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After a moment of silent contemplation, a plan already formed in his mind, Aaron looked at Astolfo, who had regained his composure, and spoke cautiously:
"Even if you don't need to rely on the Rose School of Thought's faith to stabilize your condition, you have just revived after all."
"Suah must already know about you. You've been sleeping all this time and aren't aware of the changes that have occurred within the Rose School of Thought."
"Those Primordial Moon believers who were originally marginalized are now unusually active. This is a very bad sign."
That last Abomination Beyonder characteristic hidden deep within the Sea of Ruins was also the final piece, the last material for achieving godhood not controlled by the Mother Tree of Desire.
If it obtained this last Beyonder characteristic, with the active cooperation of the Mother Tree of Desire, a Chained would emerge, completely corrupted and controlled, in addition to the Abyss, which was already corrupted and polluted.
Once the initial barrier shattered, the Tenebrous World would almost certainly fall into the hands of this Outer God.
Based on this consideration, the Mother Tree of Desire, having already failed once, would never stand idly by; it would likely even go so far as to seek help from other Outer Deities.
Watching Astolfo tacitly agree with his words, Aaron did not continue speaking. There was only one chance to open the deepest part of the Sea of Ruins.
Apart from that Abomination Beyonder characteristic, this was also a rare opportunity to announce Trunsoest's return.
Since a world-engulfing war was unavoidable, taking the initiative in the war was one of his essential plans, as chaos could bring more opportunities.
And before that, he needed to have everything prepared.
As he thought this, Aaron's ears were suddenly filled with a clear, calm voice, and his expression subtly changed.
-----------------
The dawn sunlight shone down, and peach blossoms drifted, vibrant and colorful. The originally turbulent sea surface was smoothed by an invisible force, like a sapphire mirror reflecting a lush peach forest with blooming flowers.
After becoming a Sage, Bernadette could respond to prayers worldwide. She no longer needed to deliberately return to Emerald City; relying on the Mystical Item, "Peach Blossom Source," she could directly penetrate the barrier.
Ignoring the tempting words of the Magic Wishing Lamp, Bernadette stood before the mountain at the end of the peach forest's water source and threw the "Pale Death" in her hand towards the Peach Blossom Source, towards the cave that ran through the flowing water.
When silence returned to her ears, the peach forest, with its drifting petals, also vanished like a bubble.
Just then, Bernadette's eyes narrowed, sensing something. A powerful aura, no less than her own, was rapidly approaching. She raised an eyebrow, her azure eyes looking in a certain direction.
"Is this… your messenger?"
Looking at the appearing figures of Aaron and Astolfo, whose aura was somewhat familiar but whose appearance had greatly changed, Bernadette scrutinized them for a long time before murmuring.
Being a Blessed of the Lord of Order must mean being special. Therefore, Bernadette could accept that Aaron knew so many secrets even before becoming an Angel and could even find several Angels to assist him.
However, the fact that this messenger, who was clearly only at the demigod level a while ago, had silently achieved Angel status was still somewhat difficult for her to accept.
Fortunately, her emotional regulation was excellent, and she quickly composed herself. She first offered an apologetic smile to Astolfo, then looked at Aaron and said:
"Since you're here, that's even better. Bornova has some questions he wants to ask you."
As she spoke, a strange Puppet made entirely of metal parts appeared in her hand. Its eyes, composed entirely of gears, flickered with lively colors, and a cold male voice emerged:
"It's an honor to meet you, Duke Aaron."
Aaron observed the strange Puppet that stood up from Bernadette's hand and floated in mid-air. He wasn't too surprised; a Sequence 4 Alchemist could inject souls into their creations, let alone a Sequence 2 Knowledge Magister.
Moreover, he currently had a demigod-level Life Alchemy bestowed by Saintess Roland of the Church of the Earth Mother. Aaron's expression remained unchanged as he met the Puppet's gaze and gestured for him to proceed.
The turning of gears moved the joints, and the voice from the Puppet grew deeper:
"I apologize for only being able to meet you this way first. I already know what happened in Backlund, and I am very grateful for your and the being behind you's help to Bernadette."
"Bernadette has already told me your request. I now only have two questions I wish to ask you."
Recalling Roselle's diary's description of Bornova, Aaron looked at the Puppet with a strange expression. He felt a strong sense of humanity within it, which was nothing like a loyal follower of the God of Steam and Machinery, corrupted by divinity.
Although he didn't know what the siblings had discussed before his arrival, judging solely by Bornova's current attitude, the previously firm refusal to trade had completely vanished.
Thinking of this, Aaron's face also broke into a warm smile. He nodded slightly at the somewhat wary Astolfo and stepped forward to stand opposite the Puppet:
"You may ask. If I can answer, I will give you a satisfactory reply."
The mechanical Puppet's eyes rotated slightly, its expressionless, blank face staring intently at Aaron:
"Is the Lord of Order you believe in the revived Roselle Gustav?"
Somewhat surprised that Bornova's question would be so direct, Aaron glanced at Bernadette, who was also staring at him from behind the Puppet, and a realization dawned on him.
Being able to read Roselle's diary, knowing many of Roselle's secrets, always showing goodwill towards Bernadette, and the connection between the Black Emperor Pathway and Order—this question had probably been weighing on Bernadette's mind for a long time.
Given his identity as a Blessed, Aaron did not answer immediately. After feigning contemplation, he slowly shook his head:
"I can confirm that He is not him."
As if some expectation in her heart had been shattered, Bernadette eagerly spoke up before the Puppet could even make another sound:
"Why do you have this judgment? What is your basis?"
Aaron glanced at the unchanged Puppet and whispered:
"Is this your, or your collective, second question?"
The Puppet, which contained a trace of Bornova's soul, gently shook its head, stopping Bernadette, who still wanted to say something, and finally asked:
"Although I don't know why the Lord of Order behind you needs the Night Emperor's Kingdom fragment, I believe you are well aware of the value of this item itself."
"Since the first question has been answered, there is no need to ask the second question, or rather, to put it another way, I wish to exchange that Kingdom fragment for a promise from that being."
"When the apocalypse arrives, protect her completely!"
Looking at the finger pointing at her, Bernadette's eyes flickered. She opened her mouth to say something but didn't know where to start.
Was he worried that when the apocalypse arrived, the God of Steam and Machinery, or the Hidden Sage, or even Outer Deities coveting these two Pathways, would harm Bernadette?
Aaron looked at Bornova again, a little confused as to how this guy's humanity remained so intact. But on the surface, he still nodded, then, in front of the three Angels, began to pray.
-----------------
After leaving St. Samuel's Church through the underground passage, Klein, with no further worries, took the steam train overnight to the nearest port city, Pritz Harbor.
The sudden changes in Backlund meant that the identity of Sherlock Moriarty was completely unusable. Even thinking with his butt, he could guess that 15 Minsk Street was definitely being monitored by various forces now.
Fortunately, he had long anticipated this situation and had exchanged his merits from MI9 for gold pounds and other Beyonder materials early on. The only potential loss was the scattered gold pounds hidden in the room's false floor.
Watching the morning light pierce through the dark clouds, Klein, feeling a bit tired, lowered his hat and blew on the still-wet ink on the letter.
"…Dear Mr. Azik, I am about to embark on a long voyage. I wish you an early awakening, and I wish myself a safe journey."
"Your student and friend, Klein Moretti."
After reading the last paragraph of the letter, he picked up the copper whistle Mr. Azik had given him and summoned the messenger by blowing it.
The messenger was still nearly four meters tall, composed purely of white bones, with black flames burning in its eye sockets. But Klein's spiritual intuition told him that this was another messenger.
Was the previous messenger scared by Mr. Fool? Or was it that the effects of resurrecting from the Underworld hadn't completely dissipated…
Sighing inwardly, Klein raised his arm and placed the letter into the messenger's lowered palm.
The messenger looked down, then rapidly disintegrated, turning into individual bones that fell like heavy rain and burrowed into the ground.
Seeing this, Klein tapped his right tooth, closed his Spirit Vision, and returned his gaze to the table, where a human-skin glove lay, and a faint, illusory chewing sound could vaguely be heard.
Klein's eyes flickered as he recalled what Aaron had said about the characteristics of living Sealed Artifacts. Without hesitation, he immediately drew the curtains, took four counter-clockwise steps, and entered above the gray fog.
As soon as he arrived in this mysterious gray fog space, the faint, illusory chewing sound immediately vanished, and the human-skin glove, which had been intermittently emitting malice, now became extremely docile and obedient.
It really works… Klein nodded inwardly. He directly put on the "Creeping Hunger," closed his eyes to sense the distorted and illusory souls, and finally, he tried to release the Faceless.
After interrogating the Faceless soul from the Ascetic Order, Klein silently watched its Spirit Body achieve complete liberation, taking the final translucent, jelly-like object that remained into his hand.
Watching the various faces subtly appear and disappear within the translucent object, Klein nodded almost imperceptibly:
"It truly is a Mystical Item that allowed Qilangos to become a Pirate Admiral at Sequence 6. Just the Beyonder characteristics attached to these herded souls are a huge treasure."
"If only I could herd a Traveler…"
Suppressing his unrealistic thoughts, Klein, relying on the gray fog, madly squeezed the "Creeping Hunger," constantly switching between various abilities and familiarizing himself with different combat styles.
Finally, he threw the somewhat overwhelmed human-skin mask into the junk pile. Only then did Klein contentedly retrieve the paper crane he had obtained from Will Auceptin from the pile.
Taking a deep breath, Klein, prepared for the backlash, began his divination. A moment later, he opened his eyes, somewhat strangely, and looked at the unchanged paper crane.
The expected backlash did not arrive. He easily divined the correct way to use the paper crane.
Recalling the desolate wilderness with the black Tower he had seen at Dr. Aaron's house, and the suddenly vanished Wheel of Fortune card, Klein tapped his finger on the bronze long table and finally took out a telegraph machine.
This was a brand-new model of telegraph machine he had purchased earlier in Backlund, using his detective identity, following Arrodes's advice. According to the magic mirror, this could help him contact Arrodes outside Backlund.
Holding the telegraph machine, Klein thought for a moment, then retrieved the paper crane he had placed in the junk pile, and together, they exited this mysterious gray fog space.
Following the method Arrodes had described earlier, Klein prepared himself, but the telegraph machine showed no change until his fourth attempt at the ritual, when a faint clicking sound emerged, as if testing.
Watching the telegraph machine finally react, Klein's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He spoke in the majestic tone of The Fool:
"Arrodes…"
As if finally confirming Klein's identity, the new telegraph machine began to automatically spit out illusory white paper, with lines of Loenese script appearing:
"Great existence above the Spirit World, your loyal servant Arrodes has arrived and greets you."
"Do you have any questions you wish to test me with?"
Looking at the somewhat fawning stick figure that appeared after the text, Klein thought for a moment and calmly said:
"First question, your origin."
This was a question he had wanted to ask ever since he came into contact with Arrodes, but since he had been in Backlund and too close to the magic mirror, it had been inconvenient to ask until now. This was the perfect opportunity.
The clicking sound paused for two seconds, then resumed.
White paper emerged section by section, with a new scene appearing on it:
Large amounts of black viscous liquid surged out of holes in the ground. They distorted and stretched outwards, growing varying numbers of arms and legs, then transformed into strange Monsters that charged forward.
During this process, a speck of light was ejected along with the black liquid, landing on a stone and quickly merging with it, evolving into a silver mirror with ancient patterns and black gemstone decorations on both sides.
What a strange scene. Was this how the magic mirror was born? What was that speck of light, and where did it come from? Was it a Beyonder characteristic?
Questions surfaced in Klein's mind. Although he had no answers, he instinctively memorized the image.
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