"Alright." Audrey recalled and repeated, "80 milliliters of pure water. 5 drops of autumn crocus essence, 13 grams of cow teeth..."
"Paeonol powder," reminded Alger.
With his help, Audrey gradually and precisely memorized the formula's order. However, she appeared worried as she mumbled it again and again.
"Do you know about Cogitation?" When Alger saw Justice nod, he continued, "I do not know how much you know about Cogitation. Let me describe it once... After consuming the potion, quickly begin Cogitation to control your spirituality and energy... Make sure to practice every day to truly grasp the powers of the potion. Dig out the meaning it symbolizes and even more of its mysteries. That way, you can avoid the danger of losing control to the greatest extent. And the meaning of a potion mainly lies in its name, such as Spectator!"
Cogitation? Selina internalized the word heartly. If the former Selina were to informed of it early on... Could she be alive in the present?
Seated at the head of the table. The Fool suddenly halted his habitual behavior unnoticeably.
Audrey listened to The Hanged Man's explanations attentively, and just as she was about to inquire about something more detailed, she suddenly heard the rapping sound on the table.
She, along with Selina and Alger turned their heads and looked at The Fool. They realized that the mysterious and mighty figure was tapping gently with his fingers. He said in a deep voice, "It's not about grasping them, but rather digesting them."
"It's not about discovery, but rather acting.
"The name of a potion is not only symbolic, it's also imagery. It is the key to digesting."
Selina fell into a daze. She was at a lost on what The Fool is trying to convey.
Subconsciously, she turned to glanced at the other two. Ms. Justice displayed the same puzzlement as her, while The Hanged Man showed visible signs of fear and fatigue.
His body jolted and froze. As if a sudden crackling of a thunder shook the dim sky from the serenity of the night.
Within the subtle sounds of churning fog. An audible sound of repeated sentences echoed from Alger. "Digesting, acting... Digesting, acting... Digesting, acting, key..."
It practically made the two ladies depict him as someone who had succumbed into a strange curse. Where words are being recycled indefinitely.
This sudden unusual behavior from a composed individual such as Alger made Selina skeptical of the words Mr. Fool had let go of. In her mind, she revised the exact sentences, trying to clarify herself of the mystery.
Potion name... Apothecary... Acting... Digesting... Selina pieced together what seemed like a puzzle, scattered and provided in a congested discordance.
With a thought, she formulated. Apothecary is a profession's calling, I've already figured this before... Maybe... Is what Mr. Fool implying that one would have to align with what the potion's name in order to digest its contents?
But it seems this knowledge bother Mr. Hanged Man quite significantly... Selina had already theorized this method before and suspected how the potion's mystical abilities somehow corresponds to a profession.
Although the matter wasn't relayed in such a refined way as Mr. Fool's, Selina planned on attempting a 'test and result' procedure once or before she leave Tingen.
At first, the distinction made her thought that it might already be common within organizations and she would encounter it later on as she delve into the mystery of the beyonder world. Needless to say, The Hanged Man's reaction made her second guess her thoughts.
So that's the effects of it? Mr. Fool... Just who are you? Selina still couldn't help but question the existence of the mysterious figure seated at the head of the mottled table.
After a while, Alger raised his head and said with a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Mr. Fool. Your hint is as valuable as my life. You have enlightened me greatly. Of course, I believe I have yet to fully understand or comprehend it."
The Fool withdrew his hands and smiled. "That was an advance payment."
Advance payment... Audrey looked at The Hanged Man's reaction and knew that the hint from before was precious. As she ruminated over it, she asked, "Mr. Fool, what do you wish for us to do?"
Selina caught on to The Fool's words and asked in a gentle manner. "What do you wish to entrust us with?"
Opposite to her, Alger nodded visibly from the fog.
The Fool leaned back slightly as he glanced towards the trio, with a pleasant and soft voice, he said. "Collect Roselle Gustav's secret diary on my behalf, even if it's just one page of it."
By this moment. Alger's body froze once more.
At the mention of Roselle's notebook being referred to by the enigmatic Mr. Fool as secret diary meant that Mr. Fool is able to discern its contents and understand it enough to refer to it with its intended category, a dairy!
Seated across from him. Selina, poised with mild indifference, thought of Roselle Gustav once again. My senior... Your diary better be worth the read.
At first, Selina held an admiration towards the late Emperor. But upon inspecting how his 'innovative inventions' revolutionized and reshaped the world, and how certain quotes of his are identical to some of what she knows. She couldn't help but address her transmigrator senior of his obvious plagiarism without credits.
As a small joke to herself, Selina internally visualized the late Emperor's possible diary contents as the he thinks of the things to plagiarize next.
The corners of her mouth curled from the dense fog as she found herself in a good mood.
By the way, what language did you use in the diary? Better yet, what country have you originated? Selina muttered to herself silently.
Roselle Gustav's secret diary?
Emperor Roselle?
Indeed, only such matters are worth the concern of a mighty figure like Mr. Fool... Audrey was first taken aback before she realized that she found it nothing surprising.
Rumor had it that Emperor Roselle had once seen the Blasphemy Slate. It was said that the secret cards he created hid the twenty-two paths of the divine. This was something every high-Sequence Beyonder would definitely pay attention to!
"Diary? That's a diary?" Alger frowned slightly as he keenly noticed this tidbit.
The Fool, having achieved a desirable effect from the listeners. Leaned back on his chair and answered with a relax manner. "Let us view it as a diary for now."
He did not deny or confirm it.
Audrey had heard the children of other nobles mention the matter. However, she had never really learned much of it. With her curiosity piqued, she asked, "It's said that Emperor Roselle's, well, diary was written in a cryptic language or symbols he invented."
"Yes," answered Alger simply. "Some people believe that it is a unique set of symbols from mysticism. Others believe that it is a hieroglyph. But up to today, no one has found the correct way of deciphering it. At the very least, that's all I know."
Now I'm really curious what country he came from... Selina sighed inwardly.
After hearing The Hanged Man's description, Audrey said in a stumped manner, "We can't understand the symbols or the words... Then, how are we to pass the information to you, Mr. Fool? Or are we to mail it somewhere?"
At that moment, the trio. Selina, Audrey and Alger saw Mr. Fool slowly sit up amid the thick grayish fog.
"Miss Justice, let us give it a try. Imagine a paragraph of text and give it the emotions of writing it with urgency. Yes, pick up the fountain pen beside you and write on the piece of paper."
Before Mr. Fool finished his sentence, Audrey saw a piece of yellowish-brown goatskin parchment and a dark red fountain pen in front of her.
She picked up the fountain pen both curiously and doubtfully. In accordance with the instructions, she imagined a poem Emperor Roselle once wrote:
"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"
After scrutinizing the text, she picked up her fountain pen and imbued them with the desire of projecting them out.
Then, the moment Audrey landed her fountain pen, she saw a line appear on the goatskin parchment.
"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"
"Goddess, how fascinating!" Audrey exclaimed in astonishment while feeling rueful.
Following that, she looked at the enigmatic man before them with some fear.
"Mr. Fool, can you read what I'm thinking?"
"No, I'm only guiding you. I simplified the process of writing for you and made it become an imprint. If you did not wish to express it, nothing would appear." The Fool placated her with a low tone.
"Is that so... Then we can only memorize the symbols or the way the cryptic text looks like. Then, we can present it directly as we wish?" Audrey heaved a sigh of relief as she asked in enlightenment.
"Yes." The Fool answered.
"That's not a bad method. Miss Justice, do not doubt your memory. After becoming a Spectator, you will receive immense improvement in this aspect." Alger had watched the attempt from the side, fully coming to the realization that The Fool was more powerful and mysterious than he imagined.
Fascinating... Selina thought in awe as she silently observe Audrey's actions.
Regarding this, Audrey nodded in delight.
"You have delighted me with this reminder. Mr. Hanged Man, do you have any other guidance on Spectators?"
With that said, she looked toward the Seat of Honor.
"Mr. Fool, I will work hard to complete your mission. I will do my best to gather more of Emperor Roselle's secret diary."
"I mentioned before that I'm a person who likes a fair and equal exchange. The advanced payment I gave is only equivalent to two pages of the diary for each person. If there are more, I will give additional in return," The Fool said calmly, like he was an adult who did not take advantage of children.
"You are truly a generous gentleman." Alger fell silent for a few seconds before bowing slightly with his hand by his chest.
After the bow, he turned to Justice and said, "Let me emphasize once more. A Spectator will forever be a spectator.
"I know that many Spectators enjoy imagining themselves to be the protagonist or some other character. As a result, they invest a lot of feelings into it, to the point of crying, laughing, raging, and turning sorrowful because of the drama. However, that is not what a Spectator should do.
"While faced with the various dramas of society and figures who knowingly or unknowingly act the role of particular characters, you have to maintain the attitude of being an absolute bystander. Only then can you calmly and objectively observe them. You will discover their habits, their tics from lying, or their scent of nervousness. From those minute clues, you can grasp their true thoughts.
"Believe me, everyone is different because of their emotions. They will secrete different 'things' and different smells. However, only a real Spectator can sniff it out.
"Once you invest too many of your emotions, your observation will be influenced. Your sensitivity towards the emotions of others will deviate."
Audrey listened attentively as her eyes brightened gradually.
From the sidelines, Selina couldn't help but brood over her current inexperienced self. Nonetheless, she gave her utmost attentiveness at Alger's information, in a chance that if ever she encountered another Spectator, she'll be able to distinguish them amidst the crowd.
After all, from Alger's lecture, she had learned that:
Spectators can review a performance.
Just as Selina was immersing herself in thought, Alger finished explaining the demands he knew of a Spectator. He sighed before saying, "It seems like there's nothing else?
"Perhaps we can have a casual chat. We can talk about things happening around us. Perhaps it is something very normal to you, but in the ears of others, it might be a very important clue."
Then, The Fool permitted with a subtle nod from amidst the grey fog.
"Then, shall we begin with you, Mr. Hanged Man?" Audrey agreed in excitement.
Alger thought for a moment before saying, "The infamous pirate who calls himself Lieutenant General Deweyville has begun his voyage to explore the eastern end of the Sonia Sea again."
Sonia Sea... Selina recalled the teachings of her tutors about the world's ocean parts.
Sonia Sea was located on the Eastern side of the Northern and Southern Continent. Islands such as the Rorsted Archipelago, Gargas Archipelago, and Sonia Island occupying a certain area of this sea and was colonized by Loen Kingdom and Feysac Empire.
Her tutors taught her of some speculations, which addresses the existence of another continent beyond the Sea of Ruins, east of Gargas Archipelago.
Exploring the Sonia Sea's eastern end... Are they trying to confirm that speculation? Selina tried to ease her doubts with an inquisitive answer, then resuming to another matter afterwards.
"Oh? The owner of the Black Tulip?" returned Audrey with a question after some thought.
"Yes," Alger replied with a nod.
Audrey then turned towards Selina and asked. "What about you Ms. Lovers?"
Then, upon hearing her question, she realized that the person had just recently disclosed her situation.
In a rueful manner, she attempted to brush her question aside as she said. "Oh... It's fine if-"
"No... I do have something I would like to share." Selina intervened by the moment.
During Alger and Audrey's conversation. She have already figured what news she would share.
Thus, with a restrained tone. She said softly. "The cult behind the Milo incident seems to exhibit unusual behavior among their underclassmen."
She paused momentarily, before adding. "I believe it might lead to a sub-group within the cult to emerge."
Selina wasn't certain if her idea to spread her image as the Reborn Child of God through dreams within this cult would truly influence its structure.
Regardless, she have already concluded that with the help of the church behind Mr. Hanged Man or Ms. Justice. When the cult's integrity trembled from the formation of a sub-group, it can lead to an opportunity to weaken the cult and eradicate them as time passed.
Alger, thoughts stirred from Selina's intel as he asked himself. This... Is Ms. Lovers saying this to us, in hopes that it might reach one of the churches?
Seated at the head of the mottled table. The Fool caressed the armrest with his fingers.
With a slow breath, he spoke a languid voice:
"The cult you're referring to should be a secret organization. Possibly naming themselves as...
The Rose School of Thought."