Xia De's secrets were not many: his identity as an Outsider, the occasional unusualness of the voice in his head, and his ability to understand any text he had encountered so far. Therefore, these were not major problems.
“Yes, not a big problem.”
He convinced himself this way.
“It’s good that you understand. The Academy has been considering the issue of Bill Schneider's team for many years, even thinking about disbanding it. But it’s good that you came. Relatively speaking, even among all the Letter-based Ring術士 who have enrolled in Saint Byron's in the past decade, your background is the most trustworthy kind. Your past is very simple, and you have never had any connection with the mysterious or other forces.”
Professor Sanchez said with a smile. Since the topic came up, Xia De took the opportunity to ask:
“Professor, since you investigated my past, does the Academy know how I became a vagrant? I apologize, I hardly have any memory of that period.”
Judging from the scars on his body and his physical condition, the original owner could not have been a vagrant since childhood. As he asked the question, his ear twitched. Mia seemed to have completely given up scratching the door, as he hadn't heard any sound for a long time.
Professor Sanchez coughed, clearing his throat:
“Regarding your past, the head issue has been present since childhood. As for your vagrant life, it probably started when you were 16. Mr. Hamilton, your hometown is Green Shade Town in Carlton County, southern Delarion Kingdom. That year, the entire southern region suffered a great famine. Your family died on the road while fleeing, and you came to Tobesk alone… I apologize, if you are curious about this matter, the report can be given to you later.”
Professor Sanchez showed a regretful expression. Xia De pursed his lips and shook his head, saying nothing.
His curiosity about the original owner's past was limited to worrying that the other party also had some major secret or concern. For example, being an illegitimate child of the royal family, or a descendant of a great noble. But now it seemed that plots only found in knight novels could indeed not happen to him.
The original owner left no interpersonal relationships, which was beneficial to an Outsider who inherited no memories.
“Then Professor, please allow me to ask one more question. Since you investigated my affairs, does the Academy know about Sparrow Hamilton Detective, about his affairs?”
He looked at Professor Sanchez with some anticipation, and the Professor also nodded:
“The Academy also investigated his affairs, and it was truly not easy. But rest assured, Sparrow Hamilton's secret is unrelated to Ring術士 and the mysterious… Regarding his affairs, I don't plan to tell you directly, but rather let you investigate it yourself. This is also an important stage for you to integrate here, and I think you will understand.”
“Is it truly unrelated to the extraordinary?”
Xia De confirmed.
“I swear on my honor, Sparrow Hamilton's secret is only related to ordinary people, is that acceptable?”
The Professor joked with a smile, and Xia De immediately said there was no need for that.
“Oh, by the way, since we just talked about the report, in order to facilitate your supervision of the doctor, ahem, I mean your monitoring of the doctor, the Academy will give you a poet-level relic 【Poet Cohen's Manuscript】. But this page can only be used when necessary. Normally, you will still use Bill Schneider's page to contact the Academy.”
Professor Sanchez added.
“Then how will the page be given to me? If it’s through the doctor’s channel, wouldn’t that expose this secret?”
“It has already been mailed out. It should reach you by tomorrow morning.”
“Mailed out? Through the post office? From the far north to here? What about safety, or if it gets lost along the way…”
Xia De hadn't expected the Academy to use such a simple and crude method.
“Of course, it’s not mailed from the Academy. That would waste a lot of time and wouldn’t be safe. Saint Byron's Comprehensive College has many properties on the Old Continent, and also serves as a transit station for formal students' off-campus internships, as well as a means of profit for the Academy… Speaking of profit, I think we can talk about your remuneration for monitoring the doctor.”
The topic suddenly shifted here, but Xia De didn't think it required remuneration. He viewed the doctor as a friend and guide, and was willing to contact the Academy for handling if the other party lost control, which was good for all three parties. But since the Academy wanted to give it, he had no reason to refuse, so he didn't hypocritically decline.
“Because this job doesn't require much labor, the remuneration is not very much. But the History Academy values you greatly. After consultation, the Dean of the Astronomical Academy performed a divination for you this afternoon, divining the general fate in the coming days.
After Ring術士 take up their positions, they always get lost in heavy academic work. Divination can effectively point out a path.”
Professor Sanchez said, then took out a similarly translucent slip of paper from his translucent formal suit pocket.
He read in standard delarion, like reading a parliamentary speech:
“I saw the silver moon, I saw the young Detective holding a rhode cards. I also saw blood; the young Detective should stay away from bloody occasions.”
After reading, he put away the slip of paper:
“Divination and prophecy usually do not have direct pointers, but require interpretation. Mr. Hamilton, do you understand the meaning of this divination result?”
“Yes, I understand… The warning at the end is not very clear, probably guiding me to stay away from danger and disputes. At least the first sentence, I understand very well.”
Xia De nodded, suppressing the tremor in his heart. When he heard “rhode cards,” he understood. A certain possibility, a possibility he had considered almost zero, was infinitely magnified by this prophecy.
He wondered if this was the effect of throwing the dice of fate during the day, but upon careful thought, the professors happening to help solve the statue problem tonight also seemed like good luck under fortune:
“Tomorrow morning, after feeding the cat, I will go to the Prophet Association for appraisal.”
“It's good that you understand, but I also remind you, Mr. Hamilton, although rhode cards are interesting, do not become addicted… It's late. Our meeting today ends here. Miss Jones and I will leave first, and Professor Garcia will be responsible for your lessons. I wish you sweet dreams.”
Tonight's meeting ended in such an atmosphere.
Miss Jones also put away her pen and stopped recording. She smiled at Xia De. So Xia De got up to see them off, watching their transparent bodies rise from the chairs and gradually disappear into the air on the second floor of Saint Delan Square No. 6.
Professor Garcia still sat there and motioned for Xia De to sit down and talk. Now it was their private time, but Professor Garcia still looked as serious as ever:
“Since the other matters are concluded, let us begin the lesson content.
It has been a long time since I set foot on the Old Continent south of the far north, and I am not very accustomed to conversing with students of ordinary background like you, please forgive me. But it's late, and I think we don't need to say much, Mr. Hamilton, you are about to begin your journey through time, please…”
“Excuse me, are you not coming with me?”
Xia De heard a different meaning from that sentence.
“Yes, one key only allows a single, single-person time travel.”