The moment Leonard finished speaking, everyone fell into a strange silence, as though even the air was infused with a faint trace of awkwardness.
Audrey's face was filled with confusion, a string of question marks flashing wildly in her mind: ??? Did I not explain it clearly enough? This was the first time she had ever doubted her own outstanding ability to express herself.
In truth, Leonard wasn't slow to react—those pieces of information were simply far too shocking. He needed a moment to digest them. It wasn't until he suddenly remembered that an angel-level "old man" was also residing inside him that he finally understood: if he could encounter such a bizarre stroke of fortune, why couldn't others?
Emlyn was secretly snickering to himself at the side, thinking: The Tarot Club finally has someone even "dumber" than me…Wait, no! I'm not dumb!
Leonard's expression turned serious. He spoke with solemn earnestness, "Mr. World, back when I was in Tingen, I formed a grudge with that Ince Zangwill. When the operation begins, I hope to join in!"
His words were practically a direct declaration: I, Leonard, formally request to join the war of vengeance!
Klein, controlling "The World," nodded steadily and gave a concise, powerful reply, "Sure."
With that, the topic temporarily came to an end.
The Hanged Man, Alger, immediately switched to a tone that sounded like a kindly big brother, asking with gentle concern, "Mr. Sun, what is the situation on your side right now? Why did you stop at Afternoon Town instead of continuing deeper into the Giant King's Court?"
Derrick's expression sharpened instantly, and he began explaining with solemn seriousness, "Because of that boy named Steph…"
"Miss Empress was correct—Steph may look like a child, but in truth he is an angel under the True Creator. He originally intended to lead us to the Giant King's Court, but after hearing Miss Empress's name, he suddenly changed his mind and advised us not to proceed any farther."
Klein, Audrey, and the others all looked at Lilith in surprise, secretly guessing: How did she end up connected to an angel—and one under the True Creator, no less? And the key point is…the angel actually respected her? Could it be because of Mr. Tower?
Mr. Tower (Edward) had mentioned before that he maintained a good relationship with the True Creator. If so, it would make sense for him to also have decent relations with the angels under that deity.
"Angel? The True Creator?"
Leonard's mind fell into chaos again. He could still understand how Miss Death's angelic evil spirit, greatly weakened after becoming an evil spirit, could be restrained by the Gatekeeper and thus take residence inside her—but what was this current situation supposed to be?
A group of mid-to-low Sequence Beyonders openly discussing angels and gods—even if said gods were evil deities—was that really appropriate?
Alger continued asking, "Why did that angel advise you not to continue? And why did He intend to take you to the Giant King's Court to begin with?"
Everyone was extremely curious.
Derrick replied, "Lord Steph told me at the time: 'The True Creator has gone mad.'"
"As for why He originally wanted to take us to the Giant King's Court—it was because He wanted us to believe in the True Creator. He planned to use our entire City of Silver as His anchor, attempting to pull Himself back from His state of madness."
"???"
Most of those present wore bewildered expressions. They knew very little about the concept of gods requiring anchors. But that the True Creator was a lunatic—that was common knowledge. Not only was He mad, He was also monstrously evil, which was precisely why He was universally regarded as an evil god, and why the Aurora Order was considered a cult.
Lilith frowned slightly, sensing instinctively that something felt off.
Soon, several others also reacted, thinking: For ordinary people, it was fine to assume the True Creator was mad. But how could His most faithful angel also think that the god he worshipped was insane?
Little Sun continued, "Back in previous Tarot Gatherings, I already had some understanding of the True Creator, so after hearing His words, I was confused as well. I asked Him—wasn't the True Creator always mad?"
Everyone's inner thoughts:…Little Sun, you really are bold. Truly worthy of being the biggest fool among the Three Fools!
To say directly to an angel that the god He serves has always been a lunatic—are you sure that wasn't provocation? Or a death wish?
Derrick scratched his head, looking innocent as he said, "But after I asked, His gaze suddenly became terrifying. I don't even know why."
Yes. Why indeed?
"But He recovered very quickly," Derrick continued. "Then He told me that not long ago, the True Creator suddenly lost all rationality and could no longer communicate at all. He wanted to destroy everything in sight. Even the Angel of Fate, who had always accompanied Him, was injured and had no choice but to distance himself from the True Creator."
"Now, within the Giant King's Court, aside from the True Creator, there is no longer any living creature. No matter how Lord Steph prays, he can no longer receive any response from the True Creator. That is why he said the True Creator has gone mad."
Once Derrick finished speaking, the Tarot Club instantly fell silent.
Although ordinary people had always believed the True Creator to be a mad, evil god, through Mr. Tower they had all learned—at least partially—that this so-called evil god could communicate, and would even occasionally bestow oracles upon the Aurora Order. But from Little Sun's description, this time the True Creator seemed to have truly gone completely insane. What in the world could have happened to reduce a deity to such a state?
Lilith also sank into deep thought.
After Adam's fusion with the True Creator, regardless of which of the two ended up in control, the result should have been the restoration of reason and normality.
Audrey looked toward Mr. Fool and asked, "Mr. Fool, may I ask if you know what happened to the True Creator?"
Klein, who had been wholeheartedly enjoying the gossip, hurriedly pulled his attention back from "The World," pondered rapidly for a few seconds, then showed a faint, unhurried smile. "I don't know. Perhaps it's related to the recent war between Feysac and Loen?"
"Eh?" Fors, Xio, and Leonard immediately perked up, curiosity brimming.
How could the True Creator's madness be connected to a war? Was the war caused by His madness, or did the war cause Him to go mad? The two didn't seem related at all…
Audrey suddenly understood and said, "You mean King George III's scheme?"
Mr. Fool gave a small chuckle and replied casually, "Who knows?"
Fors immediately recalled the discussion during the Tarot Meeting after the Great Smog incident—how the King of Loen, George III, had secretly trafficked people to construct his mausoleum in preparation for advancing to Sequence 0 as the Black Emperor.
Thinking of this, Fors asked, "Miss Justice, is the scheme you mentioned the same one Mr. Fool talked about back then?"
Alger realised instantly.
But the newcomers Leonard and Xio were completely confused: What scheme? Could someone please consider the fact that we're new members?
Audrey nodded firmly.
"Yes."
"From the royal family trafficking citizens to build a mausoleum—causing countless disappearances and deaths—to George III's later collaboration with the Demoness Sect in order to create the inhuman Great Smog, and then to the current war with Feysac Empire where people die every single moment…all of it has been for one single purpose."
"George III wants to ascend as the Black Emperor—to become a god!"
In that instant, Leonard felt his hands and feet grow cold. A wave of shock swept through his entire being: George III wants to become a deity?!
Xio's mind went blank.
Huh? Gods…can be promoted?
After several seconds of stunned silence, Leonard exclaimed, "But kings aren't allowed to exceed Sequence 4! Isn't that a rule enforced by every Church? The Churches—no, the gods—how could they possibly allow a king to become a god?!"
Audrey said softly, "Unfortunately, the Seven Gods have already tacitly approved it."
The Seven Gods…approved it?!
Then George III becoming a deity was practically guaranteed!
Audrey continued, "Everyone knows that last week, Prince Edessak and his sister returned to Backlund and joined the Psychology Alchemists. At the time, they said it was because of the coming war."
"It was only two days ago that I learned the truth. Their real purpose was George III. They resented George III for sacrificing them for his ambition—pushing all the blame for the Great Smog onto them. They returned to seek revenge and to stop his scheme."
Alger frowned.
"But are their words even trustworthy? They're George III's children. Who knows what sort of tricks their family might be playing?"
"That's why they later told me another story…"
Audrey briefly retold everything about King George.
Aside from Klein, who had known long ago, even Lilith was shocked: George III…was actually George I?!
For two hundred years, all of Loen's transitions of royal power had been nothing but an illusion?
"Each 'George' would select a 'successor,' and in order to hide the truth from everyone else, he would gradually 'clean out' all acquaintances around the chosen successor—including but not limited to ministers, nobles, and even his own spouse and children."
"The chosen successor would, without ever realising, be replaced by him. Edessak was originally the selected one, but he accidentally discovered the truth when his mother 'accidentally died.' George III then changed his plan and forced him to bear the blame for the Great Smog and die in disgrace."
"That is why Edessak hates George III so deeply and is willing to pay any price to take revenge on him."
Emlyn curled his lips and said disdainfully, "Hmph, humans are so troublesome. Why bother with such a complicated mess? Look at us Sanguines—our Marquises and Dukes all live for several thousand years, and not once do we have to worry about such trivial matters."
Lilith smiled. "And that's exactly why your Vampire race has declined to this point."
Emlyn frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Of course it's related~ Because your Vampire race grows older, but not smarter~"
Emlyn: "???"
Leonard couldn't help glancing at Emlyn: If all Vampires are this foolish, no wonder they're losing to humans.
Xio had already fallen deep into contemplation.
She had been investigating the truth behind her father's false accusation and execution for treason. Now, as Audrey spoke, the fog in her heart gradually dispersed. She was almost certain:
Her father's death was connected to this matter!
Bernadette spoke calmly, "How do those two intend to stop George III?"
To her, anyone who opposed George III was automatically her ally.
"That's what I find strange," Audrey admitted, her tone tinged with confusion. "Even if the Edessak siblings are Beyonders…fine, let's assume they're both demigod-level. Where would they get the confidence to stop George III from ascending as a god?"
Alger said gravely, "And your vote that day was far too strange. It felt as though they knew…"
He discreetly glanced at Mr. Fool.
"Knew about the existence behind you, Mr. Fool. But no matter how they voted, it shouldn't have influenced Mr. Fool's decision at all."
As soon as he finished, everyone instinctively turned to Mr. Fool.
Klein smiled faintly and repeated the same words he had said to Audrey earlier, "Whatever the Lady Strength chooses to do next represents my stance."
So everyone's gazes shifted to Bernadette.
Bernadette said calmly, "I will do everything within my ability to prevent George III from ascending as the Black Emperor."
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.