Chapter 40: Senior Nairn, Predicted My Prediction Yet Again
Within two months, Nairn had absolute confidence that he could gather all the Beyonder materials needed for his advancement.
If he were truly pushed and couldn't even keep up with Klein's speed in advancing to "Clown," he would really lose face.
At that point, he would have to consider letting his "thousand faces" persona "visit" those Beyonders of relevant Pathways who were doing evil on the sea.
After all, the incarnation "thousand faces" had never been a pushover.
However, is the destination Backlund?
Nairn's fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop as the plan he had previously made to start a newspaper surfaced in his mind.
After collecting information and researching during this period, he had figured out the relevant processes of this era and clarified the crushing advantage he possessed as a transmigrator.
In that case, the extra "Spectator" Beyonder characteristic was no longer needed.
Moreover, because of his interference, Susie, who was originally supposed to become the "Dog of Vision" in the future, was still just an ordinary large Golden Retriever.
This wouldn't do.
An imperceptible curve curled at the corner of Nairn's mouth.
Miss Justice needed a good "bestie" who could support her on the Beyonder path.
After all, this was a world of "Mysteries" (besties).
Thinking of this, Nairn no longer hesitated. He straightened his collar, stood up, folded his hands in front of his abdomen, and began to pray in a low voice with a posture almost like a theatrical performance.
"The Fool who doesn't belong to this era;"
"You are the mysterious ruler Above the Gray Fog;"
"You are the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
"I pray for your gaze;"
"I pray for your listening;"
"Mr. The Fool, please trouble yourself to pass a message to Miss Justice. I have already collected a 'Spectator' Beyonder characteristic through other channels, so I no longer need her to continue searching. For this, please convey my sincere apologies to Miss Justice and thank her for her previous generosity and hard work."
Nairn's tone paused slightly as he continued:
"In the coming days, I will set off for Backlund. At that time, I can be contacted at the following address—"
Nairn clearly stated the name and detailed address of a theater located in Empress Borough.
"Miss Justice can raise any questions or needs she may have, as a reward and compensation for her helping me."
"Of course, I prefer to see it as a trivial gift to thank her for her efforts, and I look forward to more pleasant cooperation with her in the future."
"At the same time, I have a suggestion for Miss Justice."
His voice carried a trace of imperceptible expectation.
"There is no need to discard or seal away that extra Beyonder material. If she has a trustworthy pet with extraordinary potential by her side, she might as well try feeding it to the pet. This is not an isolated case in the Beyonder world. If she is worried about the risks, I can assist from the side once I arrive in Backlund to ensure everything goes smoothly."
...On the streets of Tingen City, Klein was considering whether to have beef stew with potatoes or pan-seared lamb chops for dinner when a series of layered, illusory, and overlapping whispers suddenly echoed in his ears.
Buzz—
His head felt dizzy for a few seconds, and he immediately reacted.
Someone was praying to "The Fool"!
This was a knowledge point taught in Senior Nairn's "God Crash Course"!
Klein's heart tightened. Ignoring his dinner thoughts, he quickened his pace to get home. He rushed to the second floor, locked the door, skillfully sealed the entire room with a Wall of Spirituality, then took four steps counter-clockwise and recited the incantation.
The gray fog filled the air. Inside the towering palace that resembled a giant's residence, his figure instantly appeared at the head of the long bronze table.
In his vision, that crimson star representing "Lovers" was contracting and expanding like a heart, emitting a dazzling radiance.
"It's Senior Nairn..."
Klein understood instantly.
After the Tarot Club announced the honorific name and ritual, the only one who would dare to use this transmission method so directly and frequently was likely Senior Nairn. That pressure originating from his status was enough to deter anyone with ill intentions.
It's just... isn't Senior being a bit too serious?
We're all on the same side, so why make it so formal.
Klein complained in his heart, yet he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction from being respected by a big shot.
He raised his right hand, extending his spirituality to lightly touch that "Lovers" star.
With a boom, distorted and blurred images along with clear sounds flooded into his mind.
He saw Mr. Lover's always-straight black suit and heard that pleasant, familiar, clear male voice with a hint of playfulness.
"...already have the Spectator Beyonder characteristic..."
"...contact at XXX Opera House..."
"...can be fed to a pet..."
One thing after another left Klein a bit dazed.
The Beyonder characteristic was obtained so quickly?
Klein wasn't surprised; after all, he had already learned some basic knowledge from Nairn, knowing that Beyonders could also produce Beyonder characteristics after death to serve as main ingredients for potions.
With Senior Nairn's methods, obtaining a Sequence 9 characteristic was simply too easy.
But... an offline meeting? And at an opera house?
Isn't this plot progressing a bit too fast!
The corner of Klein's mouth couldn't help but curl up, a sense of pleasure from watching the gossip of his own "thigh" in a role-reversal sort of way arose within him.
Hehe, Miss Justice, well done!
Although this was just offline contact, the relationship between Senior Nairn and Miss Justice seemed to have taken another step forward.
This didn't stop Klein from wearing a knowing smile, as if wanting to follow the next update.
However, when he heard the final suggestion to "feed it to a pet," he was completely shocked.
What the hell?
Is he trying to train a Pokémon? Or is it a legendary familiar?
What is this? A Beyonder pet raised together by Miss Justice and Mr. Lover?
If they start raising it from when the pet is small... would it be like raising a son or a daughter... This scene is so ambiguous no matter how I think about it!
Senior Nairn and Miss Justice really know how to play!
As expected of Senior Nairn, he effortlessly threw out an insight capable of overturning an ordinary person's perception.
Klein's thoughts even drifted uncontrollably far away.
He thought of the Demoness Pathway; sequence 7 was called "Witch."
If... if that pet were fed a potion from the Demoness Pathway... would a... Monster Girl appear then?
Hiss—
Klein took a sharp breath, not daring to think further, feeling that if he did, he would be purified by the gray fog.
He composed himself and began to struggle.
How should he convey this information to Miss "Justice"?
"Repeating it myself definitely won't work; it would be too undignified. How could a god personally serve as a messenger!"
On "The Fool's" high-backed chair, Klein's fingers lightly tapped the mottled bronze long table. After deliberating for dozens of seconds, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
He remembered Senior Nairn's near-perfect prayer posture and standard procedure.
Could it be... the reason Senior was so pious and standard was to make it easy for him to "edit"?
Klein's heart stirred, and a bold guess surfaced.
Senior Nairn, predicted my prediction yet again?
He extracted the image and sound of "Lovers'" prayer from his memory and manifested it into a "movie" scene covered in thick mosaics, where only the silhouette and voice could be discerned.
With a point of his finger, this repeatedly playing light screen was accurately cast into the crimson star representing "Justice."
Having done all this, Klein leaned back in his chair, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
In Senior Nairn's heart, was he "Little Zhou" or "The Fool"?
Perhaps, he was both.
But he felt that it was probably more toward the former.
After all, his performances of playing god and acting profound at the Tarot Club were probably no different from a buffoon in the eyes of the omniscient and omnipotent Senior Nairn.
Klein didn't believe it wasn't funny, nor did he believe Senior Nairn wouldn't have an opinion of him.
The reason Senior had been cooperating with his performance was probably entirely out of his high quality and ingrained decency, disdaining to bother with his absurd act of "the fox borrowing the tiger's majesty."
Otherwise?
Did he really think Senior Nairn would respect him, this fake "The Fool"?
Moreover, for a big shot like Senior who knew all the potion formulas, what was there about him that deserved Nairn's respect? He was just a newly promoted Sequence 9 "Seer."
What a joke!
Klein shook his head, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, yet it also carried a bit of relief.
Even he felt like laughing at himself.
What was there to be respected by Nairn for someone who knew nothing of mystical knowledge, needed others to point out even the potions, and had to be taught the Acting Method step-by-step?