Aboard the "Future," Cattleya dismissed Jane, who had come to probe for information, then hesitated for over ten minutes. Finally, she took out a pen and paper, carefully writing:
"Recently, someone has been deliberately collecting the Great Emperor's diaries."
She dared not mention the Tarot Club in her letter, nor leak any information, fearing punishment from Mr. Fool. She could only start from signs that could be ordinarily discovered to provide a hint.
After writing and folding it, she took out a delicate, golden harmonica she carried, placed it to her lips, and blew a note.
In just two blinks of an eye, she saw the letter mysteriously vanish.
Even without her glasses, she couldn't detect the arrival of the messenger.
Whew... Cattleya exhaled softly, then walked to the captain's cabin window. As she gazed at the monotonous seascape, she thought with worry: I wonder if Mr. Fool will notice these little actions of mine...
Jane, standing on the deck, happened to witness this scene, confirming a certain suspicion she held.
.....
On a swing woven from pea vines, Bernadette, after reading Cattleya's letter, had eyes that seemed to flow with the river of fate.
After about four or five minutes, she finally murmured thoughtfully to herself, "The detective who helped Sharon kill the 'Rose School' Wraith is also deliberately collecting Dad's manuscripts..."
.....
In a coastal city in Dacey Bay, the "invisible" Lena carefully infiltrated the City Hall. In its records, she fabricated a merchant's resume under the name of "Dwayne Dantès."
This was the final step in creating this fake identity.
After she finished these tasks, returned to her safe house, and offered her identity documents to Mr. Fool, she removed her disguise, muttering to herself:
"This way, as long as I gather 8,000 pounds, I can get the 'Demoness of Affliction's' Beyonder characteristic from the 'Black Emperor'...
"Only by becoming stronger, a 'Pirate General' or Demigod-level powerhouse, can I better protect Prince Edessak, so he doesn't have to constantly wear that heavy iron mask..."
Thinking of this, Lena became troubled again: The money is easy to get... But how do I role-play 'Pleasure'?
I've already tried it; just my own 'pleasure' isn't enough... I also need to give others 'pleasure'...
This... do I really have to do that? Is there a clever method, like when Shaw role-played 'Instigator' and 'Witch'?
Sigh... perhaps Mr. Fool knows... but I dare not ask...
.....
Backlund, In a Detached House in St. George Borough
After obtaining the identity document through the "Request for Granting" ritual, Madam Daly leaned against Dunn, chuckling, "The identity document has been obtained. I'm just waiting for you to marry me, Mr. Dwayne Dantès, the wealthy magnate."
Dunn, after reading the identity document and character profile, was momentarily stunned. He murmured, "Dwayne Dantès... what a name that truly suits my intentions."
Saying this, he rested his chin on the head of Daly, who was leaning against him, and said helplessly, "But I don't know how to act like a rich man."
Dunn's funds were just barely sufficient; his "chivalrous deeds" over the past six months had brought in a considerable income.
"Aren't you role-playing 'Iron Man' under Madam Closfia? Shouldn't you be quite familiar with this? After all, 'Iron Man' is set up as a very rich playboy," Madam Daly chuckled, feigning casualness.
Dunn's heart, however, tightened. He calmly said, "I only used the name 'Iron Man' during combat..."
At this point, he carefully released Daly from his embrace, stood up, and changed the subject, "To enter the church with you as soon as possible, I need to leave Backlund now to manage 'business' and then pretend to return."
Hearing this, Daly turned and gave him a half-smile, no longer teasing her man. She simply stroked her still-flat abdomen, a happy smile gracing her face.
.....
Outside the Ancient Vine Manor
Ebner had just gotten into his carriage outside the "Ancient Vine Manor" when a figure abruptly appeared opposite him.
The person was around 40 years old, with emerald green eyes, a shapely nose, thin lips, and brilliant golden hair, making him quite handsome.
This was Serald Delien, the "Black Knight" whose fate had been taken over by the former Pope of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun.
After sealing off the surroundings with his spirituality, the former Pope immediately knelt on one knee, devoutly calling out, "My Lord."
Ebner had met him once on the way to Trier, so he wasn't surprised. He simply nodded slightly and said, "Rise."
"Thank you for your benevolence," the former Pope praised, then stood and sat in the seat opposite Ebner .
"Last time we met, I asked you to investigate the Delien family. Do you have any results?" Ebner activated his "Pure White Eye," wasting no time on pleasantries, and asked directly.
Based on his few interactions with the man, the former Pope was quite straightforward.
"Reporting, My Lord, there are preliminary results," he responded respectfully.
"Tell me about them." Ebner's spirit lifted, and he leaned slightly forward.
The former Pope, now the "Black Knight" Serald, organized his thoughts and said:
"From what I've gathered, excluding myself, the Delien family is currently roughly divided into five factions..."
Five factions... Ebner was speechless. The internal affairs of this family were even more absurd than Intis's political landscape.
"Which five? What are their respective strengths and influences?" Ebner asked in a deep voice.
"Firstly, the most powerful of the five factions is the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' faction. They are loyal 'Sun' believers and currently have two Demigods and five Sequence 5 powerhouses.
"The two Demigods are named Hyman and Morfee. They are both Archbishops of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, belonging to the family in name only.
"The second is the Patriarch's direct lineage. They possess some formulas from the 'Hunter' pathway. The 'Hunter' pathway ancestor, who has lived for over a hundred years, has already reached Sequence 3 and controls a Grade '0' Sealed Artifact.
"The Patriarch's faction has mysterious origins; I don't know if they have other Demigods.
"Next is the current Prime Minister's faction... This is actually a faction that has joined different secret organizations, with a very loose structure.
"This includes Prime Minister Charlie, who joined the 'Blood Worship Sect,' Owen, who joined the Psychology Alchemists, and myself, who originally believed in the 'True Creator'...
"I haven't thoroughly investigated how many Demigods are specifically in this one, but I imagine there aren't just three... There's at least one more Demigod who joined the 'Iron-blooded Cross Society'!"