"The Fool."
The simple answer seemed to echo in the grand hall and misty haze, fading swiftly from the air but resonating deeply within Audrey and Alger, like ripples expanding outward.
It felt… fitting, as though no other title would have made sense—a name that embodied mystery, power, and an otherworldly strangeness.
After a brief pause, Audrey stood up, lifting the edge of her skirt slightly in a graceful curtsey. "Honored Fool, may I humbly ask if you would witness our transaction?"
"A small matter," Zhou Mingrui replied, his mind racing but maintaining a composed tone befitting the role.
"We are honored, Mr. Fool," Alger followed suit, placing his right hand over his chest and bowing.
Zhou Mingrui raised a hand, gesturing for them to continue as he responded with a faint smile, "Please, proceed."
Alger nodded, then turned to Audrey and said, "If you manage to acquire the ghost shark blood, send it to the 'Warrior and Sea' tavern on Pelican Street in the White Rose District of Pritz Harbor. Tell the owner, Williams, that it's something the 'Captain' requested."
Once the delivery is confirmed, I can either mail you the formula or convey it to you here."
After a moment's thought, Audrey smiled and replied, "I'll choose the more discreet option—let's exchange it here. Though it'll certainly test my memory."
*If the Fool is willing to witness this transaction, it means there may be more gatherings like this in the future,* she thought, turning her gaze toward Zhou Mingrui. Her eyes sparkled with intrigue as she asked, "Mr. Fool, would you mind… having a few more of these 'experiments'?"
Alger, clearly interested, quickly echoed her sentiment. "Mr. Fool, wouldn't you find such gatherings worthwhile? Although your power surpasses our imagination, there must be fields beyond even your reach. That young lady, for example, obviously comes from noble origins, while I have my own unique experiences, knowledge, contacts, and resources. In time, perhaps we could assist you with minor tasks you'd prefer not to handle personally."
To Alger, it was clear that he and Audrey had been brought here without any means of resistance, so refusing future gatherings might be impossible. He reasoned that he might as well try to turn this situation to his advantage, seeking benefits that could offset the potential risks.
Having three participants from diverse backgrounds would bring together different resources, knowledge channels, and insights into various mysteries. With limited cooperation, there could be countless potential gains—like the resource exchange they had just discussed. If he ever needed to deal with a target discreetly, a "gathering member" could be asked to handle it, effectively masking his involvement.
*Noble origins… Is my background that obvious from my mannerisms and accent?* Audrey's mouth opened slightly in surprise before quickly closing. But she nodded without hesitation, agreeing with Alger. "Mr. Fool, I think this is an excellent proposal. If these 'gatherings' become regular, you could certainly delegate certain matters to us, as long as they're within our capabilities."
Since the conversation began, Zhou Mingrui had been carefully weighing the pros and cons. More "gatherings" would indeed provide him with access to secrets about the extraordinary, occult knowledge that might help him eventually find a way back. For instance, the "Spectator" potion formula they had just discussed might appear at the next gathering. Furthermore, he could also gather information beneficial to his current reality.
However, frequent gatherings would also increase the risk of his own abilities and knowledge being exposed.
*Indeed, there's no such thing as pure benefit in any world…* Zhou Mingrui extended his right hand, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the long table.
Given that he controlled both the summoning and dismissal of the gathering, he reasoned that even if issues arose, he could maintain control. Seeing the clear advantages, he made his decision.
He stopped tapping, and with a smile at their hopeful, slightly anxious expressions, he replied, "I am someone who believes in fair exchange."
"I won't ask you to assist me unconditionally."
"Every Monday at 3 p.m., try to be alone. Once I conduct a few more tests and understand certain things, perhaps you can even plan ahead without fearing interruptions."
With this, Zhou Mingrui agreed to their proposal.
At seventeen, Audrey was still sheltered, with a youthful exuberance. Thrilled by the Fool's response, she couldn't help clenching her fists in a small, victorious gesture before her chest.
"Then… should we perhaps choose code names for ourselves too? It wouldn't be wise to use our real names in such an exchange." Before Alger could respond, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Though she doubted she could conceal her identity from the Fool, she was wary of Alger—a potentially dangerous man. He mustn't know who she was.
"Good idea," Zhou Mingrui replied simply.
Audrey immediately started thinking, voicing her ideas as she went. "You're Mr. Fool, which comes from the Tarot. Since this is going to be a regular, long-term, and secret 'gathering,' it would make sense if we chose names from the Tarot too…"
Her voice grew cheerful as she decided, "I'll be 'Justice'!"
It was one of the twenty-two major Tarot cards.
Alger responded with a slight frown, which quickly relaxed as he chose his title, "The Hanged Man."
Another major Tarot card.
"Perfect! That makes us the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey blurted out happily, before casting a tentative glance at Zhou Mingrui, cloaked in mist. "Is that alright, Mr. Fool?"
Zhou Mingrui chuckled and shook his head. "Such small matters, you can decide on your own."
"Thank you!" Audrey's excitement was evident.
Then, she turned back to Alger. "Mr. Hanged Man, could you repeat the address from earlier? I want to make sure I remember it correctly."
"Of course." Alger seemed pleased with her diligence, repeating the address once more.
After mentally reciting it three times, Audrey's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I heard that the Tarot cards were only invented by Emperor Roselle as a game and don't actually have divinatory power?"
"No," Alger replied, glancing at Zhou Mingrui, who gave no indication to interrupt. "Often, divination originates from within. Every person has a spiritual connection, an intuitive sense that can resonate with the spiritual realm, connecting to higher information about themselves. Most people simply can't sense this, let alone interpret the 'hints' they receive. When someone uses a divination tool, that information is often channeled through it. The simplest example is dreams and dream interpretation."
He continued, "Tarot cards are one such tool, with rich symbolism and carefully constructed elements to help us interpret 'hints' more effectively and accurately."
Zhou Mingrui appeared indifferent but was, in fact, listening closely. However, the sensation of mental fatigue was worsening, accompanied by a throbbing headache.
"I see." Audrey nodded in understanding, then quickly clarified, "I didn't mean to question the Tarot cards. I just heard that Emperor Roselle actually created another set of cards first—a secret deck, symbolizing unknown powers, with only twenty-two cards. It's said that after completing this deck, he used it as a model to create the twenty-two major Tarot cards as a game tool. Is that true?"
Audrey looked intently at Zhou Mingrui, as if hoping the mysterious Mr. Fool would provide the answer himself.
Zhou Mingrui merely smiled, refraining from speaking, and instead turned his gaze to "The Hanged Man," giving him a look that seemed to say, *Let's see if you know the answer.*
Alger straightened his posture instinctively, his voice steady as he answered, "Yes, it's said that Emperor Roselle once glimpsed the Blasphemy Slate, and those cards hold the secrets of the twenty-two pathways to godhood."
"Twenty-two pathways to godhood…" Audrey repeated, her tone filled with awe and longing.
At that moment, Zhou Mingrui's headache intensified, and he felt the invisible connections between himself, the crimson "stars," and the gray mist beginning to waver.
"That's enough for today's gathering," he decided immediately, his voice low and resonant.
"As you will." Alger bowed his head in respect.
"As you will," Audrey echoed, following the "Hanged Man's" gesture, though her expression showed she was far from ready to leave. Her mind was brimming with questions and thoughts, and she felt reluctant for the gathering to end.
As Zhou Mingrui began severing the connection, he offered a slight smile. "Let us look forward to the next gathering."
The "stars" brightened briefly, the deep crimson glow receding like a wave, and just as Audrey and Alger heard Mr. Fool's words, their forms blurred and faded.
In less than a second, their "projections" shattered, and silence returned above the gray mist.
Zhou Mingrui felt himself grow heavier, the surreal, floating sensation vanishing. His vision dimmed momentarily before he was greeted by the bright sunlight streaming into his apartment.
He was still in the middle of his room.
"It was like a dream… What exactly is that gray mist realm… and what force created that scene?" Zhou Mingrui muttered, filled with bewilderment as he walked slowly, feeling as though his legs were weighted with lead, back toward his desk.
He picked up the pocket watch he'd left out earlier, checking how much time had passed.
"The time flow is one-to-one," he deduced.
Setting the watch down, Zhou Mingrui could no longer bear the throbbing in his head. He sank into his chair, lowering his head and pressing his thumbs into his temples, massaging them to ease the ache.
After a long silence, he sighed deeply and murmured in Chinese, "It seems I won't be returning anytime soon…"
*Only the ignorant can be fearless.* Having witnessed such extraordinary phenomena and learned more about the mysterious and supernatural world, Zhou Mingrui no longer dared to recklessly attempt the "Fortune Ritual" in either Ancient Fusac or Loen language.
Who knew what might happen? There could be an even stranger, more terrifying result—perhaps one worse than death.
"I'll need a thorough understanding of the occult before I can attempt anything like that again," he thought, resigned.
Fortunately, these "gatherings" could provide him with invaluable assistance.
After a moment of silent reflection, he muttered to himself, with a mixture of frustration, loss, pain, and melancholy, "From now on… I am Klein."
Klein forced his thoughts back to plans and possible solutions, hoping to shake off the negative emotions swirling inside.
*Next week, perhaps I'll get to hear the formula for the "Spectator" potion…*
The "gathering" was truly remarkable. People from different parts of the world, separated by vast distances, meeting face-to-face as if they were mere steps apart, sharing resources and information… Wait, this feels oddly familiar…
Klein paused, then suddenly chuckled, pressing his fingers against his aching temple as he muttered to himself in a self-deprecating tone:
"Is this… basically an online social platform?"