Hearing Mr. Fool's words, Miss Justice quickly adjusted her mindset, entering her Spectator state. With a gentle smile, she said,
"I'd like to know if there's a sequence potion named 'Arbiter.' Also, what kind of Beyonder can pass through wooden doors or render locks useless?"
Mr. Fool knew the answer. So did Mr. Hanged Man. But the first to respond wasn't the lofty Mr. Fool or the Hanged Man, who hoped to barter for intel—it was the new member.
Mr. Devil.
"I can answer your questions," Snow said, raising his head slightly, his voice calm and resolute.
"What compensation do you need? I can pay in gold pounds—how about five hundred?" Justice's wealth was dazzling, offering a sum akin to a Sequence 8 potion formula for relatively common knowledge.
"I need two extraordinary materials: a pair of Black-Scaled Viper fangs and three Agate Peacock tail feathers. At market rates, they're worth about six hundred pounds, with a premium for collection difficulty. I can cover the difference in cash, or you can ask me to answer some less advanced questions."
"Deal!" Audrey, thrilled to get change for once, agreed instantly. Snow didn't dawdle, diving into the answer.
"There is indeed a pathway with a potion named 'Arbiter.' It's controlled by the royal families of Loen and Feynapotter, the Augustus and Castiya houses. Arbiter is Sequence 9 of this pathway, boasting excellent combat skills, compelling charisma, and an air of authority."
Seeing Justice nod slightly, Snow continued,
"As for Beyonders who can pass through doors or bypass locks, that would be Sequence 9 'Apprentice.' This pathway is held by the Abraham family, with fragments also in the hands of the Theosophy Order, Demoness Sect, and Aurora Order."
"The Abraham family?" The Hanged Man mentally noted this unfamiliar name, while Audrey couldn't help but sigh.
"If I'd known about the Apprentice formula, I might not have chosen Spectator."
Snow chuckled softly.
"Then I must congratulate Miss Justice on her fortune."
"Why's that?" A puzzled look crossed Audrey's mist-shrouded face. Was there something wrong with the Apprentice pathway?
"Because the Spectator pathway is one of the two strongest among the twenty-two divine pathways. Considering the immense risks of the other, it's arguably the strongest." Snow paused, as if struck by a thought, and turned to Mr. Fool, bowing respectfully. "My apologies, Mr. Fool. I meant no offense."
"It does not matter," Mr. Fool replied magnanimously, pardoning Devil's boldness, though inwardly curious why Snow deemed Spectator the strongest.
Audrey was delighted that Devil considered the Spectator pathway supreme but was more eager to know why. New to the Beyonder world, she lacked the Hanged Man's caution and asked directly,
"Why do you say that? Oh, we can settle this with the hundred-pound difference."
'Here it comes!' Snow had laid the groundwork for this moment. Adjusting his tone, he began,
"The Spectator pathway wields the power to alter fate. High-sequence Spectators can freely manipulate others' destinies, steering events as they desire. If you notice an unusual string of coincidences in your life, pray to Mr. Fool immediately—it likely means you've been ensnared in a high-sequence Spectator's script."
"Alter fate!" Klein's heart jolted. Not long ago, Azik had mentioned disharmony in his fate, and the string of coincidences had plagued him. Could this be the work of a high-sequence Spectator? But why target him?
"Changing fate? That sounds amazing!" Audrey, oblivious to the storm in Mr. Fool's mind, fantasized about using coincidences to prank her brother Alfred, nearly giggling aloud.
She caught herself, remembering she was at the Tarot Club, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Mr. Devil, I'm very pleased with your answers. I'll gather those materials as soon as possible."
After Snow's brief disruption, the Tarot Club returned to its usual rhythm. The meeting concluded when Mr. Fool declared, "Without my permission, do not recite my name."
…
"Spectator… altering fate… scripts…" Back in reality, Klein felt a gripping sense of crisis.
He desperately wanted to ask Snow for details about the Spectator pathway, but his Fool persona forbade it.
"Maybe Azik knows something? If he hasn't lost those memories…" Klein shook his head. If Azik knew, he'd have said so. But against a high-sequence powerhouse, what could Klein do?
"No, if it's a high-sequence Beyonder, why bother scheming against me? Even if they want the secrets above the gray fog, I'd be powerless to resist. So, they're not targeting me—or not just me?" The more Klein thought, the more chilled he felt. He'd barely escaped the Antigonus notebook's trouble, only to stumble into a bigger one. Could the notebook itself be part of this "script"?
"What do I do? Tell the Captain? No, he's only Sequence 7, and I lack solid leads…"
Klein paced his room, finally shaking his head with a bitter smile. He had no options.
"For now, I can only focus on growing stronger…" Klein knew that even fully digesting his Seer potion, he was far from high-sequence. He didn't even have the Clown formula yet. But it was his only path forward.
The carriage rolled into the Howes Street district. Klein stepped into the Divination Club, about to greet Angelica at the front desk, when his pupils contracted. His spiritual intuition screamed that the handsome young man before Angelica—and the cat on his shoulder—were dangerous.
As Klein hesitated to turn and leave, Angelica spotted him, waving cheerfully.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Moretti! Perfect timing—this gentleman wants a divination…"
(End of Chapter)