Chapter 20: Chapter 020
"It's time. Let's go to the carnival" said Alvin to Cheryl, when it was close to 4.
"Is Naomi going to be okay?" she asked again concerned.
"Should not be a problem. The headband can keep her clear headed. The negative effects won't kick in anytime soon. And I really want to find out what his agenda is. Did he recognise me? Or is it just a random occurrence?" said Alex.
Cheryl nodded in acknowledgement.
Alvin and Cheryl walked out and knocked on Naomi's door. Naomi popped out cheerfully and excitedly.
"Remember, you are angry and frustrated at me" said Alvin.
"Oh alright then" she said, now changing her face to appear stoic.
Alvin nodded, and went downstairs, with Cheryl and Naomi behind him.
As they went to the lobby downstairs, they spotted Vincent Younas, and his wife Kate.
"Good evening! Are you going to the carnival grounds?" he asked cheerfully.
"Indeed. Just after 4 is the best time to visit it for the first time according to some people I have talked to" replied Alvin.
"Well, so are we. Would you like to share a carriage?" he asked.
"Of course. We still have to continue our conversation on the investment into Backlund you mentioned" said Alvin.
The 5 of them hired a carriage to the carnival grounds, which was a 20 minute distance from their inn. On the way, they had a pleasant conversation again.
This time, Alvin had his guard up and paid close attention to each word uttered by Vincent Younas. Sure enough, his causal conversation sometimes steered towards his Naomi, who was introduced as his sister in law, and he would make an observation that seemed polite and withdrawing, and immediately changed the topic. But if close attention was paid to his words, they were all aimed at instigating the resentment Naomi may have against Alvin for treating her like a third wheel. Alvin was confident Naomi wouldn't pay any attention to such petty instigation even if she noticed. Over the past year, they all had gone through life and death together, made promises to each other, and formed very strong emotional bonds. It wouldn't be broken or even crack if some random person told her that Cheryl and Alvin treated her as a third wheel and didn't want her around.
But in the afternoon, Naomi's reaction was highly unusual. It was not out of the ordinary for people being constantly told what to do to get angry at evening treated as a child. But Alvin didn't believe Naomi would snap at him like that. If she really didn't like something, she would tell him, or tell Cheryl and get her to tell him.
Hence, Alvin theorized that there was a Beyonder factor involved in her outburst. And sure enough, he wasn't wrong.
Further attention to the word of this Vincent Younas, he could also find thinly veiled jabs at Naomi being a light bulb and disrupting them, at Cheryl for inviting Naomi to live with them when she studies, and Alvin for being too soft to draw a firm line. Alvin figured if they were all ordinary people, they would be filled with resentment for the other two. The reason only Naomi was affected previously was that only she wasn't a Beyonder yet, and thus did not have much resistance to the extraordinary power used.
"So that the reason why I believe that the principles of The Church of Lord of Storms in inherently flawed. But of course, this may be my prejudice speaking, so I will not dare to say this outside casual conversion. But I believe that women are not as weak as their doctrine says" said Vincent.
"Yes. Women are equally capable as men. They should be given more rights" said Naomi pretending to be in a frenzy
"Calm down Naomi. The Church has existed for a long time as has its doctrine. Even though we necessary don't believe it, we have to respect the gods" Alvin said to her seriously.
"You can say that quite easily. They don't require you to stay at home serving your wife" muttered Cheryl sourly.
Alvin frowned, then looked the other way.
"Well, here we are. I and Kate will be getting off now. I wish you a pleasant day" said Vincent, as he alighted from the carriage.
Alvin looked at his departing back thoughtfully.
"So?" asked Cheryl.
"Definitely a Beyonder. My guess is an Instigator Sequence 8, from the Assassin Pathway" said Alvin.
"Do you think he bought our act?" asked Naomi, removing the headband.
"We should have confidence in our acting skills after the many brilliant acts" said Alvin.
"So, what do you think?" asked Cheryl.
"He definitely approached us at random. we know that much from the Coin of Wonders. The girl next to him, his wife is also a Beyonder. I think he is a new recruit who is acting, and the woman is his superior or something" said Alvin.
"Are you going to attack him?" asked Cheryl.
"There is no hurry. His Sequence has decent combat and escapes ability. Plus, the woman may be a much higher Sequence. There is a chance I can't deal with them. Let it play out. He doesn't want to cause immediate harm, just want to practise his instigation skills. Let him do it however much he wants. I'll see if I can make arrangements regarding him after talking to the Nighthawks and other Beyonders in the area" said Alvin.
"Also, If that woman is a higher Sequence Beyonder, I doubt she would stay next to him and babysit him all day long. She will probably go leave to wander on the town after a while. I will strike then" he continued.
"That sounds like a whole lot of work" said Naomi.
"Maybe. But I kind of enjoy this, the thrill of plotting and executing a hunt" said Alvin.
"Could this be considered acting?" asked Cheryl.
"Certainly. I suggested you formulate rules and apply them. I am applying the two rules that I have formulated, a Hunter always makes thorough preparation before the hunt, and when there is more than one dangerous prey, unless confident he will wait for them to split up" said Alvin.
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