"The Fallen Creator... Fallen..." Alger ruminated over The Fool's words and fell deep in thought.
However, what struck Alger the most was The Fool's relaxed, natural, and nonchalant attitude.
He acted as if they were equal!
If he hadn't experienced their previous ritual, Alger might have thought The Fool was merely bluffing, and building himself up to intimidate him and Justice. But now, he was of the opinion that even if The Fool was inferior to the True Creator, he was at least close to that level.
It's dangerous. It's also an opportunity... Alger muttered softly. He then spoke with a smile, "Mr. Fool, your description is indeed more appropriate. According to our observations, Beyonders who believed in the True Creator, no—the Fallen Creator, have a higher probability of losing control. The rest of them are mostly psychopaths."
Selina wasn't surprised. Instead it is to be expected.
The god who had been in her world and slowly achieving His recovery. It is befit for Him to have the understanding and same level as the gods of this world, maybe even higher.
Upon seeing The Fool remain silently engulfed in the thick gray fog, Audrey asked both wistfully and curiously, "That sounds scary. Mr. Hanged Man, could you share, in detail, information about each, and every mysterious organization? And also the matters regarding each secret cult? It's hard for me to come into contact with them during my daily life. I can only understand them through the both of you. I'm willing to pay for it. May I know what you'd like in return?"
Alger thought for a moment before saying, "I need money—a thousand pounds. It'd be best if they weren't bills marked by a serial number. Or maybe gemstones that have just been unearthed. Price them according to the Backlund Jewelry Exchange's monthly average price."
"A thousand pounds?" Audrey said, sounding shocked. She then replied happily, "No problem, do I send it to the previous address?"
Alger was quiet for a good twenty seconds before he said, "Yes, send it to the Warrior & Sea Bar at Pelican Street, in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Tell the boss, Williams, that it's what the 'Captain' wants.
"Alright." Audrey leaned back and posed in a Spectator-like manner. "Mr. Hanged Man, you can start now."
Just before he deliberated his words. Alger instantly thought of another person. What a way to leverage his position as an experience sailor!
He looked at Miss Lovers with that mannerism particular to treasure hunters and said, "Would you like to hear them as well?"
The Fool who's face was behind the thick gray fog suddenly bit his lips indiscernibly.
Perhaps due to this exploitation or the fact that this weed haired man just got himself a good cash generator. His silence became a bit more meaningful.
Selina did not stand in ceremony, she replied softly, "It would take some time to deliver them but I don't have any problems."
If I get the sacrificial ritual thing right. I should be able to bestow as well... I can just bestow my followers and task them to deliver it. The reward? Another cash of course. Selina muttered to herself.
Having said that, she mocked, But if this is the only thing I can reward than I might as well be called the Goddess of Wealth...
"Great!" Audrey smiled. "How fortunate of you Mr. Hanged Man."
Alger could not help but chuckle inwardly before turning to look at The Fool. He deliberated for a moment before saying slowly, "Let's start from the Moses Ascetic Order. It is the earliest hidden organization. Of course, many think that the earliest hidden organizations are the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of Mother Earth, and the Church of the God of Combat.
"These people must be from the Church of Lord of Storms, the Church of Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom," Audrey refuted sulkily.
The Church of the Goddess is the earliest hidden organization? That was the first time Selina had heard of such a claim.
What exactly happened in the Fourth Epoch or the Third Epoch?
Alger smiled and said, "The truth is buried in ancient history. Only one thing is certain: no one has ever said that the Church of Lord of Storms, the Church of Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom were once hidden organizations.
"Alright, let's save some time and return to main topic. The Moses Ascetic Order was first established by a few humans that had read the Blasphemy Slate. They believed in an non-anthropomorphic god, called 'the Hidden Sage'."
"The description is that of a god, but it is more of an ideology, a natural law. For example, all objects are numeric. The Hidden Sage is an embodiment of Spirit Numerology. Or that knowledge is supreme, and the Hidden Sage is knowledge itself. Hence, the original Moses Ascetic Order was a very respectable organization, and it maintained a good relationship with the other major churches.
"The members of the organization led ascetic lives to resist losing control and to resolve the effects of the Remnant potion. They strictly kept their order's secrets, and they upheld moral and religious precepts. They believe that humans continuously reincarnate after death...
"The Sequence 9 that they grasp is called Mystery Pryer... The word 'Warlock' was also spread from that organization."
Audrey listened to The Hanged Man's description carefully and asked sharply, "You said that the Moses Ascetic Order used to be a respectable organization. Are they not one anymore?"
Alger nodded his head indiscernibly.
"Yes, they have fallen into corruption and are now an evil organization."
"Why? I find their beliefs very good and very normal," Audrey expressed her confusion.
Selina failed to draw an idea. Her time in the archives haven't reached the Moses Ascetic Order and have only been the categories and a prominent example.
Alger looked at the unfathomable Fool and tersely agreed.
"I am not sure of the real reason. It might be because it has been buried by history. However, I have heard one terrifying explanation.
"In that story, the main reason why the Moses Ascetic Order fell into corruption was because the god that they believed in, the Hidden Sage, had come to life!
"He became the personification of an evil god!"
"Came to life? This... how?" Audrey found it unimaginable as she replied with an incredulous tone.
Without realizing it, she had exited from her Spectator state.
How haunting... A ghost of a god... Selina's heart stirred with emotions.
"I'm sorry, no one knows the answer." Alger had originally wanted to casually say, "Maybe Mr. Fool would know," but he held back the urge.
He had already teetered on the borders of danger once.
In the The Book of Storms 5:7, there was a saying that Alger remembered clearly, which was: "Do not test God!"
Audrey calmed herself down and commented, "The Goddess that was descending through Miss Lovers. Do you think the Hidden Sage's case somehow correlates to this in terms of methods?"
"I do not know", Alger was quick to reply. "But considering how Miss Lovers was used as a sort of a beacon. The central figure for an act that orchestrates the descent. The Hidden Sage's case may not have direct connection with mortals and perhaps it was caused by reason unknown.
He thought for three seconds before adding, "Furthermore, the Goddess, The Child of God doesn't see to have any records of documented beings in the churches with deity status. If what Miss Lovers said is true then The Rose School of Thought is plotting a much deeper mystery that if without the incident, we may not have unearthed this deity's existence."
"I see..." Audrey heaved a breath and didn't pressed on. She gestured for him to continue.
Selina maintained her bystander position, carefully listing each of The Hanged Man's words for later validations.
Finally, she realized that there were four points that she needed to take note of.
First, the Demoness Sect was also known as the Demoness Family in the Fourth Epoch. Back then, they had very few members, and their beliefs were passed down through their bloodlines. Plus, they would kill the fathers of their children and abandon the baby boys. Hence, all the members were female. Of course, that was all from Alger's description, and there was no way to verify it at the moment.
Second, the Secret Order had the lowest activity level among all the other hidden organizations. Thus, they were the most unknown. Every time they appeared, they seem to be after something or looking for something.
Third, the current Psychology Alchemists was similar to the earlier Moses Ascetic Order. They believed in an non-anthropomorphic existence and believed that the human spirit could change everything.
Fourth, the Numinous Episcopate that believed in Death and the Rose School of Thought that liked bloody sacrificial worship ceremonies both originated in the Southern Continent. After the colonial era came, they almost vanished under attacks by the seven churches. But as such, they began spreading to the Northern Continent.
Their appearance was during the Milo Incident. A majority of them have to be from the Child of God faction... Selina narrowed her eyes slightly. Albeit inconsistent, she felt she had found a key reason for the ritual.
They do not have the intention of actually making a god's descent!
One, this ancient organization is most certainly capable enough to prevent anything from going wrong. The appearance of a man named Klarman, who attended her wedding is an indication of it.
Selina felt an extreme fear just from his presence, it overlaps her hatred for Deimsfel. She figured if this man acted, all of the officials should be in their graves by now.
The second is how Deimsfel treated the members of this faction, the entirely separate group determined to complete the ritual. He acted as though they were pawns.
It's almost as if... They're being used as disposables... Selina felt a foreboding from what seems to be a collusion.
If this continues, she might as well start finding new believers.
Looking for followers is too difficult, even Mr. Fool is privy of our members. I can't afford to lose them...
Selina fought the urge to caress her dress. In fear of the spectator they had in the room.
After a further exchange of information, The Fool announced the end of the Gathering.
"By your will." Audrey, Selina and Alger stood up together.
Their bodies became ethereal. After the connection was cut off, they instantly phased out of the mottled bronze table.
The scenery returned to its lofty state, untouched for millions of years.
...
After the gathering, Klein rubbed his glabella and attempted conjuring a smurf account with his mind.
As he thought, a figure appeared at the furthest end of the long bronze table. That figure was wearing a black tuxedo, a silk top hat, and a dull expression. His actions were clumsy and inarticulate. Even though he was engulfed in gray fog, it was obvious that something was wrong with him.
That won't do... Klein experimented a few more times before sighing and dismissing the idea of creating a smurf account.
He attempted other things too. He continued to sit above the gray fog in the seat of honor at the long bronze table. He considered what Audrey had said, and he cast his gaze curiously at the illusory crimson stars.
After a moment of silence, Klein started to pray as a form of feedback instead of establishing contact with those stars.
Amidst the tranquility and silence, he didn't receive any feedback from the ten plus crimson stars nearby.
In order to receive feedback, I need to pull someone above the gray fog before I can reply? Klein nodded as he thought, feeling somewhat disappointed.
He didn't want to violate someone else's will and forcefully pull them into this mysterious space.
Hmm... Klein was just getting ready to leave, but he habitually touched a nearby illusory crimson star.
Just then, he suddenly felt that there was a faint and insignificant prayer deep inside the crimson star!