The next day, at three in the afternoon, the wall clock chimed right on time.
Cyril lounged in a chair by the desk. A dense Gray Fog kept billowing before his eyes, while an invisible force enveloped his Spirit Body.
He felt slightly dazed, and the scene around him changed.
Magnificent, towering stone pillars supported a high dome. The mottled, ancient long table seemed to have stood there for hundreds, even thousands of years, with several blurred figures seated along either side.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"
"Audrey, Justice," still rose first. As she bowed to greet Mr. Fool at the head of the table, her gaze touched on the card lying face down on the table before him, and paused almost imperceptibly.
...Is this the card I pricked with my earring—the Card of Blasphemy made by Emperor Roselle?
I wonder which Pathway is recorded on it. If it's Spectator...
Her thoughts wandered. She glanced around at the others and noticed that, aside from Mr. World and Cyril, everyone else had shown some degree of confusion and surprise.
Do Mr. World and Mr. Fate already know about this Card of Blasphemy?
They're both in Backlund. Perhaps they were involved in obtaining it. Unfortunately, the Church of Steam hasn't let anything slip, and I can't ask around directly.
Hmm... Or perhaps they're simply better at hiding their emotions.
Putting her thoughts aside, she turned and greeted everyone at the table in turn.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man. Good afternoon, Mr. Sun. Good afternoon, Mr. Fate..."
After everyone had exchanged greetings, Cyril was the first to raise his hand. Facing Klein, who sat at the head of the mottled long table, he said:
"Mr. Fool, I've recently collected some of Roselle's Diaries. May I offer them as payment for storing that item?"
"If