In a small inn in Backlund's North Borough, not far from MI9 headquarters.
After the Tarot Club gathering ended, Xio's consciousness returned to her Ether Body. She opened her eyes and abruptly sat up.
She checked her pocket watch. It was still fairly early.
So Xio sat in a chair and recalled the conversation at the Tarot Club gathering.
The god Raphael worshipped seemed rather strange. Even the knowledgeable Madam Hermit and Mr. World, who knew a great deal of high-level intelligence, seemed unsure what to make of it.
After pondering this for a while, Xio returned to MI9 to clock out. That evening, she talked to Fors about Raphael. Both felt rather overwhelmed at the thought that Raphael actually wielded a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact!
They could not even imagine what it would be like for a Sequence 6 to wield a Sealed Artifact of that level.
That evening, Xio hired a cab to deliver a letter to Raphael, telling him she would be visiting him with the Deputy Director the next day.
Although neither of them had a Beyonder messenger, they had exchanged ways to contact each other after their previous collaboration ended.
Letters to Raphael were sent to the Mechanic Company, where reception staff were on duty around the clock and would forward them to him immediately.
If Raphael wanted to contact Xio, he simply sent a letter to their rented home.
Xio sent the letter because she felt that, whatever Raphael's faith might be, he was still a reasonably trustworthy friend. Their relationship was worth maintaining. Otherwise, if she simply showed up the next day without warning, Raphael would be unprepared, and they might easily give away the fact that they knew each other.
Early the following morning, Xio arrived at MI9 and clocked in. After