Three Questions (First Update)

At that thought, Abner looked at Xio, who was still completely unaware, and suddenly felt that she was truly lucky to have a friend who worried about her to such an extent!

Of course, that was also because she was genuinely worth it.

After Fors and Xio laughed and bantered for a few moments, Fors returned to the earlier topic. "Abner, I heard Xio mention the investigation plan you devised for her. Using occult knowledge as bait, then gradually working from noble heirs to the upper ranks of the aristocracy... If that plot made it into a novel, it would definitely be fantastic! How should I put it? Other than Xio not having the ability to carry it out, everything is perfect!"

Then what was the point of saying all that? Besides, I'd planned from the beginning for you to do it... Abner nearly threw out his back from the twist in Fors's words.

Xio shot Fors an unhappy glare as well. What did she mean, Xio lacked the ability to do it? Wasn't it just making friends? If there were any noble heirs who liked getting beaten up, maybe she could even gather a whole group of followers...

Receiving the unfriendly looks from both of them, Fors shrugged in a distinctly unladylike manner and continued, "All right, I was only joking. Xio already asked me for help yesterday, but there are still some questions I haven't figured out, and I'd like to ask you."

"What questions? I'll do my best to answer." Abner did not overpromise. The woman before him had an especially erratic train of thought. Who knew what she might ask?

"First, shouldn't nobles have easier access to occult knowledge than we do? Why would their children learn through us? Wouldn't going to the authorities be more convenient?" Fors voiced the doubt in her heart.

"Nobles do have easier access to Potions and occult knowledge, but the price is steep. Either they have to join a Church's Beyonder team or become an official employee of the state... In short, they lose a certain degree of freedom either way. That is exactly what many noble heirs are unwilling to give up, and it is also your opportunity!" Abner explained based on the plot he had read in the novel.

Fors nodded in agreement, while quietly forming a few calculations of her own. Thoughtfully, she said, "In other words, occult knowledge is really just a gimmick. What those noble children truly need is a channel to obtain Potion formulas!"

"Miss Fors really understands with just a hint!" Abner could not help admiring Fors's sharpness.

"Then my second question: how did you know before that I was Xio's Friend? I'm certain that before I took the initiative to meet you, no matter how close she was to you, Xio would never have revealed anything about me." As Fors spoke, not a trace of laziness remained in her eyes. They even carried a hint of sharpness.

Xio, however, looked rather bewildered. "When did Abner ever say he knew about you...?"

At that moment, Abner cut Xio off. Maintaining his smile, he asked in return, "Why do you ask?"

He could tell that Fors's serious expression was an act. She was more curious about this matter than suspicious.

"You emphasized to Xio more than once that she needed friends who were 'somewhat famous in certain fields,' and you recommended that she seek out Viscount Glaint first. Wasn't that suggesting she ask me for help? I only met that somewhat naive viscount at a literary salon not long ago. Your information network really is well-informed!" Fors analyzed with the air of someone holding all the cards.

This really was just a coincidence... Though it was true that I had my eye on you from the start... After grumbling inwardly, Abner could only brush it off with a vague explanation. "I am Knowledge's Favored One, so I know a little about everything..."

He had no choice but to be evasive. Could he possibly say that was how it had been written in the novel?

Fors frowned, clearly dissatisfied with that answer. In a faintly mocking tone, she said, "Knowledge's Favored One? Knows a little about everything? That's quite the claim! Then do you know why some Beyonders hear whispers during the Full Moon?"

Upon hearing that question, Abner knew it was actually Fors's greatest current predicament. After thinking for a moment, he decided to answer seriously and reveal some useful information. In any case, none of the three present had the ability to solve it for now.

"Unless one has provoked an evil god or a similar great existence, whispers mostly come from High-Sequence powerhouses of one's own Pathway! As for Full Moon Whispers, as far as I know, only some Beyonders of the Apprentice sequence can hear them," Abner said.

"You actually know?!" Fors was genuinely stunned. Her original intention in asking had merely been to make things difficult for Abner, to express her displeasure at his perfunctory answer.

Xio had also heard Fors mention hearing whispers during the Full Moon, but she had thought it was not too serious. Yet judging from Fors's shocked expression just now, something seemed wrong.

At that point, Fors could no longer spare any concern for her dissatisfaction with Abner's earlier answer. Her face was filled with gravity, yet faintly revealed a trace of anticipation. "Abner, what else do you know about this? Can you tell me?"

Abner was eager to gloss over the previous question, so he nodded. "That begins with the War of the Four Emperors in the Fourth Epoch..."

Xio immediately pricked up her ears and muttered softly, "Abner really is good at telling stories about the Fourth Epoch..."

Fors, on the other hand, was about to lose it. She had no choice but to force a stiff smile. "The important points! Just give me the important points!" Who knew how long he would go on if he truly started from Fourth Epoch history?

"...In short, the Abraham Family, the foremost Angel family under Blood Emperor Tudor, one of the Four Emperors, possessed the Apprentice sequence Potions... This family rapidly declined after the War of the Four Emperors. The reason for its decline was that every Beyonder of the Apprentice sequence in the family suffered the curse of Full Moon Whispers! At Lower Sequence, the whispers could still be endured, but after reaching Mid-Sequence, Beyonders found it increasingly difficult to make it through the time of the Full Moon... By now, the Abraham Family has vanished without a trace. If the powerful Sealed Artifacts in their possession had not failed to surface, people might even think they had all died out!"

Abner did not dare mention Mr. Door. Although that one had been sealed in the cosmos by the Goddess, he could still observe the world. Even Roselle might have been tricked by Him. Abner had better not court death for now. Once he went Above the Gray Fog in the future, he would find a chance to reveal a little to Miss Magician.

"The Abraham Family... Could I be a descendant of the Abraham Family? No, when I first became a Beyonder, I wasn't troubled by whispers. It only began after I used that bracelet... Could that bracelet be related to the Abraham Family, causing me to be caught up in the curse?" At that thought, Fors messily raked her fingers through her slightly curly hair and asked, "Then is there any way to resolve this whispering curse?"

"Pray for a deity's favor and protection," Abner answered without hesitation.

Wasn't that the same as saying nothing? Fors clearly failed to grasp Abner's true meaning and asked again unwillingly, "Other than praying to a deity?"

"The Abraham Family retained several Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts after the War of the Four Emperors!" The implication was that even the Abraham Family, which wielded Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts, could not solve this problem, much less the three of them, all Sequence 9.

Fors had clearly thought of that as well. She immediately slumped back in dejection, returning to her "salted fish" state. This was more painful than knowing nothing, because now that she knew the source of the curse, she still could not think of a way to break free.

Xio worriedly squeezed her hand, silently offering encouragement.

Fors came back to herself and forced a smile. "I'm fine. Didn't Abner just say that the whispering curse can be endured at Lower Sequence? At worst, I just won't advance any further... There's no need to worry." But why was it getting stronger and stronger for me?

Just endure it a little longer. The Fool will arrive at the end of this month! Abner did not know how to comfort her, so he could only cheer her on inwardly.

Fors adjusted her emotions, shook off those fearful and oppressive thoughts, and returned to her original lazy state before continuing, "Let's say you passed the second question, Mr. Knowledge's Favored One. Now for the third question, and the last one. The plan you provided for Xio is certainly beneficial to her, and I believe you sincerely want to help her, but it is far too complete. It doesn't seem like something you came up with on the spot. Rather, it seems like something you have planned for a long time... So, do you truly have no hidden purpose of your own in this? Or rather, what do you want to accomplish through this plan?"

I just want the two of you to successfully get the chance to be "arranged" by Miss Audrey... As for how complete it is, wasn't this simply your plan in the original story? Abner grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he feigned hesitation. After waiting a while, he sighed and answered, "I do have some thoughts. I want to know why the military is trafficking so many people... And where those people are being sold..."

Xio knew that Abner's mother had been abducted by human traffickers. Hearing this, she assumed he was worried and immediately stated, "Don't worry, Abner. I'll help you!"

Fors had heard Xio mention this before, and she said angrily as well, "The military and a secret organization joining hands to traffic their own country's people... How despicable! I want to find out what their purpose is too. Don't tell me it is for money!"

It was to help the king become a god... Abner sighed sadly, for this dark world and for the original owner's mother. Could anything good have happened to her after entering Blood Emperor's mausoleum?

At this point, all of Fors's questions had been answered. Although some of the answers were not quite to her liking, she had nonetheless tentatively approved of the plan Abner had devised for Xio and decided to help Xio make contact with the nobility.

"But there's no need to rush. Once my Stormy Manor is completely finished and published, my reputation should be greater. Then I'll have more confidence when I meet noble heirs." Fors habitually pushed the matter back.

Xio nodded expressionlessly. "I'll supervise you these next few days and make sure you finish it!"

Fors stared in astonishment, her mouth opening and closing for a long while before she said, "Are you a Demon?!"

"No!"

Seeing the "harmonious and friendly" atmosphere between the two ladies, Abner laughed out loud rather unkindly.

Meanwhile, in a lounge at Grant Clothing Store in Cherwood Borough, Jane's father, Mr. Charlie Grant, endured his nausea as he placed a dried adult Black Spot frog into a flask.

After stirring it evenly, he looked at the pitch-black potion in his hand, summoned his Courage again and again, and finally closed his eyes and drank it in one gulp.

(End of chapter)