Chapter 255: The Moon

Chapter 255: The Moon

For a fleeting instant, Emlyn White sat rigid and thoughtless, like a marble statue fixed in place.

Then he heard the figure seated leisurely within the dense gray fog ask in an indifferent tone, “Why did you pray to me?”

Emlyn’s mind buzzed. He blurted out, “It was the Ancestor’s revelation. He told us—He told us through dreams—that the apocalypse is about to arrive, that we must prepare. And I—and I am one of several key points. My mission is to pray to the Fool, to you!”

Hearing the other party rattle off everything without the slightest attempt at concealment, Klein, who had already prepared follow-up lines, suddenly did not know where to begin. Everything he had wanted to know had been laid out plainly and thoroughly by the vampire, Emlyn White.

The Ancestor’s revelation… Did ancient god Lilith not fall long before the Cataclysm, back in the Second Epoch, or have Her authority taken back by that Creator? Precisely because of this, many vampires attempted to pray to the Primordial Moon, only to meet extremely tragic ends… Moreover, Mr. Door also mentioned that the Moon card was vacant. On the one hand, that suggests the Primordial Moon is very likely the avatar of some god or high-ranking demon. On the other hand, it indirectly proves that ancient god Lilith has already lost the Sequence 0 position, which, under normal circumstances, is equivalent to death… Related clues instantly surfaced in Klein’s mind.

He had originally thought that “Lilith,” who responded to Sanguine prayers in certain specific matters, was a relic of that ancient god, perhaps the “uniqueness” of the Moon pathway. Therefore, it would be stiff, rigid, passive, and greatly limited. But now, the fact that the other party had proactively given a revelation made him reject that guess.

“Two possibilities. First, ‘Lilith’ is being impersonated by some god who is occupying a key point in advance, blocking an opponent who wants to ascend to the Sequence 0 throne of the Moon pathway. In essence, this being does not cherish the Sanguine. The revelation provided is only a probe. Among the suspects, the greatest is the Goddess, who took the title ‘Lady of Crimson’… But She is already Sequence 0, corresponding to the Star card among the Cards of Blasphemy. Why would She covet the Moon as well? To sabotage an enemy’s plans?

“Second, the ancient god is dead but not gone. As long as no other powerhouse becomes Sequence 0 of the Moon pathway, She can exist in some strange, incomprehensible manner, waiting for an opportunity to return, just as described in the Black Emperor card. And perhaps the Goddess added the title ‘Lady of Crimson’ to Herself precisely to interfere with this to a certain degree…

“Following that logic, Lilith’s recent apocalypse revelation is a resurrection effort after years of accumulation, and I, the Fool, will play a key role in Her prophecy. If that is true, then to some extent this should count as a ‘cooperation invitation’… But I am only a Sequence 6 Beyonder. What do I have to cooperate with an ancient god who has yet to dissipate?

“Let Emlyn White join the Tarot Club? The Sanguine are a long-lived race. From the Second Epoch until today, they must know many secrets… But that will bring a fair amount of risk. Mm, I can divine whether to pull Emlyn in before each gathering…

“Right. In Spirit World Observations, that notebook, there is also a similar apocalypse prophecy from Yellow Light, Venithan. At the same time, He pointed out that the Abraham family’s curse will be lifted by an Apprentice who receives help from a hidden existence. That—that fits Miss Magician’s current situation very well. She is an Apprentice who has received help from me, the Fool… This is rather interesting. Could every high-level existence skilled in prophecy have seen the inevitability of the apocalypse, as well as the existence of the Fool and the role He may play?”

Thought after thought flashed through Klein’s mind, but not the slightest change appeared on his face.

Leaning against the back of his chair, he smiled unhurriedly.

“What did your Ancestor tell you to pray to me for?”

The peaceful voice pulled Emlyn out of that stiff state where he had not known what he was doing. Still slightly dazed, he shook his head.

“I do not know…”

At that moment, Klein saw the chaotic stars on the back of the chair where Emlyn sat swiftly move, rapidly forming a symbol representing the crimson moon.

As expected, the Beyonder pathway corresponding to the descendants of ancient god Lilith points toward the Moon… Klein chuckled softly and said, “Given that there are seven orthodox gods and many hidden existences, why would your Ancestor believe I will be the key point of the apocalypse?”

The Fool’s attitude finally allowed Emlyn White to calm down. He understood that he had truly encountered an unimaginable event and had been forcibly pulled by a hidden existence into a miraculous place!

He is the Fool… He actually did not become angry… Is that because I represent the Ancestor? I, Emlyn White, truly am the special one, the one mentioned by the Ancestor, and one who received the Fool’s response… Thinking this, Emlyn could not help straightening a little more. Weighing his words, he said, “Honorable Mr. Fool, the revelation given by the Ancestor is this: I, Emlyn White, will become the key to saving the Sanguine and defeating the apocalypse. And all of it begins with praying to you.”

The hidden meaning of his words was:

The key point of the apocalypse is not you. It is me!

This fellow actually has such a chuunibyou side… Then again, he has always been rather arrogant and self-satisfied… Klein silently mocked him with an old buzzword.

Feeling rather amused, he said, “The same question: why pray to me, rather than the seven orthodox gods or other hidden existences?”

“…I do not know.” Emlyn shook his head honestly.

Klein thought about it and deliberately said, “In truth, I roughly understand what your Ancestor means. She hopes that, with my help, you will grow into a true high-ranking existence and thereby save the Sanguine when the apocalypse arrives.”

“Grow?” Emlyn asked in confusion. “As you know, we Sanguine cannot grow on our own. Only through special rituals, by receiving gifts from elders and inheritances from ancestors, can we raise our level.”

As expected, this must still conform to the law of conservation of Beyonder characteristics… In other words, there must be other methods, as long as they conform to the basic laws… Klein chuckled.

“Your limited knowledge has blinded your eyes, preventing you from seeing a broader world.

“Of course, this question will not be answered by me. You must search for its answer yourself. I merely provide you with an opportunity.”

He paused for one second, then said from above, “Do you wish for such an opportunity?”

Without any hesitation, Emlyn rose and bowed.

“That is precisely my wish!”

Heh. When facing a hidden existence, where has your arrogance gone? Why is only humility left? Klein muttered inwardly. He lightly tapped the edge of the mottled long table and said, “But there are certain matters you must obey.”

“Please speak,” Emlyn said, restraining the excitement in his heart.

Klein smiled.

“You may not reveal anything related to me to anyone without my permission.

“That includes the Sanguine who were present during the earlier ritual.”

“But…” Emlyn found this difficult to accept.

With absolute certainty, Klein asked gently in return, “Lilith should not have asked you to report to anyone afterward, correct?”

This could be deduced from the revelation not even specifying what to pray about!

Li—He directly said the Ancestor’s name… It sounds like they truly are old friends… Emlyn’s heart trembled, and he lowered his head.

“No.”

Klein’s tone showed little fluctuation as he continued with a smile, “This is a secret transaction. That is why I responded only after you had left the line of sight. Likewise, you do not need to report to Lilith. That would allow certain fellows to notice.”

Seeing Emlyn nod as if he had understood, Klein added, “If one wishes to become the key to saving the Sanguine, one must bear the corresponding thorns: not being understood, being slandered and looked down upon, and moving silently forward in the dark while carrying a heavy mission.”

Those targeted words immediately made Emlyn White imagine a corresponding scene:

Him, always mocked by his own kind for liking dolls. Him, who had gotten lost and entered Harvest Church, leaving behind shameful traces. Him, never valued or looked highly upon by the elders, silently guarding the race, guarding everyone, from a corner unknown to all…

Soon, Emlyn, moved by his own imagination, replied respectfully, “Your will shall be carried out upon the earth.”

Klein leaned back and said lightly, like clouds drifting in a faint breeze, “I have tacitly permitted the establishment of a secret gathering here.

“Are you willing to join this gathering and seek the method to grow stronger and save the Sanguine?”

“I am willing!” Emlyn answered without the slightest hesitation.

Klein nodded in satisfaction.

“Do you have any other request you wish to make?”

Emlyn instantly felt joy. He hurriedly said, “Great Mr. Fool, I wish to ask you to help me remove a psychological cue. It was placed by a bishop of the Church of Mother Earth—”

“I know,” Klein interrupted his description peacefully.

He knows… As expected of a hidden existence… Emlyn lowered his head again.

Klein chuckled softly.

“I can help you, but what price are you willing to pay for it?”

Above the gray fog, he possessed extremely powerful spirit vision. Just now, he had already discovered that, at some unknown point, the dark psychological cue inside Emlyn White’s spirit body had mostly dissipated. It had thinned to a fragile degree.

Klein had originally planned to reference the ritual in the Book of Secrets that handled similar problems, but the current situation made him believe that a ritual of secret deed, combined with suppression from the Black Emperor card and purification from the Sun Brooch, would be enough to completely dispel the psychological cue inside Emlyn White’s body.

A price? Emlyn thought for a while but could not think of anything he possessed that would interest the hidden existence known as the Fool.

Seeing this, Klein took the initiative to say, “I am interested in certain parts of your Sanguine history. You may use that as payment.”

The history of the Sanguine? Emlyn considered briefly, then agreed.

“You may first think about what you are going to describe. Heh. Before that, you must choose a code name from among them.” Klein materialized the unchosen Major Arcana cards on the surface of the long bronze table.

Emlyn White looked them over carefully with considerable interest.

“The Moon.

“I choose the Moon card!”