Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 4 Extraordinary Ones

"Two options. First: forcibly interrupt the ritual. Second: find him and deal with him before he can stabilize himself."

The white cat paused for a moment, then said, "But the result is the same. William must die. If the ritual is interrupted, he will suffer a backlash, either dying or going insane. If we wait until the ritual ends, it's a matter of you dying and him living."

The white cat was very direct; it was a matter of life and death for the other, which meant the ritual had to be interrupted.

"Okay, the problem is, how do we find him? There's no record of William's disappearance in the police files. I've checked."

Its tail tip twitched slightly. "In this world, not everything that the eyes see is the truth. Like when you go to the police station to report William's disappearance, the file is right there, but you just can't see it. Do you know why?"

Before Green could speak, it continued, "Because your senses are being 'blocked.' The file is 'right' there, but you, and that officer, are unable to effectively 'perceive' it."

"I can't sense it..." Green pondered the other person's words. Clearly, he had never encountered this situation before, and it was the first time he had ever heard of it.

Seeing his puzzled expression, the white cat explained, "It's normal that you don't understand, because you haven't become an extraordinary being yet. If you'd like, I can be your guide. Your inspiration is quite good for an ordinary person."

"An extraordinary one? You mean someone like William?"

"No, of course not. It's a bit complicated to explain. Simply put, the extraordinary follow the orthodox path, just like me, while the Crimson Order are called the followers of the evil god by us. Of course, they consider themselves to be closer to God."

"Are you human?"

"Of course." The white cat gracefully raised its chin.

"If I become an extraordinary person, can I be like you?"

"It's not difficult to become a Sequence 9 Extraordinary by taking the right path. However, it also requires concocting and taking specific 'potions' to gradually unlock one's potential and elevate one's life level."

"Of course, every improvement comes with the risk of 'losing control,' and if one's will weakens even slightly, the power will backfire."

"Out of control?" Green caught the key word. "And then?"

"To become an absolute, mindless monster. Flesh twisted, consciousness annihilated, a monster outside the rules, left only with the instinct to destroy."

The white cat's answer was simple, yet terrifying.

Green immediately recalled the distorted voice on the phone and the woman's terrified screams.

"William, is he an example of something out of control?" He came to a conclusion.

"No, he's not out of control; he's digesting it."

The white cat stood up, stretched its paws, and began pacing back and forth on the table.

"The Scarlet Order was an ancient sectarian organization, and William belonged to what was probably the most extreme and dangerous faction."

"They believe that by devouring the flesh and soul of their loved ones, completing a bloody sacrifice, they can obtain divine blessings and gain power through fusion. This is not ascension; it is turning oneself into a living sacrifice."

The white cat stopped pacing along the edge of the table.

"However, their weaknesses are also very obvious. The power of the Demonic Path comes from killing and pain, and each advancement is accompanied by the curse of countless dead souls."

"William did not use the orthodox method of 'digestion' to quell these curses, but instead attempted to forcibly devour and suppress them with a more powerful force. It's like mixing different poisons together and drinking them."

"The resentment, fear, and pain of those he killed did not disappear; instead, they became the most vicious curse, intertwined with his spirit and even his flesh and blood."

The white cat lowered its voice, "Right now, there isn't a person inside him, but several sources of hatred and curses tearing at his soul and polluting his flesh."

"Collapse".

As Green continued, a scene of grotesque, distorted flesh seemed to appear before his eyes.

"So, he needs a place that can temporarily soothe or suppress these curses? For example, his old lair, filled with his own presence and emotional connection, to use a familiar environment to combat the chaos within him?"

"Smart." The white cat wagged its tail approvingly.

"The ritual site is not only an altar for offering sacrifices to the source, but also a 'sealing chamber' for suppressing the backlash within him."

"There, everything he was familiar with could help him maintain the last bit of his 'I am William' consciousness. Once he left or the ritual was interrupted... those curses would immediately melt him completely, inside and out, like a flood bursting its banks."

"I'm sure you know where he is." Green smiled knowingly.

From the moment the white cat appeared, it knew how to solve its own troubles. However, it needed to owe the other party a favor and pay a corresponding price.

"Of course," the white cat readily admitted, leaping lightly off the table, walking to Green's feet, and tilting its head back.

"What's the price?" Green asked directly, not believing in free lunches.

The white cat seemed to have been waiting for this question. "As I said, Mr. Green, I also need your help. This isn't a one-sided request, but a... transaction."

Green raised an eyebrow slightly. "How can I help you? You clearly possess abilities far superior to mine."

"An investigator with a sealed artifact and excellent insight possesses a flexibility and secrecy that we lack in certain matters."

"We'll discuss the specifics of what I need you to do after you've dealt with William. But I can assure you that it won't violate your most basic moral principles, and I won't put you in any direct danger."

"Besides, you're already involved. You need a guide, Mr. Green. Becoming an extraordinary being requires knowledge, potions, and an understanding of how to avoid risks and prevent things from spiraling out of control. And I can provide all of that for you."

Green stared at the white cat, weighing the pros and cons, but no matter what he chose, he could no longer remain uninvolved.

Perhaps... becoming an extraordinary being is a good choice.

"Okay," Green made the decision.

The white cat purred contentedly.

"A wise choice."

"But I have one request."

"Hmm?" The white cat looked puzzled.

You have to come with me.

"You're very cautious." It tilted its head. "As you can see, my current condition... isn't suitable for high-intensity combat."

"I don't need you to charge into battle," Green glanced at its wounds, "but you need to use your 'extraordinary' abilities to do something in crucial moments."

Green grinned and continued, "After all, I failed. All you lost was a potential partner—"

"—But for me, it's my life that's at stake."

Green's words hit the nail on the head.

The white cat remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing its options.

Finally, the white cat nodded. "Your request is reasonable. I will go with you. But on the condition that you listen to me. Recklessness and ignorance will put us in danger."

"Sure," Green readily agreed. "What I need is to resolve this problem; the process is not important."

The white cat gave Green a deep look, then raised its head, its gaze sweeping over the clock on the wall.

10:20 PM.

"Time is running out. The spirit world tide is intensifying, which may allow him to complete the initial 'digestion' even faster. We must eliminate him before he completely stabilizes."

"Set off."

It leaped lightly off the table and then hopped onto Green's shoulder. "I'm hurt, Mr. Green."

"you--"

"An injured lady deserves a gentleman's understanding." The white cat adjusted its posture to make itself more comfortable squatting down.

"Okay, I can't find a reason to refute that."

Green straightened his coat collar, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the office.

The thick fog in Oberhafen continued, quickly engulfing the figures of the man and the cat.