Huh? What? When was I saved again? Emlyn the "Moon" was completely confused. But the only major incident to have happened in Backlund recently was that one, so he quickly locked onto the outbreak of the heavy smog and plague, and guessed that the young lady across from him was referring to that.
But I heard it was caused by a "Demoness of Despair" seeking a promotion… As someone backed by his race, Emlyn was fairly well-informed, and this left him puzzled.
At that moment, he subconsciously looked around the long bronze table to observe the reactions of the other members, but quickly got distracted when he stared too long at Miss "Temperance."
Then, with a sigh full of disappointment, he looked away.
This… This kind of top-grade doll is actually a Beyonder? What a waste!
Emlyn howled in his heart. After all, he knew very well that all the Beyonders able to enter this palace were actually spiritual bodies… And if she had a spiritual body, then that meant the young lady sitting diagonally across from him wasn't really a puppet…
She… moves!
Just as Emlyn was inexplicably sinking into disappointment, "The Hanged Man" Alger, who had long since noticed the new member and was closely watching him, immediately sensed the fluctuation in his emotions. This seems to carry a bit of "grief"… Could this new member have lost a family member in the Backlund smog disaster?
As he pondered that, he also allocated part of his focus to "Justice," "The World," "Judgement," and "The Tower," thinking they surely knew more hidden secrets and behind-the-scenes truths about the smog incident…
Also, during last week's Tarot Gathering, both 'The World' and 'The Tower' warned that a major tragedy might occur in Backlund… And now 'Justice' has just said Mr. Fool saved Backlund… This might involve a struggle between deities!
Murmuring with a touch of excitement, Alger then turned to glance at "The Sun," who remained calm and composed, clearly signaling that the exploration team from the City of Silver had broken free of the cycle of fate.
Meanwhile, after expressing her thanks to Mr. Fool, "Justice" earnestly lifted her skirt and offered a deep curtsey toward both "The World" and "The Tower," sincerely saying:
"…Mr. World, if not for your prior warning, perhaps in this smog, tens of thousands in Backlund would have perished.
"Mr. Tower, if you hadn't delayed the 'Demoness of Despair's' advance, had she been free to act as she pleased, the direct death toll in the East Borough alone could have exceeded thirty thousand, with indirect casualties being even higher…"
That gloomy guy over there… is that 'The World'? He could predict the smog disaster? He might be a high-sequence powerhouse.
And the one sitting between the big guy and the blue-haired one, who looks scholarly—that must be 'The Tower'… He could obstruct a 'Demoness of Despair'? Another demigod? This gathering really is high-tier!
Emlyn the "Moon" was both shocked and yet felt it was perfectly natural.
—After all, this is a divine assembly. For those who don't have my noble lineage and background, it's only right that their strength would be greater.
To be accurate, if I hadn't intervened, the direct death toll would have exceeded 22,000, though the indirect deaths are probably similar… After all, one, this was the result of Backlund's long-standing environmental problems, and two, later figures are always murky—likely inflated by the royals to cover up mass disappearances.
While thinking this, Ebner had no intention of claiming credit—after all, that number of casualties was still enormous.
He thought for a moment, then pointed at Xio across from him and said, "What I did was nothing much. Miss 'Judgement' also made contributions during the smog incident."
Xio actually felt quite awful about the people who died in the East Borough and at the docks. Many of them had been her friends or informants. Seeing Ebner deflect the credit to her, she merely responded calmly, "I only banished the 'vampire' shepherded by the 'Dusky Saint.'"
'Dusky Saint'?! So the 'Aurora Order' was involved in this too? "The Hanged Man" Alger sat up straighter, visibly intrigued.
So the 'Aurora Order's' Saint was held back by Miss Xio and MI9's powerhouse… Klein felt deeply relieved. Even a half-crippled Mr. A had nearly "devoured" him. If a full Saint had been there too, he would've been utterly doomed.
I heard that Her Highness Princess Vera thwarted the "Dusky Saint's" plot during the smog incident and was even commended by the royal family for it… Also, Princess Vera once led a team to the Southern Continent… Could Miss "Judgement" actually be Her Highness?
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, "Justice" Audrey began to scrutinize "Judgement" closely, silently wondering to herself with some uncertainty: Their temperaments are somewhat similar… but the body shapes don't match… Could it be a disguise?
Meanwhile, "Magician" Fors felt a jolt of fear: So many demigods were involved behind the scenes of the smog disaster… No wonder it affected a huge metropolis, a prince, and tens of thousands of lives… And I'm just a Sequence 8, yet because I joined the Tarot Club, I've gotten involved in matters far above my level…
"Dusky Saint"? Who's that again? A demigod from some secret organization? And… what vampire? Emlyn the "Moon" blurted out without thinking.
That immediately drew everyone's attention to him.
Hearing his question, Klein finally realized he had forgotten to mention a certain vampire. He chuckled lightly and introduced:
"This is the new member, Mr. 'Moon.'"This gathering is called the Tarot Club, and these are…"
Mr. "Moon"… I thought whoever picked the Moon card would be a lady… "Justice" Audrey gave a polite nod while letting her mind wander, feeling a bit more relaxed.
Emlyn, however, didn't care about being scrutinized. He proudly lifted his head and asked, "Can you tell me more about that vam—bloodkin? Miss 'Judgement'…"
Xio glanced at him in surprise but, seeing Mr. Fool give silent permission, still materialized an image of the pus-covered "vampire."
A textbook example of a "vampire." "Sun" Derrick nodded, indicating that the vampires he'd seen looked just like this.
Emlyn immediately averted his eyes, curling his lips in disgust. "Forget it… Pretend I never asked."
Either he's a Beyonder deeply interested in vampires… or he's a bloodkin himself! Seeing this reaction, "Justice," "The Hanged Man," and "Judgement" all came to the same conclusion internally.
"Temperance" even turned her delicate little head to look toward "The World," her eyes clearly conveying one thing: The one from the Harvest Church?
Back when she protected Klein closely during the "Desire Apostle" incident, she had followed him to the Harvest Church.
Klein saw this and had "The World" give the tiniest nod.
Only then did "Temperance" return to her original posture.
This entire scene was caught by Emlyn, who had been secretly watching her the whole time, and it made him all the more disappointed: She does move after all…
At that moment, seeing how the members were all modest and not vying for credit, Klein had "The World" exchange a few polite remarks as well. Then, controlling "The Fool" to lean back in his chair with a faint smile, he said:
"I only offered a tiny bit of insignificant help."
After speaking, seeing that "Justice" was about to say something else, he immediately had "The World" cut in:
"Mr. Fool, I conducted a private transaction with Miss 'Magician.' The diary pages she owed you have been transferred to me."
(End of Chapter)