Chapter 680: Monday

Reining in his increasingly drifting thoughts, Luo Sai'er briefly examined the silvery‑white paper in his hand, an evolution of the "Hand of Order" trait, and tossed it toward Leikèdun, saying:

"Help me forge it into a wondrous item, preferably a device that can be installed directly onto this mechanical doll."

"That's a separate price." Leikèdun took it expressionlessly, giving Luo Sai'er no chance to reply, and continued:

"Fusake attacked Beikelande; it can be foreseen that George III will use this opportunity to declare war on Fusake, further fueling the conflict."

"The 'Black Emperor' isn't an easy title to hold," Luo Sai'er sneered, then, with some urgency, asked, "Speaking of that, when exactly do you intend to help me resurrect?"

Leikèdun answered without hesitation, "Of course, when I go to war with 'Steam', you will be my most successful secret weapon."

"Do you want me to backstab Him at the crucial moment?" Luo Sai'er retorted, then shook his head and said:

"It's not easy; the resurrection of the 'Black Emperor' generates a huge disturbance, and even if we speed up, it can't be done in an instant."

"So, you plan to force Him to launch a Divine War against you by using my resurrection; are you confident?"

"I can't be sure what 'Steam' will choose; before events truly unfold, everything is uncertain. If He swaps opponents with the 'Eternal Blazing Sun', that would be interesting."

Leikèdun shook his head, responding in a very calm tone.

As he spoke, he shattered the silvery paper in his hand into countless pale‑gold specks that floated in the air, tracing word after word of strange symbols, as if compiling a strict, tight law.

After reaching a certain limit, these golden, odd words surged like a stream, slowly flowing into the body of Luo Sai'er's mechanical doll.

Following them were brilliant stars that linked together to form a pair of eyes, gradually projecting onto Luo Sai'er before vanishing.

Having finished all this, Leikèdun calmly said:

"This one is temporarily effective, but requires periodic reinforcement of the seal and part replacement; your mechanical doll's body and your mental state are insufficient to bear a 'Hand of Order' trait, especially with a Lamp God nearby."

"Lamp God? Huh. So that guy is indeed connected to the 'Judge' path, right?"

He paused, then Luo Sai'er added:

"I've long felt the aura on that guy is familiar, but a wishing lamp fulfills others' wishes, which is rather intriguing."

"Although the 'Black Emperor' can, by distorting chaotic rules, achieve similar feats to some extent, the act of wishing always brings to mind the 'Miracle Master'."

"Huh, I think I understand something."

"Since you get it, keep that lamp farther away; beware of being unknowingly polluted."

After warning Luo Sai'er, Leikèdun turned to leave the 'Dawn'.

"Wait a moment, I have something to give you," Luo Sai'er called out to Leikèdun.

Curious, he turned back, looked at Luo Sai'er, and saw the latter lift a golden box out of thin air—a box Leikèdun recognized, which Beiernadai had previously used to contain the Pale Death.

Under his gaze, Luo Sai'er opened the golden box, took out a silvery mask inlaid on the side with white feathers, and handed it to Leikèdun, saying:

"Honestly, your taste is terrible, but since you secured a 'Hand of Order' trait for me, as a reward this mask is yours. Soon, the one currently being promoted to 'Death Chancellor' will be able to advance toward the 'Pale Emperor.'"

"Of course, the treaty he previously promised remains in effect."

Leikèdun nodded, took the silvery mask, and said casually:

"I had Beiernadai fetch some people from Beikelande for me; at her speed, they should be arriving soon. You'd better leave the 'Dawn' first, to avoid colliding head‑on with the wishing lamp; otherwise that Lamp God will think I've deceived it and won't cooperate later."

As his words ended, his body instantly became ethereal, breaking into streams of data that slipped out of the windows, walls, ceiling and other spots of the 'Dawn'.

On the street outside Oleson Port's dock, a conspicuous seabird swooped over Leikèdun's head, its right eye marked by a distinct black circle.

"That guy, instead of preparing his own ritual, is actively flitting across battlefields; I wonder what he's scheming."

He sighed softly, then turned toward the erudite cathedral on the other side of the square.

Above the boundless gray‑white mist, within a grand ancient palace that seemed like a deity's abode, Leikèdun, Klein, and Azke sat in their chairs, speaking gravely about the war.

"Fennibote has also joined the war; the 'Earth Mother Goddess' ultimately chose to aid the 'War God', and places like Lunburg, Masi, and Segal have all suffered Fennibote's assaults." "Events unfolded so quickly that people almost overlook the war between Inditis and the Southern Continent."

Klein spoke with a hint of lament, recounting the information he had gathered, his expression rather complex.

Azke gave a minimal nod, then, following Klein's words, explained: "The 'Earth Mother Goddess' and the 'War God' are mother and son; although they sometimes seem unfamiliar and unsynchronized, that's normal among the gods, especially since the 'Earth Mother Goddess' also controls the 'Mother' path."

After speaking, he turned his head toward Leikèdun and asked earnestly:

"I've largely stabilized my condition; does the war between the Southern Continent and Inditis need any extra assistance?"

Leikèdun shook his head and said:

"Not for now; Inditis's army is blocked at the coastline, and without aid from the Storm Church, they will find landing difficult."

Klein cleared his throat lightly, looked calmly at Azke, and said, "Mr. Azke, I may need some assistance later, though not necessarily requiring your presence. By then I should have been promoted to a Tier‑Three 'Ancient Scholar' and can summon your historical projection."

Based on his earlier gains in the 'Ghost Empire', he had already sacrificed to the Night Goddess, obtaining two mist‑demon‑wolf liquefied hearts.

I think I now grasp the meaning of the 'Wolf Extinction' moniker; even the True God Church values Tier‑Three alchemical ingredients highly. The goddess offered me two without hesitation, even though I exchanged equivalent items, because the church has little demand for items of the 'Judge' path.

As his thoughts drifted, he heard Azke's reply:

"No problem; when the time comes, I'll seek aid from the 'Hidden' so that my consciousness awakens within the historical projection."

The three continued a brief discussion on the war; when Klein checked his pocket watch and the time reached three p. m., he used the deep‑red star's connection to summon all members of the Tarot Society.

Rays of deep‑red light rose, quickly solidifying on both sides of the bronze long table into vague silhouettes.

As the deep‑red light rose, Leikèdun's and Azke's figures also became blurred, and the somber, restrained silhouette of 'World' appeared at the far end of the mottled long table.

"Justice" Audrey was still the first to rise, lifting her skirt slightly, and bowed to the 'Fool' at the head, saying:

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool."

Ruen's sudden outbreak of war made it impossible for her to be as light‑hearted as before; her greeting remained courteous but sounded far more subdued.

Everyone rose, bowed to each other, then sat down; everyone noticed that the 'Death' gentleman, who hadn't attended a Tarot Society meeting in ages, was present today.

The 'Death' gentleman's demeanor seemed different from before, his aura now colder, more like a noble, aloof superior. 'Justice' Audrey instinctively interpreted this in her mind.

"Another newcomer? But he's far too composed, not at all like a rookie," Leonard, the 'Star', thought curiously, and equally curious was 'Judgment' Hsu, who, having missed many Tarot Society meetings, had never been introduced to the 'Death' gentleman by Fors.

"Fool" Klein looked around, saw no one had Luo Sai'er's diary or anything else to report, and said directly:

"You may begin."

As soon as his words ended, the usually nervous 'Magician' Fors raised his hand, as if making a firm resolve, and said:

"Everyone, I have a commission—it's relatively dangerous, involving demigods and possibly the gaze of a great being."

"Which church or hidden organization's demigod do you want to hunt?"

"The Aurora Society or the Spirit Knowledge Society? Or the Tamara family? Only they have demigods that follow the 'Apprentice' path."

"Zhanche" Anderson replied almost without pause; he was somewhat interested in Miss Magician's mission, but more out of curiosity than a desire to take the job. As a demigod on the free‑moving Apprentice path, he couldn't even grasp the other's shadow.

Miss Magician Foersi was slightly stunned; she hadn't expected Mr. Zhanche to guess the commission she wanted to issue so roughly.

She laughed awkwardly, then continued:

"The Aurora Society, which is now the new sect of the Southern Continent, my commissioned target is the 'Secret Saint' Bu Tisi."

While speaking, she carefully sized up Leiketon, somewhat fearing that after the Tarot Society ends, this powerful and rather mysterious Mr. Baita would appear directly before her.

(End of chapter)