The Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord? The White Maiden?
Took back His authorities? What does that mean?
These two titles of powerful deities of ancient times rang in the ears of Alger, Audrey, and The Sun Derrick. Stirring their hearts in nameless horror.
The latter was more peeled toward the title of The White Maiden. From the context of The Fool, it is the reborn title of the Giant Queen. She's alive!
Forsaken Land of the Gods... yes, for 2582 years, we had not interacted with any gods... we've been forsaken... Derrick's chest was clogged that it made his breathing repulsive. There's no denying the fact laid before him.
"Mr. Fool..." he said with a lowered head, facing down. "I wish to become the Sun that had not existed for 2582 years."
In the process of Audrey's mind adjusting to the revelations. The Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord and The White Maiden. She heard The Sun Derrick say,
"The Justice, I will try to get the Telepathist potion formula as soon as possible. I would like to use it to exchange for the beginning Sequence pathway of the Sun."
"Sun Sequence pathway? Sequence 9 Bard?" Alger asked in reply.
Derrick thought and said, "Probably, but I lack information about it."
Klein who was watching from the side decided to get involved, because he didn't want to risk anyone taking his business away.
He smiled and said, "I believe Miss Justice doesn't have the Bard formula."
But Mr. Hanged Man seems to be able to get it...
Seeing Audrey nod, Klein continued with a faint smile, "I will give The Sun the Bard formula. The Sun will pass the Telepathist potion to Miss Justice as soon as possible. Try to get it done within the next two Gatherings. Miss Justice, please pass me the new pages of Roselle's diary. Then, the deal is done."
"Yes, according to the law of equivalent exchange, The Sun is on the losing end of this transaction, but as of now, he has only made a promise. When he really provides the Telepathist formula, Miss Justice can consider how to compensate him again, or I will compensate him while Miss Justice provides money to one of my adorers who needs to do somethings recently. Heh heh, that's because The Sun might not necessarily be able to receive Miss Justice's cash or ingredients as compensation."
Klein intentionally added that final statement to redirect The Hanged Man, The Lovers and Justice's focus onto the fact that Sun might not be able to receive her compensation. He also did that to place himself in an unfathomable position; then, everyone would ignore the adorer that lacked money.
Might not necessarily receive the compensation... figures... Alger can't help but creased his brow and look toward The Fool.
The Aurora Order talks of the abundancy of the Forsaken Land of the Gods. Through The Sun, I can get my hands on high grade materials... He felt the investment in attending the gatherings became thousands more valued.
But even then, regardless of his opinion he'll likely be pulled either way. Thus instead of resisting, he began to look at this recurring gathering in a more favorable way.
The Fool is so powerful He can pull people from across the supposed grave ocean, the Sea of Ruins, and an isolated world of the Forsaken Land of the Gods...
The origin of The Sun is mysterious and Ms. Lovers is mysterious too! Their Goddess? White Maiden? Forsaken Land of the Gods? We're speaking to an inhabitat of a mystical place? Mr. Fool's knowledge and influence stretched infinitely! Audrey finally saw her hope of becoming a Sequence 8 Telepathist. What other thoughts could she have? She suppressed her excitement and flashed a faint smile as she said, "I have no objections."
"Neither do I." When Derrick saw that he could obtain the beginning sequence of the Sun pathway, he nodded without hesitation. He couldn't care less about the additional compensation.
However, there is a thought lingering in his mind, and upon saying that, he turned to the Seat of Honor.
"Mr. Fool, is this White Maiden, the Giant Queen's reborn identity?" Derrick figured that perhaps if the Giant Queen Herself returned, She could effectively banish the blight and enable the salvation of Her people.
Selina, who knew Mrs. White at a personal level, and perhaps because She is her, joked inwardly and answered, "The White Maiden may indeed be the Giant Queen. However, if you're hoping that She will descend, that is neigh impossible because as of the moment, She is still recovering."
A recovering Goddess? W-We're now discussing the status of an Ancient God? Audrey was at the edge of her seat. Certainly she couldn't have imagined that their club is shaping up to be something powerful.
Meanwhile, Alger also felt the scope. He found the Tarot's Club's growth to be promising that he began to space out from listening.
Because this is something rarely discussed, if not at all in any gatherings or assemblies he went to!
The Fool Klein did not add, hinting Derrick that what Ms. Lovers has said is correct.
Meeting with silence, Derrick casted his gaze down. Only for him to lifted them seconds later.
"Ms. Lovers, you seem to know intimately of the reborn Giant Queen as much as Mr. Fool. What can I exchange for knowing Her honorific names?"
Klein, with his head resting on his hand, indiscernibly twitched. How about asking me first eh? I'll kindly provide to you, for a price of course...
Can I? Selina was wary that The Fool would not favor another deity being circulated in His divine kingdom.
She turned, looked at the Seat of Honor, using her subtle body language to seek if whether she's allowed to share.
Telling them the White Maiden? Too early! I still have to establish myself for The Sun Derrick! The Fool Klein, shrouded in dense fog, spoke only after awhile.
"In the future, you may know Her title."
Selina nodded and turned toward The Sun, regrettably answering, "Yes. For now, I do not want to burden Her."
And because I don't want more prayers to pester me... she added playfully in her heart.
Derrick slowly clenched his hands resting on his lap, while he gaze down he expressed his acceptance. "Yes, Mr. Fool, Ms. Lovers."
At that moment when silence filled the table.
Klein, who had successfully delayed the compensation to the next Gathering, or the following one after, pressed his palm forward happily. The Bard formula surfaced.
"Main ingredients: a Crystal Sunflower or an adult Flint Bird's tail feather or a Fire Bird's tail feather... A piece of Siren Rock or a Singing Sunflower...
Supplementary ingredients: a blade of Midsummer Grass, 5 drops of July Wine Juice, a blade of Elf Dark Leaf..."
He sent the formula before The Sun and saw the young man first crease his eyebrows and then relax.
Yes, the ingredients in the Forsaken Land of the Gods will still be known by their ancient names. Luckily, my formula was obtained directly from the Eternal Blazing Sun. The knowledge that I gained used ancient names and various replacements...Klein suddenly cast his eyes of realization towards Miss Justice.
Audrey looked at The Sun who was memorizing the formula, then she quickly willed the two pages of the diary that she had memorized.
The diary immediately appeared on the yellowish-brown goatskin and, with a flash, appeared in Klein's hands.
Just like before, he started reading immediately.
"3rd November, Matilda is three months pregnant now. I even find those maidservants who come from the villages beautiful. No, I can't lower my standards. Coincidently, Countess Florais has invited me to join a private party, hehe.
"8th November, Archbishop Fan Estin sought my help. Huh, what can I do for an archbishop?
"9th November, it turns out that there is actually a secret hidden within Sequence pathways. Archbishop Estin told me that after becoming a Sequence 5 Beyonder, the rest of the Sequences could be replaced with Sequences of the same level from one or two other pathways! In other words, it starts from the Mid-Sequence to High-Sequence! But this is only limited between those one or two pathways. If it's replaced with a potion from a wrong pathway, semi-insanity is the mildest outcome, and one can't advance any further.
"This way, one can begin substituting pathways from Sequence 4 onwards. Sleepless and Corpse Collector pathways. Yes, the Church's Savant and Mystery Pryer pathways can also substitute for one another at a High Sequence.
...
Moments passed and Klein reined in his thoughts. He shifted his gaze away from the diary and shot it towards The Hanged Man, Justice, Lovers and The Sun. He smiled and said, "Actually, you didn't need to wait for me."
"It's our honor." Alger had already reined in his dissatisfaction as he answered humbly.
Audrey set the matters regarding the earlier matters aside and thought for a moment before smiling.
"Mr. Fool, the open selection of government officials through examinations that you described previously has already garnered the support of the King and the Prime Minister. It will soon be passed by the House of Lords and the House of Commons and is predicted to be implemented early next year."
"It looks like the King and the Prime Minister still use their brains," Alger mocked out of habit.
That is good! Klein's brother Benson is very diligent and intellectual, his grammatical and accounting skills should be passable by early next year. Ah, but once it is passed by the two Houses, it will definitely be announced widely by the various newspapers. I wonder how long Benson's advantage will last? The earlier the examination, the better...
Sigh, I hope Benson can triumph. Although these elites who have graduated from the various universities. There's no need to compete with them; the positions they're fighting for wouldn't be the same. Those people likely only have their sights trained on positions such as the Cabinet secretary, or Finance secretary...
Klein and his family could finally have a better financial standing is fate smiled... Selina silently thought worriedly and hopefully for the Moretti family.
Audrey straightened her back when she saw The Fool's affirmative nod. She said with a smile, "Mr. Hanged Man, you got me to check on something for you previously. I've received an answer. The King has been convinced by the Prime Minister and won't seek revenge on the Feysac Empire at the East Balam Shore for the time being. I think you can now give me the extra payment that you promised me."
Alger thought for a few seconds before saying, "Miss Justice, thank you for your answer. This eases my concerns over certain things. What kind of extra payment do you want? I'll consider it if it's within reason."
Audrey smiled, obviously prepared.
"Since Ms. Lovers had covered clues to the Psychology Alchemists, so now clues to the main ingredients of the potion Telepathist. Of course, that can wait until after The Sun hands the formula over to me."
"No problem," Alger said without hesitation.
Psychology Alchemists... Selina gently smiled to the lady next to her and she asked, "Ms. Justice, I hoped that my clues led you far?"
Audrey nodded and a pleasant reply, "There have been quite the acquaintances I've had over these last three parties. I suspect few of them are apart of the organization."
"It seems they're testing you." Alger said frankly.
"Don't fret, organizations tend to examine and analyze a potential candidate for their members. Not only that, because of your standing, they will very soon give in and invite you."
"Thank you for the advice Mr. Hanged Man." replied Audrey with a warm and polite tone.
Three parties? Just how extravagant are these aristocrats that within just a week did three parties she already attended? Wait, Yesir was in one of them... Selina suddenly had an epiphany.
Two seats away from The Hanged Man, Derrick Berg couldn't understand a single word. He was very confused, feeling that he only understood a few terms, but couldn't string them together to provide any logical sense.
A method of selecting officials through examination... A King and Prime Minister, House of Lords, House of Commons, East Balam Shore, Feysac Empire, Psychology Alchemists...
The world outside sounded so wonderful... Feysac, the root of the word came from Jotun. What connection did it have with the fallen Giant King's imperial household? Derrick looked at Lovers, Justice and The Hanged Man with glistening imagination.
He remained silent and listened on. He had a faint understanding of why the mysterious Fool mentioned that he might not be able to receive the monetary compensation Justice was going to give him.
To be able to gather people this far away from each other, disregarding the terrifying monsters hiding in the darkness of the cursed lands, The Fool might really be a god, an ancient god... he thought.