Though it was just an image, Ebner still felt a faint sense of familiarity as he looked at the gear-covered book...
It was similar to the feeling he had when he saw the photo of Lamia and Giuseppe together...
This must be something that belonged to a "transmigrator." Maybe I sensed it because the Eye of Pure White once left an imprint on it?
And that also explained why the gear book was able to resist the "fate loop" created by the Ouroboros, Ulorius... because it likely carried the aura of the "Unknown Land," and its "fate" was beyond the control of the Mercury Snake.
As he pondered this, Ebner heard the Hanged Man's question. He thought for a moment, organized his words, and replied, "Actually, I previously performed a 'prophecy' and received a revelation that hinted an item I needed might end up in 'Sun's' hands.
"That should be referring to this gear-covered book.
"But I don't think it's related to the fate loop left behind by the Angel King... Didn't that little boy also say he found it on the road?"
So that's how it is... You can even use 'prophecy' to locate the things you need... I wonder if 'divination' could do something similar... World—Klein—remained expressionless on the surface but was deep in thought.
Sun—Derrick—was overjoyed upon hearing this, feeling that he hadn't let down Mr. Tower's trust and had truly helped him...
But then he remembered something and hesitated a little. "Mr. Tower, the structure of this gear book is very complex. I can't open it to show you... and I'm currently with the Chief, so I can't perform a 'sacrifice' either..."
Ebner smiled and replied, "It's alright. Just give it to me when it's convenient for you... Also, I'll provide suitable compensation."
Like the red comb of a Dawn Rooster, the primary material needed by a Sun Priest. This item could still be found in the Northern Continent. The "Fragrant Tree Leaf" bar's Beyonder gathering had once received one, which Ebner had kept.
But in the Forsaken Land, finding a Dawn Rooster would be an incredibly difficult task.
"No... I helped you of my own accord. I can't ask you for payment..." Sun—Derrick—shook his head repeatedly.
Seeing the topic starting to drift, Klein, worried about his spiritual consumption, had no choice but to make World speak up and redirect Sun's attention to the projected images, asking him to highlight a specific mural depicting the "True Creator."
In that painting, a white crucifix stood tall at the center, surrounded by a sea-like blackness that submerged many struggling humans with outstretched arms.
Hanging upside down on the crucifix was the "Fallen Creator," with rusted nails and blood-stained marks, indistinguishable from the statues of the True Creator that had once appeared in the Northern Continent.
But in this mural, the "Fallen Creator" was being consumed by black corruption, to the point that even parts of the white crucifix had turned pitch black.
In addition, the crucifix supported a misty land where countless humans knelt and prayed to the "Fallen Creator."
Around the edges of the mural, hidden in the deepest darkness, were six figures resembling evil gods.
In the upper left corner was a woman in a black, classical gown. Though her clothes were layered, they weren't overly ornate, inlaid with brilliance like stars. Her body appeared somewhat translucent, with ripples spreading outward, and her face was blurred, as if wearing a mask without any facial features.
Around her, the darkness churned, with eerie eyes flickering in and out of view.
Directly above was a young man in a pure white robe. His face was painted a radiant gold, with tendrils of light sprouting like tentacles.
He held a decayed green book in one hand and a spear made of condensed light in the other. His chest and back appeared reversed.
In the upper right was a creature wielding a trident, with an octopus-like head, bulging eyes, and lightning coiled around its body.
Its cloak was made of countless bird feathers, and the dark waves beneath supported its feet.
In the lower right was a voluptuous and soft-featured woman. Her chest swelled prominently and was bare outside her clothing. She cradled a baby with a decayed face in her arms. At her feet were black wheat stalks, springs of squirming flesh, pus-dripping herbs, and animals frantically mating in chaos.
Directly below was an old man wearing a hood, revealing only his mouth, wrinkles, and white beard.
He held an open book, above which was an eye symbolizing omniscience.
At first glance, the old man seemed the most normal—but the faint smile at the corner of his lips exuded an indescribable sense of evil.
In the lower left was a giant warrior clad in broken armor, gripping a longsword and seated on a throne, with a bleak dusk in the background.
Is this mural suggesting that the True Creator is sacrificing Himself, bearing darkness and corruption, battling the evil gods to save humanity? All the members of the Tarot Club—except Sun and Tower—frowned deeply after carefully observing the painting. It shattered their preconceived image of the "True Creator."
Ebner, on the other hand, felt a sudden surge of disgust toward Ulorius after seeing how the Earth Mother had been twisted into such a corrupted form.
He examined his own feelings and quietly speculated, Is it because Lilith has always treated me well, so I don't want to see others deliberately slandering her?
"What are those evil gods?" Alger stared at the octopus-headed monster wielding a trident, surrounded by lightning, black waves beneath its feet, and bird feathers as a cloak. He couldn't help but draw associations in his mind. But he quickly suppressed the thought—because that already bordered on "blasphemy"...
"I don't know. I thought you all would recognize them," Sun—Derrick—shook his head honestly.
"Justice" Audrey, "Magician" Fors, and "Judgment" Xio all turned their gazes toward the mural. They scrutinized it several times—but still couldn't come up with any guesses.
So... At that moment, Mr. Fool controlled "World" to glance at Miss "Temperance," and found that she too had turned her head to look at him.
Their eyes met, and both confirmed the suspicion in their hearts.
After all, these depictions of evil gods were strikingly similar to the six statues they had seen in the underground ruins of the Tudor family! Only, one set was the "normal" version, and the other was a corrupted, blackened version...
It was honestly hard to look at directly—especially the Earth Mother, Lord of Storms, and Eternal Blazing Sun. They weren't just blackened into evil gods—they were twisted into grotesque monsters...
Klein, however, was puzzled in his heart. Although it was within expectation that the Angel Kings under the "True Creator" would slander the Six Gods and distort their forms... why was there a special level of distortion for the Earth Mother, Lord of Storms, and Eternal Blazing Sun?
Logically speaking, shouldn't that treatment be reserved for the God of Knowledge and Wisdom? After all, He and the other two belong to the "omniscient and omnipotent" category—true enemies of the "True Creator"!
Miss "Justice," in her "Spectator" state, noticed the interaction between "World" and "Temperance," and for the first time "read" a subtle emotional fluctuation from either of them. Her curiosity piqued, she asked:
"Mr. World, Miss Temperance—have you two seen similar images before?"
Because this involved whether "Sun" could escape the strange loop of reliving a fragment of his life, Klein had already planned to reveal what he knew. Upon hearing Justice's question, he glanced again at Miss Temperance—after all, this was their shared secret, and it wouldn't be right to speak without her consent.
Miss Temperance understood Klein's intent and gave a barely noticeable nod.
Only then did Klein make World rasp out:
"I have seen similar statues."
After drawing everyone's attention, he paused, then added:
"During an expedition to explore a Fourth Epoch ruin."
"Justice" Audrey was very interested but maintained a dignified expression:
"Mr. World, what kind of statues were they? Could you show us? Of course, if you'd rather not—or if you require compensation—we can always negotiate."
"No need. Sharing this might help me resolve some doubts as well." World originally wanted to let out a gloomy laugh, but since Sharon was present and watching, he restrained himself—thinking that if he overacted now, it would definitely be awkward facing her later as Sherlock.
He made a show of requesting Mr. Fool's permission. After receiving it, he began to project the statues of the Six Gods and their corresponding holy emblems one by one.
The woman resting upon a crescent moon, her layered but not extravagant dress flowing, appeared faint and dreamlike—but strikingly elegant. Her black gown was speckled with starlight like a midnight sky. And with the iconic dark holy emblem beside her, "Justice" Audrey immediately recognized her as the Evernight Goddess she worshiped.
And this statue resembled the evil god in the upper left of the mural by seventy to eighty percent—only with a more human-like face and none of those eerie hidden eyes in the surrounding environment!
Blasphemy! Audrey was instantly furious—this was an insult to the Goddess! But she quickly calmed down. After all, it was expected that the "True Creator" would have His followers defame the Goddess...
But why would there be a humanoid statue of the Goddess in an underground ruin...? Weren't the orthodox deities only represented by symbols? Audrey frowned slightly, lost in thought.
"The Hanged Man" Alger, however, confirmed his earlier suspicion and sighed:
"So the mural depicts distorted forms of the Six Gods...
"They really did once have human forms..."
"Sun" Derrick was first stunned to realize that the evil gods in the mural were actually the Six Gods worshiped in the normal world outside. But he soon stopped focusing on that, as it didn't help his current situation...
After thinking for a moment, he asked again:
"Is this mural a key point?"
Unfortunately, no one could give a definitive answer—not even Ebner. These concrete images were not the originals; they came from Derrick's memories, and couldn't be thoroughly "analyzed."
Although in the original novel, it was indeed a key clue, Ebner couldn't be certain whether the butterfly effect had changed things.
At this point, we'll have to see whether the "Fate Beacon" proves to be as "reliable" as it was in the original... Ebner muttered silently to himself.
Just as he was thinking this, "The Fool," seated in his high-backed chair, leisurely adjusted his posture. He tapped the edge of the mottled long table with his fingers and gave a soft chuckle toward the excitedly attentive members:
"Rose Redemption."
(End of this chapter)