Derrick looked at Miss Justice in confusion and answered straightforwardly, "It's nothing strange... The general education classes in the City of Silver teaches the 'acting method.'"
The "acting method" is taught in general education classes... Audrey stole a glance at The Hanged Man and realized that he was looking back at her.
In silence, both of their gaze later landed on The Lovers.
What will be her insights to share this time?
Selina felt the air. Momentarily puzzled but quick to grasp, she remarked, "The Kingdom Silver is the closest to the true history of this world than in the South and North continent. I wouldn't be surprised that they were taught what we, of the outsiders, perceive to be highly sought after secrets.
"A product of survival."
Ms. Lovers is really knowledgeable. Will I be able to barter to her interest? Derrick inwardly marveled at the Lover's spectrum and nodded slightly, "That is correct. Our history is recorded in the Twin Spires. Although I do not have any clearance yet to make an example..."
The Twin Spires... Selina engraved the term in her mind as secretly sigh.
Then, Alger probed, "Mr. Sun, do you talk about any key things to look out for with respect to the 'acting method'?"
"Yes." Derrick nodded without hesitation. "It's clearly stated in our general education classes that the one and only key point for the 'acting method' is to 'Remember that you're only acting.'"
Hearing that, Selina's eyebrow twitched indiscernibly.
I see... As expected... Klein was right. We're using an ingenious method to go around, completely breaking down the remnant spirits in the potion, without submission...
She sighed even heavier in the inside. And Klein is right about another thing, Little Sun is such a simple boy...
...
The Fool Klein read the three notes. In the middle of it, his finger halted from rapping, feeling a mixed emotions.
This... I see now how Roselle came up with that name for the polar regions... So he had two children? Bornova and Bernadette, how are they now? Many thoughts flashed through his mind before resuming on the last page.
The sound finally stopped. He looked at Justice, The Hanged Man, and The Sun before settling to Lovers.
"What do you wish for in exchange?"
Klein felt slightly pressured. In his views, Lovers is a genuine prominent member of an even more mysterious organization. It wouldn't be surprising that after constant rewards, she would make a difficult request.
Selina thought carefully about it. Initially, she wanted to brought up the beyonder characteristics from Yesir's documents, after all this might allow her to dig deeper into the beyonder world.
But seeing as it may relate to the knowledge of the Primordial Moon. She refrained and said, "For now, nothing."
Selina doesn't want anything to do with the Primordial Moon. As for another reason, she understood that knowledge may also be a form of corruption.
Curiosity kills the cat.
Phew... Klein sighed a relief. Then, he glanced all of the members at once.
"You can start your discussion freely now."
Alger immediately said, "Mr. Fool, Miss Lovers and Miss Justice, I received a new piece of information. Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos infiltrated Backlund to complete a difficult mission. He might stay for an extended period of time and create an appalling tragedy. Also, I know that this incident involves a very important item, an item that would allow Qilangos to quickly become a High-Sequence Beyonder."
"Quickly become a High-Sequence Beyonder? Does he not fear losing control of himself?" Audrey asked, adopting the posture of a Spectator.
Qilangos was only a Sequence 6 Wind-blessed, so there was still a Sequence between him and Sequence 4.
Selina, who had seen Morroy's mutation, had her thoughts stirred in silence, That is plausible...
She added melancholically.
In Morroy's case, he mutated due to the leakage of the meteorite's power. Through the church's autopsy and crossed dissection of events, it is revealed that the power he manifested is equivalent to that of a Sequence 6...
This is because Sequence 6s is second to the start, displaying the mysteriousness of the pathways...
Klein had also thought of similar things which in turn made him think of Morroy Roundel. Having a peculiar agitation toward ever mentioning that man.
Alger had expected this question. He answered honestly, "That's why the object is important to him."
"Of course, those are simply my deductions. The information I received goes like this: Qilangos believes that once he completes the commission and obtains the object, he will be the equal of Nast, the King of the Five Seas. The Four Pirate Kings would then become the Five Pirate Kings, and the Seven Pirate Admirals will be reduced to six.
"The average person might not aware of this, but as Beyonders, we should know that Pirate Kings are either High-Sequence Beyonders, or are able to reach the combat strength of a High-Sequence Beyonder with the use of Beyonder boats and mysterious items. For Qilangos to be acknowledged as their equal, he must reach standards that are close to that. That's my deduction."
The Pirate Kings... Most common is the King of The Five Seas, Nast, likely a Sequence 4... The other, the King of Immortality mentioned in the Yesir's documents... Selina bundled her thoughts and in constant recall.
King of Immortality Agalito, the one steering a relic of the pitch darkness in our hearts... Our hearts...
The Sun, Derrick Berg, didn't understand anything The Hanged Man said. He didn't know who was who, but he still listened attentively. He felt a new door had presented itself in his world.
Pirates? The place they live in has seas that are mentioned in books? The world outside definitely makes me very curious... But, Mr. Fool once instructed me not to ask about the secrets of others. It's a very rude gesture... Derrick thought in his heart, once again observing The Hanged Man and Justice.
"You deduction is very reasonable. Of course, that could also be a mysterious item that could hold its own against a High-Sequence Beyonder," Justice replied with a smile.
The Hanged Man looked at the fog-enshrouded Fool, pondered over his words, before he looked at Justice and emphasized, "There are two key points in what I said just now, the first being the fact that Qilangos will stay in Backlund for some time. The second is that the incident involves a very important and very mysterious object."
So, Mr. Fool, are you not tempted? There is ample time for you to send your adorer to Backlund... Alger added in his heart but didn't dare say it out loud. All he could do was beat about the bush.
Sometime? Hmm... I could send Kothe, Catherine or anyone to help with the investigation... Selina heard that tidbit and taken into a short consideration. Ultimately, she sighed.
But that would be like inviting them to death's door. Besides, Miss Justice is already on the case...
At that moment, The Fool Klein's voice echoed slowly, "I am aware."
Seeing how The Fool continued to not place much importance in the matter regarding Qilangos, he sighed and held back his disappointment. He started asking about the investigation Miss Justice conducted last week.
"... In conclusion, we have more or less targeted the general area Qilangos will be at, and we'll soon start the next phase of investigations." Audrey first gave a simple summary, then with the attitude that she was doing something important, said, "We need more information, preferably the hobbies and habits of Qilangos."
Alger recalled, "He loves fish, especially fish from the sea. He would slice it and eat it raw...
"He also likes hard liquor, and despises champagne, red wine, and the like...
"He will often look for women to relieve his needs whenever he heads to shore, and with his strong body, one woman will not be enough to satisfy him...
"He's used to using cold weapons and avoids hot weapons.
"He cannot be away from water for long periods of time. What I mean is that he needs to swim or dive once every couple of days."
...
Audrey committed these facts to memory, creating an ample character of Qilangos in her mind.
"Let's hope that the investigation will be a success. It's a pleasure working with you." She smiled after Alger was done.
"My pleasure." All Alger could do was force himself to believe in Miss Justice, who had considerable power in Backlund.
Throughout the interaction, Klein seemed to be listening intently, but in reality, his thoughts had been diverted to another question. That was the question of how to deliver ingredients to Sun if he did manage to obtain them.
While his mind stirred with the failure of the sacrificial rituals. In the end, he resorted to placing importance on improving his abilities.
Meanwhile, Selina similarly do not have any opinions to be given. Nothing notable. She listened as their discussion changed from Qilangos to the characteristics of particular monsters.
Some time later, The Fool smiled.
"Let's end it here for today."
"By your will." The Lovers Selina, Justice, Hanged Man and Sun all stood in unison and echoed the same words.
Almost immediately, a burgeoning crimson light swallowed her in a receding tides. Selina returned back, heads nestled on her crossed arms on the desk.
Left with nothing to do in the margin of afternoon. She decided to start preparing for the evening dinner.
...
East Balam. Aldesh Town situated in Harvest Plains.
Isabelle had her chestnut curl hairs tied up beneath the hood. Her freckles was prominent under the sun that despite the natives, her presence stood out.
She wore a robe made of elk hide and a pelt around her waist, acting as belt.
Amidst the fervent crowd in the square. Their image sweep pass several hundreds of candles lined up on the corners. They had a porcelain-white base with a pattern of petals.
Yes they are the White Lily Candles, symbolizing nurture, and respecting death once it is displayed in masses rather than few.
The latter was the side-commemoration. As hundreds and thousands of candles centered a number of women in white, tasseled gowns made of sheep wool. They all had a flower as accessories on their heads, varied between roses, tulips, and etc.
They are the expected Waxing Jewels of the Aldesh town. Jewels from their value in traditions and rites.
"Alright! One more time!" said Lesser Pastor Ropuldin. He is the man in a hoodless robe, wearing a headband made of local rubber.
Watching the pairs, courting their wife's hand who have conceived their child, made Isabelle recount the rite.
Originally named: The Rite of the Waxing Moon.
Celebrated yearly. Under the peak of the Bumper Constellation. Women of Aldesh town who have a successful conception, are to be invited into the Courting Moon Dance held in the center square.
The choreography follows a rhythmic strings of harps, lyres and pitch of traditional flutes. Their steps denotes the motion of leaves flowing, their waltz symbolizes unison and hope for a bountiful future.
After the dance, comes the parting. It is when the mothers leave their spouse to head to the farmlands and oversee the entirety of the ripe crops. Each caress of their hands tells a certainty of the next harvest.
Meanwhile, the husbands are to arrive at the convents first. To tend and prepare the cradles they have crafted beforehand. Expecting their wife to come and give it purpose after months.
Once the parting and crops bless phase ends. The mothers are to finally held a mass at the Church. Listen to the head priest's sermon before finally going to the convents.
For a week, the mothers would stay in the convents, where visits of their husbands only are allowed.
As these recollection subsides in Isabelle. Her heart tightens at the nature of the twisted version. She can't help but look at the lesser Pastor with disdain.
Among the other acolytes beside her, her gaze is piercing. These other acolytes are also apart of the Primordial Moon faction.
But ultimately, Isabelle is incapable of anything.
"Smuggle dynamites and leave them in this address. Do only that and wait..." those are the exact words Dylan promised her. Every second was a clutch in the chest for Isabelle.
When will it happen?
How will she escape?
Can't this operation also save the townspeople?
Even though the last thought is practically impossible. Isabelle's whirring mind still displayed it, her hand almost slipped as she held a pan with the White Lily Candle alit.
What made her even more poignant, is her inability to steer anything.
Her life has always been under the thread of another. Affecting her whether she like or not.
I want... to be capable too...
A woman with a silver hair, coiled elegantly that it reveals her soft contours and nape imagined itself in front of Isabelle.
Hands so delicate, yet it traced a fine long needle, connecting to a vampire's heart. Smile so gentle, yet it faces a dying husband, in a seemingly innocent union.
How absurd. How tenacious. How in control.
That image has always stick with Isabelle. But just when will she be able to muster a courage to be...
A weaver of her own fate?