As a proper old Loen Union Jack nobleman, Viscount Grellint could clearly remember the name of every guest who attended his salons. He knew at least three topics to strike up a conversation with each of them, as well as their taboos, beliefs, and, of course, reputations.
So, as Audrey described the person, a guest list surfaced in his mind, and he quickly narrowed it down. After only a few sentences, he identified the person Audrey was asking about.
It was just that this person...
As a Spectator, Audrey naturally noticed Grelint's strange reaction immediately. She frowned slightly and asked in a sweet, somewhat youthful voice:
"Grelint, what's wrong?"
"Audrey, this... um, I mean... that..." Grelint was momentarily at a loss for words. After struggling for a while, he finally gave in under Audrey's pure emerald-like gaze and said hesitantly:
"Why are you asking about him? In our circles... um, I mean, his reputation isn't very good."
"His reputation isn't good?" Audrey found that strange, but said half-truthfully, "He may be a Beyonder, and he has the Spectator pathway formula I want."
"A Beyonder? I knew it! No wonder he..." Grelint was visibly agitated, but remembering that Audrey was still beside him, he immediately forced himself to calm down and explained:
"His name is Sno von Pandax. His ancestors seemed to have been nobles too, but for some reason, they lost their title and lands. He's a veterinarian now, and there are... um, some rather unsavory rumors about him and many noble ladies. Madam Norma was the one who brought him to that literary salon."
"Madam Norma, a veterinarian..." Audrey's beautiful eyes blinked, completely missing the emphasis Grelint placed on "unsavory rumors." Instead, she began building a complete chain of evidence in her mind—
Mr. Devil's Beyonder pet had seen Susie.
The fact that I keep Susie, a golden retriever, isn't a secret among the nobles.
Mr. Devil told me Madam Norma was connected to the Psychology Alchemists and suggested that I reveal my interest in mysticism at social events.
After I publicly expressed an interest in mysticism at the salon, someone used a Beyonder Ability on me.
That's it. This Sno must be Mr. Devil! He noticed my identity through Susie, then attended the salon with Madam Norma to make a final confirmation. To prevent members of the Psychology Alchemists from reading my mind or hypnotizing me, he placed anti-hypnosis and anti-observation Beyonder Abilities on me.
Mr. Devil is really cunning! Audrey muttered inwardly. At the same time, she understood why Mr. Fool had not directly told her Mr. Devil's identity—
Mr. Fool protects our privacy, but if we discover someone else's identity ourselves, he won't interfere. However, Mr. Devil had clearly been trying to lure me with information before, so Mr. Fool gave me a hint. Yes, that must be it!
"Audrey, Audrey!" Watching Audrey sink into thought, Grelint began to panic. It was perfectly normal for Loen nobles to keep a few lovers, but Audrey was still underage! If Earl Hall learned that she had met that "Lady Killer" at a salon he hosted... Oh, Goddess!
"Ah, sorry, Grelint. I was thinking about how to trade with him for the Potion Formula." Audrey gave him an elegant, sweet smile, but Grelint did not dare let his guard down. Though such a warning might already be impolite, he still reminded her out of friendship and the pressure Earl Hall represented:
"Audrey, if you're sure he has the formula, I can act as your intermediary. Believe me, his reputation is truly terrible. If you interact with him, it'll stain your reputation!"
"Huh?" Only then did Audrey understand what Grelint meant. She was briefly at a loss for words, but she still maintained her elegant noble bearing as she said:
"Don't worry, I won't contact him directly. Um, I'll have Miss Xio ask about the price for me. You know, she's an Arbiter."
"That's good." Grelint visibly relaxed, and his obvious attitude made Audrey grumble inwardly—
Mr. Devil, just how awful is your reputation?
Though she had become somewhat curious, Audrey had no intention of meeting Mr. Devil face-to-face in the real world.
Naturally, she did not intend to send Xio or Fors either. Compared to a private meeting, an occasion witnessed by Mr. Fool would be more formal and safer.
Tingen City, Mols Town. With Leonard's assistance, Klein had finally managed to be alone with the Mutated Sun Scepter inside the church.
He quietly waited for time to pass. Only after more than ten minutes had gone by, once he was certain Leonard and Kenley would not suddenly barge in, did he place the Mutated Sun Scepter on the floor. With his back to the Goddess's holy emblem, he set up a ritual to steal the Eternal Blazing Sun's power, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Actually, I should just divine whether Leonard and the others might suddenly come in. Such a thought suddenly crossed Klein's mind as he arranged the ritual, and he gave a self-mocking smile—
Divination isn't omnipotent. I almost became superstitious about divination again.
With that in mind, he quickly took out the ritual materials he had spent all his savings to gather. The other items had been manageable, but the five gold sheets for making charms had truly drained every last bit of his savings—
If Mr. Devil had not promised to buy them for 300 pounds each, he would never have made so many.
An invisible Spiritual wall took shape. Klein temporarily cast aside his obsession with gold pounds and began adding Essential Oil and powder to the candles.
"The blood of the Eternal Blazing Sun."
"You are the Undying Light, the Incarnation of Order, the God of Contracts, the Guardian of Commerce."
"I pray to You;"
"I pray that You grant me strength;"
"Grant me the strength to complete the Flaring Sun Charms."
"Blood of the Eternal Blazing Sun, please pass your power into my charms..."
One incantation after another was recited by Mr. Fool, who had achieved the feat of "praising the sun within the Church of the Night Goddess." An extreme heat immediately enveloped him.
His hair became scorching hot, and his skin seemed to begin smoking.
Guided by that all-consuming power, he picked up the Engraving knife and swiftly carved symbolic markings onto the gold sheets.
The sunlight outside the church grew increasingly fierce, yet the Church of the Night Goddess's design completely blocked out that radiance. The entire church remained steeped in a serene, precise gloom. If the source of Klein's prayer had not been right before him, then even if the Goddess did not conceal him, there would have been no way to complete these charms.
Fortunately, everything went more smoothly than he had imagined. The moment he finished the final stroke, the Spiritual light on the five gold sheets began to draw inward. Their dazzling, luxurious gold color dimmed, while a warm, moist sensation slowly seeped out.
"Finally finished. I can keep two as trump cards and still make nine hundred gold pounds. But how am I supposed to get the charms to Mr. Devil? I can't keep using letters, can I? Or should I arrange a place and bury the charms there, like Miss Justice did?"
Klein frowned slightly. He planned to ask by praying to himself, recording the answer, and editing it into a video to pass on to Mr. Devil. But only then did he remember that he was in the Church of the Night Goddess, and in the end, he did not dare pray to himself there.
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