As Ebner finished reading his novel and prepared to mumble a few more key phrases related to the Antigonus family before "logging off," the steel pen in his fingers suddenly emitted a deep red glow.
He had anticipated this moment, and his spirits lifted; he knew this was a prelude to Mr. Fool pulling him into the gray fog. Quickly, he activated his "Mechanical Mind" ability.
Ebner knew that Klein could now observe others' emotional fluctuations through his spiritual vision. He had to avoid appearing overly eager or prepared—if he seemed too enthusiastic, it would only raise suspicion that this was all part of a calculated plan. The "absolute calm" of the Mechanical Mind would keep his excitement concealed.
He had no intention of revealing his identity as a transmigrator to Klein this early. Klein was still too inexperienced and under watch by several powerful figures; keeping this secret was paramount. Knowledge was one thing, but Ebner's true origins? That couldn't be revealed so easily. If nothing else, the mystery surrounding his arrival was suspicious enough to rival even an Outer Deity.
Just as Ebner sorted out his thoughts, the light from the pen swelled like flowing water, completely engulfing him.
When he began to regain his senses, he found himself standing within a grand palace hall supported by towering stone columns. Before him lay an ancient, mottled bronze table, with a figure shrouded in thick gray fog seated on the opposite side.
Beyond, nothing but a void, indistinct and boundless. Below was an endless expanse of gray-white fog, scattered with countless deep red glimmers that seemed unreal.
This must be the Fool—Klein. Remaining calm and cautious, Ebner looked at the figure enveloped in gray fog.
At any other time, he'd have been thrilled to meet one of his favorite characters in person. But under the influence of the "Mechanical Mind," his reaction was quite different. In that first moment, he realized that the originally concealed fragments of knowledge about the Outer Deities were beginning to resurface in his mind. Yet at the same time, activating the Pure White Eye was becoming even more difficult.
"Does this mean that the unknown source behind the Pure White Eye poses a greater threat than some Outer Deities? Is it currently focusing all its functionality to shield me from the corruption of this place?"
The newfound clarity also reminded Ebner that Count Fernall, his employer's patron, was actually a character from the original novel who eventually had dealings with the Outer Deity, the Mist of Uncertainty, through his excavations of Fourth Epoch ruins in the Hornacis Mountains. The danger level might be far beyond what he had originally anticipated.
With various speculations churning through his mind, Ebner offered a polite bow to the silent figure and asked, "Honored sir, may I ask where this place is?"
Klein, meanwhile, was observing Ebner closely. Although the fog obscured the young man's features, he could sense that the person he had drawn into the gray fog wasn't even slightly rattled. Habitually, Klein checked the person's aura colors with his spiritual vision.
His emotional color radiated cool blue, signifying calmness and rational thought. Maybe I was wrong in thinking he's an average person who stumbled upon a mysterious text. This guy might be a seasoned Beyonder with knowledge and experience… probably someone much more powerful than me.
With this realization, Klein dismissed his plan to reprimand the man for recklessly mentioning dangerous terms and asking him what he had been reading. Right now, he was more focused on maintaining his mystique in front of someone who looked like a formidable Beyonder. If he messed up, the social embarrassment would be the least of his worries—without the right image, he might even get reported to some organization.
In contrast, it would be much better if he could subtly draw out information on the Antigonus family's secrets, maybe even persuade him to join the gatherings atop the gray fog.
With this change in approach, a brief silence hung over the gray fog before the figure seated at the head of the bronze table gave a light chuckle and spoke with a neutral tone:
"This is my abode. You may call me Mr. Fool. It was your repeated invocation of my name that prompted me to summon you here."
The voice was low and unhurried, like a polite response to a visitor's courtesy.
Not bad, he's doing a good job playing the part. I wonder if he'll slip if I call him Zhou Mingrui or Klein? Ebner thought, although his calm demeanor kept his amusement inward.
With this in mind, Ebner lowered his head in feigned horror and said, "Please forgive my ignorance. I didn't know that the Seer Sequence gave birth to The Fool. That's why I said such blasphemous words."
The Seer Sequence gave birth to The Fool? In that case, The Fool is related to the Seer? Could it be that the name of the high-level potion in the Seer Sequence is The Fool? Is this Sequence 1 or Sequence 2?
Although Klein wished he could grab Ebner by the neck and make him spit out everything he knew, it clearly didn't match The Fool's lofty image. Therefore, he could only suppress the questions in his heart and smile. "It's fine. You didn't do it on purpose. I won't punish you for such a mistake."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Fool." After thanking him with fake gratitude, Ebner felt that his goal of meeting Klein for the first time was more or less completed. The only thing left was to find an excuse to join the Tarot Club.
As such, he deliberately surveyed the many seats around the long bronze table and pretended to ask curiously,
"Mr. Fool, you seem to have other people visiting frequently?"
Klein's eyes lit up when he heard that. As he thought about how to dupe him, he smiled with a relaxed attitude.
"It's a few people who are similar to you. They were pulled in here for various reasons."
"They have requested that I hold regular gatherings for the trade of potion formulas, the sale of materials, the exchange of information, and the issuing of missions."
"I agreed to their request."
Anyone who hopes for a god's help naturally has to provide the knowledge I seek. Once he joins the gathering, getting the Antigonus family information will be easy enough—assuming his requests are within my abilities, anyway.
"And another thing: I am fond of equivalent exchange." Klein added, "I don't ask for help unconditionally."
"Praise be to your kindness and fairness, Mr. Fool!" Ebner uttered an overt expression of praise before adopting a look of eagerness. "Mr. Fool, may I join this gathering?"
"You may. Every Monday at 3 PM, free yourself of distractions," Klein said with a smile, gesturing to a card that materialized on the bronze table. "They have chosen Tarot card names for themselves as aliases, and you may select one too—though 'Justice' and 'The Hanged Man' are already taken."
Right now, he can still choose freely; later, new members will have to draw their cards randomly.
If Ebner weren't under the effect of Mechanical Mind, he might have opted for "Hierophant" or "Strength"—names representing positive attributes like wisdom, guidance, courage, and confidence.
However, under the cool logic of the Mechanical Mind, Ebner ultimately chose the Tower card.
The Reader's Sequence 0 is called "White Tower." The Tower card itself carries a highly relevant meaning for Ebner's circumstances as a transmigrator.
In the Tarot's major arcana, the Tower is the only card with predominantly negative connotations in both upright and reversed positions. It symbolizes change, the foresight to act before catastrophe and destruction strike.
This card reflected Ebner's journey well: transmigrated before the apocalypse, joining the Fool's gatherings as the only anomaly in a world filled with mysteries. Moreover, knowledge of the world's primordial forces hinted at another looming catastrophe that could only be faced by unraveling and reshaping this world's foundational truths.
Could he, an outsider, influence this reality?
As he pondered, Ebner became the "Mr. Tower" of the Tarot Club.