"…You're really not afraid of collapsing from exhaustion, are you?" Klein couldn't help but remark, glancing at the coffee in Alaric's hand. "I think you should skip the coffee and get some rest."
"I know, I know, I'll sleep soon." Alaric said, nodding while finishing his coffee in one gulp, proving with his actions that his good intentions didn't match his stubbornness.
Before Klein could say more, Alaric swiftly changed the subject. "You're here today because you received my letter, right?"
"Yes, I did get your letter." Klein replied, his attention successfully diverted. He nodded, looking at Alaric thoughtfully before asking, "Jack, what did you mean by 'mysterious powers'?"
"Well…" Alaric yawned, his face taking on a pensive look as if organizing his thoughts. After a few seconds, he met Klein's gaze. "You're an occult enthusiast too, aren't you? No need to deny it... an ordinary person wouldn't be so interested in the Antigonus family or the Fool. Besides, I saw your name on the Diviner Club's roster a few days ago."
The Diviner Club?
Klein froze, his first thought being what a coincidence. But then it dawned on him... if Alaric was indeed a Beyonder, it made sense for him to visit the Diviner Club to gather information.
This realization also explained why Alaric was so open about discussing the Beyonder world. It wasn't just his personality; from his perspective, Klein... a history graduate who investigated ancient families, sought out hidden entities, and was a member of the Diviner Club... was clearly an occult enthusiast, if not a Beyonder himself.
Understanding this, Klein didn't deny it. He nodded decisively. "I suppose you could say I'm an occult enthusiast."
"Then you must have heard about Beyonder powers." Alaric said bluntly.
Klein wasn't surprised. After a moment's consideration, he nodded. "I do have some knowledge of the Beyonder world... things like the pathways of the gods and Beyonders."
There was no need to hide this. Seasoned occult enthusiasts often knew such things. Miss Justice, for example, was aware of these concepts before becoming a Beyonder. Conversely, if Klein, who was chasing leads on ancient families, hidden entities, and a Diviner Club member, claimed ignorance, it would seem suspicious. Admitting it openly made the conversation smoother.
"Since you're aware of that, I won't need to explain further." Alaric said with a smile, seemingly unsurprised by Klein's response. He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, before continuing, "Since you know about Beyonders, I can speak freely. Beyond what I wrote in the letter, I've uncovered more about the Antigonus family and the Fool recently."
"What else?" Klein pressed.
"According to my findings, the Antigonus family controls two pathways of the gods: Seer and Sleepless." Alaric said straightforwardly. "And the Fool seems to be a deity tied to the Seer pathway."
While the fact that the pinnacle of a divine pathway leads to godhood is a secret, the connection between certain pathways and deities isn't. For instance, the Church of the Evernight Goddess is tied to the Sleepless pathway, and the Church of the Lord of Storms to the Sailor pathway. These links are obvious to anyone with eyes and are common knowledge in occult circles.
A deity tied to the Seer pathway… Klein froze, his mind reeling as if struck by thunder. He had speculated about this possibility based on the information he had, but hearing it confirmed today filled him with an indescribable sense of absurdity.
The original Klein's death was undeniably linked to the Antigonus family's notebook. He himself had forged a connection with the Fool and, thanks to Emperor Roselle's diary, had chosen to become a Seer. This was no mere coincidence... it was as if an invisible hand had orchestrated everything, guiding him down this path.
If there truly was a mastermind behind it all, what was their goal?
In that moment, Klein's mind raced with countless tropes from the novels he'd read... scheming masterminds using him as a pawn, transmigration as a vessel for resurrection. He felt as if he could barely breathe.
"Klein! Klein! Are you alright?" Alaric's voice cut through, accompanied by a firm pat on Klein's shoulder.
Klein snapped out of his thoughts, exhaling softly. "Sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment."
As he exhaled, his fist clenched beneath the table. He didn't know what secrets lay behind his circumstances, but if there was indeed a mastermind, he refused to sit idly and wait for his fate.
"You…" Alaric hesitated, studying him for several seconds before speaking cautiously. "Klein, do you have some connection to the Fool?"
Klein's instinct was to deny it, but before he could, Alaric continued, "…Are you cursed by the Fool too?"
Cursed? Wait, what does he mean by 'too'?
Klein blinked, eyeing Alaric suspiciously. "You're cursed by the Fool?"
"No, no, not me. An ancestor of a friend of mine was apparently cursed by the Fool." Alaric said quickly, shaking his head.
Is this 'friend' just you?
Klein muttered to himself, but the explanation eased some of his doubts. Though he could understand Alaric's familiarity as a cautious person, he had always been wary of Alaric's eagerness to help him investigate the Fool. No one offers such help without reason.
Now, Alaric's words clicked into place. No wonder Jack was so invested in the Fool... he had a connection to Him too.
Wait, if Jack is a transmigrator like me… could the Fool be tied to transmigration?
Klein instinctively considered the possibility, then looked up at Alaric. After a moment's thought, he nodded vaguely. "I might indeed have some connection to the Fool."
The statement was true from any angle. As Zhou Mingrui, he called himself the Fool above the gray fog. As Klein, he was entangled with the Antigonus family's notebook. How could he not be linked to the Fool?
***
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