Interlude

Above the Gray Fog, inside the ancient palace.

As Klein touched a Crimson Star, two figures emerged from the burst of light, their faces obscured by gray fog: The Tower and Judgment.

Abner looked much the same, though a pair of copper-framed glasses could faintly be made out on his nose.

Xio, however, looked nothing like she did at the Tarot Club. Her waist-length golden hair was gone, and she had shrunk to one and a half meters tall.

Hidden in the shadows, Klein nodded to himself. This was the Judgment he had seen during her Exorcism, not the carefully packaged version from the last Tarot Club meeting.

As expected of a military agent. She really knew how to disguise herself.

As Klein marveled at that, Abner's vision cleared, and he met the eyes of a still-bewildered Xio.

It took Xio a few seconds to realize where she was. She looked around but saw no sign of the Fool.

Abner sighed and asked directly, "Where are you and Jane now? Have you found Baron Kangwa?"

Xio's heart lurched. "How do you know about our plan?"

So I was right...

Xio's response confirmed Abner's suspicions.

After hearing Fors describe Xio's unusual behavior, he had pieced together a rough picture:

If Xio had received an urgent message and kept Fors in the dark about what she had gone to do, it had to be dangerous.

She hadn't come to me either. That meant she was somewhat confident she could handle it and didn't want to drag me into it...

The only person who might threaten me lately was the escaped Baron Kangwa. Xio was probably going after him.

*She had seen how strong Baron Kangwa was that night. If she still believed she could beat him, someone else must have stepped in...