"Actually, you really don't need to wait for me."
Finally, the Fool moved his gaze from the diary in his hands and swept across the bronze long table, looking at the four people who had been waiting silently for Him.
"This is our honor," the Hanged Man respectfully replied.
Only then did the weekly routine exchange time officially begin.
"Mr. Hanged Man, I've already learned about what you asked me to inquire about. The Prime Minister and staff officials convinced the King that within one year, the Loen Kingdom will not continue to stir up war on the East Balam coast to retaliate against the Feysac Empire."
Miss Justice was still the first to speak.
"Thank you for your answer. This allows me, allows certain people to rest easy," the Hanged Man nodded slightly in response. "According to what we agreed last time, what kind of reward do you need?"
"The main material for 'Mind Reader,' or reliable leads. This can wait until Mr. Sun gives me the formula."
Justice answered without hesitation, apparently advancing her sequence was still what she valued most.
Then she shifted her gaze to Angel.
"Miss Queen, regarding the method you previously proposed of selecting administrative officials through public examinations to avoid the impact of party changes on administrative efficiency, it has also gained the King's approval. I received news that this proposal will soon pass through both houses and be officially implemented early next year."
"This is the influence you, our Tarot Club has achieved on the Kingdom."
She added with considerable pride.
No, this is all your influence. I initially thought it was some university summer assignment... And Miss Justice, what exactly is your family's background? How can you even know what the King and Prime Minister are doing?
Angel complained inwardly. When she had spoken eloquently about politics, she never imagined it could actually impact reality.
But the sense of achievement from influencing the Loen Kingdom's institutional reforms through words and advanced knowledge still surrounded her. No wonder Miss Justice spoke with pride - as the implementer who personally promoted the proposal's passage through family and social connections, her heart must be even more excited.
"It seems the King and his staff still have some brains and haven't degenerated into a group of curly-haired baboons."
The Hanged Man mercilessly mocked.
Struck by the Hanged Man's ruthless evaluation, Justice quickly digested her inner excitement and continued questioning:
"By the way, Mr. Hanged Man, and everyone, I recently joined a circle of Beyonders where they trade intelligence, materials, and potion formulas with many participants. The circle's organizer is a Beyonder called 'Mr. A' - this sounds like a code name. Does anyone know his true identity?"
Mr. A... this name is very similar to Mr. C. Could he also be a member of the "Aurora Order"?
Angel recalled the "Aurora Order" Divine Envoy information Dunn had told her. Seeing the Hanged Man had no response, she carefully spoke:
"The Mr. A you mentioned is very likely one of the twenty-two Divine Envoys of the 'Aurora Order.' They all call themselves by letter codes like 'Mr. A,' 'Mr. Z,' etc., possessing at least Sequence 7 strength, with the highest reaching Sequence 5."
"If this Beyonder circle's organizer Mr. A is really the Divine Envoy Mr. A of the 'Aurora Order,' then I suggest you minimize contact and avoid provoking him. Regarding the Aurora Order's situation, Mr. Hanged Man and I have already told you before."
Angel again emphasized the Aurora Order's cruelty and lawlessness.
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Queen. I will... will be careful to minimize contact with him."
Justice replied somewhat hesitantly, then paused as if remembering something before speaking again.
"What should I pay for this answer?"
I still have 900 pounds in my anonymous bank account and don't need money currently, and this bit of information doesn't warrant charging fees... Right, I need to start preparing the main materials for Sequence 7 "Witch" potion...
"I recently need some extraordinary materials. If you can obtain blood from a Black Abyssal Magic Fish - the blood from a complete fish - I hope to buy it from you."
The main materials for the "Witch" potion were "all blood from a Black Abyssal Magic Fish" and "an Onyx Peacock's egg." She only requested the former to avoid others guessing the purpose or deducing the potion formula.
"Understood. I'll keep an eye out. If things go smoothly, I can help solve your material problem at the next Tarot Club meeting."
Justice answered without hesitation, apparently not considering the possibility she might not find the materials.
Another successful trade concluded, and the bronze long table in the gray mist fell into brief quiet.
"I received a piece of intelligence," the Hanged Man looked left and right, seeing he had successfully attracted everyone's attention before continuing in a calm tone, "The great pirate Qilangos, the one called 'Hurricane Lieutenant General,' has secretly infiltrated Backlund."
"Hurricane Lieutenant General, one of the Seven Pirate Generals?" Miss Justice exclaimed, "I heard his methods are cruel and he's killed countless people. What is this pirate doing in Backlund?"
Miss Justice, you're too easily manipulated by the Hanged Man... It seems the "Audience" potion only gives you observation skills, not other experience.
Angel secretly laughed while watching the Hanged Man successfully arouse Justice's curiosity and successfully exchange Justice's promise to help him find "Hurricane Lieutenant General" Qilangos for future methods of obtaining potion main materials.
"But remember, although he's only a Sequence 6 'Wind-blessed,' he's quite cruel and cunning, and also possesses a powerful mystical item. You only need to find his whereabouts - never attempt to deal with him."
The Hanged Man patiently supplemented, not knowing whether he was worried about Justice's personal safety or concerned that Justice might die at this pirate's hands before passing on information.
"Mystical item? It sounds like this item is stronger than he is. What's special about it?"
This was important information for searching for "Hurricane Lieutenant General," so the Hanged Man didn't hide it and directly informed Justice.
"This mystical item's original name is no longer known, but Qilangos's subordinates and enemies all call it 'Creeping Hunger,' because it needs to devour a living person's flesh, blood, and soul every other day. Otherwise, the hungry item will use its own master as a substitute."
Sounds much more troublesome than my "Thirst for Blood"... but this might also be a weakness...
"We should be able to use this negative effect to find him."
Angel suggested.
"That might work in small cities, but Backlund has over five million people. Hundreds of vagrants disappear and die in dark corners every day. Let alone eating one every other day - even if it needed to eat ten daily, it probably couldn't be found through this in the short term."
The Hanged Man had anticipated this question and directly rejected Angel's suggestion.
"Moreover, the more difficult a mystical item's negative effects are to handle, the more powerful its effects become. This 'Creeping Hunger' makes Qilangos, originally only able to manipulate water, wind, and weather as a 'Wind-blessed,' almost omnipotent. He can change into different appearances, strengthen himself through song, enter others' dreams..."
It sounds like a combination of many different pathway abilities. Could "Creeping Hunger" be like the "Magic Pocket Watch," providing abilities from other pathways for Qilangos to use?
Angel listened to the Hanged Man's introduction while thinking of her own mystical item formed from "Magician" Beyonder characteristics.
"Shepherd?"
Before the Hanged Man could finish, "Sun," who had been silently observing the three's exchange, exclaimed.
All three, including the Hanged Man who had closed his mouth, turned their gazes to Sun.
This made Sun, who already regretted his outburst, even more flustered. The head taller than the Hanged Man's lowered, and only after a long while did he continue:
"The abilities Mr. Hanged Man listed are very similar to the 'Shepherd' sequence. He can devour and control others' souls, and the souls' extraordinary abilities from when they were alive can also be used by the 'Shepherd,' like herding lambs."
"Most importantly, a 'Shepherd' can herd more than one soul and can conveniently replace them."
This is much more terrifying than the "Magic Pocket Watch." As long as Qilangos herds a "Magician" through "Creeping Hunger," he can possess his extraordinary abilities. If he adds other sequences like "Nightmare," "Witch"...
Imagining Qilangos wielding an ice spear, surrounded by black flames, using "Flame Jump" to appear behind enemies for surprise attacks, Angel couldn't help but shudder.