Klein couldn't even meet Amon's eyes the rest of the carriage drive.
Although he had already concluded that the real Klein Moretti was probably very toxic and abusive to his innocent sheltered fiance Amon- he hadn't expected it to be this bad!
To think Amon was actually a victim of sexual assault and kidnapping until Stockholm Syndrome kicked in...
Klein sneaked a glance at Amon who was sitting in front of him and playing with a crow sitting on his lap with such a content and happy face. Amon saw Klein staring and smiled back at Klein with a small wave, making Klein once again jerk back to look outside the window.
This...
The poor nobleman who was raised up sheltered had experienced something traumatic as a child when even his own father got sick in the mind and hurt him repeatedly, and his only other family, his older brother didn't have any time for him as he was figuring out a way to cure their father... growing up in such an environment didn't teach him much about normal human relationships. So when he was kidnapped and raped against his will, the poor innocent young man couldn't help but imprint on his attacker for even the smallest hint of love due to his deprivation of it. And even though the evil man constantly hurt and abused him both physically and mentally, Amon still pursued and even proposed... in the end the evil man accepted to get his hands on Amon's money.
And the evil man was apparently himself!
Klein Moretti!
Or at least the person Zhou Mingrui was occupying the body of-
But he still couldn't help but feel horribly guilty and like absolute trash.
After all, he had both the memories of Zhou Mingrui as well as that of Klein Moretti and he considered himself a mixture of both those people even if he only had fragmented memories from Klein...
"Klein, we're here." Amon smiled as he held his hand out to Klein.
"..." Klein looked at Amon's extended hand with pursed lips and accepted it without speaking another word.
"You should rest a bit, I've had the servants prepare our bedroom. Unfortunately, I still have some matters that need my attention hence why I'll be gone until about 4 pm, so I won't be able to cook for you like I promised to back in the cafe..." Amon shook his head in disappointment.
"...it's alright, you're doing more than enough already." Klein said in a small voice.
"Nothing is too much for your dear~" Amon giggled as he brought Klein's hand to his cheek and rubbed his face onto it affectionately.
"Mn..." Klein hummed back in reply, feeling too guilty and emotional to even look directly at Amon's love-filled eyes, not even bothering to rip his hands away from such an intimate touch.
"Klein," Amon called out after a while of silence between them, "I love you."
"I-" Klein stuttered, "I know..." he couldn't lie to Amon and say the words 'I love you too' back to him... the poor man had already been lied to enough in his life by Klein Moretti.
"Then I'll be going now," Amon smiled as he stepped back into the carriage, "If you want anything to eat, the kitchen might still have some leftover food or snacks I made a while ago, bye~"
Klein stared blankly at the carriage disappearing into the streets.
For a few minutes he just stood there, before fixing the hat on his head and walking into Amon's mansion.
He couldn't help but be reminded of Amon's love-filled gaze... the poor man really was so used and abused throughout his life by the people closest to him that he ended up falling in love with a monster...
Klein felt a fire burning in his heart-
Even if he wasn't gay and technically wasn't the real Klein Moretti- he would still take responsibility for Amon! And then help him heal and teach him about love until the poor man finally realizes the true demon that was Klein Moretti and breaks up with him.
Klein held his morality over his sexuality!
With a determined mind, he went to bed to regain his spirituality.
The next time Klein woke up, it was already afternoon.
Thankfully it was still a few minutes before 3 PM, when the scheduled meeting with The Hanged Man and Ms. Justice would be held by him at the mysterious palace above the grey fog.
Klein made sure that no one else was in the house before locking the room he was in, chanting the incantation in Chinese while taking 4 steps counterclockwise. This time he didn't prepare any staple food, and like he had guessed, he was able to enter the grey fog even without completing the full ritual this time.
Hysterical shouts and alluring murmurs began resounding, but Klein realized that the headache was not as bad as the first time.
It was not that he was unaffected, but that he was doing his best to stop himself from listening.
As a Beyonder, he had to have more self-control in such an environment.
Soon, his body turned to light as he floated up. He saw the grayish-white and blurry fog that emanated. Then, he saw dark red 'stars.' Two of them had a minuscule connection with him with an abnormal sense of familiarity.
Klein looked at his blurry self and muttered in confusion, "The Astral Projection that Old Neil mentioned?"
He remained calm for a few seconds and again transformed the opulent divine palace with the tall bronze table under the domed ceiling, as well as the twenty-two high-back chairs that corresponded to the different constellations.
Klein calmly walked to the Seat of Honor and made his body and face immersed in thicker gray fog.
He extended his right hand and tapped two familiar deep-red stars and created a miraculous connection.
Above the gray fog stood a majestic divine hall that looked like a giant's residence.
Dark red colors bloomed on both sides of the bronze table. They surged upwards like a fountain before pattering down. It 'carved' two blurry figures who sat in the same spots as before.
Audrey, with her soft blond hair and tall, slim build, instinctively looked towards the Seat of Honor. She saw the figure immersed in a thick gray fog sitting back. One hand was flat, touching the table's side while the other hand was stroking his chin.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~!" Audrey shouted with a cheery voice.
Following that, she turned her head and looked at the person opposite her. With the same tone, she said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man~!"
'This lady sure is unsophisticated. Is she so sure that I'm a good person? Why isn't there any fear from her? Is she a noble lady who has been protected well?' Klein smiled solemnly as he was once again reminded of Amon... he really hoped that this noble young lady wasn't taken advantage of by others like a certain monocle-wearing man.
After the exchange of greetings ended, the first official meeting of the Tarot Club started!
Audrey drew a smile as she asked in anticipation, "Mr. Hanged Man, did you receive the box of Ghost Shark blood?"
"Thank you very much. It perfectly met my expectations. I never expected you to send it to me so quickly. The Ghost Shark blood is not the typical extraordinary creature," said Alger frankly.
Audrey smiled humbly and said, "I'm very happy to see this outcome."
"According to our agreement, I will tell you the formula to the potion, Spectator."
With that, Alger helped Audrey remember the potion formula for Spectator as well as giving her ample warnings and precautions over losing control and precise measurements. He even explained to her about cognition,
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!"
Klein silently listened to the conversation and had no plans on interrupting. All he did was secretly memorize and study, but when he heard that, he suddenly had a thought.
He remembered the words he had read about this in Roselle's diary!
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 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."
Audrey was dazed and confused from hearing that. She was not very clear on what Mr. Fool was trying to express.
She subconsciously eyed The Hanged Man for a reaction from the corner of her eyes. She was surprised to see him jolt and freeze. It was as though an ordinary person had heard a loud and sudden clap of thunder.
"Digesting, acting… Digesting, acting… Digesting, acting, key…" Alger repeated it again and again softly as though he had grasped a key concept or had succumbed to a strange curse.
After a while, he 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."
Klein maintained his mysterious and unfathomable image by saying with a smile, "That was an advance payment."
In fact, he did not truly understand the exact meaning of what was said. He was just certain that Emperor Roselle was more powerful than the typical Beyonder and stronger than The Hanged Man.
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?"
Opposite to her, Alger said with a nod, "What matter might you wish to entrust us with?"
Payment...
Klein considered over those words.
Right now- the most important thing to him was for him to find out more about his transmigration and how to get back to his own world! And the key to that was none other than his senior- emperor Roselle! The man had very handfully written his entire life and many mysticism secrets into his diary, almost as if begging for another transmigrator like Klein to collect them all as basically free information!
Klein leaned back slightly as he glanced at the two of them before saying in a soft and pleasant voice, "Collect Roselle Gustav's secret diary on my behalf, even if it's just one page of it."
"Diary? It's supposed to be a diary?" Alger questioned, how did The Fool know?! Could he perhaps have found meaning in those cryptic texts?
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."
'It's just a diary written by a man cursing about his life in SIMPLIFIED Chinese...' Klein had the urge to sigh and laugh at the same time.
As for how to handle the symbols of mysticism, he instantly thought of a ridiculous and funny scene.
Dressed in a black-pointed hat and long robe, an evil mage pulls up his sleeve to reveal a symbol tattooed on his arm. It was said that this was a symbol with mysterious power left behind by Emperor Roselle. They were written in two blue, large simplified Chinese characters:
"Retarded Joker!"
The corners of Klein's mouth curved up slowly as he found himself in a good mood.
After he figured out the matter of how to exchange the diary notes, Klein finally nodded in satisfaction.
"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," Klein said calmly like he was an adult who did not take advantage of children.
As for the fact that he'll be selling them the same information he'd be learning from the diary notes handed in by them... hehe, how would they know?
Just like how Klein does not know who the hell this Black Tulip captain person The Hanged Man and Ms. Justuce are talking about is!
He was supposed to act like an omnipotent and omniscient god here...?
Klein felt an incoming headache forming.
This emperor better have some useful information in his diary!
Klein listened silently while he pondered over the news he planned on sharing. It had to be something that did not expose him while also allowing him to gain feedback.
Soon, he decided. He maintained his unfathomable image as The Fool and caressed the side of the bronze table with his fingers.
"According to what I know, the Secret Order has lost an Antigonus family notebook."
This news was not only known by the Nighthawks from Tingen City. The Secret Order as well as Beyonders with close ties with them similarly knew.
"An Antigonus family notebook?" Alger repeated before smiling with a shake of his head. "I'm really curious as to what reaction the Church of the Evernight Goddess will have if they learn of it."
Why would he mention the Church of the Evernight Goddess? Klein acutely sensed a problem, but it was not appropriate for him to ask.
That would shatter his image as the mysterious and profound Fool.
At that moment, Audrey asked out of curiosity, "Why are you curious? What sort of special reaction would the Goddess's church have?"
Alger smiled and said, "The Antigonus family was destroyed by the Church of the Evernight Goddess."
"I'm not really sure if it happened at the end of the Fourth Epoch or the early stages of the present epoch."
This… Klein's pupils constricted as a chill suddenly swept through him.
No wonder the Antigonus family notebook was held at such a high importance by the church!
He also realized why he was nominated as a Beyonder so soon and so fast, it wasn't due to lack of seriousness but for him to help them in the search for the Antigonus notebook since he was the one who had any sort of last contact with it!
But why did the goddess destroy Antigonus family...?
Were they evil?
Since churches' main goal was essentially to spread the faith and protect the people through their beyonders, maybe the Antigonus family had done some evil deed?
After hearing The Hanged Man's explanation, Audrey said with deep interest, "I never imagined that such a thing would happen…
"Alright, my turn. Let me think of what I have to share."
She cocked her head and held her head up with her hand before chuckling.
"Yesterday, my etiquette teacher taught me how to faint, how to faint elegantly without any faux paus."
"..." Klein was speechless- this wasn't what he meant by free exchange!
"It's a practical skill used at social events to avoid awkward situations or nasty guys… Heh heh. I was just organizing my thoughts. What I really wanted to say is that ever since the failure of the battle on Balam's eastern shore, the king, premier, and gentlemen are under immense stress. They eagerly wish to change."
Okay thank god- Klein who had started to feel that he had accidentally started a gossip club heaved a silent sigh of relief.
After that, Audrey explained how bad the current political situation was- and finally, Klein realized that it was his time to shine!
If Roselle had forgotten to steal the civil service examinations from earth- he'll just do it himself!
Klein fully expressed his talent as a keyboard politician, after explaining in detail about the civil system, Klein ended his explanation with "Such a design can bring the kingdom's insightful elites into the government. Regardless of the party in power or who the minister is, the civil service will allow the kingdom to maintain its basic and effective operations."
Of course, a side effect was the birth of the undying devil that was bureaucracy.
While considering the suggestion, Audrey asked doubtfully, "Are you implying that even if those ministers become monkeys, the effects would be insignificant?"
"No," Alger interjected suddenly. "I believe that monkeys are a better choice than the present ministers."
Pfft-!
Klein almost burst out laughing, thankfully he had enough self-control and the grey fog hid his expression.
He paused before adding, "After all, monkeys only need to eat, sleep, and mate. They would not come up with foolish ideas and insist on brainless projects."
Mr. Hanged Man, it sounds like you have quite a terrible superior… Klein sat at his seat of honor and shook his head in silent amusement.
Audrey ruminated over the suggestion Mr. Fool had offered and after a while, said in surprise, "It sounds like it actually might work…
"It's a very simple but effective solution!"
She looked at Klein and sincerely marveled, "Mr. Fool, you must be an elderly person with outstanding intelligence who is very experienced in life!"
Klein, who just got called an old man, "..."
"Let us end today's gathering here."
"By your will." Audrey and Alger stood up together.
Klein leaned back slightly and severed the connection. He saw Justice and the Hanged Man's illusory and blurry figures instantly shatter and dissipate.
Klein didn't want to leave the grey fog yet as he still wanted to study this mysterious place, which was why he had ended the meeting early. It was also because he didn't want to exhaust his spirituality once again and look like a sleeping useless bastard in front of his fiance and Dunn Smith.
From what it looked like, with his current strength he could still summon one more person here...
With that, Klein looked down at the ring on his hand with contemplation.
He didn't know what pushed him to do so, but he held his ring with his other hand and silently put some of his spirituality into it.
Suddenly, the ring burst into light and started glowing! The light then projected onto the air and showed a screen like some sort of projector.
And in that small screen, Klein could see the figure of someone sitting in a carriage-
He had thin cheeks, a wide forehead, and a monocle on his right eye which were as black as his curly hair. In his right hand's ring finger was a ring exactly like in Klein's hand-
It was none other than Amon!
And he seemed like he was returning back to his mansion!
Klein instantly tensed up as he quickly imaged the feeling of falling down and exited the grey fog in a rush.
After he confirmed that he was back in the room with no evidence that he had just gone to that mysterious palace above the grey fog, he sighed in relief and unlocked the bedroom door.
Finally he started wondering about how he had seen what he had seen.
This ring of his and Amon was really a mystical item with a lot of useful and mysterious powers. And just like how it connected and grated Klein more of the power from the grey fog- it also somehow made a connection between Amon and him? Since he was the other owner of the ring.
And this mystical connection was seemingly a lot stronger than what he had created between him and the Hanged Man and Ms. Justice as he could directly spy on Amon!
This was really useful as this would reveal to him when Amon was coming back and when he had to quickly exit the grey fog!
With that, his mind went back to the present topic.
Amon was coming back... though it seemed like there was still some time till he would come back...
Klein remembered how he had sneaked a peak into the kitchen and how it was filled with all sorts of ingredients. There were even entire bags filled with rice! Rice!
It was always only Amon who cooked for Klein it seemed like.
With that, he made up his mind to cook for his fiance and finally started acting like a good lover to him!
With fire in his eyes he started preparing a quick fried rice recipe he had learned back in college whenever he never had enough time. He wanted to finish making this before Amon returned home and then quickly went back to his job and started learning more of his powers as a seer!
After that he'd finally figure out how to 'act' like a seer and quickly digest his potion!