Chapter 102: True and False “Spies”

Chapter 102: True and False “Spies”

Inside the ancient palace above the gray fog, once The World, Gehrman Sparrow, finished speaking, no one opened their mouth for a brief moment. Silence blanketed the scene.

The ones cooperating with the king’s faction and investigating Xio and me are the Psychology Alchemists. The Psychology Alchemists were founded through the excavation of Hermes’s ruins. Hermes is a member of the Twilight Hermit Order, and the leader of the Twilight Hermit Order is the Angel of Imagination, Adam… And Xio and I mentioned Adam in the real world… Does that mean we were watched by a King of Angels? This—this—this… In the world of mysticism, does making just a slight mistake lead to something this dangerous? Magician Fors’s mind was filled with The World, Gehrman Sparrow’s reminder. Her heart was extremely frightened and panicked.

Although she had experienced many things in the past, never had she so clearly recognized as she did in that moment that the path of the extraordinary was bristling with thorns at every step. Any tiny mistake could lead to a terrifying outcome.

…From now on, I must be cautious, cautious, and even more cautious… Of course, the premise is surviving this incident, surviving beneath the gaze of Adam, a King of Angels. May—may Mr. Fool bless me! Fors seriously reflected on herself and silently prayed.

Judgement Xio likewise had not expected her situation to be this difficult, nor that the matter’s hidden background would involve a King of Angels. For a time, she could not help feeling frightened and fearful. However, she had already resolved to sacrifice herself in order to seek the truth. Very quickly, she calmed down. She only could not resist turning her head to glance at The Magician, feeling guilty for dragging her friend into such danger.

At this point, crying and repentance can no longer solve anything. I can only do my best to face it and, at the critical moment, keep Fors alive as much as possible… Fortunately, Mr. Fool is still protecting us… Judgement Xio murmured to herself inwardly and cast her gaze toward Justice Audrey.

“What should we do next?”

As for Miss Justice’s recommendation back then, Xio’s feelings were rather complicated. On one hand, she knew the other party approved of the Tarot Club and had done so purely out of goodwill. On the other, she felt that she had somehow, without understanding anything, been watched by a hidden existence. Thankfully, that existence was Mr. Fool. Otherwise, she would long since have died miserably, her soul unable to find release.

Hmm. It should be that only those who voluntarily recite Mr. Fool’s honorific name are pulled in. There was no element of force. Ultimately, I am sitting here mainly because of my own choice. It has nothing to do with Miss Justice. Also, if not for her recommendation, I might never have had such an opportunity, never have been able to grow and pursue the truth… Xio pursed her lips and took a barely visible breath.

Justice Audrey knew about the Twilight Hermit Order, Hermes, and Adam. At this moment, she was the calmest. She simply had not expected that Fors and Xio would really be watched merely because they casually mentioned that Angel of Imagination once.

This made her, in a way she had never felt before, truly recognize the terror hidden within the sentence: “whatever is spoken of will be known.”

After considering for a moment, Audrey looked toward The World, Gehrman Sparrow, and tried to interpret:

“Mr. Fool is saying that He currently does not want to become direct enemies with the Twilight Hermit Order. Does that mean indirect means are allowed?”

Klein gently nodded.

“It should be so.”

“Does indirect include interfering with divination, observation, and prophecy?” Justice Audrey asked thoughtfully.

In this small gathering, The World, Gehrman Sparrow, represented Mr. Fool’s will.

Klein laughed softly and spoke in a low, hoarse voice:

“Perhaps it still needs to be a little more indirect.”

His answer was quite vague, because The Fool himself had not yet thought of what to do.

Their conversation seemed to inspire The Hanged Man, Alger. He looked in turn at Justice, Magician, and Judgement, then said,

“Which of you is a believer of the Evernight Goddess?”

He could be almost certain that among these three ladies, at least one believed in the Evernight Goddess. After all, adding together the conditions of being Loenese, a Backlund resident, female, and educated filtered out a large number of believers of other deities.

“I am,” Judgement Xio said without hiding it.

Justice Audrey then raised her hand slightly.

Seeing this, The Hanged Man Alger nodded.

“We can try to create some misdirection, making the matter of dealing with Hvin Rambis look like the work of the Church of Evernight, rather than the Tarot Club.”

As he said this, Alger skillfully changed the pronoun. Clearly, he had only been invited as a “consultant” and would not actually participate, so he should have said “you.” Instead, he said “we.”

Throwing the blame onto the Church of Evernight… This line of thinking feels so familiar… Klein, in the form of The World, Gehrman Sparrow, inexplicably felt a little amused.

“Then how should we mislead them?” Justice Audrey’s eyes shifted slightly as she quickly asked.

The Hanged Man, Alger, looked around.

“Hvin Rambis only hypnotized you not to seek protection, not to stand in a key position during the Church of Evernight’s major Mass and receive baptism, but he did not make you avoid the Church of Evernight’s archbishop. You can completely create an opportunity to meet the archbishop. Of course, there is no need to say anything. In that way, once Hvin Rambis dies or disappears, the Psychology Alchemists will most likely suspect that the Church of Evernight detected something wrong with you and used it to set up a trap.”

Without waiting for Miss Justice to respond, he looked toward Judgement Xio.

“After you are hypnotized, before leaving Backlund, find the nearest Evernight Goddess church and pray there seriously. Act as though you are a spy the Church of Evernight planted inside the Tarot Club. This will make the Psychology Alchemists mistakenly believe that Hvin Rambis’s matter appeared to be done by the Tarot Club, but was actually only a smokescreen, and that the hidden manipulator was the Church of Evernight…”

Act like a spy the Church of Evernight planted inside the Tarot Club… Hmm… Klein felt inexplicably guilty as he listened.

He was not a fake favored one of Evernight!

And Leonard was not a fake Red Glove!

It should be said that even Mr. Fool, the convener and host of the Tarot Club, was someone who drew the crimson moon across his chest… Klein grumbled inwardly, both amused and helpless, and from it, quite a bit of inspiration arose.

“This can only fool ordinary Beyonders. Without the angelic blessing of Mr. Fool, the upper levels of the Psychology Alchemists can easily learn the truth,” The Hermit Cattleya reminded them.

The Hanged Man answered,

“That is why the focus still has to be on Mr. Fool’s indirect protection. Otherwise, how could we, with our level, possibly deceive Adam, the King of Angels of the Spectator pathway? Also, Miss Judgement, Miss Magician, when you pray at an Evernight Goddess church, it would be best to pray to Mr. Fool once and ask Him to help you break free of hypnosis, so that you do not truly leave Backlund just like that.

“In such circumstances, Backlund is safer than anywhere else.”

“All right,” Judgement Xio replied seriously.

Seeing that the discussion had reached this point, Justice Audrey and the others all cast their gazes toward The World, Gehrman Sparrow, waiting for him to provide an answer.

Klein’s thinking had already taken shape. After some deliberation, he laughed hoarsely.

“In truth, there is an even simpler way to interfere.”

“What way?” Audrey’s eyes widened slightly as she asked with concern.

Klein looked toward Miss Justice and pointed above his own head.

“As soon as Hvin Rambis leaves, burn that hat ornament first. Only then activate the charm I gave you.”

That feathered hat ornament? The ornament that can receive a response from the so-called Death? Mr. World hopes to draw that existence in to interfere with divination, observation, and prophecy… Ripples stirred in Audrey’s emerald eyes. Thoughtfully, she nodded.

“I know what to do.”

When the time comes, what responds to you will be the power of concealment. In that case, no matter what happens, Adam can only think that the Goddess intervened, that She is protecting the Hall family, and that it has nothing to do with the Tarot Club… I wonder whether the Goddess will send Madam Arianna. If so, dealing with Hvin Rambis will be very simple. If not, I can give myself Angel’s Embrace in advance and fight mainly with marionettes, whose essence is dead. My chances of winning are still quite high… Klein muttered inwardly and said nothing more.

Justice Audrey quickly perfected the plan. Half speaking to herself and half discussing with Judgement Xio and Magician Fors, she said,

“Wait until Wednesday afternoon before you come to find me. This will give me a chance to meet the Archbishop of the Church of Evernight in advance…

“I will pray to Mr. Fool beforehand for an angelic blessing, so I will not be hypnotized when I see Hvin Rambis. Once he leaves, I will act…

“Hvin Rambis is a cautious and conservative person. He should continue choosing to meet on the way, to avoid being discovered or falling into a trap…

“…”

Very soon, through the discussion of the Tarot Club members, the operation plan took full shape. The World, Gehrman Sparrow, declined The Hermit Cattleya’s offer of assistance, since he could not be certain whether powerful figures from the Church of Evernight would truly participate when the time came.

As for payment, all spoils would belong to The World. Justice Audrey would also provide one instance of assistance free of charge according to his request.

…

Wednesday afternoon, inside Viscount Glaint’s residence.

Having returned from the riding ground and conveniently detoured here, Audrey wore a plain white women’s blouse, matching trousers convenient for movement, shiny knee-high leather boots, and a waist-cinching black jacket styled like riding attire. She stood inside the viscount’s study, looking at Xio and Fors.

“Who had you investigate Viscount Stratford and pursue the king’s secret?”

Her emerald eyes were like ancient pools hidden deep within the mountains—quiet, profound, and clear—drawing people into them without their awareness.

At that moment, Xio and Fors were truly hypnotized. The former answered dazedly,

“It was me. I was investigating the cause of my father’s death…

“However, I prayed for the protection of a certain existence…”

Audrey asked several more questions and received satisfactory answers. Then, her voice soft and beautiful, she said,

“Leave Backlund. Leave this place. This does not belong to you.

“All right. When you hear me clap, you will awaken.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Audrey lightly clapped her hands, watching Xio’s and Fors’s eyes instantly regain clarity.

After a little more small talk, Xio and Fors took their leave. Audrey began waiting patiently.

She planned to stay at Viscount Glaint’s residence for another half hour, waiting until Xio entered the nearest Evernight Goddess church and finished praying, before heading elsewhere.

In this way, regardless of whether Hvin Rambis appeared midway or elsewhere, she would be prepared.

Picking up the women’s soft hat with a white feather hat ornament inserted into it, Audrey walked out of the study, preparing first to reunite with Susie and Annie, then go find Glaint and chat for a while to pass the time.

She had only taken two steps when a gentle, smiling voice suddenly sounded beside her ear:

“Well done.”

“…” Audrey’s pupils dilated at once, and she hurriedly turned her head.

Beside the elegant wall-lamp bracket diagonally opposite, Hvin Rambis stood there, his head full of silver hair, his eyes pale blue, and his clothing neat.

This demigod had actually been waiting inside Viscount Glaint’s residence for Audrey to finish the hypnosis and obtain the answer!

And at this moment, Xio and Fors might not even have walked out the front door.

This completely surpassed Audrey’s expectations and The Hanged Man’s analysis, because it meant Hvin Rambis was right at the scene. There was no need for him to ask the target indirectly through Audrey—the risk of placing himself nearby was the same as personally hypnotizing them!