Divination Club

"Klein is becoming a full member?" Alice looked at Rosanne in surprise. "He's only been here less than a month, right?"

"Oh, your surprised expression is exactly like mine," Rosanne said dramatically, looking at Alice. "But I bet you're not as upset as I am!"

"...What's wrong?" Alice looked at Rosanne hesitantly, starting to consider whether she should comfort her—wait, what was she upset about?

"My skin! I have to work the night shift every other day... Goddess, I'm not a Sleepless!" Rosanne complained about working nights.

"..." Alice fell silent. After all, she really couldn't empathize with Rosanne, even though she wasn't a Sleepless either. "I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm a minor, I can't stay up late."

"..." Rosanne looked at Alice with a look full of resentment. After a moment, Alice couldn't stand the look and left on her own.

Having finished her studies for the day, Alice left Blackthorn Security Company with nothing to do, becoming a ghost wandering the streets.

Suddenly, Alice stopped, as if sensing something, and looked at the signs on the second floor across the street:

"Harold's Department Store."

"Retired Officers Club."

"Divination Club."

Divination Club... Alice glanced thoughtfully at the name and walked up to the second floor.

A beautiful lady with her brown-yellow hair in a bun was standing in the lobby, in charge of reception. Seeing Alice, she came forward: "Miss, are you here for a divination, or would you like to join our club?"

"Hmm," Alice looked at her thoughtfully, then, under her bewildered gaze, took out a coin and tossed it—it was the king's side. "Divination."

"Our members can freely help people with divination at the club and set their own prices. We only take a very small percentage of the fee. If you'd like a divination, you can look at this catalog. It has introductions and prices of members willing to perform divinations for others." Although bewildered, the diligent lady still opened the catalog in front of Alice. "However, since today is a weekday, most of our members are at work and are busy..."

Alice wasn't concerned with what the lady was saying. Her gaze searched the catalog for names that might trigger her intuition, then stopped at a familiar name.

"Klein Moretti?" Alice looked at the lady with interest. "Is he a member here too?"

"You know Mr. Moretti?" The lady looked at Alice with some surprise.

Noticing her somewhat scrutinizing gaze, Alice furrowed her brow slightly, then asked with a smile, "Klein... uh, is Mr. Moretti here now?"

"No, he's not." The lady replied. She hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to recommend other diviners to Alice, but then gave up.

"Alright," Alice's gaze left the catalog. "Then what are the requirements to join you?"

So the lady showed a look of realization and began to skillfully introduce the club to Alice.

"Fill out detailed information, pay the annual membership fee. The first year is 5 pounds, and 1 pound each year after that. Unlike some political or business clubs, you don't need a recommendation from a full member to join.

"Members can freely use the club's meeting rooms and various divination rooms, divination tools, enjoy the coffee and tea we provide for free, read the newspapers and magazines we subscribe to for free, and purchase lunch, dinner, alcoholic beverages, and some divination textbooks and materials at cost price.

"Furthermore, we invite at least one famous diviner each month to give lectures and answer difficult questions.

"Most importantly, you can find a group of friends with similar hobbies and exchange experiences."

"I'd like to join the club." Alice looked at the lady in front of her and took out a 5-pound note.

"It's our pleasure," the lady with brown-yellow hair smiled brightly, accepted the note, put it away after carefully verifying its authenticity, and handed Alice a form. "Please fill out the information, and I'll give you a receipt."

So Alice picked up a pen and carefully filled out the form with information such as name, gender, address, and company. After hesitating for a moment in the age column, she wrote "16" and did not fill in her date of birth.

"You live at the church? Oh, are you and Mr. Moretti colleagues?" The lady with brown-yellow hair easily noticed these things.

Alice looked up at her quietly, her attitude clear—she didn't intend to answer that question.

So the lady consciously put away the form and handed Alice a cufflink, extending her right hand to her and saying, "Welcome to the Tingen City Divination Club. I'm Angelica Barrehart, your hardworking service provider. This is your membership cufflink. It has our unique inscription and can prove your membership status.

"Hello, Ms. Angelica." Alice shook her hand and took the dark gold cufflink.

Alice examined the cufflink with interest, while Angelica continued her work: "May I ask what kind of divination you are skilled in, or what divination methods you would like to learn at the club? We will consider inviting corresponding well-known diviners to give lessons, and we will also introduce you to members with similar expertise so you can have pleasant exchanges."

"No need," Alice shook her head. "I know a little of everything... well, I'm not a beginner."

After a pause, Alice asked again, "Can I perform divinations for people now?"

"You can freely perform divinations for people at the club at any time. However, until we confirm your skill level, we won't speak highly of you when customers inquire. What is the divination fee you wish to charge?" Angelica replied as usual, although Alice noticed she was struggling to contain her curiosity.

"Price?" Alice looked at Angelica thoughtfully, then once again did the action that puzzled her—she took out 12 coins and scattered them on the table. There were exactly six king's sides and six number sides. "6 pence."

Angelica opened her mouth, then resumed her smile and continued her introduction: "We will charge a fee of a quarter of a penny, which is one-eighth of the total price..."

As she spoke, she entered Alice's information into the catalog.

"Would you like a drink? We offer Siberian Black Tea, Southwell Coffee, and Dixie Coffee..." Seeing Alice take out coins again, Angelica finally couldn't hold back. "May I ask why you do that?"

"I'm not good at making decisions myself," Alice explained. "In most cases, when it comes to major decisions, fate will actively tell me the answer, but for small things like this..."

Angelica didn't expect such an answer. She fell silent, then remembered the discordant part of Alice's words: "Actively tell you the answer?"

Alice stopped her actions and showed a very standard smile. So Angelica realized that this was also a question she wouldn't answer.

"Is there any drink you dislike among these?" Angelica decided to change her approach.

"No."

"Then do you mind if I prepare it for you directly?"

"That would be even better." Angelica saw Alice show a look of relief, so she prepared to get a drink for Alice.

Just then, a young man with very short hair walked in. His face was sallow, and his red eyes were a little dim.

"I'd like a divination," he said to Angelica.