Chapter 54: Playing Off Each Other

Chapter Fifty-Four
Playing Off Each Other

The World looked around the circle and said, “I wish to obtain information on all ruined nobles in the Loen Kingdom, including their present addresses. The more detailed, the better.”

He did not directly mention Baronet Pound, because Detective Sherlock Moriarty was currently handling an underground-structure investigation involving the Pound family.

Klein did not want Justice to use that to deduce The World’s identity.

I cannot overlook even a single detail!

He emphasized it to himself again.

Justice Audrey froze slightly upon hearing it and once again examined the member at the far end of the bronze long table. Testing him, she asked, “What do you want to do?”

The World laughed hoarsely. “You need not worry. I am only searching for some things and will not cause them harm. On that point, I can swear before Mr. Fool as witness.”

Mr. World truly can restrain his bodily language very well… Is his profession the nemesis of Spectators and Telepathists?

Audrey nodded thoughtfully.

“As for information on ruined nobles, I know some, but not enough in detail, specificity, or completeness. I need a certain amount of time to improve it. Roughly three or four days. Is that acceptable?”

As a noble, understanding people of the same class was required knowledge. When attending various balls, banquets, and salons, Audrey would always hear interesting stories. However, all of it appeared in fragments and was difficult to form into a complete whole. After all, she was not an expert who specialized in researching such matters. She still needed to consult books, ask around, and check materials to fill in details and avoid omitting any ruined noble.

“No problem,” The World said with a low laugh. “Then what compensation do you want? What I can immediately pay includes some secret history from the Fourth Epoch, knowledge regarding certain Beyonder pathways, and several formulas. But to be frank, I do not believe information about those ruined nobles is equivalent to a Sequence 8 or Sequence 7 potion formula. Heh. If you propose another request, I will attempt to fulfill it.”

Not equivalent to a Sequence 8 or Sequence 7 potion formula. In other words, I cannot ask for anything related to Psychiatrist…

Justice Audrey thought seriously.

During that process, she quietly glanced at Mr. Fool at the head of the ancient long table, hoping to obtain a hint. In the end, she discovered that Mr. Fool was shrouded in gray fog and had no reaction at all, like a deity watching the earth.

All right…

Audrey finally made her decision and smiled faintly.

“I wish to hear knowledge regarding certain Beyonder pathways, but the premise is that I do not already know it.”

“Respected Mr. Fool, can You serve as judge?”

“Certainly,” Klein answered calmly.

“Then we will converse privately.”

Audrey looked toward The World.

At that moment, Klein tapped the table lightly and blocked the sight and hearing of The Sun and The Hanged Man.

He deliberately nodded toward his alternate account, indicating that they were now in a state of private exchange.

The World looked at Miss Justice and, in his usual hoarse voice, said, “What do you know of the Demoness Sect?”

Audrey recalled the information she had spent one thousand pounds buying from The Hanged Man Alger last time. Somewhat cautious, she answered briefly.

“I know what they believe in, what era they originated from, what Beyonder pathway they control, and what tendencies their upper levels have.”

The World laughed hoarsely.

“I understand. You do not know much.

“The Demoness Sect controls the Assassin pathway. Sequence 8 is Instigator.”

“That I already know,” Audrey said, half reminding and half expectant.

The World raised a hand and rubbed his chin.

“Then do you know what the corresponding Sequence 7 is?”

Audrey shook her head with very small movements.

“I would be very happy to hear you explain.”

“Sequence 7 of the Assassin pathway is called Witch,” The World said concisely.

“Witch?”

Audrey was startled by that word, and corresponding associations naturally appeared in her mind.

“If—if a man consumes that potion, how should he act?”

Wear beautiful dresses, put on exquisite makeup, and imitate a lady in every movement?

She muttered inwardly, both a little disgusted and oddly amused.

“No, Miss Justice. When a man consumes this potion, he can no longer be called a man. He has become a true lady,” Klein answered through The World, resisting the impulse to click his tongue in wonder.

“Goddess, the Witch potion can change a person’s sex?” Audrey blurted out.

This—this is truly beyond imagination! Mr. Fool did not deny it, which means it is true! This is simply a miracle! This is the mysterious and extraordinary world. This is a world filled with every kind of inconceivable thing! This is the world I long for! I—why do I feel a little excited…

After calming down slightly, Audrey swiftly and guiltily glanced at Mr. Fool, quietly repenting for having recited the Evernight Goddess’s name before Him.

The World said in a low, hoarse voice, “Yes, but it can only turn men into women. Women will correspondingly increase their own charm. Whether in features, appearance, or skin condition, all will improve significantly based on the original foundation. This is the reason the upper levels of the Demoness Sect are all women.”

“Then what flaw does it have?”

Audrey suddenly felt tempted.

The World answered unhurriedly, “The acting requirement is to become an evil person who brings calamity, disease, and pain.”

Audrey breathed out softly, slightly disappointed.

Her thoughts moved quickly, and she immediately had a new question.

“If—I mean if—an animal consumed the Witch potion and neither died nor lost control, then would its increase in charm mean becoming human, or increasing the attractiveness of its own species? For example, a female cat that drives every tomcat and every cat lover madly in love?”

For a moment, The World actually did not know how to answer. Several seconds passed before he said, “I have not researched such matters.”

Without waiting for Audrey to ask again, he added, “Sequence 6 corresponding to Witch is Pleasure, also known as Demoness of Pleasure. The acting requirement is to bring pleasure to both men and women—mainly in that aspect—and use this to control, or rather influence, them. Demonesses of this Sequence are very skilled at using strange spider silk.”

Audrey opened her lovely mouth, then silently and tightly closed it again, deeply regretting her longing from earlier.

“Knowing this knowledge will allow you to identify Demonesses effectively in the future. Heh. Are you satisfied with this compensation?” The World asked.

Audrey nodded gently.

“This is very helpful to me. Mm… The transaction is established. I will collect information on ruined nobles for you as quickly as possible. Shall I give it to you at the next gathering?”

The World pondered briefly.

“Can it be faster?”

“Then once I finish collecting it, I will offer it to Mr. Fool and ask Him to bestow it upon you. Mr. Fool, is that acceptable?” Audrey asked, turning her head.

Klein, within the dense gray fog, nodded to indicate agreement.

At the same time, he busily controlled The World and made him mutter, “Him?”

He had noticed the issue from the difference in pronouns.

Sensing The World’s surprise, Audrey’s lips curved slightly. Her eyes turned upward, and she deliberately offered no explanation.

Klein tapped the bronze long table, indicating that the private exchange had ended.

Then he again controlled The World.

“I have another question.”

As expected, a newcomer has accumulated many needs…

Audrey looked over without surprise.

The Hanged Man Alger and The Sun Derrick likewise displayed body language indicating that they were listening.

The World said in a deep, hoarse voice, “I wish to know whether Intis’s Sauron family still has high-Sequence powerhouses.”

As The World spoke, Klein swept his peripheral vision across The Sun and discovered that the young man had no additional reaction.

It seems the City of Silver most likely has no records of the Sauron family… This family probably rose after the Cataclysm…

Thoughtful, Klein looked around and discovered that Justice and The Hanged Man had glanced at one another, clearly not knowing the answer, while The Sun, without question, was both blank and silent.

Thus, he tapped the table lightly again.

“I will answer this question. What compensation can you pay?”

Before his voice had fully fallen, Klein hurriedly controlled The World to speak.

“A formula. A Sequence 7 formula.”

“Acceptable. Transaction established.”

Klein created a private exchange environment and silently stared at his alternate account for several seconds.

Justice Audrey and The Hanged Man Alger, who had been blocked off, once again felt Mr. Fool’s unfathomable depth. Both were somewhat curious about the answer, yet both also felt it was of little use to them and not worth exchanging for something equivalent to a Sequence 7 potion formula.

After the private exchange ended, Klein deliberately had The World perform a salute and say hoarsely, “Respected Mr. Fool, thank You for Your answer. It is very helpful to me.”

“This is an equivalent exchange. There is no need for thanks,” Klein answered with an indifferent tone, suppressing the sudden goosebumps that had risen across his skin.

The following free exchange lasted less than ten minutes before he announced the end of this Tarot Gathering and cut off the connections with the crimson stars.

After Justice, The Hanged Man, and The Sun’s figures transformed into streams of light and dispersed, Klein looked toward The World across from him and laughed softly.

“Having an alternate account really does make many things far more convenient.

“It is just a pity that the All-Black Eye cannot be used outside the gray fog.”

As he spoke, he controlled The World to rise and bow before letting it dissolve inside the towering, magnificent palace.

Because he had had to split his attention earlier to control his alternate account, Klein had consumed a great deal of spirituality. He did not remain in that space. After removing the All-Black Eye and placing it upon the surface of the bronze long table, he immediately returned to the real world.

At that moment, rare sunlight for Backlund’s autumn and winter seasons shone outside the tightly closed curtains.

Klein did not admire it. He fell onto the bed and slept for half an hour, recovering some of his energy.

After waking, because of Miss Justice’s promise, and because the matter was not urgent, he had no intention of going to the library again to search for information. Instead, he decided to use the time before nightfall to head toward one of the many cemeteries outside Backlund.

Klein intended to test Azik’s copper whistle and determine the range and limitations of its influence.

Of course, the experiment would be carried out only after dark. The reason he was going now was that hiring a carriage to go to a cemetery after dusk would seem very strange, drawing far too much attention.