While speaking, Psychologist Schneider picked up his teacup and took a sip, then looked into the cup with some surprise: "This tea is quite good."
Xia De had no mind to concern himself with the former Detective's taste in tea, nor what kind of person the former Detective was; he was busy digesting the information.
"Yes, the Church can also cultivate Ring術士. In fact, the legitimate channels for cultivating Ring術士, at least in my opinion, are the five Orthodox Churches and the Three Great Arcane Academies. Other evil god churches, secret societies, ancient organizations, and miscellaneous groups either have irregular training methods or ones full of hidden dangers. So, it's truly fortunate that you happened to meet me during your talent awakening… it's our shared fortune."
"So the Church…"
Compared to the Academy, whose origins he didn't know, Xia De was actually more interested in the Church, which could cooperate with the Kingdom's officials. The Psychologist also saw this thought. He smiled, shook his head in understanding, and explained: "The Academy and the Orthodox Church are not hostile; they even cooperate occasionally. However, the Church dislikes Academy students, whether they are correspondence or official students. They consider us… dangerous trouble magnets."
He raised an eyebrow slightly. Seeing that Xia De didn't ask, he continued: "Therefore, the existence of us correspondence Academy Ring術士 is not illegal, but we usually don't let the Church know our identity and existence. I know you might be interested in the Church, so please answer my question—"
The Psychologist's lips curved into a smile: "Joining the Church requires a completely clean background. Even if one has a criminal record, a complete life trajectory is needed to ensure they are not a dangerous individual. Can you provide that?"
Bill Schneider himself was a Psychologist, and at this moment, he seemed to be consulting a patient.
"You investigated me?" Xia De blurted out, but immediately regretted saying so: "It would be abnormal not to investigate." He thought to himself.
"Just some basic information. After all, when the Academy recruits, they also need to confirm the applicant's identity. I can't recommend a dangerous individual to the Academy. But since we are only correspondence students—do you understand what 'correspondence' means?—the requirements for identity are not as strict as the Church's."
Psychologist Schneider smiled as he looked at the young Detective sitting opposite him: "The awakening of a Ring術士's talent affects one's mind, which is why you changed from the original Xia De to the current Xia De. After investigating your identity, I understood what that fear and bewilderment in your eyes, as if towards the world, were all about when I saw you yesterday. For you, the moment your talent awakened was the true 'waking up,' wasn't it?"
He probably misunderstood the reason why the intellectually challenged Xia De became the current Xia De, but Xia De was happy for him to think that way, so he pretended to have his thoughts seen through and nodded: "If I use this explanation to explain to the Church…"
"Of course, you can, but I hope you first understand the Academy and what a 'Ring術士' truly is. Wouldn't it be better to make a decision then? I believe you can understand that, at least, I am not a bad person."
Psychologist Schneider said. Xia De nodded again; the Psychologist made sense. He answered very solemnly: "Alright then, thank you, Psychologist Schneider. I am willing to learn about these things first."
The Psychologist took out his pocket watch and glanced at it: "We don't have much time. The duration of talent awakening is usually around 72 hours, but it fluctuates with individual differences. To prevent missing the time…"
"What happens if one isn't guided during the awakening period and becomes a Ring術士?" Xia De awkwardly interrupted the Psychologist: "I'm a bit curious about that."
The Psychologist shook his head indifferently: "Curiosity is a good thing; it means you don't reject Ring術士 and the occult. Someone like you, who knows almost nothing, is actually more suitable for guidance. People fear the extraordinary, dread the mysterious. You haven't shown any rejection, only curiosity, and I am very pleased about that. As for your question… I don't have specific data, so I can only tell you that if a Ring術士's talent awakening is not guided, there's a high probability of going mad and a small probability of their head exploding. Yes, have you ever seen a hammer smash a watermelon? Pink and white flying everywhere."
The Psychologist asked politely.
"No need to describe it; that analogy is too vivid. I can almost see the scene," Xia De immediately said, feeling a bit uncomfortable in his stomach since he hadn't eaten breakfast.
"Alright then. Of course, there's an even smaller probability of some strange things happening, but we can talk about that later. In short, let me first help you understand what a Ring術士 is. A simple explanation isn't very illustrative, so please follow me."
The Psychologist stood up.
"Where are we going? To Saint Byron's Comprehensive College?" Xia De held up the Academy's enrollment papers in his hand.
"Of course not. We correspondence students are only eligible to go to the Academy, hidden in the extreme northern ice cap of the Old Continent, after our fifth year. The Academy's address is a secret, related to the entrances of some sub-spaces attached to the material world and different species. Before that, we must continue our own lives and study within our own living environment. Remember, Hamilton, we are receiving adult education; we are correspondence students of the Academy."
In other words, even if Xia De joined the Academy, he wouldn't need to study in a secret location like "Hogwarts." This had its pros and cons, but at least he would have more freedom while gaining power.
"Now, I'm going to take you to find the person who killed Sparrow Hamilton."
The Psychologist gestured for him to follow.
"What?" Xia De instantly stood up. This was something he hadn't expected.
"Yes, I only discovered this when investigating your identity. Since you've already encountered extraordinary and mysterious beings, why don't we take this opportunity to help you solve this problem? You're probably also worried whether the person who killed the original Hamilton Detective will implicate you."
He had to admit that even though the original Detective had promised not to implicate Xia De, Xia De was still worried.
"This isn't a very troublesome matter, and the other party seems to have not deliberately hidden the traces of their actions because Sparrow Hamilton was just an ordinary person. Now, follow me. I think we can resolve this before lunch. Oh, do you have a handgun?" the Psychologist asked again.
"No." Xia De shook his head.
"Then please don't stand in front of me. I promise that as long as you are behind me, there will be no danger today. After all, the person opposite is not a Ring術士."
Sparrow Hamilton had said before his death that the other person was.
"Ordinary people can't distinguish and easily regard anyone who can use extraordinary power as a Ring術士. But for officially employed Ring術士, it's very easy to distinguish. After all, that person doesn't have a Fate Ring, hasn't accumulated spirit, and can't perceive the four elements of Miracle, inspiration, blasphemy, and whisper. That's just a lucky…" The Psychologist paused, then corrected himself: "No, an unlucky fellow who occasionally obtained a relic."
"You seemed to mention a lot of terms just now," Xia De said. In fact, he had already heard of the four elements and the relic, but there was no need to show it at this moment.
"It's alright, we can talk as we walk."
The profession of Detective was very dangerous. According to the Psychologist's investigation, the former Detective, Sparrow Hamilton, encountered an accident during a Detective activity. Perhaps to prevent Xia De from investigating, Sparrow Hamilton deleted all records of that commission before his death, but the Psychologist's intelligence network completely restored the incident.
"Speaking of which, you investigated the whole thing in one night?" Xia De still didn't forget to ask, but the Psychologist vaguely didn't answer, saying he would tell him after this matter was over.
"It's here."
The two took a carriage (the Psychologist paid) from the square. After a journey of nearly two hours, they crossed the City and got off the carriage by the embankment of the Oser River.
As the capital of the North Country, Tobesk City had a developed water system, and inland river navigation supported its prosperous steam industry and commercial trade. Multiple rivers flowed through the urban area of Tobesk, among which the Oser River was the one flowing through the northern part of the City. It was the high-water period of Summer, and the river was surging.
This area was already near the edge of the City. The Psychologist said that the City Hall had plans to establish a new factory district nearby, relying on the Oser River's waterway transportation to find new development opportunities for Tobesk City, and to connect with the industrial areas in the northern part of the Kingdom, also serving as a supplement to the Kingdom's steam locomotive railway network.
But at least for now, there were still large tracts of wasteland nearby. After getting out of the car, looking around, only the buildings of Tobesk City could be seen in the distance through the hazy mist.
"To avoid alarming him, we'll walk from here. I noticed your boots are very suitable for long walks. Hamilton, you probably haven't had breakfast yet. After we resolve this, I'll treat you to a meal," the Psychologist said, carrying his briefcase, and walked into the grass by the roadside with Xia De, who was holding a notebook. Before long, the two saw a small path.
