Klein played around with his spirit body or whatever it was when he had tried summoning himself. All he knew was that he was currently having an out-of-body experience right now and could float around like a blob although his vision was more like his spirit vision in his physical body- yet the range of view seemed a bit limited.
Once again he was hit by the realization that this really was a 'fantasy' world... this Beyonder world was crazy, and the powers he gained from being the owner of The Gray Fog.
He circled around and prepared to test his fastest speed. Hence, he flew towards Iron Cross Street with all his strength. His speed was about that of a car- a pity that he couldn't go in and out of this 'spirit world' with his body and fast travel anywhere he liked to- but that was probably for the better in case he ever got lost in this place.
He couldn't help but not notice the dark and murky air everywhere... even dirtier than what normal eyes could see. Klein could infer at a glance that these were the spiritual manifestations of the despair and negative emotions of the people inhabiting this area. There were layers of numbness, pain, and other emotions overlapping, as though they were corporeal. He couldn't even hope to imagine just how much more dense this dark cloud was around the lower-income areas where Benson, Melissa, and him previously lived in.
'I wonder how many years it took to accumulate such oppression and gloominess...'
Klein flew along Lower Street and, from time to time, he would see residents who were dressed in tattered clothes, looking expressionless and malnourished. He even ran into two bodies that had died of natural causes- prolonged starvation and malnutrition with a sudden infliction of an illness.
There were countless people who died in agony every month. However, the bankrupt farmers and slaves that surged in from the Southern Continent replaced them very quickly… Klein sighed in silence and changed direction and flew south.
As he flew, Klein saw towering chimneys. He saw dust filling the air and a thick gloominess that was only slightly better than that of Lower Street.
It was crowded with emotions of exhaustion, pain, pessimism, and numbness. Laborers who were in their thirties were considered the minority.
But before he could explore even more, he felt a strange feeling of exhaustion welling up from within himself... his spirituality had run out. His ring's spiritual glow had also started dimming as if it could no longer supply him with spirituality anymore.
After a brief moment of panic, Klein allowed his body to be 'unsummoned'. A massive and terrifying suction force overwhelmed him as his figure went from transparent to nearly invisible, and in a flash, he vanished from the corporeal world.
Klein felt himself return to the Gray Fog, he leisurely took a seat at the high back chair of The Fool and played with his ring as he processed what had just happened.
He had been successful in his attempt to traverse through the spirit world via summoning himself from above the gray fog, and this could open a lot of options for him.
But before that...
Klein extended his hand towards one of the crimson stars- his own and saw his own unconscious body in Leonard's office- Leonard, who was still fast asleep.
So he wasn't really in a rush to leave this place yet.
He looked back at his own body again and could see a faint glow in his own pockets- where he had kept The Flaring Sun Charm. Hit with an idea, Klein tried 'summoning' his body again, the ring had rejuvenated a little bit of his spirituality by now and he could afford a few more seconds in his spirit body. Klein opened his eyes and once again found himself face to face with his unconscious self in the room.
If someone were to walk in now all they would see was Leonard- the Captain, and Klein sleeping while on duty...
That thought brought a small amused smile on his face as he tried digging into his own physical body's pockets and dug out The Flaring Sun Charm.
The sucking sensation once again took over him and Klein returned to the Gray fog- and in his hand was The Flaring Sun Charm.
"So I can bring things over here..." Klein mused loudly as he sat back on his chair. This could be plenty useful- although it was a bit tedious, yes, but it was better than carrying around all that stuff he needs in his physical body and attracting unnecessary attention from Extraordinary beings.
He could even bring all those extraordinary characteristics that Amon had bought for him and were currently in one of Amon's many storage rooms. Amon had told Klein that they were all for him as a present and although Klein had been touched then, he had no place to put those things. And even keeping those characteristics within Amon's vicinity could possibly harm the nobleman as they tended to 'attract' danger.
'However, this method is quite complicated. It needs me to do quite a bit before it reaches the destination. Furthermore, if I were to be summoned by the members all the time, it would damage The Fool's image. I can only do that occasionally, or after I understand it more. I can design an incantation that summons The Fool's "adorer," but it will similarly be directed at me...'
There were many ideas flowing around in his head on how he could do that- but he was limited by his lack of knowledge and power. He could even feel his presence over the gray fog weakening as his ring was no longer able to support him anymore- now completely exhausted over its spirituality.
As he became even weaker, Klein didn't dare to stay any longer. He used his spirituality to envelop himself and simulate the feeling of descending.
In the blink of an eye, he returned to his seat at the office.
He looked at the stack of paperwork and without missing a beat resumed his monotonous work.
The noise of the paper shuffling woke up Leonard.
"Klein?" He yawned, "Why do you seem so down?"
"Just a little exhausted," Klein replied, "Since my boss has a tendency to push all his work on me while he sleeps."
"It was training!" It really was! Amon was really going after his ass to digest his Nightmare potion as soon as possible.
"Yes, yes, now can you please sign those documents."
"Ugh..."
The next day was a Monday so Klein took his weekly leave and after a few hours of relaxing around and discussing plans for their wedding with Amon, he made a quick excuse to back to the home he shared with Benson and Melissa before 3 pm.
Both of his siblings were out as usual around this time when Klein started preparing for the Tarot Gathering- raising a wall of spirituality and then taking 4 steps counterclockwise to enter the place above the gray fog.
Audrey had been waiting for the start of the Tarot Gathering for a few hours now since she had received that update from Fors and Xio she had hired to investigate Qilangos.
Although it had been a while since she had entered the Extraordinary world- this was the first time when the real sense of danger had welled up inside of her.
Qilangos was an extremely dangerous man... and if Xio and Fors had been even a little slower or made any mistakes- it could have cost them their lives.
And as soon as her clock showed 3 PM- she was summoned above the gray fog.
Audrey's vision recovered from a crimson and blurry state before seeing the boundless gray fog that didn't belong to reality, the lofty palace that looked like the home of a giant, the long ancient mottled bronze table, and The Fool who was always engulfed by a thick layer of fog. She then saw Mr. Lover with an easygoing smile, his chin propped up with his hands and his monocle glimmering faintly even with the gray fog covering their features. Lastly, she saw The Hanged Man and The Sun.
It was then that all of her anxiety and fear faded away into a calm and peaceful thing.
Yes... she could not forget that she was a member of the Tarot Gathering- which was held in this place that didn't belong in the material world, and conversing with Mr. Fool who was most likely a God.
She and Qilangos were on a different level.
With rejuvenated enthusiasm, Audrey sat in an upright position proudly. She lifted her chin slightly and attempted to do her usual greetings cheerfully when-
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~!" Mr. Lover's voice cut her down before she could speak.
Audrey blinked back her surprise as she watched Mr. Lover- the latest addition to their small gathering- practically take over her role as he greeted everyone in the room and ushered them into their own greetings between each other.
Had... had she been replaced?!
Audrey couldn't even be mad because Mr. Lover was obviously way higher sequence than her and exuded charisma like no one else did- but that still did not stop her from breaking her Spectator mask and pouting about.
It was as if she could feel her standing at the Tarot gathering shaking...
Was this the end of her main character arc? Something that ended before it could even begin?
She couldn't help but lampoon in her heart at that loss.
'Miss Justice sure has some of the best inner dialogues...' Amon thought amusedly as he sat on his chair again, making sure to cover Ms. Justice's expression with a little more gray fog- he couldn't reveal her inner emotions showing up on her face to the rest of the gathering, he wasn't that cruel. Also, this entertainment existed for Amon and Amon only.
Mr. Fool allowed Ms. Justice to speak with a nod of his head,
"Honorable Mr. Fool, I wonder if your adorer has received the compensation of 300 pounds?" Audrey asked, holding back her urge to talk about Qilangos while she showed concern over her leader's adorer.
Klein smiled and said, "I didn't pay close attention to this matter. But as my adorer didn't request for additional help, I suppose he has already received it."
He lied.
He had already checked multiple times. There were 300 pounds lying in his anonymous bank account...
Yes, Klein was a very happy Fake God right now.
Audrey then proceeded to inform The Hanged Man about the recent developments in the Qilangos case, Alger listened attentively and after thanking Ms. Justice, he turned towards the seat of honor at the long bronze table, "Honorable Mr. Fool, if I were to find out Qilangos' true intention and the very important and magical item that he intends to obtain, please allow me to recite your name and inform you through the ritual."
He didn't repeat his request for The Fool's adorer to provide him assistance. As he brought it up before and The Fool had given his answer, there was no need to harp on the topic. Otherwise, it might provoke the god.
'We can do that?' Audrey was stunned. If this was true then that meant she could gain more assistance from The Fool in the future...
Meanwhile, Klein was just happy that Alger hadn't outright asked the help of his non-existent imaginary 'adorer'. So under everyone's gaze, Klein leaned back into his chair and nodded faintly. He replied slowly, "You may."
Audrey Hall hurriedly spoke up when she saw the conversation between The Hanged Man and The Fool end.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, may I recite your name and inform you using a ritual should I receive any timely and useful information?"
Klein couldn't help but fondly sigh at the way Ms. Justice was so polite as compared to The Hanged Man...
"You may."
Great! Audrey secretly clenched her fists under the table at her win.
Klein turned towards Little Sun and said, "The same goes for you as well."
"Yes, Mr. Fool." Derrick lowered his head.
He didn't tell Amon that because Amon had already shown his tendency to pray to him to sacrifice his food so that might seem a little dumb... so he let it go.
The Hanged Man and Audrey couldn't help but notice that Mr. Lover hadn't asked for permission yet...
Did he not need any? Or did he already have that sort of permission and had that talk with Mr. Fool beforehand?
Of course the more they thought about it the more they felt stupid as Mr. Lover was obviously a very powerful Beyonder from the aura he exuded not to mention his apparent knowledge about Mr. Fool despite him being the latest addition to their Gathering- which obviously hinted to the fact that Mr. Fool and Mr. Lover were possibly acquainted much more than the rest of the members with Mr. Fool.
After Alger informed about possibly getting more pages of Roselle's diary by next week, the topic shifted to Ms. Justice needing the complete pituitary gland of a Rainbow Salamander. The Hanged Man agreed to find it for her in exchange for the resolution of the Qilangos case which led to a little discussion about the possibility of Beyonder characteristics going instinct- but Alger refused to tell any more information about that topic without a price so both Audrey and Klein had to wallow in their disappointment for a while.
After the end of the transaction discussions, Klein looked around, then turned to The Sun. He asked in a gentle tone, "Does the City of Silver still believe in gods?"
Klein was merely an official member of the Nighthawks and had no access to deeper mysticism knowledge. An example would be sacrificial rituals. Thus, in order to refine his understanding of performing sacrificing dedicated to himself, to move materials in the mysterious space above the gray fog, as a Sequence 8, Klein needed to learn it as soon as possible from other sources.
He came up with three methods after continuous consideration: First, he was going to ask Spirit Guide Daly, who was adept at ritualistic magic whilst also being a deacon. But this might invite suspicion from her; thus, Klein could only patiently wait for an opportunity. Second, he could ask Mr. Azik, but Klein couldn't guarantee that he would be able to recall the knowledge in this area. Third, he was going to use a roundabout way to ask Sun, who lived in the City of Silver.
Klein already had an idea of how he was going to do it while effectively maintaining his image.
Whatever he asked would be tied to the gods!
It was like killing two birds with one stone!
Derrick replied in a respectful tone, "We still believe in the Lord that created everything, the omnipotent and omniscient God."
From the corner of his eyes, Klein could see the way Amon, who had been completely silent and relatively still during the entire discussion prior, quirked up his lips as he gazed meaningfully at Little Sun- and was that... some fondness and respect he could see in his eyes? Klein couldn't really see much when everything was hidden behind the gray fog despite his limited authority over it.
He really wanted to know...