In the City of Generosity, Bayam, Klein strolled back to the inn, climbed to the third floor, and unlocked the door to the luxurious suite.
He was mildly surprised to find Danitz already back. The pirate was slouched in a reclining chair with a half-empty glass in hand, looking as if he'd been drinking for hours.
After a moment of consideration, Klein calmly asked, "What time is it?"
Danitz muttered, "Isn't there a clock?" His gaze slid toward the opposite wall, and he read aloud, "Three forty p.m.—"
He broke off mid-sentence, suddenly sitting up straighter. A dry laugh escaped him. "I've already gone everywhere I could for information and talked to everyone I could. No point in staying outside any longer, it would only raise the risk of exposure and interfere with your hunting plan!"
Klein took a seat, his expression unreadable. "Tell me what happened."
"What problems could there be?" Danitz replied defensively. "Sure, I'm mainly an adventurer who hunts treasure, but I'm also a qualified part-time pirate." His tone implied Klein had insulted his professional dignity.
A cold glance from Gehrman cut him off and made his smirk falter. He quickly began recounting his day: the places he'd visited, the people he'd spoken to, and the snippets of news he'd picked up since morning.
When he sighed about a ghost ship captain named Alger who seemed to know something about Bansy Harbor, Klein almost frowned.
After thinking it over, he raised a hand to halt him. "Messy, dark-blue hair?"
Danitz's eyes widened. "You know him?" Not only is Elena cheating on him, but with someone he knows too?! How shameless! "That guy isn't simple!"
As expected... Klein thought, lips curling faintly. I didn't think I'd run into Mr. Hanged Man so soon.
"Continue," he said aloud.
Danitz resumed his story, skipping Elena's appearance—hardly a priority when his own safety was on the line. It's better to let Gehrman focus on the Admiral of Blood for now.
"As you know, when you're chasing information, there's no telling when you'll get anything. Once you've found everyone worth finding, all you can do is wait. It'll take time."
"There's another way," Klein said, voice flat.
Danitz blinked. "What way?"
Klein adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and a faint smile grew at the corner of his mouth. "Use bait."
Bait? Danitz stared at him in brief confusion before the realization dawned on him.
Of course. He was the bait. And bait didn't matter to the fisherman, only the catch. Whether it was swallowed whole was irrelevant.
Simply put, bait was the most dangerous position of them all.
"Haha... that's not such a great plan. My intuition says I might find something at the Red Theater. I'll head there for a look!" Danitz hastily put on his coat, heading to the door with sudden eagerness when the master bedroom door creaked open, with Elena calmly stepping out.
Danitz froze mid-stride, eyes lighting up as he came up with an idea. Instead of leaving, he closed the door and turned towards her, wearing a grin far too wide to be innocent.
Klein's gaze fell on her. His spiritual vision told him she seemed mentally drained, though otherwise unharmed. When he looked back, Danitz was still planted in place, grinning like a man who had just discovered the holy grail. Wasn't he in such a hurry to get to the Red Theater just a moment ago?
"Well," Danitz cleared his throat dramatically, "there's something I forgot to mention." He glanced at Gehrman as if expecting permission.
"Speak," Klein said curtly.
Irina frowned inwardly. According to the novel, he should have been gone by now, running off to the Red Theater without another word. So what's this? Still, she crossed the room and took a seat beside Klein.
"When I met Alger at the casino," Danitz began, grin sharpening, "Elena was there too."
Gehrman stole a quick glance at her but said nothing, his attention sliding back to the pirate. This all but confirms my suspicion that Alger is Mr. Hanged Man. Irina wouldn't bother following Danitz unless he was in danger or meeting someone important.
Yes! Danitz thought triumphantly. He looked at her because he didn't expect her to be there. Maybe he already suspects something!
"Elena interrupted our game and went straight to Alger—she even put her hands on him!" he announced boldly.
Irina, who had resumed writing in her notebook, paused mid-sentence. That sounds so much weirder than what I actually did. He makes it sound like I jumped on the poor man! I just... kind of traumatized him. Not that much better, actually.
Gehrman merely stared at Danitz, saying nothing. That doesn't sound like her at all...
...well, except for that one time in Tingen when she did jump on Leonard, but that had been purely to make the poor poet lose his balance, just because she found it amusing. But Alger? The two aren't even close friends.
Danitz was already certain he'd won. He's not saying anything because he's connecting the dots himself! "And it doesn't end there," he pressed on. "Alger looked scared after realizing you were in town."
Irina's brow furrowed. Why would Alger be scared of Gehrman? They've never even met.
Klein glanced at her, but she only shrugged. Don't look at me! I have no idea where Danitz is going with this; it sounds like some wild retelling of the actual events!
He turned back to Danitz. Something's off, I think he might be misunderstanding something. If Irina spoke to Alger, it would make sense for him to recognize her voice from the Tarot Club, which means—
"And the two left the casino together!" Danitz said, loudly interrupting his thoughts. "Hand in hand, like two lovers off for a passionate day." He grinned widely, studying Gehrman's impassive face.
Just to be sure, he added, "Alger and Elena are lovers behind your back, Gehrman! Their relationship must go back months!"
Irina laid her notebook on her lap and stared at him as though he were an alien. This is... some wild story. I could use it as a reference. If I talk with Fors, we could make something good—no, scratch that, we could make a bestseller! Danitz, I didn't know you were such a talented storyteller.
Klein's thoughts momentarily derailed. Well... huh. If she's sleeping with Mr. Hanged Man, that still doesn't concern me, does it? At least she's having fun—more than I am. As her friend, it's right to be supportive... yes. But I am curious as to when she found the time to get so close to him.
"And?" he asked in a monotone voice.
Danitz blinked. "Well, I didn't follow them, so I wouldn't know what happened after—but you know how pirates are with their lovers!" Just what is he asking? Isn't it obvious?
"That does not concern me," Klein replied flatly, rising from his chair, having heard the faint echo of illusory prayers.
It was a man's voice.
Does not concern you?! She's your woman AND she's cheating on you! Danitz panicked, imagining all sorts of unpleasant outcomes as Gehrman got closer. "W-well, I'll go find more information at the Red Theater!" he blurted out before bolting out the door.
Klein watched him go, then turned back to Irina, who had already resumed writing. "I'm happy for you," he said. So the reason she jumped out of a window today and looked utterly exhausted later... was because she'd had a fulfilling day with her man. I thought it might be something important, but it's just a relationship. As her friend, I'm glad she found one. He smiled faintly and headed for the washroom.
"Huh?" was her only reply. Then she seemed to remember something. "You heard a prayer just now, didn't you?"
"Yes...?" Klein answered, puzzled.
"Tell me if Alger mentions anything about me," she said simply, standing up and heading to her bedroom.
Ten seconds later, Klein appeared above the gray fog. He focused on the pulsating crimson star representing The Hanged Man.
As expected.
He sat down, leaned back, and let his spirituality touch it.
The Hanged Man's voice grew clear: "Honorable Mr. Fool, I'm currently investigating a key related to Vice Admiral Iceberg. I met Blazing Danitz at a casino and learned he witnessed the anomaly in Bansy Harbor. I also learned he plans to join forces with a powerful figure to deal with Steel Maveti. I suspect he's working with your adorer, so I've prayed to you. If that's the case, and if he wants assistance, I can help."
Klein made a brief divination, then conjured The World, covering the dummy in gray fog and setting it in a praying stance. His voice came out solemnly: "Honorable Mr. Fool, I am in need of some assistance."
He sent the words, along with the image, into the crimson star.
Irina wasn't sure how much time had passed. Minutes, hours? She didn't care. After replaying the whole mess in her head, Danitz's wild retelling of events and Klein's comment, she realized there was now a rather large misunderstanding floating between them.
For the Goddess's sake, I'm not sleeping with Alger!
With a sigh, she could only hope her meeting with him had gone well and that he would still follow through on his original plan of reporting to Mr. Fool.
A knock at the door made her grumble out loud. Klein, apparently taking that as permission, stepped inside.
"Just what did you talk about with Alger?" he asked in a dry tone.
Irina hugged the pillow tighter to her chest and refused to meet his eyes. "It's his fault for pissing his pants..."
"Irina..." Klein sighed, walking over to sit on the edge of the very large bed. "He looked a bit shaken—but more like someone coming down from something even worse. You were tired and worried earlier, but when you date someone, you shouldn't make them that scared. So... something must have gone very wrong between you two."
She buried her head in the pillow and let out an exaggerated groan, practically screaming into it. She even tried to speak clearly, but the words were so muffled they were impossible to understand.
"You do remember you're the one with enhanced hearing, not me, right?" Klein said with mild amusement.
Irina gestured wildly with one hand before freezing, drawing invisible letters in the air. That, Klein recognized. He quietly stood and put up a spiritual wall as she sat up, fully embracing the disaster she had made of the day.
"We're not dating," she declared. "Danitz got it all wrong. That man has a wild imagination and terrible pattern recognition."
Klein paused mid-ritual, still finishing the spiritual wall. That... makes so much more sense. "So he was just terrified of you?"
Irina groaned again, staring at the ceiling before flopping onto the bed in a full starfish pose. "I might have messed up a bit..."
She traced a familiar word into the air: Alexandria.
Klein had seen her do it many times. Without hesitation, he spoke her honorific name, and his vision went black.
When it cleared, he stood inside the endless library. Turning, he scanned for Irina, not seeing her on the usual couch. Instead, he found her lying on the floor, hugging a gray book.
"Why are you on the ground... right at the foot of the couch?" he asked, approaching with a faint hint of amusement.
She met his gaze with a deadpan look. "This is where I appear every time I arrive here."
Klein blinked. "...you appear on the ground?"
"Yes."
His lips twitched before settling back into a poker face.
Irina's eye twitched in turn. Annoyed, she hurled the book she'd been hugging straight at his face, but he caught it with ease.
"You damn clown! Show your emotions outright—it's worse when you do that poker face!"
This time, Klein laughed out loud. "Alright, alright."
His eyes fell to the book in his hands. Weird... it has my name engraved on it.
He frowned. This is the first time I've ever been able to read it. Every other time I come here, she always has this book, but she hides it so quickly. And now I find out it has my name? Is this like the red stars I have above the gray fog? Could it have a similar effect?
"Weird, it has my name on it," he said aloud.
In the middle of letting him pull her upright, Irina froze, snatched the book away, and set it on the table next to a bluish volume Klein had never seen before, its title reading: Alger Wilson.
"Just ignore it."
'Alger Wilson', 'Klein Moretti'... did he also pray to her? That would explain why his book is here. That is, if my theory about these volumes appearing after someone prays to her is correct.
Irina sank into her beloved couch, patting the seat beside her as she drew out her pocket mirror. "It's better if I show you what happened rather than just tell you."
Klein took the seat, leaning in as the mirror's surface rippled with an unfamiliar scene forming on it. I knew she gathered and reviewed knowledge with this mirror, but to think it has a full-blown YouTube function is quite mind-blowing.
The image was clearly from her perspective: Danitz, in a terrible disguise, gambling away at a casino. Judging from the distance and the drink in her hand, she was seated at a counter, quietly observing.
Then, abruptly, her head jerked up. She turned slightly, just enough to cast a discreet glance at a man entering the casino. His skin was bronze, his face weathered by years at sea. Dark-blue hair fell in messy waves, and he wore a linen shirt, brown jacket, and loose dark pantaloons, the favoured attire of sailors and pirates. A unique belt adorned with a dagger, telescope, and assorted tools was tied at his waist.
Alger Wilson, Mr. Hanged Man, so that's what he looks like.
He scanned the people inside, but Elena didn't seem to catch his attention since his gaze immediately locked on Danitz. Without hesitation, he walked toward him and struck up a conversation.
Even from this distance, Elena could follow their words. Her hearing, combined with the mirror's function, allowed Klein to tune out most other noises and focus entirely on what they were saying.
Not long after, Irina finished her drink and strolled over. Klein didn't think much of it until he saw how Alger reacted to her laugh.
His face remained neutral, but his eyes followed with sharp interest as Alger's skin turned as pale as a sheet. The man seemed to freeze before retreating into his own thoughts. At some point, perhaps in an effort to snap him out of it, Irina gave him a light slam on the shoulder. The reaction was way over the top, to say the least. Alger didn't just flinch—he actually squealed!
In the privacy of the library, Klein's mouth fell open. Even the Irina in the mirror stood frozen, as though she couldn't trust her own ears. And why would she? Klein saw Alger in the Tarot Club meetings weekly, always presenting himself as the knowledgeable, intelligent, and seasoned Beyonder he was, not to mention the captain of a strong crew and a member of the Mandated Punishers. Hearing that kind of sound from him was downright surreal.
Klein could only watch in bewilderment as Alger clumsily stumbled to his feet, straightened his coat, trying to regain some of his dignity, and then walked out of the casino after Irina.
This didn't actually happen... right?
Just then, she snapped the mirror shut and let out a loud sigh. Silence stretched in the library for a long time as neither of them spoke.
It was Irina who broke it first. "I will never be able to remove that sound from my ears..."
Klein coughed into his hand, silently agreeing. That was... unexpected. "It seems you did quite a number on him during the last Tarot Club meeting." He paused, searching for something more eloquent to say, but decided to go with the simplest phrasing; after all, it was just the two of them here. "He's now genuinely terrified of you. Congratulations."
"Oh, come on! That wasn't my plan and you know it," she protested, then hesitated before continuing. "It's also just a matter of time before he finds out I'm actually a mid-sequence Beyonder."
Klein's brows drew together. "That's risky for your identity, especially if it's connected to Mr. Fool's."
Waving him off, she said, "No worry. I'll just say something along the lines of 'this human body is limiting' or whatever nonsense I come up with in the moment."
He brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful. "That would give him the idea you're using a human vessel to descend into the mortal realm. But what about your actual body?"
"Option A, I can't descend with it, just like Mr. Fool. Option B, I don't have one at all, and my soul is stuck in a human body. I don't care which one I'll go with; it genuinely doesn't matter. In both cases, I'd still be a 'God' with immeasurable knowledge." Then she quickly added, "Right, and after that, I did tell him not to ruin my human disguise. That was here, by the way. Absolutely under no circumstances would I talk about that kind of thing outside."
With this new knowledge, Klein began to re-evaluate his entire understanding of Mr. Hanged Man, running over every detail, considering how he could aid them in hunting those pirates, until something in Irina's last statement didn't quite line up.
"Wait... you met him here? Without any concealment? Or can you manifest some sort of fog?" he asked curiously.
"I just hid my face mostly, and my body to a lesser degree, the way the Warden did," she said matter-of-factly.
Klein stared at her silently until she snapped, "What? Didn't think I could pull it off? You have some very low expectations of me, I'll have you know—"
"Irina," Klein began, very gently, with a weird smile.
"...yes?" That smile was unsettling, almost sending a shiver down her spine. This man is supposed to be cute—why is he scary now?
"My eyes were closed when 'He' appeared. And even if they weren't, you don't just stare at a God, especially not in that kind of situation." His voice carried a false sweetness that made the warning all the more sharp.
The memory of meeting the owner of this library was still carved deep into his mind. It had been nothing like seeing the Sun or any other high-level beyonder before. This time, the God had been there physically, and the sheer aura was overwhelming.
Klein had never felt such raw force or fear since arriving in this world—it surpassed everything—and that was without even looking at 'Him'. And apparently, 'He' was even concealed? How would I know?! I was too busy worrying about surviving the encounter!
He sighed inwardly. That was a long day. First finding out Irina was alive, then meeting a God, and then the strange way 'He' had referred to him as well: 'Mysteries'. Even now, weeks later, I still don't understand what it means. Maybe I can ask Irina about it later.
"Oh..." was her only reply.
"Yeah. 'Oh'." Klein's expression was one of pure exasperation.
Embarrassed, Irina coughed into her hand. Then, with a small hand gesture, some sort of concealment appeared over her, making Klein's own eyes deceive him.
He knew she was there, after all, they had just been talking with each other, and yet...
He somehow knew there was a head, a body, limbs, clothes, and hair spilling over the sofa. Yet, he couldn't make out any details. It was as if something in his mind was deliberately blurring her form.
This is so weird.
He realized the knowledge was in his head, yet his eyes weren't actually looking at her. His mind short-circuited. Before him, she was either not there at all—and he could see clean through her—or her features were shrouded by a swirling dark mass; the same void that stretched beneath their feet and far above their heads. Yet, even with that, she still felt somewhat translucent.
This makes no sense! I know she's there—my brain tells me so—but my eyes refuse to see her. This is... nauseating. To think a place could distort reality and the mind like this... it's nothing like the gray fog's power!
"Well? What do you think?" she asked curiously.
"That it's absolutely confusing for my brain. You're there, but... my eyes just can't see you." He shook his head, still disoriented. It's as if the knowledge is simply placed inside my mind, without coming from any of my senses. I can't hear her voice, I didn't see her lips move, yet I know she spoke. As if the words bypassed my ears entirely and went straight into my head... this kind of meddling with knowledge is far beyond anything I have ever seen!
"I know, right?! I've always been so confused when I looked at the Warden—it just made no sense!" She continued excitedly with a bright grin plastered on her face. "This Sefirot is beyond what I expected and—"
Shit.
Irina's eyes widened. She stared at Klein like a deer caught in headlights. Shit shit shit! I was so excited that I said the word! Fuuuuuck—
"What?" Klein blinked. "Sorry, I didn't hear. Also, why do you suddenly look so scared?"
"... you... what?"
"I said I didn't hear you. I think I was distracted? You said 'this' and then I couldn't make out the rest."
Irina just stared at him for a long moment, unable to process what had just happened. Then a soft chuckle escaped her, quickly spiraling into full-blown laughter, the kind that was tinged with madness.
Klein looked extremely worried. He didn't need much time to connect the dots. It makes no sense for me to miss something she said when she's sitting right next to me. And I said 'distracted', where did that even come from? No... the point is, I didn't hear something, and right after, she made that face—the same one she makes when she accidentally says something dangerous. It's always connected to knowledge that can drive someone mad if their sequence is not high enough.
But I didn't hear it, somehow. Which means if I had, I might've lost control immediately. Is this... some kind of protection this place has? But why did it protect me?
Irina put both hands in her hair before leaning forward, hugging him tightly. "Goddess, I really have to learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes. I have no idea how you didn't hear it, but better that way... I'd rather not be the reason you lose control."
Klein laughed lightly, returning the hug. "That shouldn't be a problem. I trust you."
They stayed like that for a while before Klein straightened. "I need to prepare for my meeting with Alger."
Irina nodded and moved to send him off, but he paused. "One more thing."
"Yes?"
"When the Warden appeared, 'He' called me 'Mysteries.' Why?"
Irina made a comical 'O' with her mouth and winked. "You have to prepare to meet Alger, dear boy. Go do that!"
Before he could protest, his vision went black, and he found himself back at the luxurious inn.
He sighed, not surprised by her evasive reply, and chuckled at the sheer surrealness of it all. Standing up, he moved towards the door. From the bed, he heard her shuffling around, and when he looked, she was back too, already scribbling in her notebook.
"Enjoy yourself," she called without looking up. "Try not to terrorize him like I did!"
Klein laughed as he left. "Will do."
Hours later, Irina heard Klein return from the meeting. Danitz still hadn't come back. Not a surprise since he said he was heading to the Red Theatre, and I'm most definitely not going to spy on him there out of all places.
When Klein walked through the main door, she was lounging in the living room. As usual, he was using Gehrman's face, but he was wearing a wide, almost unhinged smile.
Oh my Goddess... what did he do to Alger?
Klein simply motioned toward her room since it was the biggest. She got up without a word and entered, setting up a spiritual wall as he entered Sefirah Castle.
Once the preparations were done, she spoke his honorific name and appeared at the long table.
"Alger was wearing some mysterious-looking clergyman robes," Klein began with a smile.
Irina chuckled. "I can see how that wouldn't fit him at all. But still, why the smile?"
"I said that to him when I was leaving," he explained simply.
She nodded, already familiar with that from the novel. She hoped it would still happen—after all, it was a funny comment. But having messed with Alger that much, she didn't dwell on it any more than necessary.
"I might have also added that high-pitched sounds don't match his persona," Klein finished with a sly grin.
Irina's mouth fell open. "You didn't! You said you wouldn't scare him!"
"No, no," Klein said with an unfamiliar smile creeping onto his face. "I said I wouldn't try to. But after the comment about the clothes, I just had to add one more small jab."
She buried her face in her hands. "What have I done... I corrupted you..."
Seated at the head of the table, he laughed out loud, ignoring her reply. "Well, he was testing my intelligence—which I could only expect from a man like him—so I'm sure he won't mind a few small jabs. Especially since the identity of the World is also tied to the Fool's blessed."
Irina stayed silent, shaking her head in utter despair, though a light chuckle escaped her lips. If Alger loses control, it's all going to be my fault, she thought. Maybe I can spin it as me trying to keep his humanity intact. It's not like he's going to rise to a God level, but he will reach demigod, and maybe even higher.
Klein calmly continued. "Not that that's settled. Here's the plan for hunting those pirates."