Huh?!
This revelation shocked everyone into stunned silence.
A member of the Loen royal family wanted to become a god? But wasn't it explicitly forbidden by the Church for members of the royal family to ascend to demigod and beyond? How could that even be possible?
Yet it was the Fool who had spoken—and none of them dared to doubt him.
The Black Emperor?
Wasn't that one of the two cards Mr. Fool had always held?
Klein quickly switched to The World persona and continued in a low, grim tone, "Just before the great smog descended upon Backlund, a clash occurred in the suburbs involving the three major Churches and the royal family. From what I've since learned, the Loen royals had been secretly constructing a tomb meant to serve as the site of a divine ascension ritual. To that end, they'd been kidnapping and trafficking people from all over the country."
He turned to Alger, "Mr. Hanged Man, do you remember the man named Barron you once asked us to investigate? He was one of the key players responsible for trafficking humans on behalf of the royal family."
Alger froze.
He had merely submitted a routine commission during a past Tarot Meeting—never expecting it to be tied to something of such earth-shattering scale!
Klein went on, "I haven't yet found definitive proof that the high-Sequence witch who triggered the great smog was directly working for the Loen royals...but—"
Edward interjected at just the right moment, "The royal family used the smog as a cover—to hide their years of large-scale human trafficking operations in Backlund."
Klein's heart skipped a beat.
He had considered countless possibilities, but never imagined the truth would be this "simple."
If no one had intervened in time, the death toll from the smog could've reached tens of thousands—or even more.
And all of it…just to bury their crimes?
He lowered his head, rage flaring silently in his chest.
Fors was spiralling into panic. She had been at the scene of the suburban incident outside Backlund. At the time, she'd thought the royal family's human trafficking was just another terrible scandal—now she was being told it was tied to an attempt at godhood?
We're doomed. Doomed, doomed, doomed. It's really all over this time…
Audrey hurriedly asked, "Then…then what about the wave of assassinations targeting Loen's elite? Could that also be connected?"
Edward shook his head.
"That, I'm not sure about."
After a brief pause, he added, "Of course, using the smog to cover up their crimes was just the initial intent. In truth, the incident in Backlund's suburbs had already alerted the three major Churches to the royal family's ambitions. So the continued deployment of the smog was the royals' attempt to form an alliance—with the Demoness Sect."
He paused for a second.
"They also recruited another ally—The Aurora Order. Or more precisely…the True Creator."
Priscilla nodded enthusiastically, "That's right! Mr. A was the one they sent that day, and then he just disappeared!" Her tone was practically gloating.
Alger's expression grew grim with doubt.
By his estimation, the Fool was likely trying to cooperate with the True Creator in some way—but based on what The Tower had just revealed, it sounded like the True Creator, the Demoness Sect, and the Loen royals were already cooperating among themselves.
Did that mean the Fool was also part of this alliance?
Two evil gods, plus a corrupt royal family?
An evil god coalition?
Klein—still acting as The World—turned solemnly to the figure at the head of the table.
"Mr. Fool, what is your opinion on the Loen royal family's ambitions?"
The Fool's response was curt, almost disdainful, "Despicable beings…are unworthy of godhood."
"I understand," Alger said with visible relief.
Looks like I was overthinking things.
The Fool casually waved his hand.
"That's enough for today."
Audrey rose, grasping her dress hems to curtsey.
"Farewell, Mr. Fool."
She glanced toward Edward, considering whether to offer a prayer to the Fool for a private audience…but remembering that he was about to test a sacrifice ritual, she held off for now.
"Farewell, Mr. Fool."
In the next instant, everyone vanished from above the grey fog. The grand, majestic palace was once again left with only Klein, rubbing his temples in silence.
After a long pause, he muttered to himself, "If someone as vile as George III can ascend and become a god…then this world is truly beyond saving. If that day ever comes…even if he does become a deity, I'll do whatever it takes to drag him back down!"
"Phew—"
He let out a breath and gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Heh…I'm just a puny Sequence 7 ant, and I'm already thinking about opposing a god? Who am I kidding?"
Shaking his head, he added, "Better get some rest and recover my spirituality. I still have to help Edward later."
———
The Forsaken Land of the Gods.
Edward opened his eyes and found himself back inside the tent.
Lilith sat at the entrance, her posture alert, like a vigilant guard. She turned her head the moment he stirred.
"Lilith, I'm awake now."
Lilith immediately skipped over, eyes sparkling with hope.
"So? Does that mean we can finally leave this awful place?"
"Not sure yet. I'll need to run a test."
"Okay then~!"
Edward raised his voice slightly. "Your Majesty."
A few seconds later, Bernadette ducked inside the tent, her expression calm as ever.
"How did it go? Did the existence you believe in respond to your call?"
"He did. But now I need to conduct an experiment—one that will determine whether we can leave this place."
"Do you need me to do anything?"
"Hmm. Just cooperate with me by staying in one spot."
"Understood."
Since Klein still needed time to recover his spirituality, Edward didn't rush the sacrifice. He patiently waited a little longer, then brought out an empty suitcase and opened it.
"You two, go inside first."
"Be careful, Edward~" Lilith chirped.
Lilith giggled and leapt lightly into the suitcase. Bernadette gave Edward a small nod, then followed her inside.
Edward took out candles and other ritual supplies, and began methodically arranging them with practised hands. Then, in a solemn voice, he chanted:
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;
The Mysterious Ruler above the Grey Fog;
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck;
Your faithful servant beseeches your gaze;
Implores you to accept his offering;
And prays you to open the gates of your kingdom."
WHOOSH—
In the very next moment, wild wind surged into the space. The surroundings were dyed in intertwining streaks of silvery white and deep black, constantly clashing and merging. The chaotic currents poured into the candle flame that symbolised The Fool, causing it to swell violently—until it tore open a full-sized, illusory door.
Two suitcases sat on the floor. One held the promised 5,000 pounds in banknotes for The Fool's "Blessed"; the other contained Bernadette and Lilith.
Without hesitation, Edward jumped into the second suitcase and shut it behind him.
Inside the dim suitcase, Lilith tapped her tiny wand to conjure twinkling glimmers of light, softly illuminating the interior. Edward promptly morphed several lanterns into shape, flooding the space with brightness.
"What now?" Bernadette asked, calm as ever.
"We wait," Edward replied, closing his eyes and silently praying for the ritual's success.
If this doesn't work, we're truly screwed.
——
Above the Grey Fog.
Klein sat in the high-backed bronze chair at the head of the long stone table, his gaze fixed on the illusory door materialising behind the seat.
As the gate opened under the extension of his spiritual power, his senses passed through the endless fog and settled on the two suitcases lying neatly on the ground.
This scene…feels familiar somehow.
Klein swallowed nervously, one hand gripping the Card of Blasphemy, the other holding a paper crane—prepared for any emergency. After confirming there was no trace of that mysterious shadow—none other than Amon—he fully activated his spiritual vision and drew both suitcases through the gate.
Huh? Why are there two suitcases?
Throughout the entire process, he remained extremely cautious. As the suitcases slowly floated up into the grey fog, his vision pierced their outer shells—only to freeze in mild surprise.
——
Moon City.
A man in a black, old-fashioned robe and matching pointed soft hat strolled leisurely through the streets. He had a notably broad forehead, a monocle over his right eye, and a perpetual smile curling on his lips.
The crowds bustled around him—but none of them seemed to notice his presence.
Amon had walked this forsaken land for thousands of years. As one of the two surviving cities in this god-abandoned realm, Moon City was a place he knew well. It had been cut off from the outside world for millennia—its people knew nothing of what lay beyond.
And yet today, these same people were excitedly discussing the outside world, dreaming of escaping to that cursed-free land.
"The emissary of the Lord? Spreading "His" light and glory?"
Amon touched the rim of his monocle and chuckled.
"Father, someone's trying to poach your last few faithful."
"That 'emissary'...must be the one who silently destroyed my avatar. I wonder…where is he now?"
Suddenly, Amon turned his head, eyes locking onto a particular direction.
"Found you."
A flash of light shimmered across the surface of his monocle.
"No...this aura is—hehe—two birds with one stone."
With a single step, Amon attempted to steal the distance between them, instantly closing the space.
But the next second, the world blurred—and he found himself standing in a vast, dimly lit realm. Floating before him was an enormous crimson halo.
Amon paused.
Then his lips curled into a playful smile:
"Lilith?"
——
Above the Grey Fog.
Klein stared at Edward inside the suitcase, blinking in confusion.
Wait…wasn't he supposed to be with Queen Mystic and that assassin cat? Why is he the only one here?
Could they be stored in another mystical artifact?
He turned to the other suitcase—only to find it brimming with neatly stacked banknotes.
Ah, right. This one's the 5,000 pounds Edward promised me for my Blessed.
Klein's eyes lit up.
Godfather, I kneel before you!
—Wait, hold on. That suitcase…it looks more expensive than the money inside.
Should I return the suitcase? Or…pretend I didn't notice and just keep it?
He quickly pulled himself back on track. More importantly, it seemed that only Edward had been successfully offered up through the ritual.
Inside the suitcase, Edward had made the same observation.
Just moments ago, Bernadette and Lilith had been right in front of him. But the instant the sacrifice succeeded and the suitcase ascended to the grey fog—both of them had vanished.
Only he had made it.
Oh hell no.
Edward immediately prayed to the Fool, explaining the situation and requesting to be sent back.
A moment later, the thick grey mist dissipated, and the suitcase returned to reality.
Edward scrambled out, finding Bernadette and Lilith still in the tent—one frowning deeply, the other blinking in confusion at his sudden reappearance.
"What happened?" Edward asked. "You both vanished right in front of me."
Lilith scratched her head.
"Miss Lilith doesn't know either. It was like—whoosh—and I was out."
Bernadette's frown deepened.
"I sensed an irresistible force…It expelled me directly from the suitcase."
"Expelled?" Edward repeated.
Could the resistance have come from Sefirah Castle itself?
Was it rejecting Bernadette because her Sequence is too high? Did Klein's current level make it impossible to bear her presence?
But Lilith is only Sequence 8. Why was she rejected too?
Bernadette added, "Did it work?"
Edward nodded. "Yes."
"You used a sacrificial ritual to place us in a suitcase and offer us to the being you worship…and you intended for "Him" to transport us to the outside world?"
Edward sighed, knowing there was no use lying.
"Yes."
—No use trying to hide anything from her.
"And the place of sacrifice…was that being's…"
"Divine kingdom," Edward confirmed.
Bernadette went quiet for a moment, deep in thought. Then she asked, "You've been to "His" divine kingdom before, haven't you?"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.