Chapter 204: Arrodes

Chapter 204: Arrodes

The moment Klein glimpsed the scene inside the silver mirror, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

“This mirror is quite impressive, and it even has its own name. It seems like a living Sealed Artifact…

“The harm from this sort of thing may not necessarily be too great, but sealing it is very difficult. Unless the circumstances are special, it is rarely brought out for use. This Machinery Hivemind member named Ikanser Bernard seems to hold a fairly high position, probably a deacon, and he himself likely isn’t simple either…

“The limit of what divination can do is probably roughly the result this silver mirror just displayed. Even if I went above the gray fog, I likely wouldn’t obtain anything better.

“The Apostle of Desire’s appearance still can’t be determined. Who knows how many people in Backlund have high cheekbones and blue eyes…”

As countless thoughts ran through Klein’s mind, the image in the silver mirror quickly faded.

Then, one bloody-red word after another outlined itself on the mirror’s surface:

“According to the principle of reciprocity, it is now my turn to ask a question. If you lie or cannot answer, you will accept the task I arrange or be punished.”

“…” Klein raised an eyebrow as he watched.

Is this a truth-or-dare mirror? Interesting…

The blood-dripping words slowly changed into new letters, forming a new sentence:

“The true name of the Red Light?”

The Red Light? One of the leaders of the Brotherhood of the Seven Lights? One of the seven lights high above the spirit world? Klein thought seriously for a moment and discovered that he could not answer.

He only knew the name of the Yellow Light, Venithan.

Ikanser’s throat moved, and sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.

After a brief silence, he said in a deep voice, “Nanides!”

“Incorrect.” The blood-red words on the mirror changed again. “Task, or punishment?”

Ikanser’s expression clearly struggled. In the end, he exhaled and said, “Punishment.”

The instant he finished speaking, a silver-white bolt of lightning appeared out of thin air and struck the top of his head.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle. Ikanser’s hair stood straight up, and his body fell to the ground with a heavy thud, faint black smoke rising from him.

The mirror, however, did not fall with him. Instead, it floated on its own and descended onto the desk.

After two seconds, Ikanser shakily supported himself on the chair and rose, then sat there trembling and panting.

Klein stared wordlessly at everything before him for quite some time, unsure what reaction he should have.

After recovering a little, Ikanser looked at him and forced out a smile.

“You should have heard of what Sealed Artifacts are, and you should also know that all of them have certain negative effects.”

“Yes,” Klein said, looking at Ikanser’s upright hair. Suddenly, he understood why the man’s previous hairstyle had been so fluffy, messy, and stubborn.

Klein could not help saying, “Actually, you could have asked it alone. There was no need to do it in front of me.”

“Huff. This mirror’s requirement is that there must be an observer,” Ikanser said, still trembling.

It really has spirit… Klein stepped two paces forward to the desk and carefully examined the silver mirror from every angle. He discovered that, apart from its strange patterns and the two eye-like ornaments, there was nothing particularly special about this living Sealed Artifact.

Ikanser stood sideways to him, still shaking, and gave a soft heh.

“You can ask it questions as well. We don’t mind.”

“No, I have no such idea.” Klein had no intention of playing truth-or-dare with something resembling a spirit board or planchette.

As he spoke, he tried touching the edge of the silver mirror.

It feels cold, metallic… Just as that thought appeared in Klein’s mind, he saw the ancient silver mirror tremble slightly twice.

White words swiftly appeared on its surface:

“Your loyal and humble servant Arrodes is at your service.”

Ah? Klein was momentarily at a loss.

Then, without changing expression, he moved away from the desk.

What is going on? This mirror was just very coldly playing truth-or-dare with someone a moment ago… How did it become like this in the blink of an eye? Klein found it both funny and puzzling.

Based on the information he possessed, he quickly formed a few guesses:

“The silver mirror knows the true name of the Red Light, so it seems to have some connection to the spirit world…

“And the mysterious space above the gray fog also appears to be linked to the spirit world. At the very least, when I summon myself, after passing through the door, I can see what seems to be the spirit world…

“Did this mirror named Arrodes detect the aura of the gray fog?”

As one thought after another flashed by, Klein saw Ikanser recover, stand again, and pick up the ancient silver mirror. The other two team members in the room had also finished pretending not to see anything while aimlessly searching around.

After the examination, Klein said farewell to Ikanser and the others and found Isengard Stanton, who had returned to the sitting room.

“What happens next?” he asked directly.

Isengard answered with a solemn expression, “First, have Stuart and the others, along with their families, move in together for ease of protection. But this can only be a short-term measure.

“You, I, and Kaslana will continue moving about normally while accepting protection from the shadows. We hope to find that Apostle of Desire as soon as possible.

“You are a believer of the God of Steam and Machinery, correct?”

“Yes.” As Klein answered, he drew a triangular sacred emblem over his chest.

At the same time, he lamented inwardly:

For the next while, I’ll only dare go above the gray fog while I’m in the washroom…

…

Queen Borough, inside the luxurious villa belonging to Earl Hall.

Audrey glanced at the elegantly shaped wall clock, endured her nervousness and excitement, and slowly sat down before her dressing table.

In a little while, she would go to the home of her psychology teacher, Islant, taking the key step toward officially becoming a member of the Psychology Alchemists.

Before that, she had to calculate the time properly and pray to Mr. Fool, asking Him to provide help.

Will I be able to see an angel this time? Audrey thought with anticipation.

She calmed herself for a few seconds, clasped her hands together, pressed them before her mouth and nose, and softly recited the Fool’s honorific name.

At 15 Minsk Street, Klein stood in the living room, looking at the scene that had finally quieted down. He sighed deeply.

To him, the Apostle of Desire brought only danger. But for Stuart and the others, it also meant a change to their lives.

I hope this can be resolved as soon as possible… With so many Beyonders and Sealed Artifacts, surely there must be something that counters the Demon pathway… As thoughts rose and fell, Klein suddenly heard layered, illusory prayers.

It should be Miss Justice… He had already been prepared. Looking around once, he walked toward the washroom as though nothing were wrong.

When he locked the washroom door behind him, he could not help sighing inwardly.

“My life has also been changed a little…”

Before the threat of the Apostle of Desire was removed, Klein, who was under the covert protection of the Machinery Hivemind, could only minimize the number of times he went above the gray fog.

For next week’s Tarot Gathering, I’ll have to simplify the process and content. But no matter how much I shorten it, it’ll still take more than ten minutes. Mm, constipation is a perfectly normal thing. Who says Beyonders can’t be constipated? Amusing himself bitterly, Klein took four steps counterclockwise and entered the world above the gray fog.

Next, Justice Audrey followed the previous instructions and conducted a simple ritual, entering the state of artificial sleepwalking.

After seeing her blurry figure appear within the crimson star, Klein proceeded step by step. First, he used his spirit body to encompass the Black Emperor card. Then he picked up a paper figurine—one that showed improved cutting skill—and flicked it outward.

Without accident, the paper figurine gathered the power that had been pried into motion above the gray fog and transformed into a colossal angel with twelve pairs of pitch-black wings.

Audrey watched the sacred, majestic angel descend before her and use its wings to wrap around her layer by layer. For quite a while, she could not utter a single word.

This is an angel, Mr. Fool’s angel… And it is an archangel with twelve pairs of wings! It is exactly like the descriptions in mythological classics… It is also the angel of our Tarot Club! Audrey watched the angel’s figure rapidly fade and vanish, suddenly feeling that it was extraordinarily familiar and dear.

Delighted, excited, and devout, she thanked Mr. Fool, then summoned her maids and instructed them to prepare for her outing.

Klein, meanwhile, returned to the living room with a smile and looked at the bullet hole in the wall, sinking into thought.

Should I hang up a cheap oil painting to cover it, or repair and repaint it?

…

Hillston Borough, Seventh Avenue, Islant’s home.

Audrey left all her maids and bodyguards in the living room and, taking the golden retriever Susie with her, followed the host into the sitting room.

Two other people were already waiting there. One was the psychologist Hilbert Alucard, whom Madam Norma had introduced to Audrey, and the other was Stephen Hampres, the organizer of the previous psychology seminar.

At that moment, although it was already dinnertime, only a single ordinary candle had been lit inside the room.

That candle sat at the center of the coffee table, its dim yellow flame swaying gently, driving away the sitting room’s darkness.

After they greeted one another, Hilbert, whose complexion was somewhat brown and whose features suggested a measure of Southern Continent ancestry, glanced at Susie the golden retriever but did not speak.

Audrey smiled apologetically.

“With her here, I feel more secure.”

Susie also looked at Hilbert with innocent eyes.

“I can understand that kind of psychology. Please sit.” Hilbert smiled faintly and sat on the sofa across the coffee table. Hampres and Islant also each found places to sit.

After Audrey sat down, Hilbert raised the candlewick slightly, making the light brighter.

Through the candle flame, he looked at Audrey.

“Now, answer me honestly. Do you truly wish to join the Psychology Alchemists?”

Under the candlelight, his eyes seemed tinged with pale gold. Deep within his pupils, another eye could vaguely be seen—a vertical eye.

Audrey fell into a sudden daze, then immediately woke and nodded softly.

“Yes.”

Hilbert asked again, “Would you deliberately harm the Psychology Alchemists?”

His tone carried a strange inducement, as though if the person questioned gave an affirmative answer, they would unknowingly acknowledge it and sincerely follow it from the heart.

“No,” Audrey answered very rationally.

After several questions, Hilbert, Islant, and the others all exhaled at the same time.

The former smiled and asked, “Is there anything else you wish to say?”

Audrey hesitated for a moment and showed her candor.

“I once bought the Spectator formula at a certain Beyonder gathering. I… I am already a Spectator.”

That Beyonder gathering is called the Tarot Club… Audrey thought proudly in her heart.