Capítulo 14: Chapter 14: The Divination Club
Chapter 14: The Divination Club
"Klein is becoming a full member?" Alice looked at Rozanne in surprise. "Hasn't he joined for less than a month?"
"Oh, your surprised expression is just like mine,"Rozanne exaggeratedly said to Alice, "but I bet you're not as upset as I am!"
"…What's wrong?" Alice hesitated, considering whether to comfort her—wait, what was she upset about? "My skin! I have to work night shifts every other day… Oh Goddess, I'm not a night owl!"Rozanne complained about her night shift duties.
"…" Alice fell silent, unable to empathize with Rozanne, though she wasn't a night owl either, "I'm sorry I can't help you, I'm a minor, I can't stay up late."
"…"Rozanne looked at Alice with a resentful gaze, and after a moment, Alice couldn't bear it any longer and left.
…
Having finished her studies for the day, Alice left Blackthorn Security Company with nothing to do, wandering the streets like a ghost.
Suddenly, Alice stopped as if sensing something and looked across the street at the signs on the second floor:
"Harold's Department Store."
"Veterans' Club."
"The Divination Club."
…
The Divination Club… Alice thoughtfully glanced at the name and went upstairs.
A beautiful lady with brownish-yellow hair stood in the lobby, in charge of reception. Upon seeing Alice, she approached her: "Miss, would you like a divination, or would you like to join our club?"
"Um," Alice pondered, then pulled out a coin and flipped it in her confused gaze—it landed on the king's face, "Divination."
"Our members are free to perform divinations in the club and set their own prices. We only take a small percentage of the fee. If you'd like a divination, you can look through this album, which has introductions and prices of members willing to perform divinations," the diligent lady said, flipping through the album for Alice, "However, since today is a weekday, most of our members are at work and busy…"
Alice didn't care about the lady's words; her gaze searched the album for a name that might spark her inspiration, then stopped at a familiar name.
"Klein Moretti?" Alice looked at the lady with interest, "He's a member here too?"
"Do you know Mr. Moretti?" the lady asked Alice, surprised.
Noticing her evaluative gaze, Alice slightly frowned, then smiled and asked, "Is Klein… uh, Mr. Moretti here now?"
"No, he's not," the lady replied, hesitating as if she wanted to recommend another diviner to Alice but then gave up.
"Alright," Alice's gaze left the album, "then what are the requirements to join you?"
The lady showed an expected expression and began to explain proficiently.
"Fill out detailed information, pay the annual membership fee, the first time is 5 pounds, and then 1 pound each year thereafter. We're not like those political or business clubs that require a formal member's recommendation to join.
"Members can use the club's meeting rooms and various divination rooms and tools for free, enjoy our complimentary coffee and tea, read the newspapers and magazines we subscribe to, and buy lunch, dinner, alcoholic beverages, and some divination materials and textbooks at cost.
"Moreover, we invite at least one famous diviner to give lectures and answer questions every month.
"The most important thing is that you can find a group of friends with the same hobbies and exchange experiences."
"I want to join the club," Alice said, taking out a 5-pound note.
"It's our honor," the lady with brownish-yellow hair said with a broad smile, taking the note, checking its authenticity, and then giving Alice a form, "Please fill out your information, and I'll give you a receipt."
So Alice took up the pen and filled in her name, gender, address, and company on the form, hesitated for a moment at the age column, wrote "16," and left the birth date blank.
"You live in a church? Oh, are you and Mr. Moretti colleagues?" the lady easily noticed these details.
Alice looked up at her quietly, her attitude clear—she did not intend to answer the question.
So the lady conscientiously collected the form and handed Alice a cufflink, extending her right hand, "Welcome to the Tingen City Divination Club, I'm Angelica Barrehart, your diligent servant. This is your membership cufflink, with our unique inscription to prove your membership.
"Hello, Ms. Angelica," Alice shook her hand and took the dark gold cufflink.
Alice examined the cufflink with interest, while Angelica continued her work: "I wonder what kind of divination you specialize in, or what divination method you want to learn in the club? We will consider inviting corresponding famous diviners to teach, and introduce you to members with similar skills for pleasant exchanges."
"No need," Alice shook her head, "I know a bit of everything… well, I'm not a beginner."
After a pause, Alice asked, "Can I perform divinations for people now?"
"You can freely perform divinations for people in the club at any time, but until we confirm your level, we won't speak highly of you when customers inquire. What do you wish to charge for your divinations?" Angelica responded as usual, although Alice noticed she was barely holding back her curiosity.
"Price?" Alice thoughtfully looked at Angelica, then made the puzzling gesture again—she scattered 12 coins on the table, exactly six with the king's face and six with numbers, "Sixpence."
Angelica opened her mouth, then smiled again and continued, "We will take a quarter penny as our fee, which is one-eighth of the total price…"
As she spoke, she entered Alice's information into the album.
"Do you need a drink? We offer Siberian black tea, Southwell coffee, and Dixie coffee…" When she saw Alice pull out coins again, Angelica couldn't help but ask, "May I ask why you do this?"
"I'm not good at making decisions," Alice explained, "In most cases, when it comes to major decisions, fate actively tells me the answer, but for these small matters…"
Angelica didn't expect such an answer; she fell silent, then remembered the discordant part of Alice's words, "Fate actively tells you the answer?"
Alice stopped her actions and showed a perfectly standard smile, and Angelica realized that this was also a question she wouldn't answer.
"Is there any drink here you dislike?" Angelica decided to ask differently.
"No."
"Then do you mind if I prepare it for you directly?"
"That would be great." Angelica saw Alice's relieved expression and prepared to make her a drink.
Just then, a young man with very short light hair walked in, his face sallow, his red eyes somewhat dim.
"I'd like a divination," he said to Angelica.
(End of Chapter)
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