Volume 3 - Clown, Trickmaster, Swindler - Begins!
Volume 3's unique Book Cover is available on Royl -Raod. If you go there, I will heartly request you to drop a Rating, or an Advance Review, to support the work.
With an Advance Review, you can access Volume 1 and 2's all chapters for Free on Pat -re8n (including unique images).
*********************
Chapter Begins:
After almost a year, Luke once again found himself surrounded by the mysterious gray fog.
He was seated on one end of the table, golden specks of light glowing within his Spirit Body.
Seated majestically opposite him, at the other end of the table, was Him, the one who had introduced Himself as —
"Mr. Fool?" Luke asked, surprised. "I thought…"
Mr. Fool, dressed in a black suit and pants with a top hat, and surrounded by fog, tapped the table's edge with his fingers. "Congratulations. You have successfully changed your fate."
My fate? Luke thought, frowning.
At first, he thought that Mr. Fool was congratulating him for completing Sequence 9.
"You don't need to worry about it. Not yet," Mr. Fool said.
Luke nodded. Then, suddenly, he got up and bowed sincerely. "Thank you, Mr. Fool," he said. "Thank you for giving me another chance."
When he was here before, revenge had taken over his senses.
Now that he had learned Cogitation, and had gained better control over his emotions, Luke finally knew how great and ridiculous a feat this blessing was.
Resurrection… Yes… Now that he thought about it again, remembering the past year, he had already diverted the fate.
"No need," Mr. Fool said. "Sit down. As I said, I believe in the principle of equivalent exchange. I didn't send you back because of pity or mercy."
Luke nodded, taking the seat. "I…"
"Before we proceed," Mr. Fool said, cutting Luke off, "let me go through your memories through the System."
Of course… Luke sighed. He had already guessed that Miss Justice would be recording everything. Still, it felt better to hear the fact in the open than let it brew in his mind.
A few moments later, Luke saw Mr. Fool nodding to himself.
"I see. Contrary to what my name would suggest," Mr. Fool said with a hint of amusement, "I have no intention of fooling you, Luke.
"This System — Miss Justice — is a part of my power that I have engraved in your Spirit Body. Consider it as an — indestructible psych.
"When you became a Sequence 9 of the three Pathways, it solidified the psych, letting it reach out to me. You must remember the boundary I mentioned surrounding your planet."
Luke nodded.
It was the same boundary that was preventing Mr. Fool from looking in or out of the planet.
"Good," Mr. Fool nodded. "Because of the boundary, we have to slowly stabilize this channel between us.
"Also, I cannot pull you up here freely as it can attract an adverse reaction from the boundary, completely cutting us off.
"The upside is that now you will be able to practice Ritualistic Magic."
Luke's eyes widened.
Miss Justice had told him that Ritualistic Magic was a great part of a Seer's abilities.
However, even the simplest Ritualistic Magic needed the help of an external existence, which Luke's world lacked.
With a channel between Luke and Mr. Fool, he could finally put everything he had learned about the Ritualistic Magic into practice.
"Also," Mr. Fool continued, "as you must have realized, the stronger you become as a Beyonder, the better the System would become, i.e., the System would keep becoming better, adjusting itself to your needs and… let's say, requirements."
So, Mr. Fool's psych within me will keep becoming stronger… Luke thought, analyzing the meaning behind Mr. Fool's words.
"Also, I have to warn you against something," Mr. Fool said, making Luke straighten his spine in alarm. "The way you are consuming Potions of three different Pathways… shouldn't work normally.
"There is a concept of neighboring Pathways. Seer, Marauder, and Apprentice are all neighboring Pathways. Part of something bigger.
"Still, consuming two Sequence 9 potions, let's say, Seer and Marauder, would have been enough to make you lose control on the spot."
A chill ran down Luke's spine.
"It is the System that let the Potions coexist within you," Mr. Fool told Luke. "But, as you consume more Potions, even the System won't be enough, regardless of how strong it becomes.
"There are certain rules and restrictions that must be respected."
Luke balled his fingers into fists. "Mr. Fool, is there a way around it?"
Mr. Fool nodded. "There is. I have… updated the System to tackle this problem, for now. Miss Justice will explain it to you when you return. It might be a touch complex, but, given your intelligence, you will be alright."
Luke sighed in relief. "Thank you…"
Mr. Fool shook his head. "As I said, it's not out of pity or mercy."
Luke nodded. "Please tell me," he said, remembering Mr. Fool's prime objective. "To be honest, I have no idea how to recruit followers for you.
"Whenever I think of going ahead with it, I ask myself why a Quirk user would consider praying for… an unknown existence…"
The gray fog churned around Mr. Fool as if he had just laughed.
"I have a solution for this as well," Mr. Fool said. "If one pool of the population is not working out for you, then you just have to target a different, certain kind of pool, no?"
Eh?! The Quirkless?!! Luke was baffled.
How did changing to Quirkless people would work?
No matter if it was Quirkless or Quirk users, none would want to convert their faith just because someone asked them to.
Not to mention, Luke had absolute confidence in himself to just give up after hearing the first NO. That's how much of a social recluse he was.
"Not the Quirkless ones…" Mr. Fool said, holding the table's edge, "… but the Quirkless ones who long for Quirks… and those who had lost theirs…"
Luke's eyes lit up like two bright bulbs.
Suddenly, he recalled the Box No. 6 hidden in Nyx's stomach.
"If you don't have the confidence to convert someone's faith," Mr. Fool said, "then buy your way in."
Yes, why didn't I think of it before?! Luke asked himself, shocked. I can…
"People long for what they used to have, Luke," Mr. Fool said. "To rise from the status quo they have fallen to.
"These people would be most likely to accept a helping hand and would make excellent candidates to become… Beyonders."
Yes… Luke couldn't help but find sense in it. I can brew more Potions and… give them to others.
"You need to keep two things in mind, Luke," Mr. Fool said. "Unlike you, who have the System, these Quirks would actively reject the Potions. So, your only option is the Quirkless ones, whether they were born as such or have lost their Quirks.
"Second, as they won't have the System, such people would only be able to walk on one Pathway.
"Who to choose, how to choose, and then which Potion to give someone and when, I leave it to you.
"But, to proceed with each set of Sequences, you must gain a certain number of Followers. Miss Justice will fill you in about all the conditions and restrictions later."
Luke nodded in understanding.
If this hadn't been the case, then everything would have become just too good to be true, he knew.
He might have even doubted everything that Mr. Fool had said or claimed to him.
"Now, with all that said," Mr. Fool crossed his legs, "let's discuss… Conformity and Singularity."
**************
AN: 60 more chapters are available in advance on Pat -re -8n [Use the link available on my Webnovel Profile].
100 Power Stones/day: +1 Bonus Chapter