" The Fallen Creator... the Depravity..." Alger, the " The Hanged Man," chewed on the Fool's words, seemingly lost in thought.
But in his heart, what echoed was the other person's relaxed, natural, and nonchalant attitude.
That's an attitude of looking at people on equal terms!
If it weren't for the previous ritual experience, Alger might have thought the Fool was just bluffing, using self-aggrandizement to Awe himself and " Justice." But now, he's more inclined to believe that the Fool, even if not as powerful as the True Creator, is close to that level.
It's danger... but also an opportunity... Alger murmured silently, then added with a hint of a smile:
"Mr. The Fool, your description is indeed more accurate. According to our observations, among those Beyonder who believe in True Creator —no, Fallen Creator —the proportion who are out of control is far higher than normal, and the majority of the rest are also Lunatic."
This point was also mentioned in the Nighthawks ' internal documents... Moreover, the so-called " Lunatic " doesn't mean someone has lost their mind, but rather that their values have become abnormally Distortion... Klein remained seated, not responding to the " The Hanged Man's" words.
He was still considering how to properly inquire about the Secret Order and the " Clown " Potion, but he couldn't find a way that suited his identity.
It's a pity this place is fundamentally different from online dating platforms, otherwise I could create a fake account and join, specifically to ask me questions I can't ask in person... Maybe one day, I'll learn some kind of mirror magic and try it out, like having half the members be my fake accounts...
There are twenty-two chairs here, and twenty-two tarot cards—a perfect match, isn't it? But when I "wanted" a temple, I hadn't even called myself " The Fool," nor had I considered establishing Tarot Club. Hmm, does this symbolize the twenty-two Sequence Pathway?
I wanted a temple, and a temple appeared. I want an "alt account," will an "alt account" appear...?
Seeing that the Fool, shrouded in thick Gray Fog, remained silent, " Justice " Audrey spoke, half with a sigh and half with curiosity:
"That sounds terrifying, um, Mr. ' The Hanged Man,' could you tell me more about the various mysterious organizations and Concealment cults? I rarely have access to these things in my daily life, so I can only learn about them through you. I'll pay you. What do you want?"
"Good question!" Miss Justice, you've practically taken on the role of my alternate account in some ways... This way, the Hanged Man will definitely bring up the Secret Order... You're the perfect straight man! Klein perked up at the question, but didn't let his emotions show in his expression or actions.
Alger thought for a moment and said:
"I need some money, 1000 pounds, preferably in non-consecutive serial numbers, or freshly mined gemstones, calculated at the average monthly price on the Backlund Jewelry Exchange."
1000 pounds? That's a huge sum of cash, enough to buy a house in the upscale neighborhood of Tingen City! Not everyone can come up with that kind of money... The captain's annual salary is probably around that much, right? Hayley's "death compensation" was only 300 pounds... Although Miss " Justice " is a noblewoman, she clearly didn't inherit any family fortune and can only receive the corresponding annuity... Hmm, no wonder " The Hanged Man " said he could use gems to offset the cost... Klein is particularly sensitive to money, thankfully he's surrounded by a thick Gray Fog.
For a single lady, £2,000 is enough for her to live a decent life for the rest of her life!
A stable annuity of £2,000 yields around £100.
"1000 pounds?" Audrey blurted out in surprise, then replied in a light and cheerful tone, "No problem, shall it be delivered to the same address as before?"
Judging from Miss " Justice's " tone, she thought it was a bargain? Klein didn't let his gaze wander.
Alger remained silent for a full twenty seconds before speaking:
"Yes, the ' Bravehearts Bar ' bar on Pelican Street the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor, gave it to the owner, Williams, saying it was for 'The Captain'."
"Okay." Audrey leaned back slightly, adopting a " Spectator " stance, and said, "Mr. The Hanged Man, you may begin."
Alger glanced at the Fool, hesitated for a moment, and slowly spoke:
"Let's start with the Moss Ascetic Order, the earliest Concealment society. Of course, many people believe that the earliest Concealment societies were the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of the Earth Mother, and the Church of the God of Combat."
"These people must be members of the Church of the Lord of Storms, the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom," Audrey retorted sullenly.
The Church of the Goddess was the earliest Concealment organization? This was the first time Klein had heard such a claim.
What exactly happened during the Quaternary or Tertiary period?
Alger smiled and said:
"These truths have long been buried in that ancient history. The only thing that can be certain is that no one has ever said that the Church of the Lord of Storms, the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom were ever Concealment organizations."
"Alright, let's save time and get back to the main topic. The Moss Ascetic Order was originally formed by a few humans who witnessed the Blasphemy Slate. They worshipped an impersonal deity called the Hidden Sage."
"This description is of deities, but it's closer to an idea, a natural law, such as the idea that all things are numbers, and the Hidden Sage are the embodiment of numbers; or the idea that knowledge is supreme, and the Hidden Sage are knowledge itself. Therefore, the early Moss Ascetic Order was a highly respected organization with good relations with major churches."
"The members of this organization use asceticism to combat the loss of control and counteract the effects of the residual Potion. They maintain strict secrecy, adhere to morality and precepts, and believe that people are constantly reincarnated after death..."
" The Sequence 9 they possess is called ' The Mystery Pryer '... The word ' Wizard ' also originated from this organization."
Audrey, savoring the description of the " The Hanged Man," astutely countered with a question:
"You said the early Moss Ascetic Order was a highly respected organization, aren't they now?"
Alger nodded almost imperceptibly:
"Yes, they have Depravity into an evil organization."
"Why? I think their ideas are good and normal," Audrey expressed her doubts.
This was also Klein's question, as the information he could access under his classified level did not record the reason for the Moss Ascetic Order's Depravity.
Alger glanced at the enigmatic the Fool again, and hummed in agreement:
"I don't know the real reason; it may have been completely buried by the dust of history. But I do know a shocking explanation."
"In that explanation, the main reason for the Moss Ascetic Order's Depravity was that their god, the ' Hidden Sage,' had come to life!"
"He has become a personified evil god!"
"Alive? How... how could it be alive?" Audrey asked in disbelief and incomprehension.
She had unknowingly withdrawn from the " Spectator " mode.
Just like a ghost story... and the "ghost" is a deity... Klein's heart was also filled with a storm.
"I'm sorry, no one knows the answer." Alger wanted to casually say, "Perhaps Mr. The Fool knows," but he forcibly suppressed the urge.
Because he already brushed with danger once today.
There is a sentence in Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Book of Storms that Alger remembers vividly:
Do not put God to the test!
Audrey composed herself, didn't press the matter further, and gestured for them to continue.
Klein remained seated and silent, verifying the " The Hanged Man's " account with his own knowledge.
In the end, he realized there were four things he needed to pay attention to:
"First, the Demoness Sect was also known as the Demoness Family in the Fourth Epoch. At that time, they had few members and relied on bloodline reproduction to survive. Moreover, they would kill the fathers of their children and abandon male infants, so all members were female. Of course, this is all Alger's statement, and its authenticity cannot be verified at the moment."
"Secondly, the Spirituality Religion, which believes in death, Rose School of Thought, which enjoys blood sacrifices, both originated in the Southern Continent. After the arrival of the colonial era, they were nearly wiped out by the Church of the Seven Gods, but in doing so, they also spread to the Northern Continent."
"Third, the Psychology Alchemists Moss Ascetic Order, believing in an impersonal existence and that the human spirit can evolve everything."
Fourth, the Secret Order is the least active of all Concealment organizations, and therefore the least understood by others. Every time they appear, it seems they are only chasing or searching for something.
What was he chasing? What was he searching for? Klein suddenly remembered the diary he had just read: Zaratul, the leader of the Secret Order, was cooperating with Roselle in order to obtain a relic of the Antigonus Family.
Their purpose in appearing this time was to retrieve the lost notes, the Antigonus Family's notes... Klein's eyes narrowed slightly, feeling as if he had grasped the core element of the Secret Order's operation:
They are chasing after artifacts left behind by the Antigonus Family!
Klein resisted the urge to tap the edge of the table, his mind racing with thoughts:
Hmm, are they looking for traces of the remaining Antigonus Family?
To obtain the recipe for the " Clown " Potion from the Secret Order, should we start from this point?
After exchanging information for a while, Klein announced that the gathering was now over.
"As you wish." Audrey and Alger stood up simultaneously.
After severing contact and watching their figures shatter and disappear, Klein rubbed his temples, trying to imagine a "short version" of them.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he saw a figure appear at the bottom of the bronze table. The figure was dressed in a black tailcoat and a top silk hat, with a blank expression and wooden movements. Even though it was shrouded in illusory Gray Fog, it was clear that something was wrong with it.
No way... Klein tried several more times, sighed, and gave up the idea of creating a new account.
He tried something else, and continued to sit above the Gray Fog, at the head of the bronze table, pondering Audrey's earlier words, and curiously casting his gaze upon the illusory, crimson stars.
After a moment of silence, Klein began to reach out to the stars by responding to their prayers, rather than by establishing a connection.
In the stillness and deathly silence, he obtained no information from the dozen or so crimson stars nearby.
Only by establishing contact and drawing people above the Gray Fog can a "response" be obtained? Klein nodded thoughtfully, slightly disappointed.
He did not want to go against the other person's wishes and forcibly pull them into this mysterious space.
Hmm... Klein began preparing to leave, but inertia caused him to bump into a nearby illusory star.
Just then, he suddenly sensed a faint, almost imperceptible "pleading" within that deep red!
PS: Second update, please vote!