Chapter 757 - Overinterpretation
"What happened?" As the "best straight man" personally designated by "The Fool," "Justice" Audrey asked curiously.
"The Hanged Man" Alger didn't beat around the bush and replied directly: "The heavily wounded 'Sea God' Kalvetua, who had been hiding for years, is on the verge of collapse and has gone mad searching for ways to prolong its existence.
"Its followers have been launching attacks everywhere, seemingly searching for soone. So fanatics have even prepared for 'burial sacrifices,' ready to perish alongside their god.
"In response, the Church of Storms' 'Sea King' Jahn Kottman has arrived in Bayam and suppressed that evil spirit, blockading Blue Mountain Island. He'll likely locate Kalvetua's hiding place within a day or two."
This aligns with my assessnt... On one side is a collapsing "Sea God" now at most Sequence 3 level; on the other is the fully operational "Sea King" who can deploy sealed artifacts at any ti. The outco is obvious—Jahn Kottman can absolutely suppress Kalvetua's madness indefinitely, preventing Bayam from being subrged and stopping Blue Mountain Island and its cities from becoming lost underwater ruins...
Once Kalvetua's final frenzy passes and it completely disintegrates, the matter will be resolved. This is the simplest and most effective solution, causing no panic. Most people in Bayam won't even notice anything unusual...
Though I've heard Jahn Kottman's primary role is as a senior deacon of the "Mandated Punishers." The archipelago's remote location necessitated unifying authority, hence his additional appointnt as cardinal. His thods likely lean more toward the "Mandated Punishers"... Still, even for him, locating Kalvetua's hideout won't be easy...
A day or two? That's probably an optimistic estimate. I still have ti.
Recalling his morning ritual of offering cigarette cases to "Sea God" Kalvetua, Klein—who was about to claim his "inheritance"—felt revealing so insider details wouldn't hurt. It could also serve as another opportunity to probe "The Tower."
Manipulating "The World," he feigned seeking "The Fool's" permission before rasping:
"The incident was triggered by mbers of the 'Moses Ascetic Order' entering the deep jungles of Syem Island under the guise of exploration or archaeology. They discovered ancient elf ruins and retrieved the Book of Calamity.
"The Book of Calamity is linked to Kalvetua's origins... which drove it to lose control and approach collapse.
"Notably, a 'Pillar' of the 'Moses Ascetic Order' orchestrated this operation."
He then projected an image of the rather attractive female adventurer he'd encountered.
"The World's" explanation drew the Tarot Club mbers' gazes toward the yellowish-brown book beside "The Fool's" hand.
So this book caused such chaos... But how did it end up with "The Fool"? Did "The World" capture that "Moses Ascetic Order" adventurer or repel their "Pillar" before offering the Book of Calamity to "The Fool"?
Still, what's a "Pillar"? Such a title must correspond to at least a high-sequence individual... "Justice," "The Magician," and others felt minor puzzlent but lacked deeper context.
In contrast, "Temperance" and "Judgnt"—who understood the significance of a "Moses Ascetic Order Pillar"—had more elaborate theories. Especially the forr; Sharon was certain Sherlock couldn't have repelled a "Pillar" alone. There had to be more to the story.
"Leticia Dolera..." Alger recognized the woman in the projection. A realization struck him:
No wonder that self-proclaid "Sea God" evil spirit—quiet for over a century—suddenly neared collapse...
After all, long ago, it was defeated by two cardinals and military elites wielding sealed artifacts, barely escaping to hide...
So the "Moses Ascetic Order" engineered this...
Hah, "The World" did go to Syem Island... Which ans his "scandal" with "Ailnt Maiden" might've been a cover. His real target was likely the Book of Calamity?
Or perhaps "Ailnt Maiden's" rebellion wasn't as simple as it seed!
That said, "The World" is almost catching up to—or even surpassing—that "hero detective" who attracts incidents at every banquet or gathering...
First the Great Smog of Backlund, then the anomaly at Bansy Harbor, now Kalvetua's death throes and the "Moses Ascetic Order's" sches...
Does this an wherever he appears, major events are brewing or imminent?
No, more accurately: wherever major events brew or loom, "The Fool's" blessed arrives! He follows "The Fool's" directives, tracking the activities of secret organizations and evil gods!
This is "The Fool's" will!
Amid his conjectures, Alger naturally arrived at the critical question:
How did "The World" obtain the Book of Calamity from a "Pillar" of the Moses Ascetic Order?
"The World" is strong but no match for a demigod... Unless he had backup from other blessed of "The Fool"—or that "Pillar" never intervened...
His thoughts were interrupted by "Justice's" puzzled voice: "Who is Leticia Dolera? The lady in the image?"
Snapping back, Alger opted not to dwell further and explained: "The person in the image is Leticia Dolera, an archaeologist and adventurer.
"Rumors claim she's a mber of either the 'Moses Ascetic Order' or 'Revelation Society.'
"Now it seems it's the forr."
...also Governor Ovella's mistress... Ebner silently added this tidbit without voicing it aloud.
After all, if Xio or Fors ask how I know this, I can't very well say I eavesdropped in a dream...
ntally grumbling, Ebner carefully phrased his question: "If it's Leticia... then the 'Pillar' overseeing this would be Yalolan?"
He'd learned long ago from Cale's "hypnosis" of Lydia that the ancestor of Teenager Terran was Lady Yalolan.
And during his ti in the Dream Labyrinth Tower's fifth layer, he'd accidentally overheard that Leticia was Terran's aunt...
So if a "Pillar" were truly overseeing the elf ruins expedition, Yalolan was the most likely candidate.
From the lowest seat, "The World" glanced at "The Tower" and nodded: "Correct."
anwhile, "The Fool" at the head of the table mused internally: His tone and emotional response seem genuinely deduced... Doesn't sound at all like soone ntioning an old fla...
Ebner, however, was busy speculating: Yalolan was probably Rhine's "friend." Did she learn about Gerhman's existence from that ti-traveler, then use the Book of Calamity as an introductory gift to invest in "The Fool"?
Elsewhere, having just finished explaining the Moses Ascetic Order's basic structure to "Justice," "The Magician," and "The Sun," Alger heard "The Tower" ntion "Yalolan" and couldn't help asking: "Mr. Tower, are you acquainted with that 'Pillar'?"
Ebner shook his head, organizing his words:
"Only by reputation, never t.
"Rumors say she's been active since the Four Emperors War, possibly earlier."
These "rumors" naturally ca from Cale.
At this point, "The Fool" chuckled and corrected: "One should refer to her as 'Her.'"
Klein had confird this through divination above the gray fog.
Her?! That "Pillar" is actually an angel? And from "The Fool's" tone, they might know each other! No wonder "The World" obtained the Book of Calamity!
Alger's mind raced as he imagined Yalolan being "The Fool's" long-planted mole within the Moses Ascetic Order.
Given how He convenes our gatherings, it's entirely possible! Stealing a glance at the imposing figure at the head of the table, Alger felt renewed awe.
Ebner, too, was montarily impressed by "The Fool's" display—were he not so familiar with the truth, he might have reached similar conclusions as Alger.
After allowing everyone ti to digest this information (with varying degrees of personal interpretation), Alger resud recounting the "Demoness Sect" infighting on Syem Island.
Compared to the unfamiliar "Sea God" and Moses Ascetic Order, this gossip proved far more engaging for "Justice," "The Magician," and other ladies—especially since it involved a "pirate admiral's" romantic entanglent with an "adventurer."
Klein repeatedly considered interrupting to clarify but wisely refrained—such matters only grew murkier with explanation.
However, when Alger ntioned the Demoness Sect losing one "Witch" and one "Demoness of Pleasure," the mbers' expressions turned peculiar, with frequent glances toward "The World."
Even "Temperance" Sharon turned to look, finally prompting Klein to have "The World" explain: emphasizing how the infighting stemd from Tracy's "mother" being manipulated, and how the false rumors likely originated from her as well—possibly to provoke Tracy into revealing herself.
So accepted this explanation (like Sharon); others remained skeptical (like Fors).
Ebner fell into the forr camp—when it ca to personal integrity, he trusted "The Fool."
Seizing the opportunity, Ebner shared intelligence gleaned from his earlier investigation at the Red Angel's "grave":
"Tracy's mother, 'Saintess of White' Katarina, has been turned into a 'puppet' by the Intis special envoy Owen Delien using a sealed artifact.
"This envoy also serves on the Psychological Alchemists' highest council under the codena 'Lust.'"
"Lust" from the Psychological Alchemists... controlling a "Demoness of Unaging"... Just the codena alone makes him sound despicable! Why are Intis envoys always such lechers? Audrey felt ashad to share mbership in the sa organization.
Then she rembered her own noble status and shrugged it off.
"Can we report his identity to the authorities?" "The World" asked after consideration. His concern wasn't for Tracy, but disgust at Owen's thods.
"The Judgnt" Xio shook her head: "Our military knows his identity... but has no plans to arrest him.
"The Delien family's influence is imnse, with the Church of the Eternal Sun's protection... Only the Church of Storms might show interest."
Alger calculated the odds and sighed: "Without evidence... it would achieve little."
Powerful families always had skeletons—unless they overstepped drastically, churches typically turned a blind eye.
"Perhaps suggest Tracy inform the Demoness Sect—secret organizations don't require evidence," Ebner proposed.
His designs on the "Sea Monster" characteristic would inevitably clash with the Deliens—any weakening helped.
(End of Chapter)
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