Chapter 596: Execution

Upon hearing the "Bard's" account, Franca couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

These "Fool's Day" fools deceive not only outsiders but even their own kind—if not for their shared faith in that Supreme Lord, they could never cooperate.

The "Bard" continued recounting what he knew about Dulan Castle:

"That castle once belonged to a secretive organization called the 'Esoteric Order.' When 'Loki' first crossed over, he was already a member of that group. It's said the castle was personally built by the Esoteric Order's first leader and hidden away by the previous leader over a century ago."

"Who is the current leader of the Esoteric Order?" Franca asked with keen curiosity.

The "Bard" slowly shook his head:

"Even 'Loki' doesn't know. Within the Esoteric Order, only those who have become 'Sorcerer of Deception'—a Rank 4 Semi-God—can meet and establish contact with the leader. Everyone else merely follows orders from their direct superior."

"'Loki' once wanted to murder his mentor—his direct superior in the Esoteric Order—to obtain the 'Sorcerer of Deception's' Unique Item and stage a grand performance. But out of understanding and fear of the 'Sorcerer of Deception,' he never turned the idea into a concrete plan. Later, he acquired all materials related to the 'Sorcerer of Deception' elixir inside Dulan Castle and completely abandoned his original intention."

"Don't you think a hidden place like Dulan Castle, with its long history, would be silent, cold, and eerie? But it's not like that. 'Loki' told me it's extremely lively, with grand performances every single day."

Grand performances... "Hela" recalled the pitch-black castle she had seen in 'Loki's' dream, and the wax-like guests within it.

Lumian pondered for a moment, then asked the "Bard":

"How do you think we can find Dulan Castle?"

"We're still missing a crucial clue," the "Bard" said, voicing his true thoughts. "If Dulan Castle were that easy to find, the current leader of the Esoteric Order would have seized it long ago and driven out 'Loki.' No—he'd turn 'Loki' into his puppet."

Lumian planned to ask Ludwig in detail later, to see if the man who had devoured half of 'Loki's' arm knew anything.

"What about 'Sisyphus'? What do you know about him?" Lumian asked next.

The "Bard" assumed a thoughtful expression:

"That guy never fit in. He preferred acting alone. Even when he cooperated occasionally, it was mostly with 'The Madwoman.'"

"We all thought his emotions were volatile, switching rapidly between joy, anger, and other states. 'The Madwoman' judged him as not pure enough."

"He's dangerous—not any less so than 'Loki.' His exact Path is unknown. I've seen him use his abilities twice, but both times through magical artifacts: a playing card that could change its face, displaying the traits of 'Frost' and 'Cutting.' It's said he commissioned it from a craftsman outside the Research Society after hunting down a Unique Being."

Too bad 'The Madwoman' was already dead—and couldn't be contacted through Spirit Communication. She must have known far more about 'Sisyphus'... Did 'not pure enough' mean 'Sisyphus' wasn't truly mad, and his madness was sometimes feigned? A pang of regret flashed through Lumian's mind.

Although 'The Madwoman's' corpse now lay in his hands, her spirit had been severely corrupted by the Supreme Lord, and parts of it had even been washed away by the sea's power, utterly erased.

Lumian exhaled silently and asked about something else:

"Do you know anything about the sea's power on 'Salted Egg Man'?"

"I know it very well," the "Bard" honestly described his contributions. "I was primarily responsible for deciphering those alien languages—though the key parts came from the Supreme Lord's revelations. Moreover, the sea's power isn't exclusive to the Sontag Port's followers. I once encountered two cultists of Xieshen in Lunbao who possessed similar abilities, and I tricked them into revealing the knowledge."

"That knowledge helped me decode the rest, allowing us to understand this Path isn't equivalent to the sea—it only involves a tiny fraction of it."

"Its power mainly comes from the stars and from the earth beneath our feet. You all know well: our world is itself a planet."

"The power corresponding to Rank 9 is called 'Astronomy Enthusiast': it grants knowledge of the starry sky, related lore, and a preliminary perception of truth, while strengthening the body."

"Rank 8 is 'Star Worshipper': capable of interpreting 'Star Speech'—the Language of the Stars—and receiving revelations of fate."

"Rank 7 is 'Star Ritualist': can obtain true power through sacrifices to the stars, including 'Gravity Anomaly,' 'Weakness Ray,' 'Electromagnetic Attraction,' and 'Void Sky.'"

"Rank 6 is 'Navigator': deepens understanding of space and dimensions, enabling discovery of hidden pathways in the void, and the ability to lock and correct star routes. For a 'Navigator,' guiding ships on the sea is effortless."

"Rank 5 is 'Tidal Scholar': further mastery of gravity, capable of summoning colossal waves that shatter ships and destroy piers."

"Rank 4 should be 'The Weighted.' Specific abilities remain unclear."

Lumian fell silent, stepped back two paces, and gestured for Franca and the others to ask.

He cared only about 'Loki' and 'Sisyphus.' The rest didn't matter.

Franca stared at the "Bard," thought for a moment, then asked:

"Have you recruited any other 'Fool's Day' members?"

"Yes," the "Bard" answered without any intention to lie.

After he finished listing the 'Fool's Day' members he knew who weren't part of the 'Curly Baboon Research Society,' Franca asked curiously:

"Why did you choose the nickname 'Bard'? Given your former identity and current profession, wouldn't 'Thief' or 'Kid' suit you better?"

The "Bard" replied calmly:

"This body was originally that of a bard and wandering performer, who occasionally worked as a thief and con artist. He died because he tried to swindle someone and was beaten to near death on the spot."

Swindling, cheating, stealing—he could do it all... and it suits you well... Franca glanced sideways at "Hela" and "Gandalf":

"I have no more questions."

"Neither do I," "Gandalf" understood the "Bard's" life was nearing its end.

The "Muggle's" brother won't let him live!

"Neither do I," "Hela" added.

Lumian immediately raised his right hand, gathering a dense, dark green radiance at his fingertips.

The radiance formed a strange ray that struck the "Bard's" chest without evasion, piercing inside.

"Weakness Ray"!

Lumian could still use the sea's power for another week, near Rank 5 level.

The "Bard's" face twisted instantly—the instinctive reaction of muscles and nerves.

Near his neck, his skin rapidly melted and peeled away; the flesh beneath did the same.

Seeing this, "Gandalf" sighed again.

He gathered specks of dawnlight into a straight sword and hurled it with force toward the "Bard."

The light-sword pierced straight through the "Bard's" skull, sending him crashing down, pinning him to the ground.

The "Bard" writhed like a skinned insect, twitched, then died.

Lumian watched silently, not stopping "Gandalf" from granting the "Bard" release.

When the "Bard" ceased breathing and lay utterly still, Lumian turned to "Gandalf" and "Hela" and said:

"Thank you for your help."

"It's our duty. We all must answer for the 'Fool's Day's' harm to other Research Society members," "Gandalf" replied solemnly.

Lumian made no objection, but added:

"Before this operation, I told you I had joined a secret organization before impersonating my sister, for the sake of revenge. I invited members of that organization to assist—surely you've all seen or sensed them."

He tied the appearance of the "Tarot Society" to himself, to prevent Franca from exposing her status as a Minor Arcana holder.

"What organization is that?" "Gandalf" asked with keen curiosity.

According to "Hela's" account, the secret organization seemed to possess Angel-level power, and the Semi-God "Cinderella" who appeared on the sea was also extremely strong.

"The Tarot Society," Lumian answered honestly.

"You're one of the Minor Arcana cards?" "Gandalf" suddenly understood.

He had heard of the Tarot Society.

Lumian nodded, not denying it.

Franca asked curiously:

"Which card is the 'Cinderella' Semi-God? How come her magic is so dreamlike, and resembles our childhood fairy tales?"

She was both performing and genuinely asking.

Lumian recalled the "Magician" lady's words and smiled:

"Major Arcana: 'The Hermit.'"

He paused, then added:

"I don't know why she can turn your fairy tales into magic. I only know she has close ties to the descendants of Emperor Rosell."

"Emperor Rosell's eldest daughter, Bernadette?" Franca and the others—all of whom had read countless Rosell diaries—immediately guessed.

"Possibly. But not Bernadette herself," Lumian answered honestly.

He knew no more.

"I see..." Franca, "Gandalf," and "Hela" all relaxed now.

So it was Rosell's lineage!

It was perfectly normal for that emperor to invent fairy-tale magic.

Lumian thought for a moment and added:

"You should restrain Research Society members from spreading those fairy tales."

"Understood," "Gandalf" agreed.

Lumian fell silent for several seconds, then said:

"My business with the Research Society is finished. I've joined another secret organization now. I'm no longer suitable to attend its gatherings. You can find opportunities to reveal the truth to the other members."

"Gandalf" and "Hela" exchanged glances, then said:

"You can continue playing 'The Muggle' within the Research Society to gain resources and aid. It's what we owe your sister."

(End of Chapter)