"An experiment...?"
Julian stared blankly at Mr. Fool at the head of the Bronze Long Table. Only after a long moment did he collect himself:
"May I ask what the experiment involves?"
"Bzzz..."
Before Mr. Fool could answer, the Colour Out of Space inside Julian began buzzing again.
The sound grew louder and louder, until Julian once again felt that dizzying pain that threatened to split his head apart.
Unlike the previous times, the Colour Out of Space was both furious and frightened this time.
It displayed intense hostility toward the surrounding gray fog and even Mr. Fool himself. It also seemed terrified of Sefirah Castle's aura, trying to force Julian to leave Sefirah Castle by tormenting him.
Klein, the Fool, also noticed something wrong with Julian. Without betraying any reaction, he tapped his glabella twice with his index finger and examined Julian with Spirit Vision.
What is that thing...?
Through the layers of gray fog, Klein successfully perceived the anomaly within Julian.
His spirit body flickered between bright and dim shades of orange-red, while his mental body was a deep blue. This indicated that Julian's thoughts remained calm, but he seemed to be suffering some form of mental torment.
Strangest of all, there was a peculiar radiance at the astral body level, between his spirit body and mental body.
That radiance was not a mixture of ordinary colors-Klein even felt that it lay outside the normal spectrum of light.
Yet through Spirit Vision, he could describe it approximately as a purplish red, like the helium neon lights lining the streets in his previous life.
This purplish red burst out from within Julian, flowing around him like silk and eating away at his body.
Klein was startled. At the very moment that emotion arose, the gray fog drifting around him seemed to be drawn by some peculiar mechanism. It suddenly surged toward the neon radiance, swiftly engulfing it.
As the neon radiance gradually faded, Julian's condition rapidly improved.
He panted heavily, looking at Mr. Fool at the head of the Bronze Long Table with awe.
"Thank you for your protection, honored Mr. Fool."
Me? Protection?
Although Klein did not know what had just happened, he could sense that the mysterious gray fog around him had temporarily suppressed that strange neon radiance.
He quickly gathered his thoughts, then chuckled softly:
"Think nothing of it... it was a trivial matter."
After observing Julian's growing reverence for a while, Klein continued:
"As I said earlier, this is an experiment."
He folded his hands and leaned back against the towering backrest in a relaxed posture:
"I am selecting people to attend gatherings I organize.
"Here, participants may exchange the information and knowledge they possess, as well as conduct various transactions.
"Of course, I may also need you to do certain things for me. In return, I can provide you with what you need.
"For instance, if that thing troubles you again, you may pray to me, and I will grant you protection."
"Something like... a Beyonder gathering? But at a higher level?"
Julian asked tentatively.
"Yes."
Mr. Fool nodded gently, confirming Julian's guess.
"It would be my honor, honored Mr. Fool."
Gratitude colored Julian's voice as he asked:
"What must I do to attend this gathering?"
"There is no need to hurry."
Mr. Fool shook his head gently:
"You are not the only potential participant in this gathering at present. I am also conducting a rigorous selection.
"If you are chosen, I will contact you a day in advance and inform you of the gathering's precise time and location."
Klein did not immediately promise Julian admission to the Tarot Club. He had deeper considerations in mind.
Unlike the previous occasion, when he had summoned Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man, Klein had summoned only Julian this time, and the summoning involved a greater degree of coincidence.
Although Klein knew Julian in the real world, he knew very little about him, nor did he know whether this assistant professor at Khoy University had any designs on him.
He therefore wanted to observe Julian for a few more days. It would not be too late to make a decision before the next Tarot Club gathering began.
Looking at Julian, who seemed somewhat disappointed, Mr. Fool added:
"You may first choose one of the twenty-two Major Arcana cards as your code name. If you are summoned to the next gathering, it will mean that you may use that code name there."
"The Major Arcana... tarot cards?"
After a moment's thought, Julian asked tentatively:
"Honored Mr. Fool, may I ask whether The Tower has already been chosen?
"If not, I would like to choose it."
The Tower corresponded to the White Tower, fitting Julian, who had once been a Beyonder of the Reader pathway.
More importantly, Julian greatly liked the imagery of The Tower-spiritual enlightenment, and the advent of change and breakthroughs.
In a sense, the current world of mysteries truly needed unexpected elements to bring about change and breakthroughs. As a Beyonder of an Outer Deity pathway, Julian was playing the role of that "X factor."
"As you wish."
Mr. Fool smiled and nodded. Then this godlike being said:
"You may return now."
Julian hesitated, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to follow Mr. Fool's arrangements:
"As you will, honored Mr. Fool."
Mr. Fool nodded. Julian felt himself swallowed by the gray fog, then rapidly pulled out of his surroundings.
When he came to his senses again, he was already looking at the small bachelor cottage where he lived alone.
Freed from the suppression of Sefirah Castle's gray fog, the Colour Out of Space erupted with another buzz, only to strike at empty air.
Confusion came through with the buzzing. Julian chuckled softly:
"Well, there's now one more 'great being' who can help me put you in your place.
"So take my advice. You'd better be-
have yourself."
Feeling the Colour Out of Space's resentment surge like ocean waves, Julian felt both satisfaction and a sudden sense of understanding.
By now, he was reasonably certain that this wretched Colour Out of Space had probably offended the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings at some point in the past, or had simply been put through a brutal boot camp on the latter's mischievous whim.
Only that could explain its inexplicable hostility toward Beyonders of the Seer pathway, as well as its panic when confronted with Sefirah Castle's aura!
At the same time, Julian suddenly understood why the Evernight Goddess had briefly withdrawn her protection when he was dealing with the Secret Order's Magician.
She had likely formed a similar suspicion based on the Colour Out of Space's abnormal reaction to the Antigonus Family Notebook, then temporarily loosened her restraints on it when Julian encountered the Magician.
Sure enough, as though seeking revenge, the Colour Out of Space had taken the initiative to attack and devour that Magician, finally allowing the Evernight Goddess to confirm her suspicions.
And that was also why she had used rewarding Julian as a pretext to send him a Grade 2 Sealed Artifact influenced by Sefirah Castle's aura!