Chapter 55: First "Meeting"
After settling on his designated honorific name, Klein recalled what had happened that morning when he went to the Black Thorn Security Company to perform a dream divination for Mr. Myers.
At that time, with Mr. Neil's assistance, he had almost perfectly reconstructed the scene of the Clover Incident.
However…
"Although Mr. Myers cooperated fully, and Mr. Neil confirmed that the divination results weren't disturbed… something still feels off…" Klein furrowed his brows, sensing a subtle dissonance in the images he had glimpsed during the divination.
"What method should I use to double-check?" Klein paced his bedroom, thinking over other divination techniques at his disposal.
One step, two steps, three steps… suddenly, he stopped, a thought striking him.
"If I assume there was something off with Mr. Myers noticing Triss's flaw, perhaps my own divination didn't reveal it because my Sequence isn't high enough, or some external interference blocked it. Then I can try a different environment—something more mysterious, more unfathomable than this mundane world!" His spirits lifted as he opened a drawer and drew out a small silver knife.
He focused, letting his spiritual energy flow from the tip of the silver dagger, merging seamlessly with the surrounding nature.
Step by step, the wall of spiritual energy gradually sealed off the entire bedroom.
Klein's plan was simple but audacious: he would divinate above the Grey Fog, into that mysterious world itself.
---
Far above the infinite, misty grey-white haze stood an ancient, majestic temple.
Klein sat upright at the head of a bronze table, a newly "manifested" piece of parchment before him.
He picked up a round-bellied fountain pen and, following his previous attempts, wrote down the divination statement:
"Joyce Myers discovered Triss's flaw under the influence of Supernatural Factors."
Holding the pendulum and the dangling pendant, Klein allowed his spirit to sink rapidly, quiet and ethereal.
Half-closing his eyes, he repeated the divination statement seven times, letting his spirit commune with the higher realm of the Grey Fog.
Feeling the faint tug of the silver chain, Klein opened his eyes and looked at the pendulum.
And froze.
The yellow crystal pendant was spinning clockwise. This confirmed that Joyce had indeed perceived Triss's flaw under supernatural influence!
Yet this was entirely opposite to the divination Klein and Neil had conducted in the outside world! No trace of supernatural guidance… such a power—or method—was genuinely terrifying.Who was behind this, and why? Was it mere justice, or something far more deliberate?
Klein placed the yellow crystal pendant down, pinching the bridge of his nose, curiosity mingled with unease.
After a few moments' consideration, he wrote a new divination statement:
"Joyce Myers discovered Triss is the true culprit behind the Clover Incident."
Gripping the paper, he repeated it seven times, leaning back into the chair and sinking into meditative sleep above the Grey Fog.
---
Soon, he saw endless, illusory grey-white mist.
The fog slowly parted, revealing a passenger ship sailing on the sea.
Zooming in, the perspective entered the ship's lowest cabin.
Klein strained to see, and caught a uniformed young man wearing a tricorn hat and copper-rimmed glasses. Under the watch of Joyce and the captain, he suddenly pointed at a round-faced boy—and without hesitation, fired six consecutive shots.
The round-faced boy tried to retreat into the shadows, but a short girl beside the young man anticipated his escape route, shooting him dead on the spot.
At that moment, the cabin scene collapsed, shattering like glass.
In the vast temple, Klein jerked upright, his heart hammering uncontrollably. An inexplicable chill ran down his spine, as if some unseen gaze was piercing through the Grey Fog, watching him even now.
"Whew… I feel like I glimpsed something horrifying…" He took a deep breath to calm the chaotic emotions before thinking seriously:
"That round-faced boy is undoubtedly Triss I've seen his photo… but why was he killed? Could it be that what I saw wasn't reality, but some illusion or dream? And such an illusion or dream must influence reality, which is why Joyce and the captain suddenly noticed Triss's flaw in real life."
"Triss may have sensed danger because he was killed in that dream or illusion, which caused him to end the incident prematurely, preventing the potion from fully taking effect."
"And the man and woman who killed Triss in the illusion… they might be connected to the terrifying entity at the end of the vision. Hmm, once the illusion shattered, they must have returned somewhere. That's likely why my heart jumped—because I was on the verge of seeing that place."
Gradually, Klein calmed his thoughts.
No matter how terrifying the place he sought to glimpse, from what he had seen, the man and woman who killed Triss in the illusion were not malevolent—they may have acted to prevent further deaths in the Clover Incident.
It felt as if they had navigated a 'dream within a dream,' a place where actions carry real consequences… yet their intentions were aligned with mercy.
---
Meanwhile, on the ship, Enber suddenly sensed the Pure White Eye activate on its own, transmitting information to him.
This uncontrolled activation had become rare since Enber became sequence 9: "Reader", only occurring under spiritual attack or curse.
He furrowed his brows, processing the information transmitted by his own gold-fingered boon. His mind raced, realizing the consequences of his actions in the Seventh Floor Dream Labyrinth were affecting the real world.
"Sefitah Castle is divining me?"
"Klein is investigating the truth behind the Clover Incident?"
"What does this have to do with me?"
It was only now that Enber realized the connection: his actions in the dream labyrinth scene were influencing reality.
"Moreover, my previous divination of the Grey Fog allowed a faint link to form between the Pure White Eye and Sefirah Castle. Because I subconsciously trusted the Fool, I didn't resist the link, so the Eye didn't block it—and Klein could extract partial results through it."
After deducing the chain of events from the Eye's information, Enber resolutely blocked the connection internally, forcing the Eye to respect his will. He wanted to join the Tarot Club, yes—but his connection with Sefirah Castle could serve any purpose, just not as his most relied-upon tool.If the Celestial Worthy revives one day and contests Klein for the castle, having the Pure White Eye as a secret failsafe could help the Fool—but it must remain under Enber's control, not the enemy's.
Fortunately, the connection was shallow, and feedback soon confirmed the Eye had blocked it.
Exhaling, Enber reflected seriously:
"I need to join the Tarot Club as soon as possible… Klein rarely divines Tarot Club members without necessity, preferring to exchange intelligence instead."
Sefirah Castle's rank was too high, and its divination ability too abnormal. Even confident in his own boon, Enber could not guarantee the link would remain blocked indefinitely.
"I need to strengthen myself quickly… the stronger I am, the stronger the Pure White Eye's abilities become."
---
On the afternoon of July 10, the ship Enber was on entereed Damir Port. After bidding farewell to Ms. Gwen, Enber and Xio returned to Mr. Gaston's school.
Having fought alongside him several times, Enber was familiar with him and hoped to obtain materials to complete the sealing of the Sword of Dawn.
Mr. Gaston chuckled and shook his head at Enber's audacity. He didn't begrudge the request but reminded him: "Rituals invoking the powers of knowledge gods to obtain darkness or Death-domain effects are generally unreliable. That item may not be sealed."
Enber smirked privately—he knew the Knowledge God favored him slightly; while perhaps not comparable to a goddess's blessing, it would suffice to seal a Sequence 6 item.
After a few muttered complaints, he carefully thanked Mr. Gaston and gathered large quantities of brass from his collection, having a blacksmith forge it into a sword case.
He then performed a ritual to imbue the brass case with Death-domain sealing power before placing the Sword of Dawn inside.
With the sword sealed, Enber and Xio purchased tickets to Enmat Port. The commission was complete, and the main ingredients for the potion secured—it was time to leave the island.
(End of Chapter)