After adjusting their mental state, Audrey and Alger regained their composure.
However, this time, the answer still pierced through their preconceived notions about gods and the church. It allowed them to view the issues surrounding divinity and institutions more rationally. They no longer blindly worshipped idols or easily believed in any church.
Observing the changes in the two of them, Ren simply smiled.
"People, what you need to remember isn't the so-called church or gods. What you need to understand is what brings you the greatest benefit. Faith only exists when there is benefit. Don't assume that gods are selfless. If they were truly selfless, they wouldn't have become gods in the first place."
"Sometimes, you need to be more pragmatic when viewing certain things. For example, Mr. Hanged Man handled things well. Be more utilitarian. Don't view things solely from the perspective of loyalty to a particular church or deity. If the god you believe in doesn't respond to you, you might not even know how you died."
"Of course, that applies to this guy too."
Ren casually glanced at the Fool seated in the main seat.
"But his poor condition is also good news for you. It means he needs suitable followers even more, people who can serve as his eyes and ears in the outside world. Moreover, he lived during the same era as Emperor Roselle. Through those diaries, he can recover many memories and gradually regain the power he once held."
"And during this process, the biggest benefit for you is becoming one of his followers. Perhaps, you may even become one of his angels in the future."
This pie is too big… Klein's mouth twitched a little. Of course, he knew how exaggerated this promise was, but if broken down, it still offered significant benefits.
Klein composed himself and turned his attention toward Mr. Hanged Man and Miss Justice. Sure enough, the two of them were visibly moved.
Klein gently tapped the armrest with his fingers. Their astral bodies shimmered with a contemplative blue, clearly indicating deep thought.
These words aren't suitable for me to say… but as for him… Klein also felt it was strange that the other party was bringing it up. But when he thought of how that person enjoyed watching shows and causing trouble, it somehow made sense.
Klein wasn't sure what the future held. He did know that his current situation was extremely dangerous. No wonder nothing good had happened since he awoke beneath the red moon.
Klein was certain of that, though he remained undaunted. No matter how bad things were, they were only bad for now.
Since Ren had broken the illusion that Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man had about the gods and the church, Klein thought it might be best to develop the two into his believers.
At this point, Klein wasn't sure whether he would eventually reach Sequence 4, but he understood that to reach that point, faith would be required. So, he needed to start preparing early.
Just as he had said earlier, don't look at what the gods think, look at what they do.
Perhaps many goals are the same, but the ways of achieving them differ.
And those differences are what separate the righteous from the corrupt.
Although Ren had drawn a very large pie, both Audrey and Alger found themselves deeply in agreement.
"So, do you have any more questions?"
"Mr. Joker, I have one more question."
Miss Audrey bravely raised her hand.
"Go ahead."
"It's about this place. Mr. Fool hasn't told us where this is. I'm curious. Why did Mr. Fool choose to hold a gathering here? Also, this is clearly Mr. Fool's gathering, so how did Mr. Joker get in without being invited?"
That was a sharp question.
Well done, Miss Justice! Klein praised her internally. He was also curious. How had someone else managed to enter the gray fog?
"That's quite the pointed question."
Ren's gaze turned toward the Fool's direction.
"You're curious too, right? Why I was able to break in, even though this is supposed to be a very secure and concealed place?"
"For low-sequence Beyonders, this isn't the kind of thing you need to know. After all, this is extremely important to many gods. But I'm in a good mood today, so I'll tell you anyway."
"The place you're in is called Sefirah Castle. It's one of the nine source left behind by the Original Creator. It's an essential component for a true god to transcend the Sequence. Only by mastering all the adjacent Pathways and acquiring the corresponding source substance can one have a chance to step beyond the Sequence."
"This information is unnecessary for low-sequence Beyonders. Remember, don't go around talking about this after you return. Some things can be known, and I'm willing to tell you. But knowledge is highly toxic. Once it spreads, your life could be in danger."
As they heard this, all three of them froze.
They had been curious about this place, but this curiosity now felt like it carried a hidden cost.
However, Ren didn't seem to notice their reactions and continued speaking.
"The reason the Fool controls this source is naturally because he needs to take that step."
"And the Pathways associated with Sefirah Castle are Seer, Apprentice, and Marauder. Only by mastering these three Pathways and combining them with Sefirah Castle can one move forward."
"Of course, let me put it plainly. If you aren't someone who has mastered those three Pathways, then even if you control Sefirah Castle, it's useless."
A flash of clarity suddenly passed through Klein's mind.
So that's it… That's why Emperor Roselle had left such clear regrets in his diary. Klein finally understood the significance of those diary entries.
At the same time, it also made Klein even more suspicious. The conspiracy surrounding him was likely deeply connected to Sefirah Castle.
"So, this place is the safest location for the Fool. The problem is, his current condition is terrible. He can't even control the breath of Sefirah Castle. Once the time is right, he'll be discovered by the King of Angels, and then he's in real trouble."
"As for why I barged into your gathering, isn't it obvious?"
"I'm also one of the masters of Sefirah Castle."
(To be continued.)