"Here's the thing—I've always been fascinated by the history of the Fourth Epoch, so I'm very eager to learn about the Antigonus family. Jack, if you know more details, would you mind sharing them with me?"
Klein said earnestly. He genuinely wanted to understand the Antigonus family, but he also didn't deny that he saw this as an opportunity to observe this potential fellow transmigrator.
"Sure, it's not a big deal," Evah nodded generously, then added, "But I don't know that much, so you might be a bit disappointed."
Professor Quentin and Mr. Azik, standing nearby, seemed intrigued by the topic as well. However, Quentin glanced at his pocket watch and frowned. "The meeting's about to start, Jack. You'll have to continue this chat with Klein another time."
"Oh, you're right," Jack Jones said, pulling out his own pocket watch to check. With a regretful expression, he suddenly thought of something and took a business card from his pocket, handing it to Klein. "How about this? You can come find me at this address later. I'm free tomorrow afternoon, or you can just stop by the university. If you don't have time to visit, you can write to me. By the way, what's your address? I could write to you directly."
Klein took the card. Though he felt a bit disappointed, he didn't want to interfere with their work. Hearing Evah's suggestion, he quickly gave his address, adding, "But I might be moving soon, and I'm not sure where to yet."
"No problem. Just let me know your new address once you've moved," Evah said with a casual wave.
With that, Evah followed Azik and Quentin into the meeting hall.
Klein watched the three disappear behind the door, then looked down at the business card in his hand, his expression growing complex.
He hadn't expected that coming to resolve the interview matter would yield such an outcome. Not only did he meet a potential transmigrator, but this person also seemed to know something about the Antigonus family.
"Not bad luck," Klein muttered, his mood lifting. He said goodbye to the others in the office and left the three-story building, planning to head home and visit Jack Jones that evening.
But as he walked, before even leaving Tingen University, the hairs on the back of Klein's neck stood on end.
Someone was following him!
…
While Klein was dealing with his pursuer, Evah, now in the meeting room, was quietly talking with Azik.
"Mr. Azik, are you also curious about the Antigonus family?" Evah asked in a low voice. Just moments ago, Azik had brought up the topic himself.
"The name feels somewhat familiar," Azik said, his expression tinged with confusion.
Evah wasn't surprised by this. Others might not know who Azik was, but how could he not?
Azik Eggers, Death Consul, once the Underworld Emperor who ruled the Balam Empire, a descendant of Death himself, a Sequence 2 Death Consul. Currently amnesiac, he's also a vessel for Death's revival. Gentle in nature, inherently kind, and arguably the most important elder figure to Mr. Fool in the future.
Without a doubt, a major reason Evah had crafted his fake identity as a Tingen University teacher was to get close to Azik.
"Since Mr. Azik is also interested in the Antigonus family, why don't you come to my place tomorrow afternoon? If Klein comes too, I can tell both of you about the Antigonus family together," Evah suggested with a smile.
"Thank you, that's very kind of you," Azik replied softly.
"No need to thank me. It's just a small thing. Besides, when it comes to being knowledgeable, I can't compare to you, Mr. Azik. I might end up asking you questions myself!" Evah said with a grin, though he meant it.
Beyond building rapport with Azik in hopes of gaining favor with the "Shadow of Time", Evah genuinely wanted to tap into Azik's occult knowledge.
While the original novel was full of hidden secrets, it often glossed over formal occult knowledge. In this world, knowledge truly equated to power. Ignorance of mystical fields or taboos could lead to missteps—or even death.
Though "Evah Zoroast" had some basic occult knowledge, particularly related to the "Three Families", he lacked advanced Beyonders knowledge. Naturally, Evah wanted to learn from experts like Azik to fill those gaps.
"If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask. I'll tell you what I know," Azik said with a gentle smile, unaware of Evah's calculations.
In this harmonious atmosphere, the academic meeting finally began. The two stopped talking and focused on the proceedings. By the time the meeting ended, it was nearly lunchtime.
Lou Lin joined Azik and Professor Quentin for a meal at Tingen University's cafeteria, then spent the day diligently as a new teacher.
...
The next afternoon, he welcomed visitors to his home.
"Good afternoon, Klein. You seem in a great mood today," Evah said as he opened the door, spotting Klein at the doorstep. He also noticed another person beside him—Azik. Smiling, he added, "Good afternoon, Mr. Azik. Did you come with Klein?"
"Good afternoon, Jack," Klein replied with a smile. "I moved to my new place today, so I'm in a good mood."
"Good afternoon, Jack. I ran into Klein on the way, so we came together," Azik said warmly.
"Congrats, Klein! Where's the new place? I'll visit you sometime," Evah said, chatting as he ushered them inside. He also noticed that Klein and Azik seemed closer than they had been yesterday, likely due to a pleasant conversation on the way.
Evah wasn't surprised. Klein and Azik's values aligned well, and their teacher-student relationship naturally fostered a bond.
He invited them in, sat them down, and skillfully prepared coffee with the tea set. Pouring a cup for each, he smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, I just moved to Tingen, so I only have coffee. I hope it's to your taste."
"No worries, I love coffee," Klein said quickly, which was true—he preferred coffee over tea.
"It's excellent coffee. I like it," Azik said with a gentle smile.
"Glad you both like it," He said, smiling back. He poured himself a cup, took a sip, and began, "About the Antigonus family, honestly, I don't know all that much, but I'll share what I do. From what I know, the Antigonus family lived on the main peak of the Hornacis Mountain Range. They even established a nation called the Night Empire…"
(End of Chapter)