Chapter 7: Klein’s Sacrificial Ritual

Chapter Seven
Klein’s Sacrificial Ritual

An experiment?

Justice Audrey was instantly excited. She nodded with reserve and elegance.

“I would be very willing to cooperate.”

As a Spectator, she clearly remembered that Mr. Fool had used the word “experiment” in only two matters: first, when He had pulled her and The Hanged Man into this mysterious space, and second, when He had given out His honorific name and asked the two of them to try praying. Both results had been sufficiently successful, and both had revealed certain aspects of His essence.

What sort of experiment will it be this time? I really am looking forward to it!

Audrey restrained her impatient mood and worked hard to be a qualified Spectator.

Experiment…

The Hanged Man Alger’s mind abruptly tightened. He became full of wariness toward The Fool’s proposal.

What does He want to do? What is His true purpose? Will this benefit me or harm me?

Thought after thought rose and fell. In Alger’s mind, the image of Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos dying—his face rapidly rotting away—once more appeared.

In the end, he lowered his head and answered respectfully, “Your will is my wish.”

Beside them, The Sun Derrick looked at The Hanged Man, then at Justice. He did not understand why they were so sensitive toward the so-called “experiment.”

Klein stopped tapping the edge of the bronze long table and smiled.

“This experiment will make your transaction simple, safe, and sufficiently confidential.”

He slightly tilted his head, looked toward The Hanged Man, and said unhurriedly, “Do you still remember the sacrificial ritual The Sun once described?”

Klein deliberately mentioned this matter to show his openness and make it difficult for Tarot Club members to imagine that the sacrificial ritual he was about to provide actually originated from The Sun’s description. It would also be difficult for them to imagine that he had gone to such pains back then precisely in order to trick out a template for a sacrificial ritual.

“I remember. I have also had contact with matters in that field before,” Alger answered honestly, while his heart grew colder in waves.

Because orthodox deities rarely responded to similar rituals anymore, since the Fifth Epoch, the word sacrifice had often been equated with evil gods and demons.

Thinking that certain terrible consequences might arise from this, The Hanged Man felt as though he were walking along the edge of an abyss. One careless step, and he would fall, be corrupted, be devoured.

Following his predetermined plan, Klein did not overexplain. He nodded slightly.

“My idea is that you use a ritual to sacrifice the Beyonder material to me, and I will then bestow it upon Miss Justice. Such a transaction method benefits both of you.”

It can be done that way?

Audrey was stunned for a moment. She felt this exceeded the limits of her imagination.

But she quickly came to herself and understood the advantages of such a method, as well as the divine essence hidden beneath its seemingly simple operation.

Mr. Fool is amazing! Our Tarot Club is indeed different from other secret organizations. We use a deity’s method to exchange items and materials!

Audrey nearly followed habit and praised the Goddess in her heart, but in the end she changed it into praise for Mr. Fool.

Alger became even more vigilant and entered a calm-thinking state.

“Respected Mr. Fool, what must I do?”

He attempted to analyze The Fool’s true purpose from the sacrificial ritual’s procedure.

Klein pressed his right hand lightly down.

“As I said, this is only an experiment. It may not necessarily succeed, so your cooperation is needed.

“First, prepare an altar. It need not be too complicated; it may be crude. The only requirement is that this symbol be engraved or drawn upon it.”

As he spoke, a curtain of light manifested before him. Upon it was the mysterious symbol formed by the combination of the “Pupil-less Eye,” which symbolized secrecy, and the “Twisted Lines,” which symbolized change—the symbol behind The Fool’s high-backed chair.

After previous experiments conducted without spiritual materials, Klein had confirmed that the sacrificial ritual he designed could create an illusory door above the gray fog, similar to a summoning door. The only issue was that his own power still could not construct a stable passageway, and therefore could not use it to call upon the special nature of the mysterious space above the gray fog to complete the sacrifice.

Thus, he was ninety percent confident that the ritual would ultimately succeed. The only question was whether ordinary spirituality-containing materials could construct the passageway, or whether Beyonder materials—enough Beyonder materials—were necessary.

Let Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man bear the experimental cost… In any case, they knew from the beginning that the Tarot Club itself was a product of experimentation. Further experiments are foreseeable, and experiments inevitably fail sometimes. Even deities are no exception…

Klein decided to shift the costs.

While The Hanged Man, Justice, and The Sun tried to memorize the symbol, Klein chuckled softly.

“If you forget it, you may pray to me, and then you will be able to ‘recall’ it.”

“All right!” Audrey answered lightly.

With Mr. Fool, even rituals are no longer so tiring and troublesome!

She thought joyfully.

Seeing The Hanged Man also nod, Klein continued describing it.

“Second, follow the normal procedure, but there is no need to burn additional herbs, apply holy oil, or choose a special time. Reciting my name is sufficient.

“Remember to recite it in ancient Hermes or Giant, and pair it with the following prayer:

“Your faithful servant prays for Your gaze;

“He prays that You accept his offering;

“He prays that You open the gates to Your kingdom.

“After reciting, combine spirituality-containing materials with the natural-force vibrations created by the incantation and await my response.

“If this step fails, change the spirituality-containing materials to Beyonder materials and try again from the beginning.”

The Hanged Man Alger listened quietly, feeling that his previous guess might be close to the truth:

The Fool was in some sort of predicament.

He had given an inductive experiment, an experiment that advanced step by step, because He wanted to borrow the help of himself, Justice, and The Sun to gradually break free of restraint. In the end, perhaps He would descend into the real world.

That had been His true purpose when He pulled people into this mysterious space and agreed to establish the Tarot Club.

Even without the previous conjectures, after hearing this sacrificial ritual that tested possibilities one layer at a time and comparing it to earlier experiments, Alger believed he would have reached the same conclusion.

The only thing he could not understand was this: Mr. Fool had powerful blessed ones. There was no need to use himself, Justice, and The Sun. His blessed ones could completely conduct similar experiments.

There must be some secret here that I still do not know and cannot guess… Perhaps the experiment must be sufficiently hidden, while His blessed ones are being watched by certain existences?

The Hanged Man Alger let his thoughts fly uncontrollably for a moment.

After Klein finished describing the ritual, he asked in a low but mild voice, “A sacrificial ritual must have a definite time. Mr. Hanged Man, when do you intend to try it?”

Unlike responding to prayers, which could be delayed, the stable passage created by a sacrificial ritual could exist only for a very short time. Therefore, Klein had to wait above the gray fog in advance.

“For now, the Seven-Colored Lizard Dragon pituitary gland is the only Beyonder material I have. I do have quite a few materials containing spirituality… Mr. Fool, once the gathering ends, I will immediately attempt the first method. If it fails, I will collect other Beyonder materials. Once I have something, I will inform You through prayer and confirm a time.”

As Alger spoke, he could not help glancing at Miss Justice.

As a Spectator, Audrey immediately understood what he meant and answered without hesitation, “If additional Beyonder materials are needed, I will compensate you afterward. Um… I cannot guarantee that it will be the specific material you want.”

As expected of wealthy Miss Justice.

At the head of the bronze long table, Klein, The Fool, could not help sighing inwardly. He chuckled.

“Transaction established.”

He looked toward Justice and thought for a moment.

“After Mr. Hanged Man’s experiment succeeds, I will tell you the ritual for requesting a bestowal.”

“All right!” Audrey had great confidence in Mr. Fool’s ability.

After answering, a sudden inspiration struck her. She felt that the exchange of money could perhaps also be handled through this method. Of course, the premise was that the experiment succeeded.

I wonder whether objects without spirituality can pass through… After the experiment succeeds, I will ask Mr. Fool…

The corners of Audrey’s mouth curved faintly as she imagined beautiful future scenes.

Seeing that the topic of sacrifice and bestowal had come to a close, she considered for several seconds before speaking again.

“Mr. Fool, I have discovered two ladies suitable for our Tarot Club. They are both Beyonders, each with her own circles and resources in Backlund. They can keep secrets sufficiently well and have good personalities. Would You be willing to let them join the gathering?”

Justice wants to increase her influence within the Tarot Club?

That was The Hanged Man Alger’s first instinctive thought.

The Sun Derrick was quite interested. He turned his head toward Mr. Fool and waited for His answer.

Klein felt slightly troubled. In his earlier vision, members of the Tarot Club were supposed to be mutually unfamiliar, and each would then develop certain subordinates of their own, forming a relatively tight organizational structure.

That way, even if one member was exposed, captured, and spirit channeled, it would not affect the Tarot Club too greatly.

However, Miss Justice’s description had just struck his weakness. He very much hoped to meet Beyonders in Backlund who possessed different circles and resources, thereby searching for clues to the Secret Order and Lanevus.

If I work through Justice, she will inevitably hold things back… But I am not sure whether merely reciting my name will allow me to pull them above the gray fog…

In order to preserve his image, Klein did not think too long and adopted a delaying approach.

He said evenly, “They require a certain degree of examination.

“Miss Justice, use a hidden method that does not expose yourself to make them learn my name and become interested in it.”

Seeing that her proposal was close to being accepted, Audrey immediately replied in excitement, “Yes, Mr. Fool!”

After further exchanges, the gathering ended. The Sun, The Hanged Man, and Justice each returned, while Klein remained above the gray fog, waiting for the sacrifice.