'Food?'
The two were taken aback by the god's unexpected demand.
Fortunately for Alger, it was a request extremely easy to complete.
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Audrey questioned, "Do gods need to eat?"
Alger was shocked by his companion's rude remark and warily eyed the end of the long table. She was still talking to a god!
On the contrary, Mr. Fool was already accustomed to her naive and ignorant personality and resigned himself.
As long as she didn't meet other gods in the future, she would be fine.
…Let's make sure she doesn't encounter any high-ranking individuals, okay?
He was really worried for her life. Was it how people living in a peaceful era behaved?
"We don't need to eat, but we can still taste food."
Alger.exe has stopped working.
Audrey happily nodded, learning things that her peers would surely never know.
"Do you have any preference?"
"Not really."
Anything was probably better than eating fles-
Yeah, let's stop there.
Alger shook, scary thoughts passing through his mind. 'Food'? Was he asking them to sacrifice people? Then he would do it. At least this request wasn't too difficult…
Following his spiritual instruction, the Fool solemnly added, "As long as it's normal food."
Alger stopped his train of thought.
Audrey tilted her head. Normal? How would food be if it wasn't normal? Did He mean edible?
She still nodded, unaware of the feelings of the companion next to her.
'So gods can also be interested in food…'
She would make sure to fulfill his request!
"You are truly a generous gentleman." Alger fell silent for a few seconds before bowing slightly with his hand on his chest.
After the bow, he turned to Justice and said, "Let me emphasize once more. A Spectator will forever be a spectator.
I know that many Spectators enjoy imagining themselves to be the protagonist or some other character. As a result, they invest a lot of feelings into it, to the point of crying, laughing, raging, and turning sorrowful because of the drama. However, that is not what a Spectator should do.
While faced with the various dramas of society and figures who knowingly or unknowingly act the role of particular characters, you have to maintain the attitude of being an absolute bystander. Only then can you calmly and objectively observe them. You will discover their habits, their tics from lying, or their scent of nervousness. From those minute clues, you can grasp their true thoughts.
Believe me, everyone is different because of their emotions. They will secrete different 'things' and different smells. However, only a real Spectator can sniff it out.
Once you invest too many of your emotions, your observation will be influenced. Your sensitivity towards the emotions of others will deviate."
Yeah, this explanation was far too long for the Fool to pay attention.
Audrey listened attentively as her eyes brightened gradually.
"It sounds, really, really interesting!"
Alger finished explaining the demands he knew of a Spectator. He sighed before saying, "It seems like there's nothing else?
Perhaps we can have a casual chat. We can talk about things happening around us. Perhaps it is something very normal to you, but in the ears of others, it might be a very important clue."
He looked toward the Fool and hesitated.
"…"
Audrey also looked toward the Fool and saw that He was distracted again.
She subconsciously puffed up her cheeks then immediately released it, not wanting anyone to notice this habit.
Well, He wasn't offended the last time so it should be okay to interrupt His thoughts, right?
Helpless, she called out to Him.
Were gods usually distracted?
"…Mr. Fool? Should we talk about the things happening around us now?"
The Fool was slightly embarrassed to have been lost in thought again and nodded.
"Sure."
His attempts to stay focused didn't seem very successful.
'Should I do a concentration training this week?' He lampooned.
However, what was he supposed to talk about? Who backstabbed which king of angels or the hidden plans of the gods didn't seem very appropriate…
Neither were Roselle's habits with ladies.
Now that he thought about it, Roselle also had a daughter…
Well, let's focus.
"Then, shall we begin with you, Mr. Hanged Man?" Audrey agreed in excitement.
Alger thought for a moment before saying, "The infamous pirate who calls himself Lieutenant General Deweyville has begun his voyage to explore the eastern end of the Sonia Sea again."
"Oh? The owner of the Black Tulip?" returned Audrey with a question after some thought.
"Yes," Alger replied with a nod.
The corners of the Fool's mouth slightly twitched, feeling bewildered.
'I don't even know who that is…'
Their attention then turned to Him.
However, the topic he knew the most about was Amon traumatizing people.
Did they wish to know about the king of angels' habits to toy with his victims?
As for recent news, since he couldn't leave, that would be complicated.
"I don't really know what's happening in the world," he admitted.
Audrey had a look of realization on her face and cheerfully asked, "Then, do you want us to also sacrifice newspapers to you?"
Alger: Us?
The Fool was stunned but accepted her offer. It would indeed let him learn more about the current era.
"Sure. This is an advance payment. In exchange, you can ask me for something in the future, as long as it's within my power."
Audrey was happy but shook her head.
"It's fine, I can at least do that much for free."
She had a lot of money. Although a god owing her something seemed very exciting, realistically, she knew that she shouldn't burden Mr. Fool for something so insignificant.
Mr. Fool simply accepted her answer.
"Alright, my turn. Let me think of what I have to share."
She cocked her head and held her head up with her hand before chuckling.
"Yesterday, my etiquette teacher taught me how to faint, how to faint elegantly without any faux paus. It's a practical skill used at social events to avoid awkward situations or nasty guys…"
That indeed seemed more interesting than news about some unknown pirate.
"Heh heh. I was just organizing my thoughts. What I really wanted to say is that ever since the failure of the battle on Balam's eastern shore, the king, premier, and gentlemen are under immense stress. They eagerly wish to change."
While Audrey recalled the conversation between her father and elder brother about the situation, she put in her own words, "They believe that the government's structure is too chaotic. Every election, if there is a change of the ruling party, there will be a change of personnel from top to bottom. It makes things a mess and lowers efficiency tremendously. Not only does it cause the battle loss, it also brings great inconvenience to the civilians."
When the Hanged Man, Alger, heard that he interjected with a soft chuckle.
"They believe? Then their beliefs are a little slow. Perhaps they will only feel the itch a year after they get bitten by black mosquitoes."
Audrey extended her palm and covered her mouth. Ignoring the Hanged Man's mockery, she expressed the core information of what she said, "Unfortunately, they are temporarily unable to find a good solution to replace this system."
The Fool listened carefully and reflected on the matter, "This is a simple problem."
"Simple?" Audrey returned with a question in puzzlement.
Mr. Fool then explained his reasoning due to his experience dating from the pre-first epoch.
Audrey ruminated over the suggestion Mr. Fool had offered and after a while, said in surprise, "It sounds like it actually might work… It's a very simple but effective solution!"
She looked at the Fool and sincerely marveled.
As expected of a god!
He was not only strong, but also possessed outstanding intelligence and was very experienced in life.
One should not judge a book by its cover.
As if sensing her thoughts (except the more blasph- innocent ones), the Fool shook his head.
"It was a very common system in my hometown."
"Your hometown?"
Audrey was curious.
Did gods have a hometown?
Now that she thought about it, gods indeed had to be born in some way. Then how were gods born in the first place?
However, she had never heard about such a system, even in her history books.
The Fool that does not belong to this era. When was the Fool born?
Hearing Audrey's question, the Fool had a distant look in his eyes, reminiscing about the far-away past.
The hometown he could never return to.
Seeing Him like this, Audrey paused and felt that she shouldn't ask further.
Then, as if nothing was wrong, the Fool spoke up.
"Let us end today's gathering here."
Audrey was surprised but quickly regained her senses.
"By your will." Audrey and Alger stood up together.
The Fool severed the connection and watched Justice and the Hanged Man's illusory and blurry figures instantly shatter and dissipate.
Above the gray fog, in the opulent palace where gods seemingly lived, he was the only one sitting silently at the head of the bronze table.