Chapter 616: Shocking Information

Actually I prefer code‑names like "Justice" or "Wheel of Fortune"; Leonard turns his attention to the members introducing themselves in order, evaluating each of them in his mind one by one.

The identities are complex—noble ladies, sailors or crew, adventurers, the arrogant, the lazy. Leonard is still rambling when he sees the "Hermit" lady seated to his front‑left make a gesture; she faces the head of the bronze long table, bows, and says: "Respected Fool, we again failed to collect Emperor Russell's diary."

Normal, probably there will be none in the future; even if Emperor Russell sticks half a leg out of his grave it would be wrong. Perhaps Bernadette will need a translator, after all the Emperor can't read the diary to her himself.

While thoughts swirl, Ke Lai En leans back calmly and says: "That's normal; her goal has been achieved."

The "Hermit" Jiade Li Ya pauses, then regains composure, wanting to ask more but can't voice it, and sits back down. The queen's goal has been achieved? She found a clue left by Emperor Russell? Or confirmed the information? When? She, who is? It's my first time at the Tarot meeting, and the "Star" Leonard, still unclear on relationships, is bewildered, his thoughts drifting.

He gives no further response; Ke Lai En leisurely says:

"You may begin."

Prompted by the Fool Ke Lai En, the "Chariot" Anderson raises his hand first, looks around and says:

"Who among you has the Iron‑Blooded Knight demonic elixir formula?"

Ke Lai En glances at the red priestess card he has flipped onto the table, then manipulates the "World" with a low voice:

"I have it, for twenty‑thousand pounds."

"That cheap?"

It can't be fake or incomplete, Anderson thinks briefly but doesn't say the rest.

The "World" looks gloomily at the "Chariot" Anderson, voice steady, says:

"Consider it payment for the help you gave earlier."

Anderson's eyes brighten, he nods without hesitation:

"Fine, I need time to raise the funds. This week, this week I'll meet you for the trade."

Doing double work for single pay feels good, though it clashes a bit with my moral standards. Never mind, morals can be flexible; at worst I'll just give the "World" a bit more money later.

Having made up his mind, Anderson calms down, and the Tarot meeting briefly falls silent.

Following Anderson's example, Leonard raises his right hand similarly and states his need: "I need a magical item."

"What type?" "Justice" Audrey promptly replies, avoiding an awkward pause.

"Um, not clear."

After a pause, feeling his answer was a bit foolish, Leonard hurriedly adds: "I mean any type, preferably with strong attack power, preferably concealed, side effects can be larger, that's fine."

As long as it doesn't instantly kill me, I can let the old man steal the negative effects from me; any other negative effect won't affect me much.

The "Justice", "Hanged Man", "Hermit" and other members glance sideways, a hint of doubt flickers. He doesn't care about negative effects; he has good avoidance methods? Or perhaps he knows an excellent "craftsman" who can reforge magical items? That's a flexible use of the old man inside, Ke Lai En muses, then manipulates the "World": "I'll keep an eye out for you."

The other Tarot members echo, today's trading segment ends, and the members tacitly move into free discussion.

The lazy "Chariot" Anderson suddenly leans forward, his tone like a bragging pirate in a tavern, exaggerated with gestures, and booms:

"The southern continent's True Creator cult has received a divine decree, adding a line to His holy name: 'Ruler of the Spiritual World'."

"Ruler of the Spiritual World." That sounds like a description of the "Observer" Path; that True Creator has eroded the authority of the adjacent "Observer" Path? While his thoughts drift, "Justice" Audrey subconsciously turns her head toward the weathered head of the bronze table where the "Fool" sits, pondering how to ask, since this concerns her own sequence path, it must be taken seriously.

Reckton's gaze sweeps over the varied faces of the Tarot members, and he calmly explains: "Adam merged with the True Creator through self‑sacrifice; the current True Creator is now a dual‑path deity."

Can one person occupy multiple paths in a dual path? No, only adjacent paths can. The "Hanged Man" A'erjie is stunned for a second, then quickly grasps the key.

Audrey purses her lips, looks at Reckton, and asks with some worry:

"What effect will this have on the Observer Path? Will it become as dangerous as the Mystic Prayer Path?"

Reckton slowly shakes his head and explains: "No, He is already asleep, and with Adam's integration, He can break free from madness."

"I understand."

Audrey nods lightly, then again turns toward the weathered head of the bronze table and says: "Fool, why could Adam merge with the True Creator? Wouldn't that cause a split personality or loss of control?"

The figure of the "Fool" shrouded in thick gray mist smiles leisurely:

"Others might, but He won't; they have always been one."

One person! Adam and the True Creator are one person!

Except for Reckton, the other Tarot members' minds keep echoing the Fool's words, emotions stirring to varying degrees, as if hearing an incredible secret.

The "Hermit" Jiade Li Ya slightly turns, looks at Reckton, recalling his earlier introduction of the Psych Alchemy Society president, then, as if seeking confirmation, looks toward the weathered head and asks hesitantly:

"Adam is a special identity separated from the Observer Path, just like the many identities the Psych Alchemy Society president holds."

Beneath the gray mist, Ke Lai En nods lightly, voice relaxed:

"Adam failed in his final trait of becoming a 'Dreamer', so He chose another extreme."

"Helping the True Creator escape the god‑abandoned land, sacrificing Himself to fully merge with Him."

"Do the Seven Gods not intervene?"

"Star" Leonard subconsciously asks another question.

"They failed." The Fool Ke Lai En's tone is very calm; after a pause he adds: "Adam has long prepared the stage and written the script."

Anderson clicks his tongue, sighing: "The sky then was like a weak, vulnerable sheet of white paper, trampled at will—sometimes starry, sometimes dusk, sometimes bright sunshine."

This description gives the "Chariot" a sense of his nature gradually revealing after adapting to the Tarot meeting; "Justice" Audrey glances at Anderson still describing his scene, and suppressed thoughts begin to stir.

"Star" Leonard leans back, rests lightly on the chair back, recalling the scene he saw then, and Parles's later description; he calmly adds after Anderson: "Those black mists came from the Cosmic Dark Side, the starlight likely relates to the Hidden Sage, that evil god is active in the southern continent, and His state seems to be improving."

"That dusk stemmed from the War God, a manifestation of His battle with one of the Seven Gods in the astral realm; the subsequent thunder and sunlight came from the Lord of Storms and the Eternal Blazing Sun. From what I know, either the Lord of Storms or the Eternal Blazing Sun personally descended to reality."

"Sounds like you were actually there."

The "Hanged Man" A'erjie looks heavily at Leonard, his blue eyes seeming to surge with waves.

Leonard chuckles lightly and shakes his head: "Not really; the sky anomaly then was huge, covering almost the entire Northern Province; wherever you were nearby, you could see it."

"Justice" Audrey leans forward slightly, hands clasped on the table edge, listening intently; "Star" Leonard's source of information is impressive—either his standing in the True God Church is high enough, or he knows a real big figure who told him these.

Rounding up the thought, I have also been on Adam's script with many True Gods and Evil Gods. Cloaked in gray mist, Ke Lai En sighs to himself amusedly, then manipulates the "World": "After leaving here, do not utter or write Adam's name, including His titles, or any description that could point to Him. He possesses the trait 'any spoken word will be known'; the more you know about Him, the more He knows about you."

He pauses a second, then adds: "Including the True Creator, any description pointing to both of them will be perceived in full by Him."

With the support of True Godhood, this 'any spoken word will be known' trait should be more comprehensive and terrifying than before Adam. Leonard ponders, and unconsciously links the church's ambiguous attitude toward the southern continent and the War God who seemed to have helped the True Creator, and a bold idea flashes in his mind.

With the backing of the true divine personage, this "any spoken word must be known" trait should be more comprehensive and terrifying than it was before Adam. Leonard was making some guesses in his mind, and unconsciously he linked the Church's ambiguous attitude toward the Southern Continent and the "War God" who seemed to have aided the True Creator at that time, and a bold idea suddenly flashed in his head.

Lun Na De turned his head toward the lowest "World" and directly voiced his speculation:

"Perhaps, after Su Xing awakens, they will become the eighth righteous deity in this world."

(End of chapter)