It was nothing like Jasper had anticipated. A mere 'hobby club' is what this group seemed to be at first glance.
Jasper affirmed by activating the [Eye of Truth], causing a collective unease among the five individuals. The gesture prompted them to instinctively take a step back.
"Before I proceed, I must verify your spiritual emblems," Jasper stated.
"Sure," Jasper agreed.
As Jasper focused, five ethereal light spots materialized before him—white, two red, and two yellow. In an instant, the central red light intensified, revealing a crimson avian pattern in front of Mr. Crane. It was a mere illusion, no larger than a palm.
The remaining four followed suit, each having their central light brighten. Red clouds, a yellow five-hole flute, a yellow regular hexagon, and a green arm pattern manifested in the air.
"Alright," Jasper confirmed, inspecting his own light spot. Yet, a complication arose; the central position was dual-colored, displaying both green and purple.
"Could this be a consequence of devouring the soul fragments of my body's original owner?" Jasper wondered, recalling Quentin's mention of the "Spirit trait" ability. It seemed his assumption held merit.
After a brief contemplation, he opted for the purple light spot. Quentin knew of his green abilities, and Jasper sought to keep his identity concealed.
Focusing on the light spot, he imagined an invisible substance flowing through him. A smooth stream of cold air converged into the light spot, and a purple five-pointed star briefly flashed before solidifying.
"Purple?" a skeptical female voice queried. "White for basics, red for Attack, yellow for spells, golden for magic—what type of ability is purple?"
"Don't pry into others' matters," cautioned the hooded gentleman beside her, and she promptly nodded.
"There's no such mark on the wanted list."
"Purple's abilities are unheard of," commented one member.
"No wanted criminals near Lutetia City bear the pentagram mark," added another.
All eyes turned simultaneously towards the person who had just spoken—the sharp-toned woman from earlier.
"Your words betray your belief in the Lady of Mystery and Ritual," Mr. Crane pointed out.
[Mystery and Ritual], a term unfamiliar to Jasper, hinted at a false god in his understanding. True gods aligned with the twelve months of the year, while the rest were deemed false. The Orthodox Church's stance on false gods, as stored in Jasper's memories, was puzzling. They neither expelled nor openly opposed believers, as long as their practices remained non-threatening.
The water in this world, as Jasper noted, didn't seem shallow. Believers of false gods even referred to their own deities as "false gods."
"I've long been exposed as a Lady follower. But that's not sufficient for you to identify me," Female voice retorted.
"There are outsiders among us," Mr. Crane observed, directing attention back to Jasper.
"Can I be trusted?" Jasper inquired.
"For now, yes. However, any suspicious actions will be reported to the Church immediately," Mr. Crane warned.
It struck Jasper as ironic—holding a clandestine meeting yet threatening him with the authorities.
The group reclaimed their marks and converged once more. Mr. Crane introduced Jasper to their purpose.
"Our gathering isn't illegal; it's merely to safeguard our secrets. Similar gatherings exist throughout Lutetia City. Reporting to the government or the church is futile. Gifters are scarce, and even fewer believe in false gods. Our meetings serve for information exchange and minor transactions, nothing violating law or morality."
He emphasized his legitimacy multiple times, yet was it truly not a transgression for five individuals to gather in secrecy late at night in such an obscure location?
"I get it. No need for explanations. Society shuns believers in false gods, and we're silently resisting authority," Jasper interjected, cutting off Mr. Crane.
"Silently resisting authority— I like that description. Now, assign yourself a name for easier communication," Mr. Crane suggested, introducing the others. "I'm Mr. Crane, the sharp-voiced one is Mr. Magic, the person on your right is Mr. Black Cat, between us is Mr. Wood, and here is Mr. Ghost. The one who got away, Mr. Dagger. Should've known someone with a name like that wasn't trustworthy."
Even though two of them clearly had female voices, everyone was addressed as Mr.
"I'm Mr. Candle," Jasper declared, simply because he held a candle in his hand.
"Very well, Mr. Candle. Welcome. You've gained our temporary trust. Let the party commence."
Jasper observed silently, curious about this supposedly "legal" secret gathering.
They stepped on the garbage to conceal their tracks in the moonlit shadows, wary of [The Mistress of Shadow] users.
"Following the rules, everyone shares recent information. I'll start. The Church of Death and Ending sacrificed a level 4 gifter at Lutetia No. 5 Public Hospital. Avoid it if you have no business there."
Without questioning, Jasper noted down "Level 4." Mr. Magic, with the sharp voice, followed up.
"A significant issue on a small island off Lutetia City's coast. Suspected [Monsters] running amok. Three combat teams from the Church of Ocean and Exploration have already been dispatched."
"Is the information confirmed?" Mr. Ghost inquired, her voice betraying no gender.
"Rules state you can only share 100% certain things here," Mr. Ghost stated, nodding beneath the hood. "Tomorrow at midnight, a shipment of antiques smuggled from the sea will reach Lutetia. Unsure of the exact location, but among those antiques, expect [Strange things] and [Supernatural things]. The following part is uncertain, but [Gifts] might also be in there. For those with connections and courage, the black market might offer some intriguing finds soon."
"[Gifts]?"
This time, Mr. Magic interjected, taking a moment to breathe. "The Church of the Righteous God categorizes supernatural items into Series A [Tricks], Series B [Extraordinary], and Series C [Gifts]. This time, there might actually be a [Gift]."
"Yes, I got this information from another source, so I can't be certain," she added.
"[Gift] is an item that can be infused with one's spirituality, enhancing the gifter's abilities. Besides obtaining it through [Strange Realm], it can only be purified with [Strange Object]..." Mr. Magic provided valuable insights, earning Jasper's silent gratitude. He then had a spontaneous idea, redirecting the cold air flow into his hand.
The candle vanished from his grip, replaced by an unassuming presence within him. A simple candle pattern slowly materialized next to the light spots and bubbles in front of him.
"It's my turn."
Mr. Black Cat took the spotlight.
"Lutetia Municipal Council plans to upgrade Cogonia's infrastructure soon, focusing on extending steam pipe coverage to every household."
"Huh? The style of this information is different," Jasper noted.
"As long as it's valuable and confidential, it's acceptable," Mr. Crane explained quietly, and Jasper nodded. The shadows on the ground remained undisturbed.
Finally, Mr. Wood spoke up.
"I didn't gather any valuable information. I owe two now and two for next time."
No one voiced objections.
All eyes turned to Jasper, hood orientations shifting.
"Any updates from you?" Mr. Crane inquired.
"Yes, if it's valuable. For information regarding Gifters, we can be a bit more lenient," Jasper replied.
Jasper nodded and reconsidered before sharing, "On my way here tonight, I witnessed a giant octopus chasing two individuals."
The revelation struck a chord. Mr. Magic responded anxiously, "It's surfaced again. Our gatherings might need to be more discreet in the future. You never know who might run into it."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
The four echoed in turn, revealing that the octopus had been a recurring issue.
"With information exchange concluded, it's time for trading. Anyone seeking something or willing to offer?" Mr. Crane, the apparent host, suggested.
"I'm curious about the abilities of Purple," Mr. Magic inquired eagerly, turning his hooded gaze toward Jasper.
"What can you offer?"
It was a rhetorical question, and Jasper hoped for a supernatural item. Jasper, feeling a bit sorry for the state of the original owner's health, acknowledged,
"I lack funds, and your information isn't worth an item. Just ask for a piece of information." Mr. Magic said
"Okay"
Both moved aside, ensuring privacy from the others. Jasper sought answers about the looming octopus.
"I'm new to Lutetia and unaware of local happenings. I want information about the giant octopus."
"No problem. As a gesture of goodwill, I'll start. The octopus is a significant problem for the Orthodox Church. It manifests in Lutetia City precisely at ten o'clock every night for the past two months, but it only appears as a phantom. Those within ten meters, however, witness it vividly."
"A phantom?" Jasper inquired.
"Not entirely accurate. For ordinary people, it's harmless unless seen. But for those unfortunate enough to be within ten meters, the giant monster is real. Did you witness it wreaking havoc on the city?"
"Yes," Jasper affirmed.
"If you stroll through Lutetia right now, nothing would happen."
"But I saw those chased by the octopus getting seriously injured."
"And that's what's said. If seen, it's real. If not, it's an illusion. The number of disappearances at night has surged in recent months, catching the attention of the Church. However, it has been discussed in our gatherings for a while. All five righteous churches in Lutetia City have intensified patrols—scribe teams, night watchmen, navigators, tomb keepers, and astrologers. Finally, a bold recruit from the Church of Celestial Equilibrium got off course during a patrol and encountered the octopus for the first time."
As Jasper listened to the information about the various church teams—scribes, night watchmen, navigators, grave keepers, and astrologers—he silently connected them to the righteous gods [Mastermind], [Mistress of Shadows], [Poseidon], [Reaper], and [Cosmic Harmonist].
In his thoughts, he considered the twelve-month calendar in this world, where each month corresponded to a god. For instance, it being July meant it belonged to the "Hermit of Destiny," often referred to as "The Hermit."
"Why did the octopus appear? I mean, it couldn't be a natural phenomenon, right?" Jenkins inquired.
"Its appearance is linked to [The Strange Land]. If the Strange Land collapses without anyone passing through, some of its contents might spill into our world. The Strange Land is inherently peculiar, and when its items manifest in our world, they undergo even stranger changes..." Jasper explained, adding in his mind, "That's the assumption, at least. Though there's no concrete evidence."
With Miss Magic's knowledge exhausted, Jasper shared the revelation about Purple, stating, "It's the color of fate."
"Fate? Yes, that makes sense..."
Back in the crowd, subsequent transactions didn't yield much novelty. Offerings included plants, minerals, or parts of organisms with names unfamiliar to Jasper. For example, Mr. Magic sought to buy the third body of the human blood centipede, while Mr. Crane looked for pure silver blessed by the Church of Nature—an elusive item given the absence of that righteous god's church in Lutetia City. Mr. Crane hoped "Mr. Candle" could provide it, but Jasper disappointed him once again.
Through these discussions, Jasper learned that there was a limit to the number of abilities possessed by the Gifted, correlated with the number of bubbles in front of him. This number was linked to their "level." Understanding this, he recognized the importance of choosing abilities that harmonized well.