The same Loen language, the same weighty and tense atmosphere.
*Where is this? What am I trying to do here?* Zhou Mingrui silently echoed their questions, his mind settling as he processed the surreal scene around him.
What struck him most was not the words themselves, nor even their meanings, but rather the expressions on the faces of the young man and woman before him—panic, caution, fear, and a strange reverence.
*Suddenly pulling two people into this mist-filled world… Even I, as the "culprit," am bewildered. So for them, it must seem utterly beyond belief.*
In this instant, Zhou Mingrui contemplated two choices. One was to pretend he, too, was a victim in this strange event, hiding his true identity to gain their trust and observe silently. The other was to maintain the air of mystery they seemed to perceive in him, steering the situation to glean valuable information.
With little time to ponder further, he seized upon a passing thought and quickly made his decision, opting for the second approach.
In the brief silence above the gray mist, Zhou Mingrui let out a faint chuckle, his tone calm and voice low yet resonant, as if answering a guest's polite inquiry:
"A mere experiment."
*An experiment… an experiment?* Audrey Hall stared at the mysterious man cloaked in gray-white mist, feeling a strange mixture of absurdity, intrigue, horror, and surrealism.
One moment, she'd been in her bedroom, sitting at her vanity, and the next, she was here, in this realm shrouded in gray mist! It was beyond comprehension!
Audrey took a deep breath, adopting a flawless, polite smile, though her voice wavered slightly. "Sir, has your… experiment concluded? May we return now?"
Alger Wilson had been thinking of asking something similar, but his experience held him back. He remained silent, observing cautiously.
Zhou Mingrui looked at the girl who'd spoken. Through the haze, he could make out her figure—a slender young woman with flowing golden hair, though her exact features were still obscured.
He didn't rush to answer her. Turning, he observed the man on the other side, noting his dark blue hair, unkempt like seaweed, and his medium build, not overly muscular.
A sudden realization struck him—perhaps as he grew stronger or gained a deeper understanding of this misty realm, he might one day be able to see these figures clearly.
*In this strange place, they are the guests, and I… am the host.*
This shift in perspective brought subtle details into focus. The girl with the sweet voice and the reserved, composed man both seemed somewhat ethereal, tinged with a faint red hue, like projections of those crimson "stars" he'd touched in the mist.
The connection was something intangible yet palpable. *If I sever this connection, their projections will vanish, allowing them to return to their world…*
Barely nodding, Zhou Mingrui looked at the golden-haired girl, smiling lightly as he said, "Certainly. If you formally request it, I can send you back now."
Relieved by his lack of apparent hostility, Audrey felt reassured. If a man capable of such a miraculous feat offered his word, surely he would honor it.
With her nerves steadying, Audrey's curiosity flared. Her blue eyes flickered with a spark of excitement as she asked, tentatively yet eagerly, "This… this is truly a remarkable experience. I've always longed for something like this. I mean, I'm fascinated by mysteries, by miracles beyond the natural world. No, what I mean is—Sir, how could I become… extraordinary?"
Her voice grew increasingly animated, her words tumbling over each other. The dream she'd nurtured since childhood, after hearing stories of supernatural wonders, now seemed closer than ever.
In just a few sentences, she'd nearly forgotten her earlier fear.
*Good question! I wish I knew the answer myself…* Zhou Mingrui thought wryly.
He began to consider how he might maintain this mysterious persona in his response.
At the same time, he felt that simply standing and conversing here seemed inadequate. Shouldn't this scene have a grand hall, a long table, and chairs with ancient carvings exuding an air of mystery, with him seated at the head, observing his guests?
The thought had barely formed when the mist around them surged, startling both Audrey and Alger.
In an instant, towering stone pillars rose around them, and a vast domed ceiling appeared above, grand and imposing as if they were in the hall of a mythical giant.
Beneath the dome, at the heart of the swirling mist, a long bronze table emerged, flanked by ten high-backed chairs on each side, with additional seats at the head and foot. Strange constellations, glowing faintly with a crimson hue, decorated the backs of the chairs, bearing no resemblance to any real-world stars.
Audrey and Alger found themselves seated across from each other, near the head of the table.
The young woman glanced left and right, muttering under her breath, "This is… amazing…"
*Indeed,* Zhou Mingrui thought, reaching out to run a hand along the edge of the bronze table, feigning calm.
Alger, too, examined their surroundings. After a moment of silence, he spoke, answering Audrey's question in Zhou Mingrui's stead:
"You're from the Loen Kingdom, aren't you?"
"To become extraordinary, you'd join the Church of the Goddess of the Night, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and Machinery."
"Though most people will never encounter the extraordinary in their lifetime, leading many—even within the churches—to doubt the existence of the supernatural, I can assure you it's real. In the Court of Arbitration, in the Tribunal, in the Executioner's Office, the extraordinary still exists. They continue to fight the dangers that lurk in the darkness, though their numbers are far fewer than in the early days of the Age of Black Iron."
Zhou Mingrui listened intently, though he made an effort to project a nonchalant, almost dismissive attitude, as if listening to a child's tale.
Thanks to Klein's residual knowledge of history, he understood that the "Age of Black Iron" referred to the current epoch, the Fifth Epoch, which had begun 1,349 years ago.
Audrey took in Alger's words quietly, then exhaled and replied, "I understand what you're saying, sir. I even know about the Night Watchers, the Adjudicators, and the Heart of Mechanics. But I don't want to lose my freedom."
Alger chuckled softly, his response vague. "There's no way to become extraordinary without paying a price. If you're unwilling to join the churches and submit to their tests, you'd have to seek out the royal family, nobles with family histories dating back over a thousand years, or, perhaps, try your luck finding one of the hidden, dangerous organizations."
Audrey subconsciously puffed her cheeks, but quickly looked left and right, checking to see if the "Mysterious Gentleman" or Alger had noticed her childish reaction. Once reassured, she pressed on, "Isn't there any other way?"
Alger fell silent, thinking for a few moments before casting a sidelong glance at Zhou Mingrui, who remained quietly observing. After a slight nod from Zhou Mingrui, Alger turned back to Audrey and replied cautiously, "I happen to have two Sequence 9 potion formulas."
*Sequence 9?* Zhou Mingrui noted the term with interest.
"Really? Which ones?" Audrey's eagerness showed she understood the significance of a Sequence 9 potion formula.
Leaning back slightly, Alger answered in a measured tone, "You should know that if humans wish to truly become extraordinary, they must rely on potions. The names of these potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate,' translated through Giant, Elven, Ancient Hermes, Ancient Fusac, and modern Hermes languages, taking on a more contemporary form over time. The name itself isn't as important as the 'core symbol' it represents."
"One of the Sequence 9 formulas I possess is called 'Sailor.' It grants excellent balance, allowing you to move freely even on a storm-tossed ship, as if walking on solid ground. It also grants enhanced strength and the ability to develop hidden scales beneath the skin, making you as slippery as a fish, agile in water as if you were born to it. Even without any equipment, you'd be able to hold your breath and dive for at least ten minutes."
"That sounds amazing… Is it related to the Lord of Storms, perhaps called 'Favored of the Sea'?" Audrey asked, half in expectation, half in verification.
"In ancient times, it was indeed called 'Favored of the Sea,'" Alger confirmed without missing a beat. "The second Sequence 9 formula I have is called 'Spectator.' I don't know what it was called in the past, but this potion grants keen mental acuity and sharp observational skills. I'm sure you've seen plays and operas, so you'll understand the role of the 'Spectator'—like an outsider watching the 'actors' of society. By observing their expressions, gestures, mannerisms, and hidden actions, you can glimpse their true thoughts."
Alger emphasized, "But you must remember, whether it's a lavish banquet or a bustling street, the spectator remains just that—a spectator."
Audrey's eyes sparkled with fascination. After a long pause, she spoke, "Why… Well, that's a question for later. I think… I think I'm drawn to this role, the 'Spectator.' How can I obtain the 'Spectator' formula? What would you want in exchange?"
Alger seemed prepared, responding in a low voice, "The blood of a ghost shark—at least 100 milliliters."
Audrey nodded excitedly but then hesitated. "If I manage to acquire it… if, hypothetically, I were able to get the ghost shark blood, how would I get it to you? And how can I be certain you'd give me the formula and that the formula is genuine?"
Alger's tone was calm as he replied, "I'll provide you with an address. Once I receive the ghost shark blood, I'll either send the formula to you or share it here directly."
"As for trust, I think with this Mysterious Gentleman as our witness, we'd both feel reassured."
With that, Alger turned his gaze to Zhou Mingrui at the head of the table. "Sir, if you can bring us to this place and wield powers beyond our imagination, your witness would be an authority we wouldn't dare defy."
"Yes!" Audrey's eyes brightened as she echoed Alger's sentiment enthusiastically.
In her view, the Mysterious Gentleman's power was awe-inspiring enough to serve as the ultimate "authority" in this exchange. Neither she nor Alger would dare cross him.
Turning partially toward Zhou Mingrui, Audrey spoke with sincerity, "Sir, we ask you to witness our exchange."
At that moment, a realization struck her—she had forgotten to ask a crucial question, one that had escaped her due to excitement and awe. Hurriedly, she added, "Sir, how should we address you?"
Alger nodded slightly, following up with a solemn inquiry:
"Sir, how should we address you?"
Zhou Mingrui was momentarily taken aback. His fingers drummed lightly on the edge of the bronze table as he recalled the outcome of the earlier tarot reading.
Leaning back, he withdrew his right hand, interlacing his fingers beneath his chin as he smiled at the two of them.
"You may call me…" he paused, letting the silence linger before speaking with a soft, calm tone:
"The Fool."