After shielding Backlund's most dazzling diamond miss, Snow quietly dropped his "none can see through Psyduck" state, reverting to his salon prince persona. He glided among wealthy matrons and heiresses, maintaining the only "positive legacy" his predecessor left: an expansive network.
Miss Audrey, blissfully unaware of the change, upheld her Spectator poise, scanning the banquet's guests. Noticing Lady Norma's similar scrutiny, she began showcasing the finesse of a well-bred noblewoman, subtly steering conversations toward her goals.
The Paradox pathway's Sequence 7 is a fascinating one. Unlike a Witch's anti-divination, it boasts a rarer "misdirection" ability. Though typically not persistent, when bestowed directly via Sefirah, it lasts impressively long.
Given Diamond Miss's social stature, Snow only needed to occasionally attend salons to sustain her protection.
The effort was warranted by Justice's status. As a key Backlund noble, the Hall family's influence drew the Psychology Alchemists' gaze. With Klein still at peak Seer, lacking Paper Figurine Angels, a lapse during this vulnerable window could see Justice hypnotized or corrupted—a sin Snow couldn't bear.
Lacking Paper Figurine Angels, Sefirah empowerment sufficed. Though a Sequence 7 ability, boosted by source matter's authority, it thwarted all but a Russian priest-tier foe. The Psychology Alchemists' rabble wouldn't even detect White Horse, Not Horse.
Of course, a gifted demigod Spectator might pose a threat, but their fate? Well, gaze not upon gods, shall we say?
…
Declining invitations from ladies with absent husbands, Snow returned to his West Borough mansion. As usual, he checked his mailbox.
In this era, veterinarians, like detectives, needed no storefront. Clients visited or sent letters.
Though Snow planned to lean into his novelist persona, he wouldn't abandon his veterinarian role—a legitimate pass into Backlund's elite circles.
Among ornate envelopes, one with a postmark caught his eye, raising a brow.
For Snow, and his predecessor, such letters were rare. Clients sent letters via servants, and his predecessor was a loner. A letter handled by the postal service, delivered by a postman, was a first.
"From Tingen? Klein wouldn't be that careless, would he? Backlund's got a postman named Amon!" Snow grimaced, carrying the letters inside. Slicing it open with a letter knife, he found contents that left him speechless—
"Dear Mr. Devil,
I obtained your contact through certain channels. I hear you seek powerful defensive weapons. I can procure Sun domain charms.
Their potency rivals a Sequence 6 strike, with strong effects against undead and wraiths.
Crafting them requires extensive preparation and considerable cost. How many do you need, and what price are you willing to pay?
Yours anonymously."
…
"Why didn't Klein just relay this through Mr. Fool?" Snow stared at the letter, its sender painstakingly veiled, his expression mirroring a subway grandpa squinting at a smartphone.
Then it clicked. Having read the original, Snow knew "chat forwarding," but the current Mr. Fool hadn't grasped that function yet.
"Klein's clearly angling for Clown potion funds. Wiring to an anonymous account or bank draft is fine, but receiving Sunflame Charms is tricky."
This sparked a thought: a messenger.
Summoning a messenger was simple, and his unique abilities made finding a reliable one easy. The snag? Signing a contract.
The Paradox pathway's support abilities were robust, even allowing contract amendments, but lacked contract creation. He'd need a contract—Sun pathway's Just Contract or Death pathway's Necromantic Contract would do.
"Pity Mr. A's not in Tingen. Otherwise… Wait! Mr. A's gone, but there's Eye of Wisdom!"
If memory served, Eye of Wisdom held a sealed artifact mimicking Notary abilities. Though less potent than a true Notary, Snow only needed a contract. If the ring was limited to notarizing, not drafting, he'd have to risk raiding Mr. A's vault.
Mr. A's long-running gatherings likely stashed goodies in his basement. With a Sun pathway Beyonder in his circle, a few Just Contracts wasn't far-fetched—they came in handy unexpectedly.
With the Aurora Order's strongest in Backlund now mere Listeners, sneaking into Mr. A's with White Horse, Not Horse was feasible.
After brief consideration, Snow opted to try Eye of Wisdom first. If money could solve it, why risk it? That was his credo.
Resolved, Snow clasped his hands to his forehead, chanting softly:
"O The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;
The Mysterious Ruler above the Gray Fog;
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
I beseech your gaze;
I beseech your ear;
Your favored one's letter has reached me, but he left no contact. Please inform him I'll purchase three charms at 300 pounds each."
…
"Who's praying to me now?" Mr. Fool, just home from work, heard layered pleas. Entering the washroom, he took four steps backward to the gray fog. Seeing the pulsing star tied to Mr. Devil, his mouth twitched—
"Is Mr. Devil's dinner early today?"
Grumbling inwardly, Klein extended his spirituality, touching the star. The layered pleas echoed in his ears…
(End of Chapter)
Author's Note:
On Loen conservatism—it's only relative to Intis, where public displays are (exaggeratedly) overt. In the original, when Audrey first gained Spectator powers at a ball, there were hints: married nobles slipped to the garden for trysts, nearly in front of spouses. So, gauge this "conservatism" carefully.
Don't equate Loen's conservatism with Ming Dynasty's. Loen's official faith includes the Evernight Goddess! When Daly teased Klein, Dunn noted it's commonplace.