Chapter 513: Tarot Society

Above the gray mist, within that grand ancient palace, the weathered bronze long table on both sides simultaneously erupted with streaks of deep red light; the light engulfed everything, then quickly receded, coalescing into vague human silhouettes.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

"Justice," Ao Daili's light, cheerful voice quickly echoed throughout the magnificent palace supported by ancient stone pillars.

Following her movement, the other members of the Tarot Society rose in turn to bow and greet the Fool at the head of the weathered long table, after which they nodded to each other, completing their mutual salutations.

During this process, the members of the Tarot Society also gradually noticed a new member; he sat one seat away to the left of Moon Ai Mu Lin.

Another new member joined, and Mr. Death also took part in today's Tarot Society; our society is becoming ever stronger. His posture was as upright as a classroom student, giving an impression of slight constraint, yet he curiously and proactively surveyed his surroundings. His temperament seemed carefree and unrestrained, though he had received rather strict classroom instruction. Ao Daili observed this newcomer while sincerely feeling glad for the increasingly powerful Tarot Society.

A new member? He looks somewhat familiar—someone I know, or have seen recently? Hermit Jia De Li Ya glanced with slight doubt at the figure on her right, and the more she looked, the more familiar she felt the other.

Another new member joined, his attire not like those from Luen, but more like an adventurer active on the sea? Magician Fo Er Si likewise observed this newcomer.

His clothing is common at sea, making it impossible to tell whether he is a pirate or an adventurer; I get the sense he isn't part of a fixed crew, perhaps a highly capable solo adventurer?

Yet another sea‑active member; if this continues, my advantage will dwindle. Hanged Man A'erjie likewise observed the newly added An De Sen, feeling a considerable sense of urgency.

Moon Ai Mu Lin and Sun Dai Li Ke only gave An De Sen a brief glance, paying little attention—one out of vampiric pride, the other indifferent to matters beyond the God‑abandoned lands.

Death A Zi Ke, from the start, sat pensively in a high‑back chair, never actively observing anyone around.

An De Sen? Ke Lai En actually dragged this fellow into the Tarot Society. Lei Ke Dun gave the newcomer a brief look, quickly matching the image of An De Sen in his mind with the other.

"Justice," Ao Daili, feeling very responsible, took on the task of guiding the new member to become familiar with the Tarot Society. She scanned the room, rose, bowed to the Fool Ke Lai En at the head, then turned to An De Sen and said, "Hello, I am Justice."

"This is Mr. Hanged Man, this is Mr. Sun, this is Mr. White Tower."

She introduced everyone's code names in order of joining the Tarot Society, finally lingering on A Zi Ke before pausing and continuing:

"This is Mr. Death, a true angel; he does not participate in the Tarot Society long‑term, appearing only when he has time."

A true angel! I never expected my first encounter with an angel to be under such circumstances, and he doesn't stay long in the Tarot Society—so my luck is actually pretty good.

An De Sen let thoughts drift in his mind, then quickly composed himself, gave a light cough twice, adjusted his voice, and, somewhat restrained, began:

"I am the Chariot, a treasure hunter active on the open sea."

"Treasure… hunter?" Justice Ao Daili replied with some puzzlement, unable to grasp how treasure and hunter were linked.

"They are a group of adventurers whose purpose is to seek treasures hidden in the sea; unlike pirates who plunder, they focus on legendary riches and strive for them."

Hermit Jia De Li Ya spoke before An De Sen could explain, her gaze fixed on him the whole time; she could probably identify this new member.

An De Sen? Did he really pray to Mr. Fool? Why would the Fool admit him into the Tarot Society? Besides being tainted by the misfortune left by the Fate Angel on the mural, what else makes him special? Could it be to forge a link with the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom? Yet there already exists the quest to seek hidden sea treasures, just like those adventure stories!

Ao Daili's eyes lit up slightly, and she exclaimed in amazement.

Her reaction caused the previously calm An De Sen to feel a surge of pride; he shifted his posture slightly, straightening his back.

Ke Lai En at the head took it all in, silently marveling that the Observer truly excels at reading hearts; even without extraordinary abilities, she provides great emotional value, livens the atmosphere, and bridges gaps. Wealthy and sensible, Miss Justice is indeed the true backbone of the Tarot Society.

Seeing no one speak, An De Sen anxiously said:

"I heard Mr. Fool say that tasks can be posted here?"

Justice Ao Daili made a shushing gesture, glanced at the Fool, then replied:

"Now is Mr. Fool's reading time; after that will be our time for mutual exchange, posting tasks and requests."

Ke Lai En still lounged in his high‑back chair, awaiting Miss Justice and the others to submit this week's Roselle diary.

Today only Hermit Jia De Li Ya and Moon Ai Mu Lin provided two pages and one page of diary respectively, with one page duplicated.

After Ke Lai En finished reading the manifested diaries, he waved his hand to make them vanish, then leaned back slightly against the chair, smiling, and said:

"You may begin now."

Prompted by Mr. Fool, the members of the Tarot Society simultaneously turned their gaze to Chariot An De Sen.

Under the Tarot Society's watch, An De Sen sat up a bit awkwardly, cleared his throat, and said:

"I want to know who among you has a way to remove the misfortune on me, the one left by Fate Angel Urolius on the mural."

"Fate Angel Urolius? Who was tainted by the misfortune from this Angel King?"

Justice Ao Daili whispered in surprise; she had already learned about this Angel King within the Tarot Society, which is why she reacted so astonished.

Sure enough, Hermit Jia De Li Ya sighed inwardly, fully confirming her earlier suspicion.

When everyone in the Tarot Society turned their eyes to the head, Fool Ke Lai En, he manipulated his little trumpet—World—and, with a strained voice, said:

"I know the location of a Fate path demigod; he is currently lingering at sea." Chariot An De Sen looked up in surprise; he had originally placed hope on Death Mr., the angel, but unexpectedly the most somber, reserved World provided the answer.

Instinctively, he turned his head to glance at World at the foot of the weathered table—grim, aloof, comparable to that fellow Ge Er Man Si Pa Luo.

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, he spoke eagerly:

"What price must I pay for this?"

"A magical item with strong attack power, of sequence five tier will suffice."

While speaking, World glanced at Lei Ke Dun; that pair of scissors, aside from its shape, matched perfectly his expectations for a powerful magical item.

"Fine." An De Sen nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"After it's over, I'll come find you." World nodded, hoarsely added a line, then fell silent.

What after it's over? Today's gathering? How will he find me? Does he know me? A slew of questions flashed through An De Sen's mind; seeing World give no hint, he remained silent, planning to ask after today's Tarot Society concludes.

Does World Mr. know this newcomer in reality? Yet from the other's reaction, he didn't recognize World Mr., indicating World's disguise in the Tarot Society is effective; he may be far from the grim, reserved persona he projects, while Justice Ao Daili watched the two with interest, analyzing internally.

After a moment of silence, seeing no one speak, Ke Lai En again manipulated World, chuckling softly: "Who among you has the Diviner path sequence‑four potion formula or clues? Or the Apprentice and Thief paths' sequence‑four potion formulas?"

Sequence four—does World Mr. aim to ascend to demigod level? Justice Ao Daili was taken aback; she had thought her own sequence advancement was already swift, feeling a modest pride, yet she hadn't expected to lag so far behind World.

"World" suddenly became very high‑end about the Apprentice path's sequence four; Mr. Lawrence should know why World needs these three path potion formulas, whether they are interchangeable. Magician Fo Er Si, both surprised and pondering, wondered if he could obtain the Apprentice path sequence‑four potion formula.

Lei Ke Dun lazily reclined in the high‑back chair, his right thumb gently rubbing the armrest, hesitated a moment before laughing lightly:

"I have them, but a word of warning: these paths require reaching sequence three before they can be exchanged, and the other two are blocked by A Meng and Mr. Men; the most suitable for you is the Diviner."

He paused, then continued: "The Diviner path's sequence four is called Trickster, the Apprentice path's sequence four is called Mystic, the Thief path's sequence four is called Parasite. Which do you need? Or all of them?"

All? You trying to rope me in? Ke Lai En muttered internally, then, manipulating World, said:

"Trickster is enough; do you know where to obtain the corresponding materials?"

Lei Ke Dun nodded lightly, and after requesting the help of the Fool Ke Lai En, manifested a yellow‑brown parchment bearing the Trickster Mage magic potion formula, and handed it to the World at the far end of the mottled long table.

World, under Ke Lai En's control, spread the parchment before itself and read carefully: Main ingredients: the primary eye of the Trickster Fiend + the true soul body of the Spirit Realm Plunderer.

Auxiliary ingredients: 200 ml of Trickster Fiend blood + 30 g of Spirit Realm Plunderer dust + 10 g of red‑hair birch bark + a segment of golden grapevine + a fingertip‑sized homemade rubber mask.

Ritual: primarily relying on one's own power and planning, directing a grand drama before numerous spectators to murder a demigod or an equivalent transcendent being, and then, in the final act of the drama, ingest the magic potion.

At the end of the parchment, Lei Ke Dun also left an explanation of the Trickster Mage ascension ritual:

"The essence of this ritual is to leave a mark, that is, an anchor point.

Compared with other methods, the spirit‑splitting Trickster Mage requires an anchor point even earlier.

However, this does not yet require faith to support it; on the contrary, faith is too massive, too chaotic, with too many personal emotions, and at present only a Sequence 5 ascendant cannot bear it—the humanity would be erased outright.

A splendid and profound drama, the gaze of countless spectators, is enough to become an anchor point."

In the space above this gray mist, even without divination, his intuition alone can work quite well; after just a brief glance, he could already confirm the authenticity of the formula.

Under Ke Lai En's control, World slowly nodded and said:

"Sure, what must I give?"

"When necessary, I will ask you for certain assistance."

Lei Ke Dun replied briefly, without much explanation, yet it was enough for Ke Lai En to understand.

Ke Lai En bowed his head heavily, then lifted the rolled parchment in his hand and said:

"Alright, do you know where I can find the corresponding magic potion ingredients?"

"You can ask A Luo De Si; as long as it doesn't involve those beings, it is essentially omniscient."

Regarding clues to the ingredients, Lei Ke Dun thought that the Licking Dog Mirror knew more; finally, he added, "It can even plan out for you what to do."

"It?"—a magical item, the living kind? It sounded impressive, and Justice Ao Dai Li, who had been sitting quietly in her seat listening, couldn't help letting her thoughts wander.

The Hermit Jia De Li Ya turned her head with a broad motion to glance at the World at the far end of the mottled long table; she was not completely unfamiliar with the name A Luo De Si, having heard it long ago from the Mysterious Queen.

A Luo De Si? That seems to be a Level‑1 seal of the Steam Church; the Queen only knows of it and has never touched it. How can World borrow that Magic Mirror? What exactly is its identity? The others' attention remained on the Sequence 4 tier magic potion formula in World's hand, missing the Hermit Jia De Li Ya's sweeping gesture.

The author has been busy moving these past two days, so updates are a bit unstable; I'll add the rest gradually~~~⌒／ヽ-、＿_／_/＿＿＿＿／

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(End of Chapter)