Chapter 92: List

Chapter 92: List

After giving his answer, Star Leonard finally fully realized the information hidden inside Klein’s request:

He means the Old Man once saw something like the Blasphemy Slate?

Without giving Leonard a chance to think too deeply, The World, Gehrman Sparrow, looked around and mentioned another matter instead:

“The Church of Evernight obtained intelligence from MI9 Major General and Deputy Director Qonas Kilgor confirming that Loen’s King George III is hiding a certain secret… He secretly had people excavate a Blood Emperor ruin and colluded with the Demoness Sect and the Psychology Alchemists…”

Klein controlled his dummy and described in greater detail the matter he had previously told Miss Justice. At the end, he deliberately emphasized two points:

“The three Churches seem not to have found sufficient evidence. With Hvin Rambis’s disappearance, the matter appears to have settled down on the surface… There is some reason to suspect that among the higher echelons of the three Churches, there may be traitors.”

…Such a major event actually happened in Backlund this week? Klein seems to have obtained this intelligence from the Church… Why do I know nothing about it? As he listened, Star Leonard looked at The World, Gehrman Sparrow, with a somewhat strange expression. For a brief moment, he even felt dazed, not knowing who exactly was the Red Glove of the Church of Evernight and the key nurtured target about to approach the higher ranks.

Looking back on the past, he vaguely grasped something, yet was unable to truly seize that inspiration and form a clear thought.

Judgement Xio, who had originally planned to share Viscount Stratford’s encounter and confession at this Tarot Gathering in order to seek help, was astonished to discover that the matter Mr. World was investigating overlapped quite significantly with her own objective.

If I had known it was like this, when we followed Viscount Stratford to that warehouse in the dock area, we should have asked Mr. World for help. Perhaps we could have bypassed the restrictions and obtained more clues… Xio glanced left and right, weighing her words and preparing to speak.

At that moment, aside from feeling shaken, The Hanged Man, Alger, connected this with several Tarot Gatherings three or four months earlier, before Star and Judgement had joined. Back then, The World, Gehrman Sparrow, had already asked Tarot Club members to keep an eye out for information on Qonas Kilgor and had identified Hvin Rambis as the mastermind behind the Caron suicide case.

As expected, the simple Caron suicide case was not enough to make The World invest so much effort. The matter he was investigating and the people he was watching are very likely connected to a secret that can affect the world situation… Also, there may be traitors among the higher echelons of the three Churches? Which cardinal or high-ranking deacon might this point toward? Alger sensed the surge of undercurrents and also smelled the scent of opportunity.

Normally, for a Church of Storms member who was not especially valued, a Beyonder long posted outside to play the role of a pirate, the best ending would be to gain enough merit to become a Sequence 5 Ocean Songster, return to the Church, and become an assistant to the upper ranks of the Mandated Punishers. There was almost no possibility of him holding a holy artifact and becoming a demigod.

Only when the situation changed and incidents emerged one after another could he rely on the Tarot Club, reveal sufficient ability, earn tremendous merit, and be regarded as a target for cultivation.

Likewise, Hermit Cattleya seemed to already see clouds gathering over Backlund and winds building strength. She faintly understood why the Queen had remained there for long periods over the past half year. Moon Emlyn furrowed his brows, once again feeling that Backlund was no longer a city suitable for Sanguine habitation.

I can only hope this does not sabotage the operation to hunt an important member of the Rose School of Thought… Also, it would be best if Father and I do not become as busy as we were during last year’s Great Smog… Emlyn recalled the past, and his brows furrowed even more deeply.

The corner of his eye swept across the Sun beside him and discovered that the youth was sitting perfectly straight, yet his gaze was quite blank. He could not help giving a heh inwardly.

“I will pay attention to whether there are any traces of Hvin Rambis,” Justice Audrey broke the brief silence, taking the initiative to speak.

Judgement Xio also looked toward The World, Gehrman Sparrow, and said,

“I am investigating a matter that also involves the king’s secret. If you need me to cooperate in anything, please do not stand on ceremony.”

At this point, she briefly mentioned the matter related to Shermane’s monitor.

“All right.” Klein knew that it was Trissy the Demoness. He made the dummy The World nod and laugh hoarsely. “Whether you are paying attention to Hvin Rambis’s trail or investigating the king’s secret, take note of whether there are too many coincidences around you. If there are, inform me immediately.”

He did not directly mention the Twilight Hermit Order or Adam. He was worried that Miss Justice and the others might privately be unable to stop themselves from thinking too much. They would inevitably become overly tense, thereby exposing a problem and attracting attention.

Too many coincidences… Magician Fors and the other Tarot Club members repeated the phrase in their minds, each developing their own guesses.

After more than ten seconds of silence, The Sun, Derrick, spoke:

“After another period of adjustment and preparation, I will follow an exploration team to the Afternoon Town camp. This time, we are very likely to attempt entering the Giant King’s Court.”

For Justice Audrey and the others, this was not especially sudden. They had long known that after The Sun advanced to Sequence 5, the City of Silver would most likely begin a similar operation.

Therefore, at this moment, they were not shocked or stunned. Instead, they felt as though they had finally been waiting for it. It was like ancient mythology was about to slowly lift its curtain before their eyes and display itself in reality.

The Hanged Man, Alger, thought for a moment and gave a tactful reminder:

“When the time comes, obey your Chief’s arrangements and pray often to Mr. Fool. If you encounter difficulties, you can, like The Moon, request a small-scale discussion.”

“All right, Mr. Hanged Man,” The Sun, Derrick, answered without feeling awkward. That was exactly what he normally did or wanted to do.

After this matter was exchanged, The Hanged Man, Alger, turned toward the highest seat of the bronze long table and bowed devoutly.

“Respected Mr. Fool, I have obtained an answer to something You previously asked me to investigate.”

Amid the doubtful and curious gazes of the other members, he continued:

“There were five Feysac Empire colonels who participated in the Konotop Sea Battle in 1338. Two of them died in that naval battle. One retired afterward because of age and died two years ago from excessive drinking. One was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to the Royal Naval Academy as vice president. One has become a major general and is currently commander of the Second Squadron of the Feysac Conquest Fleet.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Alger applied for permission and conjured a white sheet filled with more detailed information.

The Fool, Klein, made it flash into his hand and quickly browsed it.

He had asked The Hanged Man to investigate the Feysac Empire colonels who participated in the Konotop Sea Battle in 1338 mainly to search for the original owner of Creeping Hunger. That naval officer had captured Andy Haydn, second mate of the Enmat, during that sea battle and herded him. He had undoubtedly been one of the victors, so he could not have died on the spot.

The subsequent discoveries and encounters on the primitive island with The Hanged Man had made Klein suspect that the one who gave the glove to Qilangos was the Twilight Hermit Order.

Whether he was an official member or an outer member, he should not have died so easily—especially not from excessive drinking… Of course, it cannot be ruled out that this was essentially silencing… As Klein’s thoughts turned, he memorized the three names on the white paper:

“Boris… died in 1347. Cause of death: excessive drinking…

“Suzdal… forty-eight years old. Brigadier general. Vice president of the Feysac Royal Naval Academy…

“Dmitriev… forty-five years old. Major general. Commander of the Second Squadron of the Feysac Conquest Fleet…”

Withdrawing his gaze, The Fool, Klein, nodded lightly toward The Hanged Man.

“Continue gathering detailed intelligence on the latter three. Clarify their life experiences.”

“Yes, Mr. Fool.” The Hanged Man, Alger, agreed without the slightest hesitation.

To him, this was likewise an opportunity. Once the task was complete, he could try applying for that cross.

After they exchanged for a while longer, this week’s Tarot Gathering ended, and Star Leonard returned to the real world.

Sitting on the sofa, he hesitated for a moment, then still placed both legs on the coffee table. Lowering his voice, he said,

“Old Man, have you ever seen the second Blasphemy Slate?”

Inside his mind, Pallez Zoroast’s slightly aged voice sounded:

“No. The one who saw the second Blasphemy Slate was my great-grandfather. Heh. Who mentioned this matter?”

Leonard did not answer Pallez Zoroast’s question. One thought after another echoed through his mind:

The Blasphemy Slate really exists!

The Old Man’s great-grandfather personally saw the second Blasphemy Slate!

No wonder He could become an angel!

After calming down for several seconds, Leonard asked with both curiosity and anticipation,

“Old Man, then do you know the Nightwatcher potion formula?”

Pallez Zoroast immediately gave a snort of laughter.

“Naive! According to my great-grandfather, the situation was urgent, and the opportunity was limited. The Blasphemy Slate could flash away on its own at any moment. Every smart person knew that it was best to first grasp one complete Beyonder pathway, and only then browse the others.

“Besides, the knowledge on the Blasphemy Slate is displayed in the form of essence, not words. Every viewer requires time to interpret it. Before the Blasphemy Slate was taken away, not everyone could truly memorize one complete Beyonder pathway, let alone take the others into account.

“I do have quite a few potion formulas from other pathways, but those were gradually collected by my family over long years. Among them, there are not many high-sequence formulas.”

“I see…” Leonard laughed dryly, then asked instead, “Who took away the second Blasphemy Slate?”

Pallez Zoroast fell silent for a moment before saying,

“If my great-grandfather’s description was accurate, then it should have been the King of Angels, Adam.”

“The seven gods—no, at that time it should have been six gods—did not participate in this matter?” Leonard asked in considerable surprise.

Pallez Zoroast laughed with an unclear meaning.

“At least not openly.”