. Schneider's smile from across the table.
The doctor added:
"Does that voice say some inexplicable things? And are some of those words helpful to you?
He will whisper in your ear, speak suddenly when you least expect it, but he has no ill intentions towards you."
Xia De knew he couldn't hide it, so he nodded.
"Moreover, Detective, this symptom of yours must have appeared within 72 hours."
"More accurately, 24 hours."
Xia De said.
"That's even better, then we have plenty of time, it seems we're very lucky.
After all, the awakening time for talent is 72 hours, so I have more time to explain the situation to you."
Dr. Schneider laughed:
"The above symptoms are similar to manifestations of schizophrenia, but in my eyes, they are not."
He pointed to himself, his blue eyes looking at Xia De, speaking very slowly:
"For specific groups of people, the existence of 'another me' is a wonderful and dangerous talent.
No, it should be said, this is an initial manifestation of a talent.
If it can be guided, then you will be able to see a more real world, a mysterious, dangerous world; if it is not guided..."
"Return to normalcy?"
"No, worse."
The doctor shook his head:
"I don't want to deceive you, at least not now.
To be clear, this is a sign of the 'Ring術士' talent, a very rare talent; you can consider it a gift of fate, or a curse of fate.
As for 'Ring術士', you can think of it as a special profession, a profession that can use... mysterious power.
I hope you understand what I mean."
The doctor was deliberately observing Xia De's expression; this era was still one of ignorance, and people who believed in righteous gods generally did not accept concepts like "witchcraft."
But fortunately, just as the doctor's investigation showed, the Detective opposite him was a person with a problematic mind just a few days ago, only recovering to normal due to the awakening of his talent, thus differing from the views of ordinary citizens.
On the other side, his guess was confirmed, and Xia De nodded with some hesitation.
He wanted to feign surprise, because a normal person would certainly be surprised, but at this moment, his heart was exceptionally calm, even overly calm; he thought this might be due to too much stress yesterday:
"So, hearing strange voices in my ear is actually a manifestation of some kind of... system, a power system?
Many people experience this?
Just like some people see further, some hear more?"
Xia De asked.
"Yes, 'I am you, you are me,' every Ring術士 is like this.
If you successfully become a Ring術士, then this voice will accompany you throughout your life, helping you throughout your life.
That voice is another you, it's just that your perspectives are different, and he will help you contact this crazy and noisy world in a more real way, contact the hidden and the strange.
Knowledge, information, and even words possess dangerous power, and outside the safe ordinary world, we cannot directly approach those powers that are enough to distort ourselves with our souls."
The doctor paused, giving Xia De time to think:
"But the awakening time for the Ring術士 talent is very short; from the first whisper in the ear to the complete disappearance of the voice, it usually occurs within 72 hours, and not every talented person can frequently hear that voice and realize that the voice is not their own thought.
They will only treat it as an illusion, or that there is something wrong with their ears.
Therefore, Detective Xia De Hamilton, whether it is the Three Great Academies or the Church, it is very difficult to recruit and train new personnel.
That's why I said we are all very lucky."
