The Fool and Justice's Views on the New Member

Hearing "Hermit" Odys's "guess," "Fool" Klein nearly laughed. Wasn't the "Sun" in the sky?

"Justice" Audrey found it both amusing and exasperating. "Sorry, my description wasn't accurate enough."

"Sun" Derrick had no choice but to say, "Mr. Hermit, I'm in the Forsaken Land of the Gods!"

Their earlier exchange had made him feel that the new member was easygoing and kind, which was why he had told him his location without reservation.

Besides, to him, this was not something that needed to be concealed at the Tarot Club.

Odys was so surprised he nearly stood up. "The Forsaken Land of the Gods! The legendary Forsaken Land of the Gods!"

He felt that he had not come to attend a gathering at all, but purely to put on a performance.

Only after displaying enough surprise did Odys continue, "I understand."

Let's end this topic quickly. I'm about to lose control of my expression.

After the new member put on an "I need a moment" expression, the topic indeed came to an end.

Next, "World" had a private exchange with Derrick again, while everyone else began chatting freely.

Audrey warmly explained to the new member, "After the trading segment, we usually share interesting things that happened around us, or rumors we've heard.

"Things that seem utterly ordinary to you may be crucial information to someone else."

Odys nodded. "Thank you for the explanation."

Then everyone began chatting freely. "Hanged Man" Alger spoke of what he had seen at sea, Audrey discussed matters concerning the nobility, and Derrick shared some details of daily life in the City of Silver.

"Magician" Fors brought up some rumors she had heard from Backlund's Beyonder world, while even "World" discussed the Serial Murder Case.

With a new member joining this gathering, it stood to reason that topics capable of revealing their approximate locations should not have been discussed at this Tarot Club meeting.

However, Odys's reactions during this gathering had not made anyone sense any danger, so they had no intention of avoiding such subjects and continued speaking freely.

When it was Odys's turn, he also shared three ways of handling small daisies in order to show his willingness to fit into the gathering.

This was ordinary occult knowledge with a leaning toward herbalism. Similar things could be heard at any Occult Gathering.

However, Odys was experienced and eloquent, making the processing of a common herb sound exceptionally interesting.

Even Klein behind the Gray Fog sighed inwardly. It feels a little like watching A Bite of China.

Curious by nature, Audrey asked, "Mr. Hermit, do these common herbs also contain spirituality?"

"Of course." Odys replied, "In my view, all things possess spirituality. It is only a matter of degree."

Audrey slowly nodded. This was highly consistent with the occult knowledge she had learned before, so she asked again, "I've heard that ordinary people also possess spirituality?"

Odys gave an "Mm." "That is also why many cultists use ordinary people as sacrifices when they cannot find better offerings."

Fors suddenly thought of the task "Hanged Man" had received. "Could the missing persons we discussed earlier be the result of some evil secret organization carrying out large-scale sacrifices?"

Odys gently shook his head. "If cultists were responsible, the Orthodox Churches would certainly have noticed."

Alger said, "That is also the strange part. With so many people missing, it would be enough for those dangerous and insane secret organizations to carry out multiple bloody large-scale sacrificial rituals. The churches could not possibly have failed to notice."

"World" joined the discussion as well. "It can only mean that the missing person cases were not, or not entirely, caused by evil secret organizations."

Fors frowned. "Then who was behind all this? Or rather, what organization?"

Her question received no answer. Fors considered writing the matter into her novel, but then thought that it might anger the mastermind behind it, resulting in some mysterious person coming to collect copper pennies from the gas meter in the middle of the night. In the end, she abandoned the idea.

After exchanging a few more words, Klein announced the end of this Tarot Club meeting.

15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough.

Lying on the bed, Klein opened his eyes and raised a hand to gently rub his brow. If what "Hermit" has is a Magical Item, I'll buy it!

Unfortunately, it still needs maintenance...

Getting up from the bed, Klein sat on its edge and thought again. As the convener of the Tarot Club, I still don't even know whether "Hermit" is an "Artisan"!

Whether or not he is an "Artisan," "Hermit" seems to have achieved very advanced results in occult research!

No wonder he had attracted the attention of certain major figures in the Beyonder world.

Klein saw both risks and conveniences.

The risk was naturally that a tall tree caught the wind. To help "Hermit" deal with the scrutiny of those major figures, "Fool" was currently only Sequence 7. He did not know whether it would prove too taxing.

The convenience was naturally that the Tarot Club now had a channel related to Beyonder Weapons, and the new member seemed very well-informed.

Klein took a deep breath and began pondering why the space Above the Gray Fog had invited "Hermit."

Inside Earl Hall's luxurious villa in Empress Borough.

Audrey woke from a bed carved with exquisite Deep Sleep Flowers, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips. I never expected a new member to join today.

"You're finally awake." Susie, her glossy fur shining, trotted over. "Annie came by once. When she saw that you were 'taking an afternoon nap,' she didn't disturb you."

Annie was Audrey's personal maid.

"Thank you for guarding me, Susie." Audrey smiled. "I'll reward you with..."

As she spoke, she suddenly froze.

Susie asked, "What's wrong, Audrey? Are there no more biscuits? I remember there are still two bags."

Normally, Audrey would reward her with a bag of dog biscuits at this time.

"No, I just suddenly remembered something else." Audrey's expression became somewhat grave.

She had suddenly recalled that the new member's movements had been very unnatural. In particular, when Little Sun mentioned coming from the Forsaken Land of the Gods, "Hermit" had shown surprise, yet his bodily movements had somehow been faster than the expression they could vaguely see. Such a reaction was very abnormal.

Audrey had not paid much attention to it at the time, but now that the gathering was over, she reviewed it briefly and realized that the new member's movements had been somewhat unnatural on several occasions. This was enough to show that many of his reactions were not direct reflections of his inner thoughts.

But...

The more Audrey thought about it, the more astonished she became. That was the Forsaken Land of the Gods! Every Beyonder with a certain amount of occult knowledge would be genuinely shocked upon hearing "Forsaken Land of the Gods," marvel at the Tarot Club's high standing, and praise Mr. Fool's power!

The new member had not been as surprised as he appeared. Could it be that he had come into contact with the Forsaken Land of the Gods before joining the Tarot Club?

The more Audrey thought about it, the more unfathomable the new member seemed.