Chapter 161: Klein’s Version of “Magic Mirror Divination”

Chapter 161: Klein’s Version of “Magic Mirror Divination”

The curtains were tightly drawn, the wall lamps extinguished. Following the requirements of “magic mirror divination,” Audrey completed all the necessary preparations.

Of course, she had not deliberately chosen a suitable time period. When making a request of Mr. Fool, there was no need to be so troublesome.

Glancing at the candle before her and the mirror that reflected both its flame and herself, Audrey, filled with both curiosity and faint unease, picked up a bottle of hydrosol and dripped a little of its liquid onto the dim yellow flame.

A quiet, elegant fragrance entered her nose, and Audrey suddenly remembered the days when she had been nothing more than an enthusiast of mysticism.

Back then, she had also made all kinds of mistakes. At crucial points in rituals, she would discover that she had forgotten to prepare the essential oil and hydrosol meant to please the deity, and would have no choice but to make do with perfume instead. The results, without exception, had been failures.

Actually, judging from the information Mr. Fool has revealed, even if I really used my own perfume in place of this hydrosol, He would still respond to me… Audrey took a small, gentle breath. With the help of meditation, she made herself completely calm.

She knew that the uncontrolled wandering of her thoughts just now was not her normal state. Her slight anticipation and nervousness had been amplified by the Lie necklace!

Having adjusted herself, Audrey clasped her hands together and pressed them before her lowered mouth and nose, as if in prayer. With utmost sincerity, she began reciting in a low voice:

“The Fool that doesn’t belong to this era;

“The mysterious ruler above the gray fog;

“The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.”

…

The secret incantation echoed softly. After seven recitations, Audrey sensed that something indescribable had appeared within the surrounding darkness, like an undercurrent hidden beneath the surface of water.

Raising her head, Audrey extended her right hand and passed it beside the candle flame that did not waver at all, stroking the surface of the mirror from top to bottom without touching it.

At this point, the process of “magic mirror divination” was complete. If the mysterious and unknown existence was interested, it would use the mirror to provide a certain response.

Above the gray fog, inside the ancient and majestic palace, Klein saw the crimson star representing Miss Justice first expand, then contract. Illusory light rippled outward. In the end, all of it was tinged with a darkness that approached black, gathering into a mirror-sized halo that seemed capable of leading to the outside world.

This effect is different from previous rituals. Interesting… Klein leaned back against his chair and extended his spirituality until it touched that deep-black circle, which looked almost like the mouth of a cave.

Silently, his field of vision changed. The bronze long table, the crimson stars, and the spacious room lit by candlelight strangely overlapped, yet remained clearly separate from one another.

At that moment, Klein felt as though a mirror had become an extension of his body and his eyes, allowing him to see and interfere with the real world clearly from above the gray fog.

Yes—clearly!

The gray, hazy blur that usually veiled everything in his sight was gone. Every object appeared with sharp clarity in his eyes.

His gaze suddenly froze for two seconds.

Before him stood a young lady wearing a pure-white dress trimmed with golden lace. Her golden hair was loosely gathered, smooth and lustrous as it fell. Her emerald eyes reflected the somewhat pale candlelight—deep like the sea, yet also like the purest gemstones. Her features and the shape of her face combined into a breathtaking beauty, her bearing elegant and innocent.

For some inexplicable reason, Klein guiltily shifted his gaze away.

I almost thought she was a Demoness of no low Sequence. Fortunately, I remembered in time that Miss Justice is a Beyonder of the Spectator pathway, so she couldn’t possibly turn into a Demoness… This hydrosol’s fragrance is rather nice. Very special… That subtle sensation—that’s the mystical item made from the Faceless Beyonder characteristic? Miss Justice had it made into a necklace… Klein’s gaze landed on the mystical item disguised as a diamond necklace.

Then he heard Miss Justice speak with eager anticipation.

“Mirror, mirror, please tell me the whereabouts of the owner of this notebook.”

Audrey knew she was consulting Mr. Fool, but ever since she had first heard stories involving magic mirrors as a child, she had always wanted to say the words “mirror, mirror.” Now, at last, she had the chance to put them into practice.

The previous failed attempts don’t count. Mm! Audrey nodded to herself inwardly.

Klein immediately looked toward the black notebook placed between the candle and Miss Justice. He discovered that his spirituality could actually extend outward through the mirror with ease, “gripping” the medium for divination like a hand.

Above the gray fog, he quickly wrote the corresponding divination statement:

“The whereabouts of the original owner of this notebook.”

One “hand” held the notebook, while the other held the paper. Klein silently recited the statement as he leaned back once more. With the help of meditation, he swiftly fell asleep.

Audrey opened her emerald eyes wide, looking at the mirror earnestly and attentively as she waited for Mr. Fool’s response.

After several seconds, she finally saw ripples appear on the mirror’s surface, like water disturbed by a breeze.

It worked! The magic mirror divination method really works! Audrey’s eyes widened as they reflected the images flashing across the mirror.

It was an aerial view of a village!

The scene drew closer and closer. Dragon paintings on the various buildings gradually became clear.

A church soon occupied most of the mirror, then was replaced by the cemetery attached to it.

Finally, the image fixed upon a tombstone in a corner. Its inscription had long since been blurred by the sun, rain, and wind, leaving only the name “Lindrila” faintly visible.

At that moment, the mirror abruptly darkened. Then it returned to normal, once again reflecting Audrey and the candle before her.

Isn’t that the village with the custom of worshiping dragons? The knight who wrote this notebook was named Lindrila. He was one of them. After the Twenty Years’ War ended in defeat, he returned to his hometown and remained there until death? Or perhaps his body was brought back to his hometown after he died? Mm… that village is in East Chester County, and Stoen is also in East Chester County. It’s completely normal that Associate Professor Michelle obtained the notebook from there… There truly is a mind dragon living within the sea of collective subconscious there… Enlightened, Audrey thanked Mr. Fool and ended the magic mirror divination.

Under the candlelight, she stared at the notebook for a while. In the end, she decided to hand it over and see what the Psychology Alchemists could divine from it and what they could uncover.

At least I don’t yet have the strength to come into contact with that mind dragon. I can only do this for now… And even if the Psychology Alchemists really discover something and obtain some gains, once I grow step by step and rise in status within the organization, part of it will still belong to me~ Audrey’s mood quickly brightened again.

…

Above the gray fog, Klein tapped the edge of the bronze long table with his fingers. Combining what Miss Justice had previously described, he formed his own judgment:

That notebook and that village were connected to a dragon, and dragons often meant treasure!

What a pity. Miss Justice’s strength still isn’t quite enough. Otherwise, I’d really like to urge her to explore it herself. If she encountered trouble, she could pray to the Sea God, and I could support her from every side. Mm, that would be too dangerous for her. I can only give up for now… If the Psychology Alchemists fail to discover anything, perhaps we can try in the future… Klein suppressed his regret and savored the experience of the magic mirror divination just now.

“This divination method is excellent for the third party. It can connect to the real world with almost no price required. If I had wanted to just now, I could even have crawled out of the mirror in the form of a spirit body!

“But for the user, it really is extremely dangerous. They are completely unprotected, exposed beneath the gaze of an unknown, mysterious ‘eye,’ and could be possessed, manipulated, cursed, or corrupted…” Klein sighed sincerely.

He was not worried that Miss Justice would abuse magic mirror divination, because she had the best and safest object of prayer. There was no need for her to seek anything else.

That object is me! Klein withdrew his finger and sat quietly at the seat of honor of the bronze long table for twenty or thirty seconds.

Soon, he returned to the real world without lingering too long. After all, he was on the Future, under gazes from both the open and the hidden.

Leaving the washroom, he put away Azik’s copper whistle and Will Auceptin’s paper crane. Then he looked out at the darkness where the red moon was veiled by clouds and quietly thought for a while.

Putting on his half top hat of silk, Klein opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

After taking a few steps, he deliberately slowed down and glanced out of the corner of his eye toward the first room on the left.

According to his judgment, the mysterious eyes that had silently watched the deck—silently watched him—during the day had come from this room.

Klein walked slower and slower, almost stopping before that door.

Without concealing his actions, he stretched out his left hand toward the handle. Scenes of the room naturally surfaced in his mind:

Not far behind the door stood a coat rack, with nothing hanging on it.

Faint starlight spilled over the polished floor. The room was quiet and peaceful, lacking any human presence.

At some point, the window had been opened. Sea wind blew in from outside, lifting the not particularly heavy curtains.

No one there? Klein had only intended to probe. He immediately withdrew his left hand and walked toward the stairs as if nothing had happened.

Arriving on deck and facing the cold night wind, Klein maintained his indifferent exterior and relaxed posture as he slowly strolled near the railings. He appeared to have come down mainly for a walk.

Suddenly, he saw a man seated ahead—a man wearing suspenders and a white shirt.

Frank Lee? Klein did not stop. He approached step by step.

The man sensed something and half-turned at once, looking back toward the person drawing near.

It was indeed Toxin Expert Frank Lee. Yet there was no trace of a smile on his face now, and the area around his mouth and chin was stained red.

Klein raised an eyebrow but did not speak.

Frank Lee abruptly lifted both hands. Each gripped a silver-scaled fish that was no longer struggling.

In a dejected voice, he said, “It failed… Their survival cycle is far shorter than I expected. They can’t reproduce at all. Even planting them in soil doesn’t work…”

As he spoke, he raised the silver-scaled fish in his right hand and took a fierce suck.

That’s a good thing… Otherwise, I’d really be worried you might create some ecological disaster… So you’re drinking away sorrow with fish instead of alcohol? Klein secretly breathed a sigh of relief.