A World Without Oil

Alice soon learned from the captain that Antigonus had been provisionally designated a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact and transferred to St. Samuel Cathedral—meaning her original request had been rejected, even if she only wanted to look at it from afar and attempt a divination without reading or touching it.

Even so, Alice did not know why, but she felt much more at ease, as though a stone in her heart had finally fallen to the ground, despite many more still hanging there.

So that her membership fee would not go to waste, and to find somewhere to relax, Alice went to the Divination Club.

No one was willing to seek divination from the unknown Miss Kingsley, so Alice was happy to be idle, drinking beverages and reading magazines at the club.

Monday. Above the Gray Fog, the worried, uneasy, and confused Miss Justice organized her words several times before asking, "Honorable Mr. Fool, Mr. Hanged Man, who has always helped me, and kind Miss Fortune, I have a question I would like to ask. What can a pet with Beyonder powers do for its owner? Simply put, what use can it have?"

Clearly, this was a question that would plunge the atmosphere into awkward silence. No one spoke; they merely looked at Audrey with rather strange expressions.

Amid Audrey's deep regret and embarrassment, Alice spoke up. "...I want to raise a pet with Supernatural Abilities too. Perhaps you have some experience you could share with me, Miss Justice?"

Unfortunately, Audrey's reaction told Alice that Miss Justice did not wish to share such experience with her.

Alice regretfully stopped speaking, while the honorable Mr. Fool... Looking at Mr. Fool pinching his forehead, Alice felt that Klein must have been utterly speechless right now.

"That depends on what kind of Beyonder powers the pet possesses. For example, if it is a Spectator, it can observe and listen in on certain occasions in your place. You know, people are wary of their own kind, but they are unlikely to suspect a pet of eavesdropping, Even If it is crouching right by their feet."

Clearly, those words came from the only person who wanted to answer the question seriously, Mr. Hanged Man, though his expression and tone were equally strange.

In the knowing silence of the others, Audrey Finally Realized that everyone in the Tarot Club had probably Guessed what she had experienced.

After Klein finished reading the diary and announced that trading could begin, Audrey was the first to propose a trade. "I would like to know whether there is a Sequence Potion called 'Arbiter.' Also, what kind of Beyonder can pass directly through a wooden door, or render a locked door ineffective?"

"I need you to investigate something for me, in exchange for the answer." In this war to steal business, Alger successfully defeated Klein.

"What is it?" Audrey asked, interested yet full of confusion.

"I want to know whether the King intends to retaliate against the Feysac Empire within this year or before next June, starting a new war on the East Coast of Bayam," Alger said after pondering.

Audrey agreed to the request and made the first bargain of her life.

Big-hearted as Audrey was, she seemed not to have realized that there was a third person in this Tarot Club, so Alice had no choice but to remind them, "Hey, if you're exchanging paid intelligence like this, shouldn't you at least not let me listen in?"

"Oh!" Only then did Audrey realize that she had overlooked Alice, who was quiet most of the time. "Mr. Fool, may I request a private conversation with Mr. Hanged Man?"

Klein readily agreed to the request, and they quickly completed their intelligence trade.

After thinking for a moment, Alger turned his head toward the head of the Bronze Long Table. "Honorable Mr. Fool, I would like to ask something. Is the sanctuary of the True Creator preached by the Aurora Order the legendary Land Abandoned by God?"

"This is not something you should know yet." Klein's calm voice came from the head of the Bronze Long Table.

Unlike Alice, who had Guessed that Klein probably didn't know, Alger immediately Lowered His Head and apologized. "Please forgive my insignificant transgression."

After the atmosphere fell silent, Audrey spoke as though she felt she ought to say something. "Mr. Fool, if— I Mean, If I have the opportunity to join another organization, such as the Psychology Alchemists, would that be acceptable?"

Maintaining his reclined posture, Klein Chuckled. "There is no problem. My only requirement is that you must not reveal the existence of the Tarot Club."

"If you become a member of another organization, the materials and intelligence you can use for exchange will certainly improve."

"I Understand." Audrey became excited again, then immediately thought of a question. "Mr. Fool, if I discover a gentleman or Lady suitable for the Tarot Club, may I guide them into joining? How should I guide them?"

Mr. Fool, who No Longer Has any excess spirituality, Hesitated to Speak.

Alger did not notice Mr. Fool's embarrassment beneath the Gray Fog and followed up, "Mr. Fool, what are the criteria for future members of our gathering? How should we judge them?"

Mr. Fool's silence made Audrey and Alger uneasy. Alice Chuckled as she tapped the Tabletop. "Mr. Fool already said this long ago."

Audrey and Alger looked at Alice in confusion.

"It must be decided personally by Mr. Fool," Alice reminded them with a smile. "And secrecy is our principle."

"So that's how it is! Thank you, Miss Fortune." Alice's reminder made Audrey Remembered this matter. "Then, if I find a suitable participant, may I recommend them to you, Mr. Fool?"

Compared To Audrey, Alger noticed more—this Miss Fortune seemed to have an unusual relationship with Mr. Fool?

"Without my permission, you may not recite my name."

After delivering his closing words, Mr. Fool ended this Tarot Club gathering. What came next was Alice and Klein's private conversation.

Alice accepted the diary Klein handed over, and she immediately understood why Klein had kept her behind—setting aside that ancient, secret organization that influenced the World Situation from the shadows, the fact that this world had no oil was already shocking enough.

Alice could not fail to understand what oil represented. Even If It was a high school student, they knew that oil was also called the Blood of Industry. Without oil, industry would come to a standstill here—Alice suddenly understood why, after Emperor Roselle promoted the Industrial Revolution, the world's technology had never advanced again.

Let Alone the fact that the absence of oil itself pointed to a deeper question—was oil buried in forbidden zones humans could not enter, or had this world simply not existed long enough to produce oil at all?

Alice suddenly developed a profound interest in this world's history.