"What was left behind inside the Dream Labyrinth Tower?"
Hearing the Hermit's question, "Justice" Audrey instantly pricked up her ears. Since she was working hard every day to "grind the tower," she was naturally very interested.
Meanwhile, Klein was surprised for a different reason: judging from past experience, although the "Mystery Queen" chose diary pages according to certain patterns, she generally only knew that a specific node in Roselle's diary contained important information, or could infer Roselle's emotional state from his handwriting. She could not precisely direct questions based on exact diary content…
Even so, the questions she provided usually had something to do with the submitted diary pages…
But this time, her question about the Dream Labyrinth Tower had absolutely nothing to do with the diary content!
Luckily I participated in the "Holy Grail War" on the first floor of the Dream Labyrinth Tower and know a thing or two. I know Old Huang once imprisoned Zaratul in the palace beneath that black sludge. Fooling the Hermit and Bernadette shouldn't be an issue…
Thinking of this, Mr. Fool glanced at Ebner from the corner of his eye, adding silently:
The key is to avoid letting the Tower notice anything wrong. After all, much of what I know comes from Ebner. Who knows whether that kid slipped in some personal "additions"? If I step on a trap and he notices, it'll be humiliating.
After a few seconds of consideration, Klein had an idea—one that could even raise the Fool's "mysterious" aura—so he smiled slightly and said:
"Roselle left behind a 'miracle.'"
Although Klein didn't really understand what Old Huang intended by binding Zaratul inside the Dream Labyrinth Tower, Zaratul was the Miracle Invoker of the Seer pathway, Sequence 2. Old Huang definitely wanted to use the "Miracle Invoker" to achieve something.
So saying he "left behind a miracle" was safe and irrefutable.
"Miracle?"
Everyone except Ebner mentally repeated the word, letting their imaginations run wild.
Finally, "Justice" Audrey couldn't resist asking, "Mr. Fool, what is a 'miracle'? Or rather, what does 'miracle' mean?"
Good question! Miss Audrey is as cooperative as always. I was already planning to manipulate the World into asking… but that would've been so awkward. If the Tower ever learns that the so-called follower—the World—is actually just the Fool's alternate persona, I'd never live it down… But then again, the World has already done similar things before. One more time wouldn't matter…
No, better not reveal anything.
As his mind spun with strange thoughts, the Fool deliberately chuckled lightly and said, with profound meaning:
"Returning from death is a miracle."
This was Zaratul's original line recorded by Roselle—simply an explanation of "miracle," free of problems.
As for what everyone else might infer from it—well, if their interpretation matched reality, then it meant the Fool had successfully hinted at them. If not, they simply misunderstood. What did that have to do with the Fool?
Furthermore, Old Huang's arrangements in the Dream Labyrinth Tower were aimed at resurrection—Ebner had briefly mentioned that. Klein didn't use Ebner's wording; saying "returning from death" should not arouse the Tower's suspicion.
"Returning from death is a miracle? Does that mean Emperor Roselle intended to resurrect himself using a 'miracle'?"
Alger, Audrey, and Cattleya all felt their hearts shake. The Hermit in particular almost wanted to share this information with the Queen immediately.
After Klein finished speaking, he didn't give the Tarot Club members much time to think. Instead, he smiled and said:
"It's your turn."
—He didn't mention that Roselle's resurrection plan was forbidden by the gods and had already been destroyed. He planned to use that as material to "answer questions" again next time.
The Hermit, Cattleya, gave another polite bow of thanks, then turned to the "Magician" Fors and asked about the Abraham family, requesting a meeting with one of their direct descendants.
Fors recalled the message Ebner had asked her to relay to her teacher. She had already written a letter requesting a meeting; barring accidents, Teacher Dorian would come to Backlund this weekend. Asking on Cattleya's behalf wasn't a problem.
At this thought, Fors replied:
"What do you want from them?
"If you can give me a reason, I can pass your request to them. As for whether any further progress will happen—that depends entirely on their willingness. I can't guarantee anything."
Cattleya briefly explained that she wanted more information regarding Mr. Door, then said she could pay Fors 400 pounds as a contact fee, and an additional 400 pounds if the other party agreed to meet.
Why must she ask the Abraham family for information on Mr. Door? Wouldn't asking Ebner be easier? I feel he knows more about Mr. Door than the Abrahams do…
Fors muttered to herself, but still happily agreed.
Next, "Justice" Audrey made her request to buy Bewitching Bell-fruits. This time, the "Hanged Man" Alger took the lead, saying he had leads but would need time to confirm them.
When Alger and Qilingus once explored the primitive island, they had found a Bewitching Bell Tree. They hadn't dared approach back then due to lack of strength. Now, with the ritual sacrifice of the Sea Monster complete, Alger had the hope of advancing to Sequence 5, and naturally didn't want to miss the chance to earn money. After all, he still owed the World a large "extra fee" for the sea monster.
Of course, he held no resentment toward the World's demand for extra payment. Without the World, if his ship had been attacked by "angels" while assaulting that port, they would never have lived through it.
Once the inspection ends and we're far enough from Pasu Island, I can pray to Mr. Fool for the sea monster's location and attempt my advancement to Ocean Songster!
Alger felt a spark of anticipation.
After these two transactions, since no one else had immediate needs, the Tarot Gathering entered its free communication segment.
The "Sun," Derrick, spoke up dutifully:
"I have become a Notary."
We didn't need to know that…
The Hanged Man had the urge to cover his face, but he still maintained calm professionalism and explained the various extended applications of a Notary's abilities, saving Derrick the trouble of figuring them out alone.
"Thank you, Mr. Hanged Man." After sincerely expressing gratitude, the Sun turned to the Tower. After hesitating a moment, he still said:
"Mr. Tower, I encountered Elder Lovia in the round tower of Silver City earlier. She asked me to bring a message to you."
Hearing this, Ebner paused slightly, wondering:
I don't recall having any connection with that Shepherd Elder… I don't even know her. Why would she send me a message?
The "Judgment" Xio and the "Hanged Man" Alger both looked over as well—Xio's gaze faintly probing, Alger's filled with surprise—each guessing that the Tower might have had contact with that Shepherd Elder during his venture into the Land Abandoned by God.
As for the Fool, Klein simply felt:
This must be another historical mess left behind by that "Liu Bo."
"What did she ask you to say?" Ebner asked, frowning slightly.
"She said, 'Do you still remember the promise from 203 years ago?'"
The Sun imitated Lovia's tone as he relayed the message.
After speaking, he stared at Ebner expectantly, hoping for an explanation… This question had bothered him for days—how could Elder Lovia, who was only a little over thirty, possibly ask Mr. Tower about a promise from 203 years ago?
A promise from 203 years ago…? Hm… 203 years ago should be around the time when Morning Star City fell!
This might not be that Shepherd Elder's question… so is it the "True Creator"? Or perhaps an angel under the True Creator who once contacted the "Machine Emperor"?
And promise…
Again the word "promise"!
Whenever "promise" was mentioned, Ebner felt a headache. Because from the little snake Will, he had already guessed that the "promises" he left behind in the distant past were probably tasks of outrageous level and difficulty!
I used to draw such enormous "future pies," but now all the debt collectors come to me…
Cursing his past "irresponsible self," Ebner really wanted to say "I forgot," but after thinking for a moment—having fully digested the Prophet potion, even without advancing to Sequence 3, his spirituality and grasp of "divinity" had greatly improved—he judged that his "Insight Vision" could push deeper into the Unknown Land and reach the "marks" left by his farther-future self.
At least the "Calamity Seal" and "Machine Emperor" regions—two spots only two or three centuries away and not too far from the "entrance"—should be reachable.
Previously, Ebner hadn't attempted it because he was in his "bad luck" period and wanted to avoid mishaps…
But now that the Sun had brought up a True Creator-related issue, and Ebner judged the risk manageable, he immediately contacted his real body in the waking world.
—For the Tarot Meeting, Ebner currently used a spirit-body avatar transformed by his Insight Vision. With Mr. Fool's permission, he could transmit certain "information" back via the crimson star.
...
In the villa at 28 Kingster Street, Cherwood Borough.
Upon receiving the message from the Tarot Club, Ebner hesitated only briefly before curiosity overwhelmed him. He split off the Insight Vision and, via the passage supported by the White Angel and the Omniscient Eye, entered the Unknown Land.
(End of this chapter)