The Terror of Option Chapter 996 996: 144 LOTM

After ending the private communication, Klein made The World Gehrman Sparrow look at Cattleya.

"Please inform Queen Mystic that I wish to et her to talk about sothing. The exact ti and location is up to her."

Queen Mystic? So Ma'am Hermit represents the royals above the Five Seas... Leonard was first taken aback before he ca to a realization.

What's the matter? Cattleya frowned slightly in a wary manner.

"I will forward her your intentions, but I cannot provide any guarantees over her agreent."

"Okay." The World Gehrman Sparrow nodded simply, indicating that it was fine.

At this mont, Derrick finally had an opportunity as he asked, "Everyone..."

He glanced at Mr. Hanged Man and Mr. World before continuing, "The ritual needed for to advance to Priest of Light requires pure darkness. I need to bury my entire body in ice that usually doesn't lt. In the City of Silver, such ice isn't difficult to find. However, how do we create pure but safe darkness?"

So that's the Priest of Light's advancent ritual. Little Sun sure is honest and simple... Due to her lack of experience and knowledge, Audrey was unable to provide any substantial suggestions. All she could do was cast her eyes at the person she believed was capable of resolving the problem: The World Mr. Gehrman Sparrow.

And at this mont, The World raised his hands to pinch his temples. As for The Fool Klein, he was rapidly trying to think of a solution.

Sigh, if this were the outside world, pure darkness is extrely easy to obtain. Ice that normally doesn't lt would be the most troubleso thing to obtain, but the City of Silver is the complete opposite... There, darkness is too dangerous. Just being within it will result in one's disappearance or suffering the attacks of strange monsters...

I can get Leonard to provide charms from the Evernight domain, and then I can stir so of the powers of the mysterious space above the gray fog. Using Little Sun's prayers, I can provide an area of artificial darkness. But the problem lies in being unable to determine if this would bring the normal danger that the City of Silver encounters. This is not sothing that can be answered with divination. When matters do not involve myself, I can only determine if a matter is dangerous or not, or when matters should be done. And under such situations, there are too many elents involved, and the sources of danger are diverse...

Yes, I'll summon Arrodes later and ask it...

Klein had previously been considering the problem over Little Sun's advancent, but he had never been able to find an answer.

Seeing The World silent, Leonard, who had originally wanted to say that "creating pure darkness is extrely easy" slowly shut his mouth. He began pondering over The Sun's words and caught notice of a word that he had ignored: Safe!

In the Forsaken Land of the Gods, in the City of Silver, darkness is equivalent to danger? Leonard roughly grasped the key idea, but due to his lack of understanding, he was unable to provide any suggestions.

Finally, it was Alger who spoke.

He glanced at Derrick and said, "I will help you gather information and seek out solutions. But in the process, you might need to provide so help to confirm that it can be done."

"No problem!" Derrick answered without any hesitation.

Right on the heels of that, he added, "There's no need to rush it. I still have about a month before I can finish digesting my Notary potion."

Alger nodded gently, indicating that this wasn't sothing that needed any reminders.

At this mont, Cattleya deliberated for a mont and said to Derrick, "Perhaps we can consider this problem from another angle. Your advancent ritual wouldn't last too long. We can simply increase the ti you can survive in pure darkness to resolve this matter.

"I rember that you've ntioned that after being left in darkness with zero light, there are two dangers. The first would be the attacks from strange monsters that co from unknown origins, and the second would be a baffling instance of disappearance that is akin to evaporating.

"The forr situation is easy to resolve. You can make a request to your Chief for certain Sealed Artifacts, or you can get him to stand guard by your side. As for the second case, I don't know enough. You can attempt to ask your Chief."

Derrick thought about it carefully and suddenly felt that this was a viable train of thought with a rather significant chance of success.

He imdiately replied in pleasant surprise, "Thank you, Ma'am Hermit."

The exchange and learning session continued until the gathering slowly ca to an end. Seeing that it was almost done, The Fool Klein rapped gently on the table's corner.

"Let's end it here for today."

"Your wish is our will!" Audrey and company stood up and bowed reverently.

After they vanished from above the gray fog, Klein left the area and returned to the real world.

He first took out his wallet and got the paper crane which was folded by Will Auceptin. Spreading it across the table, he picked up a pencil and simply wrote: "There's sothing!"

After folding the paper crane and stuffing it under his pillow, Klein got into bed and genuinely took an afternoon nap.

In his hazy dream, he once again saw the pitch-black plains and the towering steeple.

Passing through the plains and through the wooden doors, Klein arrived at the familiar corner.

A black pram ca out of the thick shadows as Will Auceptin, wrapped in silver silk, sucked at his right thumb and derided angrily, "You are getting more and more impolite!"

Klein laughed dryly and said, "With our relationship, there's no need for such pleasantries, right?"

Will Auceptin harrumphed and said, "Speak, what's the matter?"

"This is the thing; I recently encountered Amon's avatar," Klein said directly.

The baby's mouth widened a little as though he was about to cry. It took him great effort to control himself as he said, "I haven't been born for more than a month!"

"...There's nothing I need from you. I only wish to ask you a question," Klein quickly added.

Will Auceptin raised his fleshy arm and waved it.

"What is it?"

Klein imdiately said with a smile, "Amon's avatar can steal the destiny of others and appear while replacing their identities. I wish to know how I can see through such a terrifying matter."

Will Auceptin chuckled as he pointed up at the sky with his index finger.

"Pray for help."

From the looks of it, using the powers of the gray fog can be used to discover the grafting of destiny... Klein heaved a sigh of relief as he felt even more certain.

When he thought of the word "using," he was referring to using his marionette to pray to The Fool while he entered above the gray fog. Through the point of light representing his believer, he could survey the surrounding area to seek out any abnormalities. In a sense, this was equivalent to The Fool's observation, an equivalent to an augnted "true vision."

But the problem is that I can't stay above the gray fog to observe for grafting all the ti. It might be the case that, in between two of the observation periods, Amon could've entered Böklund Street and have done sothing... Klein thought before asking with so deliberation:

"Anything you would like to remind of?"

Will Auceptin turned his head away without looking at him as he mumbled, "You have to visit and my parents once this week. During high tea..."

"No problem!" Klein agreed without any hesitation.

Only then did the baby turn his head back and giggle.

"Next week, around Wednesday or Thursday, there might be so changes in your destiny."

Is that so... Klein nodded in thought as he watched the black pram slowly retreat into the shadows.

After waking up from his dream, he packed up his items and began setting up an altar without any rest.

This ti, the target of his prayer was the Evernight Goddess "Herself," and not Artificial Death. This was to prevent Amon from prying upon the source of the stirring via the changes in destiny and, thus, noticing sothing wrong.

How could the Evernight's Blessed be praying to Artificial Death?

After setting up the ritual, Klein wiped his face and turned into the cold-looking Gehrman Sparrow, causing his height to drop a little lower.

After igniting the first two candles in front, Klein made the ordinary candle representing "himself" burn with a yellow fla. There were two candles in front. One was a candle made of night vanilla and slumber flower to represent Evernight, and the other was a candle made up of white chestnut flowers and wild rose to represent "Concealnt."

Following that, he created a wall of spirituality, dripped Full Moon Essential Oil, and burned so herbal powder that pleased the goddess. Bit by bit, he completed the ritual.

Towards the end, Klein took two steps back, activated his Spirit Vision, and chanted softly, "I pray for the power of the dark night.

"I pray for the power of the mystery.

"I pray for the Goddess's loving grace.

"...I encountered Blaspher Amon's avatar in Backlund. He was gathering the characteristics of a Marauder pathway demigod...

"...I seek for the blessings of Concealnt so as to complete the mission of eradicating the Blaspher's avatars...

"Night vanilla, a herb that belongs to the red moon, please pass my supplication to the Goddess! "Moon flower, a herb that belongs to the red moon, please pass my supplication to the Goddess!"

After he was done chanting, Klein patiently waited for a while, but nothing happened. There wasn't any reply.

This... The Goddess is in a critical period of gaining control over the Death pathway's Uniqueness and is unable to respond beyond anything normal? Should I try to pray to Artificial Death? After all, if there are the blessings of Concealnt, Amon wouldn't be able to see it. If it doesn't, then the source of stirring destiny wouldn't point to ... Klein frowned little by little as he ended the ritual and cleared the altar.

He felt that he needed to find other solutions.

After he finished clearing the desk and turned around, prepared to head for the reclining chair, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him!

The figure wore a simple linen robe with signs of patching. By the figure's waist was a belt made of tree bark. Raven-black hair cascaded down freely as the figure's feet didn't wear any socks or shoes, making them covered in dust and wounds.

It was a lady. She had extrely normal facial features. Her ghostly black eyes were no different from the common person, but just looking at her left Klein feeling a sense of extre peace and serenity. Even though feelings of alarm rose up within him, they were unable to overpower the peacefulness.

-x-X-x-

"You are?" Klein asked in a rather complicated state of calmness.

The lady in a simple robe nodded and said, "Arianna, Servant of Concealnt."

Servant of Concealnt... Arianna... Klein's eyes constricted, as he knew who the lady was.

As a forr Nighthawk, how could he not be aware of the na "Arianna"?

She was the Evernight Cloister's matron, head of the thirteen archbishops, a likely candidate for the future Pope. Regardless of which identity she had, she was part of the general knowledge that couldn't be avoided in religious studies and mysticism!

As for the na, Servant of Concealnt, Klein had read about it in Emperor Roselle's diary. Considering the similar na of Attendant of Mysteries, he suspected that this pointed to an angel. anwhile, based on the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Conservation, with a Sequence o in existence, it ant that Attendant of Mysteries couldn't be a Sequence 1 angel. Therefore, Klein believed that the Servant of Concealnt was likely Sequence 2 of the Evernight pathway.

This... It isn't that the Goddess didn't reply, but that she used a very special way to respond... "She" directly sent her servant over... Klein felt mixed emotions that could hardly be described.

He fell silent for a few seconds before giving a solemn bow.

"Good afternoon, Your Eminence."

In the various Churches, if a demigod at the angel level walked the land, there was a need to address them as "Your Eminence" as a show of respect. Likewise, towards the pontiff, pope, and chief shepherd-representatives of the deities-one had to use "Your Holiness." In addition, a Church's head was synonymous with the Holy See or Apostolic See. Of course, many a ti, the Holy See could also represent the Church's headquarters itself.

Arianna tapped her chest four tis in a clockwise fashion and replied in a pious manner, "May the Goddess bless you."

She then said, "I'm an ascetic. You can just call Ma'am."

"Yes, Ma'am Arianna." Klein didn't insist.

Arianna looked at him calmly for two seconds and directly asked, "You plan to deal with Blaspher Amon's avatars in Backlund?"

"Yes, I wish to obtain the blessings of Concealnt," Klein frankly replied.

At this mont, he felt a little stumped because this was different from what he expected.

He originally expected the Goddess to answer by blessing him. Then, he and Pallez Zoroast could join forces to wipe out all of Amon's avatars in Backlund. During this process, it wouldn't expose Leonard or the Marauder pathway angel. But now, with the blessings becoming sothing corporeal that would be involved in the battle, Pallez Zoroast would be imdiately be discovered once "He" took action. When that happened, it was hard to predict what would ensue!

Don't tell I don't need to ally with Pallez Zoroast? I'll only get "Him" to provide intel and then split so of the spoils of war? Klein's thoughts rapidly ran through his mind as Arianna spoke unhurriedly:

"I can provide the power of Concealnt to shield everything that happens from the prying of fate. However, I cannot guarantee that I can eliminate all of Amon's avatars in Backlund."

Pallez Zoroast said that "He" has the ans of doing so... The person who understands Amon the best is indeed a Sequence 1 of the sa pathway... Klein thought and said, "Ma'am Arianna, I have already co up with a well-thought-out plan. All you need is to provide the power of Concealnt. You do not need to be involved in the actual battle. Leave the rest to ."

Arianna nodded and raised her right arm as she spread her palm.

Points of light lit up, profound and resplendent as they quickly outlined an emblem in her palm.

This emblem was completely crystallized, as though it was made of obsidian. It made one realize its existence when looking at it, but it appeared to vanish when not looking at it.

"This is my Evernight coat of arms. It doesn't possess any characteristics or power by itself. The only use is that, when triggered, it will establish a connection with , regardless of where you are in the real world," Arianna explained simply. "Before you begin your operation, rember to use it. I will provide you with the power of Concealnt. If you need more direct assistance, use ancient Hers to chant 'Arianna' when triggering it." This is equivalent to an itemized altar and ritual that points to her... Oh, at the level of angel, the range of responding to prayers has extended to the entire world? Klein instantly grasped the true nature of the Evernight coat of arms.

As a Bizarro Sorcerer, he did not have the ans to reply to prayers. This was a trait that could be obtained only at Sequence 3. Of course, as Sea God and The Fool, he was very well-versed in such matters.

Klein didn't stand on ceremony as he accepted it and bowed sincerely.

"Thank you." @@@@

After saying that, he tapped four spots in a clockwise manner on his chest, forming the sign of the crimson moon.

"Praise the Lady!"

This way, he could still join forces with Pallez Zoroast. As long as he triggered the Evernight coat of arms without using ancient Hers to chant Arianna's na, everything would be fine.

"Praise the Lady," Arianna replied piously.

Her figure then vanished as though she had been erased by an eraser.

This is a departure by entering a concealed state? Klein pursed his lips in thought.

anwhile, he was filled with suspicion over Arianna's swift arrival. After all, the Evernight pathway wasn't well-versed in thods such as teleport. To go from Winter County all the way to Backlund required a significant amount of ti.

My ritual isn't the kind that prays for a direct descent... Could it be that Ma'am Arianna happened to be in the vicinity, in the Backlund diocese? Isn't that too much a coincidence? If it isn't one, it only serves to exacerbate the problem. What is "She" doing in Backlund? The undercurrents are stirring... Klein retracted his gaze and patiently waited a while before turning back into Dwayne Dantès.

He found a pen and so paper once again and drew the symbol that was a mixture of concealnt and mystery prying.

When the final stroke was written, the full-body mirror in the master bedroom produced a dark but pure light, as though a silent undercurrent was surging out from the bottom of a lake.

Right on the heels of that, fireworks appeared, bursting in the sky.

Colors of gold, silver, red, and blue exploded as words ford in the mirror:

"Welco back, Great Master!

"Your humble servant, Arrodes, has witnessed the retrieval of a portion of your authority. I'm thrilled that you are gradually recovering your aura. You will eventually return to your supre position and make the entire world turn silent under your watch!"

This is really... passionate... There's always sothing new... Klein nodded in silence.

Amidst the fireworks, those words dissipated and ford into a new sentence:

"Great Master, what instructions do you have for ?"

"I have a question," Klein said calmly. "In a place where being in darkness can result in danger, how should one create a safe but pure darkness? There are two kinds of dangers involved. One, it will make a person directly vanish in the darkness, and two, it will cause strange monsters to appear and attack."

The fireworks in the full-body mirror cald down as aqueous light rippled. Silver words surfaced one after another:

"Great Master, are you referring to the Forsaken Land of the Gods?"

This magic mirror actually knows quite a lot. He also gave a free question in passing... Klein nodded and said, "That's right."

Without any breaks in between, Arrodes's full-body mirror produced new lines of Loenese text:

"The formation of the Forsaken Land of the Gods is related to the second Creator's fall. The danger of night there stems from the transformation of two essential powers.

"First, it's the remnants of the Evernight Goddess's divine powers. Second, it's the influence left behind by the Creator. "He" wielded partial authority over shadows, darkness, fallen, corruption, and mutation. The forr makes creatures vanish into thin air, while the latter produced monsters in the darkness.

So the two types of dangers stem from different powers. It's no wonder that there's such huge differences... Arrodes called the ancient sun god the second Creator... This is very close to my theory... Amon's and Adam's father isn't the reawakening of the original Creator, but a transmigrator who inherited a huge "inheritance"? Klein asked in thought, "In that case, the Evernight Goddess was involved in the fall of the second Creator?"

This was sothing Klein had vaguely expected. This was from the trait of humans evaporating in the darkness of the Forsaken Land of the Gods. It was very similar to the strange disappearances if one didn't sleep at night in the ruins of the battle of the gods. And based on Little Sun's description, King of Demonic Wolves, Flegrea, who wielded control over the Evernight and Concealnt authorities, had long perished in the Second Epoch. It was impossible that "He" had done it.

Therefore, unless there was another deity of the Evernight pathway born in the middle, it was difficult for the two abnormalities to not have the Evernight Goddess involved.

On the surface of the mirror, the silver light rapidly converged forming a short sentence:

"That's right."

That's right... Klein was just about to press on when he imdiately shut up. He had just recalled one of his identities—Blessed of the Evernight. Therefore, even without anyone watching him, he had to show respect to the deity and not seek out relevant secrets. Of course, ti in the mysterious space above the gray fog was excluded.

He was just about to focus on the main question from before to urge Arrodes to list out solutions when he saw the silver words in the full-body mirror change:

"Great Master, your loyal servant, Arrodes, wishes a small favor from you. C-can we not discuss matters regarding the Evernight Goddess?"

At the end of the question, a simple stick figure was drawn.

Just as I wished... Klein deliberately pondered for two seconds and said, "Okay."

The silver swirls on the surface of the mirror imdiately turned brisk as words began taking form:

"As for the question you asked, there are two solutions:

"One is to accept the corruption and let oneself transform into monsters of the darkness. The reason why these creatures do not vanish into thin air during the night is because they have received the protection of the 'Fallen' authority. This way, all the darkness is equivalent to safety.

"The second is to create a darkness that cos with the dream world. This will allow the Spirit Body to receive the protection of the dream; thus, slowing down the encroachnt of danger at night."

-x-X-x-

Allowing the Spirit Body to receive protection of a dream to slow down the encroachnt of danger at night... This is similar to the necessity to sleep when night fell in the ruins of the battlefield of the gods...

Also, the powers in the Forsaken Land of the Gods likely isn't under the Goddess's control. Once one vanishes in the darkness over there, they definitely won't enter the foggy town... Where will it point towards? Or would they stay in the sa spot, unable to interact with companions and the real world until they die of starvation or old age... After reading Arrodes's reply, Klein was sowhat enlightened as he roughly grasped the crux of the issue.

However, he felt that this wasn't necessarily useful, because The Sun only required pure darkness so that he could be buried in ice that normally wouldn't lt to consu the Priest of Light potion. Once he entered a dream, there was no way for him to control his own body to complete that critical step. That way, even if he could remain in the darkness for prolonged periods of ti, it would be aningless.

Yes, I'll wait until Little Sun asks the chief of the City of Silver before coming up with an actual plan based on his answer... Of course, before that, I can try to get a corresponding solution from Leonard to figure out how to create darkness with a temporary dreamworld... Klein nodded slightly, acknowledging the answer provided by the magic mirror.

As for the first option of accepting corruption and turning into a monster in the darkness, it wasn't even considered. In the extraordinary world, this was equivalent to committing suicide which almost couldn't be reversed.

Upon considering how he still had one question left to ask, Klein deliberated and asked, "Where can I obtain the potion formula of the Seer pathway's Sequence 3, Scholar of Yore?"

The full-body mirror's surface had aqueous light ripple once again as it reflected a dark cathedral without any natural light.

Klein found this scene very familiar as he imdiately recalled what it represented—this was where Zaratul, who had turned into a monster, hid!

However, this ti, deep inside the cathedral, the cluster of blurry and huge maggots were no longer present.

Just as Klein's pupils dilated, the silver words appeared beneath the scene depiction:

"Great Master, Zaratul has vanished!

"I can't find 'Him'!"

Vanished... Klein montarily forgot to breathe.

Although he had long known of Zaratul's return, since he was the one who began the chain reaction by opening the door to the foggy town, he never expected this big shot to secretly leave the cathedral; "His" whereabouts becoming unknown!

Even Arrodes is unable to locate "Him"... What is "He" plotting? The more Klein thought, the more a chill ran down his back.

Having beco a Sequence 4 demigod, he could confirm one thing:

His control over the mysterious world above the gray fog was still insufficient. He could temporarily only converge the leaking specialness that it had augnted him with in the real world, making it difficult for Beyonders of corresponding pathways to see it, but it was unable to repress the law of Beyonder characteristic convergence. As for the gray fog, it had proven ti and ti again that he had an invisible form of attraction towards Beyonders of the Seer, Apprentice, and Marauder pathway. Amongst them, the effects on the Seer pathway was most evident!

Besides, I myself am quite an attractive Sequence 4 Bizarro Sorceror. It's not impossible for Zaratul to suddenly co to Backlund one day... Klein maintained a deadpan expression and said to the full-body mirror that was switching scenes, "Got it."

Antigonus presented another scene which Klein was equally familiar with. It was the Antigonus family's "treasure trove" at the peak of the Hornacis mountain range.

Below this scene, silver words quickly surfaced once again:

"Great Master, there's another possibility, but I can't tell. I just know that it's easier than the first two."

The Antigonus family's notebook isn't there this ti? That's right. It will lead the wielder to the main peak of the Hornacis mountain range to seek out the Antigonus family's treasure trove. It's basically the sa as the previous option... What's the possibility that even Arrodes can't tell? Based on what I know about the factions in control of the Seer pathway, it's implying that I should pray to the Goddess for it? The Goddess is the Mother of Concealnt, so "She" can choose whether Arrodes can see it or not... Klein's thoughts scattered and quickly made a connection.

Of course, he didn't believe that directly praying for the Scholar of Yore potion formula would allow him to get it. It was too ridiculous, as though it was child's play.

From his experience as a Nighthawk, he suspected that he might need to make enough contributions before he could obtain the Scholar of Yore potion formula from the Evernight Goddess via a ritual.

Making enough contributions... This sure is a familiar phrase... Klein sighed as he began having so ideas.

Clearly, he had hints on how to do so-handle the Artificial Death faction of the Numinous Episcopate!

However, Klein suspected that the Goddess only had up to the Scholar of Yore Sequence for the Seer pathway potion formulas, and not the subsequent ones at the angel level. This was because the Antigonus family's angel didn't perish imdiately back then but had hidden in a secret palace, losing control to beco a monster and was in a half-sealed state. In addition, The Fool card was also there and hadn't been retrieved yet.

At this mont, Klein had the intention of asking about Amon's avatars, but he suddenly recalled that within the mories of the rat demigod, the warning about the Marauder pathway angel and Amon had been given by this very mirror!

As his thoughts flashed through his mind, Klein narrowed his eyes, looked at the full-body mirror, and nodded.

"Alright, that's it for today. Head back. If there's anything in the future, I'll summon you again."

"Yes, Master! Goodbye, Master~ Your loyal and humble servant, Arrodes, is constantly waiting to return to your side!" Light gathered on the mirror's surface, depicting a stick figure waving its hand.

After everything returned to normal, Klein turned around and picked up the paper with the previously drawn symbol. With a snap of his fingers, he made it burst into scarlet flas.

The ash floated down as he spread open his left hand. In it were two maggots shimring with solid mysterious symbols.

The two maggots squird gently, using their lifeforce to fill the entire bedroom with madness and bizarreness. The surrounding lights then dimd and brightened from ti to ti in a non-uniform fashion. They were none other than the Worms of Spirit which Klein had separated from himself.

Suddenly, Klein reached out his right palm, suddenly pressing them towards the two transparent maggots.

Instantly, his palm paused, just short of touching the Worms of Spirit. He raised his palm again, lowering it only to pause. He repeated this several tis until he finally exerted his strength with a deadpan expression.

Amidst an invisible and illusory cracking sound, his head suddenly felt a stabbing pain.

This made his soul feel like it was being ripped apart. It was even more painful than encountering a gunshot or a slash wound.

Klein used his Clown powers to control the twitching of his facial muscles. After a few seconds, he raised his right hand to rub his temples, inwardly mumbling, Indeed, the death of every Worm of Spirit deals damage to the Spirit Body. My current limit is six. Hmm, I'll temporarily stop trying. Let's see how long it takes to recover. @@@@

Thankfully, this is a tolerable matter. Otherwise, it would be dangerous if a marionette is destroyed while the Worm of Spirit isn't able to be collected in ti due to an intense battle...

Yes, it's different from Amon's Worms of Ti avatars. A Bizarro Sorcerer's Worms of Spirit will not necessarily die when a marionette is destroyed. Most of the ti, a Bizarro Sorcerer is able to retrieve them in ti. It's because the distance between the body and the marionette isn't that exaggerated...

After confirming the situation, and waiting for the Beyonder characteristics contained within the Worms of Spirit to return to himself, Klein rummaged for so materials and set up a ritual to pray to The Fool.

After a series of tasks, Klein used the carcasses of two Worms of Spirit, two silver plates, and the complicated symbol which he had previously recorded down to make two silver-black bullets-of which the latter ca from Snake of rcury Will Auceptin.

The two bullets were carved with strange, indescribable patterns. They kept extending inwards as though they were coming together in the middle at one point. Their entire bodies were gloomy but not dark. Just one look at it made one's thoughts sluggish.

Klein flicked a gold coin and used divination, together with his spiritual intuition, to swiftly determine the abilities of the two bullets—the target would imdiately enter a state of paralysis upon being hit!

The length of ti that one was left in this state depended on the potency of one's Spirit Body. Even Sequence 3 saints would be in a state of stiffness for a second or two!

This already exceeds my powers. Of course, the premise is that contact can be made. Oh, this is a result of the gray fog's augntation... These two bullets should be at the sa level as the Fate Siphon charms. Although my Worms of Spirit can't be compared to Amon's and Pallez's Worms of Ti, the amount of power I can now draw from the mysterious space above the gray fog is clearly superior to what I could do in the past... I shall call them, uh-Control Spirit Bullets... Klein drew Death Knell from his underarm holster, snapped open the cylinder wheel, and stuffed the two silver-black Control Spirit Bullets inside.

Following that, he spread open a piece of paper beside the altar and wrote:

"...Next, your mission is to seek out relatively high-level charms and Beyonder bullets. May God be with you.

"XXX who raised three requests from you."

This letter was written to Patrick Bryan of the Numinous Episcopate's Artificial Death faction.

With a subordinate at my disposal, why let him go to waste? As Klein mumbled, he folded his letter. At the altar from before, he summoned Patrick Bryan's ssenger.

The surface of the desk burst into pitch-black flas and quickly gathered together, forming a translucent bird with dark feathers.

This spirit world creature glanced at Klein before slowly lowering its head to bite at the envelope.

Watching it disappear, Klein nodded slightly and inwardly muttered, Patrick's Contract Companion isn't of a low level either...

He quickly reined in his thoughts, took out another letter, and fluidly wrote:

"...I have already obtained the blessing of Concealnt. You can attempt to gather items at the Marauder pathway demigod level. In addition, I've found a way to crack the theft and replacent of destiny. You don't have to be too anxious.

"...Do you know how to create a darkness that includes a temporary dream world?

"...If you have the ti, can you head to Tingen and help use 3-0782 to create Flaring Sun Bullets. The Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem has the divine blood of the Eternal Blazing Sun hidden in it... Only by sufficiently raising your strength can we be more confident at dealing with Amon's avatars..."

-x-X-x-

At 7 Pinster Street, Leonard, who had specially returned ho to participate in the Tarot Gathering, was just about to head to Saint Samuel Cathedral's basent to read the dossiers so as to make preparations for his placating of souls at night when his vision suddenly went into a blur. He saw the ssenger in a dark, full dress holding four blonde, red-eyed heads.

As a Soul Assurer, he could already see such creatures with Spirit Bodies.

After taking Klein's letter, Leonard didn't even have the chance to say thank you when Reinette Tinekerr turned around and walked into the void. She didn't even stay for long.

"...Old Man, why does Klein have a ssenger of this level? Is this a perk of being a Blessed?" Leonard couldn't help but ask Pallez Zoroast with a suppressed voice.

He originally fantasized that it was standard for every Tarot Club mber, but he later realized that he had been imagining things.

Pallez Zoroast's slightly-aged voice chuckled imdiately.

"It is likely to solely belong to Klein Moretti. Everyone receives so special fortuitous encounter, isn't that the case? Isn't it the sa even for a fellow like you?

"Heh heh, I thought you would use 'incomplete angel' to describe 'Her,' but you ended up using 'ssenger of this level.' Not bad, you still rember my warning."

Leonard curled the corners of his lips, spread open the piece of paper, and read the content on it.

"He's indeed the Blessed of Concealnt and Fate..." Pallez Zoroast quickly scanned the heading through Leonard's eyes.

Leonard didn't look at the ground. Instead, he took a few steps back and threw himself into the embrace of the sofa before saying, "Klein can see through the theft and replacent of destiny... Then, we don't need to rush to seek out items at the Marauder pathway demigod level."

"Even if you were in a hurry, you have no idea where to seek them out," Pallez scoffed.

Even for the gathering of the Hermits of Fate, similar items needed years to appear even once. And the next gathering was to happen at the end of the year.

Leonard was montarily at a loss for words and could only cast his gaze at the last two paragraphs.

After a brief silence, he chuckled.

"I've always been curious as to where Klein received the high-level charm of the Sun domain when facing gose. I thought it was provided to him by that Death Consul, but I couldn't understand why a Death domain angel would be gathering high-level charms of the Sun domain. Wouldn't that be suicide? Now, I finally understand.

"Old Man, I wielded 3-0782 before as well. Why didn't you notice that there was a drop of the Eternal Blazing Sun's divine blood hidden in that? If you could've stolen so of its power back then, things wouldn't have..."

Leonard originally wanted to mock Old Man, but as he went on, he fell silent.

Pallez Zoroast sighed in his mind.

"If that drop of divine blood could be so easily discovered, that Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem wouldn't have been in Tingen."

Leonard fell silent for a few seconds before asking, "Then how am I to create an opportunity to get that Sacred Emblem to create the Flaring Sun Charm?"

Although Klein made it sound simple in his letter, Leonard knew that it wasn't an easy task. This was because he wasn't a Nighthawk of Tingen City. Even if he returned to visit his forr colleagues and teammates, he had no authority to enter Chanis Gate.

Upon hearing his question, Pallez Zoroast replied in a peeved manner, "Why are you asking sothing as trivial as this? Can't you think for yourself?"

Leonard coughed uncomfortably as he began thinking seriously to seek out a solution.

"I'm currently working alone, but the archbishop has given the authority to get the help of the local Nighthawks in the region of question.

"Hmm, if all the souls in Backlund have been placated, and if I haven't finished digesting my potion, wouldn't I have to do it at other dioceses?

"When that happens, if Tingen happens to have a paranormal accident, it will be very reasonable for to return and get two Nighthawks and use 3-0782..."

After Leonard finished muttering to himself, Pallez Zoroast chuckled.

"Not bad. You ca up with an idea so quickly.

"But have you thought about it? You are placating them, not purifying them. This is contradictory with obtaining 3-0782. It will easily incur suspicion."

Leonard, who had been praised, imdiately laughed.

"Old Man, that's because you aren't aware. Back when I joined the Nighthawks team, there was one line in the education I received: Only under the premise of having the ability to purify can placating achieve the best results.

"Emperor Roselle had also once said that to solve problems, you need a stick in one hand and a carrot in the other."

Pallez Zoroast imdiately tsked.

"Then follow your plan. Of course, that's assuming that you can finish Anthony Stevenson's missions in a week or two. If you haven't obtained the Sun Flare Bullets before the actual operation of eliminating Amon begins, then it would no longer be necessary."@@@@

Leonard recalled the list of missions written on the pieces of paper as his forehead twitched.

He then forced himself to forget about his worries and mumbled, "I wonder when the mission to punish the Sanguine will begin...

"I wonder if the Sanguine has a Sealed Artifact at the Marauder pathway's demigod level. "Temporary dreamworld... I can create it myself. I'll find a chance to make so charms, but can power at this level be able to resist the corrosion of the darkness in the Forsaken Land of the Gods?"

In an apartnt in Cherwood Borough.

Fors took out a novel, sat on the sofa, and watched Xio walk towards the lobby as she wore her boots to head out.

Finally, Fors couldn't hold back her puzzlent as she said, "There's no rush. That gentleman said that he wouldn't assign the mission that quickly."

Xio shot her a glance and said, "I'm a bounty hunter. I have other missions."

Upon saying that, she paused and said after so deliberation, "Fors, do you think that Miss Justice resembles Miss Audrey?"

Fors was taken aback for a few seconds before she snapped back to senses. She subconsciously waved her hand and chuckled.

"How is that possible..."

Just as she said that, the similarities began flashing through her mind, her eyes widening in response.

After a while, she whispered, "It's not impossible.

"Spectator pathway, Psychology Alchemists, noble lady, blonde hair and green eyes... She's the only noble I know that ets those criteria... Of course, I don't know that many nobles. Furthermore, I have no idea if the ones I'm familiar with have anything to do with the Psychology Alchemists..."

Xio silently listened to her friend and said after so thought, "Fors, do you still rember the missions assigned to us by Miss Audrey? I originally thought that it was issued by Earl Hall, but on second thought, perhaps it ca from the Tarot Gathering...

"Also, how did we know of Mr. Fool's honorific na? Do you rember? It was from books we borrowed from Viscount Glaint! In the book cover was a strange ancient slip!"

Fors nodded in enlightennt.

"If we could discover it, as a good friend of Viscount Glaint, Miss Audrey, has a chance of discovering it as well! This can explain why she joined the gathering..."

"Yeah," Xio agreed with Fors's guess.

Fors opened her mouth and was just about to say sothing when she recalled that the matter with the Sanguine wasn't completely over. She imdiately looked around warily and said, "Xio, we should lessen our discussions of gatherings in the future."

"As for Miss Audrey, we can visit her once every week or two. We can continue observing when the ti cos."

Xio snapped to her senses and nodded heavily.

"Alright!"

She then opened her door and went to a particular bar in East Borough and sat by the bar counter.

Rapping on the table, she said to the bartender who looked up, "Any new missions today?"

The bartender gave a rough list without ntioning any investigations of a particular Mr. Ernes Boyar.

Indeed, I'll have to wait till tomorrow or the day after tomorrow... Xio looked around, retracted her gaze, and asked in puzzlent and concern, "I haven't seen Sherman in a while. Do you know where he's been?"

Sherman was a young man who thought himself as a woman-one of Xio's informants.

The bartender chuckled.

"Perhaps he ran off with so man. You do know that he's happy to do so if a man fancies him."

"This isn't sothing worth ostracizing him about," Xio rebutted seriously, feeling a baffling sense of concern.

She then exerted strength in her palm and jumped off the high-stool, prepared to seek out Sherman in the places he was usually seen.

Backlund Bridge area, Iron Gate Street, Bravehearts Bar.

Holding down his hat, Emlyn pinched his nose as he passed through the crowd that exuded all kinds of slls before finding the red-eyed Ian in the card

room.

"Mr. White, what is it this ti?" Ian smiled as he led Emlyn into an empty billiard room.

Emlyn took off his hat and quipped, "Sothing trivial. Help put up a mission to the bounty hunters. The details of the mission is to track a man nad Ernes Boyar. Figure out his daily activities. The bounty reward will be 100 pounds."

"100 pounds?" Ian subconsciously asked.

For investigations like tracking, 100 pounds was quite a ridiculous reward. One had to know that if a bounty hunter was able to complete this mission on their own, they could rest for an entire year, even if they were supporting a family!

Emlyn nodded.

"The target is rather dangerous."

After the discussion back with the Tarot Club, he had already thought it through. He believed that tracking Ernes Boyar was an easy mission. The Sanguine Viscount would definitely pretend as though he didn't notice anything and deliberately follow a fixed trajectory.

Therefore, this 100 pounds was in fact paynt for Miss Judgnt to take the risk of participating in this operation. Of course, to aid in the misdirection and concealnt, it was almost certain that more than one bounty hunter would complete this mission, allowing them to earn different portions of the reward. All Emlyn could guarantee was that Miss Judgnt would earn the most.

"I see." Coming to an understanding, Ian extended his hand. "Down paynt, exact address, level of danger, looks and characteristics. It's best if you have a portrait."

Ernes Boyar then gave 30 pounds in cash and Ernes Boyar's portrait.

"Red eyes?" Ian flipped through the pieces of paper in his hand and couldn't help but blurt out.

"Yes." Emlyn nodded gently and looked around him. He suppressed his voice and said, "There's also sothing else. Help seek out clues regarding the Rose School of Thought mbers in Backlund."

"... Rose School of Thought?" Ian was taken aback as he asked in puzzlent, as though he had never heard of the na.

-x-X-x-

Emlyn glanced at lan, raised his hand to pinch his nose, and chuckled.

"It appears you don't understand . It's okay. A more simple description is to gather information about foreigners that co from the Southern Continent, especially from the Star Highlands and the Paz River Valley.

"What information do you want exactly? There are plenty of pure-blooded people from the Southern Continent in Backlund. Those that you've ntioned are also common," Ian calmly asked without flaring up due to the contempt he received.

Emlyn laughed.

"The ones that are a bit more abnormal. They do things in a fishy manner and seem to all be mysterious. You should understand what I'm getting

at."

"There are definitely many people you describe. In Backlund, they are either servants, workers, or thieves-being part of gangs. As the latter will all et your criteria of being abnormal, fishy, and mysterious." Ian sincerely pointed out how unpragmatic Emlyn's request was.

Emlyn was already prepared for this. With an unobvious smile, he nodded slightly.

"Then, give all the information that ets those criteria. I'll do the filtering. Oh, I'll pay 50 pounds as down paynt for this commission as the standard fees for the early-stage investigations. The subsequent paynt will be counted based on how much information of value is provided. Each one will cost 20 pounds."

"Who is the one to determine its worth?" Ian asked after a few seconds of thought.

For him, having a 50-pound inco for preliminary work like this was enough for him to accept the job. It was more than enough to hire a dozen people or so to investigate the areas from East Borough to Cherwood Borough for half a month.

He didn't mind how much he could only from the 50 pounds, as there were many people here who relied on him for their survival. He needed to arrange jobs with paynt for them to do from ti to ti; otherwise, he would never be able to be kept abreast with the latest developnts.

Emlyn sized up Ian and scoffed.

"Of course it will be . You should know how trustworthy I am."

"Detective Moriarty never told that..." Ian mumbled and sighed. "Alright. Our last cooperation was still pretty good. I choose to trust you."

Emlyn nodded in satisfaction, took out his wallet, and counted another 50 pounds worth of notes.

During this process, Emlyn montarily felt the pinch when he realized he only had 407 pounds in savings.

And now there's only 357 pounds... He looked away from the notes and handed the cash to Ian.

He didn't stay. Putting on his hat, he walked out of the billiard room and left the Bravehearts Bar.

On the street, Emlyn stopped pinching his nose and looked up at the fla-like clouds. His expression gradually fell heavy as he silently muttered, That Wraith from before isn't around... Where did it go?

Humph, Ian acted as though he had never heard of the Rose School of Thought, but his racing heartbeat had betrayed him...

Also, he actually didn't ask if Sherlock Moriarty is back in Backlund. He didn't even show any concern... Could it be that Sherlock has already returned to Backlund and that he has already t him?

Rorsted Archipelago, City of Generosity, Bayam.

In an area near the harbor, Admiral of Stars Cattleya had brought along Frank Lee, who had his sleeves rolled up which revealed his brown hair, to an area outside a house with gas wall lamps. They ca to an empty corner and watched as a figure appeared out of the shadows.

It was Bloodless Heath Doyle who was in charge of monitoring Artisan Cielf. He was thin and his skin was so pale that it was transparent. He looked so frail that a gust of wind could topple him.

"Did anything strange happen recently?" Cattleya nudged the gold-rim glasses on her nose.

Heath Doyle tersely acknowledged.

"Three days after you left, a stranger visited Cielf. He stayed for about fifteen minutes. I didn't approach for fear of being discovered.

"Based on your instructions, I sent n to tail the stranger, but they lost his trail."

"What did that stranger look like?" Cattleya asked with a slight nod.

Heath Doyle took out a piece of raw beef from a leather pouch by his waist. The blood on it remained fresh, but it didn't show any signs of contamination. It appeared to be a pure piece of solid at.

Right on the heels of that, this piece of beef lted in Heath Doyle's hand, dripping to the ground like water. They then squird like they had life, drawing a portrait.

"This is the effect I want!" Frank Lee's eyes shimred as he watched this scene, expressing his intentions with excitent.

Under his gaze, Heath Doyle, had the intention to run, but he slightly slanted his body and pointed to the ground.

"Roughly like this."

At this mont, a blood portrait had already taken form. It was that of a man with a mustache, with facial features that resembled that of the Paz River Valley. His greatest characteristic was the three ear studs on both his ears.

"Golden ear studs, thin body, not much fat, very athletic," Heath Doyle added.

Cattleya retracted her gaze from the ground and asked, "And then?"

Heath Doyle tersely acknowledged.

"No one visited Cielf after that, other than his temporary servants and chef he hired. I got n to investigate them. They are clean.

"Cielf has an evening stroll at a fixed ti every day. He will bring a prostitute ho, allowing her to leave only at daybreak... I've been constantly tailing him, but I never discovered any contact with odd people."

"He has been acting very normally all this ti?" Cattleya asked with a frown.

From her point of view, not having any abnormalities made it most abnormal!

After all, this involved Rose School of Thought mbers that believed in the Primordial Moon.

Heath Doyle nodded in affirmation.

"Yes."

Cattleya turned her head to look at the building's main door and said after so thought, "I actually planned on using Beyonder powers to infiltrate and bring Cielf under control in the fastest speed possible before taking him away to prevent any accidents. But from the looks of it, the best solution is to knock on the door."

Unknown danger was what terrified people the most.

At the thought that he had been busy with his experints recently and hadn't done his duty as first mate, Frank Lee hurriedly said, "Captain, I'll go with you."

Cattleya took off her thick glasses and hung them by her waist of her black warlock robe before nodding.

"Okay."

With that said, she left the shadowy corner and walked towards the main door of Cielf's residence.

As she approached, she looked up at the crimson moon that could be seen penetrating through the clouds. She curled her fingers and tapped thrice on the door.

Before long, footsteps approached and the door creaked open.

Cielf didn't show any obvious changes from the previous ti. He remained thin and dark. His eyes were sowhat puffy, and his brown eyes were trying hard to force a smile.

"Admiral, is there sothing this ti?"

He stood by the door, blocking the gas wall lamp's light behind him. It made the area appear dark and gloomy, as though he was sinking into the shadows.

Cattleya stared at him for a few seconds before saying slowly, "I have a new idea. I plan on making you a part of my crew."

She stood there motionlessly without any intention of stepping inside.

Cielf's expression warped as his voice turned sowhat dark.

"Why?"

Cattleya's eyes seed to freeze as she slowly said, "Because I'm a pirate."

Pirates didn't need reasons. They did whatever they did out of their own desires.

Cielf's facial muscles twitched as a smile suffused his eyes once again.

"I can be your sailor, but as an Artisan, I'll be of much greater use in a city."

"I agree," Cattleya destroyed his resistance. "But before then, I need you to spend so ti on the Future to be partners with others."

Cielf's expression gradually turned cold as he replied in an ethereal voice, "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself. I have a strong urge to procreate every day..."

"Strong urge to procreate?" Frank Lee's eyes lit up as he asked, seemingly in confirmation.

Cielf was taken aback as he wasn't sure whether to nod or shake his head.

Frank then looked at Cattleya and asked in excitent, "Captain, is he going to be my assistant for my experints?

"I love this trait of his!"

Cattleya fell silent for a few seconds before nodding heavily.

"Yes."

Frank imdiately revealed a bright smile and offered his right hand to Artisan Cielf.

"Pleasure to et you. Let introduce myself. First mate of the Future, Frank Lee." @@@@

Cielf's expression returned to normal as he shook the man's hand with puzzlent. Then, he said, "Am I really going to spend a short period of ti on the Future?"

"I guarantee it with my reputation on the line," Cattleya sincerely replied before inwardly adding, It wouldn't take long before Her Majesty personally handles you...

"Alright. It's not like I can beat you." Cielf shrugged. "Please permit to pack my personal belongings."

He then took two steps back, turned around, and walked to the staircase at the end of the foyer.

As he walked, he suddenly paused and said in an ethereal tone to Cattleya and Frank Lee, "Today's moonlight is as beautiful as it always has been, isn't it?"

Without receiving a reply, he proceeded forward and vanished from the staircase.

At this mont, Cattleya's heavy expression beca obvious.

After Cielf opened the door, she had already noticed an abnormality with her eyes.

In the past, Cielf's Spirit Body was that of an ordinary human, but now, he was a conjoined person!

Under the illumination of the moonlight, this "conjoined person" was being nourished and was rapidly growing stronger.

This isn't a problem I can resolve. I have to write to Her Majesty. Also, I mustn't forget Gehrman Sparrow's request for a eting... Cattleya sighed silently as she subconsciously looked up.

High in the sky, a crimson moon remained bright and silent amidst the thin clouds.

Backlund, Hillston Backlund, East Balam Military Veterans ss.

Dwayne Dantès and Macht got off their separate carriages and entered the lobby together.

-x-X-x-

After entering the East Balam Military Veterans ss, Klein handed his cane and hat to his valet, Enuni, only to see Colonel Calvin of the Loen Kingdom's Ministry of Defense wearing an army uniform, waiting at the foyer with a glass of red wine in hand.

This long-faced officer smiled as he raised his cup at Dwayne Dantès.

"Long ti no see."

"It really has been a while." Klein smiled as he walked over.

Colonel Calvin imdiately offered his right hand.

"Congratulations. You did pretty well. Everyone was very pleased."

"I was very pleased as well." Klein used a Loen-styled euphemism to express his pleasure in cooperating. He then shook hands with him.

Calvin retracted his arm and glanced at Macht before he said with a laughing sigh, "Back when you first introduced Dwayne, I was quite distrustful of your judgnt, but now I understand how you're a mber of Parliant."

"Anyone who interacts with Dwayne can easily tell that he's an expert at this," Macht accepted the colonel's approbation with the sa Loen-styled euphemism.

Calvin retracted his gaze, sipped so red wine, and smiled at Dwayne Dantès, asking in passing, "How much did you earn this ti?

"Don't worry, I won't raise prices in the future because of it. I'm simply curious."

"20,000 pounds in gold," Klein gave the midpoint value as an answer.

In actual fact, he had earned 25,000 pounds, but after paying Miss ssenger 10,000 pounds for "Her" services, he had only earned 15,000 pounds.

Calvin nodded.

"Not bad. If you need to convert those gold bars into gold coins, I can introduce you to soone from an imperial mint factory.

"How was it? Did you notice anything abnormal around Maysanchez's area?" Klein said directly without thinking, "Yes!

"There was a place called Revival Square under his control that was destroyed by lightning."

"That, I'm aware of," Calvin replied with a rather heavy expression.

But you probably do not know that the person before you was the one who created the lightning... Klein smiled and then said, "Also, Maysanchez seems to be maintaining a fragile balance among many factions, but in actual fact, he has already secretly aligned himself with a particular faction. Of course, I'm not exactly sure who it is."

He had no intention of betraying the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. All he did was divulge a little to win the trust of the Loen military.

"The only thing that can be confird is that it isn't us," Calvin nodded and said with a deep look in his eyes.

"It's unlikely to be Intis." Klein helped him eliminate one of the wrong choices.

Calvin tersely acknowledged.

"That isn't a bad thing either. The few factions surrounding Maysanchez are supported by Intis. If he wishes to expand, there's no way he can circumvent them. When the ti cos, perhaps we will have more arms sales on our hands."

With that said, he offered a toast.

"Holy Lord of Storms, to riches for everyone."

As believers of the Evernight Goddess, Klein and Macht smiled in response without giving a direct answer.

After taking another sip of red wine, Calvin pointed at the second floor.

"Dwayne, I brought you here today to play cards with a VIP. Texas Hold'em."

"Which VIP?" Klein asked with piqued interest.

Calvin's expression turned solemn as he said with an unobvious smile, "Admiral Amyrius. He has been given a post and is currently in charge of the Ministry of Defense."

Admiral Amyrius... The admiral whose younger brother was stripped of his post as governor-general, had his mistress corrupted by the Mother Tree of Desire, and ended up losing his post as highest commander of the Central Sonia Sea's navy? I've worked with him before and even pretended to be him for so ti... Indeed, when it cos to a demigod, as long as they didn't screw up too badly, and if they are willing to hold it in, they will always be able to step out of the nadir... Klein recalled everything that had happened at Oravi Island, turning wistful.

Towards Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt, he still felt so guilt towards him. Although most of what happened back then didn't have anything to do with him, his mistress's anomaly was ultimately a result of the Mother Tree of Desire's wish to control him.

"That is to say that our future cooperation requires His Excellency's approval?" Klein asked in enlightennt.

"That's how it is." Calvin nodded and pointed up the stairs. "Let's head on up."

When they arrived at the second floor, they stopped in front of a pair of dark red double doors. Calvin turned his head to glance at Dwayne Dantès.

"Your mission today is to lose money."

Lose money? Klein sized up Calvin as he curled the ends of his mouth.

"I'll try my best."

By the side, Macht said with a laugh, "There's actually no need to be too deliberate. Admiral Amyrius has excellent card-playing skills. It's almost impossible if you wish to win any money. Heh heh, I always lose. Sigh, I just hope I won't lose too much today. Otherwise, I wouldn't even dare to return ho."

Klein nodded thoughtfully.

"I only brought 200 pounds in cash. Would that be enough?"

"Definitely not." Calvin chuckled. "I've already changed chips worth 1,000 pounds for you. Just rember to return it."

Loen's best lawyers only earn about 1,000 pounds a year on the surface... You bunch of profligates... Klein sized up Calvin again.

This colonel didn't notice it as he knocked on the door.

After a while, the double door creaked open, revealing the scene inside.

It was a hall paved with thick, soft carpets. There wasn't a lot of furniture, making it appear rather spacious.

In the middle of the hall was a card table that could accommodate more than ten people. Surrounding it were luxurious-styled high-back chairs.

By the sides of the hall were gold-plated cutlery, marble-carved sculptures, coffee tables with books and newspapers, and a series of leather sofas.

Klein looked over and saw Amyrius Rieveldt sitting at the seat of honor. This admiral didn't look different from before. His black hair was neatly combed backward, with his blue eyes dark and profound. The corners of his lips drooped slightly, and his face was clean-shaven. He had an austere temperant, and he wore dark blue clothes with an epaulet. He was ticulous in every detail, appearing extrely serious.

When he swept his gaze, Klein found another "familiar person."

He had thick but neat black brows with a short and hard crew-cut of the sa color. He had dark blue eyes and a high nose-bridge with a bushy mustache spreading out from his mouth. He had a long face with accentuated outlines as well as callous curves.

He was MI9's deputy director, Qonas Kilgor!

He was one of the targets for Klein's return to Backlund. He was the middle man in the dealings between the Demoness Sect and a particular faction in the royal family. He was one of the accomplices of the Great Smog of Backlund!

This brigadier general had abnormally broad shoulders, making his white shirt and black vest abnormally tight. He was playing Texas Hold'em with great focus.

There are two, no—three demigods at a card table. How can this even be played? Interesting... Klein sat down and began observing the others at the table.

During this process, an attendant delivered a huge stack of chips, worth a total of 1,000 pounds. In the first few rounds, Klein folded after looking at his cards. He acted very cautiously, acting as though he never called or raised unless he had good cards.

As for Admiral Amyrius, his style was the complete opposite of him. He was in no way conservative. He called almost every round, constantly raising in an extrely aggressive manner.

Every round that he was involved in seldom reached the point where everyone showed their cards. Most people failed to withstand such aggression and, with the admiral's domineering force, they would call a round or two before folding. At tis, soone would attempt to call Amyrius Rieveldt's bluff, only to encounter four nines. The color in his face instantly drained as though he had been passed the death verdict by a judge.

Qonas Kilgor had a completely different style as well. He would occasionally lose a round, but the chips lost wouldn't be much, preventing him from having too great a loss. And in the next round after his loss, he would often be able to wipe out the person who won all his chips the previous round, forcing him to spend money to buy in again.

Is there a need? Why are you using powers to cheat when dealing with Low- and Mid-Sequence Beyonders or even ordinary people? Others might not be able to tell, but would I be fooled? One has the Arbiter pathway's dominance, and the other has the Baron of Corruption's Bribe... Klein looked at his Five of Hearts and Nine of Clubs as he shook his head indiscernibly.

He couldn't help but consider which powers of a Seer pathway could provide him help if he wanted to cheat.

Turn all my opponents into marionettes? In that case, I can win as much as I want. I'm practically invincible, but it's of no pragmatic value. It's not like I'm planning for so deathmatch poker tournant...

Unfortunately, there aren't any mosquitoes here. Otherwise, I can use their Spirit Body Threads and turn them into marionettes to help check out their hole cards...

Faceless only allows to change myself, not the cards...

Magician's Illusion? The effects would likely be pretty good when playing with ordinary people or Low- and Mid-Sequence Beyonders. But there are two demigods here...

Use a Clown's ability to swap cards? It's useless. The dealing and shuffling of cards are done by the croupier...

As his thoughts raced, Klein realized that apparently only his powers as a Seer was of use here.

He threw out his two hole cards to indicate a fold before taking out a tal chip and allowing it to move between his fingers.

At this mont, Amyrius Rieveldt suddenly looked up at him and retracted his hands before pushing all his chips in.

Indeed... Klein nodded inwardly without a hint of surprise.

During his last cooperation, he knew that Admiral Amyrius was able to distinguish ordinary people from Beyonders from his "position." He suspected that he could even determine a Beyonder's level, or in other words their "position."

However, Klein wasn't too worried, because a Bizarro Sorcerer had concealnt powers to a certain degree. This was also why he could converge the augntation effect the gray fog had on him after he reached Sequence 4. This made him confident that Amyrius wouldn't be able to determine his level. However, he didn't attempt any corresponding interference, as he suspected that Amyrius was able to tell that he was a Beyonder.

Therefore, he decided to reveal a tiny problem, making it easy to be seen through and be grasped.

-x-X-x-

The core rules of Texas Hold'em were very simple. It was to use two hole cards and five community cards to form a hand with any five-card combination. Whoever had the biggest hand won. And the community cards were dealt in three phases. Three community cards to form "the flop" in the first phase, a fourth community card called "the turn" in the second phase, and a fifth community card called "the river" in the third phase. Each phase allowed players to fold, check, call, or raise. This continued until everyone was done or until one person didn't fold.

Klein fiddled with the chip in his hand as he divined the existence of any lucky instances within the next few rounds. However, he was unable to tell which exact round it was. After all, it was only a quick and simple divination with average effects.

Using this thod to play with ordinary people and Low-Sequence Beyonders wouldn't be a problem as long as the correct strategy is used, but it's definitely inadequate against demigods. It's already quite a challenge to defeat a Mid-Sequence Beyonder... Must I close my eyes each round and do a complete dream divination? Heh heh, if that were the case, Dwayne Dantès might end up with the title "Sleeping Gambling God"... Klein sighed inwardly. He continued watching the round play out as he sat by the side. At present, he had already lost a big blind[1] and a small blind[2] when it was his turn.

At this mont, Klein noticed one point: The MI9 deputy director, Qonas Klein, had lost 20 pounds to Admiral Amyrius.

A successful Bribe... Admiral Amyrius should be able to tell that Qonas is using his powers as a Baron of Corruption, but he might not know that this MI9 deputy director is a demigod... The next round will be interesting... Hehe...

Klein jolted to attention as the new round began. He didn't check his hole cards when the croupier handed him two new ones. Instead, he placed the tal chip he was playing with in his hand onto his hole card, taking on the stance of not planning to look at them.

After two people folded, the stern and old-fashioned Amyrius Rieveldt casually took a look at his hole cards. After counting five pounds worth of chips, he threw it into the middle of the table, having raised the stakes without garnering any surprises.

Another person folded as Macht called. Right on the heels of that, Qonas Kilgor, who had an unyielding personality, raised the stakes, throwing out a total of 20 pounds.

Calvin confird his hole cards once again before calling After one last person folded, Dwayne Dantès didn't do an actual count. He grabbed a handful of chips and threw it out.

The croupier who was in charge of counting the chips glanced at it before precisely announcing Dwayne's action, "20 pounds. Call."

"I thought it would be 50 pounds. From the looks of it, I'm still not very used to these chips," the white-sideburned Dwayne Dantès with an outstanding temperant said with a laugh.

However, he didn't add on the additional 30 pounds.

At this mont, no one made a move. It was Amyrius Rieveldt's turn again.

This admiral didn't even glance at the remaining players. Picking up five ten-pound chips, he threw them out.

"Another raise."

He didn't show any perturbations in his emotions, acting as though he was ordering a cup of black tea. However, that indescribable sense of dominance and the act of repeatedly raising the stakes pre-flop made the mood at the table freeze.

Such situations often implied that Admiral Amyrius had excellent hole cards. Perhaps they were a pair of Aces or a pair of Kings, or an Ace and King.

Macht decided to fold. Qonas Kilgor rubbed his high nose bridge and glanced around with his dark blue eyes before saying, "Call." Colonel Calvin confird his cards again. After ten seconds of hesitation, he chose to fold.

Dwayne Dantès touched the tal chip on his two hole cards and smiled.

"Call."

After a round of expressing their intentions, there were only three players for the round. Then, the croupier flipped the three community cards in the middle of the table for the flop.

The person who was up first was Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt. He leaned forward slightly and said in a domineering manner, "50 pounds."

He had imdiately raised the stakes to 50 pounds!

Macht, Calvin, and company, including those who weren't in the ga, felt stifled for so baffling reason.

"..." Qonas Kilgor trembled slightly, but he ultimately grabbed 50 pounds and threw it out.

Dwayne Dantès glanced at the deputy director of MI9. Completely unfazed by the pressure, he said with a smile, "Call."

Upon hearing this, Calvin turned his head and nodded at Dwayne Dantès with his deep blue eyes that resembled a nightti lake, indicating his approval.

From his point of view, Admiral Amyrius's domineering stance didn't affect a person who ca to lose money. At this mont, the red-vested croupier revealed the fourth card—the turn.

"9Spade Suit on Apple iOS 13.3."

There were three Spades, increasing the chances of a flush trendously. However, Admiral Amyrius still didn't hesitate. He calmly pushed a stack of chips.

"100 pounds."

Qonas Kilgor's fingers tapped on his hole cards, showing his lack of confidence. But ultimately, he choose to call.

Dwayne Dantès glanced at this deputy director once again and maintained his warm smile.

"Call."

At this point in ti, he had yet to see his hole cards, making Calvin sowhat worried. He believed that such an act was going overboard-a clear act of throwing money away. It wasn't sothing Admiral Amyrius, who was relatively conservative, might find acceptable.

At this mont, the red-vested croupier revealed the final card—the river:

As such, the community cards took form:

9❤

"200 pounds." Admiral Amyrius pushed a pile of tal chips in with an extrely domineering attitude.

Qonas Kilgor took a deep breath before pushing two stacks of chips.

"500 pounds."

This amount of money was half of his purported annual salary.

Is he trying to bluff? Calvin and Macht exchanged looks, believing that Brigadier General Kilgor had made it too obvious, making it easy to see through him.

One had to know that when playing Texas Hold'em, apart from doing risk managent and probability calculations, it also involved psychological battles most of the ti. Be it in terms of body language, expression, or the style used for raises, they made it easy to expose one's hidden cards.

Of course, good players could also use these details to deliberately misdirect their opponents.

Dwayne Dantès sized up Qonas Kilgor before he laughed. Then, like the previous few tis, he said, "Call."

Amyrius raised his hands, prepared to push all his remaining chips, to pressure his opponents into folding.

At this mont, he suddenly paused. His deadpan expression wore a look of solemnity.

After a few seconds of silence, he calmly said, "Call."

At this point, the hole cards could be revealed to compare each person's hand.

Admiral Amyrius flipped his card first. It was an A Spade and 10 Spade. It ford a flush with the 2 Spade, Spade Suit, and 9 Spade. It was a rather high-ranking hand, with the only ones bigger than it being a full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush.

"It's your turn," Amyrius then urged Qonas.

Qonas first flipped open a single card-K Diamond Suit on Apple . It made two pairs with the K and 9 from the community cards.

Following that, he picked up his second hole card. At that mont, the remaining poker cards at the red-vested croupier's end blurred.

Pa!

The hole card was flipped open, revealing itself: "9Club!"

"What?" Macht and company exclaid, hardly believing their eyes.

This ant that Qonas Kilgor had obtained a full house-nines over kings!

It was bigger than a flush!

"Sorry about that. Full house," Qonas looked at Amyrius and said with a smile.

Then, he turned to look at Dwayne Dantès.

"You can reveal your cards."

"I'm also very curious as to what my cards are." Dwayne Dantès smiled. He picked up the tal chip that he had placed down on his cards and very casually flipped the two hole cards.

"Eh..."

"What?"

Calvin and company rubbed their eyes.

Dwayne Dantès's hole cards were a very weak pair: "2Heart, 2Diamond "

There happened to be a very small pair in the community cards: "2Spade , 2Club "

They ford a four of a kind—the smallest rank when it ca to four of a kind, but it was higher ranked than all the full houses!

"Praise the Lady!" Dwayne Dantès drew the crimson moon across his chest in pleasant surprise, looking as though he had never expected it.

"An interesting round." Amyrius was taken aback for a mont before he gently clapped.

Qonas Kilgor gave Dwayne Dantès a deep look and said with a laughing sigh, "I never expected the final winner to be you."

Klein wiped the smile from his face as he inwardly grumbled, It's only right that I win over the two of you. On the one hand, Admiral Amyrius enjoys pressuring others and doesn't really rely on his Beyonder powers to cheat. As for you, you placed your focus and Beyonder powers on Admiral Amyrius; thus, ignoring . On the other hand, the one playing cards with you is actually nad Winner Enuni.

Without even looking at his hole cards, it was obvious that he was relying solely on luck!

At the mont he placed his chip on the hole cards, Klein had already swapped positions with Enuni as they switched faces with each other!

Although Colonel Calvin had gotten him to deliberately lose 1,000 pounds, Klein decided to win a killing after he saw Qonas Kilgor.

This wasn't because he couldn't bear to part with the money; instead, his main motive was to garner the attention of this MI9 demigod. He wanted to get familiar with him and build relationships!

Only by doing this could Klein have an opportunity to obtain intelligence from Qonas Kilgor and even carry out an assault on him. After all, he was a demigod. To deal with him in Backlund required sufficient care and caution. He would rather give up an operation if he lacked the confidence to guarantee a kill or lure him away from Backlund. Otherwise, he was bound to expose himself, ending up being surrounded by demigods and even angels in Backlund.

In the subsequent rounds, Klein won and lost different rounds. In the end, not only did keep his 1,000 pounds in chips, but he had even won nearly an additional 1,000 pounds. During this process, Calvin had gestured to Dwayne Dantès to lose, but he was left stupefied by the latter's ridiculous good luck that left him undefeatable.

After the ga ca to an end, a person walked over to Dwayne Dantès with a smile—Qonas Kilgor.

-x-X-x-

[1] "big blind" is equal to the minimum bet.

[2] The "small blind" is normally half the big blind.

-x-X-x-

With dark blue eyes, Qonas Kilgor, who had crew cut hair which was seldom seen among mbers of high society, held a cup of champagne as he walked up to Dwayne Dantès. He said with a smile, "You had great luck today. You also had plenty of courage."

If he's referring to imdiately folding after receiving a Bribe, with rather losing a big blind, that's not luck but knowledge... As for the other tis, playing cards with all of you has pretty much drained all of Enuni's recently accumulated good luck... Klein swirled the cup with pale golden alcohol in his hand and said with a laughing sigh, "For a person who doesn't care about the outco, there's naturally nothing to fear.

"Heh heh, Praise the Lady!"

He was using a Loen-style euphemism to indicate that he was mainly here to lose money and that his good luck was all thanks to the blessings of a deity. It had nothing to do with himself.

Qonas hadn't lost much tonight-approximately one to two hundred pounds. Although this was already a considerable amount when compared to his purported salary, to a brigadier general deputy director of MI9—a hidden demigod—his salary was the most trivial part of his inco. Therefore, he didn't mind it. He shook his head with a smile.

"Humans often have no way of seeing through the arrangent of fate. "

"You are an interesting person. It's a pleasure to et you."

His final sentence was both a form of praise and also a part of the formalities. It indicated that their conversation was over.

However, Klein had "acted" all night to acquaint himself with this demigod of the Black Emperor pathway, so how could he give up? He first replied, "It's my pleasure as well." Then, he asked in a seemingly random manner, "Your Excellency, are you familiar with the manors in the Backlund suburbs? It's best if they co with forests for hunting."

According to the information Klein had received from Miss Justice, Qonas Kilgor didn't enjoy holding banquets, balls, or saloons at his place. Neither did he accept invitations on such matters. It was unknown if it was a problem with his character or due to his job.

He had very simple hobbies. First, he enjoyed smoking cigars, especially Chieftain Cigars from East Balam's Mikent-recognized as the best cigars in the world. Second, he enjoyed playing cards, especially Texas Hold'em. Third, he enjoyed hunting. He often headed to the Backlund suburbs during autumn and winter. He even headed to Awwa County or East Chester County for hunting.

Klein was already planning on buying a manor, an expenditure ant solely to integrate himself into high society. He hadn't made any decisions yet, but after eting Qonas Kilgor today, he suddenly added this request in a bid to garner his interest. When the ti ca, he could even invite this MI9 deputy director to hunt in the suburbs over an enjoyable weekend. He could then seek out an opportunity to take action.

Qonas Kilgor drank a mouthful of champagne and said after so thought, "I'll help you take note of it. If there's anything suitable, I'll send soone over. Böklund Street, right? Yes, soone will inform you there."

"Thank you very much," Klein earnestly replied.

At the sa ti, he pitied his forr valet, Richardson, who had now beco an assistant butler. This young man who wished to better himself recently went out early in the morning and returned late at night. He had been gathering information about manors in Backlund's suburbs, filtering out those that t the requirents and the ones which were on sale. He had been personally visiting them in a bid to list down options which were all flawless. He didn't wish for his employer to spot sothing he fancied only to find out that it wasn't for sale, or that the actual conditions were far worse what was described.

And after Klein suddenly changed his request, all the work that Richardson had done was undoubtedly made useless.

The all-evil "Party A" in contracts always changes their requirents and requests... Yes, after this is done. I'll get Taneja to raise his annual salary by 5 pounds. As an assistant butler, he should naturally earn more than his ti as a valet... 5 pounds... It was gone in just one or two raises in today's ga... Richardson's annual salary is only enough to play a few rounds of Texas Hold'em... Klein sighed inwardly when he sensed eyes looking at him.

He directly looked back and realized that it was Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt.

This old-fashioned and stern middle-aged man nodded gently and retracted his gaze. He had no intentions of communicating with Dwayne Dantès, nor did he get anyone to arrest this unaffiliated Beyonder. After all, he was considered a working partner of the military, and it wasn't rare for a rchant, an adventurer with wide connections, to be able to obtain a potion.

At this mont, Colonel Calvin and mber of Parliant Macht walked over to Dwayne Dantès with wine glasses in hand.

"What happened?" Calvin asked with an exasperated and suppressed voice.

As Dwayne Dantès had won nearly 1,000 pounds, he and Macht had to change their strategies to prevent Admiral Amyrius from losing any money. They went from a tight strategy to an unrestrained one. They felt quite the pinch from losing several hundred pounds each.

As such, adding to everyone's losses, Admiral Amyrius had won a total of nearly 300 pounds.

With regards to this, Klein spread his hands.

"I didn't even look at my hole cards!" In between the lines, he ant that this was simply the blessings of so deity that controlled luck.

At the mont, the deities, angels, and secret existences who had authority in the fate domain included, but were not limited to, the Evernight Goddess, The Fool, Snake of rcury Will Auceptin, Pallez Zoroast, Blaspher Amon, and Snake of Fate Ouroboros.

"This is really such a vexing matter," Macht said with a bitter smile while shaking his head. "Calvin and I don't even dare to return ho after what we've lost."

They had roughly lost about half their purported annual inco.

Dwayne Dantès, with grayed sideburns, revealed a surprised look.

"When did you guys lose?"

He then pointed at the pile of chips at his seat.

"I just happened to retain the 1,000 pounds I bought in at the beginning. The rest are yours, isn't that so?" 1.

Calvin and Macht were taken aback as they exchanged looks. Then, they revealed smiles.

"We must've counted wrongly due to the anxiety." Calvin gave an approving nod.

Klein laughed and imdiately changed the topic. He then began looking at supper that was placed on the coffee table beside him.

City of Silver, in the spire of one of the twin towers.

Derrick Berg once again t the Chief of the six-mber council, Colin Iliad.

"You said that you have sothing you would like to ask about?" Colin, who had quite a number of old scars on his face, calmly asked the youth who wasn't considered too tall.

Derrick bowed and replied frankly, "Yes, Your Excellency. In the advancent for Priest of Light, I need pure darkness, but once I do it, it will be extrely dangerous. I'm wondering if there are any solutions."

Colin Iliad listened seriously before nodding.

"You have to confirm one point: Is it pure darkness, or darkness with zero light? These two concepts are very different.

"If it's the latter, you can obtain that in the spire's underground dungeons. You've been there for so ti, so you should know what I'm talking about."

Derrick had a deep fear for the spire's dungeons because it was there that he first t Blaspher Amon. Not only did he see the forr captain of the expedition team, but he had even been parasitized. Unless it was necessary, he really didn't wish to recall it.

At this mont, after receiving the chief's reminder, he began to slowly jolt his mories. He discovered that, under the spire, although each cell was given candles, one would have to wait for the guards to deliver food and dicine and ask for more once they finished burning. This didn't happen frequently, with it happening only thrice a day with the gaps in between being very long.

And in such an environnt, phenona like the appearance of monsters and the vanishing of humans never appeared.

Derrick recalled that he had been in darkness with zero light for so ti without encountering any danger.

He pondered for a mont and hesitantly said, "The darkness with zero light at the bottom of the spire has external powers involved?"

It was this power that prevented the darkness from making people disappear or producing monsters? Colin Iliad looked at the two swords that were hung up in a cross-like fashion on the wall. He looked up and sighed.

"Yes, that's why it's called darkness with zero light, not pure darkness."

Derrick frowned slightly as he tried to recall.

After a few seconds, he said without certainty, "If that's the case, the darkness outside the spire's basent isn't pure darkness as well. In many historical records, the nights before the Dark Ages didn't make people vanish or produce monsters. Now, the darkness must've undergone an abnormal change or had so other forces mixed into it to turn it dangerous."

"Not bad. For you to make such connections shows that you've improved... Therefore, let ask you again. Do you need pure darkness or darkness with zero light?" Colin's light blue eyes revealed a hint of surprise.

This... Could it be that pure darkness only exists outside the Forsaken Land of the Gods? Derrick turned gloomy before he pumped himself up.

"Your Excellency, I'm not too sure either. I'll take so ti to confirm this."

He believed that the experienced and strong Mr. Hanged Man, Mr. World, and the other mbers of the Tarot Club could give him a good solution.

Colin Iliad didn't ask further as he said with a nod, "Go on then.

"Once you reach Sequence 5, even if you aren't able to beco a demigod for a long period of ti, you will have the chance of wielding certain Sealed Artifacts." 1

Backlund, Hillston Borough, Xio changed into a brown jacket and wore a cap, pretending to be a very ordinary short man.

She had officially taken the commission and had begun tailing and investing the gentleman nad Ernes Boyar. There were also a few other bounty hunters who participated in this mission.

Ernes Boyar lifted his top hat and pointed his cane forward as he instructed the carriage driver, "To St. George Borough."

It was southeast of Backlund, separated from East Borough by the Tussock River.

Once he got on his carriage and took his seat, Ernes sniffed. He looked out the window and suddenly grunted.

As a Sanguine Viscount, how could he not have discovered the clumsy bounty hunters' tailing him?