Seeing Ebner agree, "The World" let out a quiet sigh of relief and said in his deep voice,
"I have no more trades."
As soon as his words fell, "The Moon" Emlyn, who had been waiting all this time, immediately turned toward "The Tower":
"The root crystal of the Elder Tree and the related auxiliary materials have all been prepared."
After speaking, he glanced mockingly at "The Sun" Derrick and sneered, "I just wonder if a certain someone's 'Potions Professor' characteristic is ready yet?"
This was a continuation of the three-way deal from the previous Tarot Gathering.
Hearing this, "The Sun" couldn't help but feel delighted. He didn't take offense at "The Moon's" slightly provocative tone and even thought that this gentleman wasn't quite as annoying as before…
He first expressed his gratitude to "The Moon," then turned to Ebner and said, "Mr. Tower, the 'Potions Professor' Beyonder characteristic you wanted has already been procured by my Chief."
That characteristic had been purchased at Karen's request. Ebner nodded to Derrick before turning to Emlyn:
"The 2,200 pounds I promised you can be paid today… By the way, do you accept Intisian Felkins?"
He intended to have Owen withdraw the money from the Delien family accounts.
"That's fine," Emlyn agreed without much hesitation.
The vampire community had members spread throughout the four major nations of the Northern Continent, so exchanging currencies internally was hardly a problem.
Next, "Justice" Audrey asked again about leads on the fruit of the Trance Bell Tree but received a disappointing answer.
With that, the trading segment came to an end. Without waiting for Mr. Fool's announcement, Ebner and the others naturally transitioned into the free exchange portion.
After "The Sun" Derrick briefly described his recent experiences in Afternoon Town, "The Hermit" Cattleya inquired about Mr. Door's background.
Since among all those present, "The Magician" Fors was the one most closely connected to Mr. Door, she gave a simple explanation.
However, unlike in the original events, Fors didn't earn the 100 pounds information fee this time… Of course, she didn't particularly need that 100 pounds anymore.
A mystical item for traversing the Spirit World… murmurs under the full moon… an ancestor of the Abraham family… missing since the war of the Four Emperors… a being close to the level of a god… possibly seeking rescue… "The Hermit" Cattleya mentally summarized the key points in "The Magician's" description and nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you for your account."
Once that topic was finished, "The World" recalled how Miss "Justice" had seemed uneasy at the start of the gathering. He was considering how to bring it up when she suddenly spoke on her own:
"Everyone, do any of you know of a detective named 'Conan'—either in history or in some literary work?"
Audrey asked this mainly because the cases she had encountered inside the "Dream Labyrinth Tower" were so ingeniously constructed that she wondered if they might have a real-world or literary prototype.
As soon as she said that, "Judgment" Xio and "Temperance" Sharon simultaneously turned their heads—one looking toward "The Tower," the other toward "The World."
Clearly, both of them knew "Conan," and both had managed to pass through "Conan's" trials by following the "cheat player."
Ebner exchanged a brief glance with Klein, then coughed lightly and said, "Miss Justice, I think I know why you seemed troubled earlier… but that place was meant to test your reasoning and analytical abilities. The more you seek shortcuts, the harder it becomes to achieve your goal."
"Justice" Audrey flushed red, embarrassed like a student caught cheating on an exam. After a long pause, she replied earnestly, "Yes, Mr. Tower. Thank you for your reminder… I almost strayed onto the wrong path."
Meanwhile, "The World" Klein, expressionless, inwardly despised Ebner: How do you manage to say such shameless things with such calm dignity?
As for "Judgment" and "Temperance," they were half convinced—though the latter a bit more so.
The free exchange continued uneventfully until it drew to a close.
After seeing the members off and helping them finalize several practical parts of their trades, Klein restored Ebner's "Eye of Wisdom" clone's senses and began a small private meeting with him.
"I've spoken with the 'Pale Admiral'… She said there's no problem with letting you study the 'special' aspects of her condition, but I must be present," Klein began.
Seems that 'Pale Admiral' really does trust you, huh? Though I wonder what Miss Sharon will think of that… Ebner gave Klein a peculiar look before asking, "She didn't have any other requests?"
"She did," Klein nodded.
"What kind of request?" Ebner asked curiously.
"She hopes you can assist her during her demigod advancement ritual," Klein conveyed Maria's request, then added after some thought, "However, she didn't specify what kind of help she requires, only that it poses no danger to you."
"I see…" Ebner had already made some guesses about the "Pale Admiral" Maria's ritual but hadn't found any reason why she would need his help…
Still, since she had assured there would be no danger, he could simply withdraw if anything went wrong. After all, it wouldn't be long before he advanced to Sequence 3. Once he regained control of "Alvin Abraham's" body and successfully promoted to "Miracle Invoker," he'd have full angel-level power—no need to fear tricks from a mere pirate admiral.
Thinking this, Ebner nodded slightly and said, "Tell her I accept. Once the last of the eleven-year experiment's survivors, Filina, returns from Dacy, I'll go see her."
As for that "Lady D" from the Aurora Order? Ebner had already sent Owen on Sunday to capture her and place her into "Groselle's Travels" for examination…
He was increasingly certain that the ritual hidden within the five survivors' bodies was related to the lid of the "God's Box."
After finishing that discussion, Klein manifested the diary he had received earlier and passed it to Ebner. When Ebner finished reading, Klein asked,
"What do you think Mr. Door and the Night Emperor were trying to achieve through their cooperation?"
What else could it be? The "Night Emperor" was a special soul that had once emerged from the "God's Box." Most likely, he wanted to open a "crack" in the seal of the Sefirah Castle and channel the power of the "Nation of Disorder" he corresponded to…
But that knowledge isn't something I can tell you yet.
Still, since Roselle had learned about these matters from Mr. Door, could it be that, in his desperate later years, he had tried to imitate them as well?
For some reason, Ebner suddenly thought of the so-called underground vault beneath the Delien family estate.
...
In a villa in Backlund's Bridge District.
Freshly bathed, her tall and graceful figure perfectly displayed, Bernadette accepted the letter delivered by her messenger and read it carefully.
"Mr. Door?"
Bernadette repeated the name several times, then as if "foreseeing" something, she suddenly turned, her gaze piercing westward through the window—as though she could see all the way to Trier.
"The only 'wonder' he constructed that still remains in reality is…
"The 'Arc de Triomphe'!"
...
Intis, Trier.
While the "Eye of Wisdom" clone was still in a private discussion with Mr. Fool, Ebner's true body was meeting three distinguished guests.
One wore a simple linen robe with mended seams, belted with a strip of twisted bark. Her long black hair hung loose, and her bare feet were covered in dust and scars.
Another was clad in a pale yellow dress embroidered with ears of wheat, light and flowing, with various herbs and flowers tucked at her waist.
The third, a man, wore a plain white robe trimmed with brass-colored silk threads and a pair of thick-framed glasses. His dignified aura made one instinctively feel respect, as though before a truly learned scholar.
The first two were women, the latter a man.
"Arianna, Servant of Concealment," said the woman in the simple robe, introducing herself.
"Annie, Desolate Matriarch," said the woman in the yellow dress, glancing at Arianna and mimicking her tone.
"Dwyer, Wisdom Angel," said the man in the brass-threaded robe with a smile.
(End of this chapter)