As for whether this would reveal too much to the True Creator, Luo Lin wasn't concerned. Some secrets were hard to keep—many had already been exposed when he summoned the Ancient Sun God. He didn't mind trading a bit of information for something that benefited him.
No matter what, his ability to drag this world down with him was real. As long as that held true, the other side would have to tread carefully.
After all, even the mad True Creator, at its core, still wished to protect this world.
Poor Grisha, Luo Lin thought, and maybe Sasrir too… The fusion of Adam and the True Creator into "Creator Adam" stirred a pang of melancholy in him.
Xio and Fors, oblivious to the unspoken deal Luo Lin had just struck with the True Creator, nodded in instant understanding at his earlier quip about haggling. Plagued by their own poverty, they knew the pain of pinching pennies for spiritual materials.
With the gathering already winding down, it concluded shortly after Luo Lin's return.
Luo Lin followed Xio and Fors out of the cottage. As they climbed into a carriage, the trio began discussing their next Beyonder gathering.
"The exact time isn't set yet, but I should have details within a week. I'll let you know," Xio said. Curiosity sparked in her eyes as she turned to Luo Lin. "By the way, since you can divine, can you predict anything about it?"
"I might get a rough timeframe, but without specific details, precise divination is tough," Luo Lin replied, shrugging. "Divination isn't a cure-all, you know."
"Oh, right…" He paused, as if struck by a thought, and looked at Xio and Fors. "You two are pretty seasoned Beyonders in Backlund. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hire you to look into something for me."
"What's that?" Xio sat up straight, her bounty hunter instincts kicking in.
"I want to know about an entity called the Fool, possibly tied to the Antigonus family—a secretive figure," Luo Lin said, pausing to gauge their reactions. Noticing their faces shift, he added, "I don't need you to take any risks. Just ask around in your circles to see if anyone's heard of the Fool."
This was, of course, preparation for eventually learning the Fool's honorific name and joining the Tarot Club naturally.
After all, a transmigrator suddenly knowing the Fool's honorific name out of nowhere? That'd raise eyebrows.
Hmm, what if Mr. Fool, knowing I'm a transmigrator, worries about social suicide and keeps me out of the Tarot Club? If that happens, don't blame me for pulling off his mask… Luo Lin mused, half-wondering which scenario he'd find more entertaining. Either way, it promised some fun.
Naturally, he already had a meticulous plan for joining the Tarot Club.
Xio and Fors, unaware of Luo Lin's schemes to "persecute" Mr. Fool, exchanged a glance, silently weighing the task's risks.
Anything tied to a secretive entity was dangerous in this world, but just gathering rumors? That seemed manageable.
Like the True Creator or the Primordial Witch, many infamous evil gods were known to Beyonders and even ordinary folk. As long as you didn't recklessly chant their true names or meddle in their affairs, the danger was minimal.
"What's the pay?" Xio asked after a moment's thought.
"A 10-pound deposit. If you dig up anything useful, I'll pay more based on the intel's value," Luo Lin replied crisply. He kept the price modest to avoid spooking the pair.
"Deal. I'll ask around my circles," Xio said, nodding decisively. A 10-pound deposit for simple inquiries was a solid deal.
"Why do you want to know about this Fool?" Fors asked, curiosity piqued. As a writer, her mind was already spinning dramatic scenarios.
"It started with a friend who was curious about it," Luo Lin said, shrugging. "Then I checked my family's old records and found the Fool might… have some connection to my ancestors."
He sighed, his expression tinged with worry. "You know how it is—ties to a secretive entity are rarely good news. Even if my ancestor's from ages ago, what if there's some lingering curse? I need to know to put my mind at ease."
At his words, Xio and Fors instinctively leaned back. They couldn't be blamed—ties to a secretive entity were perilous in this world's worldview.
But they quickly steadied themselves. If Luo Lin's story held, only his distant ancestor was entangled, so he was likely safe.
Fors, plagued by her own Full Moon Ravings, felt a kinship. "Curses are a real hassle," she said empathetically.
"Oh? Is the good doctor dealing with something like that?" Luo Lin asked, his tone curious as he looked at Fors.
"I…" Fors hesitated. Thinking of the Trickmaster formula she'd bought from him and his likely ties to an ancient Beyonder family, she steeled herself. "Due to some accident, I hear ravings during the full moon. It's been troubling me for a while."
She kept it vague, cautious not to reveal too much.
Luo Lin wasn't surprised. His face took on a thoughtful look, and after a brief pause, he said, "Full Moon Ravings… I think I read about that in my family's records. There was an ancient family called Abraham whose members suffered from that curse."
He looked at Fors, his gaze a mix of surprise and scrutiny. "Miss Doctor, are you from the Abraham family?" His acting was so convincing it seemed genuine.
Fors froze. She didn't know about the Abraham family at this stage, but she recalled Mrs. Anlisa mentioning her husband's family—an ancient lineage tormented by Full Moon Ravings.
Could Mrs. Anlisa's husband be from the Abraham family?
A guess formed in her mind. Facing Luo Lin's curious stare, she shook her head. "I'm not from the Abraham family. I'm just… unfortunately cursed with it."
(End of Chapter)