Inside the ancient palace above the gray fog, Audrey felt her thoughts beco unusually clear, as one scene after another flashed rapidly through her mind.
They were the scenes of Hvin Rambis "hypnotizing" her inside the carriage just monts ago.
At the sa ti, each and every one of those words rang out in Audrey’s ears once more, allowing her to fully recall everything that had happened before.
By the ti the deep crimson radiance faded away, feelings of lingering fear, horror, and panic surged into Audrey’s heart all at once, and it took her a good few seconds before she was able to stand, gather her skirt, and bow toward the great existence seated at the very head of the table:
"Thank you for your protection, esteed Mr. ’Fool.’"
Klein gave a light nod and said with an approving smile:
"You handled it well."
Upon hearing those words, Audrey felt an imdiate sense of relief wash over her, and her panic subsided. She sat back down and calmly recounted her entire ordeal from beginning to end.
As "The Fool," Klein was unable to discuss things directly with Miss "Justice," help her analyze the situation, or offer his opinions. He could only smile and say:
"This is fate’s trial for you."
A trial? Only by passing this trial will I have the qualifications to beco a Demigod, and be able to protect the people I wish to protect in the increasingly complicated Backlund? "Justice" Audrey interpreted Mr. "Fool’s" hint and gave a solemn nod:
"I understand."
Klein said nothing more, and with a tone that was half a sigh and half a smile, said:
"Go back. Go and face it."
Audrey was just about to express her gratitude once more when deep crimson surged up before her eyes and everything in her sight blurred.
In an instant, she returned to the real world, yet without forgetting or overlooking a single thing.
Fate’s trial? Does that an I must resolve the danger posed by Hvin Rambis while ensuring my own secret remains unexposed? Even if it results in Hvin Rambis’s death, I won’t be suspected by the Psychological Alchemists afterward? But how should I go about it...
Carrying these questions with her, Audrey still entered the villa at No. 28 Pinster Street, surrounded by her servants.
Whatever she intended to do, she first had to ensure she herself would co to no harm, and Mr. "Tower’s" ho was without question a place of considerable safety.
As it happened, Ebner was ho at the ti as well. Seeing Audrey co to visit, he, who understood the situation perfectly, welcod her into the parlor.
After both sides’ servants had temporarily withdrawn, Audrey gave a concise account of the key points of her ordeal, and concluded by saying:
"Mr. ’Fool’ said that this is ’fate’s’ trial for ...
"But what should I do to truly resolve the problem?"
What she ant by truly resolving it was leaving no future trouble for herself, so as to prevent her family from being implicated.
"Fate’s" trial... Hmm, I hold the Uniqueness of the "Wheel of Fortune" and calling myself "Fate" isn’t much of a stretch, and this whole affair was staged by from the very beginning, so saying that it is "my" trial for her is also perfectly "reasonable"...
Truly worthy of being called the "Beacon of Destiny" — even a casual piece of nonsense manages to fit perfectly!
After a few monts of silent mockery, Ebner hesitated briefly, then said with a smile: "Why not follow Mr. ’Moon’s’ example and call a temporary Tarot Club eting, so that everyone can think of a solution together?"
Mr. "Moon"...
Thinking back to the operation that had previously lured the vampire viscount into the "Harvest Church," Audrey’s eyes lit up and she felt an inexplicable surge of energy.
In that instant, she had the feeling that she was not fighting alone.
"I understand." Audrey nodded with a faint smile on her face.
She then thought of another matter and quickly seized the opportunity to ask:
"Hvin Rambis instructed to gather intelligence about Mr. ’World’ from you — does that have so other deeper aning behind it?"
As for the part about no longer being so resistant toward several of the princes, and praising them in front of her parents — unlike in the original story, Audrey, who already knew the King’s intentions, had worked that out for herself. It was likely a way of projecting a surface-level friendliness, drawing her father over, and hinting at the Church of the Evernight lurking in the background.
What deeper aning? I simply wanted to get you away from that Demoness’s line of sight as quickly as possible... After all, in order to keep her true body from growing suspicious of Hvin and then abandoning the plan to act in Beldun, I needed to find the most reliable person to "take her out."
Of course, despite thinking this, Ebner still pretended to hesitate at so length before relaying to Audrey the analysis that the avatar of the "Saintess of Purple," Josenna, had offered.
Using to stoke conflict between Mr. "Tower" and my father? Audrey was first taken aback, then the aning of it dawned on her all at once, and her face flushed red with anger.
Seeing this, Ebner decided that even if the goal was achieved, it would be better not to let this young lady know the full truth.
...
Inside the café near the Harvest Church, Klein returned from the washroom, exchanged a few perfunctory words with Emlyn, and then took his leave. He had a feeling that Miss "Justice" would be seeking his help before long, and so he needed to make so preparations in advance.
Emlyn did not press the matter either, only turning it over in his mind: Next ti at the Tarot Club, after I’ve prepared a proper restorative potion for his body, I’ll bring this up with him again... Right, I should go find his sister and ask what his specific symptoms are...
Sure enough, not long after Klein returned to No. 160 Böklund Street, he received Miss "Justice’s" request to hold a "small eting."
The scope of the request included all mbers except "The Sun," "The Moon," and "The Star."
This is discrimination against the "celestial" mbers... "The World" German, seated at the lowest position at the ancient palace’s long bronze table above the gray fog, muttered a complaint, then let his spirituality spread outward, causing streaks of deep crimson radiance to rise up around the bronze table one after another.
"Justice" Audrey looked around at those gathered, rose from her seat, and bowed to the other mbers:
"Everyone, there is a matter on which I hope to hear your thoughts."
"It sounds urgent." "The Hanged Man" Alger gave a light nod in response.
"Yes!" With that, "Justice" Audrey sat back down and then gave a detailed account of her encounter with Hvin Rambis.
Of course, she did not say that Hvin had sent her to find Ebner, and instead referred to him simply as Mr. "Tower," so as not to expose his true identity.
Even though, among those present, only "The Hanged Man" and "The Hermit" still did not know.
"The Hermit" Gardenia listened with a degree of confusion, furrowing her brows slightly:
"The Psychological Alchemists — or rather, Hvin Rambis — have discovered that Mr. ’Tower’ and Mr. ’World’ are mbers of the Tarot Club?"
This was an extrely serious matter. Although the two gentlen in question were both very powerful and were unlikely to have let slip any information about the etings... it was still sothing that could not be left unguarded against.
Ebner shook his head. "Hvin is currently working on behalf of the Loen royal family. Back at Pris Port, although he crossed paths with both and ’The World,’ he likely would not connect it to the ’Tarot Club.’ The far more probable conclusion he would draw is that German is an agent of the Church of the Evernight."
"That makes it all the more difficult to deal with... The royal family, the Psychological Alchemists, and even the Hers and Adam behind this organization... Perhaps killing Hvin would not be difficult for several of you, but how would we go about clearing Miss ’Justice’ of suspicion?"
"The Hanged Man" Alger frowned as he spoke.
He had no experience dealing with Demigods, let alone Angels, and could only draw on the habits of thought he had cultivated over the years to raise so of the key issues.
"Any subsequent investigation from the ’Psychological Alchemists,’ Hers, or even Adam — I can help cover that up and extract Miss ’Justice’ from any involvent in this matter... But there is a more pressing problem, and that is that Hvin is not so easy to kill!
"Not to ntion, there is likely a Demoness of unknown depth standing at his side as well." Ebner said, putting on a grave expression.
"I can call upon an Angel to help..." Klein thought for a mont and said.
He was referring to the "Servant of Concealnt," Lady Arianna... Capturing "Hvin" was itself a matter of public duty, and he was confident that the lady would agree.
"Then I’ll leave the matter of killing Hvin to you, and I’ll find soone to deal with that Demoness." Ebner glanced at Klein and said.
Find soone? You need to find soone just to deal with a Demoness? The number of Demonesses in your household already outnumbers those in the "Demoness Sect," doesn’t it?
Klein was puzzled, but sensing that Ebner likely had another plan in mind, he did not call him out on it, and together with the others, continued the discussion.
Only after the details of the operation had been worked out one by one did this "conspiracy" co to a close. "Justice," "The Hanged Man," and the others departed one after another, and above the gray fog, once again only Klein and Ebner remained.
"Who is the person you’re bringing in to deal with that Demoness?" Klein asked directly.
His instincts told him this particular choice of person might be sothing of a problem.
Upon hearing this, Ebner curled the corner of his lips upward, and then uttered a na that nearly made Klein leap to his feet:
"Amon!"
(End of Chapter)
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