Transcendent Dawn

Inside the café.

“Allow me to introduce myself again, I’m Sean from The Eleventh Bureau, and this is my superior – Horatio!”

Sean sipped on his coffee and revealed a mischievous smile, “Brother… your secret has been exposed, but take it lightly, it’s no big deal. Look at me, I thought they were going to slice me up in the lab, but it all turned out okay in the end… Except that training is tough, the pay is low, and there are no holidays… the rest is bearable.”

“Ahem…” Horatio coughed, signaling Sean to shut up.

With clearly lined up features on his face, his countenance gradually became serious, as if to pressure Su Lu, “We found that… you’ve been very active in certain circles lately!”

“That’s true… I need to earn a living and pay the rent… I’ve always obeyed the Federation’s laws.”

Su Lu answered calmly.

“We’re not blaming you, but you should know that many Transcendents are psychologically radical and prone to make trouble, so they need to be controlled…”

Horatio’s face softened a bit, “I feel… a certain degree of transparency and surveillance is beneficial for both of us, don’t you think?”

He was confident, basically, once a Transcendent has been noticed by them, there is no margin for choice.

“Cooperation? What a wonderful word! How do we cooperate?”

Su Lu asked.

“If you honestly provide us your occupational information and regularly report any movements within the city’s mysterious circles…”

Horatio said, “In return… we guarantee your safety, as long as you obey the law.”

“So you mean… you want me to be a mole?”

Su Lu interlocked his fingers, “I can… but you cannot betray me, my information must remain confidential.”

“A wise choice!” Horatio shook hands with Su Lu, “So, what’s your profession?”

“Something similar to a [Cursing Magician], I excel at mystical rituals and gain strength through spells…”

Su Lu exposed his Language of Arrogance.

“A niche, never seen before profession!”

Horatio hastily jotted it down, “Do you feel you are being influenced crazily, and sometimes become very impulsive?”

“No, how could that be?” Su Lu rapidly shook his head.

A moment later, he got up and left.

Sean sat there somewhat dazedly looking at Horatio, “That’s it? I feel like his history is very problematic, his identification was forged by the Shark Meeting…”

“And?”

Horatio massaged his temples: “More and more wild Transcendents like him are appearing, we can’t apprehend them all… We can only establish limited cooperation and control. And… it’s rare to have a mole who could join the ‘Shadow Council’… he has strong self-control, and is currently very useful.”

Sean immediately shut up.

The Shadow Council, it is a Transcendent circle which has almost existed in Lore city since its inception, and vehemently rejects all official forces.

Like the shadow beneath the sunlight, it has always coexisted with Lore city, spreading its reach everywhere.

But the recent moves from the opposition have left The Eleventh Bureau feeling rather irked.

After all, the influence of the Goddess Church on the West Coast isn’t strong, there is only a small church there.

And not every city is garrisoned by powerful Occupational Persons, neither the church nor the federation have that many personnel!

‘It seems… Sean is living quite the happy life being an agent in The Eleventh Bureau. I hope he stays safe…’

Su Lu let out a sigh as he stepped out of the café.

Being in The Eleventh Bureau is highly dangerous! Its agents deal with all sorts of Transcendent events, many of which are deadly!

Even he had managed to get some blood of its members on his hands.

“Destiny, huh…”

Back in his apartment, Su Lu rubbed his forehead: “What a shame… my soul hasn’t fully recovered yet. Otherwise, outmaneuvering them wouldn’t be a problem…”

Although the surface of Lore city seems calm, underneath there is a tempestuous undercurrent.

The Eleventh Bureau, Shadow Council, Margaret and her demon followers, Owen’s nightmares… all made Su Lu realize that in the tide of the Transcendent, there isn’t a single truly peaceful haven in the world.

Your own strength is the only true protection!

‘Fortunately… the role I am playing is just a low-ranking little fellow who understands many mysteries… no one is truly looking at me.’

Su Lu relaxed.

The following week went by calmly.

He continued to wander around Lore city, searching for mysterious materials and traces of magical creatures suitable for hunting.

Aside from Owen having once sent his butler Jindum to ask for the solution and delivering an invitation to his 25th birthday banquet, nothing major happened.

Soon, it was the day the ‘Shadow Council’ convened a meeting again.

At the stroke of midnight.

Wearing a disguise, Su Lu entered a sewer, traversing through a maze-like route and ultimately reaching the ‘Hall of Shadows’!

“Welcome, Scholar!”

The ‘Saintess’ greeted with a delightful smile, she chose to sit next to Su Lu, “Today… you will have to make a choice.”

“Accepting the test to become an official member?”

Su Lu nodded his head: “What are the benefits of being an official member? Specifically? I don’t have plans to establish a family anytime soon, at least not right now!”

He had no interest whatsoever in becoming an official member, for now he was only buying time.

“Many, many benefits… like getting to truly participate in core secrets, gaining voting rights in meetings that will decide Lore city’s future development, controlling a portion of Lore city’s underground authority… Access to high-grade Transcendent materials and information is just an add-on!”

The ‘Saintess’ whispered softly into Su Lu’s ear.

Su Lu believed it, this was the ‘Chairman’s’ intention.

Through his observation in the Mental Realm, he had already found that the Shadow Council was far from simple, with at least three existing Grade 4 masters.

No wonder it is the city’s shadow ruler, capable of resisting and even suppressing the local church and federation forces.

“Ladies and gentlemen… I declare… the meeting begins!”

Just as Su Lu was contemplating, the attendees gradually assembled.

The ‘Chairman’ knocked on the table, his voice reverberating through the hall.

“Firstly…” He turned to Su Lu, “‘Scholar’, do you want to become an official member?”

“Can I know the content of the ‘test’ in advance?”

Su Lu inquired in feigned trepidation.

“Hehe… don’t worry, for newcomers, the task will not be too difficult!” The ‘Saintess’ reassured him on the side, “But…. a choice must be made, severing ties with opposing forces, to clarify your position.”

‘So, that’s what it is…’

Su Lu started to understand, if his identity were true, as long as he attacked an official institution, or killed an official Transcendent, it would mean a falling out with the officials and facing endless tracking and fights, with no choice but to take refuge under the Shadow Council.

‘Unfortunately…you don’t know that my face and identity are fake, and when I go wild, I don’t spare anyone. I’ve already killed more than a dozen official Transcendents…’