Chapter 192: The First Essential of an Adventuring Operation

Chapter 192: The First Essential of an Adventuring Operation

She can’t enter… Even the Seven Lights cannot enter because of certain peculiarities… Is this a restriction Calderón places on higher-level beings of the spirit world? But how does Miss Messenger know about that restriction? Has she been there before? If that’s the case, then I didn’t need to ask Red Light and the Magic Mirror at all… Or perhaps that’s what her spiritual intuition is telling her? As his thoughts turned, Klein slowly and silently exhaled.

He immediately took out a gold coin and handed it to Reinette Tinekerr.

“I understand. Thank you for informing me.”

After one of Miss Messenger’s heads bit onto the gold coin and her entire body retreated into the spirit world, Klein let his thoughts spread and began considering whom else he could find as a helper.

“Mr. Azik has fallen into slumber. Who knows when he’ll awaken? I can’t wait.

“Will Auceptin is about to be born, but that still means He’ll be an infant, at an absolute low point. Even with Ma’am Hermit’s method for briefly restoring some strength during His weakened state, it’s impossible to waste that on something as minor as being my bodyguard. And once He leaves Backlund or displays the corresponding level, there’s a high chance He’ll be locked onto by the Angel of Fate, Ouroboros, again.

“Could I use this Mercury Snake to ask a demigod of the Life School of Thought for help, such as Councilor Ricciardo from before? That’s very difficult. The Life School of Thought underwent an internal split previously. Their councilors have too many matters to deal with, and they still need to carry the Die of Probability around the world, leaving traces behind in order to mobilize the Angel of Fate.

“The Mystery Queen, Bernadette? I’m not that close to her. Besides, the Fool has angels and demigods under Him. There’s no way Gehrman Sparrow, as His blessed, would seek help elsewhere. Even under the banner of cooperation, it would still seem quite problematic. Sigh. On the surface, the Fool has angels and demigods under Him, but in reality, He’s just a Fool photobombing next to angels and demigods…

“The Chief of the City of Silver? I could indeed direct him when he has a need and use it as the price to pay, but the problem is that he cannot leave the Forsaken Land of the Gods. Better to save that opportunity for the Bizarro Bane…

“Those old fellows of the Sanguine? There’s neither a suitable reason nor any way to avoid easily exposing myself to Lilith’s line of sight. No one knows who exactly this ancient god, dead but not stiff, currently is. If it’s the Primordial Moon in disguise, then I don’t even need to think about resurrection…”

Klein came up with one candidate after another, only to rule them out one by one. In the end, he could not help but sigh inwardly.

“When the need comes, one always feels short of friends!”

He almost wanted to set up a ritual and try praying for the power of the night, the power of crimson, and the Goddess’s favor, hoping to be directly bestowed with the true spirit body and dust of a Spirit World Plunderer, or to receive help from an archbishop, a high-ranking deacon, or a hidden ascetic.

Unfortunately, such thoughts could only circle in his mind; he could not put them into practice. Although Klein rather acknowledged the Evernight Goddess and did not reject his current suspected identity as a favored one of Evernight, he still maintained strong vigilance. He did not want to rely on divine gifts for everything. Moreover, he suspected that a ritual of this sort would have no effect, because with his current level and strength, he had no right to raise conditions to a Sequence 0. If a deity wished to grant something, They naturally would. If They did not, praying would be useless.

If I had Old Neil’s thick skin, maybe I really would give it a try. Back then, the Goddess even responded to settling bills and solving constipation. She really does dote on Her believers. Of course, there would definitely be certain “aftereffects” attached… Recalling the past, Klein felt momentarily wistful.

He decided to change his line of thinking. Since he could not find friends to help, he would consider making use of enemies.

“Mm. Perhaps I can bring the Black Emperor card, the Tyrant card, and the radio transceiver, then wait at Calderón’s entrance. As soon as any one of the King of the Five Seas, Nast, a high-sequence powerhouse of the Church of Storms, Rose School of Thought leader Suah, or other demigod or angel arrives, I immediately enter the City of the Dead…

“No. That’s far too obvious. The King of the Five Seas and high-sequence powerhouses of the Church of Storms most likely wouldn’t follow me into Calderón. They would just stay outside and guard the entrance, waiting for me to come out on my own…

“God’s Sin Suah might indeed chase straight after me, but as an angel, He wouldn’t encounter much obstruction in Calderón’s outer regions at all. That would be inviting fire upon myself…”

After repeatedly thinking it through, Klein finally gave up on the plan of creating chaos to fish for benefits. He believed that the situation outside Bayam would be very difficult to reproduce, especially before he himself reached a high sequence.

Those who always walk along the edge of the abyss will eventually fall.

“Who else can provide help?” Klein’s gaze swept over the two marionettes beside him. Friend after friend flashed through his mind, including the members of the Tarot Club.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

“Miss Sharron previously told me that the mummy of Tutanssess II was part of her advancement ritual and of great importance to her. In other words, she will soon become a demigod, a Sequence 4 Puppet of the Mutant pathway…

“If she has already succeeded, then I can absolutely ask her for help. We have a good cooperative relationship.

“Fortunately, I chose to help her last time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have a shred of hope today.”

Klein sighed with emotion. He took out a sticky note and a fountain pen, using the back of his marionette Enzo as a surface as he quickly wrote:

“It has been many days since we last met. I wonder how you have been recently…”

As he wrote, Klein suddenly stopped, feeling that this wording was rather awkward and too insincere.

Miss Sharron is a restrained person. Even when she writes letters, she goes straight to the point and includes nothing unnecessary. I should consider her personality and be more frank… Klein thought for a few seconds, picked up the note he had just written, and snapped it with a shake. He watched as crimson flames swallowed it.

After deliberating for several seconds, Klein wrote on a new sheet of paper:

“I have already obtained the spirit world coordinates of the city of Calderón. If you have already become a demigod, I hope we can cooperate again and that I can receive a certain amount of help. If you have not, please do not force yourself; I can still seek help from other friends.

“Sherlock Moriarty.”

After folding the note and writing words such as “To Madam Maria” on the outside, Klein once again took out the adventurer’s harmonica, brought it to his lips, and blew.

Reinette Tinekerr, wearing a gloomy and elaborate dress, stepped out of the void and appeared in front of him as though she had never left the area at all.

Klein handed over the folded paper and a gold coin, earnestly entrusting her with the task.

“Deliver this to 126 Gard Street, Hillston Borough, Backlund. Put it directly into the mailbox.”

“Very well,” one of Reinette Tinekerr’s heads said, while another bit onto the letter and gold coin.

Seeing this, Klein felt a little uneasy and followed up with two more questions.

“You didn’t lose the previous map, did you?

“Do you know which district Hillston Borough is and where Gard Street is?”

The other three blond, red-eyed heads carried by Reinette Tinekerr answered in turn:

“No…” “Know…” “This…” “Is…” “Very…” “Easy…” “To…” “Find.”

Klein immediately let out a breath of relief and politely saw Miss Messenger off.

He temporarily cast the matter of Calderón aside and instead began disguising his marionette, Ludwell.

The next morning, a man with somewhat brown skin and soft, slightly curled hair, dressed in a Loen-style formal suit and wearing a half top hat, entered the city of Tetnik at the edge of the jungle with two servants.

This was a city whose main commodities were lumber, rubber, and jungle specialties. Recently, it was said that several hair-growth tonic research institutes and supporting factories had been established here.

Klein, disguised as a local wealthy man, quickly found a hotel and settled in. Sitting down in a wicker armchair, he once again admired his handiwork.

Winner Enzo’s skin was now more than merely bronze; it was entirely darkened. Combined with his thin, soft hair, dense eyebrows, heavily shadowed facial contours, loose pleated trousers rich with Balam characteristics, and black-and-white upper garment, he looked like a standard indigenous servant from a plantation estate.

Hell Admiral Ludwell’s rather ornate clothing had been changed to match Enzo’s. The exposed parts of his skin now bore obvious burn scars, while the silver-white mask on his face had been dyed an even iron-black. This made him look like someone whose face had been damaged in a fire and who had no choice but to wear an iron mask to avoid frightening passersby.

Klein had just finished the lunch delivered to his room when he heard the illusory, layered sound of prayer.

Male… Mr. Hanged Man? Emlyn and Little Sun are also possible. Their Sanguine Sequence 5 Beyonder characteristic transaction is about to begin… Klein was just about to head to the bathroom, take four steps counterclockwise, and enter above the gray fog when his spiritual intuition was suddenly stirred.

He hurriedly activated Spirit Vision and watched as Reinette Tinekerr, who had no head on her neck, walked out from the spirit world overlapping with reality while biting onto a letter.

Miss Sharron’s reply? Klein first thanked Miss Messenger, then took the letter and opened it to read.

“Apologies. I likely still need one to two months of preparation. If you still require help then, I will have no problem. Sharron.”

One to two months… It isn’t impossible to wait. In any case, I haven’t finished digesting the Marionettist potion either… Klein nodded almost imperceptibly, found paper and pen, and wrote a simple reply:

“Please proceed according to your own schedule. There is no need to hurry. My matter is not urgent, and I have enough time to wait.

“Sherlock Moriarty.”

After handing the letter and a gold coin to Reinette Tinekerr and asking her to deliver it to 126 Gard Street, Hillston Borough, Backlund, Klein suddenly thought of a problem.

Armies carry out reconnaissance before battle. For a dangerous place like Calderón, how could an exploration be done recklessly and casually?

Mm, while waiting for Miss Sharron to advance, I can first conduct reconnaissance and gather some intelligence that does not require much risk, such as what specific restrictions exist there, what mutations it causes to powers of the death and spirit domains, and whether one can only enter and exit through a fixed entrance, unable to directly return above the gray fog from inside… Only after confirming these things can I formulate a plan and make preparations… Of course, even the reconnaissance should be preceded by divination… Klein quickly made his decision and walked into the bathroom attached to the room.