Azik's attitude wasn't surprising, given how despicable Salinger was. The Death Consul had always been treated as a mere tool and a vessel for resurrection by him, so there was little loyalty, only awe and fear.
Without Lynn, the Death Consul might have continued in this state of reverence until the fall of the God of Death, experiencing millennia of reincarnation and eventually breaking free from the deity's influence to become Azik.
However, fate had different plans for the Death Consul, who encountered Lynn. Lynn's ability to persuade was inherited from a certain chaotic, amusement-seeking Outer God. Although Lynn himself had forgotten this, and the god's teaching methods were dubious and akin to corruption, Lynn's ability to manipulate people was unquestionable.
Since Lynn decided to recruit Azik, it was only a matter of time before the latter wavered and ran away.
...
In the Fourth Epoch, when Lynn was actively recruiting, having already brought Azik back to the Tudor Empire, Klein successfully borrowed the Scarlet Lunar Corona from Miss Sharron in the Fifth Epoch.
The borrowing process was smoother than Klein expected, likely due to the reputation of the Angel of Secrets. When Klein mentioned needing the Scarlet Lunar Corona, Sharron and Maric hesitated for only three seconds before agreeing, asking for a small payment in gold pounds.
They even offered to sell the Scarlet Lunar Corona to Klein for the right price.
This wasn't surprising, as the Scarlet Lunar Corona was a special sealed artifact that countered their powers, so it wasn't easily lent or sold to others.
However, Klein and Lynn were not just anyone; they were allies against the Indulgence Faction of the Rose School of Thought. Furthermore, they had a close relationship with an angel, meaning if they wanted to harm Sharron and Maric, they wouldn't need the Scarlet Lunar Corona.
Klein was momentarily tempted by Sharron's offer to sell but declined due to financial constraints.
Though Klein was about to take over the Abraham family and no longer worry about money or artifacts, he was principled and wouldn't take the family's resources for free. He would only borrow them as part of his remuneration.
Borrowed items needed to be returned, especially sealed artifacts. However, gold pounds once spent were gone for good, requiring efforts to repay debts.
The Fool wouldn't squander resources just because he was about to inherit the Abraham family.
Thus, Klein rented the Scarlet Lunar Corona for a time, paid the rent, and prepared to contact Mr. Door.
Above the gray fog, in what seemed like a palace for giants—
Klein sat at the head of the long bronze table, with the Master Key and the Scarlet Lunar Corona placed in front of him.
Taking a deep breath, Klein glanced at Lynn beside him. Lynn appeared equally tense, clearly both anxious and excited about what was to come.
"I'm starting," Klein said, picking up the Scarlet Lunar Corona in one hand and the Master Key in the other. He activated the Scarlet Lunar Corona, letting its crimson light fill the space, and then followed the method given by the Angel of Secrets to "dial" Mr. Door.
The process was surprisingly simple.
After completing the "dialing," Klein waited a few seconds before the Master Key emitted a faint glow, and a steady, slightly hoarse voice sounded in his ear:
"Hello, are you The Fool?"
Klein was momentarily taken aback. If not for his clown-like control over his expressions, he would have shown some embarrassment. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Hello, Mr. Door. You can call me Mr Fool."
Klein doubted that Lynn hadn't informed Mr. Door about him; otherwise, why would he have questions for Mr. Door?
"Alright, Mr Fool. You can call me Bethel; I don't mind," Bethel replied warmly. "I didn't expect you to contact me so soon, but it's good for both of us to establish this connection early."
"Do you see me as someone special too?" Klein couldn't help but ask, feeling that Mr. Door's words suggested he wasn't merely treating him as Lynn's friend.
"...You are indeed special," Bethel said after a few seconds of silence. "I'm not sure if Lynn has told you about your fate, but please believe me, your uniqueness is not entirely a bad thing. At least, not completely."
"So, it might be a bad thing?" Klein caught the underlying implication in Bethel's words.
"That depends on your choices," Bethel said calmly. "With great power comes great responsibility, if you choose to bear it all, you will gain much but also lose something."
Klein was stunned upon hearing the familiar quote. After understanding the meaning, His mind racing as he asked, "So, is it really related to the end of the world?"
"...You could think of it that way. I'm sorry, but I can't reveal the truth to you yet. You are too weak right now, and knowing certain things could cause you irreparable harm," Bethel said apologetically.
Klein frowned deeper, recalling the Angel of Secrets' enigmatic style. He originally thought it was just a penchant for being cryptic, but Mr. Door's words suggested that the truth itself might be dangerous?
Reflecting on the Angel of Secrets' usual behavior, Klein shook his head.
No, that couldn't be the only reason!
He believed that while the truth might indeed be dangerous, the Angel of Secrets would likely not reveal it even if it weren't.
The Angel of Secrets was purely a joker.
"...A joker? That description fits Lynn's personality quite well," Bethel's voice suddenly echoed, with a tone of nostalgia and helplessness, clearly resonating with Klein's sentiment.
Klein realized he had inadvertently voiced his thoughts, or rather, conveyed the idea to Mr. Door.
Usually, The Fool wouldn't make such mistakes, but they were communicating spiritually, and The Fool's deep frustration with the cryptic Angel of Secrets had slipped through in an emotional moment.
This made The Fool Klein quickly calm his emotions. He glanced cautiously at Lynn beside him, cleared his throat, and asked, "By the way, Lynn is right here. Would you like to speak with him?"
Mr. Door was eerily silent for a few seconds, making Klein wonder if their connection had been severed. Then he heard Mr. Door say.
"Sure."
(End of Chapter)
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