Setting a Trap

Above the gray fog, three figures sat in different places, looking at one another without speaking for a moment.

This week's Tarot Club gathering had just ended. Normally, all ten members other than Mr. Fool would have returned to their bodies amid crimson light, but at the World's request, the three-person team dedicated to eliminating all of Amon's avatars in Backlund had stayed behind to discuss the matter further.

This left Angel almost certain of Mr. Fool's attitude toward the matter.

Without a doubt, He was also happy to see Amon the Blasphemer suffer a setback. Perhaps some action by this King of Angel had infringed on His interests?

Glancing at the Fool's seat, where gray fog floated before an empty high-backed chair, Angel muttered a few things to herself, then looked at Leonard, the Star, and said:

"A high-sequence Beyonder specializing in fate warned us that Klein's fate and mine will fluctuate this Wednesday or Thursday. That might mean... encountering Amon's avatars."

She did not explicitly say that the warning had come from the Snake of Fate. Not only would that frighten Leonard, it would also put the "Old Man" behind him, Pales Zoroaster, on guard, which would only hinder their cooperation.

Besides, neither she nor Klein was certain whether these "fluctuations in fate" meant encountering Amon's avatars. For now, they could only prepare on that assumption.

"That leaves only two or three days to prepare..." Leonard, whose posture had become rather casual in the Fool's absence, nodded slightly. "I'm ready on my end. The Old Man's objective is clear. As long as we catch one of Amon's avatars, He can deal with every avatar in Backlund. Of course, He hasn't explained how."

"You've always called the angel inside you 'Old Man'?"

Klein, the World, suddenly asked from beside