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In the study, Leyton stood up from his chair and stretched his body.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost three in the afternoon.
Leyton put away the bone staff from his desk and placed it in a storage cabinet nearby. He then prepared a cup of coffee for himself, sat on the recliner by the window, and waited for today's Tarot Club to begin.
In the past few days, Leyton had been analyzing the Beyonder abilities of the bone staff and developing new Mysticism from them.
Although the Black Knight's ability was at the demigod level, Leyton had previously analyzed some shadow-based Beyonder abilities, and he also had Sasrir, a expert from the Hanged Man Pathway, residing in him. His analysis progressed well, and the development of Mysticism had already taken shape.
On the other hand, the development of Mysticism related to emotions and desires had made no progress due to the lack of research materials.
"Desire Apostle is also hard to find! The Devil's malicious perception is too troublesome."
Leyton sighed as he lay on the recliner.
To prevent the Desire Apostle in Backlund from detecting him in advance due to malicious perception, Leyton rarely thought about such matters, just waiting for the other party to act according to the original plan, and then he would go pick up the spoils and claim the kills.
While he was pondering, the time reached three in the afternoon.
A deep crimson light surged into Leyton's vision precisely on time, swallowing all his sight like a tide.
When he came to his senses, he was already above the Gray Fog, inside that grand and ancient palace.
Leyton was still in a half-reclining posture. As soon as he sat upright, he heard Miss Justice greeting Mr. Fool.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"
He glanced at the card Klein had placed to his right. The card was face down on the long bronze table, revealing intricate and ornate patterns on its back.
Everyone at the Tarot Club noticed this card, and their expressions and actions revealed some surprise, confusion, and their own conjectures.
However, Leyton noticed that Miss Justice's surprise lasted only an instant when she saw the card; she was more curious, and she also had more thoughts to observe the reactions of others.
Justice Audrey also noticed Leyton and his similar reaction.
Does Mr. Tower know something too? He is very strong. Perhaps he was involved in stealing the Card of Blasphemy from the Royal Museum.
Leyton and Miss Justice, who had noticed him, exchanged glances. He could roughly guess what she was thinking, and Leyton suddenly wanted to add fuel to her curiosity.
Seeing that no one had submitted Roselle's diary today, Leyton slightly raised his hand to signal and, amidst everyone's surprised or confused gazes, said to Mr. Fool, who was seated at the head of the table:
"Respected Mr. Fool, may I look at the card next to you? I am also pursuing similar things, so I am a bit curious about it."
Leyton deliberately did not mention the conditions for viewing the Card of Blasphemy. He wanted to see what Klein would ask him to exchange for it, or if he would just let him see it directly?
Klein, shrouded in the Gray Fog at the head of the table, pondered slightly. He was not very surprised that the other party would propose to view the Card of Blasphemy, but he did not expect it to be so direct, stating the idea right away.
Alger is also looking for the Card of Blasphemy? Right, he was also there at the time, but he encountered Bernadette, and the two were in a standoff.
To avoid dragging out the time too long and letting other members notice an issue, Klein did not think too much; all the information flashed through his mind.
He spoke in a low, casual tone:
"You may! You also contributed to obtaining it."
Klein placed his right hand on the edge of the long bronze table and slightly raised a finger. The Card of Blasphemy he had placed to his right immediately flew into Leyton's hand, enveloped in some grayish-white mist.
Leyton caught the Card of Blasphemy and ignored the probing gazes of the others, carefully examining the black emperor card in his hand.
His eyes quickly covered with a layer of blue-white, tinged with purple, luminescence. Information about the Card of Blasphemy appeared in his mind, but not much. Leyton found that he could not analyze the Card of Blasphemy made by Roselle.
Although it was expected, he was still a bit disappointed. Then he reached out, and the Card of Blasphemy flew back to Klein's right side on its own.
"Thank you for your generosity!" He thanked Mr. Fool at the head of the table, then turned his body.
Justice Audrey, who was good at observation, noticed Leyton's undisguised disappointment and quickly started to make connections in her mind.
Doesn't this Card of Blasphemy correspond to the Reader Pathway that Mr. Tower is on? No, Mr. Tower's state just now was like he was using a Beyonder ability. He tried to see something from the Card of Blasphemy but failed, which is why he was disappointed?
The others also did not hide their probing gazes, but unfortunately, Leyton did not want to respond to them. He leaned lazily against the high-backed chair, waiting for the Tarot Club to continue.
Audrey's gaze returned to that Card of Blasphemy. After Leyton's request to view it was granted by Mr. Fool, Audrey's curiosity was piqued.
She looked around, and after confirming that no one was speaking, Audrey raised her hand and said:
"Respected Mr. Fool, I have something I wish to report to you privately."
Klein, shrouded in the Gray Fog, nodded gently:
"You may."
Everyone else, isolated from the private conversation, fell silent.
Magician Fors was very curious about what exactly the card Mr. Fool had placed to his right was. She wanted to ask Leyton, who had seen the card, but found it difficult to speak, sitting in her seat, repeatedly agonizing.
The atmosphere was too silent, so Leyton simply started chatting with The Sun next to him:
"Mr. Sun, was the Beyonder knowledge you obtained last time useful?"
"Very useful. It largely compensated for my lack of frontal combat ability."
The Sun replied very happily when the knowledge obtained from the last mystical ritual was mentioned.
Leyton nodded thoughtfully. The Sun's answer gave him a business opportunity.
He could completely sell this type of spell knowledge, which requires a lower demand on one's Pathway, to the City of Silver in exchange for their materials. Spreading knowledge could also help him digest the Mysticism Magister potion. The Sun and his companions were his best students.
Leyton became interested. He sat upright and said to The Sun beside him:
"Mr. Sun, if I have a lot of this kind of spell knowledge, can I trade with you? Or trade with the City of Silver!"
The Sun Derrick hesitated for a moment, then scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and said:
"But…"
Hanged Man Alger, in a serious tone, took over The Sun's unfinished words and said:
"The fact that Mr. Sun can contact the outside world should be his own secret. If he rashly brings out too much Beyonder knowledge to trade with others, it will definitely arouse suspicion from others in the City of Silver."
Leyton glanced at Hanged Man Alger. He felt that the other party was worried about the City of Silver's resources being monopolized by him.
Without responding to Hanged Man Alger's words, Leyton looked at The Sun and continued:
"What is your ultimate goal? To constantly become stronger? To save the City of Silver? Or both?"
"To save the City of Silver!"
The Sun answered very firmly.
Leyton smiled slightly and followed The Sun's words:
"So, are you planning to keep the information that you can communicate with the outside world a secret forever? Or will you confess it?"
The Sun Derrick was stunned again. He had never thought about this question, he had just instinctively kept his difference a secret.
The Hanged Man's brows furrowed. Seeing that The Sun was actually considering confessing that he could communicate with the outside world, Hanged Man Alger's brows furrowed even deeper.
"You first need to have enough self-preservation ability, and then consider confessing this matter to everyone."
"Do you think if you go to the elders now and tell them about this, is it more likely that they will think you were tempted by an evil god, or that they will believe you?"
Hanged Man Alger earnestly advised The Sun, telling him to think clearly and only confess that he could communicate with the outside world after he had sufficient strength.
Magician Fors watched on in a daze. She vaguely sensed that Mr. Sun's identity or the place he was in was very special.
Leyton shook his head slightly. Mr. Hanged Man should not look at this matter from his own perspective. The City of Silver, which had struggled in the Darkness for thousands of years, was more rational, braver, and understood the meaning of sacrifice better than he believed.
Sighing, Leyton shifted his gaze to Hanged Man Alger and said:
"Mr. Hanged Man, you have overlooked a very important issue."
"What issue?"
Hanged Man Alger looked at Leyton with some confusion.
"The City of Silver is not the South or Northern Continent. They have been struggling in the Darkness for thousands of years. Every day for them is the apocalypse!"
Leyton's tone became serious.
Hanged Man Alger fell silent. He had indeed overlooked this issue.
Perhaps for the City of Silver, every bit of strength was precious.
The Hanged Man pondered for a while, then looked at The Sun Derrick, and spoke in a somewhat low and serious voice:
"You can consider Mr. Tower's proposal, but it's best for this kind of Beyonder knowledge transaction to start with yourself first. Once you master it, then teach it to others, or trade with others."
"As for confessing that you can contact the outside world, my advice is not to do so for now. You are still only Sequence 8. You cannot bear the hope of the entire City of Silver yet."
The Sun Derrick was silent for a long time before slowly speaking:
"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Hanged Man."
The Sun's reaction made Leyton realize that he had been a bit too hasty, so he stopped bringing up the matter of trading Beyonder knowledge with the City of Silver and instead said:
"You must learn to trust your companions. Of course, first, you need to go out and meet more friends."
The Sun was stunned again; the other party's topic shifted too quickly, but he still nodded and said:
"Mm, I understand, but how did Mr. Tower know that I don't go out much and don't have many friends?"
"The Reader is a Pathway very skilled at observation."
"Saving the City of Silver cannot rely on you alone. You also need your companions and friends."
"Moreover, I think this is not just your wish, but also the wish of everyone in the City of Silver."
Leyton explained, and at the same time reminded The Sun that he was not a lonely hero.
The Sun nodded solemnly and said, "I understand. Thank you very much for your reminder, Mr. Tower~"
Magician Fors, who had been out of the loop, finally couldn't resist her curiosity and asked aloud:
"Excuse me, what kind of place is the City of Silver?"
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