join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Every 500 powerstones = free membership | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
After The World and The Hermit finished their private discussion, at The Fool Klein's signal, everyone entered the free discussion segment.
"Cough cough~" Moon Emlyn lightly coughed twice, and after attracting everyone's attention, he chuckled and said, "Everyone, I recently heard an interesting piece of news at a Sanguine internal gathering."
"What news?"
Magician Fors pressed, and as she spoke, she had already conjured a mental image of a pure human girl and an arrogant young Sanguine's romantic entanglement—or perhaps a Sanguine girl and a human boy; a strong female, weak male dynamic seemed more appealing.
Emlyn tilted his head to look at Fors. He always felt that this Miss Magician seemed to be thinking some strange things. After a brief moment of contemplation, he finally spoke:
"I don't know when or where it started, but rumors about a shameless Marauder have begun circulating across the Northern and Southern continents and the vast Five Seas."
"It could be a mirror, a book, a crow flying in the sky, a sea bird, or even a doll placed on a cabinet… They exhibit enough intelligence to communicate with people, and they love to lie, excelling at deceiving creatures around them."
"Besides swindling some inconsequential items, each of its deceptions also extracts some gold pounds, at least 1 gold pound, and the maximum is unknown. Perhaps it's the victim's entire assets? Currently, no one has been swindled that badly, at least not that is known."
"The most bizarre thing is that once deceived by it, the corresponding scam will coincidentally play out in reality."
"Also, after completing a deception, it sometimes maliciously reveals its deception process, as if enjoying the victim's distorted, broken, angry, but helpless expressions. However, those who have such encounters are almost all ordinary people or weaker Beyonders; it seems to pick on the weak."
As Emlyn described, Fors's expression grew increasingly strange. She inexplicably thought of the mirror she and Xio had encountered earlier.
Thinking about it now, it was abnormal that I so easily believed the words on that mirror at the time. Did its words possess a quality that made people believe them?
Wait! I, I was deceived? A whole gold pound, and my emotions at the time—I genuinely felt sad for that lady. I… That's too much!
Justice Audrey turned her body, looking curiously at Emlyn and asking, "Is 'It' a runaway Sealed Artifact? Or a Beyonder playing pranks?"
"I don't know. If it weren't for the Sanguine's recent actions in the Southern Continent, which recovered enough Beyonder characteristics and strengthened our internal connections, we wouldn't have been able to integrate the information and discover 'It's' existence so quickly."
Emlyn shook his head slightly, briefly explaining how he knew this news.
Hanged Man Alger frowned slightly. He recalled the information he had recently gathered and quickly concluded that the "Marauder" who loved to deceive and prank truly existed.
Where did this fellow come from? Its range of activity is too wide; it doesn't seem like the work of a runaway Sealed Artifact. But if it's a Beyonder, what would be their motive? After pondering for a moment, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice:
"There are indeed some related rumors on the Five Seas, but there are too many illogical rumors on the Five Seas. I hadn't paid too much attention to these matters before, as deceiving people is something every pirate does."
Hermit Cattleya sat with her hands clasped, and after a brief thought, she mused, "This sounds somewhat like something a Beyonder of Marauder pathway would do. Deceiving others has always been their pleasure."
Leyton, who had been sitting silently, felt an urge to cover his face. He had a vague premonition ever since Emlyn began talking about that Marauder.
Have some people already noticed the actions of that scam manual? There's nothing that can be done about it; as more and more people are deceived, it will eventually be noticed.
Speaking of which, after I threw it to the Knowledge Rabbit, it has been wandering around. I wonder how it's doing now? I hope it hasn't attracted the attention of those wandering Amon avatars, otherwise I'll lose a Mystical Item.
Klein leaned back leisurely in the high-backed chair, his eyes narrowed slightly, appearing exceptionally deep, thoughts constantly swirling in his mind. Marauder, Amon? Amon shouldn't be this bored. Is someone deliberately using this method to attract Amon's attention? Wouldn't that be a bit too bold?
Regardless of whether this idea is correct or not, it's better to warn them. Thinking of this, Klein quickly reined in his thoughts and once again manipulated his alternate account, The World, speaking in a hoarse voice:
"Heh, whether 'It' is truly a Marauder or not, this behavior will most likely attract the attention of Amon, that top Marauder. Or, perhaps this was originally meant to attract Him. If any of you are curious about this matter and wish to investigate, I suggest you make out your will first."
Fors, who had originally been wondering if she could claim compensation, instantly calmed down, her lips twitching slightly as she silently complained in her mind, "Uh, make out your will first? Isn't that a bit too… much? Are Mr. World's jokes always this chilling?"
To attract Amon? This Amon once parasitized Sun, but was dealt with by Mr. Fool. But this also indirectly shows that Mr. Fool and Amon are in an antagonistic relationship. The World is Mr. Fool's Blessed, so was this statement a reminder from him on behalf of Mr. Fool to us Tarot Club members?
If it truly is a reminder, then this trap targeting Amon was likely set by Mr. Fool or one of His Favored?
Hanged Man Alger's expression shifted from hesitation to shock, and finally settled back into calm. He sat silently in the high-backed chair, his peripheral vision unconsciously glancing towards the figure at the head of the mottled long table.
Audrey, who had been observing the reactions of the Tarot Club members, quickly noticed Hanged Man Alger's unusual reaction. She subtly swept her gaze over him, analyzing his micro-expressions and certain body movements in her mind:
Mr. Hanged Man's emotions are fluctuating greatly. What did he think of? Huh? He's looking at Mr. Fool? Is this matter related to Mr. Fool?
Mr. World said that the Marauder active in the Northern and Southern continents and the Five Seas might attract Amon's attention, and Amon happens to be Mr. Fool's enemy. This matter is very much related to Mr. Fool! The purpose is to lure out Amon, who is hidden in the shadows?
Hermit Cattleya's gaze was calm and subtly surveyed everyone, taking in all their reactions.
True danger often hides in the details of daily life... Hanged Man and Justice both looked towards Mr. Fool. Do they know something, and thus believe this matter is related to Mr. Fool?
Moon Emlyn and Sun Derrick sat somewhat blankly in their seats. One didn't quite understand how this matter became related to Amon, while the other was far away in the Forsaken Land of the Gods and wasn't that concerned about such external affairs.
Leyton tilted his head slightly, glancing at The World at the very end, then looked towards The Fool at the head of the mottled long table, his eyes filled with speechless emotion. Don't casually set me up! It doesn't matter if I lose that scam manual, but if it falls into Amon's hands, it will become a tracker for me!
Feeling the gazes directed at him, Klein's lips twitched slightly. Sometimes, the members' imaginative abilities are not a good thing. Forget it, let them think what they want. As long as I don't respond, this matter has nothing to do with me.
The members of the Tarot Club seemed to share a unique tacit understanding, simultaneously choosing to skip this topic.
After a brief silence, Justice Audrey looked towards Leyton and spoke with a tone full of emotion:
"The Loen Royal Family and the Intis government have both chosen to sign a treaty today with Mesagnes, the warlord who controls the Paz River Valley. They will recognize the independence of the Paz River Valley in exchange for the troops detained there."
"However, that Mesagnes doesn't seem to have any intention of establishing a kingdom, at least he hasn't claimed the title of founder, nor has he announced the establishment of a new regime in the Paz River Valley."
"Everyone is speculating that what he truly wants to do is unify the entire West Balam, or even the entire Southern Continent."
"That quickly? Don't Intis and Loen intend to reclaim their colonies by force?"
Hanged Man Alger asked with some confusion. As he spoke, he glanced at Justice Audrey, re-evaluating her identity and status among the Loen nobility in his mind.
Leyton leaned back against the chair, his hands resting on the edge of the table, and said leisurely, "Mesagnes has already received overt support from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom and the Church of the Earth Mother. Even if Loen and Intis wanted to reclaim their lost colonies by force, they would need to consider the attitudes of the various churches."
"In terms of the number and strength of Beyonders, they do not have an advantage, especially High-Sequence Beyonders, who are the key to changing the battlefield. Moreover, with the Berserk Sea as a barrier, ordinary armed forces are not so easy to transport to the Southern Continent. On a battlefield involving Beyonder powers, it is difficult to form effective suppressive fire."
"Furthermore, there are many conflicts between the Northern Continent nations. If the struggle for colonies escalates into war, the final Winner will likely be Feysac."
Everything was premeditated; this style of action is very much like a Reader's—decisive enough, detailed enough, thorough, with a feeling of arranging things with absolute rationality and coldness. Klein, shrouded in the calm gray fog, muttered to himself for a moment, then manipulated his alternate account, The World, to voice his opinion:
"The Northern Continent nations, besides their homelands, have many colonies on the Five Seas and the Southern Continent. This stretches their front lines too long, making it difficult to concentrate their military and Beyonder forces, far inferior to the Paz River Valley, which holds a single fortified position."
"Recently, the bounties on the Five Seas have changed somewhat. The bounty for Queen Mystic in Intis has risen to 100 million verl d'or. Loen, the Church of the Lord of Storms, and other factions have also greatly increased their bounties for her, exceeding a million pounds."
"...100 million!"
Magician Fors and Moon Emlyn simultaneously exclaimed, their throats bobbing. This was a number they usually wouldn't even dare to imagine.
After exclaiming, Fors awkwardly lowered her head, mentally converting 100 million verl d'or into gold pounds. The exchange rate between verl d'or and gold pounds seemed to be 24 to 1; even so, it would be several million pounds!
So much money! If I had that much money, I could buy all the dolls in Backlund and give each of them their own exclusive walk-in closet! Why would I need to work for someone for a Viscount's Beyonder characteristic like I do now? Thinking of how he still had to work for Leyton, Emlyn's expression immediately drooped. He even felt an urge to become a Hunter on the Five Seas and earn bounties.
100 million verl d'or, this bounty already exceeds that of the King of the Five Seas. But what does this have to do with the struggle for colonies in the Southern Continent? Also, Mr. World seems to be talking more today… Justice Audrey subtly tilted her head, looking at The World at the very end, trying to observe something from him.
Hmm, his emotions are completely contained, and his expression is very somber. It's impossible to observe any useful information from Mr. World. This ability is truly too restraining for a Spectator.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Every 500 powerstones = free membership | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr