Returning to his chair, Zhou Mingrui heard the distant cathedral bells chime seven times before he rose and fetched his clothes: a black vest, a suit, tight trousers, and a halved top hat. He smiled wryly, thinking, "I'm not going for an interview, just buying ingredients for my luck enhancement ritual..."
He changed into a brownish-yellow coat and felt hat, then retrieved a roll of notes hidden under a cushion. The money, Benson's savings, totaled eight soli, which he carefully placed in his jacket pocket. Securing a revolver for protection, he left his dim apartment into the bustling streets of Tingen.
Navigating through crowded vendors and wary of thieves, Zhou Mingrui finally reached Smyrin Bakery. After buying rye bread from the kindly Mrs. Smyrin, he passed through a municipal square, noticing a flier for a circus. As he approached, a woman offered to read his fortune using tarot cards. Intrigued by the mention of tarot, he agreed to try the divination, curious about its origins and the mysterious figure who created it.