Inside the sunroom of the Rose Manor, Lina beamed with joy as she looked at the "stone" that had appeared on the sacrificial altar.
Prince Edessak, seeing this, guessed that it must be good news. The faint hope that had stirred in his heart quickly grew, and he couldn't help but ask, "Lina, what is that?"
"This is a Beyonder item bestowed by my Lord. It can lead us out of here," Lina replied while praising "The Fool."
Just as Prince Edessak was about to ask more, a knock came from the door, followed by a deep voice: "Your Highness, I am the steward of the manor, William Sikes... may I come in?"
Though his words sounded polite, his tone carried an unmistakable authority that could not be refused.
"Sikes... so he was also someone sent to spy on me..." Prince Edessak's face darkened. After all, it was always painful to be betrayed by someone close.
At that moment, Lina seemed to sense the danger. She quickly packed up the ritual materials and grabbed Edessak's arm before the steward could break in.
At the same time, the dark green stone emitted a faint blue, illusory glow.
In an instant, Lina and Edessak's figures turned transparent and vanished on the spot.
Just a few breaths later, they had left the Red Rose Manor and reappeared in the basement of an abandoned manor on the outskirts of the North District.
This was a rendezvous point she and Shoko had agreed upon in advance, and also a safe house they had carefully chosen—a deserted manor that had changed hands several times due to rumors of being haunted.
Meanwhile, just before Lina activated the "teleportation," Steward William Sikes had already sensed something was wrong and broken down the door. But he was still a step too late—only catching the fading silhouettes of the prince and an unfamiliar woman.
The composed expression on William's face suddenly twisted. He tapped his cane, which was embedded with a purple gem, against the floor, and a flicker of purple light flashed through his eyes.
A long while later, the steward muttered to himself with some confusion:
"A witch? Why would they send someone to take the prince away? This wasn't part of the agreed-upon cooperation…"
.....
In the basement of the abandoned manor on the outskirts of the North District, Lina let out a sigh of relief and said with lingering fear, "That steward outside the door just now must have been holding a terrifying holy artifact. Luckily, we escaped in time…"
As she spoke, she opened a hidden storage compartment in the room, took out an iron mask, and handed it to Edessak. "Put this on quickly, or the royal family might track you down."
Edessak still couldn't believe he had escaped death. He took the mask on instinct and put it on. Only when a cool sensation began to spread from his face did he finally come back to his senses.
He tugged at the mask but couldn't take it off. It felt as though countless tiny hands were gripping his cheeks tightly. Shocked, he asked, "What is this?"
"This is a Beyonder item called the 'Iron-Faced Man's Mask'... It can completely conceal a person's aura and all traces on the mysticism level. It seems to use a kind of 'mystical reenactment' ability, but it only works on 'royal family members.'
"For kings and princes, the effect is especially potent," Lina thought for a moment and explained.
"Was this also bestowed by Mr. Fool?" Edessak didn't tug at the mask anymore, but asked with curiosity.
"No… This is one of the items I happened to acquire when I left Tingen and traveled to Conston," Lina replied after a brief silence.
Looking back now, she was certain it hadn't been a coincidence… including the item that could temporarily shield "0-08"—they had all been "arranged" by someone in advance.
That was also one of the reasons she had unhesitatingly chanted Mr. Fool's honorific... Only a mysterious existence could truly counter another mysterious existence.
"But how do I take this mask off?" Edessak didn't press further and just pointed at the mask.
"It can only be removed by being stained with the fresh blood of a blood relative."
.....
In the Empress Borough, inside Earl Hall's luxurious villa.
Audrey stood by the window, watching as the yellowish and iron-black mist rapidly dispersed, and the unseasonal downpour lashed down. Her mood gradually steadied.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but Audrey and Suzie finally waited for Count Hall to return home.
"Father, how did it go?" Audrey asked with concern.
As Count Hall handed his coat and hat to the servant, he smiled gently and replied, "It's been resolved, though I'm not sure about all the details... All I know is that, aside from the major churches and MI9, the 'Dragon Knight' who appeared in the Duke Negan assassination case has reappeared and stopped the demoness from continuing to spread the plague..."
At this point, the count shifted his tone and smiled at his daughter, continuing, "Of course, the greatest credit goes to my little princess... you've really made a great contribution this time, worthy of a medal weighing a ton!"
The "Dragon Knight" from the Duke Negan assassination case? Did "The Tower" also make a move?
That's good, that's good... Thanks to Mr. Fool's reminder, thanks to His follower's daring investigation, thanks to The Tower's efforts... our Tarot Club has once again stopped the descent of an evil god, once again saved the world!
As Audrey felt a sense of pride, she curiously asked, "What happened to the demoness and the Dragon Knight in the end?"
Count Hall took the towel from the maid, wiped his face, and casually responded, "It seems they were both 'erased' by a powerful member of the Church of the Evernight Goddess... The specific intelligence hasn't been consolidated yet."
Ah? The Tower didn't get into trouble, did he? How could this happen? Why would they strike at a 'hero'... Audrey struggled to keep her cheeks from puffing up, but she couldn't help feeling worried for The Tower.
She thought for a moment and then subtly asked, "How's the situation in the East Borough and Factory District for the civilians?"
Count Hall initially didn't want to answer, but considering that this information had come through his daughter first and she ought to be informed, he sighed and said, "The casualties are severe. That demoness made the smog in Backlund even more deadly... Although the statistics aren't in yet, I estimate that nearly ten thousand people in the East Borough, Dock District, and Factory District have died from the plague, and it's still spreading...
"Speaking of which, if it weren't for the Dragon Knight stopping the demoness, by the time the church arrived, that number would probably have doubled."
Ten thousand? That was a number Audrey could comprehend but couldn't truly imagine. Her heart suddenly became heavy, and her mood sank, but she still remembered her original intentions. Pretending to be upset, she asked, "Then why did the church still kill that Dragon Knight?"
"It shouldn't have been killing... Although the archbishop didn't explain to me what 'erased' meant, I think it's more likely closer to 'imprisonment' or 'exile,'" Count Hall thought for a moment and answered.
That's good... Audrey quietly sighed in relief. After her father left, she had Suzie stand guard at the door and reported the matter to Mr. Fool herself.
.....
Above the gray fog, Klein, who had just divined the abilities of the Creeping Hunger, was studying the godhood ritual for the "Demoness" card.
Spreading, amplifying the destruction caused by divine wars? Perhaps this is an advanced application of the authority over 'Incitement' or 'Seduction'... Even the rules of the world itself can unconsciously tear themselves apart according to the demoness's will?
As he was thinking, he suddenly received a report from Miss Justice, and soon, his mood darkened just like hers.
The East Borough... nearly ten thousand dead... I wonder how old Kohler is doing...The Aurora Order... the Demoness Sect... a certain faction within the royal family!
Klein closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had become sharp, as though he had made up his mind.
Only then did he have the attention to examine another important detail in Miss Justice's report—so The Tower had been "erased" by a powerful member of the Church of the Evernight Goddess?
"Erased"... It must've been that lady who erased Mr. A... She didn't seem unreasonable, at least she didn't make things difficult for me... but why erase a hero who stopped the demoness?
As confusion lingered in his heart, Klein subconsciously extended his spirituality toward The Tower's crimson star—and was surprised to find that the mist that had once shrouded it had vanished. He could now reach The Tower again!
Looks like the Earth Mother values Her follower highly... Did She personally go negotiate with the Goddess?
(End of chapter)