"Very well, I am satisfied with the payment."
The Fool replied in a pleased tone.
"It's my pleasure." Alger did not say anything else.
Audrey glanced at Selina. With anticipation, she asked. "Miss Lovers. Excuse my probing but have you finally discovered a lead to the subsequent sequence of the Spectator potion?"
Selina shook her head. "I haven't yet. That's one of the reasons why I'm moving to Backlund."
Alger noticed this and deliberated his words. "I'll answer the question for free because I led you on this pathway.
"The subsequent Sequence for Spectator is Sequence 8 Telepathic. The ancient name of Sequence 7 is Psyche Analyst but is called Psychiatrist now. This is what I found out from a member of the Psychology Alchemists. I think they should have quite a number of potion formulas for this pathway."
Hearing this, Selina instinctively furrowed her brows. Her mouth twitched. You could've said so sooner!
All of that... For a wild goose chase!?
Alger glanced at Selina. A sense of superiority rose within him.
"Do you know the whereabouts of that particular Psychology Alchemists member?" asked Audrey as her eyes beamed with joy.
Be it Telepathic or Psychiatrist, both names appealed to her aesthetics.
Alger gave a rare laugh.
"I do. He's immersed in the seas around Sonia Island. I sank him with my own hands.
"If you would like to look for the Psychology Alchemists, I have to apologize since I severed the clues."
He was not worried that Justice would find his identity through his description because he did that on his own, out of the public eye.
"Sank..." Audrey was at a loss how to reply or what expression to wear.
Seeing as she was about to raised another question. Selina coughed lightly and said. "Well... Since the matter about the subsequent name of the Spectator potion had been provided. My dept hadn't been paid because of this.
"Miss Justice, do you wish for anything else?" Selina tried to keep her composure. In her image that is slowly crumbling in her mind.
Audrey recalled her unrewarded effort during The Lover's escape.
With The Hanged Man providing it instead, she thought for a moment before settling. "Well, I don't have anything to wish for at the moment... Hmm—Ah! I know! I wish for a lead about the Psychological Alchemist!"
Selina could only give a heavy sigh as she nodded. "Very well... I'll try my best."
Hopefully this won't distort my image to Mr. Fool...
After that, Audrey drew a deep breath and proceeded with her question. She asked bashfully, "Okay, the third question. If—and I'm saying if—a normal animal were to drink a Sequence 9 potion, what would happen?"
Selina was left speechless, What?
Reviewing their past two gatherings. She was already certain that Miss Justice isn't exactly the most practical person in the room.
But with her question. Words failed even the understanding Selina.
The Hanged Man, Alger, was obviously dumbfounded as well. He took a while to reply.
"Normal animals do not have the brains of humans. They wouldn't be able to learn Cogitation in a timely manner. Therefore, it would most likely lead to immediate death or a breakdown into a monster. However, if they survived the initial ingestion of the potion, they should become an extraordinary creature. If the potion has the ability to enhance their intelligence, they can even become smarter."
"Alright." Audrey breathed out a silent sigh and nodded while saying with a relaxed tone. "I have no other questions."
Alger considered for a moment and did not mention matters regarding the Aurora Order or the Listener. Similarly, he shook his head and said, "Nor do I."
Selina thought of her confrontation with Deimsfel. However, upon deliberation, she chose to remain silent.
The Fool, shifted his posture subtly and rapped the edge of his armrest.
This immediately caught the trio's attention.
He then said unhurriedly. "This will require your cooperation."
Selina suddenly tensed.
Just as she was about to inquire what it is, The Fool added, "Don't worry. It's trivial. If it succeeds, it will be beneficial to you, so I wouldn't be paying extra remuneration."
"Go ahead." Audrey instinctively entered the Spectator state, but she couldn't see through the thick gray fog engulfing The Fool.
"Alright." Selina eased herself.
Her word was accompanied by Alger's, agreeing for the trivial matter.
The Fool subtly smiled as he said, "Previously, I said that we would do some experiments to enable you to ask for a leave of absence. That way, you do not have to worry if you have to be somewhere inappropriate on a Monday afternoon."
"That's our wish." Audrey loosened her tightly knitted eyebrows.
Alger thought and said, "What do you need us to do?"
"You could try a piece of ritualistic magic during your free time. It need not be too formal. As long as you are in an environment that won't be disturbed... Put four brand new candles on an altar, placed on four corners respectively. It's best if they are candles with a sandalwood scent. Put a loaf of white bread near the candle on the top left corner, a bowl of Feynapotter noodles near the candle on the top right corner, paella by the candle on the bottom left corner, and a Desi pie by the candle on the bottom right corner... Use a silver knife to make a sealed spiritual environment..."
This was the first time Selina had heard about ritualistic magic.
With a deep sense of curiosity, she almost blurted out what ritualistic magics are when The Fool laxed his body back to the seat.
Wait... I can't let them know I'm foreign in such field! It's so hard to construct an image for when I ask Mr. Fool to become one of his blessed!
Selina tried her best to stay composed. She believed that without the gray fog concealing them, her face would've betrayed her.
"...Mix moon flowers, gold mint, slumber flowers, fingered citron, and rock-rose together then distill it. Extract it for its essential oil, then pour a drop onto each candle..."
Audrey listened with piqued interest as she recorded all that The Fool said. When he was done, she asked, "What about the incantation? Mr. Fool, what's the corresponding incantation?"
The Fool tapped the edge of the long table with his finger lightly and said calmly and monotonously in an encrypt language, "****** ********* *********"
W-What? Selina couldn't hide her illiteracy anymore.
However, she still kept herself from asking. She muttered to herself. Earlier, I was talking about how Miss Justice isn't the most practical in the room when even I myself couldn't be farther from being classified to it.
Audrey Hall recited the three descriptions to herself silently.
The similar language was still used, preventing Selina from actually understanding the three lines of sentences.
Although clearly frustrated, she felt bitter of her situation, choosing to remain silent and settle to herself. All I can do now is to memorized their pronunciation and adapt them into words, this must be Hermes I presume? Well... The whole Milo disaster can now be put aside, my next course is to learn these mysticism languages in a span of a week.
Hopefully...
After echoing Mr. Fool's words.
As an aficionado of mysticism, Audrey had learned Hermes that was used in rituals and had tested out the rituals that fellow noble aficionados mentioned in private gatherings before she was pulled into the gray fog or made formal contact with Beyonder powers.
None of those rituals had any effects, but they had given Audrey a basic understanding of the structure of incantations.
Thus, she knew clearly what these three incantations described and signified.
The descriptions usually described one of the seven gods that looked over this world!
Thus, The Fool's incantation was claiming status equal to the Lady of Crimson, Mother of the Secrets, and the Empress of Disaster and Horror!
Is Mr. Fool the unknown, mysterious, powerful, godlike entity that Glaint spoke of? The source of danger that we must avoid in rituals? Audrey quickly recalled the comments made during the strange rituals which she and her friends did not dare attempt back then. She was momentarily at a loss for words.
Alger Wilson, who knew and understood much more than Audrey, shivered from the bottom of his heart.
If the ritualistic magic which Mr. Fool designed truly points to him to allow him to accept our requests, w-we would have to be addressing him with Him. He is to be addressed in the third person, which is reserved for gods...
How lucky, how smart I was to act in concert with him and not do anything foolish. Even when I was testing him, I did not step beyond the boundaries of normalcy...
Could he perhaps be an ancient, mysterious, horrifying existence, only that he does not appear before us in his true form and name... The Primordial Demoness, the Hidden Sage, or the true Creator which many mysterious churches believe in?
Alger understood that The Fool he was looking at now might not be his true form. He might not even have a gender or be a humanoid creature.
The Fool propped his forehead up with one hand and tapped on the table with the other hand.
He continued.
"*****
"******, ******
"****** ******, *****"
...
Selina fell into an internal crisis.
Everything The Fool had said are in the form of language she's foreign of!
As if a tear is forming on her concealed face. Selina brooded. There's so much pronunciation I had to memorize...
The Fool then swept his gaze onto the trio and asked. "Ladies, sir, have you memorized it?"
No! Selina simply screamed inwardly.
"Ah..." Audrey exhaled. She quickly covered her mouth and recalled seriously.
With her improved memory as a Spectator, she quickly processed the information and repeated the incantations as a form of confirmation.
Alger acted more normally. His pen did not stop for a moment, no matter what he was thinking about.
After confirming that Audrey was correct, Mr. Fool smiled and said, "If this test is successful, then we shall modify the ritual next time to achieve what we want to do."
Selina, felt casted out of the topic, could only watch as her situation becoming more precarious.
The Fool added with anticipation. "I hope that you will have the time to complete the ritual no later than Wednesday."
By this moment, hearing the sentence "no later than Wednesday". Selina almost forfeited her desired image and outright reveal her ignorance.
Just as she was about to raise this question, with thorough consideration.
Audrey suddenly fixed her posture.
Along with Alger, they both collected themselves.
The delayed Selina didn't realized the hint for a moment.
But when she did, she immediately straightened herself, abandoning her earlier decision in a vex.
Regardless, she assumed politeness. In unified voice, the trio echoed. "By your will."
Three days should be enough for me to decipher the pronunciation... Right? Secure a mentor, learn about mysticism, and finally conduct the ritual... Selina tried her best to console herself.
"According to The Hanged Man's suggestion last week, we shall have a time for casual conversation after all official issues have been discussed. Who shall begin?" The Fool gave a hand gesture signaling for someone to start.
Audrey sighed and said, "Mr. Fool, the suggestion you made regarding the exam selection and the separation between civil and political matters has received the approval of many members of parliament. Perhaps it could become a reality. Of course, with the efficiency of this government, the bill will only appear half a year from now at the earliest."
She was not worried that The Hanged Man would track her down using this piece of information. She had intentionally and intermittently dropped hints and guided those proud wives to think that they had conceived the idea. Those ladies had rushed to tell their husbands, their fathers, and their brothers.
At that moment Audrey felt as though she was watching a flock of golden peacocks showcasing their tail feathers.
She believed that those women would drill it in themselves that they came up with the idea to claim the glory for themselves. They would soon forget about what Audrey's role in the matter was, fighting among themselves to see who thought of the suggestion first.
Using this remarkable way to change the system of a kingdom gave Audrey a weird sense of satisfaction, as if she had found a way for a Spectator to influence the plot of a play.
"Let's hope so," Alger replied sarcastically.
Alger paused for a few seconds, then glanced at The Fool.
He deliberated before saying, "In recent decades, the amount of activities of the various secret organizations has seen an upward trend. In fact, there are even new secret organizations appearing, some of them having reached scale with a good number of Beyonders."
The Fool merely smiled without commenting on The Hanged Man's news. He changed the subject and said vaguely, "An ancient power is about to wake from its slumber."
"Is that so..." Alger muttered softly to himself, as though he recalled something.
Seeing that they are now in the free exchange segment. Only now did Selina addressed her trade for the Spectator potion. "Mr. Hanged Man, did you finally received the pounds I have sent?"
Alger simply replied. "Yes, it's the right amount. Pleasure doing business with you..."
So it went well! Selina was half-expecting this. She revealed a faint smile beneath the gray fog and said. "To you as well..."
The mottled bronze table went silent afterwards.
Seeing this, The Fool calmly declared. "If there is nothing else to share, then let's end today's gathering here."
"By your will." The trio stood in unison.