"It's already serialized up to 'I Reject My Humanity'? Looks like the response has been pretty good. I wonder whether those Beyonder readers will connect the Ripple Breathing Technique with the Sun Pathway... Well, they'll definitely take the Stone Mask for a Vampire—or rather, a high-level Extraordinary Item from the Apothecary Pathway. If I get Vampire Beyonder Characteristics someday, maybe I can try making a Stone Mask for fun?"
That evening, in a mansion in Backlund's West Borough, Sno carefully went through readers' letters one by one. Though the story of Phantom Blood was merely a somewhat ordinary, formulaic hot-blooded tale by modern standards, it was more than gripping enough for this era.
Not to mention that it involved classic elements such as extraordinary powers, Vampires, nobles, and revenge. Though the plot had not even reached its halfway point, two or three publishing houses had already extended offers.
However, Sno was not in a hurry to accept. Among the connections left behind by the original owner of this body were several directors of Backlund United Publishing House, Loen's largest non-academic publisher. Pulling a few strings to publish a book should not be a problem.
He just wondered whether the members of The Tarot Club would have any objections when he got around to writing the third part...
Audrey thought, "You actually said I'm an old granny!"
Hanged Man thought, "You actually made me Justice's son!"
Everyone thought at once, "You actually dared imply that Mr. Fool is a dog!"
At that thought, the corners of Sno's lips rose. His intention to skip a day immediately vanished, and he was filled with motivation to write. He promptly took out his typewriter and began hammering away.
However, just as he wrote, "Next week, I'm going back to Lenburg to marry her," his vision suddenly blurred.
Gray Fog surged into his entire field of vision like a tide. Then, deep within it, the image of a young man in a double-breasted formal coat appeared. He had black hair and brown eyes, but his features were indistinct—
"Honorable Mr. Fool, I have prepared the charms Mr. Devil needs. Please notify him to provide a delivery method. This is my anonymous account at Backlund Bank..."
Well, someone learned fast and put it to use right away? Sno muttered inwardly. Then he grinned lightly, pausing his efforts to write the Lenburg fellow to death. He clasped his hands together and began praying in Ancient Hermes—
"The Fool that does not belong to this era, you are the mysterious ruler Above the Gray Fog, you are the King of Yellow and Black who presides over good fortune. I pray for your hearing, I pray for your gaze. I have received the information from your blessed. This is the incantation to summon my messenger. Please have him seal the charms with spirituality and hand them to my messenger."
Klein had just returned to his home on Daffodil Street after handing over the Mutated Sun Scepter when he once again heard layers upon layers of noisy whispers. This time, however, he did not take them for Mr. Devil's pre-meal prayers. Instead, he immediately returned to his room, took four steps backward, and arrived Above the Gray Fog, impatiently touching the Crimson Star that represented Mr. Devil.
Mr. Devil's familiar voice echoed in layers by his ears, and Klein's face revealed a trace of surprise and confusion—
Mr. Devil actually has a messenger? Then why didn't he use a messenger to trade with Miss Justice back then?
Klein was no stranger to messengers. In fact, on the night after the previous Tarot Club gathering, Daly had come to him to remind the captain about the Acting Method. At the time, Daly had told him how to summon a messenger.
But Daly was, after all, a Sequence Six Spirit Guide, while Mr. Devil should still be Sequence Nine, right?
However, he seemed to possess very powerful Extraordinary Items and much mysterious knowledge. Perhaps this messenger was inherited from his family too?
Yet after hearing the messenger-summoning incantation, Klein understood. The incantation included Mr. Devil's true name. That was one thing for a blessed of Mr. Fool, but it truly would not be convenient to directly tell it to Miss Justice, who was also in Backlund.
But...
Mr. Devil, Miss Justice has probably figured out your identity already!
Although Mr. Devil's identity being exposed was partly his own doing, Klein did not feel the slightest guilt. He turned his attention back to the messenger-summoning incantation. After considering it, he did not immediately return to reality. Instead, he manifested paper and pen and, with a caution entirely unlike his reckless act of praying to the Sun at Goddess's Church, wrote a line of divination words—
"Summoning Sno von Pandax's messenger is dangerous."
He manifested a pendulum, silently recited the divination statement seven times, and watched it rotate counterclockwise. Klein relaxed slightly. After changing the statements to things such as "Using Sno's messenger to deliver goods is dangerous" and "Contacting Sno's messenger is dangerous," he finally put his mind completely at ease.
Returning to reality, he sealed three Sun charms with spirituality. Then, using a silver dagger infused with spirituality and Holy Night Powder, he constructed an enclosed space. After lighting a candle, he recited in Ancient Hermes:
"I!"
"I summon in my name!"
"Spirit wandering in illusion, friendly creature that may be commanded, messenger belonging solely to Sno von Pandax!"
The candle flame turned an eerie dark green. A streak of light suddenly darted out from within it, like a bluish-gray ribbon wildly circling the room.
"Knock knock! Knock knock!"
Though it was not any human language, Klein could understand its meaning through the subtle connection forged by their consciousnesses—
"Give me the stuff, quick!"
So this is Mr. Devil's messenger? Its appearance is much better than Daly's messenger! Klein remarked inwardly, but he did not delay. He immediately handed over the three Sun charms.
Dodo looked at the charms sealed by spirituality, a hint of disdain appearing in its pale golden eyes. Still, it extended its two tiny hands to grab the charms, then vanished from the room with a whoosh.
Mr. Devil's messenger seems rather impatient? Klein narrowed his eyes and was about to remove the effect enclosing the room. Yet before he could pierce the Wall of Spirituality, the atmosphere in the room turned gloomy once more. At the same time, the serpentine messenger appeared in his sight again, rudely tossing down a stack of banknotes before vanishing once more.
"So fast?" Klein stared blankly at the stack of banknotes before him. They were all ten-pound notes, sixty in total...
Wait? Why are there sixty? Wasn't it three hundred pounds each? Klein immediately felt cheated. Just as he was about to file a "complaint" through Mr. Fool, he froze slightly, because he finally remembered that one of the three Sun charms was payment for exchanging with Mr. Devil for the diary!
So after buying Extraordinary Materials, I'm still broke?
Before you continue