An agreement between Mr. Fool and the Goddess? A game?
Sure enough, Mr. Fool and the Goddess had a tacit understanding on certain matters…The "old man" really guessed right! "Star" Leonard was not too surprised by this. Instead, he nodded in sudden realization.
Had "World" already become capable of participating in matters between deities? Or rather, as a blessed of Mr. Fool, was he himself meant to be displayed as sincere to the Goddess? Just like how the progenitor of the blood clan sent "Moon" into the Tarot Club as a show of sincerity?
That was it. The newly joined Mr. "Star" might very well have the same status as "Moon"… no wonder they both looked so "simple." The corners of "Hanged Man" Alger's mouth lifted slightly. He felt that he had finally glimpsed a corner of the "chessboard" between deities, and this made him rather excited, even bringing out a rare trace of smugness.
"Heremit" Cattleya, however, focused her attention on the matter of "World" disappearing after entering the Chanis Gate. As a Seer of Secrets, she vaguely sensed that where "World" went after disappearing was the true focus of this "game."
I really want to know what exactly happened… but it looks like "World" isn't willing to go into detail…
At this thought, "Hermit" Cattleya glanced at Ebner again, feeling a bit regretful that "World" did not have the same personality as "Tower." Otherwise, he might already be "showing off" right now.
At this moment, "Justice" Audrey quietly let out a sigh of relief, as if a huge stone that had been pressing on her heart had vanished. Ever since she began believing in Mr. Fool, she had always felt as if she had betrayed the Goddess, leaving her somewhat uneasy. Now that she had discovered that the Goddess and Mr. Fool were allies, her sense of guilt instantly lightened considerably.
Beside "Justice," both "Judgement" and "Magician" also very much wanted to know what this so-called "game" was, but they were not in a hurry. Based on their understanding of Ebner, one glance was enough to tell that he "knew" again, so they planned to ask him after returning.
As for Miss "Temperance," what Klein had gone to do that night—she naturally knew everything.
Looking at the crowd, each with their own thoughts, Klein paused for a moment before controlling "World" to continue speaking:
"Oh, right. The leader of the Secret Order, Zaratul, has already broken free and returned to reality. You all should be careful."
He did not say why they should be careful of Zaratul. Those who understood would understand; those who didn't could easily fill in the blanks themselves.
Hearing this, Ebner glanced toward the seat at the very end. Of course, he knew that Klein was saying this more as a reminder to him… though it was completely useless, since the so-called Zaratul at present was actually just one of his aliases.
Instead, it was "Hermit" Cattleya who took this intelligence much more seriously. To some extent, she could also be considered an Intisian, and she had a fairly deep understanding of the Secret Order.
Everyone fell silent for quite a while, as if all were digesting the news, until "Star" Leonard cleared his throat and threw out an even more explosive piece of information:
"An ancestor of the Abraham family, Alvin Abraham, has advanced to Angel and made a proclamation to the entire continent… announcing that the Abraham family has returned to the continental stage of power."
Abraham? Hearing this, "Hanged Man," "Justice," "Hermit," and the others all focused their gazes on Miss "Magician."
Fors was startled. She subconsciously glanced at Ebner. Only after seeing him nod did she settle down and organize her words:
"That is indeed the case, but what I know is quite limited…"
After receiving confirmation from Miss "Magician," "Justice" Audrey turned back to look at "Star" across from her and asked carefully:
"Mr. 'Star,' you said that His Highness Alvin made a proclamation of his advancement to the entire continent… how is it that I haven't received any intelligence at all?"
Not even within the intelligence network of the Psychology Alchemy Society.
"Star" Leonard recalled the old man's tone at the time and imitated it as he replied:
"That proclamation could only be heard by beings at the Angel level or above."
In other words, you… no, someone behind you… has an Angel backing them?
"Hanged Man" Alger, "Hermit" Cattleya, and "Judgement" Xio immediately seized upon the key point in his words and made the inference.
This caused "Fool" Klein to almost cover his face for the third time today.
If we keep discussing this, even the poet classmate's 'underwear' will be stripped clean! Klein complained inwardly, while on the surface he cast a subtle glance at Ebner.
Although he himself did not know about the Abraham family giving birth to an Angel, he was not unfamiliar with the name "Alvin." The book written by that person, The Book of Astrology and Elements, had been stored above the gray fog by Mr. "Tower" for quite a long time.
Moreover, Klein knew that "Alvin" was actually one incarnation of "Liu Bo." He guessed that Ebner had used some method to awaken a former version of himself and push him through advancement.
Just as he thought this, he heard "Magician" Fors add after some deliberation:
"In fact, as far as I know, His Highness Alvin Abraham advanced to Sequence 2 with the help of Mr. 'Fool'… He is now an Angel under Mr. 'Fool's' command!"
Naturally, this was something she had heard from Ebner—or rather, something Ebner had deliberately told her, precisely to give Klein a "surprise."
It was indeed a "surprise"…
As everyone looked over with expressions of shock or sudden realization, Klein nearly failed to maintain Mr. Fool's "dignity." A sense of profound "sorrow" arose in his heart as he thought:
Directly pinning things Mr. Fool never did onto Mr. Fool's head…
Mr. "Tower," you're really becoming less and less restrained now, aren't you? You're making this very hard for me… I don't even know whether I should keep "acting" anymore!
What if your next sentence just exposes me outright? How awkward would that be?
Although he was confident that "Tower" would not publicly expose him, the reality that every one of his actions looked, in the other party's eyes, like a "curly-haired baboon" trying its best to perform still made Klein feel rather uncomfortable.
Even though this move of yours indirectly boosted Mr. Fool's aura, it still doesn't hide the fact that you're just enjoying the show!
At this thought, Klein immediately controlled "World" to shift the topic, lest the clueless Mr. Fool say more and more wrong things. He "shared":
"The great earthquake in Trier last week was actually caused by the Prime Minister of Intis colluding with a demon of the Noss family, using the emotional power gathered by a parade to let the 'Abyss' descend.
"Fortunately, this disaster was resolved jointly by Mr. 'Tower' and the 'Queen Mystic.'"
Hearing this, "Judgement" and "Magician" froze for a moment, then simultaneously focused their gazes on Ebner, thinking in unison:
So that day you collapsed unconscious on the 'Teleportation Altar' because you stopped the Abyss from descending!
"'The Queen' advanced to Angel because of this." At this time, "Hermit" Cattleya also nodded, affirming "World's" statement.
So behind "Hermit" stood the Queen Mystic? And that pirate monarch had also advanced to Angel… "Star" Leonard once again confirmed his judgment: not a single person in this gathering was simple.
As for "Hanged Man" Alger, he caught a whiff of something ominous:
The descent of the Abyss;
The Queen Mystic advancing to Angel;
The Secret Order's leader, Zaratul breaking free;
Members of the Abraham family returning to the continental power stage;
Mr. Fool forming an alliance with the Goddess…
Each one of these was a continent-shaking event, yet they had all appeared in concentrated fashion within just two weeks… just like how certain signs always appear on the sea before a great storm arrives…
This was absolutely abnormal!
Could it be that history had reached some special "node"?
What kind of earth-shattering upheaval would appear next?
Thinking of this, Alger felt a trace of fear, mixed with a strange excitement.
After all, Emperor Roselle had once said that "chaos is a ladder upward"… Without major upheavals, it would be very difficult for someone like him to make further progress and become a demigod.
(End of Chapter)