Alger's Envy

Klein activated his Spirit Vision and studied the woman before him several times. Her familiar aura confirmed that Miss Judgment was Xio Derecha, whom he had previously brought above the Gray Fog.

And The Tower showed no surprise at all. He must have known Miss Xio would dress like that...

Of course. They were close. Even if Miss Xio disguised herself, she wouldn't hide it from The Tower.

Still, a disguise that looked nothing like her usual self was outrageous. Was this what he should expect from an MI9 agent? She was a professional!

After grumbling to himself, Klein, playing the Fool, gestured casually toward Xio and said with a smile, "This is Miss Judgment, our newest member."

When Judgment heard the near-divine Mr. Fool introduce her, she rose with deliberate elegance, showing off the height she had padded to five foot three. Then she made a proper curtsy, lifting an imaginary hem, and briefly greeted everyone. With that, they were acquainted.

Her phrasing was distinctly Backlund, and her bearing was graceful and proper. She must have received a good aristocratic education...

But her court gown didn't look like the work of a renowned designer. She wore little jewelry, and what she did wear wasn't fashionable...

Taken together, Miss Judgment probably came from an impoverished noble family, or a merchant family that had only recently risen in status...

But that wasn't certain. Miss Judgment might be disguising herself deliberately. After all, if she wore a design by a particular Master, identifying her might be easy...

Even I have worn ordinary clothes from home to every Tarot Club meeting since the first, when I arrived at this Ancient Palace unprepared.

As Audrey observed Judgment's movements, she used her Spectator abilities to analyze and assess her.

Alger's attention, however, went elsewhere. The