{T/N: We peaked at 180 votes, give or take a few. So here's the extra chap...}
...
Derrick fell into deep thought once more after hearing Mr. Hermit's words...
Alger sighed inwardly: 'It seems the Hermit is also a man with quite a story behind him.'
Audrey and Fors also hoped that Little Sun would mature quickly after this incident.
Behind the gray fog, Klein thought: 'Judging by the Hermit's usual demeanor, he is a sufficiently mature Beyonder. Despite understanding the true nature of the mystical world, he hasn't grown cold and indifferent. He is still willing to help others... That, in itself, is a virtue...'
Odis gave Derrick time to reflect before continuing, "Let me analyze this further for you. The most unique thing about you is that you have Mr. Fool's assistance."
"...So, you are of vital importance to the City of Silver. But if you completely expose your uniqueness, you will undoubtedly be imprisoned and strictly monitored, making it impossible for you to fulfill your role. However, if you conceal certain things and hide your uniqueness, you might just be able to bring hope to the City of Silver."
He spread his hands slightly, "Is your Chief having you monitored because he's an evil person? A despicable villain?"
Derrick immediately defended, "No."
Odis nodded slowly, saying, "It seems you understand this principle: to accomplish something, especially something extremely difficult, virtue alone isn't enough. You also need some strategy."
Alger nodded repeatedly, feeling more and more as though the Hermit was speaking his own thoughts aloud.
Audrey, too, felt a sudden clarity in her thinking. Although Mr. Hermit's words differed from the teachings she had received growing up, upon reflection, she realized his description aligned more closely with the natural progression of events.
"I understand," Derrick said earnestly, "Thank you, Mr. Hermit. My previous way of thinking was too naive."
Odis gave an acknowledging hum, accepting Little Sun's gratitude without reservation.
Derrick then added, "There's something else. The exploration team that set out earlier has returned. I mean the one led by 'Shepherd' Elder Lovia. They completed their exploration of the half-ruined temple of the 'True Creator' and returned to the City of Silver. But I noticed that some of the team members I'm familiar with have undergone noticeable changes in personality."
Alger declared with certainty, "They've been corrupted by the True Creator."
"I also think there's something wrong with them," Derrick said, sounding slightly aggrieved, "I already reported it, but the Chief doesn't seem to believe me... I get it now. Because the Chief suspects I was Parasitized by Amon, he doesn't trust me."
Alger, Audrey, and the other members nodded slowly. It was clear that Mr. Hermit's guidance had begun to take effect. Little Sun's thought process was no longer so simplistic.
Derrick asked anxiously, "Then what should I do?"
Alger pondered for a few seconds before replying, "I think your Chief must already be keeping an eye on the Shepherd Elder and the exploration team members. The only issue is that they likely aren't taking it as seriously as they should... certainly not as seriously as their concern over Amon's involvement with you."
Without waiting for Little Sun to respond, he carefully continued, "Perhaps you can use this situation to clear your name. Hmm... Find an opportunity to provoke an abnormal reaction from one of the exploration team members and get into a conflict with them. This will force the Chief to take the matter more seriously."
"...At the same time, take the chance to hand over that strange little bug. Claim that during the conflict, you suddenly felt mentally disoriented and vaguely heard someone calling out to the True Creator. Then pretend to cough up the bug."
"...Given the involvement of an evil god, many methods and abilities won't be used recklessly. Your Chief will logically deduce that Amon's avatar clashed with the lingering mental corruption of the True Creator, resulting in the bug's death. This should significantly reduce the surveillance on you. If you lay low for a while longer, your suspicions will mostly disappear."
Audrey's lips parted slightly in surprise: 'Why does Mr. Hanged Man sound so experienced in these matters?'
Klein also mused to himself: 'Are the internal struggles within the Orthodox Churches really this intense? It feels like Mr. Hanged Man has been through this kind of palace intrigue before...'
Derrick's eyes brightened as he listened, feeling that Mr. Hanged Man was truly reliable for coming up with such a brilliant plan.
He pressed further, "How do I make sure the exploration team member displays the most extreme and abnormal behavior possible?"
Alger fell silent for a few seconds before admitting, "I don't know."
Klein, manipulating the ever-silent Mr. World, spoke up, "I possess an item contaminated by the True Creator. Little guy, I can lend it to you. But what can you offer in return?"
Derrick thought for a moment before answering, "I can try to gather the Characteristics of a Human-Skinned Shadow for you."
In a previous gathering, 'The World' had made such a request...
Mr. World nodded lightly, "Good. I will ask Mr. Fool to assist in lending it to you."
Alger added a reminder, "Seal the container holding that item with a wall of Spirituality beforehand to prevent anyone from detecting abnormalities."
"Thank you, Mr. Hanged Man. Thank you all for your help," Derrick said sincerely to the other Tarot Club members.
Through their discussion, he had gradually formed a complete plan.
After a brief silence in the grand hall, Odis, who had been listening quietly, spoke up again to Derrick, "You must have gone through quite some effort to sacrifice those living animals and plants from around the City of Silver, right?"
Behind the gray fog, Klein recalled the scene of the Hermit scrambling to deal with the situation, his lips curling slightly in amusement.
Audrey, after a momentary pause, also understood: 'Seriously? Living sacrifices?'
She couldn't help but chuckle wryly...
Derrick answered seriously, "Yes, especially that fish. It's very fragile and easy to kill, so I had to put in a lot of effort to knock it out instead."
Odis nodded, then said, "If I ever need live specimens, I'll specify that. Otherwise, you can assume dead specimens are acceptable. Just kill them and send them over next time."
Derrick seemed to grasp the Hermit's meaning, "O-okay."
Fors and Audrey both smiled knowingly. They could easily imagine Mr. Hermit's startled expression upon receiving living test subjects.
"Regardless, I'm very satisfied with your payment," Odis said.
Over the past few days, he had taken time to observe the state of those plants and animals. By next week, with enough observational records, he planned to begin studying them.
As for the buckets of sludge and soil, they had already been sent into the 'Knowledge Moor'.
The others now remembered the transaction between the Hermit and Little Sun from the previous gathering... Little Sun would provide test subjects, and Mr. Hermit would gather information about Amon for him.
Odis continued, "I've collected some critical information about Amon, very high-level stuff. Do you want to hear it yourself, or should I share it openly?"
"Share it openly," Derrick said. This was his way of thanking the other Tarot Club members.
"Alright." Odis began his explanation, "I've learned something astonishing: From ancient times to the present, there has only ever been one Amon in this world."
This statement left everyone momentarily stunned, unsure at first why this was so shocking...
Fors scratched her head and asked, "The one and only Amon was destroyed by the Angel Mr. Fool sent?"
"No," Odis replied with a faint smile, "You're misunderstanding. What I mean is, throughout history, no matter how many avatars Amon has had, there has only ever been one true Amon."
In an instant, everyone felt their hairs stand on end!
Alger said in surprise, "I recall the Amon family appeared as early as the Fourth Epoch!"
"Not just the Fourth Epoch!" Odis declared, "According to my sources, Amon was born in the Third Epoch!"
Audrey covered her mouth lightly, "Good heavens, you mean Amon is... thousands of years old?"
Fors murmured in repetition, "Thousands of years old..."
To her, this was an unimaginably vast number.
Behind the gray fog, Klein wasn't particularly surprised. After obtaining the Card of Blasphemy, he had already considered the fact that deities had lived for unfathomable lengths of time.
Deep down, Alger and the others also knew this. But such thoughts were too blasphemous. Gods were lofty beings, existing since the dawn of creation. How could one even conceive of their lifespan?
Only now had they fully wrapped their minds around the idea.
Klein mused to himself: 'No wonder they're called the Cards of Blasphemy. After obtaining such an item, reverence for the gods diminishes significantly. Isn't that, in itself, blasphemy?'
Alger was the first to recover. He said, "I've long heard that upon becoming an Angel, one's lifeform undergoes a fundamental transformation. It seems an extended lifespan is one of those changes."
Odis acknowledged with a hum, "I've also heard that the so-called Amon family back then was actually just Amon and his avatars."
Behind the gray fog, Klein froze momentarily: 'That's... eerie. The entire family's patriarch was Amon's true form, while the elders were Amon No. 1 through Amon No. 6? I wonder if there were internal conflicts or factions among the avatars?'
Fors also snapped out of her daze, murmuring, "This sounds like a ghost story."
She felt this would indeed make for excellent horror story material!
Audrey, prompted by Fors's remark, envisioned a scene:
She enters a noble family's estate, surrounded by classical architecture and pleasant scenery. Members of the household bustle about the courtyard.
Suddenly, these family members notice her, an intruder, and all turn their gazes toward her.
Every single one of them; old, young, male, female, has the exact same face, wearing the same eerie smile!
Audrey shuddered, "What a terrifying ability!"