On a small island where the Sea of Mist met the Polar Sea, the three former princesses—Bernadette, Isabella, and Bruna—sat on vine-woven chairs summoned by the "Mystery Queen," taking stock of their exploration's harvest.
"Putting aside the materials and characteristics left behind by those bizarre creatures, the most valuable are these three items."
It was Isabella who spoke. After straightening her clothes, she placed a notebook, a map, and a card onto the vine-woven table.
"This card seals that strange creature of demigod level… If it hadn't been for you, Bernadette, providing Roselle's 'Duel Card,' we might not have been able to subdue it… I still don't know how that 'Wanderer' from the Abraham family managed to seal it in the ruins with just the power of a 'Traveler.'"
As she said this, Isabella pushed the card toward Bernadette and continued, "Since you provided the card, it's only right for you to hold it. I believe Bruna won't object."
Bruna had no shortage of powerful spirits as companions, so she indeed had no opinion. Bernadette also didn't refuse and silently stored the card away.
Then, Isabella picked up the map and displayed it. "The map marks the functions of various facilities in the ruins and the combinations of 'Blasphemy Cards' required to enter them. It's clearly something Roselle left behind on purpose...
"As for the notebook you've both skimmed through, you should know it was written by the Death Emperor. It contains many terrifying occult secrets, likely related to that deity's research and experiments on the path above Sequence 0…
"From that, it's not hard to deduce that these ruins were actually a laboratory established by the Death Emperor and the Black Emperor to explore the path beyond true gods...
"Perhaps, the later 'Pale Disaster' was caused by some accident during one of the Death Emperor's experiments...
"Finally, this map has many restrictions on it, and it needs to be 'analyzed' to reveal its full content. So it's best I hold onto it for now, right?"
Bernadette thought for a moment and agreed with her reasoning.
Bruna had no objections either. This wasn't her area of expertise, and leaving it to a professional was best.
"As for the notebook… the knowledge inside isn't something we can digest in a short time, and it's extremely dangerous. I suggest we bring it back to the Lenburg Grand Library to be stored in the 'Tower of Wisdom.' If either of you want to read it, you can borrow it at any time," Isabella said carefully as she picked up the notebook.
Bernadette had no objections to this. But Bruna disagreed—she frowned and said, "This is a legacy of the 'Death God.' As his descendant, it is my duty to reclaim it."
"But if you take it back to the Church of the Spirit, Bernadette and I may never get the chance to read it…" Isabella clearly wasn't willing to let go of it so easily.
Just as the tension between the two was rising, Bernadette suddenly spoke:
"I have a better candidate—the 'Ruler of Death'... Before returning this notebook to His Highness, it can be temporarily kept by Bruna for safekeeping…" As she spoke, she looked at Bruna. "What do you think?"
Bruna thought for a moment and felt that this was acceptable. After all, His Highness was the Death God's own child and her ancestor. So she nodded and said, "Alright… But Bernadette, do you know where our ancestor is?"
Bernadette closed her eyes, nodded slightly, and said, "In Backlund… I happen to need to go back there anyway… Also, based on the currently deciphered information from the map, the core of these ruins requires the 'Red Priest,' 'Black Emperor,' and 'Moon' cards to open… The 'Black Emperor' card might be in Backlund."
.....
On Tuesday morning, just as Emlyn left the vampire dwelling, he was startled by the sudden appearance of gray fog and a mysterious figure shrouded within it, as if even his thoughts were freezing.
"'The Fool' actually responded!!" Emlyn, terrified, confessed everything he knew in response to the mysterious being's inquiry.
Lilith delivered an oracle? Preparing for the apocalypse? Is Lilith also trying to invest in me?First, the Earth Mother sent the 'Tower' and revived Dunn. Now Lilith has sent Emlyn...
Right, in the 'Spirit World Anecdotes' notebook, there's also a similar doomsday prophecy, from 'Yellow Light' Venithan. He also mentioned that the Abraham family's curse would be broken by an 'Apprentice' aided by a hidden existence. That perfectly matches Miss Magician's current state—she is an Apprentice who received help from me, 'The Fool'... Interesting.Could it be that all high-level beings proficient in prophecy have foreseen the inevitability of the apocalypse and also seen the existence of 'The Fool' and the role I might play? So they all want to invest in me?Also, Roselle's diary might also count as a form of investment… Did he foresee 'The Fool' too?Hmm… come to think of it, I even swore an oath upon a holy artifact… Perhaps the Goddess is also aware of me now…
These thoughts flickered through Klein's mind, though his expression didn't change at all.
Leaning back in his chair, he manifested a Tarot deck on the ancient bronze table and said with a slow smile:
"You may choose one as your codename."
The calm tone snapped Emlyn out of his frozen, dazed state, and he replied with slight sluggishness:
"Moon.I choose the 'Moon' card!"
.....
After Emlyn left, Klein "tapped" the crimson star symbolizing Daly, only to find that she was still in the same room from last night... so he had no choice but to postpone his response once again.
Hope the captain doesn't change apartments anytime soon... Otherwise, Ms. Daly will have to chase after 'Husband' on her own based on the clues, Klein muttered a few words, then simulated the sensation of falling to return to reality.
He dressed neatly, picked up his cane, stepped outside, and took a public carriage to the East Borough. At a greasy-tabled café on Black Palm Street, he enjoyed oat bread dipped in tender green pea and lamb stew while listening to Old Kohler report on the information he had gathered over the past week.
Unfortunately, none of it held much value.
Once Kohler finished speaking, Klein thought for a moment, then pulled out two pounds in banknotes and slid them across the table.
"You already paid me just now!" Old Kohler was startled and waved his hands in shock.
Klein chuckled softly.
"I'll be heading south for vacation this week. After a year of hard work, it's time to take a break.
"I might be gone two or three weeks, so I'm paying your fee in advance. Heh, don't forget to keep collecting news for me.
"And if I don't return in two or three weeks, I hope you won't stop. I've already asked a reliable friend to stay in touch with you regularly."
"Alright, alright!" Old Kohler accepted the money, both thrilled and grateful.
In that instant, he had already decided how he'd spend the New Year.
He planned to finally buy that cured ham he'd been reluctant to splurge on, and pair it with his bread.
Can't wait… Thank you, Detective Moriarty! He subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Klein picked up his hat and reminded Old Kohler to stay safe and not take unnecessary risks. Once he got Kohler's assurance, he left satisfied.
…..
At the same time, the "Eye of the Goddess" Ilya knocked on the door of 15 Minsk Street, but received no response after quite a while.
Not home either? Could he have gone on vacation just like Detective Isengard? Ilya found the situation rather "coincidental." She had only chatted with Sost for a few hours, yet had already missed several key people involved in the "Desire Apostle" case.
This made her extra vigilant, and her eyes instantly lit up with brilliant starlight.
Moments later, she closed her eyes and softly spoke a name: "Edessak?"
…..
At the Red Rose Manor, after submitting a few ambiguous clues regarding Talim's whereabouts to Prince Edessak, Klein took the opportunity to request an end to the commission—and the prince agreed.
But just as he returned to the carriage, an uninvited guest barged in—it was the witch, Trissy.
Seeing that Klein recognized her, Trissy was quite delighted and began recounting how she had been under someone's control. Not only had she been forced to change her name, but she also had to do things with the prince that she didn't want to…
Klein had no intention of getting entangled with her and casually asked,"What did they change your name to?"
Trissy furrowed her lovely brows and answered with a slightly dazed expression,"Trissy Cheek."
Trissy Cheek… Cheek… Cheek! Klein suddenly raised his head, his entire body once again struck with a numbing chill. He was frozen in place like a statue made of marble.
In that moment, only one entry from Roselle's diary echoed madly through his mind:
"June 5th. I obtained an ancient tome, and in it, the name of the 'Primordial Demoness' was actually mentioned…
"She was called… Cheek."
…..
Outside the East Borough, inside the free school, Ebner—who was preparing a special lesson for Daisy and the others—suddenly turned his head and looked out the window.
What entered his view was a series of fireballs tearing through the sky, falling toward the outskirts...
The scene was truly magnificent—so much so that not even Backlund's awful weather could obscure it!
(End of Chapter)