Nass, in the underground Floating City.
Since there was nothing that needed crafting and he hadn't brought any "Wolf Fish Cans" as a gift, Ebner didn't meet with Master Claus. Instead, with Jane's company, he simply toured this city that looked nearly identical to Morning Star City.
As I expected, what's the same is only the outward structure… The four grand systems were built as well, but they're just shells. Even if you moved them into the Forsaken Land of the Gods, they wouldn't channel divine power…
In short, this is nothing but an oversized "figurine."
Still, as the real-world anchor of that Floating City created by the Omniscient Eye in the nightmare, it's sufficient.
The real question is: how much will Master Claus demand before he'll part with this city? After all, this represents more than a century of his labor.
Jane, after hesitating, braced herself and asked Master Claus. To her surprise, the master wasn't angry but instead gave a very clear condition:
"As long as someone can make this city fly for the long term, and let me continue my research here, I'll give the Floating City to them."
Fly, huh? Ebner touched his chin. That's not impossible. Once I advance to Sequence 3, become a Cognizer, I'll be able to leverage the power of nature itself…
It'll still be difficult to make the Floating City rise, but it won't be impossible anymore.
After some thought, Ebner set the matter aside—it wasn't urgent yet.
Then he simply relaxed and played the tourist, exploring the parts of the Floating City he hadn't had time to see in Afternoon Town, with Jane by his side.
Joyful times always passed quickly. On Monday morning, under Jane's reluctant gaze, Ebner waved farewell and directly "teleported" back to Fragrant Manor in Bayam.
Seated in his bedroom, he glanced at the clock on the wall. With some time before the Tarot Gathering began, Ebner finally enjoyed a rare moment of leisure and began organizing his near-term goals and tasks.
—The dates and banquets of the previous week had forced him to set aside many matters, but now he could finally return to them.
First, about myself… Thanks to Princess Vera's advance payment, I already hold the two main ingredients for the Cognizer potion: the Eye of Asmodeus and the complete brain of a Mist Monster. Only some auxiliary materials remain… I can ask at the Tarot Gathering later…
As for the Cognizer ritual, which requires fully analyzing at least three incomplete Mythical Creature forms, thanks to my previous incarnations, that part is done. In fact, I've already analyzed nine, covering all nine primal essences…
However, after my advancement I set myself a goal: before I ingest the Sequence 3 potion, I must analyze as many of the twenty-two pathways' incomplete Mythical Creatures as possible.
Excluding information left by my eight incarnations who reached demi-godhood, plus the incomplete Sun pathway Mythical Creature data given by the illusory Pure White Angel in the Unknown Land… and excluding my own Seer pathway…
That still leaves twelve: Hanged Man, Visionary, Tyrant, Error, Fool, Darkness, Twilight Giant, Primordial Witch, Mother, Abyss, Black Emperor, Hermit.
For the Hanged Man pathway, I can ask Cero Delien, whose fate was seized by the previous Pope. He's the Black Knight now. Though I don't know why he acknowledges me as his master, he shouldn't object to my studying him.
The Visionary is easy. I already studied dragons extensively. Once Owen is freed from his island, I can fill in the missing parts… If I'm in a hurry, I could even ask Lady Sloth and Lady Greed for help, though that may demand a price.
The Tyrant is tricky. I have no target yet… Maybe when I find Cohinem, she can help?
For Error, demigods are very rare. I can't exactly go capture an Amon, can I?
Besides Him, the only option is Leonard's grandfather… but Pallez is an ancient fossil, and hardly easy to handle!
Then again, Lion Leon once stole a demi-god level Worm of Time from Emma. Maybe there's a Marauder pathway demigod near her? At least that's a lead. I'll keep watch during banquets and gatherings.
For the Fool pathway's Worm of Spirit—no, not "cat-worms"—Zaratul should have them. His historical projection resides in the Unknown Land. Even if I can't get a full set of data, I can patch it together… Perhaps by using Telles, who's undercover in the Secret Order, to find a way.
For the Darkness pathway, I have no clues at all. I'll have to pray to the Evernight Goddess and see. Perhaps at the next Moon Mass.
The Twilight Giant pathway used to be a problem, but now I've retrieved the Hunter's Badge from Morning Star City. It can summon a hunter transformed into an incomplete Mythical form. That solves it… Once I confirm which relatives of mine are truly blood-related, I can proceed with the attempt.
For the Demoness… White Saintess would have been ideal, but with the Proof of Betrayal destroyed, I can't command her anymore. That one must wait.
The Mother pathway… there's no good candidate. I'll have to pray to Lilith again. Sigh. I can't help but criticize Giuseppe Castilla, one of my past selves—he lived with Lamia for so long and never thought to research her Mythical form?
For the Abyss pathway, demons in the Magic Mirror can display their incomplete Mythical forms. No need to look elsewhere.
For the Black Emperor, apart from Roselle, I only know Fanny… but she's far from demi-god. That one must wait too.
Lastly, the Hermit pathway. I have several options: Yaloran, Bernadette, and soon even Cattleya, once she advances. I can offer each of them something they need…
But I'll prioritize Yaloran, since Vera once said he faced difficulties and needed my help, and asked to meet me outside a major city.
After the Tarot Gathering, I'll try summoning his messenger.
So… apart from Black Emperor and Demoness, where I have no leads, and Mother, Darkness, Error, Tyrant, which are uncertain, the rest all have some direction. My actions before Sequence 3 will target these incomplete Mythical forms.
Finishing this summary, Ebner sipped his coffee and continued thinking:
Beyond that, I need to keep improving the resurrection—or rather, "avatar"—ritual my incarnations have refined. I should first resurrect Alwyn Abraham as an avatar. Only once he advances to Miracle Invoker will I have a steady flow of "miracles" to fuel the revival of my other selves.
The Floating City also needs miracles.
I should also take time to investigate the abandoned castle in the center of the Dreyel Forest. It connects to the Two-Five Dragon and my experiments, and might help perfect the ritual.
And my viscounty's construction must begin soon, since it ties into Xio's ritual…
Thanks to his Seer's "multi-threaded" thinking, Ebner simultaneously sorted through his commissions and tasks:
Of Lilith's two commissions, investigating the Delien family's secrets is almost finished. Within a month, we can strike a heavy blow, forcing their ancestor to reveal the truth.
The other is still scattered… such as tracking Koshinam's dual personalities, or probing that experiment from eleven years ago… The latter overlaps with Vera's commission to find the Night Emperor's Soul Stone, since it may involve the lid of the God's Casket.
But that can wait. I'll resume once Miss Ferina returns to Backlund from her vacation in Disi with Stuart. Too many things are pressing; I don't have the mind for them now.
There's also Mr. Azik's request to find the murderer of Silica. Since that requires a trip to Jianhai County, I can combine it with my territory development.
As for searching for the Blood Emperor's treasure in Andor, or the Black Emperor and Death God's research bases, those must all be postponed until I become a Cognizer!
Cup after cup of coffee went down as Ebner gradually untangled his priorities, settling on a preliminary plan for his demi-god future.
Just then, the Tarot Gathering was about to begin. Ebner quickly adjusted his thoughts, splitting off an Eye of Wisdom as an avatar to send into the gray fog.
…
Above the gray fog, for the first time Klein manifested "The World" entirely on his own. Using the powers of a Marionettist, he refined its expressions, making its reactions more lifelike, while adjusting its spiritual fluctuations to feel natural instead of deathly still!
On top of that, like a player running two accounts, he could now directly access The World's vision, hearing, and other senses.
"This way, Sharon won't keep saying I'm imitating her at the Tarot Gatherings…"
Muttering, Klein glanced at his golden-cased pocket watch. After giving "The Sun" a prior reminder, he spread his spirituality into the crimson stars around him.
Soon, in the embrace of the deep-red glow, the shadowy figures on either side of the ancient bronze table stretched and solidified into gentlemen and ladies.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~" Justice Audrey's cheerful, bright voice rang out first, as usual.
(End of chapter)