The same Loenese, the same grave, taut feeling.
Where is this? What do I want to do? I'd like to know too... Zhou Mingrui calmed down, silently repeating their questions.
What struck him most was not the sentences formed by the words or the meaning those sentences conveyed, but the panic, wariness, fear, and awe the man and woman displayed!
He had inexplicably drawn two people into this world above the gray fog. Even he, the "perpetrator," was utterly bewildered and shocked, let alone those on the receiving end!
To them, something like this, an experience like this, was probably beyond imagination, wasn't it?
At that instant, Zhou Mingrui thought of two options. The first was to pretend he was a victim too, concealing his true identity to gain a measure of trust, watch how things developed, and fish in troubled waters. The second was to maintain the unfathomable image he held in their eyes, actively guide events, and obtain valuable information from them.
With no time to think it over or scrutinize it further, Zhou Mingrui seized the idea that flashed through his mind, quickly made his decision, and tried the second approach.
Take advantage of their current state of mind and make the most of my greatest advantage!
Silence lingered above the gray fog for a few seconds. Zhou Mingrui chuckled, his tone mild and his voice low but not deep, as though responding to a visitor's polite greeting:
"An experiment."
An experiment... An experiment? Audrey Hall gazed at the mysterious man shrouded in grayish-white fog, finding the whole thing absurd, laughable, terrifying, and bizarre.
A moment ago, she had been in her bedroom, before her dressing table. In the blink of an eye, she had "arrived" in this place filled with gray fog!
How utterly inconceivable!
Audrey drew a breath, put on an impeccable, polite smile, and asked rather apprehensively:
"Sir, has your experiment ended? Could you let us go back?"
Alger Wilson also wanted to make a similar probe, but his wealth of experience made him more composed. He suppressed the impulse and merely watched in silence.
Zhou Mingrui looked toward the questioner, vaguely making out her figure through the haze. She was a tall girl with smooth blond hair, but her features were indistinct.
He did not hurry to answer her question. Instead, he turned toward the man on the other side. His dark-blue hair was as untidy as seaweed, and he was of medium build, not particularly muscular.
At that moment, Zhou Mingrui suddenly understood. Once he grew stronger or gained a deeper understanding of this gray-fog world, perhaps he could truly see through the haze and make out the girl and the man's appearances.
In this incident, they're the guests, and I'm the host!
With this change in mindset, Zhou Mingrui immediately noticed details he had overlooked earlier.
The sweet-voiced girl and the composed, reserved man both looked quite illusory, tinged with faint red, like projections of those two crimson "stars" above the gray fog.
And these projections were based on his connection with the crimson-a connection without shape or form, but one he could tangibly grasp.
Sever this connection, and the projections will dissipate. Then they'll be able to return... Zhou Mingrui nodded almost imperceptibly, looked toward the blond girl, and chuckled softly.
"Of course. If you formally request it, I can send you back right now."
Hearing no malice, Audrey breathed a sigh of relief. She believed that since a gentleman capable of such miraculous things had made a promise, he would certainly abide by it strictly.
With her nerves somewhat settled, she was no longer in a hurry to ask to leave. Her azure eyes shifted from side to side, shining with an unusual light.
Apprehensive, expectant, and eager to try, she said:
"This is truly a marvelous experience... Um, I've always looked forward to something like this. I mean, I like mysteries, I like miracles that transcend nature. No, my point, what I mean is, sir, what should I do to become a Beyonder?"
The more she spoke, the more excited she became, until she was almost incoherent. The dream that had sprouted when she listened to her elders' strange tales as a child seemed finally to have a glimmer of coming true.
In the space of just a few sentences, she had already forgotten her earlier fear and panic.
Good question! I'd like to know the answer too... Zhou Mingrui quipped inwardly.
He began considering what answer would preserve his unfathomable image.
At the same time, he felt that standing around talking like this seemed a little low-class. Shouldn't a scene like this have a temple, a long table, and numerous chairs with backs carved with ancient patterns, brimming with mystery, while he sat upright at the head and quietly watched his guests?
No sooner had the thought occurred to Zhou Mingrui than the gray fog suddenly churned, startling Audrey and Alger.
In an instant, they saw towering stone pillars appear around them and a vast dome cover the space overhead.
The entire structure was magnificent, grand, and imposing, like the royal hall of giants in legends.
Directly beneath the dome, amid the clustering gray fog, a long bronze table appeared. Ten high-backed chairs stood on either side, with matching seats at the head and foot. On the chair backs, brilliant lights flickered and crimson glimmered darkly, tracing strange constellations that did not correspond to reality.
Audrey and Alger sat directly opposite each other, in the seats closest to the head.
The girl looked left, then right, and could not help murmuring:
"How miraculous..."
It really is miraculous... Zhou Mingrui extended his right hand and rubbed the edge of the long bronze table with a very slight movement, keeping his expression unchanged.
Alger also surveyed their surroundings. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly spoke, answering Audrey's question in Zhou Mingrui's stead:
"You're from Loen, aren't you?"
"If you want to become a Beyonder, join the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of the Lord of Storms, or the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery."
"Although the vast majority of people never encounter the supernatural in their entire lives, to the point that they suspect the same is true of the Churches, and even many clergymen within the major Churches think similarly, I can tell you unequivocally that Beyonders still exist in the Arbitration Tribunal, the Inquisition, and the Punishment Mandated Corps. They still fight the dangers growing in the darkness. There are simply far, far fewer of them than in the early Iron Age or before."
Zhou Mingrui listened intently, while doing his utmost to convey through his body language the indifference of someone listening to a child tell a story.
Thanks to Klein's lingering knowledge of history, he knew that the "Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, the Fifth Epoch, which had begun 1,349 years ago.
Audrey listened quietly until he finished, then let out a light breath.
"Sir, I know all of that, and even more. The Nighthawks, for instance, the Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind. But I don't want to lose my freedom."
Alger gave a low chuckle and said vaguely:
"How could anyone become a Beyonder without paying a price? If you won't consider joining a Church and undergoing its trials, your only options are to approach the royal family, those few nobles whose family histories stretch back more than a thousand years, or try your luck searching for those evil organizations lurking in hiding."
Audrey unconsciously puffed out her cheeks, then hastily looked left and right. Only after making sure that the "mysterious gentleman" and the fellow opposite her had not noticed her little gesture did she press:
"Is there no other way?"
Alger fell silent. A dozen or so breaths later, he turned toward the "mysterious gentleman," Zhou Mingrui, who was watching quietly without saying a word.
Seeing that he neither approved nor objected, Alger turned back to Audrey and said, weighing his words:
"I do, in fact, have two Sequence 9 potion formulas."
Sequence 9? Zhou Mingrui muttered inwardly.
"Really? Which two?" Audrey clearly understood what Sequence 9 potion formulas meant.
Alger leaned back slightly and answered at an unhurried pace:
"As you know, humans can only become true Beyonders through potions. The names of those potions come from the Blasphemy Slate. Through repeated translations into Jotun, Elvish, Ancient Hermes, Ancient Feysac, and Modern Hermes, they have long since changed to suit the characteristics of the times. The name isn't what matters. What matters is whether it represents the potion's 'core symbolism.'"
"One of the Sequence 9 formulas I have is called 'Sailor.' It grants exceptional balance, allowing you to walk freely aboard a ship in a storm as though you were on solid ground. You also gain outstanding strength and illusory scales hidden beneath your skin. These make you as hard to catch as a fish, and as agile in the water as a member of the sea folk. Even without any equipment, you can easily remain underwater for at least ten minutes."
"That sounds wonderful... The Lord of Storms' 'Seafarer'?" Audrey asked, half in anticipation and half seeking confirmation.
"In ancient times, it was indeed called 'Seafarer.'" Without pausing, Alger continued, "The second Sequence 9 formula is called 'Spectator.' As for what it was called in ancient times, I don't know. This potion grants outstanding mental faculties and keen powers of observation. I believe you've watched operas and plays and can understand what 'Spectator' means. Like an onlooker, you examine the 'actors' in secular society, glimpsing their true thoughts through their expressions, behavior, habitual turns of phrase, and unnoticed gestures."
At this point, Alger emphasized:
"You must remember, whether at a lavish banquet or on a bustling street, a spectator is always only a spectator."
Audrey's eyes shone as she listened. Only after a long while did she say:
"Why? All right, that's a question for later. I-I think I've fallen in love with that feeling. 'Spectator.' How can I obtain the 'Spectator' formula? What can I trade you for it?"
As though already prepared, Alger answered in a deep voice:
"Ghost Shark blood. At least 100 milliliters of Ghost Shark blood."
Audrey first nodded excitedly, then asked with concern:
"If I can obtain it-I mean if-how should I give it to you? And how can I ensure that you'll give me the potion formula after receiving the Ghost Shark blood, and that the formula is genuine?"
Alger said matter-of-factly:
"I'll give you an address. Once I receive the Ghost Shark blood, I'll mail the formula back to you, or tell you directly here."
"As for a guarantee, I think that with this mysterious gentleman as our witness, both you and I would feel sufficiently reassured."
As he said this, he turned his gaze toward Zhou Mingrui, who sat upright at the head of the table.
"Sir, you can bring us here and possess mighty powers beyond our imagination. With you as our witness, neither I nor she would dare go back on our word."
"Yes!" Audrey's eyes lit up, and she agreed excitedly.
In her view, the mysterious gentleman, whose methods defied imagination, was indeed a sufficiently "authoritative" witness.
How would she or the fellow opposite her dare deceive him!
Audrey turned halfway around and looked earnestly at Zhou Mingrui.
"Sir, please serve as witness to our transaction."
Only then did she realize that she had been overlooking a certain question all along. It was terribly impolite, and she hurriedly asked:
"Sir, how should we address you?"
Alger nodded slightly and followed with the same solemn question:
"Sir, how should we address you?"
Zhou Mingrui was momentarily taken aback. His fingers tapped lightly against the long bronze table as the contents of his earlier divination suddenly flashed through his mind.
He leaned back, withdrew his right hand, and interlaced his fingers beneath his chin, smiling at the two of them.
"You may address me as..."
At this point, he paused, then spoke in a gentle, mild tone:
"The Fool."