After Mr. Fool finished issuing tasks, Audrey carefully asked Sairuis, "Mr. Devil, do you still remember? Last Tarot meeting, you said you could share with us the names of the first three sequences of each of the 22 divine pathways?"
Alger also recalled this matter and turned his gaze toward Sairuis.
Klein was even more curious—he had been waiting a whole week for this. Pretending to remain calm, he cast a look at Sairuis, eager to know what lay beyond Seer.
Sairelis cleared his throat and said to Audrey, "Since you've asked with such sincerity, I shall graciously 'bananate' you with wisdom. After all, Roselle once said, 'Banana has no class.'"
"It's 'teaching without class distinction.' And don't think I haven't seen Pokémon, Your Majesty," Klein muttered, instinctively dumping the blame on Roselle.
"But before that, at the very least, you should call me 'Banana Master.'"
Though Audrey didn't understand this odd phrase "Banana Teacher," she still played along with a smile. "Alright, 'Banana Master.'"
Sairuis raised both hands. "Alright, eyes on me! Look at me! I have an announcement! The Masked Fool's Classroom is now officially in session."
Klein's eyelid twitched. This… was this another piece of performance art brought in by Emperor Roselle?
Sairuis lifted a finger and, with the air of a master, began: "First, the Sleepless pathway held by the Church of the Night: Sequence 9 Sleepless, Sequence 8 Midnight Poet, Sequence 7 Nightmare."
Klein blinked. This he knew—Captain Dunn and Leonard were on this pathway.
Sairuis raised a second finger. "The Warrior pathway belongs to the Church of the God of War: Sequence 9 Warrior, Sequence 8 Pugilist, Sequence 7 Weapon Master."
[Still counting on your fingers? You won't start using your toes next, will you?]
"The Church of the Night also holds part of the Corpse Collector pathway: Corpse Collector, Gravedigger, Spirit Medium."
Klein nodded secretly—this was the pathway Miss Daly had chosen.
"Next, the Spectator," Sairelis said, instantly making Audrey perk up. "Spectator, Telepathist, Psychiatrist."
Telepathist! Audrey's smile brimmed with longing. She cheered herself inwardly: "Audrey, you must digest the potion quickly and advance to Telepathist as soon as possible!"
"Secret Supplicant, Listener, Shadow Ascetic."
"Aurora Order…" Alger silently added in his mind. As a notorious cult, they were just as active on the seas.
"The Church of Knowledge and Wisdom holds Reader, Student Of Ratiocination, Detective."
"The Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun has Bard, Light Suplicant, Solar High Priest."
"The Church of the Storm holds the Sailor pathway: Sailor, Folk Of Rage, Sea Farer."
Klein shot a subtle glance at Alger, while Audrey stared openly. Alger, however, remained perfectly calm—he had known these three names long ago.
"Mystery Pryer, Melee Scholar, Warlock. And the Church of Steam and Machinery has Savant, Archeologist, Appraiser."
Having finished ten fingers, Sairuis did not resort to toes, but clenched his fists and began again.
"Seer, Clown, Magician."
"Clown and Magician? What is this, the Circus Trinity?" Klein couldn't figure out the link. "Don't tell me the next stage is Beast Tamer?"
"Marauder, Swindler, Cryptologist."
"Apprentice, Trickmaster, Astrologer."
"Monster, Robot, Lucky One."
"The Loen royal family holds Arbiter, Sheriff, Interrogator."
"Then Lawyer, Barbarian, Briber."
"Lawyer followed by Barbarian and Briber? That's literally breaking the law while knowing it…" Audrey felt this pathway's shift was contradictory.
"Barbarian… 'If you won't listen to reason, I'll just punch you?' Makes sense. And Briber—if you lose, just bribe. Reasonable enough," Klein evaluated silently.
"Hunter, Provoker, Arsonist."
"Assassin, Instigator, Witch."
"Witch…" Audrey mouthed the word. How could a man play the role of a witch? In her mind, she pictured her brother Alfred Hall wearing an elaborate court gown, dancing hand in hand with another man in a ballroom. "Eugh." She shivered.
"Planter, Doctor, Harvest Priest."
"Apothecary, Beast Tamer, Vampire."
Ah, so Beast Tamer wasn't after Seer—it was here. Klein mused.
"Vampire is actually a Beyonder class?" Alger knew more than most, and his thoughts raced. "That means vampires can be artificially created… Extraordinary characteristics… No wonder most vampires are hostile to humans."
Sairelis dropped one hand, raised two fingers of the other: "The last two: Prisoner, Lunatic, Werewolf. And Criminal, Unwinged Angel, Serial Killer."
The others around the long table were deep in thought. Sairuis's vanity was thoroughly satisfied.
[Are you a three-year-old child?]
"Must be Stelle dragging down my IQ. You know, she's especially good at pulling people down to her level."
[Actually, I don't know.]
"Which just proves your IQ isn't that high either. I've met the Aeon Of Knowledge Himself—you think I could be fooled?"
[But you've also dealt with the Lord of Mysteries.]
"That's different! He never even showed His face."
[Of course He didn't. If He did, He'd die.]
"Enough doubting. The Masked Fool's credibility is famed across the cosmos."
[Then swear on your Beijing Chicken Wrap.]
"What? You don't trust me?"
[I do, I do. But swear on your Beijing Chicken Wrap first.]
"Wait, what happened to basic trust between people? You're really hurting me here."
[I trust you, truly, absolutely. Just… swear on your Beijing Chicken Wrap.]
"This isn't funny anymore. I'll have you know, I'm usually easygoing, but touch my reverse scale and I'll show you true darkness."
"He's the type they call a 'baby-faced wolf.' Outwardly innocent, inwardly shrewd. You'll never outplay him, because you've been on his board from the start. He's the chessmaster, you the pawn. Cross him, and you'll see cruelty and shadow. He lacks neither thunderous methods nor merciful heart—Buddha and Demon both reside in him, but he's sealed the Demon away, showing only Buddha."
"I wanted to treat everyone kindly, but some insist on forcing me to unseal the Demon. And when True Demon walks the earth—can you handle it?"
[Uh-huh, sure, but first, swear on the Chicken Wrap.]
"Fine!"
[You really will? (ecstatic)]
"…I'm done playing."
[…]
[Alright, if that's how you want it, I'll show you cruelty. I'm the old ginger slice in spicy chicken stir-fry. Anger me, and you'll taste real vengeance. Usually I hide in the dish, silent. But the moment you bite me, prey and hunter swap places! You'll weep, regret, your nose will run—you'll learn what true punishment means!]
"What! The Old Ginger Slice! The legendary one! The cosplayer who can disguise as any food and remain undetected!"
[That's right! You're finished! Kekekeke!]
...
"Alright." Sairuis snapped his fingers, drawing their attention. "Enough distractions. Look at me."
Once Audrey and the others refocused, Sairuis continued: "Now then, after all this free information, would you like some premium content?"
"Premium content?" Audrey's eyes lit up. "You mean potion formulas?"
"No, no, not that. I don't know much about those. But I can talk about…" He paused to choose his words. "The characteristics of these pathways."
Formulas he didn't have—no matter how good his memory, if the original novel hadn't written it, he couldn't produce it.
"Characteristics?" Audrey repeated softly.
"That's right, characteristics." Though she'd spoken quietly, Sairuis heard her. "Like, what abilities certain Sequences grant, or what traits Beyonders of that pathway often display."
"That… sounds interesting." Audrey's eyes sparkled brighter. "So, how much must I pay to learn this knowledge?"
"No money. What I need is a ticket into the upper circles. Miss Justice, in exchange, you can pick ten classes from those I listed, and I'll tell you about them right here." Sairelis gestured vaguely, though he wasn't sure why—he just felt it added gravitas.
[It doesn't. Right now you just look like a curly-haired baboon in mating season.]
"I don't think my gestures were that big. Respect facts, don't make things up."
[Fine, then a preening, effeminate curly-haired baboon.]
"…I'll stick with the mating baboon."
"I think I understand what you mean by 'upper circles,' Mr. Devil. But aren't you afraid of exposing yourself?" Audrey asked kindly.
"Of course I won't go myself. I'll push someone else to the front as my representative."
"Alright." Audrey smiled sweetly. "Then how will I contact your person?"
Sairelis thought for a while. "This week, someone will place an investment ad in the Tingen Honestman's Daily. I want you to guide more noble youths to take interest in my product. As a future Telepathist, you should be able to manage that."
Audrey frowned slightly. "But… that doesn't seem to bring you into noble society."
"That's fine." Sairuis's smile grew even more earnest. "Bringing in enough noble youths is enough."
His words unsettled her—was he plotting something illegal?
Sensing her unease, Sairuis quickly added, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to them. This is a deal under Mr. Fool's witness—I wouldn't dare go astray."
At that, Audrey relaxed. Yes, under Mr. Fool's witness, the deal was safe.
The Fool Klein's lips twitched, but he maintained composure and nodded as if to say: all trivial.
Sairuis waved for Audrey to ask. She had clearly been prepared, and spoke without hesitation: "I want to know the characteristics of the Spectator pathway."
Sairuis nodded, but instead of answering directly, he asked, "Shall I write it on paper afterward, or speak it here?"
Alger gave an embarrassed but polite smile, though no one but Sairelis could see it.
Audrey glanced at him, then replied sweetly, "Say it here."
"Alright, then." Sairuis began.
"Spectator, Telepathist, Psychiatrist—their abilities are mostly literal." He scratched his palm. "Spectator grants enhanced memory, comprehension, and most importantly observation. You'll notice details others miss. And it's not tied to spirituality, so you won't risk seeing or hearing what you shouldn't."
"An Spectator's sharp eyes are like someone watching an opera from the seats—seeing expressions, mannerisms, quirks, subtle actions—and discerning true thoughts."
"Telepathist, despite the name, can't literally read minds. But they extend observation into the astral body and mystical fields. Combined, they can pinpoint people's thoughts with startling accuracy. In front of them, secrets rarely exist."
"And Psychiatrist, formerly called Psychoanalyst, is where real power begins. They can truly 'read minds,' perform 'mental suggestion,' calm or agitate others, simulate dragon's might to intimidate, even incite chaos among groups."
Audrey nodded eagerly, her desire for the extraordinary burning stronger than ever. She longed to drink the potion now.
Klein, however, felt a chill. Read minds? He needed to practice controlling his body language—he couldn't let Miss Justice see through him. The thought made him feel practically naked.
"You can still ask seven more," Sairuis reminded.
Clown! Magician! Klein screamed inwardly.
But Audrey couldn't hear him. Instead, she asked the question she'd long prepared.
"Then, about Witch… I mainly want to know how men play that role."
"That's simple. When a man drinks Witch potion, he ceases to be a man." Sairuis snapped his fingers. "The promotion forcibly transforms the male into a woman. Their beauty and charm soar. They gain invisibility, mirror doubles, wand doubles, initial mastery of black magic, strong anti-divination, and blessings of black flame and frost."
"Oh, and one more: the next Sequence is called Demoness Of Pleasure. Yes, the kind you're thinking of."
Pleasure… So the roleplay would be…
Audrey and Alger shuddered in unison. Klein, less shocked, merely clicked his tongue. Having lived in the internet age, steeped in online filth, he could stomach unusual fetishes. If knowledge was a book and experience a page, then fetishes were Lovecraftian horrors.
[What did Bro see 😭😭]
He had seen it all.
After that, Audrey didn't have many more questions. Seeing this, Sairuis offered: "How about I trade you the Telepathist formula instead? Once your side is ready, I'll give it to you."
No! Clown! Magician! Klein howled inwardly like a defeated dog.
Audrey, ignoring his plight, beamed. "Perfect! That's exactly what I wanted."
Sairuis glanced at Klein, who appeared calm but had long since died inside.
"Hehehe." Sairuis chuckled carefreely.
They moved to free exchange. Alger shared sea stories. Klein slipped in mentions of the Antigonus family's notebook.
Mr. Fool's attention to the Antigonus family? Perfectly reasonable.
Sairelis joined too, advertising his newly opened tavern, "World's End."
Klein confirmed his suspicion: Mr. Devil was indeed that man he'd met. Thinking back to Sairuis's goofy laugh and the man's bearing—yes, the match was clear.
This might risk exposing himself further, but so what?
It's not like they could assassinate him offline.
Soon, the meeting ended. Before dispersing, Klein even tossed out suggestions for a civil service exam system, stunning Audrey and Alger.
Afterward, Klein lingered briefly above the gray fog, pondering whether to invite more members. In the end, he decided against it. The current number was enough.
(End of Chapter)