Magician Fors leaned slightly forward, pressing her hands firmly against the edge of the table, her heart filled with an intense struggle.
On one side was the revenge for her teacher's family, and on the other was a commission that might offend a member of the Tarot Club, and a very powerful one at that.
There shouldn't be any danger, right? With The Fool present, Mr. Tower surely wouldn't do anything to me, a fellow Tarot Club member. At most, he'd just warn Botis in advance to be careful.
But as long as that Saint of Secrets is still active on the Southern Continent battlefield, there will always be a chance to hunt him down. We could even disguise ourselves as Intis official Beyonders and frame them. However, the battlefield is equally dangerous for others, and with Mr. Tower's presence, it's unlikely anyone would be willing to take this commission.
As she pondered, she subconsciously cast her gaze towards The World Gehrman Sparrow, known as the Mad Adventurer.
Sensing the Magician's gaze, Klein had The World speak in a deep, hoarse voice:
"I will be staying in Backlund for some time recently. There are some very important matters that need to be handled here."
Fors nodded with some regret. The World's refusal was within her expectations, but his reason surprised her a little. She seriously suspected that another major event was brewing in Backlund.
Could Feysac have another round of air raids targeting Backlund? But with Loen's Church and military prepared, doing so would be pointless and might lead to an ambush.
Fors's thoughts uncontrollably diverged, and the idea of leaving Backlund again, finding a safe place to calmly act as a Traveler, arose in her mind.
As her thoughts drifted, she heard Leyton, across the mottled long table, chuckle, as if interested in their conversation, and said:
"If any of you are willing to take on the Magician's task, I can offer some assistance, for example, interfering with the True Creator's gaze, or helping with the retreat at the end of the mission."
Star Leonard looked at Leyton with some surprise, then, as if something occurred to him, he followed up:
"I can also provide some help, a powerful charm, and some advice and references for the plan."
Your alliance is truly fragile. Should I also get involved? Since the conflict between Amon and the True Creator has eased, then He is my enemy.
After a silent sigh in his heart, Klein looked at Leyton, then manipulated The World Gehrman Sparrow to speak:
"I can also provide some help, powerful mystical items, charms, and references for the plan."
"Uh, although I don't know the reason you are willing to help, still, thank you."
After expressing her gratitude, Magician Fors was still a bit dazed, but she could tell that with the increased offers from Mr. Tower, Star, and The World, Chariot seemed to be somewhat tempted.
Hermit Cattleya gave them a deep look but offered no opinion. The Queen was right; the factions forming the new government in the Southern Continent were actually at odds despite their outward appearance of unity. They were bound together by mutual interests, not by shared ideals.
As an Audience, Justice Audrey observed more from the reactions of Leyton and Leonard. Fors's commission likely had something to do with her teacher. Mr. Tower and The World seemed very eager to see the True Creator's forces weakened. As for Star, his behavior suggested mostly hatred and aversion.
As everyone pondered with various expressions, Chariot Anderson leaned back in his chair, raising his right hand and saying:
"Alright, your continuous offers have attracted me. I will gather information, and if there's a possibility of success, we can discuss the specifics later."
Magician Fors nodded and immediately told Anderson all the information she knew about Botis.
After their exchange ended, Moon Emlyn looked around, his gaze falling on Star Leonard, and asked:
"If you were official Beyonders, how would you handle a clergyman from a hostile force within your jurisdiction during wartime?"
"He hasn't, and doesn't intend to, do anything bad."
Although he was no longer in Backlund, after a long period of interaction, he had a good impression of Father Utravsky. After learning that Feynapotter had also joined the war, he had been worried about the safety of this priest who was proselytizing in Backlund, and also worried about whether this priest would pose a safety threat to Backlund.
Is this guy really considering himself part of the Church of the Earth Mother? Is it the destiny of Vampires to believe in the Earth Mother? Where is your Vampire pride?
Leonard glanced at Moon Emlyn, who had been staring at him, and after two seconds of silence, said:
"Protective custody."
He knew very well who the other party was talking about, and he didn't believe Emlyn's additional remark. For a Blessed, a fanatic, the standard of good and bad might not be the same as a normal person's understanding.
After answering Emlyn's question, Leonard glanced at The World at the very end of the mottled long table, then his gaze fell on Leyton again, and he asked with some curiosity:
"Is there anything big lurking in Backlund recently?"
Leyton probably understood what Leonard truly wanted to ask. He was silent for two seconds, then chuckled and said:
"Of course there is, but it has nothing to do with you. You were left in Backlund mainly to attract Amon, or other high-level existences from those three pathways, to create a balance and mutual restraint among them."
Seeing this, Klein manipulated The World to add:
"The leader of the Secret Order, Zaratul, a Sequence 1, is currently in Backlund."
"Seer and Marauder, as well as Apprentice, belong to those three adjacent pathways."
A scene subconsciously flashed through Magician Fors's mind: the last time she saw her teacher, there was a strange crow perched on a gas lamppost on the street. Sometimes, not knowing too much is a kind of luck, as it avoids many silent and extremely deadly dangers.
Everyone took turns exchanging their doubts and information. Soon, the topic was brought back to the war.
Hermit Cattleya looked around the hall and said with some emotion:
"Currently, all kingdoms on the Northern and Southern continents, the Orthodox Churches, and most of the secret organizations are embroiled in war, yet they maintain an uncanny restraint, not interfering with each other."
"This is inevitable..." The World Gehrman Sparrow sighed, then added:
"Everyone is waiting for those at the center of the conflict to determine a victor. Before that, They will have their own inclinations, but they won't fully commit, at least not before the final war erupts."
"...War?" Justice Audrey, Hermit Cattleya, and others fell silent simultaneously, the same thought flashing through their minds: From the end of the Fourth Epoch to the current end of the Fifth Epoch, is a major war finally about to appear? This would also mean that the Fifth Epoch is nearing its end!
After a long silence, Sun Derrick broke it:
"The Council of Six in the City of Silver has already approved the decision to set off and explore the Giant King's Court."
After Hanged Man Alger and The World Gehrman Sparrow gave some advice to Little Sun, today's Tarot Club came to an end.
At The Fool Klein's signal, everyone stood up and bowed. Beams of crimson light then rose, dissolving their bodies and carrying them away from the palace above the Gray Fog.
After Justice, Moon, Hanged Man, and the others had left, Klein made his alternate persona, The World, also disappear.
He looked at Leyton, who was leaning lazily in the high-backed chair, and Azik, who sat upright like a faculty member in a university office back in Tingen, and calmly said:
"I've already obtained the Spirit World coordinates where the Hound of Fulgrim frequently appears from Red Light Aiur Moria. I plan to go check it out soon."
"The intimidation of those demigods on the battlefield, and the newspaper's propagation of the horror stories I created, have made my Bizzaro Sorcerer potion digest very quickly."
In Backlund West Borough, beneath Saint Samuel Cathedral, in a private resting room belonging only to the captain of the Red Gloves team.
Leonard, half-reclining in his seat, suddenly opened his eyes. He first subconsciously looked around, then lowered his voice and said:
"Old Man, Zaratul, the leader of the Secret Order, is staying in Backlund. Also, the Church seems to plan to use you to attract Amon and other high-level existences from your three pathways to Backlund."
Pallez's aged voice echoed in Leonard's mind:
"This is not surprising. I guessed as much when you were left in Backlund."
"I have received Evernight's protection, and naturally, I need to pay a certain price for this protection, sigh~"
After a two-second pause, Pallez continued:
"It seems Evernight doesn't intend for the Loen Royal Family's schemes to succeed. By attracting Amon, who has already obtained the last Worm of Time characteristic from me, He will inevitably go into seclusion to complete the Error's advancement ritual."
"Perhaps Evernight already has a preference for the Black Emperor position. No one knows what this Mother of Concealment is truly thinking, what She is planning, or perhaps, She is confident in blocking Amon's advancement ritual to Error."
"Error?" Leonard keenly caught this somewhat unfamiliar term and asked curiously, "Is this the title for the Marauder pathway's Sequence 0? It's a bit strange. What kind of ritual does He need?"
"Not bad, you even know about Sequence 0 now."
Pallez praised him with a lack of sincerity, then said:
"The Error's ritual is very simple, yet also very complex: to usurp someone else's godhood ritual."