"You… how do you know…"
"How do I know you're acquainted with the Fool? That you're His Blessed?"
Klein steeled himself and nodded. "Y… yes."
Vincent laughed. "Well, naturally — I know the Fool. I'm familiar with His aura. Is it really so strange that I can tell you're connected to Him?"
"..."
Klein's mind churned: So there really was a Fool before me. And — He and the Lord of Chaos knew each other?
If the Lord of Chaos realises that this "Fool" isn't the same "Fool"… what then? Would He be furious? Would He crush this knockoff to death?
After a stretch of silence, Klein could only continue obediently: "What message would you like me to deliver to Mr. Fool?"
Vincent studied Klein for a moment, then said in a light, casual tone: "Was it you, you little punk, who led the devils to my door?"
"???"
Klein froze. His pupils trembled violently. It was the feeling of a legend stepping out of myth into reality — the Lord of Chaos is using code-phrases again?
He really is from Earth!
He really is a fellow countryman?
He really—
Wait!
Klein's mind stuttered: But He told me to relay this to "Mr. Fool." Doesn't that mean the Lord of Chaos thinks "the Fool" is also a fellow countryman from Earth?
Emperor Roselle, me, the Lord of Chaos, the previous Fool… that's four transmigrators. What on earth is going on with this world?
For a moment, Klein's thoughts were a tangle of chaos.
Vincent acted as though he hadn't noticed the emotional turmoil and continued: "That's all. Pass that line along to 'the Fool,' and He'll understand what it means."
"…O-okay."
"Mm. If you perform well enough, I'll consider granting you more and stronger abilities — enough, through My boons alone, for you to complete your revenge."
"!!!"
Klein's heart jolted.
Vincent gave a faint smile. "Well then — that's all for now."
With that, he severed the connection. He vanished from Klein's sight.
"Phew—"
Vincent exhaled lightly. Putting on the act of a god still felt a bit unnatural.
He'd originally planned to mess with Klein a little, but then he remembered that Melissa had just died. Teasing him now would be a bit disgusting.
So he'd kept it simple and direct — laid out the real purpose of tonight's visit. With Klein's survival diverging from the original story, the future would change drastically. Vincent needed to prepare contingencies:
Such as revealing his identity to Klein and teaming up to face whatever crises lay ahead.
Of course, these were still preliminary ideas. Given Klein's lifelong commitment to playing it safe, whether he'd be willing to take the first step remained to be seen. If he wasn't, Vincent would have to find the right moment to take the initiative himself.
After thinking through a few more things, Vincent turned his attention back to his own situation.
Barring surprises, he'd be advancing to Sequence 6 soon. That would give him 2 Prosecutor blessings to bestow — and the Words of Order would be an invaluable asset for Klein right now.
Glancing at the grey crystal on the left pan of the Scale, Vincent confirmed it: once the last remaining Broker slot was distributed, balance would be achieved and advancement could proceed.
The moment he returned to reality, he found Bernadette with her head tilted slightly upward, gazing at the ceiling. Her fingers traced through the air, and a sword was taking shape from nothing — transitioning from spectral to solid.
The sword was about a metre long, studded with ornate gemstones, but at the end of its hilt hung a length of fuzzy "cord," suspending it upside down in mid-air.
"That's horsehair."
Bernadette said.
A sword hanging by horsehair?
Vincent immediately understood. "You've created the Mystical Re-enactment of the Sword of Damocles?"
"Almost there."
Bernadette snapped her fingers. The horsehair snapped with a sharp pop, and the sword plummeted like a bolt, driving itself straight into the floor before shimmering transparent and vanishing.
She stared at the gash it left in the floorboards, then slowly closed her eyes. Spirituality rippled outward, and another horsehair-suspended sword materialised.
This time, it didn't fall. It swayed back and forth, trembling.
About a minute later, the sword took on a cold, rippling sheen and began to radiate an aura that made the heart clench — the power of divinity.
Bernadette opened her eyes, a smile forming. "Done."
"Oh? What's the effect? Don't tell me it just drops out of the sky and stabs someone through the head."
"That's not entirely wrong, actually."
She explained at a measured pace: "But the Sword of Damocles has a specific property — it's designed to target those of high standing. The higher the target's position, the greater the damage. In theory, given sufficient spirituality, even a god could be 'sanctioned.'"
"In theory?"
"Those who sit in high places enjoy all manner of privileges, but danger comes with the territory. When the Sword of Damocles falls and strikes its target, the damage isn't from the sword itself — it's an amplification and release of the 'crises' inherent to high position." Bernadette said calmly. "Against George III, the effect should be considerable."
"Because as Emperor, he seems to have done nothing but abuse his power in service of his own ambition and desires, while forgetting the responsibilities that come with the title. Naturally, there's a price to pay for that."
Vincent cleared his throat hesitantly. "I'm having trouble telling whether you're explaining the Sword of Damocles' mechanics or discussing the philosophy of a monarch's power and responsibility."
"They're actually the same thing. That's the nature of Mystical Re-enactment — it draws power from mystical knowledge to form a specific ability. And that ability reflects not just the surface of the knowledge, but its deeper meaning as well."
"Ohhh."
Vincent was suitably impressed despite understanding very little.
Bernadette then waved, dismissing the hovering Sword of Damocles, and turned her head to one side. There — a man in white priestly robes had appeared without a sound.
He stood quietly a short distance away, gazing thoughtfully at where the Sword of Damocles had been. A faint light flickered in His golden eyes.
Holy shit. No wonder so many people have Spectator PTSD — this Priest literally appears out of thin air. Being watched by someone like that is honestly worse than just being killed outright.
Bernadette regarded Him in silence. She said nothing, but her meaning was clear: Where's my stuff?
Adam smiled faintly. He extended His palm, and a small golden water-jug appeared — its surface covered in intricate, arcane symbols, a wick protruding from the spout. The Wishing Lamp — the very same one she'd seen in her father's possession.
He tossed it lightly, and it drifted down into Bernadette's hand. "The item is yours. Our arrangement is concluded."
With that, He turned to leave.
"Wait."
Bernadette called out: "Sir — I'd like to know… why was my father's Wishing Lamp in your possession? What is your relationship with him?"
Adam paused mid-turn and looked back, His tone gentle. "Roselle was once a companion and comrade who walked alongside me. He helped me a great deal, and I likewise helped him."
"As for the Wishing Lamp…"
He paused briefly. "Roselle originally hid it in a tomb built by Tudor. But not long ago, someone found and removed it. After changing hands a few times, it ended up with me."
Bernadette started. "You're talking about… the Gloucester family's ancestral tomb?" She suddenly realised the priest might not know who "Gloucester" was.
But the priest simply nodded. "Correct."
So when the evil spirit in the tomb said Father had visited — it was to hide the Wishing Lamp there?
But why?
The Wishing Lamp is a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact. Dangerous as it is — one careless wish and the djinn inside will twist it against you — it's not something you just throw away.
"Why? Why did Father hide the Wishing Lamp in that tomb?"
Adam smiled faintly. "Because it was dangerous. Not to its user — but to the world."
Bernadette blinked. "Then… why give it back to me?"
To be continued…
Guys, do check out my friend's new fic titled as I, A Vitrumite, Have The World's Strongest Chatgroup...? It is really enjoyable!
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