After accepting Ebner's request to find the "Savant" potion formula for his sister, Klein had commissioned both "The Temperance" and "The Magician" under "The World's" identity.
When Sharon informed him yesterday that she'd obtained the formula, Klein had been embroiled in the Bansy Harbor crisis and couldn't notify "The Magician"...
Thus, "The Fool" now found himself in an awkward position.
What to do? Have "The World" inform "The Magician" the formula is no longer needed? But then she'd make another request... What if it's something "The Fool" can't fulfill?
Well, it's just trading one formula for another—no monetary loss. Better accept it... Though Sharon will wonder why I needed two identical formulas...
I can explain it as contractual obligations preventing withdrawal.
With these lightning-fast deliberations, Klein directly materialized the formula on parchment before "The Magician."
Fors rose to thank "The Fool" before memorizing the formula, while Klein had "The World" give Sharon a silent "we'll talk later" glance. He then collected the twelve diary pages from "Justice," "The Magician," and "Moon," along with "The Sun's" ancient god legends.
Setting aside "Moon's" contributions, Klein skimmed the remaining six pages—two were duplicates.
As my collection grows, duplicates are inevitable... Unless I teach Tarot members Chinese and share my complete set... But that would doom Rossel to social media infamy while demolishing "The Fool's" mystique!
Sighing internally, he relegated the duplicates to the bottom. The other four pages contained little valuable intel—just endless accounts of inventions, gold earnings, investments, and occasional self-reproach like "I shouldn't obsess over money" and "Wealth is just numbers"...
Klein barely restrained the urge to slap these pages across Rossel's spectral face.
Meanwhile, within the "Sefirah Castle's" unique environment, Ebner suddenly recalled the identity of the "Heartless God" mentioned by the wind-wielding witch who'd purchased his "Transformation Wand."
"Mother Tree of Desire," "Father of Devils," "Eternal Howler," "Heartless God"—these complete the honorifics of the outer deity, the powerful Old One!
So that Sargasso Sea monster controlling "Admiral Deep Sea" draws power from Him?
As expected, all "opportunities" from the Elf Trial Temple are deathtraps.
For a moment, Ebner considered abandoning plans to harvest the sea monster's "Prophet" characteristic.
But deeper reflection revealed potential advantages.
After the "Chained God"—now "Spiritual Creature Angel"—escaped with His uniqueness, the Mother Tree's earthly influence weakened significantly. Even "Abomination Suah" is probably busy digesting the leftover Sequence 1 characteristic.
As for the Delion family colluding with the monster—I previously lacked leverage against them. But if that creature wields an outer god's power... this offers narrative possibilities! With proper maneuvering, even the Eternal Blazing Sun Church would purge them!
After all, Rossel's fate serves as precedent!
Thus this isn't misfortune. I can orchestrate the churches to eliminate the Delions and any Mother Tree cultists, while I ambush the sea monster.
As for contamination in the "Prophet" characteristic... likely manageable. I do have connections—could swallow pride and ask Lilith for purification.
With these preliminary ideas forming, Ebner awaited only sufficient intelligence to finalize his plans.
Hmm... during the exchange session later, I should ask Miss Justice about the Delion family and the Fleiss family background of that Johnson who killed Fanny's grandfather... As the third largest shareholder of the Suhit Bank in the Intis Republic, Earl Hall should be quite familiar with those major families.
Come to think of it, I should also inquire about the origins of the Surry family. When I asked Fanny before, she didn't seem to know much either - only that the family rose to prominence with the support of the Church of Steam after the establishment of the Second Intis Republic.
But that Surry family archbishop died in Tosk, the Beyonder characteristics of Fanny's grandfather were purchased and taken to Tosk after his death, and Edwina had Daniz arrange to meet me in Tosk... All this suggests the "backdoor" left by Roselle or the "Disaster Seal" in "The Travels of Groselle" is most likely set up there too.
One coincidence might be random, but this many connections can't be... The Surry family must have something special about them.
As Ebner was making these calculations, Klein finished reviewing the diary pages from Miss Justice and The Magician, again ignoring those submitted by The Moon, and turned his attention to the ancient god legends provided by young Sun.
"The eight ancient gods of the Second Era were divided into three factions: the humanoid alliance of Giant King Aurmir, Elf King Soniathrym and Sanguine Ancestor Lilith opposed the 'monster' group consisting of 'Dragon of Imagination' Ankewelt, Phoenix Ancestor Gregrace and Mutated King Kvastir, while Devil Monarch Farbauti and Demonic Wolf Flegrea belonged to the 'terrorist' faction seeking to overthrow all order and corrupt all living beings..."
Klein summarized the contents of the parchment, focusing particularly on the introduction about "Lilith," since this ancient god seemed closely connected to fellow transmigrator Liu Bo and had sent Emlyn to him as an investment.
"Sanguine Ancestor Lilith indeed controlled the crimson moon. At will, She could make all 365 days of the year blood moons, unleash yin forces across the land, create prolonged interactions between the spirit world and reality, and release countless indescribable monsters and evil spirits."
This is divine power... I wonder if there's any difference between ancient gods and current true gods - they all seem like evil deities...
In sanguine legends, Lilith wasn't like this at all. If Emlyn saw the City of Silver's records about Lilith, he'd probably start a fight with Sun... Better not let him see these.
But why such huge discrepancies between accounts? Did Lilith change from how the City of Silver recorded to how sanguine legends describe? Well, the City of Silver's records came from Giant King's Court documents - possibly slander against an ally... Meanwhile the sanguines certainly prettied up their version, so the differences got amplified?
After these random speculations, Klein turned his attention to the six diary pages submitted by Emlyn with little expectation - after all, he knew exactly where Emlyn got those diaries from... And those manuscripts copied by Miss Hazel had not only been submitted once by Mr. Tower, but he himself had seen them at Harvest Church.
Please don't let it be that copy of my "Inscription of a Humble Abode" again...
With this thought, Klein skimmed through the first few pages - all duplicates as expected, with that vaguely familiar handwriting of his "Inscription of a Humble Abode" sitting right there on page five.
Just as I thought... Sighing, Klein casually flipped to the last page, only to let out a surprised "Huh?" upon seeing it.
Not only was this diary entry unfamiliar, it was written in standard Song typeface, far neater than Huang Tao's "chicken scratch" handwriting.
Who copied this diary? Liu Bo from one of his lives?
Instantly more alert, Klein carefully read the parchment's contents:
"March 16th - My eldest son Charles anxiously came to me today, confessing he'd had an affair with one of Bernadette's friends who secretly bore his illegitimate child."
Tch, how did I raise such a spineless brat who dares do but not take responsibility? Though I know his worry isn't about the illegitimate child itself, but that the mother is Bernadette's friend. He's been terrified of his older sister since childhood...
But how could Bernadette not notice? The reason she hasn't intervened is precisely because that girl approached Charles behind her back, so Bernadette long stopped considering her a friend.
Still, I ultimately helped Charles resolve this potential trouble. These are critical times - every small matter must be properly handled.
In the end, I settled that mother and child in Tosk near the Loen border. If I fail in the coup, at least one bloodline may survive... Though as the protagonist, my chances of failure are slim.
"September 11th - During an inspection of Tosk today, I recalled that grandson I arranged for Charles years ago and found them living quite well. His mother... that little Surry girl proved more capable and self-aware than I'd imagined... What a waste she got ruined by that good-for-nothing Charles."
"I didn't disturb their lives, only hid a 'treasure' in their backyard as this grandfather's gift to them."
(End of Chapter)