Chapter 24: Joint Operation

Chapter 24: Joint Operation

The Aurora Order’s Saint of Secrets, Botis… Mr. World wants to hunt him? Magician Forsi’s first reaction was that she had misheard, since Gehrman Sparrow did not seem to have any connection to that Saint of Secrets.

However, she quickly linked it to the thing called a Star Worm that had just been mentioned and roughly formed a guess.

This suddenly made her rather excited and agitated, because she also wanted to hunt the Saint of Secrets Botis to avenge her teacher’s family. It was only that her strength was too low and she could not offer sufficient payment, so she had always suppressed the idea deep within her heart.

Although it sounds like Mr. World does not plan to personally act, Madam Hermit is also a Sequence 4 demigod, and behind her is the Queen of Mysteries… I can provide the greatest help within my ability! As thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind, Forsi cast her gaze toward The Hermit beside her, waiting for her to respond.

The Hermit Cattleya considered it and said, “Botis is very likely a saint of the Apprentice pathway. Hunting him will be extremely difficult. Moreover, behind him are Rose of Redemption and the True Creator’s favor. At my current level, relying purely on myself to complete this task is almost hopeless.”

“You can seek help from the Queen of Mysteries. I will also arrange other collaborators for you,” Klein made The World Gehrman Sparrow answer hoarsely. “The payment is priority in choosing the final spoils, as well as mysticism knowledge that can allow you to finish digesting your potion within this year.”

It is already December… The Hermit Cattleya felt her heart stir. After considering it, she said, “When the time comes, I will attempt it, but I cannot guarantee success.”

No matter how difficult the task of hunting the Saint of Secrets was, it was still not as dangerous as actively receiving the Hidden Sage’s infusion. And from the latter, she might not necessarily obtain mysticism knowledge that helped with digestion. There was a considerable chance it would be mathematics, machinery, literature, or some other content.

“No problem. As long as you make a serious attempt, even if it fails in the end, I will still give you some mysticism knowledge as compensation.” The World Gehrman Sparrow nodded and confirmed the transaction.

At that moment, Magician Forsi finally could not hold back and took the initiative to speak.

“Mr. World, Madam Hermit, can I join this task? I might be able to provide some help.”

I would have come looking for you even if you hadn’t said anything… The Fool Klein secretly laughed and made the dummy World nod gently.

“There is a place reserved for you among the collaborators for this task.”

Magician Forsi was not surprised at all. Rather curious, she asked, “What can I do? What do you need me to do?”

Gehrman Sparrow replied in an extremely calm tone:

“Be the bait.”

“…” Forsi opened her mouth but could not immediately say anything. She felt as though she had known from the beginning that things would turn out this way.

The World Gehrman Sparrow continued, “Likewise, you will have the right to choose from the spoils, only after Madam Hermit.

“Also, during this period, I can help you Record Beyonder powers such as Travel.”

Magician Forsi had never expected any payment to begin with. Successfully avenging herself would be her greatest gain—and afterward, perhaps she could even obtain additional rewards from her teacher. Hearing this, she no longer hesitated and nodded.

“All right.”

The World Gehrman Sparrow then turned his gaze toward Miss Justice.

“How is your Dreamwalker potion digestion progressing?”

Thanks to the exploration of Groselle’s Travels and her persistent acting during this period, Justice Audrey’s potion digestion had advanced quickly. Her eyes moved slightly as she recalled the details, then said, “I have long since summarized the acting rules. In another two or three months, I should be able to finish digesting it completely.”

That is a little slow… Klein muttered inwardly, then made The World Gehrman Sparrow say, “Create more opportunities for acting.

“If you can finish digesting your potion before Madam Hermit begins the operation against the Saint of Secrets Botis, I can advance Hvin Rambis’s Beyonder characteristic to you as payment, so you can assist her in the operation.”

To Klein, he would be staying in the Forsaken Land of the Gods for a long time next. Most matters in the outside world could only be influenced through members of the Tarot Club. Raising their strength as soon as possible was also a way of helping himself.

Besides, he was not giving anything away directly. The task of hunting the Saint of Secrets Botis was, just as The Hermit Cattleya said, extremely difficult.

“All right!” Justice Audrey was currently troubled over how to accumulate merit with Mr. World. Hearing such news, she naturally agreed without the slightest hesitation.

In her heart, the people of the Aurora Order were all lunatics and destroyers. Dealing with them required no reason!

In addition, Audrey had previously been rather troubled by her lack of Beyonder combat experience. This gave her an opportunity—although it was rather dangerous, it was still an opportunity.

Gehrman Sparrow is truly generous when he acts… Knowledge that can help a Mysticologist finish digesting her potion, and a Sequence 4 demigod characteristic… This should not be purely for a Star Worm. That sounds like only a supplementary material… Is he following Mr. Fool’s will, helping Tarot Club members raise their levels as quickly as possible so they can play a role later? The Hanged Man Alger listened from the side as The World communicated with several members, faintly grasping part of the truth.

This made him rather frustrated. He suspected that, if not for his lack of piety, his other thoughts, and that foolish act of testing Mr. Fool, this time he would probably have had a task “arranged” for him as well, helping him push open the gate of divinity.

At that moment, Justice Audrey, who had accepted the commission, naturally glanced at Magician and said with a faint smile, “I now rather hope that the Abraham family does not have a Star Worm.”

“So do I.” Magician Forsi nodded seriously, expressing the same thought.

Seeing that The World Gehrman Sparrow had finished speaking, The Hermit Cattleya thought for a moment, looked toward Judgment, and asked, “Would you like to join this task? You can do some peripheral intelligence gathering. The ability you previously displayed in this area left a deep impression on me.”

Even without Madam Hermit’s invitation, Xio would not refuse to help her friend when the time came. She nodded gently.

“If the operation is in Backlund, I have no problem. If it is elsewhere, the role I can play will be reduced.”

A Sheriff was always connected to their own “jurisdiction.” The more familiar the area, the more they could display their strengths. Once beyond that range, they could only rely purely on Beyonder powers.

“Your payment will be third choice from the spoils.” The Hermit Cattleya then looked toward The Star. “If necessary, I hope you can have official forces appear at the appropriate moment.”

The Star Leonard chuckled.

“I hope you do not reach that step.

“My payment will also be spoils, I suppose.”

…If poet-classmate had not been invited at the end, the mission to hunt the Saint of Secrets nearly would have become a Tarot Club women’s gathering… The Fool Klein muttered inwardly, then made The World Gehrman Sparrow finalize the matter completely, leaving only the Abraham family’s feedback to come.

Next, The Hanged Man Alger and The Sun Derrick completed the rental transaction for the Unshadowed Crucifix.

As soon as the free exchange segment began, The Moon Emlyn could no longer restrain himself. He looked toward the very top of the bronze long table.

“Honorable Mr. Fool, could You give me a hint on how to escape protective custody?”

The Fool Klein, shrouded in grayish-white fog, nodded gently and answered succinctly:

“This week.”

He answered with great confidence, but not because of prophecy. It came from his judgment of current affairs.

The current situation was that Feysac and Intis were attacking Loen, while Feynapotter was attacking Loen’s allies Lenburg, Masin, and other places. The three Churches certainly did not wish to suffer the Sanguine’s sabotage on top of their existing enemies. Therefore, Emlyn would soon be released. As for Father Utravsky, that was harder to say.

Likewise, at this moment, the Sanguine’s focus would certainly shift to the world situation. They would not have much motivation to continue testing which “companions” Emlyn had.

In addition, during the previous two days, aside from Judgment Xio, the one with the most tenuous reason for praying had been Emlyn White. Klein suspected that a major reason he had remained confined beneath Saint Samuel Cathedral was to make it convenient for the Goddess to exert influence. Now that the matter was over, he had no further role to play.

Combining these three factors, it was not difficult to conclude that Emlyn would regain his freedom before long.

The only exception was if this fellow had truly been forgotten—if both the Church of Evernight and the Sanguine had forgotten that such a person was still locked behind Chanis Gate. If that were the case, Klein would have The Star Leonard provide help when the time came.

The Moon Emlyn thoroughly relaxed and sincerely thanked Mr. Fool.

Toward the end of the free exchange, The World Gehrman Sparrow suddenly looked toward The Hanged Man.

“You said you have already landed on Sonia Island and are currently inside the primitive forest?”

“Correct.” The Hanged Man Alger answered, somewhat puzzled.

After brief deliberation, Gehrman Sparrow said, “You may try searching for elven ruins. Perhaps there will be additional gains.”

The Hanged Man Alger abruptly thought of the Book of Calamity and the scenes he had seen in the previous dream. Thoughtfully, he nodded.

“All right.”

After they exchanged for a while longer, this Tarot Gathering ended. Justice Audrey and the others rose, saluted, and left above the gray fog.

…

After returning to his body, Leonard immediately lowered his voice, described Klein’s predicament once, and finally asked, “Old Man, do you have any good suggestions?”

“My suggestion? Ask The Fool for help,” Pallez Zoroast answered without the slightest hesitation.

…Leonard coughed lightly and said, “Don’t you want to take this opportunity to make things difficult for Amon?”