Klein

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Klein (克莱恩)
Alias(es)	Mr. Fool; The World; Gehrman Sparrow; Dwayne Dantès; Merlin Hermes 3 16 82 388
Original Name	Zhou Mingrui, his name in the Common Era 365
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tarot Club 3
Occupation/Role	Leader of the Tarot Club; operates as an adventurer, wealthy gentleman, and wandering magician under different identities 3 82 388
Power Level	Sequence 1, confirmed by the latest provided passage 448
Status	Alive and active 448
First Appearance	Referenced through Mr. Fool’s instructions in Chapter 1; directly depicted at the Tarot Club gathering in Chapter 3 1 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Demigod — exact Sequence unspecified	82	Raphael detects Dwayne Dantès’s demigod status during their handshake. Klein’s exact Sequence at this meeting is not stated.
Scholar of Yore — potion fully digested	173	Learning that the Beyonder world is Earth instantly completes his potion digestion. He can return to Sefirah Castle with a thought, but Amon exploits this access to infiltrate it.
Sequence 2 — Miracle Invoker	380	Drinks the prepared potion after the City of Silver reaches the outside world, using its liberation as his advancement ritual.
Sequence 1 — title unspecified	448	Confirmed to have advanced. Utopia was previously identified as his advancement ritual, but the actual advancement scene is not included in the supplied context 424 448.

Background / History

Common Era Origins

Klein was known as Zhou Mingrui before transmigration. After recovering his memories, Raphael identifies him as his younger cousin: they were one year apart and grew up together, later attending different universities and working in different cities. They generally reunited at New Year 365.

Raphael also recalls Zhou Mingrui describing misplaced objects that seemingly moved on their own. He interprets these incidents as signs that both cousins’ Spirit Bodies had strengthened before transmigration, making them potential targets for ancient beings seeking resurrection 365.

Investigating Raphael

Klein’s interest in Raphael begins when Sefirah Castle activates without his intervention and projects power into the real world. After extensive investigation, he traces that power to Raphael, whose fate and memories appear to have undergone “Fooling” 3.

Rather than confront him immediately, Klein assigns Audrey to observe him. He permits the supervised kidnapping after determining that Raphael poses no real danger to her, then convenes a temporary Tarot Club gathering to compare the members’ findings. His divinations produce two different cards—Devil and Temperance—leaving Raphael’s nature unresolved 1 3.

Raphael’s use of “Mafia” and “Godfather” alerts Klein to their shared transmigrator background. Nevertheless, he keeps this knowledge secret and remains wary of Raphael’s rapid growth, violence, and concealed motives 4 83.

Cooperation Through Dwayne Dantès

As Dwayne Dantès, Klein receives Raphael’s matchmaking proposal on behalf of Viscountess Matilda and declines, stating that he has neither the time nor plans for romance. Their discussion of war and social problems reveals considerable common ground 82 83.

Klein commissions an investigation into Kent Machinery Factory. His divination predicts a failed investment but an unexpected gain; Raphael’s report reveals Melissa Moretti’s involvement in the project. Klein accepts the report while privately considering how to discourage Raphael from killing official Beyonders 83 93.

His initial policy is containment: he proposes withholding Sequence 5 characteristics rather than provoking a confrontation. Raphael soon complicates that plan by asking him to help retrieve a Wraith characteristic from Fourth Epoch ruins 102 122.

Klein agrees in exchange for two or three tasks no harder than Sequence 6. The first requires Raphael to attack—but not kill—the courtesan Sophia, provoking her into revealing connections relevant to Klein’s investigation of Katarina Pelle and the royal-family conspiracy 122 124.

Raphael’s successful improvisation changes Klein’s assessment. He begins cultivating him as a dependable partner, treats his injuries with Damage Transfer, and grants permission to invoke Mr. Fool’s honorific name in an emergency 137.

Managing the Tarot Club

Klein increasingly delegates sensitive work to Raphael without immediately admitting him into the Club. He appoints him to lead Xio and Fors in negotiations with the Temperance Faction, judging his negotiating ability and combat strength more suitable than Fors’s higher Sequence 200.

Audrey later proposes formal recruitment, but Klein postpones it because he fears Raphael’s values could influence other members negatively. When the Club learns of Raphael’s worship of the Lord of Evil Desires, he orders it to maintain the status quo rather than act on incomplete information 220.

While stranded in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, Klein arranges for Audrey and Fors to fulfill his promised assistance with the Wraith characteristic. Raphael unknowingly hires Emlyn to guard against these same companions. Klein resolves the misunderstanding by disclosing their shared organizational affiliation 228 229.

Forsaken Land Campaign and Angelhood

Klein investigates the Lord of Evil Desires’ expanding influence in Sorn City and suspects a connection to the Western Continent. He later joins the coalition against Bidis City, learns to understand the Dark Hut disciples’ language, and helps establish the teleportation array needed for the advance 320 369 370.

At the Giant King’s palace, the Lord of Evil Desires seals the Dark Angel’s evil spirit. Klein and the others then reach the exit, allowing Colin and his companions to open the door themselves and see sunlight and the sea 380.

Klein uses the City of Silver’s escape to advance to Miracle Invoker. He also tells Raphael that he has passed Mr. Fool’s test and will receive a Tarot Club summons. His willingness to admit Raphael rests partly on his confidence that, as an angel, he can still keep the Sequence 4 newcomer in check 380.

Merlin Hermes and Mutual Recognition

Traveling as Merlin Hermes, Klein fulfills wishes while digesting his potion. In Conston, he encounters Raphael’s puppet theater and grants a puppet half an hour of life. The result exceeds his expectations: the puppet behaves like a being with its own personality and consciousness 388 389.

That miracle inadvertently allows Raphael’s missing Killer Personality, now calling itself the Demon Personality, to reveal itself. Klein does not know the full consequences of his intervention 389.

The two subsequently exchange coded hints about their origins through Merlin Hermes’s recognizable name and Klein’s use of “Utopia.” They finally acknowledge their shared Common Era background in a private Tarot Club conversation and discuss the ancient entities that may attempt to resurrect through them 392 424 435.

Klein promises to help if Raphael loses himself to the Oldest One, once he is strong enough to intervene. In return, Raphael offers future assistance against Zaratul and support from the Lord of Evil Desires against the Celestial Worthy’s influence 435.

Utopia Ambush and Later Activity

After Raphael’s forty-six-day disappearance, Klein visits him to assess his condition and reports that his own advancement ritual is nearly ready. He remains unconvinced by Raphael’s assurance that he controls the presence within him 443.

Zaratul subsequently attacks Utopia with projections of Roselle, William Augustus, and Suah. Klein summons Azik, Arianna, and Raphael while seeking an escape. Raphael arrives personally, and the Lord of Evil Desires engages Zaratul, but a compromised marionette takes Gehrman Sparrow’s appearance and stabs Klein through the heart with a Wooden Cross Stake 443.

Klein is next shown in Adam’s divine kingdom with the stake still embedded in his chest. By the later wilderness meeting with Raphael, he has returned to active work and advanced to Sequence 1; Raphael’s request interrupts his collection of River of Eternal Darkness water for the Evernight Goddess 445 448.

Appearance

• Gehrman Sparrow: A cold, stern expression; swept-back hair and a Loen-style formal suit in the Forsaken Land of the Gods 16 321.
• Dwayne Dantès: Usually dresses formally. For his carriage meeting with Raphael, he wears a shirt, practical trousers, and a dark trench coat, carrying a pocket watch, cane, and top hat 122.
• Merlin Hermes: Short black hair, green eyes, handsome features, and a somewhat unkempt appearance; wears a folk-style robe and checkered trousers and holds a staff 388.
• The World: Appears reserved and convincingly lifelike; Raphael considers the persona secretly flamboyant 381.
• Later appearance: Returns to a somewhat scholarly appearance when meeting Raphael north of Backlund 448.

Personality

Klein is cautious and protective of his secrets. He exploits his early information advantage over Raphael, conceals their shared origins, and presents the Fool’s authority as more complete than his actual knowledge. His composed response to the Lord of Evil Desires conceals that the revelation has caught him off guard 83 220.

His caution does not prevent meaningful loyalty. He rejects killing Raphael merely to prevent future danger, partly because they share a homeland, and later earnestly promises assistance against the Oldest One. He values Raphael’s willingness to improvise rather than retreat or immediately rely on Mr. Fool 87 137 435.

Klein’s moral outlook changes as he confronts failures of accountability among the powerful. He recognizes that his assumptions as an official Beyonder and his trust in orthodox gods had obscured systemic problems. Although he disapproves of Raphael’s investment fraud, he tolerates it while its targets are nobles and the wealthy; harming ordinary people would cross his boundary 84 392.

He also uses humor and performance to manage appearances. After damage to his Spirit Body, he deliberately remains in his Clown state and jokes about greeting the sleeping Dark Angel, prompting Raphael to question his composure 379.

Abilities & Skills

Sefirah Castle

• Convenes Tarot Club gatherings by drawing members’ consciousnesses into the gray-fog-shrouded hall 237 238.
• Receives prayers and relays information, assignments, and summons 141 228.
• Uses the castle to investigate sensitive supernatural matters through divination 435.
• Does not initially understand or control every action of the castle: its Fooling of Raphael occurs independently, despite being attributed publicly to Mr. Fool 3.
• His access can be exploited by Amon, who conceals a Worm of Time in his Astral Body 173.

Divination

• Investigates Raphael’s background, producing conflicting Devil and Temperance cards 3.
• Predicts the likely failure and unexpected benefit of the Kent Machinery Factory investment 83.
• Locates Rose School outposts after the Dark Hut blocks the Mother Tree of Desire’s interference 424.
• Detects an image of the Ancient Sun God while investigating the transformed messenger Pain 435.

Historical Projections

• Summons projections of Azik, Arianna, and Raphael as combat reinforcements 370 443.
• Draws the accumulated good luck of his Winner marionette Enzo from the Historical Void to support Death Knell shots 370.
• Can potentially transfer his consciousness into a summoned historical projection, though a proposed mission using Fors would depend on her spirituality to sustain combat 263.
• Uses a true body hidden in the Historical Void while another manifestation explores 237.

Marionette Control

• Controls marionettes through Spirit Body Threads and employs them for scouting and combat support 370 378 443.
• Maintains Utopia, identified as part of his advancement ritual 424.
• Control is not absolute: the Dark Angel’s influence turns Enuni against him 378.
• A higher-Sequence opponent can steal his marionettes. Zaratul exploits this difference while Klein is still Sequence 2 443.
• A compromised marionette can approach without triggering his spiritual warning, as demonstrated by the Gehrman-shaped attacker 443.

Miracles

• Grants wishes as Merlin Hermes, with reported results including restoration of a ruined house and repair of a woman’s disfigured appearance 392.
• Gives Raphael’s puppet half an hour of life; its independent-seeming consciousness exceeds what Klein expects from the miracle 388 389.
• A Miracle Invoker can resurrect several times, though the supplied passage does not specify Klein’s remaining uses 437.

Damage Transfer and Flame Control

• Transfers Raphael’s dangerous torso wounds to his arm 137.
• Uses Flame Control to light Raphael’s cigarette 137.

Investigation and Mysticism

• Coordinates the pursuit of Katarina Pelle through her daughter Tracy and her subordinate Sophia 124.
• Plans to use Spirit Channeling to interrogate Katarina after capturing her with the Red Angel evil spirit 124.
• Trades high-level mystical knowledge, including information about the nine Sefirot and ancient beliefs concerning the Creator 287.
• Learns to understand the Dark Hut disciples’ unfamiliar language 369.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Death Knell — Firearm used against an empowered Unshadowed; luck-supported shots produce “Lethal Attack” or “Slaughter” effects 370.
• Poseidon Scepter — Grade 1 Sealed Artifact whose negative effects, at that stage, restrict Klein to using it within Sefirah Castle 220.
• Unshadowed cross — Grade 1 Sealed Artifact associated with the True Creator 220.
• Box of the Great Old Ones — Dangerous Grade 0 Sealed Artifact placed in Mr. Fool’s custody after Botis’s defeat. Hunt participants receive permission to request its use through prayer 287.
• Creeping Hunger — former equipment — Previously used by Klein; later recognized on Raphael, who received it through Amon 192 199 219.
• Messenger service — Klein teaches Raphael the summoning procedure; each delivery requires one gold coin 122.

Relationships

• Raphael Collins / Zhou Fei — Fellow transmigrator, initially an investigation subject and later a trusted operational ally. Raphael identifies Klein as his Common Era cousin, but their explicit mutual recognition concerns their transmigrator origins 365 435.
• Audrey Hall / Justice — Tarot Club member entrusted with observing Raphael and investigating dangerous leads; Klein also helps her interpret Raphael’s criticism of social power 1 84 312.
• Leonard Mitchell / The Star — Club member and Church contact whose reports provide official investigative information and a route for passing intelligence to the Church of Evernight 124 141.
• Fors Wall / The Magician — Club member whose commissions and abilities support operations; Klein arranges assistance for Raphael and considers the limits of her ability to sustain his projection 229 263.
• Cattleya / The Hermit — Collaborates on tracking Tracy and hunting Botis; receives secret mysticism knowledge as payment 124 287.
• Bernadette / Queen Mystic — Coalition partner in the Forsaken Land campaign. Klein discusses the Western Continent with her and warns her about Amon while she searches for Roselle’s final tomb 369.
• Evernight Goddess — Powerful benefactor whose assistance is interpreted by Club members as evidence of an alliance with Mr. Fool; Klein later gathers River of Eternal Darkness water for her 219 448.
• Amon — Adversary who exploits his access to Sefirah Castle. Klein avoids direct confrontation when he cannot safely challenge him 173 191.
• Red Angel evil spirit — Conditional collaborator in the planned capture and interrogation of Katarina Pelle 124.
• Zaratul — Enemy who ambushes Utopia, constrains Klein’s escape routes, and steals his marionettes 443.
• Adam — Central to the Gehrman-shaped attacker’s claim to humanity; subsequently shown with the wounded Klein in his divine kingdom 443 445.

Notable Quotes

“If I notice something wrong, I'll provide you with some help once I feel I'm strong enough.” 435

“Yet the people creating wealth are almost all people without Beyonder abilities. That really is strange.” 421

“You've passed Mr. Fool's test. At two fifty next Monday afternoon, be ready to receive your first summons from Mr. Fool.” 380