Chapter 1041: The Beginning is the Hardest Part

Art District Telegraph Office.

Jenna, still wearing a sun hat and a black veil, finished paying the fee for sending the telegram and looked at the next room, which was clanging non-stop, and said as if to herself:

"What are they repairing there?"

A male telegraph operator raised his head, looking a bit disdainful and worried:

"Telephone bureau.

"They say they want to vigorously develop wired telephones. So many places, can they really lay the lines over? In the end, it still has to rely on radio!"

Indeed, mobile phones should also be a kind of radio... Jenna suddenly felt a bit nostalgic.

She was also looking forward to Intis developing a telephone network. That way, they could communicate in real-time and wouldn't have to be as troublesome as sending and receiving telegrams.

Walking out of the telegraph office, Jenna hadn't decided whether to take a carriage back to the luxury villa or stroll around nearby when she heard a newsboy shouting at the intersection:

"Extra! Extra!

"Ms. Fors promises to finalize the manuscript of 'The Great Adventurer 7' within two weeks!

"Extra! Extra!

"The large-scale generator manufactured by the Deep Valley Monastery of the Steam Church has entered the factory stage!"

Large-scale generator... Jenna was stunned for a moment, unable to help but cast her gaze toward the public horse-drawn carriages driving on the road, the women wearing sun hats of different styles, the gentlemen holding canes and wearing top hats, the classical-style gas street lamps, the luxuriously styled theaters, and the cafes and various shops located nearby.

This didn't look like a scene when the apocalypse was approaching at all.

Jenna looked greedily at all of this, worried that they would suddenly dissipate like the dream city.

…………

Inside the luxury villa.

Lu Mi stood in front of the full-length mirror, gazing at his own beautiful face that was both familiar and strange, not moving at all.

He was waiting, waiting for the image in the mirror to laugh on its own or reveal some other expression.

"A major difficulty in the 'Unaging Witch' advancement ritual is how to find one's own 'Mirror Person.' This isn't something you can encounter just because you want to." The mystical connection between a Witch and her own "Mirror Person" was both a helper for positioning and an alarm that the other party sensed danger in advance and constantly changed locations.

Moreover, according to the actual feelings and daily experience of the three "Witches"—Lu Mi, Franca, and Jenna—the stable "Mirror Person" born from becoming a "Witch" is different from the "Mirror Person" of the special mirror world:

Under normal circumstances, the "Mirror Person" of a Witch cannot leave the mirror world. Once these "Mirror Persons" enter reality, it means that the Witch's own state has had a big problem.

"Still have to ask Ms. 'Magician' for help with positioning and blockade..." Lu Mi, who had been watching the mirror image for an hour, withdrew his gaze and whispered to himself.

Just at this moment, Ms. "Magician" appeared in this bedroom, surrounded by points of starlight.

She looked around and said:

"

"What about 'Luo Beier'?"

"She went to find her subordinate to prepare for meeting the 'Black Witch' tomorrow," Lu Mian answered simply.

"The Magician" frowned and said:

"Does she still intend to continue the Witch Sect's missions?

"When it comes to the stage of becoming a Sequence 4 demigod, the Witch Sect only provides the potion and helps prepare the ritual. How does 'Luo Beier' explain why she was able to advance to 'Despair Witch'? Where did the potion formula and corresponding materials come from, and how was the ritual completed?"

"No explanation is needed. Her advancement to Sequence 4 was completed under the gaze of the 'Primordial Witch.' And these past few days, she has frequently taken out that bone idol and placed it beside her, yet no abnormalities or dangers have arisen because of it," Lu Mian explained for Franca. "Such a situation makes her feel that she still has utility in the eyes of the Witch Sect, or rather, the 'Primordial Witch.' When the time comes, if she makes up a seemingly true reason, the 'Black Witch' should believe it—for example, a divine bestowal or divine favor.

"She can also take this opportunity to learn more occult knowledge related to 'Mirror People' from the 'Black Witch,' which might come in handy during the upcoming 'Ageless Witch' ritual."

"The Magician" looked at Lu Mian for a few seconds:

"This is very dangerous."

"We know," Lu Mian answered in a low voice.

"The Magician" sighed and said:

"When she goes to meet the 'Black Witch' tomorrow, remember to notify me in advance. I will provide the necessary protection nearby."

"Thank you," Lu Mian asked, changing the subject. "Did you come over suddenly for something?"

Wasn't the ritual matter supposed to wait until he had collected enough information before setting a time?

"The Magician" did not hide it, her expression becoming quite complex:

"To hold a small meeting."

"A small meeting?" Lu Mian raised an eyebrow.

"A small meeting means a private gathering without Mr. 'Fool' present, but it will still be held in the palace above the gray fog," "The Magician" explained simply. "It used to be fixed once a month, but now that the formal gatherings have resumed and are fixed at 3:00 PM on the first Monday of every month, the small meetings definitely can't be done that way anymore. Later, they might become ad-hoc, convened specifically for special matters."

"Is this discussion..." Lu Mian asked thoughtfully, "to unify the Great Arcana's perception of Gehrman Sparrow?"

"Yes," "The Magician" nodded gently. "In two quarters of an hour, chant Mr. 'Fool's' honorific name."

After saying this, her figure turned into countless starlight and flew into the illusory door.

Two quarters of an hour later, Lu Mian chanted Mr. 'Fool's' honorific name, arrived above the gray fog again, and sat at one side of the bronze long table.

In his eyes, rays of light were leaping up, condensing into slightly blurry figures in different seats.

In less than a minute, all the Great Arcana cards had arrived.

After glancing at Ms. "Justice," "The Magician" spoke:

"I just returned from 'Luo Beier.' She compared the current Mr. 'Fool,' or rather, the image of Gehrman Sparrow, to an AI..."

After this lady repeated Franca's original words roughly, she said:

"I think it makes a lot of sense. We must unify our perception of Gehrman Sparrow as soon as possible to minimize the corruption of the anchor of faith."

Ms. "Justice" took over the conversation:

"The most fundamental and universal perceptions that the public has of Gehrman Sparrow do not need to be changed, nor can they be changed in the short term. These themselves do not contain any contradictions.

"What we need to do is make the Gehrman Sparrow under this shell closer to Mr. 'Fool' himself, and there must be no contradictions.

"Since we want to unify the perception in this regard, we must start with ourselves. If our perceptions still differ and contain major contradictions, it will definitely affect the subsequent correction and dissemination."

Seeing that all the Great Arcana cards nodded gently to show their agreement, Ms. "Justice" said:

"Then let's first state our own impressions of Mr. 'Fool' and Gehrman Sparrow, record them well, and then discuss which ones are correct and which ones can be unified.

"Who shall start?"

Ms. "Justice" first looked at "The Magician" and Mr. "Star."

She noticed that the former seemed slightly fearful, as if she dared not speak or listen, while the latter kept his mouth shut, appearing quite hesitant, as if he didn't know what should be said and what shouldn't, or whether he should say it all.

"Chariot" Lu Mian let out an inaudible "tsk" and shook his head.

"What are you thinking about?" Mr. "Moon," who was not far from him, tilted his head slightly and asked curiously.

Lu Mian laughed in a low voice:

"I'm thinking, if a group of people were discussing what kind of person I am behind my back, each with different impressions, how would I feel?"

"Embarrassed?" Mr. "Moon" couldn't help but think about it too.

Mr. "Chariot" Lu Mian smiled and said:

"I don't know if others would be embarrassed, but for me, it would probably be exciting and fun. I'd wish I could sneak onto the scene to eavesdrop."

Mr. "Moon" raised his right hand and touched his face.

He subconsciously looked at the huge chair at the very head, then looked at the position at the very bottom, confirming that neither Mr. 'Fool' nor 'The World' was present—they were truly not there.

"If it were the Sherlock Moriarty in my impression, he would truly be embarrassed, but if it were Gehrman Sparrow, he would keep a cold face, making it impossible for people to see what he's thinking," Mr. "Moon" responded to Lu Mian's words.

After saying this, he noticed that the other Great Arcana cards were looking at him.

Seeing this, Lu Mian chuckled secretly and muttered in his heart:

Look, didn't the one responsible for starting the conversation just stand out himself?

Mr. "Moon" was stunned for a moment. Seeing that everyone was waiting for him to continue, he had no choice but to continue speaking with a calm surface:

"I haven't had much contact with Gehrman Sparrow. It was mainly above the gray fog, and many of my impressions come from rumors, concentrated on words like cold, powerful, and capable.

"By comparison, I know Sherlock Moriarty better. He is quite sharp, reasonably alert, and very focused on money. But judging from his performances at the Harvest Church and other places, he is actually quite kind-hearted and possesses the humor of a true gentleman..."

After finishing in one breath, Mr. "Moon" raised his chin slightly and looked around:

"It's your turn."

Ms. "Justice" did not wait for other Great Arcana cards, deciding to follow Mr. "Moon's" example and set a model for everyone:

"I'll go.

"I was once Mr. 'World's' psychiatrist, provided him with corresponding treatment, and entered the Hall of Truth with him, where I heard many of his inner thoughts."

After catching the term "Hall of Truth," Mr. "Star" subconsciously adjusted his sitting posture, moving his right side further forward and pulling his left side back a bit.

After all the Great Arcana cards, including "Chariot" Lu Mian, looked at her, Ms. "Justice" said in a calm voice:

"My deepest impression of Mr. 'World' is that he is very lonely. He carries many things in his heart and on his shoulders...

"But he can still control himself—not indulging, not depressed, not wanton, not twisted...

"Mr. 'Moon' was right just now; he is indeed a very kind-hearted person. His heart is actually very gentle; the coldness and toughness are just the exterior he disguises himself with..."

Ms. "Justice's" soft voice echoed slowly above the bronze long table.

(End of chapter)