"Five angels? Something that big actually happened in Backlund that night?"
Audrey, Fors, and Xio were all stunned, especially the latter two.
After learning this, they no longer doubted why Ebner had been unconscious for four days…
After all, for him to participate in an event involving such terrifying forces and end up merely unconscious was already extremely fortunate.
As for Klein, he already knew some of this—one of the angels who had acted that night was his own messenger.
Justice Audrey, after the shock faded, found herself itching with curiosity.
After all, Mister Tower had thrown out such an explosive statement, then simply smiled without explaining further.
She desperately wanted to grab him and ask for details.
But she also knew that if Mister Tower was unwilling to elaborate, he must have his reasons.
She took a breath, calmed her own emotions, then reorganized her thoughts:
"My parents rushed back from East Chester after finding out that my brother had brought a Demoness as his dance partner…
"According to the plan, I claimed that I suddenly obtained important intelligence, which was why I went to the kitchen to start the fire and disperse the guests…
"Mm… my parents will probably suspect the Psychological Alchemy Society interfered.
"Just like with the report made before the Great Smog."
She wasn't worried about exposing her identity.
Xio, Fors, and Ebner already knew who she was—and had proven themselves trustworthy.
And the World was the Fool's Blessed; her identity wasn't a secret to him either.
As for Temperance… from the World's attitude, it was obvious he wouldn't hide it from her.
Besides, this time the report to the Church of the Evernight had been processed by Miss Temperance.
While Audrey drifted momentarily in thought, Ebner slightly nodded.
He felt her handling wasn't bad—after all, that handbag-carrying assistant, Islant, was a ready-made scapegoat.
Still, after some thought, he added a reminder:
"You don't need to worry too much about the Evernight Church's investigation.
"Among the angels who acted that night was a Servant of Concealment."
Klein shot him a sideways glance, mentally grumbling:
I've never been worried—not with you involved…
"Hidden Servant?" Audrey immediately seized on this, asking with curiosity.
"It is the potion name for Sequence 2 of the Sleepless pathway."
Ebner explained briefly and then dropped the subject.
Audrey nodded thoughtfully, as if understanding something, then continued:
"Mister Tower, my father plans to arrange a meeting with you this week, discussing the 'Film Academy Awards'…"
Academy Awards? Don't tell me he's naming it 'Oscars'…
Klein silently complained.
Ebner immediately understood Earl Hall's intentions.
He couldn't help admiring the banker's vision—even as a transmigrator, he still felt slightly inferior in this field.
Of course, admiration was one thing;
His expression remained perfectly calm as he said:
"I understand… thank you for informing me, Miss Justice."
Since the Earl's "little cotton-padded jacket" had leaked information, naturally Ebner would seize the initiative and prepare—so that he could hold the advantage in negotiations.
Justice knew she had essentially disclosed her father's plans, but she felt that since Mister Tower had effectively saved her family from "calamity," giving up some benefit was only fair.
As the topic wrapped up, the "small meeting" also neared its end.
Audrey originally wanted to ask about precautions for the sixth floor of the Dream Labyrinth Tower, but after thinking, she decided she should explore it herself first—after all, as long as she collected enough points to exchange for a "Detachment Talisman," she wouldn't actually die.
Besides, after clearing the seventh floor, her authorization level had increased—she could finally bring Susie along for adventures in the tower.
After sensory shielding ended, Cattleya subtly scanned left and right.
She too felt, faintly, like she was being left out of the Tarot Club's inner circle—much like the Hanged Man.
This won't do… she grumbled inwardly, though her face remained calm.
She could faintly sense that the Magician had grown much closer to Judgment and Tower—almost blindly trusting them—with strange, unspoken understanding…
Was it because they had participated in some operation together?
Similarly, she sensed the Hanged Man's anxiety…
But he seemed to recover quickly, and suddenly appeared far more confident—so something good must have happened to him recently.
Hmm… he bought the main ingredients for Ocean Songster long ago…
And today he didn't even ask about the Abnis Sea Monster…
So he must have succeeded in his advancement already?
That would explain his regained confidence.
As a founding member of the Tarot Club, with his strength catching up, it wouldn't be hard for him to step into the core group.
"Hidden Queen" Cattleya suddenly felt a hint of crisis.
As the "Admiral of the Stars," renowned across the Five Seas, she had always possessed some psychological superiority—aside from those two high-ranking Beyonders.
But recently, the World had displayed power capable of hunting a Pirate Admiral; and now the Hanged Man had become Sequence 5—a Sequence 5 exceptionally good at naval combat.
She felt she no longer had the qualification to look down from above.
A surge of urgency she hadn't felt in a long time suddenly erupted in her heart.
By then, the Tarot Club had entered the free communication phase.
Ebner turned toward the little Sun beside him:
"You're still in Silver City?
"After receiving the 'reply,' has that Shepherd elder come to you again?"
"Yes, my recent tasks are to familiarize myself with my abilities and patrol the surrounding areas."
Little Sun Derrick answered frankly.
After pausing, he continued:
"Elder Lovia has not approached me again…
"After I relayed Your reply to the Chief, she only said 'I know' and never came again.
"And recently the Six-Person Council seems busy with the old Chief's burial chamber.
"I don't have the authorization to know the specifics."
Klein remembered hearing Derrick mention that the former Chief of Silver City had built a tomb deep underground to move into—but had never come out again, suspected of failing a switch to the Death pathway's Sequence 3.
Who knows what happened inside that burial chamber?
My spirituality tells me something dangerous is hidden there…
Before Klein could speak, Tower Ebner vaguely said:
"That burial chamber may undergo certain changes…
"You should be more cautious."
After all, unlike in the original timeline, the Evernight Goddess had likely obtained Death's Uniqueness far earlier.
Who knew what had become of Silver City's former Chief now?
"Mm!"
Little Sun nodded solemnly.
"I'll try my best to learn more about the situation."
Communication continued.
Aside from the Hanged Man sharing that Sonia Island was under full alert, there wasn't any major information.
Soon, this segment reached its end.
In the process, Justice Audrey felt faint disappointment.
She had neither bought nor sold anything this session, contributing very little.
Even the huge incident on Monday night—the only thing she did was set the fire…
She didn't participate at all.
But after glancing across the table at Emlyn the Moon, she felt slightly comforted.
A peaceful and stable life was the normal state, after all.
Before long, the main Tarot gathering ended.
Each member saluted and departed, leaving only Klein and Ebner in the gray fog.
Klein hesitated for a long moment before finally asking:
"Ebner… you still haven't recovered the memories of the Calamity Seal, right?"
"No…
Although the 'Calamity Seal' is relatively recent in history, it is far too special.
To this day, I cannot obtain any information from it."
Ebner answered honestly, though he found Klein's question strange.
Good…
The prophecy in Roselle's diary that the "Fool" would descend in 1349 clearly came from the Calamity Seal…
As long as you haven't regained those memories, then maybe—just maybe—you still don't know that I am the Fool…
Klein clung to a tiny shred of hope.
At that moment, although he'd long suspected that Ebner likely had already discerned his true identity,
an instinctive shame made him cling to the possibility—
A last trace of defiant struggle.
(End of Chapter)