"On the surface, dividing the spoils this way makes it look as though I'm getting the short end of the stick. But that isn't really true.
"The better equipped Mr. Fool is, the more tricks he can pull, and the more fully he can develop Sefirah Castle. In the end, I and the other Tarot Club members will benefit.
"For one thing, with the Black Knight characteristic or an upgraded Creeping Hunger in hand, Klein might find a way to use their abilities. He might even produce an 'Angel under the Fool' ahead of time...
"After all, a Black Knight can release a grazed Demigod soul. Combine that soul with the Card of Blasphemy and draw on some power from Above the Gray Fog, and passing it off as an Angel shouldn't be too hard...
"Keeping the characteristic myself, on the other hand, would do me no good.
"Besides, if I've already decided to give Mr. Fool a share of the spoils... I can hardly offer him something below Demigod level!"
All things considered, Abner had thought carefully before deciding to give the Black Knight characteristic to the Fool. He couldn't just enjoy the show; he had to offer a little "food" now and then, didn't he?
Abner had it all worked out, but Klein found himself torn. He didn't want to take advantage of Abner, yet the reasons he had given were hard to refuse.
And Klein really had stepped in to claim the "kill" that day... Taking a share of the spoils was fair enough. A Demigod characteristic was rather much, though...
But it was also an offering from a "believer" to please a "God." Would refusing it make The Tower uneasy?
His thoughts raced. Having made up his mind, Klein casually tapped the edge of the ancient