86. Gem
"I don't know if this will help, but I once encountered a Devil in Backlund," Tower said, uncertain how much World—or Fool—already knew about the serial killer. Still, sharing this detail might prove useful.
His words immediately made Hanged Man realize that Tower was most likely based in or around Backlund. Justice and Magician already knew as much, so it wasn't a secret Tower needed to worry about exposing.
"It was a Devil Dog. I stumbled upon him feasting on a woman," Tower continued, his eyes fixed on the World. His statement, however, sent a faint chill down the spines of the other two Backlund dwellers. Then he also explained a bit about the Devil's power that he encountered.
"I managed to escape, but I recently came across another of its victims. Be careful." Tower turned toward the Magician while deliberately avoiding Justice. "Other than that, I wish to learn more about the Gems of Desire."
It was the first time the others had heard of such a term, and they were all confused, unable to recall anything about it. Tower scratched his cheek in slight embarrassment.
"It's just what I call it personally," he admitted. "They're gems of various kinds, but somehow they amplify the possessor's desires." After a brief pause, he added, "They're especially popular in Backlund right now."
Since Justice already knew Tower's true identity, there was no longer any need for him to conceal it.
'Backlund again… ' Sun thought, disappointed that there was nothing he could contribute in this matter.
When no one else could answer Tower's question, Hanged Man spoke up.
"I'm not familiar with the gems you mentioned, but if it concerns desire, there is something I know."
Tower gave a slight nod. "What do you want in exchange?"
"I don't have much information myself. Let's keep it simple—no need for you to investigate. Just let me know if you happen to hear anything about the Wind-blessed Potion formula. Even rumors are fine," Hanged Man replied.
Tower considered for a moment. All he had to do was keep his ears open and pass along any news he came across. Not a bad bargain.
"Alright," he agreed.
Both men then turned their gazes toward Mr. Fool, awaiting his acknowledgment.
"Public or private?"
"Public." Tower hoped that the other members in Backlund might be able to help him with this case.
Hanged Man nodded. "If you're talking about desire, then it should be connected to the Rose School of Thought. They've been making quite a stir recently…" He began to explain what he knew, though, as expected, it was nothing more than general information—far from a real answer to Tower's question.
…
Once everyone had departed, The Fool waved his hand, and the furniture shifted according to his will. Symbols could be seen at the back of each seat. Behind the Magician's chair, the mark of Door appeared.
'Door… ' The Fool immediately recalled Roselle's diary entries concerning Mr. Door. His gaze then moved toward the other new members.
"An eye, again?" This time it was an eye with a pupil split into four, encircled by a spiderweb. The Fool had no inkling of what this symbol signified.
***
"Woahhh…"
As students of engineering, most of them—no, almost everyone—were ardent admirers of the Father of Creation, Emperor Roselle Gustav. His inventions were simply overwhelming. He had created things for every imaginable field: infrastructure, medicine, weaponry, naval technology, entertainment—anything and everything. And he produced them as easily as one might flip a hand, his imagination boundlessly inventive.
Or at least, that's what everyone believed. But for us Transmigrators, it was painfully obvious—he was a cheater.
Still, as the dead, we didn't really mind all that much. After all, thanks to him, we enjoyed a more convenient and hygienic world. But still…
Leave something for us, will you?!
He left no stone unturned. With the common knowledge and information he carried from modern life, there was nothing left for us to exploit. Unless you were some kind of specialist with expertise beyond what Roselle himself possessed, there was hardly anything you could make use of.
Now, I watched one of his creations behind me, a faint, not-too-bitter smile tugging at my lips. What I voiced aloud was simply what every other transmigrator would want to say to Roselle. As for me, most of my memories from modern life remained frustratingly blank.
His creations did stir something within me, sparking fragments of memory. Like many of the things he built, I could recall how they functioned and what they were for—but nothing more.
Straying a few beats behind the rest of the excited students, I was able to examine the display calmly. Before long, it was time for us to leave. Time seemed to fly effortlessly. The students were free to leave as they pleased, yet most lingered, chattering about how Roselle could even conceive such things, how they functioned, and what purpose they served.
Usually, one group would exit and another would replace them, but this time was different. Instead of a large crowd, only a small handful of people entered.
A glance at their attire was all it took to realize the museum had been reserved for the wealthy.
Then, at the center of the elite group, there was a gem more dazzling than anyone else in Backlund—Demoness excluded.
When our eyes met, I bowed politely from a distance and silently voiced her name. I was thinking of meeting Xio to continue our investigation today.
Who knew when the gem might influence Mother again?
As I straightened my posture, preparing to leave, another kind of Gem suddenly appeared nearby. With the tip of her finger, she pinched the side of her dress and gave a small, elegant bow.
"Greetings. We meet again, Mr. Chris," she said, smiling brightly at me.
What does she want? I could think of nothing else, faced with this mischievous little rich girl.