Chapter 402 - Roselle's Praise
The towering stone pillars, the lofty do, the mottled and ancient long table, and the mysterious presence hidden in the gray fog at the head of the table...
Although Audrey Hall had witnessed this scene many tis, every visit to the gray fog still evoked a deep, reverberating sense of awe.
She cast a quick glance and saw no new mbers. Looking toward the head of the table, she habitually led the Tarot Club mbers in greeting,
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool."
The other mbers also rose one after another, and the "Magician" Fors, now familiar with the process, managed to follow the rhythm this ti.
After exchanging greetings, Audrey noticed sothing unusual. A card with intricate and ornate patterns on its back was quietly lying on the table near the "Fool's" right hand, as if it were an ordinary item.
That... is the "Blasphemy card"? The card containing a divine pathway?! Audrey imdiately understood. After Mr. Fool responded with a slight nod, she instinctively looked around at the "Hanged Man," the "Sun," the "Tower," the "Judgnt," the "World," and the "Magician," observing their reactions.
The "Hanged Man" and "Judgnt" both displayed visible surprise and inevitable curiosity. A card placed so casually beside the inscrutable Mr. Fool could never be an ordinary object.
The "Sun" and "Magician" appeared more puzzled. The forr likely knew nothing of Roselle's legends, while the latter had joined the Tarot Club too recently to have heard the previous discussions about the "Blasphemy card" by Mr. Tower and the Hanged Man.
Hmm, Mr. World's reaction is odd—he hasn't looked at it at all. Is he hiding it too well, or is he truly the nesis of both "Spectators" and "Telepathists"?
Most striking was Mr. Tower. Though his gaze was directed at the card, his attention seed elsewhere, as if his thoughts had nothing to do with the card itself. Moreover, he appeared sowhat ntally fatigued.
After reading these surface details from the others, Audrey withdrew her gaze, feeling a tinge of pride: That card being placed beside Mr. Fool... I contributed to its discovery.
Klein, shrouded in the gray fog, was keenly aware of the changes in the mbers' emotions. Apart from the still "idle" Mr. World, everyone else reacted as he expected. Even Mr. Tower, usually brimming with "joy," seed unusually thoughtful today, exuding a faint "blue" indicative of contemplation.
Satisfied, Klein nodded under the cover of the fog, thinking: That's more like it. So, it was indeed Mr. Tower's unusual reaction earlier that was the anomaly... Maybe he was in a poor state back then, affecting his observations?
At that mont, Ebner was indeed deep in thought, but it had nothing to do with the "Blasphemy card." Having spent the past few days grinding for points, he hadn't had ti to review or select Roselle's diary entries. Right now, he was debating which entries to present.
After much deliberation, Ebner decided to offer a page from "Roselle's Romantic Escapades."
However, just as he finalized his choice, Audrey raised her hand and said,
"Respected Mr. Fool, I have sothing to report privately."
Privately? The "Hanged Man" Alger frowned slightly, instinctively speculating about the matter but coming up blank.
The "Sun" Derrick and "Magician" Fors were curious but not particularly concerned.
"Judgnt" Xio, however, had a good guess. Audrey likely wanted to report her follow-up investigation involving the Psychology Alchemists. During this investigation, she had discovered that Islant Osisleka, the psychologist she was tracking, had visited the Duke of Negan's sister, Lady Norma of Horatio—who was none other than Emma's mother.
The sa Lady Norma had invited Audrey for tea just the previous afternoon.
Ebner, with his additional knowledge, could easily deduce the general context, even with the Tarot Club's significant deviations from the original narrative.
As for Mr. World? He remained "idle."
Klein, ever indulgent toward Miss Justice's requests, nodded gently and said,
"Go ahead."
As predicted, Audrey privately reported the details of her contact with the Psychology Alchemists to Klein. She received a promise of "protection" during future interactions and a reminder about the potential presence of official spies within the organization.
Mr. Fool is so considerate, willing to offer protection and even cautioning
about spies, Audrey thought, her lips curving into a soft smile.
"In the future, the Psychology Alchemists will have a Tarot Club informant," she remarked lightly.
Miss Justice, you haven't even joined them yet, and you're already planning betrayal... Klein silently sketched an invisible crimson moon in honor of the Psychology Alchemists.
Then Audrey added, as if rembering sothing,
"By the way, Lady Norma's daughter Emma has a close relationship with the renowned hero detective in Backlund. Could that detective also be part of the Psychology Alchemists?"
Mr. Tower truly has a wide social network! Klein thought, glancing subtly at Ebner while speculating: Mr. Tower disclosed the Psychology Alchemists' details during his first Tarot eting, showing familiarity with the organization. Could he have obtained that knowledge from Miss Emma?
However, his dismissive attitude toward the group suggests he isn't a mber.
"It's unnecessary to pay him any attention," Klein tapped the long table and replied vaguely.
Unnecessary? Does that an the detective is not a concern? Audrey imdiately interpreted Mr. Fool's response as a reassurance.
Her earlier ntion of the detective stemd from a concern that Fors might inadvertently reveal Tarot Club secrets due to her connection with him. However, if Mr. Fool deed it unnecessary to worry, there was no need to overthink it.
Moreover, Mr. Fool's familiarity with the detective suggested he might even be under consideration for future mbership in the Tarot Club.
Audrey then produced two pages of Roselle's diary, which she had noted during her visit to the "Roselle morial Exhibit."
Klein accepted them with a smile, but as his gaze fell on the first line, his smile froze.
"March 6th: Damn it, the food here is making
constipated!"
Controlling his expression, Klein forced a smile and said,
"Would you prefer your paynt to be deducted from the yet-unpaid pounds, or would you like sothing else in return?"
Please don't deduct too much, or I'll be short on funds for purchasing materials later... Klein silently hoped.
Audrey, however, didn't hesitate. She inquired about the divine pathway contained within the "Blasphemy card."
So indifferent to money... Klein lanted inwardly before replying with a smile,
"That is the 'Black Emperor' card.
"It corresponds to Sequence 9: Lawyer."
Satisfied with the answer, Audrey felt deeply content.
Their private conversation ended, and the "Magician" Fors eagerly addressed the head of the table,
"Mr. Fool, I've collected two pages of Roselle's diary."
"Excellent. What would you like in return?" Klein asked with renewed enthusiasm.
"N-No need. I rely wish to express my gratitude for your protection," Fors replied sincerely.
If not for Mr. Fool, I'd have been on the verge of losing control again last night under the full moon...
"Protecting you was my promise. No further exchange is required," Klein replied with a soft laugh.
Besides, both Mr. Tower and Miss Judgnt have already covered for you before. Especially Mr. Tower—if he hadn't been generous enough to overlook the loss of the "Fallen Morning Star," Mr. Fool would still be broke... Klein thought wryly.
"In that case... I'll follow Mr. Tower's example and accumulate contributions for now," Fors said after a mont of thought, accepting Mr. Fool's goodwill.
At this mont, Ebner also materialized a sheet of parchnt and said,
"I've also obtained a page of Roselle's diary. I'd like to accumulate contributions as before."
"Very well," Klein nodded slightly.
He then transferred the three diary pages to himself. Picking up one, he almost failed to maintain his composure upon reading:
"March 6th: Damn it, the food here is making
constipated!"
Great. It seems all the Backlund mbers visited the Roselle morial Exhibit... Perhaps this is the first "team-building" event in the Tarot Club's history, even though no one encountered each other.
After silently griping for a mont, Klein picked up the page submitted by Mr. Tower. This one was filled with the nas of nurous Misses and Ladies, along with Roselle's glowing praise for Karen's health potion.
(End of Chapter)
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