"While this distribution of spoils might seem like a loss for me on the surface, it's actually not.
"By 'arming' Mr. Fool, he'll have more tricky maneuvers at his disposal, and the development of the 'Sefirah Castle' will become more complete. In the end, I and the other Tarot Club members will benefit.
"Beyond that, with the 'Black Knight' characteristic in hand, or the upgraded 'Creeping Hunger,' Klein might develop applications for related abilities. Perhaps he could even conjure an 'Angel under the Fool' ahead of time...
"After all, a 'Black Knight' can project demigod souls it has 'herded,' and if those herded demigod souls combine with the 'Blasphemy Card' and leverage the power above the gray fog, posing as an Angel shouldn't be a problem...
"Conversely, if I kept the characteristic, it would be useless to me.
"Finally, since I've decided to give Mr. Fool a share of the spoils... anything less than a demigod-level item just wouldn't be presentable!"
All in all, giving the "Black Knight" characteristic to "The Fool" was a well-thought-out decision by Ebner. After all, one can't just watch the fun; sometimes, one has to "feed" a little "food," right?
Ebner's thinking was clear, but Klein was in a dilemma. Deep down, he didn't want to take advantage, but the reason given by the other party was hard to refuse.
And indeed, he had "stolen" the kill that day... so sharing some spoils was not unreasonable... though a demigod characteristic was a bit much...
But this was also an item for a "believer" to please a "deity." Would not accepting it make "The Tower" uneasy?
As thoughts raced, Klein had an idea. He casually tapped the edge of the ancient long table with his finger and chuckled softly, "I accept your 'sacrifice,' but because its value exceeds the reward required for my previous action, as 'The Fool' of 'Equivalent Exchange,' I will compensate you."
Saying this, he picked up the "Black Emperor" card lying face down beside him, and while briefly shielding it from others' view, he displayed the potion formulas for Sequences 9 through 3 of the "Black Emperor" Pathway to "The Tower."
As Klein knew, Mr. Tower's "friend," Miss Fanny, was a Beyonder of the "Lawyer" Pathway. The subsequent potion formulas for this Pathway would definitely be useful to him.
Moreover, Miss Judgment might even switch to this Pathway in the future.
Ebner was indeed very satisfied with this, as potion formulas beyond the demigod level, like the "Black Knight" characteristic, were already difficult to "measure" with money, unless forcibly priced using the "Quiz Labyrinth."
Even his "Pure White Eye" found it extremely difficult and time-consuming to "analyze" formulas above the demigod level through characteristics.
The demigod characteristic of "Despair Nightingale" had been in his hands for nearly a month, and he still hadn't been able to analyze it... and looking at the progress, there was little hope for at least a few years...
However, the "Black Knight" characteristic had only been in his hands for a few days, and the work of reverse-engineering the formula was already nearing completion...
"I praise Your generosity, Mr. Fool," Ebner said, bowing after noting down the formula.
"The Fool" Klein smiled slightly, "I like equivalent exchange."
No, an immediate response and direct assistance from a great existence is simply priceless! Cattleya the "Hermit," who witnessed the entire scene, couldn't help but inwardly retort.
Although she didn't know what "The Fool" had shown "The Tower," she assumed it wasn't ordinary. This unequivocally showed how generous and indulgent "The Fool" was towards the Tarot Club members.
But were a deity's gifts truly that easy to take? Perhaps "The Tower" understood this, which is why he unhesitatingly handed over even a demigod characteristic.
However, Cattleya was still deeply envious, as she also hoped to have such "equivalent exchange" opportunities in the future, which often meant she would have an extra life compared to others!
As for the cost, that would only be a consideration if she was still alive to pay it...
Seeing that "The Tower's" matter was concluded, "The Moon" Emlyn couldn't help but look at "The Hanged Man" at the upper end of the table and asked:
"Mr. Hanged Man, I'm ready. When can you get that Bloodline Baron's legacy? You mentioned last time it was in the hands of a great pirate?"
He originally wanted to wait for the three-month period of the bill of exchange to expire before cashing it at the bank, but he soon realized that after deciding to buy the Bloodline Baron's legacy, his mood was completely different from before:
No longer doubtful, no longer hesitant, but full of anticipation, full of longing, wishing to get it immediately, just like when he used to save enough money to buy a desired doll!
He endured for over a week, finally unable to restrain himself, and resold the accepted bill of exchange.
Fortunately, after filming that movie, he passively met many wealthy people. Although their gazes made Emlyn uncomfortable, he gritted his teeth and entrusted one of them to sell it, and the loss was not significant.
Why did he have to mention the great pirate...? Alger glanced at "The Hermit," sighing helplessly.
With "Admiral of Stars'" keen senses, even if she couldn't immediately confirm my identity, she certainly narrowed down the possibilities!
Sensing "The Hermit's" gaze sweep over him again, "The Hanged Man" felt that his worry was definitely not unfounded.
However, Alger's expression remained unchanged. He turned his head and replied to "The Moon," "I'll get it for you within this week. Finally, let's confirm the price, 4500 pounds, alright?"
Emlyn thought about the dolls in his room and began to haggle with "The Hanged Man," but he was no match for the seasoned veteran. He was naturally outmaneuvered, not only paying a high price but also feeling grateful for Alger's efforts.
An underage or newly adult Vampire, with not much worldly experience... Cattleya the "Hermit" silently observed and made her judgment.
At this moment, Miss Temperance turned her head, looked at "The Sun," opened her lips, and spoke in a ethereal voice: "I need three petals of 'Bloody Rose Dry Petals' and 10 milliliters of 'Sangwine Thorn' fluid."
Miss Temperance has already obtained the "Marionette" characteristic, and the demigod mummy for the ritual should be completed soon... So, these are auxiliary materials? Hmm, perhaps not very valuable, but I haven't heard of these plants in the Northern Continent. Either they have alternative names, or they are monopolized by the 'Rose School.'
However, the sense of déjà vu with "Bloody Rose" and "Sangwine" is too strong... Could they also be names given by a senior Transmigrator?
As Ebner pondered, Cattleya the "Hermit" also subtly examined "Temperance," who resembled a doll, and made her guess: Either Sequence 5 or Sequence 6... Also, my previous judgment was correct; she really is from the Temperance faction of the 'Rose School'! These two plants aren't hard to find in the areas ruled by the Indulgence faction. If she were from the Indulgence faction, she wouldn't need to request them at the Tarot Club.
Derrick the "Sun" paused upon hearing Miss Temperance's words, then honestly stated: "The City of Silver has both of these materials... You can exchange them for 'Sun' essential oil and golden bergamot powder."
He had originally intended to say to exchange them for "Luminous Spirit Tree Fruits," the main material for a "Solar High Priest," but after thinking, the prices didn't match, so he switched to auxiliary materials.
"Sun" essential oil and golden bergamot were resources their City of Silver lacked.
"This is not equivalent..." Sharon the "Temperance" didn't want to take advantage. After all, her side's materials were auxiliary materials for a demigod, and even if they were relatively common auxiliary materials—the troublesome ones had all been found by her teacher—they were still much more expensive than things like "Sun" essential oil.
"Normal grain, to make up the difference," Sharon said after some thought.
"What?" "The Sun" was stunned, not reacting, but "The World" immediately "translated": "Miss Temperance means she can provide a batch of our grain to the City of Silver."
"That's great! Thank you, Miss Temperance," Derrick said, full of pleasant surprise after understanding the meaning.
Although the City of Silver had "black-faced grass," its taste couldn't compare to normal food... Moreover, with normal ingredients, perhaps the City of Silver could even reproduce Mr. Fool's Holy Communion.
"The Hermit" glanced at "The World" and "Temperance," feeling that the relationship between these two members, who didn't look alive, must be unusual.
Of course, it could also be a deliberately feigned appearance.
Just as "The Hermit" was guessing wildly, Derrick the "Sun," after finalizing the transaction with Miss Temperance, immediately raised his hand and asked:
"Who among you has 'Luminous Spirit Tree Fruits'?"
"I do," Cattleya the "Hermit" responded, then inquired what "The Sun" could offer, successfully extracting a list of common monsters in the areas around the City of Silver from Derrick.
Another one pulling teeth from an empty wolf... Are people who've spent a long time at sea all so good at shearing sheep? Or perhaps, little "Sun's" posture is just too inviting, making people want to take a shear... "The Fool" Klein, seeing this scene, instinctively excluded himself from the "pulling teeth from an empty wolf" group.
Cattleya, however, grew more surprised the more she looked at the list. Even though she judged "The Sun" to be at most a Sequence 8, she dared not show any contempt, and finally asked Derrick for historical data of the "City of Silver."
"Mr. Sun comes from the 'Land of Abandoned Gods'," Ebner said with a smile, noticing Cattleya's aura growing heavier. Then, regardless of "Admiral of Stars'" surprise, he looked around and smiled:
"I want to sell the Beyonder characteristics of 'Mysticism Magister' and 'Demoness of Affliction'!"
"Briber" needs to be kept for Fanny, "Guardian" can be sold to Miss Gwen later, "Solar High Priest" and "Reaper" are useful for his future plans... "Telepathist" can be sold to Miss Justice's dog...
So, among the characteristics obtained from the "Saint of Shadows," only "Mysticism Magister" and "Demoness of Affliction" could be sold.