Capítulo 395: Ebner Nearly Loses His Dignity
Though he had his suspicions, Klein had never interacted with the famed "hero detective" in reality. Thus, he refrained from directly asking about him and shifted his focus to The Book of Secrets.
After a brief introduction to the book's author, "Shaman King" Klarman, Maric explained its contents. He described the book as an advanced text in various fields of mysticism: divination, rituals, alchemy, astrology, symbolism, and methods of interacting with nature.
"It sounds impressive… though much of it seems to overlap with Feast of Blood. However, Mr. Tower's vampire manuscript is incomplete and lacks higher-level knowledge. This Book of Secrets would make an excellent supplement and is exactly what I need…"
Klein hesitated. "But this mission isn't just challenging; it could have lingering complications. The Rose School of Thought is a hidden organization with over a millennium of history…"
After pondering for a few seconds, Klein decided to negotiate, attempting to sweeten the deal. "This is an extraordinarily significant and dangerous task. A single book on mysticism isn't enough to make me take this risk…"
Sharon listened quietly. Her azure eyes locked onto Klein as she spoke in a cold, ethereal voice:
"What do you want?"
Klein considered this, then listed, "The mutated pituitary gland of a Thousand-Faced Hunter, the characteristic of a Human-Skin Shadow, the golden feather of a Gondola, or the eyeball of a Dragon-Eyed Sea Eagle. A clue to any of these materials would suffice.
"In addition, I've recently grown interested in Roselle's undecipherable manuscripts. If you have access to those, I'd appreciate a lead.
"Of course, these items may not be immediately available. They can be provided later, after the mission is completed."
To obscure his true intentions, Klein deliberately added items he knew Miss Judgment and Mr. Hanged Man were seeking.
Sharon nodded slightly, her voice faintly echoing, "I will do my best to gather these."
Maric then interjected, "If we succeed, the Beyonder characteristic left behind by the Sequence 5 target will be mine. One powerful Beyonder item, the Scarlet Lunar Corona, belongs to Sharon. The spoils from Steve and Taylor will go to another ally. The rest of the loot will serve as your reward."
Such generous terms... The more generous the offer, the more dangerous the mission must be.
After deliberating briefly, Klein decided to seek divination from the gray fog before committing.
"I'd like some time to think it over. Tomorrow at nine in the morning, I'll give you my answer at my home. You know the address."
Sharon, dressed in her black court-style gown, seemed to contemplate this. She then retrieved a folded document from a hidden pocket. It was the notarized certificate of guarantee she had received after protecting Klein during the battle with the Puppet Master.
After signing the certificate, Klein exhaled in relief and bid farewell to the two restrained Beyonders. He first stopped by his rented apartment in the East Borough before returning to 15 Minsk Street.
As soon as he entered his home, layered and ethereal prayers reached his ears.
The voice was unmistakably that of Mr. Tower.
---
Klein didn't immediately respond. He went through the motions of conducting several divinations, though he didn't scrutinize the results. Beyonders from unusual pathways, such as Sharon and Maric's, could become spiritual entities and interact directly with the spirit world, granting them innate divination and anti-divination abilities.
After methodically reading his newspaper, practicing his Beyonder powers for half an hour, and acting as if everything was normal, Klein finally washed up and went to bed.
About ten minutes later, Klein abruptly rose, quickly setting up a spiritual wall. Then, he walked backward in a four-step ritual to enter the gray fog.
---
Seated in the high-backed chair that belonged to The Fool, Klein first performed a divination to ensure he hadn't been monitored. Once reassured, he extended his spirituality to Mr. Tower's crimson star.
The scene around him transformed, revealing a grand hall with a crystal dome. Two distinct areas, separated by shimmering lights of different colors, came into view. The gauge on one side was already at position 10. Beyond the boundary were enchanting elves, fine wine, and delicacies…
When Klein's gaze landed on Mr. Tower, he was taken aback. He had never seen the gentleman in such a pitiful state!
Though Tower's face was obscured, his sweat-drenched clothes and his body writhing on the ground like the tormented Sun Wukong were unmistakable.
What on earth is going on? Right, Mr. Tower mentioned before the last two Tarot Club meetings that he was exploring a hidden location and even contributed Roselle's diary pages to ensure The Fool could rescue him if needed…
Is this the danger he foresaw? But how am I supposed to help? He hasn't conducted a mystical ritual for a formal connection.
Klein observed for several seconds, troubled, before recalling the content of Mr. Tower's prayer.
"Seeking to enter the gray fog? He believes doing so will shield him from his current suffering?
"He's under some form of spiritual assault?"
While pondering this, Klein wasted no time. He immediately pulled Mr. Tower's spirit body into the gray fog.
---
In the Hall of the Elven Trial within the Dream Labyrinth Tower, Ebner was near his limit after failing to receive The Fool's response. His mental endurance was almost exhausted. If not for his unyielding faith that Klein would eventually pull him into the gray fog, he might have already succumbed to temptation and joined the elves' revelry.
Fortunately, just as his mind grew increasingly hazy and his body began involuntarily moving toward the other side of the boundary, he suddenly snapped awake. The discomforts he had endured seemed to vanish, as if they had only been an illusion.
In truth, calling these direct spiritual assaults hallucinations wasn't far from the truth.
Looking at the endless gray fog below and the familiar ancient mottled long table before him, Ebner exhaled deeply. Rising to his feet, he respectfully expressed his gratitude to the seated "Fool."
"This is an equivalent exchange," The Fool replied briefly, then asked with a faint smile, "You're exploring an elven ruin?"
To be precise, it's a cheap imitation crafted by the Dream Labyrinth Tower... Ebner silently clarified but chose not to delve into the topic. Instead, he gave a concise report on the "Trial Temple" and the "God of Luck."
It wasn't a matter of mistrust; rather, his involvement with the Dream Labyrinth Tower was bound by a notarized certificate. While its effects wouldn't extend to the gray fog, Ebner adhered to a code of integrity.
"A Trial Temple? A God of Luck?" Klein thought back to Mr. Tower's peculiar inquiries to The Sun during their last private conversation. It all made sense now.
But the Elf King invented blood pudding and used chopsticks? Could the Elf King have also been a transmigrator?
While pondering these possibilities, Klein listened as Mr. Tower recounted his experiences. Upon hearing the ingenious plan to enter the gray fog to bypass the Trial of Will, Klein couldn't help but inwardly remark: That's cheating! But if it were me, I'd probably do the same—pain is terrifying. Well, Mr. Tower's creativity in handling challenges is unparalleled. No wonder he developed so many uses for The Fool's abilities.
When Ebner finished, The Fool chuckled lightly, offering a brief comment: "A rather intriguing trial design."
"Indeed. I suspect it may be a manifestation of something akin to 'Mystic Reenactment.' Such mind games and calculated challenges reek of a certain Dragon of Imagination handiwork," Ebner speculated.
Mystic Reenactment? Klein mused over the term. While he hadn't encountered it before, its meaning seemed clear enough from the context. Outwardly, however, he maintained his enigmatic composure, merely smiling knowingly without commenting further. The less said, the less chance of revealing ignorance.
Understanding Klein's lack of knowledge, Ebner refrained from elaborating. After estimating the time, he said, "It's about time. Please send me back… My rival is a member of the Moses Ascetic Order and likely more familiar with Mystic Reenactment than I am. She may have already passed this trial, and I can't afford to fall behind."
The Moses Ascetic Order… So Mystic Reenactment is part of the Reader pathway's abilities… Klein nodded thoughtfully. Checking the trial's state through the crimson star, he saw that the boundary gauge was nearing 12. In a low, calm voice, he said, "Very well."
As soon as he spoke, Mr. Tower's figure vanished from the gray fog.
---
With the grand hall once again silent, Klein reclined in his high-backed chair. His eyes fell upon the Black Emperor card lying face-up on the bronze table.
"Mr. Tower didn't notice this card? Or did he notice but chose not to ask?"
He sighed dramatically, muttering, "What a waste of effort… It feels like winking at a blind man."
Gazing at the card's depiction of Roselle, regal and menacing in black armor and crown, Klein's lips curled into a faint smile. He flipped the card face-down, then turned his attention to divining Sharon's request.
The results indicated danger, considerable danger, but not life-threatening if handled carefully.
With this conclusion, Klein leaned back in The Fool's chair, his thoughts swirling amid the endless gray fog.
"Since the Magician must actively perform...
"Then let me stage a grand show on this mysterious stage."
End of Chapter.
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