Freya, left with no other option, spoke with a desperate air, “I wasn’t trying to lure you to Dreigasse Street!
I wanted you to notify the Mobile Squad so they could come and deal with that Rank 5 villain.”
Listening to Freya’s soft, adorable voice, Nolan carried her to a relatively bright spot illuminated by the moonlight and set her down.
He then reached out and removed the hat she had pulled low over her head.
Seeing the girl’s cute face and the expression of “helplessness” written all over it, Nolan couldn’t help but lower his guard slightly.
It was undeniable that humans are visual creatures; seeing something cute naturally relaxes one’s vigilance, and Nolan was no exception.
He said, “Since you know about the Mobile Squad, you should also know they can’t be summoned so easily.”
Nolan was a Rank 4 official Beyonder, the strongest in this city.
But he certainly wasn’t the strongest in the entire country.
Otherwise, if a Beyonder above Rank 4 caused trouble, the entire nation would be powerless to handle it—a scenario that was utterly unrealistic.
However, the path of a Beyonder becomes exceptionally difficult after Rank 4.
Each advancement requires immense effort, resulting in very few high-ranking Beyonders.
Even on a national scale, their numbers might barely exceed a hundred.
Among these, some would be high-ranking officials, military officers, or members of the Royal Guard.
The number of Rank 5 Beyonders who would choose to serve as police officers was even smaller.
Therefore, these powerful individuals couldn’t be stationed in a single city.
Instead, they formed “Mobile Squads,” led by Rank 5 Beyonders, with other members being at least Rank 4.
When a particularly difficult case arose anywhere in the country, these Mobile Squads would be requested to assist.
Nolan placed a hand on Freya’s shoulder and said, “So, you still haven’t explained what was on that note.”
“Uh…” Freya hesitated before saying, “Well, um…
it’s my Beyonder ability.
I can see certain events that will happen in the near future…”
After all, she couldn’t just tell him she had a System, right?
Even if she did, it was uncertain whether Nolan would understand or believe her.
It was better to use a more conventional explanation—framing the System’s death crisis premonitions as a Beyonder ability.
“Prophecy?”
Nolan’s expression showed no particular surprise.
Freya had mentioned the “Mobile Squads,” which proved she knew about the Special Operations Division and the world of Beyonders.
She might even be a wild Beyonder herself.
Nolan continued, “A prophecy-related ability…
Are you a Beyonder of the Fate Pathway?”
Freya nodded vigorously.
“Yes…
that’s right!”
In truth, she had no idea what abilities the Fate Pathway possessed.
So far, she only knew some abilities from the War, Law, Mind, and Demon Pathways; the others were a complete mystery to her.
Nolan pressed on, “But can a Fate Pathway prophecy really predict an event with such precision thirty days in advance?”
Freya asked cautiously, “Is…
is that not possible?”
Nolan’s knowledge of the Fate Pathway was limited to fragmented information.
He said, “So, you saw this disaster thirty days from now in your prophecy and came to report it?”
Freya nodded.
“Yes, exactly!”
But in the next second, Nolan’s demeanor shifted abruptly.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe you.”
Freya’s expression froze.
Seeing Nolan’s wary look, she couldn’t help but show a troubled expression.
It was…
a little upsetting.
In the second simulation, Freya had spent a month with Nolan’s Squad and had grown quite fond of the captain, who was fiercely protective and deeply cared for his subordinates.
But their relationship had vanished after that simulation ended.
Now, only Freya was familiar with Nolan; he didn’t know her at all.
Nolan continued, “So I can’t just summon a Mobile Squad based on your word alone.
I need sufficient evidence, and your ‘prophecy’ doesn’t count.”
If a Rank 5 individual is truly trying to overthrow this city, as you claim, I will immediately request assistance from the Mobile Squads.”
“Hey—” Freya opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Nolan cut her off.
“I know what you’re thinking.
I’m going there to investigate.
The priority is to proceed with caution, avoid conflict as much as possible, and leave immediately after gathering evidence.”
Freya thought for a moment.
This…
might actually work?
In the previous simulation, Freya hadn’t marked the enemy’s strength.
Nolan had most likely led his team and charged directly into the warehouse, inevitably clashing with the Obsidian Boss and resulting in a team wipe.
But now, with a different approach—proceeding with caution—could it work?
While Freya was lost in thought, Nolan pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
“So, my dear Miss Fate, will you voluntarily wait at the police station for my return, or should I escort you there first before heading to Dreigasse Street?”
Freya quickly waved her hands.
“No, no!
I have to go with you!
I can see the future, remember?
I might be able to spot dangers in advance and help you avoid them!”
Nolan considered this.
It did make sense.
Besides, the police station only had regular officers on duty, no other Beyonders.
Keeping this rogue Beyonder by his side was probably the safer option.
He relented, “Fine.
But stay close to me and don’t do anything unnecessary.”
And so, the two set off through the night.
After a while, they successfully reached Dreigasse Street on the south side of the city.
It was around ten o’clock at night.
Normally, the streets should have been nearly empty at this hour; most people would be home resting, not wandering outside.
Strangely, upon arriving at Dreigasse Street, Freya noticed quite a few pedestrians.
Every now and then, they’d see one or two people walking by.
Suddenly, Freya remembered something.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
“I suspect these people…
are likely lookouts for the Obsidian Boss!
That guy seems to possess some kind of [Avatar]-like ability.”
“Avatars?” Nolan frowned slightly, a suspicion already forming in his mind.
“Got it.
Then let’s avoid being seen by these lookouts.”
As he spoke, Nolan lightened his steps, avoiding the moonlight and sticking to the shadows of the buildings.
He had considered telling Freya to wait for him, but before he could speak, he saw she had already followed, her movements fluid and nearly silent.
Seeing Freya wouldn’t slow him down, Nolan said no more.
Instead, he focused on observing the movements of every pedestrian, moving quickly and cautiously through their blind spots.
Soon, a dilapidated warehouse with blue-painted walls came into view.
Despite the late hour, lights were still on inside, as if someone were still working.
Nolan and Freya also noticed that the closer they got to the warehouse, the more pedestrians they saw.
These people moved like soldiers in a real-time strategy game, endlessly patrolling fixed routes.
After a moment of observation, Nolan abruptly turned to Freya and said, “Pardon me.”
“Huh?” Before the bewildered Freya could react, Nolan grabbed her, tucked her under one arm, and waited.
Just as a passing cloud obscured most of the moonlight, he bent his knees slightly and leaped several meters into the air, landing directly on the warehouse roof.
As he descended, just before his feet touched the roof, his fall noticeably slowed, as if gravity itself had been briefly reversed.
This allowed him to land without making the slightest sound.
This was one of the core abilities of the Law Pathway’s Punisher: Force Reversal.
In practice, this meant that when someone attacked Nolan, he could twist the attack’s trajectory, deflecting it or even reflecting it directly back at the attacker.
He could also reverse the pull of gravity on himself, making his body light enough to leap great heights or even defy gravity entirely and take flight.
It’s worth noting that activating these Beyonder abilities consumed a resource called Spirituality—essentially a Beyonder’s “mana bar.”
However, although Freya was also a Beyonder, she couldn’t sense any Spirituality at all.
Then again…
her own Beyonder abilities didn’t seem to require a mana bar to maintain.
In a MOBA game, she’d probably be one of those warrior-type heroes who don’t use mana.
Nolan gently set Freya down.
She rubbed her waist and couldn’t help but mutter, “Couldn’t you have been a little gentler?
Like a princess carry or something?
Did you really have to tuck me under your arm like that?”
Nolan considered this for a moment before replying, “But I think princess-carrying a girl I barely know would be a bit too intimate.
It would send the wrong message.”
Freya was speechless.
Annoyingly, she found herself thinking he actually had a point.
The two of them crept across the warehouse roof, searching.
The place was so dilapidated that the roof was far from intact.
Before long, Freya found a small hole.
She waved Nolan over, then lay flat on her stomach and peered inside.
The first thing she saw were large, tightly sealed crates.
A group of people in mismatched attire were busy moving and unloading them.
One crate was opened.
A “worker” pulled out large blocks of white, shock-absorbent foam.
He then took a small knife, sliced open the foam, and retrieved several large jars filled with a murky liquid.
Freya could faintly make out what looked like octopus tentacles floating inside the jars.
The second and third crates followed, each containing different items: the bones of some creature, curved goat horns, and sacks filled with unknown substances.
“These must be potion ingredients,” Nolan murmured, his expression turning grim as he watched the scene unfold.
This was clearly a potion production factory
The Demon Pathway potions Obsidian distributes must all be made here!
Just then, Freya saw a figure walk toward the Dismantling Area and stand there silently, watching the workers like a supervisor.
However, the angle was poor.
The figure’s back was turned directly toward the hole in the roof where Freya was, preventing her from seeing their face.
All she could make out was their red hair.
The sight reminded Freya of the flash of red she’d seen just before she died in her last simulation!
“That red-haired person is probably Obsidian’s mastermind!” Freya whispered urgently.
She even considered moving to find another hole in the roof, hoping to get a clear view of their face.
But at that moment, her vision suddenly brightened.
The cloud that had been obscuring the moon drifted away, and moonlight once again flooded the area.
Even though the roof was now brightly lit, Freya and Nolan should have been safe as long as they stayed low and didn’t stand up or move around.
The chances of being spotted were theoretically low.
But…
as the moonlight returned, Freya’s eyes widened in shock.
There, in a distant corner of the warehouse roof, stood another figure.
They even stationed a lookout on the roof?!
Well, it wasn’t hard to understand.
If Freya and Nolan could figure out that the roof was a perfect vantage point—hidden and offering a clear view of the warehouse—then Obsidian’s mastermind surely could too.
The lookout hadn’t spotted them earlier simply because it was too dark, just as Freya hadn’t seen them.
In an instant, everyone—the “workers” inside the warehouse, the “pedestrians” patrolling the surrounding streets—froze as if someone had pressed a pause button.
The next second, they all turned their heads in perfect unison, their gazes locking onto Freya and Nolan’s position.
“Run!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Nolan grabbed Freya, tucking her under his arm in the same way as before, and leaped into the air.
They glided through the sky as if unaffected by gravity.
But the pedestrians below were just as fast.
Like rabid dogs, they craned their necks, their eyes fixed on the pair as they sprinted through the streets.
The scene reminded Freya of the System’s death prophecy: the swarm of “black figures” that would overwhelm her in thirty days.