"You can address me as The Fool"
The simple answer soon emanated through the grand hall and dissipated into the fog.
After a few seconds of silence, Audrey stood up, held up her skirt slightly and bent her knees, curtseying to Zhou Mingrui now The Fool.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, would you please permit me to take the liberty of requesting you to be the witness of our trade?"
"It's nothing" responded Mr Fool in a way that matched his status.
"It's our honor, Mr. Fool" Alger stood up as well. He bent his back slightly with his right palm over his chest.
Witnessing both Audrey and Alger "bending the knee", Arthus also awkwardly stood up and imitated Alger. Though he didn't say anything because he didn't have anything to say after all he wasn't participating in the trade. He was just a witness. But damn it was awkward and embarrassing as hell. It made him want to scream into a pillow.
"Continue, the both of you" Mr Fool replied with a gentle smile. When Mr Fool said the word "Both" Arthus screamed in his head. What do you mean both?! Do you not see me here?! Have you already deemed me unworthy of joining "The Tarot Club"?! No calm down Arthus, he only said that because they are the ones initiating the trade. That must be the case! While Arthus was having a mental breakdown. Alger nodded and sat back down before looking at Audrey.
"If you can obtain the Ghost Shark's blood, get someone to send it to the Warrior & Sea Bar at Pelican Street, in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Tell the boss, Williams, that it's what the 'Captain' wants.
Once I acknowledge receipt, will you be giving me an address to mail the potion formula to or do you want me to tell it to you here directly?"
Audrey thought for a moment before saying with a smile, "I will choose the more secure method. Let's do it here, although it's a test of my memory"
As she said that, she suddenly turned her head as she looked at Mr Fool asked with a tone of interest "Mr. Fool, would you mind making a few more 'attempts' like this?"
Alger also joined in and said "Mr. Fool, don't you find such 'gatherings' interesting? Although your powers exceed our imaginations, there has to be certain domains that you don't understand or excel in.
The person across from me is obviously a young lady of lofty stature and the lady beside me also seems to be knowledgeable about the beyonder world.
I also have my own unique set of experiences, insights, mediums, and resources. Perhaps there will come a day when all of us can help you complete something trivial that might be inconvenient for you?"
Arthus didn't correct Alger as he didn't want to interrupt Zhou Mingrui's performance as The Fool and risk getting kicked out of "The Tarot Club".
He let Alger speak on his behalf. At least this way he was being involved in the conversation as well and he trusted Alger more than he trusted his own mouth as the guy has multiple monologues in his head constantly in seconds. Whatever he says is thought out thoroughly.
Audrey quickly nodded and agreed with Algers suggestion and followed by saying,
"Mr. Fool, I think it's a very good suggestion. As long as this gathering becomes regular, you can totally leave certain things that are inconvenient for you to us. Of course, it has to be something within our capacities."
"I think so too, honourable Mr. Fool" Arthus also voiced his opinion slightly buttering Mr Fool alongside with it.
Mr Fool extended his right hand again as he rapped the side of the long table with his finger gently.
He stopped his rapping as he smiled at the anticipative and perturbed gazes of the trio.
"I'm a person who likes a fair and equal exchange.
Your help will not go unrewarded.
Every Monday at three in the afternoon, try your best to be alone. After I make a few more attempts and figure out certain things, perhaps you can apply for a leave of absence ahead of time. You will no longer need to worry about being in inappropriate situations"
Without waiting for Alger to say a word, Audrey said in excitement, her eyes glowing, "Then, shall we give ourselves code names? After all, we can't use our real names for conversation"
This stumped Arthus. Audrey's code name was Justice, which coincidentally was also the Card of Blasphemy representing her pathway, this is true for most of the future members. Following this thought process, his code name should also overlap with the Card of Blasphemy representing his pathway.
But he doesn't even know if he will get the potion formula for Savant. Even if he does, he can't remember what Card of Blasphemy represents the Savant pathway!
On the other hand, if he gets the potion formula for Mystery Pryer, even though he knows the corresponding Card of Blasphemy there is a problem. Miss Cattleya, a future member also having taken the Mystery Pryer potion is given the codename 'The Hermit'
While he was lampooning, Audrey had already decided her code name and declared joyously "I've decided. My designation shall be 'Justice!''
"What about you, Mister?" Audrey cheekily smiled at her 'partner' sitting across from her.
Alger frowned slightly before relaxing it immediately.
"The Hanged Man"
"And you, kind miss?" inquired Audrey.
Arthus being called out suddenly came back to reality and stuttered "Uh— I'm not sure" replied Arthus honestly.
"Oh… perhaps I can help you to decide on one?" Audrey suggested since she already had decided the name for their group and didn't want to ruin it by having the lady choose a name not from one of the Major Arcana Tarot Cards!
"How about 'The High Priestess'?" suggested Audrey excitedly.
Arthus nodded his head sideways and chose to address the issue of them confusing his gender alongside declining the code name "No, that code name seems to be for women" said Arthus gently and continued "I don't blame you for making the mistake since I'm used to being mistaken as a woman but I'm actually a man" revealed Arthus.
"Eh!" Audrey couldn't help but let out a silly noise, surprised by the shocking revelation. She then gave a fake cough and said after a while,
"Ahem— My apologies for not realising the matter before"
Alger nodded as if he was also apologetic for not realising.
After that the atmosphere turned awkward real fast. No one spoke for a few seconds. Until Mr Fool suddenly produced a set of Tarot Cards mysteriously in front of Arthus. He didn't say anything but the message was clear.
Everyone waited for him to pick out a card.
Arthus raised his hand above the cards and picked the one right in the middle. He lifted it up, turned it and froze. Fate sure worked in mysterious ways. Whatever the case, it sure was mocking him. In the corner of his eyes he saw Mr Fool lean in ahead slightly as though he was demanding to know what card he had picked out.
"It's… It's 'The High Priestess'" said Arthus out loud. As soon as he said it the cards vanished into the mysterious grey fog. He heard Alger wheeze, no doubt trying his best to hold back a laugh. Miss Audrey though had masked her emotions much better than his neighbour, it was commendable. Alger coughed a few times to cover his loss of composure.
Silence… complete silence. No one spoke for a while, it was just too awkward. That was until Audrey asked in a polite tone "How should we address you kind sir ?"
At this point Arthus just didn't care anymore and replied in an unsure tone.
"Mr. Priestess?" It was either this or Mr. High.
"Alright, then we can be considered as the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey was the first to blurt it out happily, completely forgetting the awkwardness just a moment ago, only to look fearfully at the fog-concealed Mr Fool.
"Will that be alright, Mr. Fool?"
Mr Fool shook his head in amusement.
"You can decide on such trivial matters by yourselves" said Mr Fool in a carefree manner.
"Thank you!" Audrey was clearly thrilled.
Following that, she looked at Alger.
"Mr. Hanged Man, can you repeat the address again once more? I'm afraid that my memories will fail me"
"No problem." Alger replied.
Arthus just sat in silence.
After repeating it to herself silently thrice, Audrey said again in excitement, "I heard that tarot cards were invented by Emperor Roselle as a game. In fact, doesn't it come equipped with the power to divine the future?"
"No. Most of the time, divination stems from one's self. Everyone has something spiritual about themselves, allowing them to attune to the spiritual world and connect to information about themselves at an even higher level.
However, ordinary folks are unable to notice this, much less be able to interpret the 'signs' they receive. This information will present itself with the help of divination tools. Let me raise a simple example, dreams and dream interpreters" Alger took a glance at Mr Fool and seeing no response from him, he refuted Audrey's claim.
"Tarot cards are, in fact, such a tool.
It uses more symbolism and more logical elements to help us in conveniently and accurately interpreting the signs"
"Got it" Audrey nodded in agreement.
Following that, she emphasized, "That's not what I meant. I'm not doubting the tarot cards, but I heard that Emperor Roselle had actually created another set of cards, secret and mysterious ones. They were paper cards which symbolized a particular unknown power. There were a total of twenty-two cards that he completed. Later on in life, he referenced them to create the twenty-two Major Arcana tarot cards which are used as a gaming tool. Was what I said correct?"
She looked towards the main seat as though she was attempting to get an answer from the mysterious Mr Fool.
All Mr Fool did was smile without saying a word. He cast his gaze at The Hanged Man as though he was putting him to the test.
Alger subconsciously straightened his back and said in a deep voice, "That's right. It is said that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemy Slate and that set of paper cards contain the profound mysteries of the twenty-two paths of the divine."
"Twenty-two paths of the divine..." repeated Audrey with a longing tone.
"Alright, that will be all for today's gathering" said Mr Fool in a deep voice.
"By your will" Alger bowed his head respectfully.
"By your will" Audrey mimicked The Hanged Man.
"By your will" bowed The High Priestess of The Tarot Club.
"Let us look forward to the next gathering"
The 'stars' brightened once more as the crimson light receded like water. Just as Audrey, Alger and Arthus heard Mr Fool's words, their figures turned into a blur as they phased away.
In a second, the 'projection' shattered as the gray fog restored its silence.