Chapter 90: The Development ‘Foreseen’

Chapter 90: The Development ‘Foreseen’

“According to Mr. Door, the main difference between the second Blasphemy Slate and the first is not that many Sequence names on the latter are very strange, but that the former contains many additional things. Those are the secrets the ancient Sun God glimpsed in the later years of His life. All right, as a true god, He does not have any so-called later years. It is merely that, when dividing the time from His emergence to His fall according to human concepts, that period can indeed be considered His later years.

“In other words, the maker of the second Blasphemy Slate was the ancient Sun God?

“To this question, Mr. Door gave an almost certain answer. He told me: when the ancient Sun God fell, the Blasphemy Slate was born.

“Meaning, this counts as a key relic of the ancient Sun God?

“Then who made the first Blasphemy Slate? That original Creator who truly created everything? And what additional knowledge does the second slate contain?

“Mr. Door did not answer. He only said this involved too many secrets and could not be made clear in a few words. If He could return to the real world, He could explain it in detail.

“Heh. Would I fall for that?

“Because the Blasphemy Slate was mentioned, I thought of two questions that had troubled me for a very long time: what does it mean to conform to the trend of the times? And who determines the trend of the times?

“Mr. Door’s reaction was very strange. He laughed for more than ten seconds, then told me to beware of the Spectator.

“What necessary connection does that have with my question?

“With His reminder, I seriously recalled the contents of the second Blasphemy Slate that I had seen and discovered an unusual problem. As a Beyonder who began as a Savant, my memory is something I am proud of. Anything I have seen, I will not forget. Yet I only remember that Sequence 0 of the Spectator pathway is Visionary, and I have no impression whatsoever of its apotheosis ritual!

“I remember the apotheosis rituals of the other twenty-one pathways very clearly. Only this one—I not only have no impression, but had also subconsciously ignored the matter.

“I tentatively asked Mr. Door: what is the Spectator pathway’s apotheosis ritual?

“Mr. Door laughed again. In a teasing yet leisurely tone, He said: didn’t you already say it earlier?

“This… The Spectator’s apotheosis ritual is to make the development of the times conform to one’s own envisioning, then at a key node, amid the predetermined trend of the era, consume the potion and advance?

“I believe this is the truth!

“Compared to an explanation like ‘the era is part of that original Creator, and only when the era develops according to expectations can He draw power from it and resurrect,’ this is far more direct and intuitive. Heh. I knew that among the founders of that ancient secret organization, besides fanatics, there must have been beings planning for themselves!

“Thinking carefully, this is truly terrifying. When you remain at mid- and low-sequence levels, it is still fine. But once you stand at a high position, it becomes very possible that because a certain idea, a certain concept, or certain matters you wish to advance do not fit the secret arrangements of a certain existence, you will unknowingly be guided or suddenly destroyed…

“Beware of the Spectator!

“I am very curious as to why Mr. Door knows about the second Blasphemy Slate and the various apotheosis rituals. His answer was that He had seen the complete second Blasphemy Slate. Alongside Him were Solomon, Zaratul, Tudor, Trunsoest, Augustus, Einhorn, Sauron, Castiya, Zoroast, Stiano, Constantine, and others… These are all surnames that stood above all Beyonders in the Fourth Epoch!”

The secrets carried by this diary page made Klein feel as though he were facing a mythical creature form directly. His mind suffered a storm-level assault from knowledge itself.

The Spectator’s apotheosis ritual is to make the development of the era conform to one’s own envisioning? If that is truly the case, Adam has consciously been preparing this matter since the Fourth Epoch… Therefore, the secret King George III is hiding and the developments that may arise from it conform to His envisioning—perhaps were even personally promoted by Him? When the tide of the era surges forward and cannot be changed in a short time, He will ascend to godhood?

If so, investigating the Great Smog incident in depth is simply abnormally dangerous. Even though I am currently a favored one of the Goddess, possess an official background, and can cooperate with angels at any time, safety still cannot be guaranteed. After all, the Goddess will probably be unable to descend for a long time… As Klein’s thoughts raced, for a moment, he actually felt the urge to retreat.

In the past, after reporting this matter to the Church of Evernight, he would have been able to relax—even leave Backlund for a vacation. But now, as the Goddess’s favored one, having already promised to search for Hvin Rambis and White Saintess Katerina, it would be difficult for him to simply run away.

One had to admit: when something is gained, something else is lost.

Furthermore, Klein did not know what kind of development Adam hoped the era would take. If something like the Great Smog of Backlund happened again, he truly had no way to withdraw just like that. Here, there were people he cared about and a peace he longed for.

At minimum, I must learn what the king’s secret is, then decide what to do… What other secrets, besides the Beyonder pathways and Sequence potions, are recorded on the second Blasphemy Slate? Klein withdrew his gaze, making the Roselle diary in his hand vanish.

Then, with a calm expression, he looked around and smiled.

“You may begin.”

At that moment, Justice Audrey did not conceal her curiosity. She raised her hand slightly and asked,

“Respected Mr. Fool, does the cross beside your hand hold any special meaning?

“If the answer requires an equivalent exchange, you may state your request directly.”

Klein had placed the Unshadowed Cross on the table precisely because he was waiting for Tarot Club members to ask about it, so he could tell Little Sun and The Hanged Man, who might potentially use this cross, the corresponding information. After all, such a matter could not be brought up on Mr. Fool’s own initiative.

Therefore, he smiled and looked toward Miss Justice.

“There is no need for anything regarding this question.

“It is a relic of that ancient Sun God.”

Ancient Sun God… The ancient Sun God? The Creator worshiped by the City of Silver? This cross actually has that kind of origin? A palace guards captain of only Sequence 6 or Sequence 5 actually carried a relic of the ancient Sun God? Is that not far too coincidental? Upon hearing Mr. Fool’s answer, Magician Fors almost could not believe her own ears.

At that moment, The Fool, Klein, seemed to casually add,

“Its level is not especially high. It only corresponds to an Unshadowed. Its greatest function is to cleanse mental corruption from Beyonder characteristics, help those who have consumed extra potions separate out the excess characteristics, and allow those unwilling to remain in the mysterious world to return to being ordinary.”

That ability is so miraculous… No wonder Mr. World asked me before whether I would choose to completely leave the mysterious world if given the chance… Justice Audrey felt that her earlier curiosity had now been satisfied.

No wonder… It truly is an item that makes my whole body uncomfortable… The Moon Emlyn made his judgment, then turned his head slightly to glance at a certain Sun.

The Sun Derrick was both surprised and delighted, even feeling as though his dream had become reality.

His ideal was to let every resident of the City of Silver break free from the curse, return beneath the sun, and no longer constantly endure madness, pain, and torment.

And if such an ideal could be realized by inheriting a relic of the ancient Sun God—the Creator worshiped by the City of Silver—it truly gave a sense of fate and inevitability.

He spoke before The Hanged Man could:

“Respected Mr. Fool, may I find a way to exchange for this item?”

“As long as you can pay a sufficient price,” Klein lightly nodded.

…Mr. Fool truly is too kind, too great! The Sun Derrick sincerely praised Him inwardly.

As long as a sufficient price is paid, it can be exchanged for… The Hanged Man Alger, inspired by Miss Magician’s use of that travel notebook, immediately followed up by asking,

“Respected Mr. Fool, then can this cross be rented for a day, or several hours, at a certain price?”

At present, he did not yet have plans to rent it, because the Wind-blessed potion’s digestion was comparatively fast. He planned to consider how to expel excess Beyonder characteristics only after consuming an extra Ocean Songster potion.

“It can,” The Fool, Klein, answered simply.

It can be rented? Star Leonard had previously obtained considerable benefits from borrowing Leymano’s Travels. After hearing Mr. Fool’s answer, his spirits immediately lifted, and he seriously analyzed whether he had any use for that relic of the ancient Sun God.

After several seconds, he discovered that he did not.

When dealing with wraiths and ghosts, not only was the Sun pathway skilled at it, but the Evernight pathway was also very powerful!

Furthermore, when Leonard had returned from Tingen to Backlund, he had obtained four Sunflare charms. He planned to give half to Klein, who had provided information, and keep half for himself.

As for expelling extra Beyonder characteristics or leaving the mysterious world, he needed those even less. He was about to hold the ritual and become a Spirit Warlock!

At that moment, Magician Fors glanced at Judgement Xio and felt several degrees of regret.

It was not that she regretted sacrificing the cross to Mr. Fool. Rather, she regretted not trying to rely on herself—or on Leymano’s Travels—to record the corresponding ability before sacrificing it.

Of course, the main reason was that she was comparatively timid. Before she could use an Astrologer’s methods to figure out the cross’s functions and influence, she had not dared to try rashly.

In any case, I can still rent it from Mr. Fool later… She worked hard to make herself optimistic.

Seeing that no one else raised any request, The Fool, Klein, withdrew his gaze and used his posture to indicate that the Tarot Club members could begin trading and communicating.

In truth, the Unshadowed Cross currently had one potential requester: Anderson, the strongest hunter in the Fog Sea. After boarding the Golden Dream, this fellow had, under Vice Admiral Iceberg’s arrangements, undergone various experiments in an attempt to digest the foreign object inside his body. At present, certain results had been achieved, but the hidden danger had not yet been thoroughly removed.

I will have Danitz ask him later… Thinking of this, Klein muttered soundlessly.

At that moment, Justice Audrey proposed a transaction request:

“Ladies and gentlemen, do any of you have a Dreamcatcher’s heart, a Heart Phantom crystal, or the complete brain of an adult Mind Dragon?”