Chapter 182: The “Sheriff” Beyonder Characteristic

Chapter 182: The “Sheriff” Beyonder Characteristic

“Black Emperor?”

The Hanged Man, who had been listening to Miss Justice’s account with casual indifference, suddenly lifted his head. His gaze instinctively sharpened.

He had only just learned that the card beside Mr. Fool was one of the Cards of Blasphemy created by Emperor Roselle—and that its name was precisely Black Emperor!

Could this have something to do with Mr. Fool? The Hanged Man, Alger, quickly glanced at the seat of honor at the long bronze table, then immediately lowered his head.

If this was truly done by Mr. Fool’s Blessed, then the matter definitely isn’t simple… Alger listened seriously to Miss Justice’s subsequent description.

The Magician, Fors, who had already learned of the matter from Xio and made certain guesses, also quietly looked toward Mr. Fool, hoping to glimpse the truth from this hidden existence’s reaction. Yet the Fool within the dense gray fog remained as calm as ever.

Having gained nothing either, Justice Audrey paused briefly and continued, “The victim was Capim, a wealthy man. Many rumors pointed to him as Backlund’s largest human trafficker. The chivalrous bandit Black Emperor infiltrated his villa, took his life, and rescued many innocent girls imprisoned in the dungeon.

“When Capim’s corpse was discovered, it was covered with a deck of tarot cards. On his face were Judgment and the Emperor.”

She did not mention the safe, because she considered it irrelevant.

Covered with tarot cards? Is this the action marker of our Tarot Club? Wait—human trafficker? The Hanged Man, Alger, keenly caught a particular phrase.

Thoughtfully, he turned toward the seat of honor at the long bronze table and asked humbly, “Mr. Fool, was Capim connected to the disappearance of colonial slaves?”

The latter was the mission assigned to him by the Church of Storms. He had once locked onto a suspect named Baron and asked Justice, Magician, and World, who were in Backlund, to keep an eye out for him.

Therefore, the moment Alger heard the phrase “human trafficker,” he instinctively believed that it was connected to the phenomenon of many tribes in the Southern Continent vanishing into thin air, as well as numerous slaves escaping from the islands of the Sonia Sea.

He believed that only something like this, a matter that seemed to hide certain secrets, would interest Mr. Fool.

Of course, it can’t be ruled out that this was an action completed independently by one of Mr. Fool’s Blessed. It’s impossible for them to wait for instructions on everything, like a manipulated marionette… The Hanged Man, Alger, thought.

Capim was connected to the recent disappearance of colonial slaves? Thinking about it carefully, that possibility really can’t be ruled out. There were four Beyonders in his villa, which was abnormal in itself… Even if a rich man like him could hire Beyonders as bodyguards, the highest configuration would be one Sequence 7 and two Sequence 8 or Sequence 9s. At the time, that Heras, including his mystical item, was equivalent to a Sequence 5 powerhouse… Klein was reminded by The Hanged Man’s words, and many thoughts instantly emerged. He felt that the matter could faintly be linked together.

However, he could not confirm his guess, so he skipped The Hanged Man’s question directly and laughed softly.

“My Blessed made a minor contribution in this matter.”

As expected! Justice Audrey’s eyes shone as she cheered inwardly.

As expected… This is the first matter I’ve encountered in the real world that’s related to the Tarot Club… The Magician, Fors, felt half delighted and half emotional.

The Hanged Man, Alger, believed that Mr. Fool’s words indirectly confirmed his guess:

Capim the human trafficker was definitely not simple. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the Blessed of a hidden existence to act. And a not-simple human trafficker was very likely connected in some way to a not-simple slave disappearance incident.

Without waiting for Miss Justice to speak, The Fool, Klein, lightly tapped the edge of the ancient long table with his finger and leisurely added, “In this matter, he obtained the Beyonder characteristics left behind by two Beyonders. He hopes to sell them as soon as possible. One corresponds to a Sequence 8 Sheriff, and the other to a Sequence 7 Interrogator.”

Sheriff, Interrogator… Isn’t this the Arbiter pathway controlled by the Augustus family? Only members of the royal family, ancient nobles, and the military could possibly obtain it… Was one of them standing behind Capim? The possibility of Feneport’s Castiya family can’t be ruled out either… The Hanged Man, Alger, frowned slightly, increasingly feeling that the slave disappearance incident was not so simple.

Justice Audrey’s thoughts were similar. She had never imagined that the Beyonders inside Capim’s villa would actually belong to the Arbiter pathway.

How could a force that controls the corresponding formulas collude with a human trafficker like Capim… Audrey pressed her lips together slightly, both confused and perplexed.

“Sheriff?” The Magician, Fors, knew that her good friend Xio had been saving up the cost of potion materials for that Sequence. She immediately straightened up and asked in confusion, “Mr. Fool, what is a Beyonder’s left-behind characteristic?”

This reaction is different from what I expected. Shouldn’t she have asked directly how many pounds it costs? Then again, I don’t seem to have told Miss Magician about the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Conservation and Indestructibility… Klein was briefly stunned, then began considering his tone.

At that moment, Justice Audrey took the initiative to speak.

“Mr. Fool, may I answer this question? The corresponding payment can be given directly to you.”

Fors was her friend. Worried that Mr. Fool might not be willing to share that knowledge again, she volunteered.

“No problem,” Klein replied with a smile.

Miss Justice is always able to worry about the things I worry about… he sighed inwardly.

Whew. Justice Audrey silently let out a breath. Then she turned to Fors and deliberately avoided noble pronunciation and specialized terminology.

“Do you wish to know the answer?

“What are you willing to pay in return?”

The Magician, Fors, nodded without hesitation.

“Of course!”

Looking toward the figure shrouded in gray fog, she respectfully asked, “Mr. Fool, may I use another chapter of Spirit World Observations as payment?”

She deliberately emphasized “another,” because she knew that the chapter of Spirit World Observations given to Mr. World would have to be sacrificed to Mr. Fool first, and knowledge that could be browsed at any time did not seem to possess the value required for a transaction.

It was not that she suspected a godlike figure such as Mr. Fool would peek. She simply felt that offering a different chapter showed greater sincerity.

At certain times, all a great figure cares about is your attitude… Fors had read similar lines in many novels.

Leaning against the back of his chair, Klein responded in a tone of little concern, “You may.”

“Thank you, Mr. Fool.” The Magician, Fors, could not suppress her smile.

Her intuition told her that she was about to come into contact with some hidden, high-level knowledge.

Justice Audrey finally relaxed and said with a faint smile, “In the world of the supernatural, there is such a law. Remember, it is a law.

“Within neighboring pathways, the total amount of Beyonder characteristics is conserved. It will not decrease, nor will it increase. It only transfers from one thing to another and changes from one form to another.

“Therefore, after a Beyonder dies, their characteristic will precipitate. It is equivalent to the main ingredient of the corresponding potion. As long as you know the supplementary ingredients, you can use it to concoct that Sequence’s potion. Mm, the remnants of those who lost control are an exception. They contain too many hidden dangers and can only be made into items.”

After a Beyonder dies, their characteristic precipitates and is equivalent to the main ingredient of a potion? In that instant, it was as if lightning flashed through Fors’s mind, and she suddenly understood many things.

So the relic Madam Anlisa gave me was her own Beyonder characteristic… So in the eyes of others, every Beyonder is equivalent to walking materials… How dark… Fors’s fists clenched abruptly. She felt as though the word madness was written across the very essence of the supernatural world.

However, she did not feel disgusted because she had advanced by consuming the Beyonder characteristic left behind by Madam Anlisa. Instead, it gave her a faint warmth.

After losing her mother, and before she met Xio, Madam Anlisa had been the person who treated her best. To Fors, inheriting the other woman’s relic and allowing her to remain with her always was, in a way, a sad yet warm experience.

“So that’s how it is. The Law of Beyonder Characteristics Conservation and Indestructibility… In other words, the characteristic left behind by a Beyonder who was a Sheriff is equivalent to all the main ingredients of that potion?” Fors asked, seeking confirmation.

“Yes,” Audrey answered, also thinking of Xio.

The Magician, Fors, immediately stood up and bowed to the mysterious existence looking down over everything.

“Mr. Fool, could I ask your Blessed to keep the Beyonder characteristic corresponding to Sheriff for a little longer? I want to buy it, but I don’t have enough money yet. Please give me one week. Is that all right?”

“You may.” Klein adopted an attitude that suggested he did not care about the matter at all.

Fors breathed out in relief, then hurriedly asked, “How many pounds does your Blessed hope to receive for it?”

Beyonder materials corresponding to Sequence 8 cost roughly 300 pounds each… Klein smiled.

“600 pounds.”

After stating the number, he immediately changed the topic, displaying his complete indifference toward a Sequence 8 Beyonder characteristic.

He looked around, materialized several sheets of parchment, and said, “These are the meanings of some of Roselle’s secret symbols. Consider it free knowledge, to help you better collect diary pages.”

This included the portions for numbers, months, days, and years.

Klein had decided to teach the Tarot Club members this knowledge because he was afraid that they would buy counterfeit goods again in the future.

Just from the date section, they can eliminate the vast majority of fakes… Klein chuckled inwardly.

Justice Audrey and the others were exceptionally pleasantly surprised. They had not expected to gain such a reward at the very end. Although they had already discovered that the secret symbols on the parchment were the simplest ones, they all believed this was a good beginning. With a first time, there would be a second and a third!

After everyone conversed for a while longer, Klein said in a calm voice, “That will be all for today’s gathering.”

“We obey your will,” Audrey, Alger, and the others said at the same time, rising and bowing.

One deep crimson glow after another vanished. The ancient palace above the gray fog returned to silence once again, leaving only Klein sitting alone in the high-backed chair belonging to the Fool.