Still, despite his private grumbling, Ebner maintained his gentlemanly poise and echoed Greed's statement with a smile:
"Both ladies were most kind to me. I'm truly grateful for their help in achieving my goal."
Hearing that, Gluttony swept his gaze between Lust, Greed, and Sloth, then said carefully:
"I've come across information about a certain ruin. It might conceal the secret of a great noble from the Solomon Empire… and its authenticity can be verified by the Chairman.
"I'm willing to offer this intelligence as payment—to invite Lady Greed and Lady Sloth to lend me their assistance."
He paused, glancing around the table at Lust, Wrath, and the others, and then added:
"Of course, if Lady Greed doesn't mind sharing, others are also welcome to join in."
A ruin tied to a noble from the Solomon Empire? Even Ebner and Klein, who were watching the "broadcast" from above the gray fog, couldn't help showing curiosity.
"Which noble family?" asked Lady Greed, the wide grin carved into her mask stretching a little farther toward her ears.
"This noble isn't particularly famous," Gluttony replied calmly. "There are very few surviving records about him. I stumbled upon the information by accident. He was the 'Count of Silver Eyes,' Cullen Carendia, ennobled by the Solomon Empire.
"Although only a count, my long study suggests that the Carendia family's ancestor Cullen was in fact an Angel… though I'm not certain which pathway he belonged to."
As Gluttony explained, he laid out a rough description of the ruin he was offering as payment, then looked back to Greed:
"What do you think, my lady?"
Cullen of the Silver Eyes? Wasn't that Rhine? Wait—no, that's me! And he—or rather I—left behind a ruin? How could I not know about it?
Besides, wasn't Rhine slain by the descent of the Eternal Blazing Sun, his body given to Lilith as her vessel?
Hmm… could it be that the "home" I built during the Solomon Empire era has become the ruin he's talking about? But then, how valuable could it really be?
While Ebner was pondering this, Lady Greed asked gravely:
"You're offering such a high-value reward… what exactly do you need us to do?
"If it's too dangerous, then even if I must restrain my greed, I'll refuse."
After a beat, she seemed to think of something and added delicately:
"If it involves secrets, we can discuss privately."
Gluttony chuckled.
"No need for that. The commission isn't particularly dangerous. And unlike Mr. Lust, I don't have the courage to expose my real identity.
"All I need is for you and Lady Sloth to arrive at Indore Port within one month and remain there for at least a week."
"That simple?" Greed's tone lifted, clearly skeptical.
"That simple! For safety's sake, I won't meet you personally. Perhaps you'll think I'm merely using you two to divert my enemies' attention… and maybe that's true. But even if it is, with an Angel's ruin as the reward, surely that risk is worth taking, don't you think?"
Greed fell silent, exchanging glances with Sloth, apparently communicating telepathically.
Meanwhile, Klein and Ebner—watching from above the gray fog—instantly caught on and said in unison:
"0-08!"
"That Gluttony really is scheming something," Klein said. "He must be trying to lure Greed and Sloth to Indore Port, then team up with Ince Zangwill to use the Sealed Artifact 0-08 to manufacture a coincidence and manipulate their actions."
Ebner nodded, his thoughts racing:
Azik and Cullen's operation might fail now. With 0-08 involved, they're probably already exposed.
Still, the silver lining is that Klein and I are both still hidden. When the time comes, maybe we can deliver them a surprise.
But if Ince's scheme is tied to the ancient god Ankewelt, that complicates things. Until I know what that old dragon is truly plotting, I shouldn't step in lightly—lest I fall into his game. He hasn't forgotten his loss to the Evernight Goddess, and who knows when he'll try to strike back…
As those thoughts passed through Ebner's mind, the scene below changed again: Greed had finished her silent exchange with Sloth and agreed to Gluttony's commission, promising to appear in Indore Port in one month.
One month, huh? That guy's confident Azik and Cullen won't catch him. Maybe his plan's not just to draw me out—there's something deeper at work.
When I go to consult Lilith about the Steam and Machinery God's proposed deal, I'll bring this up too—just in case Clossfia and Ksenia really fall into the trap.
Sitting beside Sloth, Lust—Owen—let his gaze flick between the two women. Instead of stopping the deal, he smiled faintly and said:
"I'd like to join in as well."
Since Gluttony had already noticed Lust's "hungry" glances earlier, he misunderstood his intent and laughed:
"If the two ladies don't mind sharing, I have no objection."
Having worked together before, Greed knew that this new Lust had strong backing and a powerful "master," so after pretending to think for a while, she said:
"Joining isn't impossible… but, Mr. Lust, you'll have to pay a price. The more people who know of the ruin, the more the spoils must be divided."
Owen smiled politely.
"In fact, my lady, I've done extensive research on the Count of Silver Eyes. I can offer some of my findings as payment for sharing the secret of the ruin."
Greed pretended to consult with Sloth through their connection, then nodded.
"Deal."
Gluttony clapped his hands together, satisfied.
"Excellent! With Mr. Lust joining us, the risk is even lower—and my confidence even higher.
"If everything goes smoothly, by the next Grand Council meeting you'll receive the full information about that ruin."
——The Psychological Alchemists' Grand Council met far less frequently than the Tarot Club, typically once every two or three months; if nothing major occurred, even half a year could pass between meetings.
After that topic concluded, Chairman Derlau assigned several other tasks, mostly centered in Loen and Feysac.
One task was for Pride to continue inflaming tensions between the New Party and the old nobility, keeping Loen's upper ranks in chaos.
Gluttony even proposed targeting the newly promoted Viscount Ebner Bryan, but Pride rejected the idea immediately—he wasn't stupid enough to openly plot against someone right there at the table.
When the meeting entered the open discussion phase, each member shared notable developments from their regions, exchanging intelligence.
At one point, Ebner—through Owen—remarked:
"Prime Minister Delien seems to be brewing a truly terrifying plan. Whether he succeeds or fails, the political landscape of Intis will be drastically shaken."
Since he also operated in Intis, Envy asked at once:
"Terrifying how?"
"The Prime Minister appears intent on dragging Intis into the First Layer of the Abyss," Ebner said matter-of-factly.
A brief silence fell. Then Envy sighed:
"A lunatic… The Delien family is finished this time."
His conclusion matched Ebner's own—there was no way such a plan could succeed unless the Eternal Blazing Sun and the God of Steam went blind.
The others voiced agreement, while only Sloth, who knew Lust's true identity, added lazily:
"Be careful."
Soon, the meeting entered its third stage—academic exchange.
Roughly twenty minutes later, just as Klein above the gray fog was about to conjure paper and pen to take notes, Chairman Derlau clapped his hands lightly:
"All right, that concludes today's council meeting."
Everyone rose, bowed politely, and departed the dream city aboard their respective mind-forged conveyances.
…
Hoo—!
The steam whistle howled as the great locomotive rumbled into Backlund.
By late Saturday morning, the disguised Dwayne Dantès stepped off the train, a suitcase in one hand and his "pregnant wife," Miss Sharon, on the other. Once again, they set foot upon the "Capital of Capitals," the "Land of Hope."
Meanwhile, at No. 7 Pinster Street, the handsome poet Leonard Mitchell received two unexpected visitors.
He cast a discreet glance at Hazel with her mechanical arm, then turned his eyes to his former colleague's younger sister.
"Miss Moretti," he asked calmly, "what brings you to see me today?"
(End of Chapter)