A Mystical Item that increased luck? Oh, right!
Neph's eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "Could I commission you to... uh, wait, I don't have any money."
Neph wilted. She waved a hand and said, "In that case, I'll come back to you once I've saved up some money..."
She fell silent, but her mind began racing. As far as she remembered, items that increased luck were most likely made from a "Lucky One" or a "Winner," and both kinds...
Were expensive.
A Sequence 7 Beyonder characteristic was worth around 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, equivalent to the cost of two main ingredients. As for Mystical Items, the more useful they were, the higher the markup would inevitably be.
As for Sequence 5... Neph clearly remembered that Klein's "Death Knell" revolver had most likely come from a Sequence 5 "Reaper" of the "Hunter" pathway. Klein had paid 9,000 pounds for it, and supposedly, even 12,000 pounds wouldn't have been an unreasonable price!
Neph felt she could forget about getting a "Winner."
Hmm, save up 2,000 pounds first... wait, am I supposed to earn 2,000 pounds by selling information? Maybe I should go out and kill some monsters... no, my abilities aren't useful in combat at all!
Still, that reminds me. I could take some combat lessons in Moon City. I don't need to be good at fighting, but I should at least know how to dodge when danger comes... yes, I'll go once I get the food.
"All right, let me first explain what neighboring pathways are..." Neph began listlessly, only to stop abruptly.
She looked up at Audrey, who had raised her hand, and asked in confusion, "Is there something you need, Miss Justice?"
"I wanted to ask how I should deliver the food you need..." Audrey said with a frown. "Besides, six months' worth of food is an enormous amount..."
"You can ask Mr. Fool about that." Neph spread her hands. "As for the food... you can prepare some for me first and send it over as soon as possible, then deliver the rest gradually. Just replenish it before I run out. I have a way to keep it fresh, so you don't need to worry about its shelf life."
"All right." Audrey nodded and turned to the Fool.
Next, Klein explained his sacrificial ritual and the ritual for requesting a bestowal. Neph didn't interrupt. Only after Klein finished did she resume her explanation of neighboring pathways:
"Neighboring pathways are pathways that can be switched between at High Sequences.
"For example, Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man, Mr. Sun, the three of you can switch to one another's pathways at High Sequences. Besides those, the Aurora Order's 'Secrets Suppliant' pathway and the Church of Knowledge's 'Reader' pathway also neighbor yours.
"If you're interested, it's not too late to join the Aurora Order."
"...?" The three exchanged glances, their eyes filling with alarm.
Watching their expressions, Neph suddenly sighed, then spoke with a faintly sorrowful expression and tone:
"Is my Lord really so unworthy of your trust?"
So 'Sun,' 'Sailor,' 'Spectator,' 'Secrets Suppliant,' and 'Reader' are neighboring pathways at High Sequences... wait, who is she calling her Lord?
The alarm in everyone's eyes deepened into terror. Klein forcibly kept his expression from betraying anything, but he still couldn't help looking at Neph.
"You believe in Him?" he asked calmly.
"Mm..." Neph blinked. "I told you long ago. My Pure White is the white of the 'White Angel.'"
Klein still didn't understand what she meant. At this point, he didn't yet know the story of the three gods devouring the Creator, so naturally, he didn't know what "White Angel" truly signified.
But Neph knew that Mr. Fool surely wasn't concerned with whether she believed in the "True Creator." He was probably asking to check whether she had gone mad. After all, in his mind, the "True Creator" was still an evil god.
So Neph paused, then spoke in a rather solemn tone:
"Him... He's a pitiful soul too.
"He bestowed Holy Communion and fine wine upon His believers, yet who would have thought that instead of accepting His grace, they would feast together on His flesh and blood beneath the cross..."
This time, no one paid attention to Neph's faith or her mention of the "White Angel." Everyone began pondering the meaning of her words. Neph, however, looked up at the towering dome and said wistfully:
"...Come to think of it, it's a real shame I wasn't there at the time. Otherwise, I could have joined in too..."
Then my 'Ghoul' potion would definitely have been fully digested on the spot...
Neph's regret was genuine, but everyone else present was terrified. Even Klein wasn't faring much better. Had he not already become a "Clown," he suspected he would have fallen out of his chair in front of everyone.
Of course, he might also have become one with his chair and turned into a statue, just like Alger had now.
Audrey wasn't doing much better either. Had she only heard the first part and learned the reason behind the evil god's madness, it would merely have been a secret revelation, shocking but nothing more. Right now, however, someone sitting before her had called Him "my Lord" one moment, then lamented the next that she hadn't been there when He was devoured and couldn't have claimed a share...
Audrey couldn't help wondering whether this was a trait shared by all believers of the "True Creator."
Derrick was equally horrified. He actually knew little about the "True Creator," but since He bore the title of Creator, Derrick naturally associated Him with the Creator worshipped by the City of Silver. Especially now that Neph had revealed an even more crucial piece of information.
"A cross?" he asked in the silence. "That fallen... that 'True Creator,' is His symbol a cross?"
Neph glanced at Derrick. Revealing this to him might actually be feasible, but she felt she should perhaps give everyone's hearts a chance to recover. Besides, their Mr. Fool's spirituality was limited.
"I think you should continue your trading," she said.
...Still, it really is a shame I couldn't have been there. I wonder whether His current flesh and blood could still help me digest my potion... if it were just one bite, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to it...
Neph openly let her mind wander, making it clear that she had no intention of answering any more questions. They had no choice but to continue trading. After the trading segment ended, Audrey glanced at Neph and carefully began:
"Mr. Fool, I've found two ladies who would be suitable for our Tarot Club. Both are Beyonders, and in Backlund they have
"their own circles and resources. They're also sufficiently discreet and have good personalities. Would you be willing to let them join our gatherings?"
Before you continue