[Please give some reviews and Power Stone]
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As the class representative of the Tarot Club, Audrey, as usual, was the first to speak. Besides Susie's situation, what most intrigued her was that Viscount Forth:
"Everyone, is there a kind of beyonder ability that allows someone to take parts of 'traits' from multiple people, combine them into a new person, and then implant that person into others' memories, making everyone believe he truly exists?"
That ability sounded terrifyingly strange.
Even though Klein, shrouded in gray fog, could not feel sensations, he still felt his scalp tingle just hearing it.
"According to your description, that sounds more like a combination of multiple abilities. I do know of someone with similar powers..." Alger was reminded immediately of his childhood friend, Qilangos.
"Miss Justice." Sairuis interrupted Alger, causing the latter to frown. Though the current Hanged Man had a better temper than most of the Fury race, he was still one who dared feel dissatisfied with even The Fool himself.
Sairuis paid no mind to Alger's discontent. He raised an index finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.
"Miss Justice," he said calmly, "when something false is exposed, it loses its reason to exist."
Audrey pondered over his words.
So—if she were to expose the false identity, for instance, by revealing which people each of his 'traits' came from—then the fake Viscount Forth would simply… cease to exist?
As a Spectator, she quickly understood. Her eyes widened in delight—she had finally stepped into the kind of extraordinary incident she had always dreamed of!
So that's why Mr. Devil asked me to guide nobles and upper-class people to invest in him?Audrey swiftly changed the topic.
"Then… what kind of beyonder being could directly pass through a wooden door, or make a locked door useless?"
I know this one…
Klein, enveloped in gray mist, was just about to speak when the impatient Alger cut in, eager to prove himself.
"I need you to help me investigate something. In exchange, I'll answer your question."
Klein's heart went red-hot with frustration. Finally, I had a perfect chance to act mysterious!
[You're done for. You just offended petty-minded Gehrman. Prepare to suffer later.]
"What is it?" Audrey asked, curious and slightly puzzled.
Alger glanced at The Fool before speaking thoughtfully:
"I wish to know whether the king intends to retaliate against the Feysac Empire within this year, or by next June at the latest, by starting a new war on the Bayam eastern coast."
The Tarot Club's common language was Loenese—decided based on everyone's accent at the first gathering. Thus, Alger knew Miss Justice was a Loen noble, and believed she knew he was Loenese as well. For Sairuis, however, language hardly mattered.
As for The Fool, Alger assumed his Loenese tone was merely a convenient disguise—nothing more.
Indeed, The Fool in front needed only to appear deep and inscrutable, while the Hanged Man behind had to do all the mental gymnastics.
Ever since that ritual magic incident, Alger had subconsciously begun referring to The Fool as "He."
Audrey recalled what she had seen and heard in various social occasions recently, and nodded with some confidence.
"There shouldn't be a problem, but it'll take time to confirm."
[Detective Susie and Assistant Audrey, requesting permission to act!]
"I can wait," Alger said with a faint smile. "With Mr. Fool as witness, I believe you won't go back on your word."
Audrey glanced at the silent and mysterious Fool behind the gray fog, then smiled slightly."But I think this matter is worth more than both of my questions combined."
The now-maturing Audrey had learned a new skill—bargaining.
Bargaining Level: Lv0 → Lv1
[Gold Pound: "Heh. She's growing up."]
"When you confirm the answer, I'll consider offering additional compensation," Alger replied, clearly prepared for this.
Having never encountered someone painting her a big pie before, Audrey secretly sighed in relief—and silently celebrated learning to haggle.
Alger then began answering Audrey's previous question, even sharing a bit of secret information from the Church of the Lord of Storms.
Audrey instantly felt she had profited greatly.
After Audrey's questions ended, Sairris picked up the thread.
"I have a batch of mystical artifacts I plan to sell. Are any of you interested?"
"What are mystical artifacts?" Alger asked.
"They're similar to beyonder items, but not exactly the same. They don't belong to the potion-based beyonder system."
"You mean—there exists a supernatural system other than potions?" Alger's tone was filled with shock. He was not one to believe things easily—but The Fool, who stood close to godhood, did not deny it.
Klein immediately thought of the Aeons.
Could it be… another energy system from a different planet? Then these artifacts would be extraterrestrial technology!
Indeed, the universe was vast—there was no reason the potion system should be the only path to the extraordinary.
Perhaps elsewhere, divine beings had blessed mortals with power directly.
"Of course," Sairuis said, pausing slightly. "But that's a topic for another day."
He planned to wait until the Little Sun joined before speaking about Paths. The group was still too small now.
Though she was curious about the new extraordinary system, Audrey was much more interested in something she could actually buy right now.
"Mr. Devil, what functions do these mystical artifacts have—and how do you plan to sell them?"
(End of Chapter)