"Sauron Einhorn Medici?" "The World" Klein chewed over the name thoughtfully. "So that evil spirit is a fusion of those three? No wonder its tone shifted several times..."
"Which means... that ruin is where they fell... Was the 'Blood Emperor' really that powerful before ascending to godhood? Or did He have other help?"
"They were enemies," "Temperance" Sharon interjected succinctly.
True, it's also possible the "Blood Emperor" ambushed them while Sauron, Einhorn, and Medici were fighting amongst themselves... But even then, it would've been difficult. There must have been outside assistance.
With that thought, Klein turned to "The Tower," hoping for an answer.
After a moment's consideration, Ebner decided there was no harm in sharing. "The ones who supported Tudor in becoming the 'Blood Emperor' were Adam and Amon... Both are likely children of the Creator, and both are Angel Kings."
The Creator... The same one from the City of Silver? And He named His children Adam and Amon? Could this Creator actually be Liu Bo?
Unlikely... Liu Bo's naming style leans more toward novels he's read—he rarely uses names from mythology...
So... another transmigrator? Is this world just full of holes? How many transmigrators have "visited" here?
Also, what's the relationship between the "True Creator" and that figure? Just imitation, borrowing the title and cross symbolism? Or is there a deeper connection?
His thoughts racing, Klein asked curiously, "Mr. Tower, I recall you mentioned Amon is the 'Angel of Time'... So what is Adam's title, as an Angel King?"
"Adam is known as the 'Angel of Imagination'—the most terrifying of all Angel Kings," Ebner answered gravely.
Imagination... Klein mulled over the word. "The same 'imagination' as the 'Dragon of Imagination'? 'Spectator'? Like '0-08'?"
The texts submitted by "The Sun" had repeatedly mentioned that, in the distant Second Epoch, the most powerful and fearsome of the dragonkin was "Dragon King" Ankewelt, also called the "Dragon of Imagination."
Quite the quick connection! Ebner silently praised before nodding. "Adam is even more dangerous than '0-08,' so I advise you not to dwell on His name after this."
Not even think about it? Truly more troublesome than '0-08'... Wary but contemplative, Klein sighed.
"I see... With Him 'arranging' things, it makes sense that three Sequence 1 Archangels could be outmaneuvered..."
"Not three Archangels—two Archangels and one Angel King!" Ebner corrected before elaborating, "Medici called Himself the 'God of War' and was also the Angel King known as the 'Red Angel.'"
Another Angel King... Mr. Tower once mentioned that the 'Ancient Sun God'—the Creator worshipped by the City of Silver—had eight Angel Kings beneath Him... And now I know three...
Knowledge like this shouldn't be shared so casually...
When someone offers gifts unasked, they surely want something in return.
Hesitating briefly, Klein thanked "The Tower" before cutting to the chase. "Mr. Tower, what do I owe for this knowledge?"
If the price is too steep, I'll just owe him for now.
Ebner, as if reading his mind, smiled. "You can consider it a debt... I may need your help for an expedition soon."
"What kind of expedition?" Klein asked cautiously.
"Uncertain yet. I'll consult you once I have details." Ebner himself was waiting for news from "Vice Admiral Iceberg" Edwina.
Most likely an adventure into Groselle's Travels, but who knows how much the story inside has changed after Roselle and the "Disaster Seal" tampered with it?
Just then, Sharon, seated diagonally across from Ebner, spoke up. "And me?"
"This is prepayment for 'The World's' future assistance. I assumed he'd share with you, so no additional payment is needed, Miss Temperance... Though if you insist, you can repay 'The World' directly." Ebner teased lightly.
Sharon glanced at "The World" but said nothing more.
Klein didn't press further. He wanted to ask about "Iron Man" but decided against it—this meeting had already run long, and there was no natural segue. Better to wait for the Tarot Club and have "The Fool" approach "The Tower" privately... Especially since Dunn's matter involves the Earth Mother.
Back in the real world, the trio soon parted ways. Klein caught the last subway to Minsk Street in Cherwood Borough—one reason he'd had to end the gathering.
Ebner, meanwhile, headed straight for the home of Fors and Xio instead of returning to the East Boroughs.
Medici mentioned someone with luck as bizarre as Giuseppe Castia passing through Williams Street's sewers last week... I should ask Xio if any criminals escaped nearby.
As for Sharon, she took advantage of the night to hurry toward a secret gathering that was about to begin.
.....
In the living room of the standalone house Fors and Xio rented, Ebner shared the details of his recent actions with Xio without holding much back.
As for Fors? She was still struggling with her manuscript, so he didn't disturb her.
After listening, Xio recalled thoughtfully, "Speaking of people with strange luck, I heard Her Highness Vera mention someone... and she indeed went missing on the night of Duke Negan's assassination..."
"Who was it?" Ebner asked curiously.
"The military attaché of the Intis embassy, 'Witch' Bianca… I remember giving you her profile before you assassinated Beckland," Xio paused for a moment, then said with a strange expression, "She once disguised herself as Mrs. Panis and acted as the bridge between Intis and Baron Larry… But she disappeared after last Thursday."
Bianca? Ebner recalled the file he had read before. This lady seemed to be Beckland's mistress, and he had even caught her stealing confidential information when modifying the embassy's ritual barrier...
Was there something wrong with her luck? And why did Xio look so strange when she brought her up...
As Ebner pondered, he heard Xio continue with a peculiar tone, "Her Highness Vera told me… it seems that all the men involved with her end up meeting misfortune… I specifically investigated… Baron Larry, whose life or death remains unknown, might be the one who got off easiest..."
So that's what was meant by strange luck... but what does this have to do with that transmigrator senior? Why would Medici think they're similar... is it because they have the same origin?
With those doubts in mind, after midnight passed and a new day began, Ebner activated the "Eye of Pure White" and immediately performed his once-a-day proactive prophecy:
"Bianca's whereabouts."
Soon, a word appeared in Ebner's mind:
"Trier."
Bianca fled to the capital of Intis?
What a coincidence. I was planning to go to Intis after the New Year anyway... partly to escort Helene home, and partly to fulfill my promise to help the Lion open a newspaper...
Also, when I advanced to Knowledge Keeper, someone sent a letter through Anderson inviting me to visit West Bylon after I became a Mysticism Magister...
It's practically on the way from Intis.
.....
At 3 p.m. on Monday, as figures brought by beams of deep crimson light appeared on both sides of the ancient long table, the Tarot Gathering began as scheduled.
Sitting on one side of the bronze table, "Justice" Audrey stood and led everyone in greeting Mr. Fool. She was about to cheerfully greet "Hanged Man," "Tower," and the others one by one as usual, but her gaze swept across and instantly noticed something wrong with the little "Sun." She immediately asked,
"Mr. Sun, what happened? Was the exploration of the True... ahem, Fallen Creator's temple unsuccessful?"
"Sun" Derrick seemed to come to himself only then. It was only after ascending above the grey fog that he suddenly remembered he had experienced the exploration many times, each with subtle differences... but he hadn't noticed any of it before, even subconsciously ignoring the gear-covered book that had repeatedly appeared in his pocket!
Hearing Justice's question, Derrick hurriedly described the events roughly, then said,
"That little boy was eliminated by His Excellency the 'Chief.' After that, we all closed our eyes and then woke up at the camp outside the city, preparing to start another exploration, with no memory of what had come before.
"This process repeated five times. Aside from the gear book that appeared in my pocket in the beginning and never again in the boy's hands, everything else was roughly the same.
"If Mr. Fool hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have known I'd been living a repeated life all this time."
He took it for granted that the additional memories after coming to the fog were due to Mr. Fool's reminder. Thus, he stood up and solemnly bowed toward the vague figure seated at the head of the bronze table.
It's only after hearing your story that I understood what happened... Fool Klein had been a bit stunned since just now.
He maintained his original posture and nodded slightly in response.
Seeing that Mr. Fool remained as calm as an ancient well, "Sun" Derrick felt much more at ease. He then looked toward the "Hanged Man," "Tower," "World," "Judgment," "Justice," "Temperance," and "Magician," and sincerely asked,
"Do you know what the root of the problem is? How should I resolve it?"
"Justice" Audrey and "Magician" Fors wanted to answer, but realized they had no clue at all—not even a guess.
"Judgment" directly turned her gaze to "Tower."
"Hanged Man" Alger, after listening to "Sun's" story, carefully said,
"I can only think of two possibilities. One is that you encountered a nightmare or illusion ability beyond the level of demigods and humans. If, with Mr. Fool's help, you regained your memory, you should immediately notice something wrong upon returning to the real world. In that case, the issue would be easily resolved.
"The second is that, at a certain point, you were either forced or voluntarily entered a peculiar space or state. In that place, time flows to some extent but remains fixed within a certain range—looping, continuing in balance, essentially relatively static.
"That would require powerful external force to break...
"Also, since that gear-covered book can exist outside the loop, it might be the key item!"
Saying this, he turned to "Tower" beside him and said, "That's all I can deduce... Mr. Tower, what do you think?"
As everyone turned to look at him following Alger's words, with Derrick's expectant emotions almost palpable even across the grey fog, Ebner organized his thoughts and said,
"This feels very much like the 'Fate Loop' of the 'Mercury Snake'...
"And the mural that 'Sun' mentioned reminded me of a certain Angel King who served the Fallen Creator...
"That one was especially fond of leaving behind that kind of painting."
(End of Chapter)