So, Who Are the Guards?

Tossing a coin could not actually provide an answer, but when Alice saw the reverse side and wanted to toss it again, she understood what her answer was.

Just as when she realized she could not say that someone was plotting to kill the captain, Alice chose to study hard—she had wanted to do something else, but since she could not speak of it, there was not much she could do. Still, at the very least, it showed that Alice could not simply stand by and watch someone die when she knew they were going to die.

Of course, that was assuming the person was not an utterly vile scoundrel.

Still, if she went to Blackthorn Security Company at this hour, never mind whether she could find Dunn, Alice was worried that such inexplicable behavior would alarm Old Neil.

After all, unless there was a Special Circumstance, Alice did not need to go there in the evenings. She was still a minor and still growing...

"I'll go see the captain tomorrow... Mm, it's decided," Alice muttered to herself.

The next morning, Alice stepped into Blackthorn Security Company once more and smiled at the bleary-eyed Rosanne by the entrance. "Good morning, Sister Rosanne∽"

Miss Rosanne listlessly replied, "Good morning. Mr. Neil is..."

"I'm looking for the captain." Alice cut her off.

"Mm... Huh?"

"Is the captain in his office?"

"He is, he is."

Having gotten her answer, Alice paid no attention to the bewildered Rosanne and headed straight for Dunn's office.

"Come in." Dunn promptly answered Alice's knock. When he saw Alice push the door open and enter, he could not help looking a bit surprised.

"What is it?"

At this moment, Dunn was probably wondering whether he had forgotten something again, but when he saw Alice close and lock the door, he realized she might have something important to say.

"Captain..." After carefully checking the lock, Alice approached the desk and lowered her voice. "I saw a pair of eyes behind Mr. Neil!"

"A pair of eyes?" Dunn frowned.

"A pair of nearly transparent eyes, without eyelashes... No, that isn't the point." Alice paused for a moment, frowning as she organized her thoughts. "The owner of those eyes—their gaze will lead to his death."

Alice pressed her lips together and met Dunn's now solemn gaze. "He has already embarked on the road to death. If he isn't stopped..."

Alice did not continue, but everyone could imagine the consequences. The office atmosphere grew heavy in the silence. After an unknown amount of time, Dunn finally said, "Go back first. Don't alarm him."

Alice nodded and quickly left Blackthorn Security Company.

This matter was resolved very quickly. After it was reported, Old Neil received a thorough examination—fortunately, his symptoms were not yet severe and could still be treated.

Old Neil was sent away for treatment, and Dunn had a close call. The greatest impact of this matter was that Klein and Alice, whose Mysticism Knowledge had only just started out, lost their teacher again...

Of course, it was not too great a problem. If it was only basic introductory instruction, the other people in the team could do it as well. It was simply that, as an experienced Mystic Seer, Old Neil was more authoritative in this regard.

Thus, Alice resumed her relatively regular life. After requiring Klein to knock and call out a reminder before entering every room, Alice could also stay at Blackthorn Security Company without worry.

Soon, it was time for the second Tarot Club gathering. After the process of submitting the diaries was completed, Audrey spoke first. "Mr. Fool, Mr. Hanged Man, Miss Fortune, I have three questions I would like to ask. If you believe the answers are highly valuable, tell me what you want, and I will do my best to find it afterward."

After all three expressed their agreement, Audrey raised her first question.

"First, what exactly does 'acting' mean? I've found that the remaining spirit in the potion has had only a slight effect on me. Is it because I've been acting as a Spectator during this period?"

Alger did not speak. He turned his gaze toward The Fool, seemingly waiting for an explanation as well.

Alice... Alice followed Klein's gaze.

Klein tapped the edge of the long table with his finger and said lightly:

"I'll explain with a more vivid example. The core power of a Sequence Potion is a heavily guarded castle. The remaining spirits that can cause backlash live within that castle. Our goal is to eliminate them and truly become the castle owner.

"We currently have two methods. The first is to force our way in. That may not succeed, and it will certainly harm us, unless we can crush them with an absolute advantage—but clearly, we do not possess one.

"The second method is that we have an invitation letter given by the castle owner. This invitation letter allows us to pass the guards' inspection and deal with the enemy smoothly and easily. But the problem is that the invitation letter contains the guest's physical characteristics and corresponding description of temperament. Therefore, we must disguise ourselves and act as the invited guest. Do you understand?"

"That invitation letter is the name of the potion?" Alice and Alger asked in unison, making Alger glance at Alice.

"Yes." Klein gave an affirmative answer.

"But where do the guards come from?" Alice said, seemingly talking to herself, yet also pressing on.

As soon as it was said, she realized she should not have done that—Klein's obvious silence showed that he did not know the answer either. Doing so could easily puncture the image Klein had built for himself.

Mm... Next time I have a question like this, I should ask him privately. But if I follow this line of thought...

Why had the method that could reduce the risk of low-Sequence Beyonders losing control and accelerate advancement not been made public among the low-Sequence Beyonders of the Three Churches?

Compared to believing that the Three Churches did not know about this either, given that gods truly existed, Alice was more willing to believe that it was the will of the gods—then, could the guards be gods?

No, that was not right.

The guards should not be gods, because if they were, Beyonders would not even exist—who would be so bored as to raise a group of people just to fight themself?

Perhaps the gods were already at the very center of the castle... Mm, wait?

Perhaps the gods needed low-Sequence Beyonders to help deal with the guards?

She had been too absorbed in thought. By the time she came back to herself, Alger was already introducing information about the Blasphemy Slate.

When Alger smiled and said that he had sunk the Psychology Alchemists member who had provided the information into the Sonia Sea, Alice looked at him with an admiring gaze.

Then, Audrey's third question made Alice feel the wonder of the world.

"Third, if—if, I mean—a normal animal drank a Sequence 9 potion, what would happen?"

"...You have a friend who did this?" Alice asked hesitantly.

"No, I mean if..." Audrey was so rattled by Alice's deliberate emphasis on "friend" that she could not even maintain her Spectator state. She revealed obvious fluster, nervousness, and embarrassment.

Even the esteemed Mr. Fool could barely keep his expression in check after hearing that. Fortunately, the Gray Fog concealed everything; otherwise, Mr. Fool's image would have been ruined...