Chapter 188

Chapter 108: The Society

Outside the eastern gate of Royal Sacred Crown University, in Green Shade Town.

In the afternoon, an unexpected gunshot suddenly broke the tranquility of this small town. The students and residents, alarmed by the gunshot, promptly reported it to the police. Since Green Shade Town was home to many influential families and was a typical high-class community in Tiwian, the police did not dare to be negligent. Upon receiving the report, they immediately gathered at the location from where the gunshot had originated, in front of house number 23 on Green Shade Town.

The arriving police quickly entered house number 23. To their surprise, there wasn’t a single person inside, nor were there any corpses; only some bloodstains dotted the floor.

Just as the police and onlookers gathered around house number 23, in a café at the other end of Green Shade Town, the parties involved in case 23, Nephnis and Mr. Brandon, sat facing each other in a cabin. They looked at each other across a table. Brandon, who had changed clothes, calmly sipped his tea, while Nephnis looked at the man before her with a mix of nervousness and unease.

“There’s no need to worry, Miss Boyle. If they can’t find a body, these police won’t bother to seriously investigate based on just a few gunshots. We left discreetly enough, so don’t worry,” Brandon said with a smile to Nephnis, but her expression didn’t ease much.

It was understandable for Nephnis to react that way. Seeing someone who appeared normal now sitting in front of her after witnessing their d*ath moments ago was anything but relaxing.

“Um… Mr. Brandon, could you possibly be… the extraordinary being from the rumors?” Nephnis asked after adjusting to the situation, and Brandon slowly nodded.

“Somewhat… I guess.”

‘He is indeed an extraordinary being… So there are extraordinary beings with the power to bring people back to life? And he said we, and all those others, are part of a secret society? An extramural secret society…’ Nephnis thought to herself.

She remembered how she had treated him as an ordinary person, constantly reminding him of his safety, only to find out later that he was truly an extraordinary being. The situation felt somewhat awkward now.

“So, your lost-and-found notice…”

“That was originally meant to attract any secret societies within the school. I didn’t expect it to be too successful, drawing not only you but also those rude fellows,” Brandon said, taking a sip of tea and then looking at Nephnis.

“In short, I—or rather, we—are investigating the mysterious phenomena related to the extraordinary at Crown University’s King Campus. We wanted to make contact with the society there, but an unexpected incident occurred. It seems the hidden world within the school is more complex than we initially thought.

“Miss Boyle, could you provide us with a detailed account of the current situation within the school? Perhaps we can help you.”

Brandon spoke earnestly to Nephnis, who was slightly taken aback by his words, hesitating for a moment. However, remembering that he had saved her and might be the key to resolving her current predicament, she nodded in agreement.

“Yes… You saved me. As a token of gratitude, I will try to tell you everything I know, though it may not be much, but I hope it will be useful to you.

“When it comes to the secrets within Saint Crown University, one cannot avoid mentioning the Secret Knowledge Society.”

…

Throughout the hundred-year history of Royal Sacred Crown University, there has always been a secret society known as the Secret Knowledge Society.

Legend has it that early Crown University students, exploring the campus, accidentally discovered some extraordinary secrets hidden within the school. Some students formed a secret society to study these secrets, which marked the beginning of the Secret Knowledge Society.

Although the Secret Knowledge Society was considered a secret society, it was merely a gathering of enthusiasts interested in the mysterious. Most students came from wealthy backgrounds, and with ample funding, they were able to genuinely explore documents and items related to the extraordinary. Over time, they gradually encountered true extraordinary phenomena.

Overall, the Secret Knowledge Society was a group of curious and wealthy young people who studied the mysterious and even sought the extraordinary. Despite causing numerous accidents over the years, leading to the society being disbanded multiple times and investigated by authorities, the members’ backgrounds often prevented severe punishment. Thus, the society would often re-emerge after brief periods of suppression. Eventually, the university tacitly accepted its existence and began guiding the society’s research direction. After several incidents, the society found relatively safe research methods, reducing the frequency of serious accidents until today.

Today, the Secret Knowledge Society remains the only student organization at Saint Crown University dedicated to studying the mysterious, with decades of history. However, lacking ancient traditions and powerful secret transmissions, their studies are quite eclectic, without any specific devotion to spirituality or deities. Instead, they dabble in various topics but lack depth. Experienced seniors guide new members away from dangerous practices.

Due to the frequent graduation of accomplished seniors, the society’s level remains limited. True extraordinary individuals are rare, with most members remaining at the level of enthusiasts. There is little coercion within the society, allowing members to join or leave freely. Occasionally, true extraordinary individuals join, but they usually depart after graduating.

In essence, the Secret Knowledge Society is a student interest group focused on the mysterious, occasionally causing minor incidents but posing little threat.

Nephnis was a member of the Secret Knowledge Society. She and her friends were enthusiasts of mysticism, so they joined the society early on to study the genuine and fictitious aspects of mysticism.

…

“So, essentially, your Secret Knowledge Society is just a group of mysticism enthusiasts? And there aren’t even two extraordinary beings?”

Listening to Nephnis, Dorothy manipulated Brandon to summarize and ask, and Nephnis nodded affirmatively.

“Yes, the previous Secret Knowledge Society seemed to have little difference from groups like the football club… As for true extraordinary beings, it is said that only a few former presidents successfully became extraordinary beings. Many members still do not believe that extraordinary powers truly exist.

“But about half a year ago, everything changed. At that time, a new member joined the Secret Knowledge Society, a newcomer called ‘Thistle.’

“He is an extraordinary being. Before joining the Secret Knowledge Society, he was already a true extraordinary being. After joining, he directly brought him under his control.”