"First, Miss Justice, prepare an altar. It can be quite simple, but you need to draw or engrave this symbolic emblem."
As the Fool spoke, a screen of light appeared before him, displaying a symbol composed of an "eye without pupil" and "twisted lines" intertwined. The former represented concealment, the latter symbolized change—yet both seemed incomplete.
This represents His power, His authority lies between these two, but remains unfinished?
Angel attempted to memorize the symbol while pondering its meaning.
"Then, follow the standard ritual procedure, but arrange it using the binary method. You don't need to burn herbs, drip essential oils, or select a specific time—simply recite my name."
"Chant in ancient Hermes, accompanied by the following prayer:
'Your faithful servant prays for Your attention;
'Prays for You to accept his offering;
'Prays for You to open the gates of Your Kingdom.'
"After completing the prayer, select spiritually-infused materials and combine them with the natural force vibrations created by the incantation, then await my response."
"If the ritual succeeds, you may proceed with the 'sacrifice.'"
As the Fool's deep narration concluded, the symbolic emblem floating before him vanished.
"Understood. I've memorized it. When should I attempt this?" Justice asked with barely contained excitement.
Her curiosity about new mystical knowledge was palpable...
Angel silently critiqued her companion while feeling her own heart flutter with anticipation.
If the "sacrifice" succeeded, would she soon obtain the materials for the "Witch" potion?
"You may proceed immediately after the meeting concludes. This way, neither of you will need to allocate additional time."
"Miss Empress, the process for receiving a 'bestowal' differs slightly. The preliminary preparations match Miss Justice's, but you must alter the prayer to these three verses."
The Fool's gaze shifted to Angel as he instructed:
"Your faithful servant prays for Your attention;
'Prays for You to open the gates of Your Kingdom;
'Prays for You to bestow power.'
Angel nodded in acknowledgment after committing the differences to memory. "I understand."
Seeing the Fool's instruction complete, the Hanged Man seized the opportunity to inquire:
"Mr. Fool, may the others—I mean, other members of the Tarot Club—also use this method for transactions?"
"Provided this attempt succeeds," the Fool replied with amusement, answering the Hanged Man's question.
"Praise the Fool."
The Hanged Man responded devoutly. The others followed suit with their own praises, bringing the topic to a close.
Naturally, the new discussion turned to "Hurricane Lieutenant," whom they'd fervently discussed at the previous meeting.
"Mr. Hanged Man, the two detectives I commissioned profiled 'Hurricane Lieutenant' Qilingos and tracked information about missing vagrants, successfully narrowing down his whereabouts."
"But?" The Hanged Man's tone remained calm, hearing no excitement of a major breakthrough in Justice's voice.
Indeed, Justice's response took an expected turn.
"But the cunning Qilingos discovered someone was tracking him. He brutally murdered the detectives' informant and laid an ambush at the scene, nearly capturing the detective who visited the informant's home."
"Both detectives narrowly escaped with their lives. They believe this encounter alerted him, making further pursuit using previous methods futile. Moreover, the informant's horrific death will inevitably draw police attention and alert Backlund's official Beyonders. Therefore, they abandoned the pursuit and filed a police report."
Filed a police report...
Angel listened to their exchange, silently applauding the detectives' decisive action upon hearing those words.
Furthermore, judging by Justice's phrasing, both detectives were women?
"I understand their choice. As I mentioned, this 'Hurricane Lieutenant' is a cunning, ruthless pirate. Escaping from him alive is already commendable."
The Hanged Man replied with a hint of regret.
His tone shifted to seriousness as he looked toward the Fool at the head of the table:
"Mr. Fool, I've obtained new intelligence. 'Hurricane Lieutenant' infiltrated Backlund to complete an arduous task involving an extremely important item—one supposedly capable of helping Qilingos quickly advance to a high Sequence."
"High Sequence—do you mean Sequence 4? But I recall you saying this 'Hurricane Lieutenant' is currently only a Sequence 6 Beyonder?" Angel couldn't help but interject.
"Correct. He is indeed only a Sequence 6 'Wind-blessed.'"
The Hanged Man turned toward Angel, nodding in confirmation.
"The intelligence I received mentions that Qilingos believes once he completes this task and obtains that item, he'll rank alongside 'King of the Five Seas' Nast and others, transforming the 'Four Kings' of pirates into the 'Five Kings.'"
"You should know that the so-called 'Four Kings' either possess extraordinary vessels and mystical items enabling them to contend with high Sequences, or are themselves high-Sequence powerhouses. Since Qilingos claims he can become one of the 'Five Kings,' he must possess capabilities approaching the other four. That's why I made the above speculation."
No, I didn't know... I only just learned who Nast was from the Church's archives...
Angel listened quietly, carefully choosing her words before asking:
"So it's either an item that lets him rapidly advance Sequences without losing control, or a mystical item capable of rivaling high-Sequence powerhouses?"
"Exactly. Though I believe the latter is more likely—after all, there are no shortcuts to advancing Sequences."
Having laid this groundwork, the Hanged Man turned his gaze back to the Fool, his tone brimming with anticipation:
"Esteemed Mr. Fool, I'll return to Backlund in a few days. If I can determine Qilingos's true objective and identify the mystical item he seeks, please allow me to recite Your name and inform You through ritual."
No wonder Mr. Hanged Man vigorously emphasized the power of the mystical item Qilingos seeks—he's trying to pique Mr. Fool's interest, attempting to persuade Him... No, to have His followers intervene?
If the Fool's high-Sequence followers could take action against a "Hurricane Lieutenant" who hasn't yet entered high Sequences, it should be effortless, right?
Angel also turned her gaze toward the Fool.
"Acceptable."
The Fool's brief answer revealed no emotion in his tone, as if such "trivial matters" failed to interest him.
The Hanged Man seemed somewhat deflated but still stood and bowed respectfully.
"Please allow me to thank You in advance for Your attention."
The gray fog dispersed, and crimson surged again before vanishing. Angel returned to Tingen, to 6 Daffodil Street.
The first thing she did upon regaining her senses was transcribe the anonymous account number Justice had given her at the meeting's end, lest she forget.
If the Fool's "attempt" truly succeeded, she could deposit 350 pounds into that bank account to complete the transaction.
Just like online shopping from the information age... No, even more convenient—the goods don't even need logistics, arriving in my hands through Mr. Fool's mediation...
Glancing at the sun descending westward outside her window, Angel wasted no time. She proceeded directly from the study to the basement, set up the table previously used for sacrifice, and—relying on still-fresh memory—drew the symbolic emblem representing the Fool: the combination of "eye without pupil" and "twisted lines" on the tabletop as an altar.
Next, she arranged sandalwood candles and a ritual knife, preparing everything needed for the "bestowal" ceremony.
Finally, items rich in spirituality...
She searched throughout the basement, but most materials had been used for bullet-making. Recently busy searching for the "red chimney" building and dealing with examinations, she hadn't replenished her supplies.
Ultimately, she could only produce a small, precious "star crystal"—an extraordinary material usable directly in potion configuration, technically superior to ordinary spiritually-rich materials. The price difference was substantial, but compared to delaying Mr. Fool's attempt, such costs were negligible.
Holding this fingernail-sized crystal that sparkled with starlight, Angel's mind drifted to memories of her first meeting with Old Neil.
As she gazed at the crystal's radiance, thick gray fog suddenly materialized before her eyes. Within the mist, a high-backed chair and the mysterious figure upon it appeared and disappeared.
"Miss Empress, Miss Justice's attempt has succeeded. Are you prepared for the 'bestowal' ritual?"
A deep, familiar voice emanated from all directions, making its source indiscernible.
"Yes, I can perform the ritual at any time."
She suppressed her inner melancholy and replied.
Constructing a spiritual wall and lighting candles, Angel began chanting the prayer the Fool had taught her in the faint glow.
"...Pray for You to open the gates of Your Kingdom;
'Pray for You to bestow power.'"
The ancient power woven through ancient Hermes reverberated within the spiritual wall, stirring continuously oscillating natural forces like fierce winds sweeping past Angel.
She endured the discomfort of wind scraping across her skin, raising the star crystal in her hand and infusing it with spirituality.
The crystal crumbled into particles like weathered stone, vanishing between her fingers. The hurricane intensified but no longer felt knife-like and unbearable.
The candle flame representing the Fool gradually expanded, generating an illusory door before Angel. The portal's surface bore the symbolic emblem drawn on the altar—representing the Fool's authority.
"Boom—"
Thunder-like sounds echoed as the aerial door opened and closed. Angel's gaze dropped to the altar, where a bottle of ink-black liquid had materialized.
It was "blood of the black abyss demon fish."