CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 11: HANK BRAND

She actually sensed something at the moment Shawn moved Confusion.

This woman is very strong.

Just as Shawn was in a daze, Hank hurriedly came over, bowing apologetically to the beautiful leading lady, saying, "Ms. Diana. I’m sorry."

"Just a little misunderstanding."

"He’s a newly appointed Investigator."

While apologizing, Hank frantically winked at Shawn.

Shawn slightly lowered his head and said, "Sorry. I was rude."

Ms. Diana snorted lightly.

Her gaze fell on Confusion, seemingly recognizing this Curios. Her eyes held a hint of inexplicable change as she softly said, "His rationality is stable."

"There’s no need to go to the third floor."

"Wendy."

"Go help him out."

This is a big shot. Anyone who can recognize Confusion worn by Shawn is basically a high-level figure in the real world.

"Alright, Ma’am."

Next to this beautiful woman, the girl on the right slowly walked towards Shawn. In that instant, Shawn felt as if his whole body stiffened, as if he smelled something, felt something, and a chilling cold surged throughout his body, deep within, as if some emotion was stirring, transformed by the utmost darkness.

"Despair! It is despair! Master!"

Knowledge was screaming! Knowledge was howling!

As the girl approached Shawn, Knowledge seemed to suddenly become active. It was restless, awakened from initial ease and laziness, rushing in Shawn’s mind, their screams made Shawn’s eardrums ache and his head buzz.

"Shh! Be quiet."

The girl named Wendy extended a finger to lightly touch Shawn’s temple, and then the restless Knowledge quieted down.

A death-like despair enveloped Shawn’s heart.

"Don’t worry." The girl laughed lightly, her icy fingers brushing Shawn’s earlobes, then bringing her tempting lips closer to his ear, took a deep breath. "I’ll be quick."

Despair!

An invisible gray haze was sucked out by the girl before him.

In the instant she opened her mouth, her complexion turned pale and cold, her entire being emitted a despairing chill. As her lips moved away, it was akin to clouds parting to reveal the sun, the haze shrouding Shawn’s heart dispersing greatly, as if a sunny disposition emerged.

"Very tasty!..."

The girl chuckled softly, murmuring, "Welcome back next time."

She siphoned off Shawn’s despair.

—Despair Beldam! [Nameless Delusion] [Monster Path]

At this moment, Shawn felt unprecedented relief. All along, as he gradually perceived the truth of the Bizarre Realm, the haze deep within his heart, the terrifying despair aura, too, was purged from his inner world with the girl’s departure.

They are not Transcendents of normal occupational paths!

Whether it’s the stunning Diana or the two girls beside her, they are true Monster Path Transcendents.

These existences are a bit out of Shawn’s league.

Because even with Ms. Hecate, he has not yet mastered the mysterious knowledge of these paths.

Ms. Diana glanced coldly at Shawn and turned to leave. Upon reaching the staircase, she looked back indifferently and said, "Wendy is the Manager here. If you encounter similar troubles."

"You can come to her."

This incredibly beautiful lady gradually walked away.

However, as her figure departed, another charming young girl following her ran back, gave Shawn a sweet smile, lifted her skirt with a lady-like curtsy, and introduced herself, "I’m Su Xi."

"A psychologist specializing in treating fear."

Shawn’s pupils constricted upon hearing this.

A Despair Beldam, a Fear Beldam, both nameless delusions, existences of the Monster Path.

As for Ms. Diana, Shawn only saw a demonic reflection.

The Monster Path lacks a complete Promotion Sequence, which is what Shawn mentioned earlier, potentially an unpromotable sequence. The Extraordinary Essence in Bizarre Realm that approaches the job system understood by humans has a complete career promotion path.

However, in the Bizarre Realm, there are many strange powers without a complete promotion path.

Their endpoints all point to Concept Level existences.

Hank walked over and patted Shawn on the shoulder, looking a bit annoyed, he said, "I should have told you in advance. I forgot that your intuition is stronger than ours."

"Ms. Diana is one of the council members."

This transcendent who seems to be on the Demon Path, is actually a high-ranking member of the Night Watch Council?

Shawn’s expression was somewhat surprised.

However, Dorne Kingdom, being a human nation under the shelter of the Path of Death, it’s not entirely surprising that they would accept a transcendent from the Monster Path.

Outside the Roman Imperial Palace.

Shawn looked back at this luxurious and decadent den of pleasure, and followed Hank towards the direction of the Wharf District.

The expenses here are extremely high.

Seeing Hank come out and couldn’t help but touch his wallet, it was clear, though it was a bit unexpected for Shawn that it was actually operated by a transcendent from the Monster Path.

"Don’t look."

"Ms. Diana seeing you is already a sign of respect." Hank said with a smile, patting Shawn on the shoulder, thinking he might be mesmerized by the beauty of that stunning lady.

Having been bombarded by all sorts of beauty in his past life, Shawn wasn’t easily enchanted, sure he was amazed, but his heart was mostly filled with curiosity.

Transcendents from the Monster Path are extremely rare.

Unexpectedly, they can even moonlight as psychologists for investigators.

Half an hour later.

"Let’s go have a drink." Hank bought two small bottles of liquor from a store, tossed one to Shawn, and sat on a stone by the riverside to enjoy the breeze. He had taken a nap and seemed much more refreshed. He turned to Shawn and said, "Investigators can indulge occasionally, but must always maintain restraint."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Shawn nodded silently, opened the bottle, and took a small sip; it was rum.

In their profession, they probe the edge of madness, can indulge occasionally, but must never get lost in it.

High intuition, in the Bizarre Realm, was, in itself, a group of unlucky souls.

But these unlucky souls also served as the eyes of the real world; they too were mere mortals, and there would come a day when they could no longer hold on.

The wind tonight was a bit rowdy.

This place was quite close to the Wharf District, and at night, people would stroll by the riverside. Nearby, there was a residential area for workers and staff, where whole families often walked along the river. The street lights here would only turn off by 10:30 PM. Although under the same sky, the pedestrians strolling along the riverside road and Shawn and Hank sitting by the riverbank drinking seemed like people from two entirely different worlds.

High intuition means that even without anyone telling them, they would gradually learn the truth of the world.

To feel the despair of the world.

Hank pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

Suddenly, his gaze froze, his expression shocked, his fingers slightly trembling, as he looked towards a family in the distance.

Hank, being on the Ranger Path, had steady hands, capable of hitting a fly with a pistol at close range.

Shawn turned around instantly and moved slightly in his confusion, only to see a very ordinary family of three, with nothing unusual about them. The husband dressed like an office worker, the wife young and pretty, around thirty, wearing a flowing long dress. The two were holding the hands of a five or six-year-old girl, carrying a bunch of things, seemingly just returning.

Shawn hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "Do you know them?"

Hank nodded silently, his slightly trembling fingers took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and after a deep breath said calmly, "My ex-wife."

What?

Shawn remained silent, unsure whether to respond.

Hank sat in the corner of the shadow, his shadow stretching long under the streetlight. He watched the family leave, and at that moment, Hank’s gaze was hard for Shawn to describe in words. Hank watched the woman’s figure until she disappeared from sight, then suddenly took a deep inhale of smoke.

It was a very complex look, one Shawn wasn’t quite sure of, but there was a faint glimmer of love within it.

He always thought of Hank as the sort of laid-back veteran.

He raised his glass to clink with Hank’s, and said softly, "Why did you separate?"

Hank took a gulp, looked at Shawn before him, and with a bitter smile said, "What woman can accept a husband who constantly courts madness?"

"I was also afraid of harming them."

Shawn remained speechless for a long time.

Now he understood why Hank maintained a sense of distance from ordinary people.

He reached out and patted Hank on the shoulder, took the cigarette pack, lit one, and gazed at the distant river surface, accompanying a smoke.

The work the Butcher spoke easily of wasn’t quite so easy for ordinary people.

Everyone was trying hard to live on.

.........