Chapter 13: Arrangements

Chapter 13: Arrangements

Retracting his gaze, Klein looked toward the portion of Beyonder characteristic that had separated from Pauli Delrau’s body.

It consisted of wisps of pale, thin fog, like a grayish-white brain from a dream—unreal, insubstantial, and faintly illusory.

“He believed Eden to be the safest place, so he placed his main body here while moving about the outside world through different identities. Who could have known that Hermes, who was supposed to serve as this place’s defensive barrier, would betray it? If there had been a true angel watching over Eden, fully making use of the special nature of this city of the mind, I wouldn’t have been able to deceive the rules and invade so easily…” Klein muttered inwardly while casually making a wish to speed up the separation and condensation of the Beyonder characteristic.

Snap!

He snapped his fingers and fulfilled his wish.

Then he drew over the Dreamweaver Beyonder characteristic and the items that could serve as supplementary ingredients, removed the Pride mask from his face, and stepped out of Eden.

As he left, the city’s remaining portions collapsed one after another, melting into the boundless sea of collective subconscious.

From that day onward, the legend of Eden would appear in countless dreams. Eventually, some artists would paint it, weave it into stories, and spread it far and wide.

And every version of the story would inevitably tend toward the same ending:

Eden had been destroyed.

After returning to the terrace of the Hall family manor, Klein looked at Miss Justice, who had already adjusted her mental state, and handed over the Dreamweaver Beyonder characteristic, the corresponding ingredients, and the potion formula he had seen on the second Blasphemy Slate.

Before Audrey could speak, he said in a low voice, “Before you officially advance, you may still change your mind.”

Audrey accepted Mr. World’s gift and silently nodded, indicating that she would consider it seriously.

Wearing her exquisite straw hat, she then saw Gehrman Sparrow turn and walk toward the edge of the terrace, disappearing step by step.

…

After erasing the traces and concealing the clues, Klein skillfully used the Grafting ability and the special nature of Sefirah Castle to return to Backlund, appearing before Xio, who was on leave.

This MI9 colonel, who had been biting into an apple, immediately set down the food in her hand. While wiping her mouth with a paper napkin, she stood.

“Is… is there something?”

Cautiously, she did not address him as Mr. World, nor did she call out the name Gehrman Sparrow.

Klein nodded lightly.

“Mr. Fool asked me to ask you whether you wish to obtain the potion formula, Beyonder characteristic, and supplementary ingredients for Sequence 4 Law Mage.”

Xio frowned slightly. There was no trace of joy on her face. Instead, she asked with great solemnity, “Then what is the price?”

Klein nodded in approval.

“The apocalypse is approaching, and many changes are beginning to occur. Because of this, Mr. Fool has foreseen certain things.

“When that time comes, He may very likely fall into slumber again. As His Blessed, His left hand, I will not be spared either. The price you must pay is this: should that situation truly occur, you must follow the oracle Mr. Fool leaves behind and make certain attempts to awaken Him. They may be dangerous or easy, complicated or simple, lengthy or brief.”

As a King of Angels of the Seer pathway and the owner of Sefirah Castle, Klein had long been capable of prophecy to a certain degree. Recently, he had seen several blurry scenes and received certain inspirations. His train of thought was not entirely clear, but with absolute awareness, he had begun making various arrangements.

Only now am I truly a proper “charlatan”… he lampooned himself inwardly.

Before Xio, Miss Judgment, could speak, he added, “You may refuse. You are not the only choice.”

Xio believed Mr. World would not speak in reverse on a matter like this. She did not answer immediately, but seriously considered it.

If there were no apocalypse, she felt she would refuse. A demigod was indeed powerful and terrifying, capable of dominating a battlefield, commanding the fate of others, and truly possessing divinity. But to her, becoming Sequence 4 was not so urgent.

As a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin and a colonel of MI9, her strength was enough to complete most missions. Her salary, combined with various additional income, allowed her and her family to maintain a good and dignified life.

Even if she encountered danger, she could obtain sufficient aid from official forces. She could also prepare Leymano’s Travels in advance and ask her friend Fors to secretly protect her.

In addition, her wish to investigate the cause of her father’s death and restore his reputation had already been fulfilled.

Therefore, no matter how one looked at it, she had no need to pay too great a price for Sequence 4. Besides, it was not as if there would be no chance to obtain an opportunity from MI9 in the future.

Of course, Xio had no way of knowing how long that future would take to arrive.

Whether it’s what Mr. Fool told us, or the prophecies I deliberately collected using my position, all of them clearly or vaguely point to the apocalypse approaching… There are only sixteen years left… Xio subconsciously turned sideways and looked toward the second floor.

With the living conditions they had now, her mother could surely live until sixteen years later. By then, she would not be too old. Moreover, there were medicines provided by Mr. Moon that could keep her healthy… Sixteen years later, Lo would be in his prime, standing at the peak of his career… Fors might already be Sequence 3, running around in desperate busyness to face the apocalypse and seek hope, while I may not be able to help at all… Xio slowly withdrew her gaze and remained silent with a grave expression.

Then she looked at The World, Gehrman Sparrow, and nodded solemnly.

“All right.”

“You may set up the ritual at any time and make a wish to Mr. Fool. He will fulfill your wish,” Klein said simply, without further explanation.

His Law Mage Beyonder characteristic and potion formula had both come from the sacrifices of New Moon City. Of course, he had also bestowed the Sealed Artifact, the Pupilless General, upon those believers.

After making her decision, Xio no longer dwelled on the matter. Instead, she said, “Wendell seems to have gone to Utopia again. Strangely enough, he returned that same night and did not appear in court as a witness.

“That has left him both confused and worried.”

“Tell him he no longer needs to worry about this matter. Everyone in Utopia was buried by a natural disaster.” After Klein finished speaking, he turned and walked into the spirit world.

…

In a cemetery on the outskirts of Backlund’s East Borough.

Klein quietly looked at the cabinets holding urns of ashes and did not shift his gaze for a long time.

After a while, he walked slowly into an empty patch of shade beneath the trees, took out the historical projection of the adventurer’s harmonica, brought it to his lips, and blew.

Reinette Tinekerr, dressed in a gloomy, intricate long dress and holding four blond, red-eyed heads, walked out from the void at once.

Before Miss Messenger could speak, Klein took the initiative and asked, “The various Churches are preparing to encircle and purge the Rose School of Thought, and intend to cooperate with you.

“Is there anything you need me to help with?”

He had learned of this matter from The Star, Leonard, and The Moon, Emlyn.

Reinette Tinekerr’s four blond, red-eyed heads spoke in turn.

“For now…” “No…” “Need…” “Wait…”

“Until…” “Target…” “Is locked…” “Then discuss…”

She means that with Outer Deities such as the Mother Tree of Desire and the Primordial Moon, together with the Chained God, a King of Angels, interfering with divination and prophecy while providing protection, the demigods of the Rose School of Thought will not be easy to find. They need to spend some time and adopt various strategies? That makes sense. Even Arrodes the Magic Mirror wouldn’t dare peer into such things under these circumstances. Otherwise, I could summon its historical void image… Klein thought for a moment and said, “If there is a directly related object as a medium, I can lock onto the corresponding target.”

When the time came, he could use the power of Sefirah Castle to pierce through the concealment.

“Good!” Reinette Tinekerr’s four beautiful heads nodded up and down at the same time.

Klein had no other business. Seeing this, he prepared to let Miss Messenger return.

He had originally intended to ask jokingly, “Will this summoning require a fee?” But suddenly, his inspiration stirred, and he fell silent.

After several seconds, he raised his hand and took a gold coin from inside Sefirah Castle.

It was one of the five gold coins already saturated with Sefirah Castle’s aura and imbued with a measure of wonder.

“The postage for this time.” Klein smiled and handed the coin over.

“This time…” “No…” After two of Reinette Tinekerr’s blond, red-eyed heads finished speaking, the remaining two did not complete the sentence.

She possessed powerful spiritual intuition, and She seemed to sense something as well.

The next second, one of the two blond, red-eyed heads that had not spoken raised itself and bit down on the gold coin between Klein’s fingertips.

“All right.” Klein withdrew his hand and said with a smile.

Then, as if casually, he asked, “Are Miss Sharron and Maric still in Backlund?”

“Still…” Miss Messenger told Klein her student’s current address.

…

Inside a house, Maric sat beside a long table, skillfully playing cards with his living corpses.

Suddenly, Sherlock Moriarty appeared in an empty chair. He set down his hat and, without the least courtesy, took the hidden cards from one living corpse’s hand.

Maric raised his head and glanced at him. His lips moved, but in the end, he did not open them.

He had the living corpse acting as dealer continue dealing cards.

Just like that, Klein joined their game. He played hand after hand, winning some and losing some.

At some point, Sharron appeared in the corner, wearing a black court dress and a small, delicate soft hat. She supported her cheek with one hand and quietly watched the game.

After playing for roughly two hours, Klein stood and formally bowed to Miss Sharron and Maric.

Then he laughed softly, put on his hat, and walked step by step toward the door, disappearing there.

…

Deep within the spirit world, outside the thin mist where Calderón City lay hidden, Klein appeared after completing three rounds of treatment.