Chapter 113: Domains

Chapter 113: Domains

Before The Hermit could answer, Justice Audrey added, “If you believe this information is important and cannot be exchanged for free, I can pay a certain reward.”

“No, there is no need. Anyone familiar with members of the Church of the Earth Mother in Feynapotter would know something about this.” The Hermit Cattleya did not doubt Miss Justice’s sincerity toward equivalent exchange, and believed that the other party had sufficient wealth or resources to meet whatever price she named. Even so, she decided to reveal part of the information for free.

First, this would improve Miss Justice’s opinion of her and lay a foundation for possible future transactions. Second, by throwing out information, she could observe the reactions of the Tarot Club members and infer their positions within their respective organizations and forces.

I can also be considered familiar with Bishop Utravsky, a Blessed of the Earth Mother, but I do not understand this corresponding situation at all… Of course, I am indeed a little afraid of him. His height and build are far too oppressive. Every time, I try to communicate only with Emlyn White… At the head of the bronze long table, The Fool Klein mocked himself inwardly.

The Hermit Cattleya continued without pause, speaking on her own, “Vampire belongs to the Moon pathway. Its corresponding Sequence 9 is Apothecary; Sequence 8 is Beast Tamer; Sequence 6 is Potion Professor; Sequence 5 is Crimson Scholar; Sequence 4 is Shaman King. Beyond that, I am not clear.”

“Ahem.” Emlyn White coughed. “Madam Hermit, I must emphasize one point. It is Blood Clan, not vampire. Heh. If you are referring to humans who obtain our clan’s characteristics by consuming potions as ‘vampires,’ then I have no objection. In fact, I would agree very much.”

So vampires belong to the Apothecary pathway, and Shaman King belongs there too. No wonder they worship the Primordial Moon and do not believe in the Goddess…

Could the Sealed Artifact Miss Sharron obtained, the Crimson Moon Crown, have evolved from the death of a certain Crimson Scholar or Blood Clan Viscount? Aside from creating the effect of a full moon and granting immunity to the corresponding influence, it can provide terrifying speed, unimaginable recovery, and fairly powerful darkness-related spells. Its negative effects can be neutralized by drinking fresh human blood… It really does resemble something derived from the Blood Clan…

Between the different professions of this pathway, some resemble the Seer pathway, lacking obvious connections from one to the next, while others show a certain progression. How strange…

Klein connected scattered things he had seen and heard, gaining a measure of understanding while also feeling somewhat puzzled.

The Hanged Man Alger, The Magician Fors, and the others either fell into thought, listened with great interest, or pretended not to care. Their reactions differed, but The Hermit Cattleya could judge from them that they had not previously known much about information related to vampires.

“Their positions in their own organizations and forces are still around the middle and lower levels, matching the trait of having recently been drawn into the Tarot Club and currently being on a rapid advancement track… The World showed no reaction. Either he is very deep, or he already knew about vampires, or both… After these observations, I must admit that The World is the member of the Tarot Club who deserves the most attention and the most caution…”

Justice Audrey listened with strong interest. After thinking carefully, she raised her hand slightly, as though in a private tutoring lesson.

“Madam Hermit, why is there no necessary connection between the different Sequences of the Moon pathway?”

The Hermit Cattleya glanced at Miss Justice and noticed that her dress and jewelry were completely different from last time. Not a single item was repeated, yet all of them displayed a luxurious and precious air.

In that instant, she seemed to see Her Majesty’s portraits from youth. In every portrait, the attire differed, and the same formal outfit would absolutely never be worn a second time.

After a moment of silence, Cattleya said, “Different Sequences within a pathway do not necessarily need to be connected, or rather, they do not need to possess a surface-level connection. What they share in common is that they all fall within the domains represented by the deity corresponding to that pathway. For example, the Moon represents spirituality, plants, beauty, part of life, part of darkness, and part of the bizarre. Therefore, this pathway has Apothecaries from the domain of plants, Vampires from the domain of life, and Beast Tamers from the intersection of life and spirituality.”

“Blood Clan!” The Moon Emlyn White stressed, then lifted his chin slightly. “This should be the reason why we Blood Clan are all handsome and beautiful.”

No, that is not right. The vampires I saw were all disgusting and hideous… The Sun Derrick quietly refuted inwardly.

It can be explained like this? That is somewhat different from what the Captain and Daly said… Different pathways represent different domains contained by different Sequence 0s… Or perhaps combining the two explanations is the most accurate answer? I wonder what domain the Sequence 0 of the Seer pathway represents. Judging by the symbolic image on the back of my chair, the bizarre and change? Klein remained outwardly unmoved, but thoughts flashed rapidly within his mind.

Justice Audrey easily understood Madam Hermit’s explanation and could not help guessing the name of her own pathway’s Sequence 0.

“It definitely is not ‘Dragon.’ There are many types of dragons, and many, many abilities are not included in this pathway. This is closer to the domain represented by mind dragons…

“I truly hope Mr. Fool can collect the Card of Blasphemy corresponding to this pathway as soon as possible…

“Groselle’s Travels originated from the dragon race. I wonder whether it has any connection to mind dragons…”

Just then, The Moon Emlyn asked in a confirming manner, “In other words, if I want to smoothly become a Blood Clan Viscount, I likewise need to act as a Potion Professor, even though I am naturally beloved by the Moon?”

Student White, I know the part you truly wanted to emphasize was the latter half… The Fool Klein nearly reached out to pinch his chin.

This was also one reason he had commissioned Miss Magician to check Williams Street for abnormalities. He felt that Emlyn White, a vampire who did not enjoy going out or socializing, was still not very reliable for the moment. The other reason was that he knew Emlyn was certainly being secretly monitored by the Blood Clan upper ranks. If Emlyn were sent to Williams Street, the matter of the underground ruin would be very easy to expose.

“Yes.” The Hermit Cattleya nodded.

The exchange continued and gradually approached its end. Justice Audrey seemed to remember something. She turned slightly and looked toward the head of the bronze long table.

“Mr. Fool, the second round of the unified government employee examination officially ended today. Only the final interview remains.”

Her tone was light and cheerful, with obvious delight, like an excellent student reporting her grades to a parent.

In her view, the unified government employee examination plan was something Mr. Fool had casually suggested, while she had worked hard to promote it through inconspicuous guidance. It was her first attempt to change reality through Beyonder abilities, so she had always paid close attention to it and reported the situation to the person who had given the suggestion from time to time.

The second round of the examination has ended? I wonder whether Benson can pass, and whether he has the chance to enter the final interview… Leaning back in his chair, Klein suddenly felt rather emotional.

He nodded lightly and said with a smile in his voice, “Not bad.”

Having received Mr. Fool’s praise, Justice Audrey became even happier. She felt that she had indirectly changed the fate of many people, allowing those who originally could only remain in the lower-middle levels of society to gain a chance to enter the middle and upper levels.

Listening to this exchange, The Hermit Cattleya could not help frowning slightly, feeling that this was somewhat inconsistent with the style the Tarot Club had shown earlier.

“Could the changes that have occurred in the Loen Kingdom over the past half year have been secretly pushed by the Tarot Club? Did Miss Justice, this noble young lady, play an important role? If that is true, then I must adjust my understanding again… Although the members here are not high in Sequence and do not hold high positions in their organizations, they can still, to some degree, influence the world situation?” Cattleya withdrew her gaze and considered whether to learn more about the hidden story behind Loen’s reforms through different channels.

After several more minutes of exchange, The Fool Klein announced the end of this gathering.

As Miss Justice and the others rose to pay their respects, he severed the connection, leaned back against his chair, and quietly watched the boundless grayish-white fog below for a long time.

…

Backlund, inside a café near King’s Avenue.

Melissa held a ceramic teaspoon, gently stirring black tea with lemon, occasionally turning to glance at the pale-white fog covering the window outside.

Her black gauze hat was placed on the seat beside her. Before her sat a plate of the cheapest toast, but she had not taken a single bite.

She had originally worried that sitting here for so long would make the café owner unhappy and prevent him from earning more money. Later, however, she discovered that quite a few people were staying here, just like her, waiting for the examination across the street to end.

Time passed second by second. The mist on the glass window grew thicker and thicker. Melissa could not help extending her right hand and using a finger to clear a small, relatively transparent patch.

At last, she saw a crowd of people leave the examination hall and surge over. She saw the café’s wooden door with inlaid glass pushed open, and seven or eight men and women entered first.

Benson had just removed his slightly old top hat and had not yet had time to use his fingers to smooth his rather high hairline when he discovered that his younger sister had stood up. Somewhat nervous, she asked, “How was the exam? Er, were today’s questions difficult?”

“For other people, perhaps they were rather difficult, but I had no problem at all. Arithmetic is my specialty.” Benson looked left and right. Seeing that everyone was discussing things and no one was paying attention to him, he chuckled. “When the exam ended, I saw large blank spaces left on quite a few people’s papers. Do they think low-level government employees can have arithmetic secretaries? If so, what is the difference between employing curly-haired baboons and employing them?”

Melissa secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced to the side, then turned her head back.

“Benson, if you truly have confidence, you should begin considering the interview.

“You must buy a sufficiently proper new outfit.”

“We can consider that tomorrow. Today, we only need to celebrate. I have already thought of which restaurant we will go to.” Benson smiled and pointed outside.

Melissa pressed her lips together and looked at her elder brother very seriously.

“I have already bought meat and vegetables.”

Benson looked at his sister for several seconds before surrendering and shifting his gaze away.

“Alright. We will go home.”

…

Above the gray fog, Klein gradually gathered his thoughts, calmed his emotions, and began considering how to separate the True Creator’s mental pollution from the All-Black Eye.