After recording the free school's "video lecture" and the "impromptu magic performance" that followed, Ebner took Fors and hurried to Sird Street in St. George Borough to visit the great inventor, Mr. Lepard.
Previously, Ebner had given him the blueprints for a "camera" and "projector" designed without involving any supernatural abilities, asking him to improve them and build a prototype… Several days had passed since then, so it should be almost finished.
Lepard was a tall and thin man in his thirties, with black hair and blue eyes. Though dressed in gray-blue work overalls, he still had a scholarly, refined demeanor.
The inventor was visibly delighted upon seeing Ebner and promptly led the two of them to his workshop—right up to a mechanical contraption taller than a person.
"The core principle behind your 'camera' design is not complex, and it's clearly been carefully thought through, so there weren't many areas I could improve… But the phonograph embedded within is a revolutionary invention. I'm still amazed by your brilliant design."
"Heh, things like soundwave vibrators have existed for a long time, but no one ever paid them much attention. Only you thought to use the technique of engraving grooves on a wax cylinder with a metal needle to reproduce sound."
"That really opened up my mind. Based on your blueprints, I made a series of modifications… Now, this prototype can already record over twenty minutes of both image and sound!"
Lepard introduced it excitedly. He genuinely believed that taking part in this invention would be enough to etch his name into history! He even considered returning the advance payment Detective Bryan had given him—he felt he had gotten the better end of the deal.
Fors glanced at the "behemoth" of a machine standing nearby with a somewhat odd expression. After all, the esoteric version of the "Codex" she had just experienced could record for hours…
"Excellent," Ebner praised after trying it briefly, then followed up with, "What about the projection equipment?"
"The prototype for that has also been assembled, though it hasn't undergone testing yet. If you come by a day or two later, you should be able to see a demonstration," Lepard said confidently.
Ebner merely nodded. At the moment, his expectations for the "non-Beyonder" version of the camera and projector weren't high—he just needed to file for patents and convince others it was a "scientific" invention.
As for the planned "private screening" next Tuesday for nobles, parliament members, and church bishops, he would naturally use the occult version of the Codex… After all, its visuals were clearer, its sound more lifelike, and it was far more likely to impress investors.
Once he had the endorsement of nobles and the Church, and a large investment followed, the mundane version of the devices would naturally grow more advanced over time.
After inspecting Lepard's work, Ebner generously issued him a £100 check as a reward, then left the inventor's residence with Fors, turning their focus to visiting bishops at various Church of Steam congregations.
Thanks to the reputation of their mutual acquaintance—Ms. Linton of the Lever Church—their visits went very smoothly.
Even so, by the time they returned to the Kingsfort No. 28 villa in the evening, Fors, who had played the role of assistant all day, flopped ungracefully onto the drawing room sofa.
Mrs. Skade kindly brought her a cup of coffee. Fors muttered a quick "thank you," then downed the whole thing in one go.
Only then did she grumble to the still-composed Ebner:
"Running all over the place with you all day—is that really going to help me digest the 'Trickmaster' potion?"
This is just a taste of what it's like to be a 'Traveler'... Ebner thought silently but outwardly took a sip of his coffee and replied with a meaningful smile, "You're using my company to assist in your acting. You have to pay some kind of price in return…"
"Besides, Xio asked me to keep an eye on your diet."
Fors was speechless for a moment before weakly muttering, "That dessert café with the great pastries closed for some reason… I don't need to lose weight anymore."
Huh? Lina and Shoko's café closed down? I was just thinking of asking them if they had any recipes left by transmigrators…
But if they shut down after the Great Smog incident… And Xio told me Prince Edessak wasn't actually dead, but rescued… And around the time of the prince's disappearance, one of the 'stones' on Fors' bracelet went missing…
Could those two witches already be part of Klein's faction?
So they're actually 'The Fool's' personal chefs?
Klein's living the good life, huh…
...
Aboard the White Agate, docked at Bansy Port, the "living well" Klein stood by the window, watching the wind stir up lines of waves. Even without ascending above the gray fog to divine, his own spiritual intuition warned that something ominous was brewing… and unfolding.
He waited five minutes, but still didn't see Captain Elland or Donna's family return. Klein closed his eyes for a moment, then made up his mind. He took off his half-height silk hat and turned to "Flame" Danitz, saying expressionlessly:
"You're free."
Danitz blinked, then realized what Klein meant. Shocked, he blurted out:
"You're going to save that captain? And those civilians?
"But you—you said there's danger outside!"
While turning the doorknob, Klein replied calmly:
"They cooperated with me.
"They kept my secret.
"He shared deep-sea fish meat with me.
"He helped pay for the damages to Flying Fish and Wine."
…Danitz was briefly stunned, then reflexively asked:
"How much was the compensation?"
"A few soules," Klein answered as he opened the door and stepped out.
Even knowing full well that this was Bansy—the place tied to the bloodline of an angelic monarch—Klein did not hesitate.
Madman, Danitz cursed silently, but still followed after him.
...
On Monday morning, as the sun slowly rose and bathed the port in light, Klein—who had remained on alert ever since escorting Captain Elland and little Donna's family back to the White Agate the night before—finally allowed himself to relax.
He stood at the ship's rail, watching the townspeople gradually emerge from their homes, bathed in golden sunlight, chatting and laughing as they headed off to work.
Bansy Port once again had the breath of human life.
But Klein knew all too well—this was far from over. Take, for example, that strange telegraph office in town!
As he pondered this, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a pitch-black fragment, and examined it closely… It was once his Confession revolver!
Last night, as I approached the telegraph office's entrance, this revolver that had accompanied me for months suddenly mutated into a monster, spewing layer upon layer of spider silk attempting to entangle me.
Fortunately, Klein possessed flame-controlling abilities and relied on the "Sun Brooch" to ignite "Radiant Flames," ultimately destroying the creature... though "Confession" was inevitably completely destroyed in the process.
The Witch and Hunter pathways can interchange at higher sequences. My "Confession" was a mystical item imbued with Witch abilities, and Bansy is home to descendants of the "Red Angel"...
So does that telegraph office contain something terrifying that influences these two pathways?
What could it be? If I investigated further, might it draw out the "Rose of Redemption"?
Several times just now, I was dancing on the edge of a cliff... Thankfully, "The Tower" warned me not to probe too deeply, and I restrained my curiosity about the telegraph office's eerie phenomena...
Klein withdrew his gaze, a firm resolution forming in his heart: "Report this immediately!"
...
In Backlund's Empress Borough, within the luxurious villa of Earl Hall.
Audrey stood behind the white gold-trimmed railings on the second floor, watching servants bustle about below. According to Loen Kingdom customs, landed nobility would gradually leave Backlund after the New Year's ball week, returning to their estates to enjoy countryside or castle life until June, when they'd return to the capital for social engagements—though influential nobles like Earl Hall, who was also a major banker, naturally had to frequently travel between both locations to handle affairs. "In two or three days, by Wednesday or Thursday, I should be aboard the steam train back to East Chester County... I hope that vampire gentleman can truly obtain the fruit of the Elder Tree and Mirror Dragon blood, allowing me to become a 'Psychiatrist' before leaving Backlund..." Audrey's thoughts wandered.
Just then, Countess Caitlyn approached with a smile: "Princess Vela just personally delivered several invitations for the premiere of a new theatrical format... Would you like to join me? After we leave Backlund, such novelties won't be so easily encountered."
Princess Vela, suspected to be "Judgment"? Audrey answered almost without thinking: "Mother, you know I've always been fascinated by new things!"
...
In Southbridge District, at the Harvest Church.
Emlyn, who had been struggling to memorize the manuscript copied by Hazel, suddenly noticed a shadow falling over him. Looking up, he saw the towering figure of Bishop Utrafsky. "Father, what brings you here?" Emlyn glanced toward the prayer hall but saw no entering parishioners.
"I noticed you studying the Rocius manuscript copied by Pastor Mahart, so I thought you might be interested... I recently acquired a new page and decided to give it to you as reward for your recent potion-making efforts," Bishop Utrafsky said cheerfully.
Such good fortune? Emlyn accepted it, noting the handwriting was much neater than Hazel's. While thanking the bishop, he immediately began memorizing this new page. "No need to thank me—this is all by our Benevolent Mother's arrangement," the bishop replied kindly. "Yes... yes..." Emlyn mumbled distractedly, having already forgotten where he'd left off and needing to start over.
...
At three in the afternoon, above the boundless gray fog, the majestic palace stood silently.
Miss "Justice" looked toward the head of the mottled long table and led Tarot Club members in greeting: "Good afternoon, 'The Fool'~" Then, in her cheerful manner, Audrey proceeded to greet everyone in order from "The Fool" to "The World." This sequence followed Tarot card logic rather than seating arrangements—"The Fool" representing infinite beginnings, "The World" signifying perfected conclusions.
What a well-bred, carefree girl... Emlyn judged pretentiously while politely returning her greeting. His gaze lingered on "The Sun," recalling his recent studies of vampire history at "Baron" Vemandy's residence. There truly were many details I didn't know—professional researchers differ greatly from amateur enthusiasts. But starting this week, I, Emlyn White, shall become a professional researcher... This time I'll definitely convince you about the fabricated history of your City of Silver... Mornings working at Ebner's company, afternoons cleaning the church, nights spent studying—only late nights left for my doll companions... Such a fulfilling schedule... Emlyn's thoughts drifted until he suddenly frowned at a crucial realization: Why am I still going to the Harvest Church every day? But remembering those suffering patients softened his expression.
Then he noticed "Justice" addressing the fog-shrouded figure with rising inflection: "Honorable 'Fool,' I've acquired three more pages of Rocius' diary~"
Not to be outdone, Emlyn straightened proudly before announcing: "I've brought six pages this time."
That sounds impressive, but I have zero expectations... Klein internally sighed while maintaining his calm facade. "Excellent. What would you like in exchange?"
"I wish to see those two 'Cards of Blasphemy' by your hand," Emlyn had planned this since last week's meeting.
"Certainly." Relieved, Klein displayed Rocius' images—one wrapped in spider-silk bandages, the other as the Black Emperor—revealing their respective potion names.
Sequence 0... So that's why they're called "Cards of Blasphemy"... Meaning the Tarot Club possesses complete formulas for two pathways? This organization truly operates at the highest level! Emlyn leaned back satisfied, considering his trade of a few diary pages for two Sequence 0 names an incredible bargain.
Following this precedent, "The Magician" Fors spoke up: "'Fool,' I also have three new pages of Rocius' diary." These had been enclosed in her teacher Dorian's reply letter.
"The Sun" Derick continued: "Great 'Fool,' I've transcribed some Ancient God legends."
"Excellent." "The Fool" nodded approvingly—Derick's myths served as payment for prior sanctuary and could be perused freely, while Fors' debt had been transferred to "The World," requiring equivalent exchange.
Addressing Fors, Klein asked: "What would you like?"
"Honorable 'Fool,' I wish to obtain the 'Savant' potion formula," Fors glanced at "The World" as she answered.
Well now... "The Tower" opposite her nearly chuckled aloud in delight.
(End of Chapter)