The deep red glow spread like a tide. When Snow recovered his vision, he found himself once again within the towering palace that felt like a dwelling for giants. Before him was the ancient bronze long table, but across from him, an additional lady had appeared.
Judging from her physical proportions, it likely wasn't Xio, so...
'As expected, it's Fors?' Snow thought to himself. Meanwhile, Audrey spoke up with her usual lightheartedness, "Good afternoon, Mr. Fool! And who might this be?"
Because of the new member, the routine greeting from Justice transitioned into an introduction by Mr. Fool. After a round of mutual observation, Alger finally spoke, "Mr. Fool, I have recorded six pages of Roselle's diary this time. Additionally, I've received word that the Secret Order seems to maintain some form of contact with Intis."
Hearing the keywords "Secret Order" and "Intis," The Fool's brow behind the grey fog twitched slightly. Although this intelligence wasn't unexpected, he had become somewhat hypersensitive to "Audience" matters under Mr. Devil's influence. He still felt that this development was a bit too coincidental. The fear brought by the overturned letter this morning resurfaced in his mind. Just like in the original story, he issued the mission to assassinate Ambassador Bakerland.
After the three members,excluding the still-bewildered Fors and Little Sun, who couldn't yet join the conversation,accepted the commission, he finally turned his attention to the diary.
'Miracle Invoker, Destiny pathway, and pirates...' After reading the six pages of the diary Alger had handed over, Klein finally reached for Pandrax's diary.
'I hope this doesn't turn into another "the taste of a Miracle Invoker is quite good,"' Klein picked up the diary, suddenly recalling the senior mason's track record of trading his "craftsmanship" for potion formulas. His lips twitched slightly, but his gaze still swept across the diary.
"January 3rd: Roselle's daughter is truly beautiful. I wonder how he managed to raise someone like that!"
'Uh...'
Klein watched the first sentence, and his lips, which had just calmed down, threatened to twitch again. Come to think of it, when this senior transmigrated, Emperor Roselle should have been dead for a long time, right? If his daughter was still beautiful... was she a high-sequence powerhouse? Klein grumbled inwardly but continued reading.
"January 6th: Perhaps I was stimulated by Roselle's daughter, or perhaps I truly want a home now. I've decided to stop wandering and establish a family. Although I'm not a fan of the nobility system, for the sake of my descendants, perhaps I should return to that already ruined family? Or perhaps I should simply try to obtain a title of my own? According to the spiral upward trend of history, should I invest in Loen, which is almost a mirror of Great Britain?"
"January 14th: I used some means to obtain a piece of land. Although it's not large, after some maneuvering, I successfully obtained a Viscountcy. Perhaps I can take this opportunity to change the family name?"
"January 23rd: The investiture is approaching. After some thought, I ultimately decided not to abandon the Pandrax surname. However, I plan to add a nobiliary middle name: von. This is a surname whose true meaning only I know. I've decided to add it to the family name to prove I was here. Perhaps in a few decades or a century, those studying philology or noble history will use this to determine I have Lenburg blood."
Reading this diary entry, Klein felt strange. Clearly, it didn't involve any mystical knowledge, yet he read it exceptionally slowly. It was as if he were witnessing a transmigrator slowly integrating into this world. But what about himself? He had finally gained "roots," only for them to vanish again. What was he now?
"Benson... Melissa..."
Klein repeated the two names in his heart. Although he also dreamed of returning after killing Ince Zangwill, the fact of his resurrection was simply impossible to explain.
"You may now begin your free discussion."
Mr. Fool forcibly calmed his emotions, facing the hardships of destiny with the smile of a Clown. He suddenly had a sensation. His potion might already be digested. Although there was no direct feedback above the grey fog, he felt a very clear intuition telling him that once he returned to reality, his potion would be fully digested.
...
As for the impact his diary had on Mr. Fool, Snow himself wasn't entirely clear. His reason for writing such an entry was simple: to filler.
Yes, it was for "filler." If every diary entry he produced contained critical information, it would seem too deliberate. Occasionally producing one or two entries about daily life made it far more believable. Of course, he certainly hadn't expected that a casually written entry about a wanderer settling down would nearly break Mr. Fool's composure.
Miss Justice and Little Sun began to exchange secrets regarding dragons privately. Snow didn't remain idle either. He looked left and right, constantly adjusting his sitting posture, acting as if he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to speak.
Even though Mr. Fool was "eavesdropping",cough, simultaneously translating the conversation between Justice and Sun,he noticed Mr. Devil's restless state.
'Strange. Although Devil occasionally displays some twisted humor, he's always been the type to act only after careful planning. Why does he seem so ill at ease today?'
While maintaining the simultaneous interpretation, Mr. Fool pondered what Snow was trying to convey. Whether it was the previous hint to Sherlock Moriarty or the abnormal behavior today, it seemed he had something to say. But even with the isolation of the grey fog, did he not dare to speak? No, perhaps it wasn't that he didn't dare, but that he couldn't?
Klein suddenly recalled the late-night conversation with Madam Daly when he was still part of the Nighthawk squad. Because she had sworn a vow not to reveal the Acting Method, she couldn't disclose it to Captain Dunn. However, for someone like himself who had already "guessed" it, she could speak.
So, could it be that Mr. Devil had sworn some kind of vow?
...
After Miss Justice and Mr. Sun exchanged some information for a Sequence 8 potion formula, Fors felt her heart steady somewhat. Although things like assassinating Ambassador Bakerland and reading Roselle's diary seemed shocking, they didn't actually exceed her expectations for a Beyonder gathering. The trade of a Sequence 8 potion formula also allowed her to roughly judge the level of this gathering.
Feeling slightly more at ease, she realized the voices and vision had returned. Seeing that no one else had spoken, she initiated her first active comment in the Tarot Club.
"I wish to purchase the potion formulas for Trickmaster and Interrogator. Cash transaction."
Although Xio hadn't even found the main ingredients for her Sequence 8 potion yet, potion formulas were things they'd need sooner or later. Moreover, Fors hoped to avoid having her own sequence identified by others.
Although Snow had the formula for Trickmaster, for one, it would be an important source of income for Mr. Fool in the future. Secondly, he still had to play the role of someone anxiously waiting, so he simply remained silent. Once Miss Magician finished stating her request, Mr. Fool finally spoke.
"Mr. Devil, do you have something you wish to say? For example, regarding the Fallen Creator?"
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]