"Why did he just blow up like that?" Lumian muttered, frowning as he watched the blood slowly soaking into the soil. He gripped the carbide lamp tightly.
His two questions hadn't been intended to end Jebus's life. He had simply wanted to carefully test the limits, one step at a time.
Anthony calmly explained, "The fundamental rule of hypnosis is to never directly threaten the subject's life. So when Jebus was asked something that would seriously endanger him, he either would refuse to answer or the shock would jolt him awake, breaking the hypnotic hold."
"I was ready for the possibility of him breaking free from the hypnosis," Lumian said, having anticipated this outcome.
Jebus couldn't dodge the Spell of Harrumph at that range. Lumian also had three ritualistic dog skins and a cow hide in his Traveler's Bag.
Since becoming an Ascetic, he could now craft the mystical animal hides required for the Animal Creation Spell himself. So he had imbued extra powers into the ones he already possessed.
Thinking back on what had transpired, Jenna mused, "Jebus was going to answer at first… Meaning he didn't think those two questions would put his life at risk. Heh, guess things didn't play out like he expected."
Franca nodded."Exactly. If it was truly dangerous, he could've just stayed quiet.
"I assumed he was under some contract where revealing the School of Truth's headquarters or his direct Overseer's name would cause his shadow to attack his soul.
"Damn, what if his Overseer sneaked in extra terms when the contract was signed? Could that be why Jebus had no clue answering would be risky? Heavens, how tragic is that? Nothing but lies and trickery through and through—are we dealing with Swindlers or Brokers here?"
After Franca's lament, Lumian considered for a few moments.
"Overseer."
"Overseer?" Franca caught on immediately. "Overseeing subordinates is an Overseer ability, but Jebus didn't know that. Did he set off some forbidden conditions by answering key questions?"
Jenna snapped to attention.
"You think the Overseer spotted us already? Could they be on their way?"
"Unlikely. I had Franca leave the Primordial Demoness figurine here after noticing Jebus's strange reaction," Lumian said, smiling. "Even if we're right, the Overseer probably just detected an issue with Jebus, not our precise location. The real problem is we may need to change our plans going forward."
Jenna and Anthony understood what Lumian meant.
They weren't under imminent threat or at risk of the Overseer tracking them down. But something had happened to Jebus, who was guarding Moran Avigny in the mirror world. Once the Overseer realized, they would easily deduce that someone was after Moran Avigny and undoubtedly take action. The scheme they had so carefully devised probably no longer fit the new circumstances.
Franca sighed heavily, eyeing the bone figurine on the ground with genuine regret.
"I resisted when the Demoness of Black first gave me this figurine. Now I'm wishing she'd given me a dozen!"
Poking fun at herself, she stooped down to retrieve the Primordial Demoness figurine. She delicately cleaned it off and murmured appreciatively.
Lumian took stock of his own actions.
"I should've been watching how Jebus's fate tributary shifted using the Eye of Calamity. Maybe then I could've intervened in time to stop him from responding."
He hadn't anticipated Jebus being oblivious to which questions would violate a taboo. This wasn't about religious devotion or advanced mystical knowledge. Jebus ought to have known what he could and couldn't say. If not, his daily life would've been cut short many times over.
Franca remembered, "The School of Truth member Jenna and I ran into before had the same thing happen when we asked his organizational affiliation and why he was capitalizing on the gatekeeper vanishing.
"Based on Jebus's answer, stating 'the School of Truth' itself isn't forbidden. And I bet the guy who wasn't even an Ambitionist yet had no idea why he was exploiting the gatekeeper's absence.
"Seems it really is an Overseer ability after all. No wonder the taboos are fluid, with the context, mental state, and overall situation determining what crosses the line each time. The rules adapt to the circumstances. Heh, just like the ideology Jebus described."
Lumian gave a small nod and laughed.
"Well, at least we secured the spoils early on. Would've been a huge waste otherwise."
He thought for a bit.
"Franca, contact the Demoness of Black with the charm later. Inform her about the fixed mirror world entrance we made, what occurred, and how Jebus reacted. See what she thinks and advises.
"Right, she's likely a Tamara from the Apprentice branch. No love lost between her and Moran Avigny, who defected from the Judgement branch."
Franca concurred, and Lumian turned to Jenna next. "Head to the safehouse and send word to Madam Judgment. The Judgement pathway stands for order, so I feel we must alert her to the School of Truth situation at once. I'll take you there."
"Got it." Jenna was accustomed to Lumian delegating tasks in moments like these.
Finally, Lumian addressed Anthony.
"Join me at the Pleasure Pavilion to await Moran Avigny's arrival. Watch him closely for any unusual behavior."
Situated on Avenue du Boulevard, the opulent Pavilion of Pleasure functioned as the Intis Republic's presidential estate. Moran Avigny was due to attend a ministerial meeting convened by the president there.
Anthony inclined his head slightly to convey his assent.
Observation was a Spectator's forte, after all.
…
Inside the quarry cave housing the mirror world's fixed entryway,
Franca leaned against the wall, her night vision active. She produced a compact and a charm fashioned from ashen stone.
Clasping the charm, Franca infused it with her spirituality. Reciting the Hermes activation phrase, she intoned,
"Eyes!"
Wreathed in obsidian flames, the rock-like grayish charm flared to life. Franca touched it to the compact's glass,
causing the mirror to lose solidity and turn incorporeal.
The burning charm sank through without resistance, vanishing from sight.
Moments later, Franca sensed a presence surround her.
A mass of dark locks then rose from the makeup mirror's surface.
The rippling black tresses obscured her view.
As the hair fully emerged, Franca tightened her grasp, and Clarice took form before her.
The Demoness of Black's own hair remained immaculately tied up, with no trace of the ominous raven strands.
Even having met her prior, Franca couldn't suppress a rush of awe at Clarice's allure.
The woman possessed a breathtaking beauty that effortlessly ensnared any who beheld her.
Clarice regarded Franca, her melodic voice gentle as she inquired, "You have an update?"
Composing herself, Franca detailed her suspicion of corruption seeping out of Underground Trier. She had ventured to a particular sector bearing the Primordial Demoness figurine, ultimately pinpointing the target site. She elaborated on beseeching the Primordial One via the figurine, obtaining a reply, and securing a permanent gateway to the mirror plane.
A rare glimmer of approval showed on Clarice's face. "Your instincts are sharp and your mind keen. Impressive that you conceived of and accomplished this. Perhaps you too shall rise to be a colored Demoness one day."
Demoness of Yellow? Franca grumbled to herself.
She went on to outline the scheme she had hatched with Lumian's crew, withholding specifics about the Tarot Club and portraying the Mirror Mark power as an item.
Clarice listened attentively without comment.
Franca recounted the offensive against Lumian amid his probe, his triumph over Jebus, and the bounty of intel gleaned through a Spectator.
The Demoness of Black nodded. "Your lovers are quite capable, the Hunter in particular."
Here Clarice smirked. "The taste of a Hunter isn't bad either. The higher their Sequence, the more intense and brave they grow."
Wh— Emperor, even an elite Demoness has perused your clandestine annals… Every Demoness probably owns an edition! Franca wavered between finding Emperor Roselle's plight humorous or pitiable.
"It certainly has its perks," Franca played along, smiling and trying to mask her chagrin.
The Demoness of Black proceeded, "However, both you and he erred.
"Upon amassing adequate knowledge, you should have ceased questioning without delay. The wiser course was to first ambush Moran Avigny, seize him, then interrogate further."
"Agreed." Franca accepted the Demoness of Black's reproach.
In hindsight, the location of the School of Truth's headquarters and the presiding Overseer's identity were not essential facts for their immediate needs. They could have morphed Jebus into a dog and set Lugano and Ludwig to guard him. While the Overseer remained unaware, she and the rest could have lurked within the mirror, poised for Moran Avigny to unwittingly enter of his own accord. Ample chances to take a second captive would have presented themselves down the line.
However, this was Lumian's style.
It had long been apparent to Franca that Lumian was predisposed to extracting intelligence on the spot. Only extraordinary reasons would induce him to postpone. As if he feared the slightest delay might thwart him from procuring otherwise obtainable insight.
Demoness of Black Clarice refrained from belaboring the point. Nodding, she declared, "Abide here for my return. I'll look into these developments, but it may require some time."
"As you wish, Madame Clarice." Franca made no effort to conceal her gratified smile.
…
Outside the dazzling Pavilion of Pleasure on Avenue du Boulevard, Lumian and Anthony seamlessly rejoined the throng of journalists.
-x-X-x-
Lumian and Anthony only had to wait briefly before the ministers began exiting the Pavilion of Pleasure one by one.
They quickly approached Moran Avigny, the Minister of Industry. While listening to the other reporters' questions, they employed their unique abilities to observe him closely.
After just over ten seconds, Lumian turned to Anthony and gave a small shake of his head,
indicating that, for now, there was nothing unusual about Moran's river of fate.
He trusted that Anthony, being a Spectator, would understand his unspoken message.
Anthony responded with a slight head shake of his own, confirming to Lumian that Moran Avigny's expression and behavior appeared normal.
Has the Overseer directly responsible for Jebus not reached out to Moran Avigny? Or could our assumption be incorrect? Is it possible that Jebus's death wasn't detected by the Overseer's monitoring? Have they not fully grasped the situation with Jebus? These thoughts raced through Lumian's mind as he continued his observation.
This was precisely why he had come in person to the Pavilion of Pleasure to await Moran Avigny's appearance.
Only by acquiring the most current and reliable information could he assess whether to move forward with the original plan, adjust it, or temporarily set it aside!
Indeed, within Moran Avigny's river of fate, a tributary of him entering the full-body mirror in the study still exists, shrouded in an intense black hue… Lumian, unconcerned about the drain on his spirituality, maintained his focus on any potential shifts in Moran Avigny's destiny.
Following a short interview, the debonair Minister of Industry, flanked by his bodyguards, descended the steps of the Pavilion of Pleasure and headed towards his stylish four-wheeled, four-seater carriage.
As the valet opened the carriage door, Moran Avigny pulled out a small hand mirror from his pocket, seemingly checking his appearance.
In Trier's high society, this was a typical occurrence. Men's cosmetics and grooming had long been in vogue.
Moran Avigny peered into the hand mirror, his dark-gray pupils abruptly widening as his expression subtly changed.
Nearly simultaneously, Lumian, with his silver-black eyes, detected a notable alteration in the Minister of Industry's fate tributary.
None of the tributaries suggested Moran Avigny's entry into the study's full-body mirror!
All relevant "choices" had vanished!
As a result, even if Lumian depleted nearly half of his spirituality and employed Compelling Fate, he would be unable to force Moran Avigny to "willingly" enter the study's full-body mirror.
Compelling Fate wasn't about creating destiny; choices had to exist before they could be compelled!
Taking advantage of the moment when the reporters had shifted their focus and the two of them were slowly trailing behind, Anthony quietly said to Lumian, "When Moran Avigny looked at himself in the hand mirror, he experienced a palpable sense of fear."
As Lumian followed the other reporters, he continued to assess Moran Avigny and formed a related hypothesis.
Someone was utilizing the mirror world and the hand mirror to convey a message to Moran Avigny!
The transmitted information likely pertained to the mysterious demise of Jebus Lata, who was tasked with guarding the study's full-body mirror, and the disappearance of his body.
For Moran Avigny, this implied that someone was conspiring against him. The shadow was already looming over him, its source and circumstances unknown.
Under such conditions, fear was inevitable. For the majority of people, emotions would inevitably manifest to some degree in their facial expressions and physical movements, making them readily apparent to Spectators.
Yes, given that Jebus possessed a Mirror Cufflink, it's reasonable to assume that the Overseer above him would have comparable items. They might even possess the additional capability to communicate via the mirror world… Lumian recalled, thinking of the glass cufflink now in Franca's possession. Moreover, Jebus had disclosed that Moran Avigny had instructed the other Mirror People from the Tamara family to assume new identities and relocate, leaving him as the sole contact with the School of Truth.
Consequently, when the Overseer discovered Jebus's unexplained disappearance and ultimate death, they would be unable to reach the other Mirror People. They could only await the conclusion of Moran Avigny's ministerial meeting to send him a warning.
Our prior conjectures have been validated. The Overseer did indeed detected Jebus's death. Whether the Overseer was limited by his abilities or hindered by the Primordial Demoness figurine is uncertain, but he was unable to immediately locate us and launch a counterattack…
We must abandon the original plan. Getting Moran Avigny to 'willingly' enter the study's full-body mirror is no longer feasible…
Lost in thought, Lumian watched as Moran Avigny tucked away the hand mirror, boarded the carriage, and headed home.
Taking advantage of the still somewhat chaotic scene, he and Anthony discreetly left the Pavilion of Pleasure.
At the periphery of a square adorned with statues and obelisks, Lumian scanned his surroundings. Confirming that no one was nearby, he murmured to Anthony, "What do you think frightened Moran Avigny?"
He had already shared his theory with Anthony.
Drawing on his Spectator perspective, Anthony endeavored to analyze the psychological states of the School of Truth and Moran Avigny.
"Without intel on the enemy, it's improbable that the School of Truth, a secret organization worshiping an evil deity, would dispatch additional demigod-level operatives to Moran Avigny's proximity to enhance protection for the Mirror People. Unlike an orthodox Church, they can't afford to act rashly and perpetually escalate their involvement. They must consider the possibility that the group that apprehended Jebus is equally formidable, potentially including a demigod in their ranks. They might even suspect that this could be a covert mission orchestrated by the Purifier, Machinery Hivemind, or an elite unit from Bureau 8.
"In essence, the Overseer will convey to Moran Avigny that he's now on his own. They'll offer indirect support but can't intervene directly.
"Other cults might react with insanity, extremism, and irrationality while still defending Moran Avigny. However, based on Jebus's ideology, the School of Truth will refrain from such actions."
"That explains why Moran Avigny couldn't conceal his fear. It's tantamount to being forsaken." Lumian gently nodded.
Anthony continued his analysis.
"We must also take into account Moran Avigny's unique characteristic as a Mirror Person.
"The Mirror People we've previously encountered not only pursued their own ambitions but also exhibited a certain zealotry towards their leader and overarching objectives.
"Based on my observations, while Moran Avigny is undeniably terrified, he managed to exercise some restraint. Upon entering the carriage, he appeared resolute and determined."
Lumian comprehended and remarked, "Is he contemplating self-sacrifice? He'll promptly alert the other Mirror People and urge them to swiftly conceal themselves. As for himself, he's under the strict protection of officials, rendering escape impossible. His only option is to remain in place, visible to the enemy faction, hoping that his fortune is sufficient and the official protection proves effective.
"Heh heh, in times like these, protection becomes another form of confinement."
Anthony shifted the topic. "Which tributary turned black following the change in Moran Avigny's fate?"
Lumian shook his head. "Nothing at present. This is an exceptionally unique situation. It signifies that it will manifest only when Moran Avigny makes a new choice, branching into a new fate tributary."
At this juncture, Lumian exhaled slowly and stated, "I don't perceive any other opportunities at the moment. It would have been good if the Overseer had acted rashly and protected Moran Avigny. The Demoness of Black should be awaiting him. Hmm, let's locate Jenna and Franca first."
…
In the quarry cave housing a permanent entrance to the mirror world, Franca, who had been patiently waiting, witnessed black hair reemerge from the mirror, descending strand by strand.
Demoness of Black Clarice materialized and spoke softly, "Currently, no Beyonders are concealed behind the relevant mirror. They must have abandoned Moran Avigny.
"I'm unable to provide assistance at this time. You must reevaluate your strategy and devise a means to capture Moran Avigny, who is under the robust protection of official Beyonders, without entering the mirror world."
Do you have a solution in mind? Franca wished to inquire but refrained out of concern for offending the Demoness of Black. Instead, she simply replied, "Understood."
…
In a secure safe house within the administrative district, Jenna informed Lumian and Anthony, "Madame Judgment has instructed us to halt further action for now. She needs to confer with the other Major Arcana card holders regarding the information obtained from Jebus."
With Ma'am Hermit? Lumian pondered silently, immersed in thought.
He gave a small nod and said, "Let's go find Franca."
After rendezvousing with Franca in the subterranean quarry cave and sharing their discoveries, Lumian sighed and declared, "For the time being, we have no choice but to abandon our efforts."
As Franca and the others nodded in agreement, Lumian suddenly heard a resounding voice.
"Don't you believe you're capitulating prematurely?
"Did you fail to notice any issues?"
Termiboros… Why is He offering me guidance? And it's not an urgent matter that threatens Him? Lumian couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Termiboros's profound voice persisted, "Consider this. If you were an Overseer, what actions would you take in such a scenario?"
"Naturally, they would reduce personnel and conceal themselves to prevent the enemy from discovering clues and pursuing them…" Lumian muttered under his breath. "Beyond this, what else can they do? How can they indirectly aid Moran Avigny?"
Franca, Jenna, and Anthony observed Lumian as he mumbled to himself, awaiting his ultimate explanation.
Abruptly, a possibility occurred to Lumian.
He gazed at his three companions and said in a low, serious tone, "Under the Table Transaction!"
"Safeguard Moran Avigny through a high-level Under the Table transaction!"
"That's why we each abandoned the plan for distinct reasons. Even the river of fate currently shows no death calamity for Moran Avigny!"
-x-X-x-
"We were under the influence of an Under the Table transaction?" Franca carefully reviewed the entire situation but couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. The only thing that stood out was that the Demoness of Black probably had a way to quickly extract Moran Avigny while he was under the protection of an official Beyonder team. She clearly knew how to exploit the mirror world, yet she burdened everything upon her.
Of course, her actions made sense when put into context. Even though Moran Avigny's security detail consisted of Mid-Sequence Beyonders, this was Trier, the capital of the Intis Republic. It was a diocese of great importance to both the Eternal Blazing Sun Church and the God of Steam and Machinery Church. Numerous demigods were posted there, ready to intervene at a moment's notice. If the Demoness of Black couldn't end the fight quickly and eliminate all witnesses, she would face severe repercussions. Official Beyonders might even track her using specialized Sealed Artifacts.
If something happened to her, the Demoness Sect's Trier branch would be dealt a crippling blow. In a situation like this, it would be wiser for her to assign a capable member of middling rank to handle the matter while she focused on damage control. If things went south, she could easily cut ties with Franca and her lovers.
This assumed, of course, that Moran Avigny wasn't valuable enough for the Demoness Sect to go to great lengths to eliminate him. If he were, the sect would have evacuated non-essential personnel beforehand and assembled high-ranking, color-named Demonesses in Trier.
"I think there's an issue here. It's not that we shouldn't or can't abandon the mission, but rather that we gave up far too readily and hastily," Anthony remarked, analyzing the situation from a human behavioral standpoint.
Franca nodded pensively and added, "Indeed. The Demoness of Black only briefly verified the absence of hidden Beyonders behind the mirror in question before concluding that Moran Avigny had been abandoned and would receive no further assistance."
"That's way too rushed and convenient," Jenna commented.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Was Madam Judgment affected as well?"
"It's possible." Lumian glanced down at his chest.
Lowering his voice, he asked, "Termiboros, why weren't you impacted? Is it because you're an Angel?"
Termiboros's imposing voice echoed within Lumian's body.
"It's hard to say for certain. It could also be due to The Fool's seal. While the seal does limit me, it can also serve as a safeguard under certain circumstances."
Similar to Naboredisley's Abomination corpse? The Overseer's Under the Table transaction couldn't breach Mr. Fool's seal, so it had no effect on Termiboros? Lumian nodded in understanding and said to Jenna, "We need to inform Madam Judgment of our suspicions. If an Under the Table transaction is indeed at play, she'll undoubtedly break free of its influence and offer new guidance once alerted. If she's unaffected, the messenger will just have to put in a bit of extra effort.
"Got it." Jenna grasped Lumian's point. "Even though we suspect an Under the Table transaction, we can't act recklessly right now. We still require fresh directives from the Major Arcana cardholders."
As Franca waited for Madam Judgment's reply, she let out a sigh.
"Is something wrong?" Jenna inquired, her worry apparent.
Franca responded with a mix of sorrow and outrage, "This Under the Table transaction was exceptionally lavish. It impacted no fewer than two demigods. The Overseer of the School of Truth must have paid a steep price and offered up a considerable number of precious items."
Sure, that's all true, but what's it got to do with you? Why are you so worked up about it? Jenna blinked, struggling to grasp Franca's train of thought.
Franca elaborated, "Once Madam Judgment apprehends or eliminates him with our assistance, there won't be much left in terms of spoils of war for us to divvy up.
"We might end up with another penniless target like Jebus!"
Lumian, Jenna, and Anthony were momentarily at a loss for words.
You're already worrying about hypothetical future spoils?
Lumian shifted the topic and turned to Franca and Jenna.
"When I posed those final two questions to Jebus, why did you two lean in closer to me? Did you sense that something was about to go awry?"
"Naturally, it was a Demoness's intuitive premonition," Franca declared smugly. "While I couldn't pinpoint what exactly would happen, being nearer to you provided me with more options for dealing with potential threats."
Jenna gave a subtle nod, indicating that she felt the same way.
Lumian faced Anthony. "What about you?"
Anthony answered honestly, "I suspected that the last two questions would snap Jebus out of his hypnotic state. Franca and Jenna's reactions indirectly validated my concerns.
"Given that, it seemed prudent to take cover behind you two."
"So you're using us as human shields?" Franca remarked with a wry smile.
Anthony nodded earnestly. "You two have Mirror Substitution at your disposal."
"Fair point," Franca conceded.
After a short while, Madam Judgment's messenger delivered a response. The message was succinct: "Proceed with your course of action."
Does this imply that the Major Arcana cardholders will monitor the situation? Have they consulted with Ma'am Hermit? Lumian nodded thoughtfully and grinned at Franca and the others.
"Let's stick to our initial plan."
"The initial plan?" Franca started, taken aback.
"Precisely," Lumian confirmed, still smiling. "Over the next several hours, potentially even a full day, the Overseer and the other Mirror People certainly won't be guarding Moran Avigny from behind the full-length mirror in his study. That should be a necessary condition for the Under the Table transaction to succeed. The Demoness of Black has already inspected those locations, and the Overseer is unaware of when she might do so again. He needs to allow sufficient time.
"Put another way, if we conceal ourselves within that mirror, we'll be safe from disruption and harm."
Jenna's brow furrowed slightly.
"But doesn't the heart of the issue lie in the fact that Moran Avigny won't be entering the full-length mirror anytime soon? How can we ambush him..."
Jenna abruptly trailed off, as if a thought had just occurred to her.
Lumian's grin widened. "The Overseer may resort to an Under the Table transaction, but so can we!"
"Indeed, the Authority Holder's Under-the-table Transaction!" Franca immediately grasped Lumian's implication.
Lumian planned to harness the Authority Holder's Under-the-
table Transaction to plant the idea in Moran Avigny's mind to re-enter the full-length mirror!
As for how an Under the Table transaction would enable such an arrangement to work, that wasn't their concern. Even the Overseer probably didn't know the inner workings of the Under the Table transaction.
Under the Table dealings were, in a sense, a black box!
With Magic Mirror Divination verifying the level of risk, Lumian, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony ventured into the enigmatic and shadowy realm via the mirror world entrance affixed to the jutting rock.
Surveying the spiderweb-like void passageways stretching to unknown destinations, Lumian activated the Mirror Mark contract imprinted on him.
He then addressed Franca and the others, "I can detect the full-length mirror and determine its precise whereabouts."
"In that case, let's make our way there immediately." Franca pulled up her Assassin suit's hood once more and latched onto Lumian's arm.
She had already donned the Mirror Cufflink, but why squander one of its uses when other means were available?
As soon as Jenna and Anthony grabbed hold of him again, Lumian triggered the Spirit World Traversal mark and teleported through one of the dark, vacant passageways to a deep, black aqueous light.
The aqueous light signified a mirror with a corresponding hazy zone linked to myriad illusory tunnels akin to spiderwebs.
Lumian peered into the dark aqueous light and observed the scene through the glass mirror. It was undoubtedly Moran Avigny's study.
Franca likewise recognized the target's position and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll handle the Under the Table transaction."
"Allow me." Lumian smiled. "Given what transpired earlier, I might encounter Demons even without the Authority Holder's Under-the-table Transaction. In that case, I might as well use it freely."
He was alluding to the events surrounding Naboredisley.
"Very well." Franca yielded to Lumian's reasoning. "Then I'll cover the cost!"
She produced 5,000 verl d'or worth of gold from her Traveler's Bag.
Lumian accepted without protest and said to Jenna and the others, "The transaction I aim to complete is to instill in Moran Avigny the notion of entering the full-length mirror in his study. Then, I'll employ Compelling Fate to transform that notion into reality.
"This is far simpler than directly compelling Moran Avigny to enter the mirror. The price will undoubtedly be lower."
"Understood." Jenna retrieved the Authority Holder's Under-
the-table Transaction from her backpack.
The small, dark wooden box still had eight uses remaining.
Lumian grasped Franca's pouch of gold coins in his right hand and reached through the membrane-like "curtain."
He then felt five damp, wrinkled fingers. They swiftly closed around the pouch containing the gold coins.
Lumian's expression remained neutral as he articulated his request in Hermes.
After a brief pause, the wrinkled, moist palm returned the pouch of gold coins.
Wh— Lumian glanced up and apprised Franca and the others of the development.
Franca promptly understood. "It's demanding more money!"
Her heart sank as she produced additional banknotes and gold, but the slightly cold, wrinkled palm kept rejecting the payment.
Lumian contributed tens of thousands of verl d'or, yet the transaction still wouldn't go through.
"Could it be that Under the Table doesn't desire money or gold?" Jenna recalled Jebus's insights regarding the Broker pathway.
"Perhaps it requires a mystical item?" Lumian pondered, considering what he could offer.
Franca deliberated for a moment before suggesting, "What about the Blood Gold ring? It has considerable drawbacks, and we've hardly used it."
The Blood Gold ring had come from Mad Lady and corresponded to some of the capabilities of a Sequence 6 Rose Bishop of the Secrets Suppliant pathway.
The four of them conferred for a while before deciding to attempt the transaction with the Blood Gold ring.
The moment the Blood Gold ring touched Under the Table, the five fingers of the palm clenched firmly and withdrew, taking the ring with them.
This indicated that the deal had been finalized.
Phew… Lumian exhaled in relief and remarked, "I'm curious to see how the Under the Table transaction will unfold…"
Franca pressed a hand to her chest and prayed to Mr. Fool, "Please don't let us run into any swindlers. Praise The Fool!"
-x-X-x-
The word "swindler" hung in the air, leaving Lumian and the others in stunned silence as similar thoughts raced through their minds.
Surely they couldn't be that unlucky, right?
Jebus had warned them about the possibility of running into swindlers during an Under the Table deal, but Franca's previous experiences with Authority Holder's Under-the-table Transaction had always been reliable. Plus, the Blood Gold ring had been accepted this time around.
If Lumian hadn't been personally overseeing the transaction, he would've used the Eye of Calamity to assess the likelihood of it being finalized and look for ways to interfere.
But for now, the four of them had no choice but to wait patiently. Hidden behind the dark, watery light, they watched the scene unfolding in the study through the glass mirror.
As the night wore on, Lumian and his companions nibbled on the rations he'd packed for Ludwig in his Traveler's Bag to keep their hunger at bay.
Close to 10 p.m., Moran Avigny strode into the study, leaving the wooden door wide open. He sank into an armchair beneath the gas wall lamp, grabbed a book from a nearby pile, and began casually flipping through it.
The Purifier team tasked with his protection remained stationed at the door as usual, never setting foot inside.
Moran Avigny had always insisted on this arrangement. He'd even signed contracts with the Purifiers, Machinery Hivemind members, and Bureau 8 team, acknowledging that he was willing to take on the associated risks.
The security detail understood. A politician's study likely concealed all sorts of shady secrets. Keeping people with Beyonder powers from entering was a way for Moran Avigny to protect himself.
As was his custom, Moran Avigny left the study door open instead of shutting it, making it simpler for the Purifiers to keep an eye out for any potential trouble.
While perusing the books, Moran Avigny would occasionally glance up at the full-length mirror positioned just out of the Purifiers' line of sight, his thoughts seemingly far away.
At the same time, Lumian's eyes, hidden within the mirror, glinted a silvery-black.
Peering through the glass, he studied Moran Avigny's river of fate.
Looking closer, he confirmed that the Minister of Industry had indeed gained several new fate tributaries involving stepping into the full-length mirror. One of them was even cloaked in a thick, black hue.
Seizing the moment when Moran Avigny ducked his head to resume reading, Lumian slowly reached his right palm out from the mirror, pressing it firmly against the glass as if it were merely a reflection.
Then, he unleashed his remaining spirituality, transforming it into a raging, phantom river that surged toward the mercury stream symbolizing Moran Avigny's fate from a few meters away.
The main trunk of Moran Avigny's fate swallowed up the other tributaries and rushed into the dense, black one.
Compelling Fate!
Channeling the spirituality he'd accumulated using his Ascetic abilities, Lumian quickly withdrew his palm to avoid tipping off Moran Avigny.
He gave Franca and the others a nod, signaling that both the Under the Table deal and his Compelling of Fate had been successful.
As for the exact way Moran Avigny would embark on this fated path, Lumian couldn't say. The details were beyond his sight.
Franca and Jenna let out sighs of relief.
Not daring to speak lest they alert Moran Avigny, who possessed mirror-related abilities, they shared their understanding with Lumian through gratified smiles and relaxed nods.
They retreated to their positions, preparing for the upcoming ambush.
Just as fate was being compelled, Moran Avigny's spirituality abruptly sensed a warning, filling him with a feeling of impending danger.
The mirror message he'd received at dusk sprang to mind, and he started to suspect that the unknown enemy the Overseer had mentioned was plotting something that could put his life at risk.
Unable to resist, Moran Avigny glanced at the full-length mirror once more, debating whether to flee into it and abandon this place before the Purifiers had a chance to react. He yearned to shed his current identity and vanish completely from the hidden enemy's radar.
Fighting back his impulses, he turned his head to look at the Purifiers standing guard at the door.
There could be a trap lurking behind the mirror. His best bet was to pray that the official Beyonders would be able to shield him!
This is Trier, and I'm a minister of the country!
Right then, his valet appeared at the door, carrying a glass of warm milk.
Drinking warm milk before showering and brushing his teeth was part of Moran Avigny's nightly routine to help him sleep.
The Purifiers carried out their standard checks before permitting the valet to enter the study.
"Your milk, Sir," the valet said deferentially, extending a white porcelain cup brimming with the liquid.
Moran Avigny had made immense contributions to Intis's industrial growth and had been awarded the Legion of Honor medal, earning him the rank of Knight.
Nodding his head slightly, Moran Avigny reached out his right hand to accept the glass.
All of a sudden, he noticed his valet's eyes cloud over, an indescribable agony lurking in their depths.
A heartbeat later, the valet's mouth flew open and he vomited.
What he spat out was a solid, writhing chunk of blood-colored flesh, hurled directly at Moran Avigny!
The flesh swiftly ballooned, morphing into a cloak of flesh and blood that wrapped around Moran Avigny. It wriggled inward, seemingly trying to force its way into the Minister of Industry's body.
In the mirror, Lumian was stunned.
This aura…
It's Mr. K!
Why had he shown up out of nowhere to try to assassinate Moran Avigny?
With a sharp crack, Moran Avigny, cocooned in the flesh-and-
blood cloak, transformed into a mirror and shattered.
Nearly simultaneously, the Purifiers at the door sprang into action. A column of pure light wreathed in flames plummeted from the sky, bathing the cloak and causing it to visibly start melting.
Witnessing this, Moran Avigny spun around without hesitation and lunged at the mirror nearest to him.
He had already revealed Mirror Substitution to the Purifiers. Short of eliminating every witness without a trace, he would undoubtedly face intense scrutiny later on and lose the protection of the contract.
His only option was to take advantage of this chance to escape through the mirror world while the Purifiers tangled with the assassin!
As he watched Moran Avigny's figure loom larger and nearer to the full-length mirror, a thought abruptly struck Lumian.
Could this be fate?
He instantly retreated and disappeared.
A moment later, Moran Avigny's figure passed through the mirror, emerging behind the hazy, shadowy, and nearly vacant looking glass.
The Purifiers outside were shocked to see this. At the same time, they grasped that something was seriously wrong with the target under their protection.
Their attention wavered briefly. Taking advantage of the distraction, Mr. K changed Grazing targets and teleported away from Moran Avigny's residence.
In the space behind the mirror, Moran Avigny didn't linger. He promptly activated Mirror Traversal, rapidly changing positions to throw off any would-be pursuers.
Just then, he felt his body grow inexplicably heavier, his movements oddly constricted, stopping him from successfully slipping into an empty, dark tunnel.
It was as though someone had seized him.
Right after that, Moran Avigny sensed invisible threads coiling around his limbs and torso, layer upon layer.
With his Sheriff powers, he pinpointed the source of the sinister threads. They were close by.
Moran Avigny angled his head marginally and peered at an empty corner. His eyes flashed with two blinding "lightning bolts."
Psychic Piercing!
The "lightning" lanced out, hitting the empty spot. A sharp cracking rang out, scattering shards of shattered mirrors.
At the same instant, Jenna, dressed in a black gown and veiled bonnet, materialized behind Moran Avigny, gripping a small, elegant revolver.
Bang!
She squeezed the trigger, targeting Moran Avigny's vest.
The yellow bullet, wreathed in silent black flames, struck the target's body with precision at close range.
Crack! Moran Avigny deployed Mirror Substitution yet again.
As broken mirrors rained down, his figure rematerialized in a different corner of the hazy space. Franca and Jenna vanished without a trace.
Feeling the intangible threads enveloping him, Moran Avigny thrust out his right palm and intoned in ancient Hermes, "Invisibility is prohibited here!"
The instant he uttered the final word, innumerable transparent spider silks undulated throughout the area, resembling seaweed blanketing a section of ocean. Franca, garbed as an Assassin, and Jenna, clad in dark attire, circled or advanced, respectively, poised to strike again.
Realizing that the two foes couldn't touch him for the moment and that the invisible spider silk hadn't constricted, Moran Avigny had no time for a counterattack. He immediately sought to use Mirror Traversal to flee the area.
Out of nowhere, Moran Avigny's eyes bulged, his expression contorting with viciousness.
His body shattered once more, assuming the shape of a mirror.
Not far off, Anthony Reid, dressed like a veteran, "appeared."
He had just cast Frenzy on Moran Avigny!
The Prohibition of Invisibility rule didn't constrain him since he wasn't invisible. However, Moran Avigny himself hadn't been looking in Anthony's direction!
After employing Mirror Substitution multiple times, Moran Avigny rematerialized on the far side of the space, putting distance between himself and Franca, Jenna, and Anthony.
Grasping that yet another enemy had entered the fray, he fled with intensified urgency.
Right as Moran Avigny was poised to activate Mirror Traversal, Franca lowered her hood, unveiling her radiant, refined features.
As she did, the diamond necklace adorning her neck emitted a subtle glow.
Beatrice's Necklace!
Moran Avigny's body flushed with heat, his gaze magnetized to Franca's lake-blue eyes, her high, delicate nose bridge, her fair, flawless skin, and her lush, crimson lips. For an instant, his desire to escape slipped his mind.
The activation of Beatrice's Necklace didn't pose a direct threat to Moran Avigny's life, so it failed to trigger Mirror Substitution. Moran Avigny lacked the time to deploy it himself. His cravings had already swelled beyond his control!
-x-X-x-
A Demoness of Pleasure didn't possess an innately proactive charm, but she could maximize her allure to irresistible levels. Even under normal circumstances, her magnetism could make most men unable to shift their gazes away, their breathing growing labored as their minds raced with desire. Moran Avigny had certainly never been an Ascetic, and his lust was already inflamed by Beatrice's Necklace.
His focus was solely locked on Franca now, imagination running wild with tantalizing possibilities of what might happen next.
Heart pounding, blood surging, his movements were affected—swift but erratic.
A dawn-like glow emanated from Moran's body, marking Franca as the target of his righteous punishment. This enhanced his influence and offensive power against the tempting demoness.
As he selected her for punishment, Moran seemed to grow taller in Franca's eyes, striking fear into her heart. She sensed he was a formidable figure who could end her existence with a mere thought.
She broke invisibility and tried to quickly shift positions.
Seizing the opportunity, Moran thrust out his right hand, breathing hot and heavy, and spoke an ancient Hermes incantation: "Imprison!"
Viscous amber liquid surged forth, enveloping Franca and freezing the demoness in place within a colossal transparent prison.
Crack!
Franca's form shattered, transforming into a palm-sized makeup mirror.
This allowed her to escape the Disciplinary Paladin's Imprison.
Suddenly, powerful danger premonition gripped Moran. Straining his enhanced physique, he broke free of the intangible spider silk ensnaring him and dove to the side.
Jenna's ice spike wreathed in unholy black flames narrowly missed its mark as she struck with all her might from the diagonal flank.
Moran's eyes flicked to the Witch in her dark dress and bonnet. He couldn't help but think she was quite appealing too.
Why not have both?
Dropping to one knee, Moran reached out towards Jenna and bellowed another Hermes invocation: "Confinement!"
Wordlessly, an immaterial wall materialized around Jenna, impenetrable even to her Spirit Body.
Rather than adhering directly to her, it generated a transparent cell with her at its center, thwarting any attempt at Mirror Substitution.
Taking note of this, Jenna opted not to strike the unseen barrier. Instead, she enveloped herself in a layer of frost.
Beyond the frost was another layer of frost—a delicate vacuum formed, transforming Jenna into a frozen statue.
"Confinement!"
Moran Avigny didn't immediately press his advantage against Jenna. His bloodshot eyes fixed on Franca as he confined the space surrounding the Demoness of Pleasure.
Franca remained unresponsive as black flames surged forth from her form.
Outside the black blaze, strata of frost coalesced, fashioning a translucent, sturdy sarcophagus.
Transparent spider silk wound around her, cocooning the frost in spirals.
Wh— Moran Avigny, though perplexed by the Demoness of Pleasure's peculiar behavior, took satisfaction in the success of his Confinement, circumventing the effects of Mirror Substitution.
His movements somewhat warped, he lunged at Franca. His mind raced with the powers he would unleash next and the consequences of bringing her under his control.
He had almost forgotten the presence of the Spectator, but Anthony had slipped into a blind spot.
No matter, I'll subdue the two Demonesses first! The instant this notion crossed Moran Avigny's mind, a faintly piercing melody abruptly resounded in his ears.
Lumian stepped out from the corner shadows, the black Symphony of Hatred bone flute at his lips.
Prohibition of Invisibility hadn't compelled him to reveal himself, as he wasn't invisible to begin with. He had merely shape-shifted into a shadow being, blending with the shadows!
Lumian studied Moran Avigny's face, twisted by desire. Approaching with a grin, he played the melody with intensified vigor.
Given Moran Avigny's state, he was certain the Symphony of Hatred's exploitation of vulnerabilities would undeniably inflame the other's cravings. Employing his Fate Appropriator's abilities in tandem was unnecessary.
Amid the lively, cutting music, Moran Avigny's body abruptly went rigid.
With a cracking noise, he invoked Mirror Substitution to endure the nearly lethal assault on his behalf.
Moran Avigny's silhouette manifested behind Lumian, but Lumian's performance persisted, and the nigh-explosive lust gripping Moran Avigny remained unabated.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Moran Avigny's form repeatedly fractured like a mirror, rematerializing in the ever-quickening melody. He couldn't flee the vicinity, nor could he spare a moment to obstruct his hearing.
The captivating strains of the Symphony of Hatred permeated every nook of the space behind the mirror.
Anthony crouched in a corner, employing a prop he had readied beforehand to shield his ears. He was set to bank on the mirror to induce a trance and plunge into deep sleep, thus evading Lumian's lethal melody that spared neither friend nor foe.
Despite his preparations, grayish-white dragon scales involuntarily surfaced on his skin.
Crack! Crack! Moran Avigny's Mirror Substitution had at last been exhausted.
His mind reeled, and he experienced overwhelming pleasure, a surge of euphoria.
His frame shuddered with pain and rapture.
Blood seeped from his nostrils, eyes, ears, and mouth. His saliva, mucus, and tears streamed all at once, as though he teetered on the brink of collapse.
Lumian appeared behind him, lowered the Symphony of Hatred, and snorted.
Twin beams of white light struck Moran Avigny, plunging the Disciplinary Paladin into unconsciousness.
Lumian afforded Moran Avigny no opportunity to harness his unique powers to rouse himself. He produced a ritualistic dog skin from his Traveler's Bag and draped it over the gradually crumpling foe's head.
"Dog!" Lumian declared in Hermes.
With a shadowy flash, Moran Avigny vanished, supplanted by an enormous dog with tawny fur.
Amid the intangible thud of the dog collapsing to the ground, it lay insensible on its flank.
Lumian smiled, stooped down, and scooped up the dog.
Witnessing this, Anthony dislodged the gag that had wholly covered his ears, and Jenna shed the dual layers of frost encasing her.
Franca lagged slightly. After a handful of seconds, the cocoon ruptured, and the ice coffin noiselessly dissipated, prompting the black flames to disperse.
She regarded Lumian and Jenna with astonishment and delight, stating, "My Pleasure potion underwent substantial digestion!"
No sooner had she concluded her statement than she pinched her nose and surveyed the spot where Moran Avigny had stood and the massive dog cradled in Lumian's arms.
"I know what's going on… He must have just savored genuine pleasure—utmost pleasure. Moreover, this 'pleasure' stemmed from me."
Lumian deliberated momentarily before replying, "He even staked his life to remain in pursuit of the pleasure you bestowed upon him, weathering the same excruciating agony. Ultimately, he attained the pleasure he coveted, albeit not in the manner he desired. He paid the steepest price for it."
"He's also a Beyonder on par with Sequence 5," Franca remarked with a wistful smile. "Regrettably, I wasn't the one wielding the Symphony of Hatred; otherwise, my Pleasure potion might have been fully digested. Pleasure begets pain, and pleasure lures people into depravity. Pleasure is akin to a candle flame to a moth…"
At this juncture, she lowered her voice and mumbled in an unfamiliar tongue, "Lust is a dangerous game…"
Franca harbored no excessive regrets. Among them, only Lumian could shoulder the adverse cost of the Symphony of Hatred.
Anthony scanned the environs and serenely prompted Franca, "Since we've succeeded, let's leave quickly."
Jenna had already drawn near to Lumian, who had likewise stowed away the Symphony of Hatred.
"Okay." Franca nodded and took several paces to Lumian's side, grasping his upper arm.
Concurrently, black flames ignited behind the mirror.
Within seconds, the quartet emerged from the fixed portal to the mirror world in the quarry cave. Franca finalized the anti-
divination and anti-prophecy measures.
Subsequently, they teleported back to the secured residence in the administrative district.
Franca sighed. "Beatrice's Necklace can no longer trigger Lust…"
Beatrice's Necklace could only trigger such desires twice. The inaugural target of Lust was Gardner Martin.
For Demoness Franca, this signified the loss of a potent auxiliary means.
Jenna nodded slightly. "How unfortunate. It appears the Demoness of Pleasure and the Sex Addict of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway can forge an ideal and efficacious partnership."
"Indeed. Unfortunately, I cannot obtain the Mother Tree of Desire's boon. Otherwise…" Franca abruptly fell silent, and an identical phrase flitted through the minds of Lumian and the others: Sex Addict Demoness!
Clearing her throat twice, Franca said, "I can only hope that the bestowed of the Mother Tree of Desire will bestow comparable props."
She turned to the enfeebled dog, who had yet to stir, and contemplated briefly before proposing, "Administer truth serum to him first, then have Anthony befriend him as a two-
pronged approach? Yes, employ the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell as a precautionary step…"
Lumian nodded, recollecting the "criticism" the Demoness of Black had leveled at Franca. Quelling his avarice, he said, "No need to rush. I'll question him after visiting Mr. K. Mr. K must have his motives for abruptly targeting Moran Avigny for assassination. Only by consulting him can we extract more pertinent intelligence later."
Franca and the others nodded in concurrence. "Agreed."
…
19 Rue Scheer, Psychic Magazine headquarters.
Lumian alighted from the carriage, attired in a light-blue cotton shirt following a change of clothing, and entered the six-story white luxurious residence.
-x-X-x-
In the basement of 19 Rue Scheer, Lumian encountered Mr. K.
If he hadn't witnessed Mr. K transform into flesh and blood to envelop Moran Avigny and subsequently suffer holy light damage from the Purifiers, Lumian wouldn't have believed that the energetic, black-hooded man before him had recently infiltrated the Intis Republic's Minister of Industry's residence and carried out an assassination.
"You're back from the Southern Continent?" Mr. K's voice was as deep and raspy as ever.
Instead of sitting in the red armchair, he stood directly in front of Lumian, in the shadows projected by the crystal chandelier.
Lumian didn't hide anything and smiled. "I'm back to do a favor for a friend. I'll be leaving again in the future. As you know, I can teleport."
Mr. K's expansive hood swayed gently, as if nodding.
He said with relief, "The fact that you still remember to come here and praise the Lord's glory after returning to Trier proves I didn't misjudge you."
Lumian, having just completed the prayer process with Mr. K, felt guilty and ashamed.
He cut to the chase.
"I saw you assassinate Moran Avigny."
Under his hood, Mr. K's gaze suddenly took on a tangible quality, and the shadows around him flickered.
After a few seconds, the Aurora Order Oracle asked in a hoarse voice, "You were there?"
Lumian maintained a relaxed demeanor as he replied, "Yes. Your assassination method bore the hallmarks of a Rose Bishop and was suspected of using Grazing to teleport. Even with just the Purifiers' information, it wouldn't be hard for me to guess it was you. But I admit, I was indeed present."
"Where were you hiding?" Mr. K inquired.
Lumian replied with a smile, "In the mirror Moran Avigny fled into."
At this, Mr. K's black robe fluttered despite the still air, as if countless flesh and blood were cheering beneath.
Unable to hide his excitement, he asked, "And now? Have you captured Moran Avigny?"
"Yes." Lumian nodded solemnly.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!" Mr. K half-raised his body, revealing his thin chin, and erupted into maniacal laughter.
His laughter made Lumian's ears ring. Light and shadows danced in the basement, the stench of blood permeating the air.
Finally, Mr. K stopped laughing and spoke with unnerving fanaticism,
"Just as the Lord arranged. Piousness is indeed the only way out!"
He began tracing a cross on his chest.
"Praise you for creating all. Praise you for bearing the world's sins!"
Lumian also praised the Aurora Order's True Creator.
Mr. K smiled and sighed.
"I had planned to assassinate Moran Avigny in the coming days, but hadn't set a date. However, when I saw him at the window this evening, gazing at the distant scenery, I sensed something off about his emotional state.
"Fearing something might go wrong, I hastily launched the operation and failed.
"I was about to repent to the Lord and shoulder my sins when you arrived and told me you had captured Moran Avigny.
"What does this signify?
"It means the Lord has prearranged everything. We need only pray, act, and do things with devotion. Nothing else matters.
"With piousness, failure is a stepping stone to success. Without it, even success leads to failure."
In previous conversations with Mr. K, Lumian had always felt a language barrier. He understood the words but couldn't truly grasp the fanatical state.
But this time, his heart raced and a chill ran down his spine.
Could the Under the Table transaction I initiated through the Authority Holder's Under-the-table Transaction be connected to the Aurora Order's Lord?
Is that why Moran Avigny suddenly risked leaving through the study mirror? Why he came to the study to assess the environment, weighing the risks as he feigned reading…
So, after I compelled Moran Avigny's fate, Mr. K hurried to the study to assassinate him, forcing him to flee to the nearest mirror—the full-body one we hid in…
During the transaction, we paid with the Blood Gold ring, derived from the Beyonder characteristic of a Sequence 6 Rose Bishop of the Secrets Suppliant pathway…
Lumian chose to share his feelings with Mr. K but concealed his fear and the power of Compelling Fate. He attributed all the developments to the Authority Holder's Under-the-table Transaction.
Despite his frenzied laughter, Mr. K remained composed. Solemnly and fanatically, he said, "The Lord watches, the Lord listens, and the Lord knows."
Lumian had heard Madam Magician say similar words before but hadn't felt their weight. He hadn't even been troubled, knowing it was futile. But now, every hair on his body stood on end, a chill running down his spine.
He sensed eyes watching him from every shadow.
The more he experienced and learned, the more acutely he felt the terror and oppression of those three short sentences.
After a few seconds, Lumian praised the True Creator again and asked, "Mr. K, why did you assassinate Moran Avigny? My friends and I dealt with him because the real Moran Avigny is dead. The active one is a Mirror Person. What about you?"
"Mirror Person? No wonder he has Mirror Substitution. That's precisely what I didn't anticipate—causing the assassination to fail," Mr. K sighed with realization.
Pacing back and forth, he told Lumian,
"Recent cases in Intis have led to an organization called the School of Truth. They used degenerates from cults and official organizations to achieve certain goals. For example, a descendant of Poli vanished mysteriously, and closely monitored pages from Roselle's diary disappeared."
Poli? One of Emperor Roselle's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? A descendant of his has vanished? Lumian's eyelids twitched at the thought.
Jebus Lata had mentioned the School of Truth's three goals: finding clues about the fallen heaven, Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum, and 0-05, the Magic Wishing Lamp.
The Fourth Epoch Trier's seal had just been breached. For now, Intis's official organizations were unlikely to overlook anything. As for 0-05, Emperor Roselle's eldest daughter Bernadette held it. The School of Truth admitted they couldn't handle the Element Dawn leader yet. They wanted more boons before trying.
In other words, two of the three targets required long-term planning from the School of Truth. That left clues about Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum. Jebus mentioned having no relevant clues himself. Whether the Overseer did was uncertain.
Combined with Mr. K's account, Lumian had a bad feeling.
Could the School of Truth already possess crucial clues about Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum?
Mr. K continued, "We're investigating these matters, as is Element Dawn.
"We recently discovered Moran Avigny's involvement in some cases. He seemed to be a key figure in the School of Truth."
"Then why assassinate him instead of capturing him?" Lumian felt Mr. K's previous actions aimed to kill Moran Avigny.
Mr. K chuckled raspily.
"Killing him is simpler than capture. And after his death, an abnormality will undoubtedly occur. The official Beyonders will find a way to communicate with his spirit. Then, the authorities will investigate the School of Truth to thwart their plan.
"Isn't that our goal?
"Plus, we can shadow the authorities to track down School of Truth members."
You, an Aurora Order Oracle, have also learned to "report" and exploit the authorities? Lumian found it amusing.
If not for needing more information about the Mirror People, he, Franca, and the others could have simply forced Moran Avigny to show signs of abnormality, avoiding so much trouble.
Lumian delved into more details with Mr. K, increasingly sensing the School of Truth was close to locating Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum.
Without delay, he expressed his urgency to return and interrogate Moran Avigny to prevent mishaps.
"Do you need my help?" Mr. K inquired.
Lumian responded with a smile, "Not for now. We have a Hypnotist, the Bliss Society's truth serum, and a Demoness skilled in spirit channeling."
He didn't mention also having Fate Appropriator abilities.
During Fate Appropriation, Lumian could "see" all of Moran Avigny's past and present fates, and most fate tributaries. But the duration was limited, only allowing extraction of the most pertinent information.
"Alright, let me know if you need anything." Mr. K sized up Lumian with admiration.
…
Finding a secluded spot to teleport back to the safe house, Lumian surveyed the area and said to Franca, "Use Mirror Cufflink's ability to take us back to the underground quarry cave."
This would prevent accidents from affecting the neighborhood.
Lumian had already teleported multiple times that day and even altered Moran Avigny's fate. Previously, he had played the Symphony of Hatred and triggered a series of weakness assaults. The immense expenditure left him with spirituality for only seven to eight more teleports and no further accumulation.
In this situation, using Beyonder items when possible was only natural.
Understanding Lumian's state, Franca didn't hold back on the Mirror Cufflink's charges. She only asked Lumian to carry the colossal dog and keep it from touching her.
She then made the glass cufflink on her blouse glow, leading Lumian and the others into the room's mirror. Through the dark, empty tunnel, they appeared in the quarry cave with a fixed entrance to the mirror world.
Franca took out the truth serum and tossed it to Anthony Reid with a friendly smile. "Feed some to Moran Avigny and have a good chat with him."
-x-X-x-
After some time had passed, Anthony Reid guided the shriveled brownish-yellow dog back to the quarry cave that housed a fixed entrance to the mirror world.
Turning to Lumian, he said, "You can dispel the Animal Creation Spell now."
Lumian glanced at the enormous dog, which had lost its ferocious and ruthless demeanor. With a smile, he recited the dispelling incantation in Hermes: "Monk!"
Lumian had personally crafted the ritualistic dog skin. While he had used Padre Guillaume Bénet's activation incantation, he had modified the dispelling incantation.
Initially, Lumian wanted to use the name of Gehrman Sparrow, one of his two idols, as the dispelling incantation. However, since Gehrman was Mr. Fool's Angel of Redemption, uttering his name in Hermes might have unusual consequences and seem blasphemous. Consequently, Lumian discarded that idea.
Since the first ritualistic hide he made was dog skin, Lumian drew inspiration from the phrase "Monks Chasing Dogs" and chose the word "Monk" for the dispelling incantation.
As a dark light flared, it revealed a pitiful-looking Moran Avigny.
Instinctively, Moran reached for a handkerchief in his chest pocket and wiped away the dried blood, tears, saliva, and mucus from his face.
Rather than getting directly to the point, Lumian decided to begin with trivial questions to bolster his credibility and optimize the hypnotic effect.
With a blend of derision and a sigh, he said, "I can't grasp why you Mirror People loathe your real world equivalents."
Moran Avigny sneered in response. "If you were perpetually confined to the cold, gloomy, sealed mirror, you'd also despise your counterpart who basks in the sun, savors fine food and drink, and revels in leisure and pleasure."
"But your existence wasn't a natural occurrence. It was an accident," Jenna pointed out, narrowly avoiding mentioning that they were monstrosities inhabiting a unique mirror world.
Chuckling, Moran Avigny retorted, "What bearing does that have on our envy and hatred?
"We didn't trigger the accident. As we were born and have been perpetuating our kind, we possess the right to seek a superior life."
Momentarily at a loss for words, Franca and Jenna fell silent.
Speaking in a friendly tone, Lumian said, "You indeed have that right. However, it cannot involve murder or injuring the original body. Why not collaborate with official organizations, such as the Church of The Fool? After fleeing Fourth Epoch Trier, you could depart this city and commence a new life elsewhere."
Moran Avigny scoffed. "You believe we can trust and cooperate with these sun-dwelling organizations?"
"Are you not already collaborating with the School of Truth?" Lumian exposed Moran Avigny's deception.
After a brief pause, Moran Avigny stated, "We have a mission. We desire the authentic restoration of this world."
"Authentic?" Lumian intentionally provoked. "How can authenticity exist in a mirror? You Mirror People merely resemble the genuine ones. Upon death, you will revert to mirror shards."
Following the provocation, Lumian's eyes turned silver-black as he examined Moran Avigny's fate tributary, aiming to deter him from providing a response that could endanger his life.
After a quick observation confirming that his question wouldn't pose a significant risk, Lumian deactivated the Eye of Calamity to preserve his spirituality.
With a meaningful smile, Moran Avigny said, "No, in a certain sense, what resides in the mirror is real.
"Upon completing our mission, we will fully return to reality!"
Intrigued by Moran Avigny's confidence, Franca asked, "Why do you say that?"
Moran Avigny's gaze swept over the two Demonesses. Now in his refractory period, he chuckled and said, "Even I cannot comprehend the most basic reason. All I can disclose is that it relates to the Chaos Demoness we revere deep within the mirror world. She is the true Primordial Demoness!
"Moreover, I can offer an example: After transforming into a Witch and interacting with mirror magic, every Demoness's true self dwells within the mirror."
Observing Franca and Jenna's skepticism, Moran Avigny, eager to express his thoughts, inquired with a smile,
"Are you aware of the Demoness pathway's Sequence 3 name?"
In unison, Franca and Jenna shook their heads. "No."
With a slight nod, Moran Avigny explained, "It's known as the Demoness of Unaging. Eternal youth, skilled in resurrection and rebirth.
"Why are they so challenging to kill, capable of resurrection and rebirth? It's because what they destroy is merely their external form. Their authentic selves have always been imprisoned and sealed within the mirror!
"If the false ones perish, they can swiftly be resurrected through the projection of their true selves in the mirror!
"Consider this: how can one's true self, imprisoned, sealed, and utilized as a source of resurrection, not despise the false one in reality? Why wouldn't they yearn to escape the mirror and reclaim what is rightfully theirs?"
Franca abruptly recalled the moment she first entered the unique mirror world.
At that time, she had encountered her body's original self, the one with thick brown eyebrows and short flaxen-colored hair before ingesting the Witch potion. His face was drenched in blood, and his eyes brimmed with malice and hatred.
Could it be that after drinking the Witch potion and transforming into a woman, her male self didn't disappear but was exiled to the mirror, unable to escape? Franca was both alarmed and suspicious.
Jenna also remembered something from her past.
During the process of becoming a Witch, she saw her other self in an illusion—her malevolent, mirror-like self. Both of them plummeted into the black flames, and she struggled to crawl out, returning to the ice above the black flames to complete her advancement. The malevolent self was dragged into the bottomless Abyss by the python-like black shadow.
Could it symbolize self-division?
Is a part of me truly suffering in the mirror?
Noticing his two Demoness companions' perplexed state, Lumian smiled at Moran Avigny and said, "It doesn't necessarily involve self-imprisonment. It's conceivable that during the Witch transformation process, they formed a profound connection with their mirror selves, enabling them to master mirror magic. To a degree, this also allows for their resurrection."
"The mirror self is tainted with blood, malice, hatred, and malevolence because they are perpetually in this state. They constantly envy their real selves, just like you Mirror People from a unique world."
Unable to uncover the truth at the moment, Lumian preferred not to linger on the subject and attempted to shift the blame to others.
Furthermore, as a Mirror Person, Moran Avigny had an innate inclination to take sides. His words needed to be cautiously accepted and analyzed from a different perspective.
Upon hearing Lumian's explanation, Franca and Jenna's expressions softened. Moran Avigny mocked, "Self-deception cannot conceal the truth."
Recognizing that the initial preparations were nearly complete, Lumian decided to redirect the conversation back to the main topic.
Originally, their objective was related to Mirror People, but now Lumian sensed that the matter involving the School of Truth was more relevant and pressing. He needed to inquire about it first.
His eyes turned silver-black once more as he gazed at Moran Avigny and asked, "Did you enter into a contract with the School of Truth's Overseer?"
"Of course we did. How else could we collaborate? We all value contracts," Moran Avigny replied with pride.
Lumian chuckled.
"He didn't surreptitiously modify the terms the instant you signed the contract, did he?"
"No, I am highly attentive to such matters. As you know, I am a Judge in the mystical sense," Moran Avigny responded confidently.
Lumian probed further, "Have you met the Overseer?"
Moran Avigny shook his head.
"He signed the contract first and then dispatched his subordinate to deliver it. We never actually met."
"What has the Overseer been up to lately?" Lumian inquired cautiously.
Moran Avigny chuckled.
"I am merely a cog of his immense Under the Table black net. I assist in completing specific matters through transactions. I am unaware of what those matters allude to or the motivations behind them.
"Yes, he once mentioned that he intended to use individuals like me to weave an invisible and massive vortex. He could infuse his strongest desires into it and achieve results.
"A few days ago, he casually remarked that the vortex is on the verge of taking shape."
The vortex is about to take shape… Lumian continued to monitor the changes in Moran Avigny's fate tributary and, after some contemplation, asked, "How do you and the Overseer typically communicate? Is there a special contingency plan in case of an emergency?"
This was something he needed to ascertain as quickly as possible. The abrupt attack on Intis's Minister of Industry, Moran Avigny, and his enigmatic disappearance was breaking news. It wouldn't take long for the news to spread. When that happened, the Overseer would undoubtedly learn about it and promptly sever his original communication channel.
…
In Moran Avigny's villa.
Angoulême de François, the captain of the Purifier mobile team directly under Trier's diocese, had been prepared and swiftly arrived at the scene.
After listening to the on-scene Purifiers' report and assessing the scene, Angoulême frowned.
"A member of the Aurora Order?"
Not Hidden Blade and the others?
What are they up to!
Following a moment of reflection, Angoulême issued an order,
"Let's first suppress the news of Moran Avigny's incident to avoid alerting the individuals and factions behind this abnormality. We may still have an opportunity to uncover clues and proceed with our investigation."
This was his experience and a process the Purifiers were already familiar with.
-x-X-x-
The Purifier team from Saint Viève Cathedral soon arrived at Moran Avigny's study, carrying a nearly sealed wooden box.
They each wore white robes adorned with waxed golden threads, thin rubber gloves, and leather hoods. Their masks curved downward, forming a bird's beak in front of their mouths and noses.
Angoulême signaled the other Purifiers to withdraw from this floor and clear the adjacent ones. Donning a bird-beak mask and similar attire himself, he tightly bandaged his wrists and ankles.
Peering through the red glass lenses of his mask, Angoulême watched his colleagues open the wooden box.
Mirrors of the perfect size lined the inner layer of the box on all sides—top, bottom, left, right, front, and back.
In the center, surrounded by the mirrors, stood a milky-white stone statue half the height of a person. It portrayed a beautiful half-naked woman, her dress torn away to the waist.
Despite the female figurine's broken arm, her other hand alluringly covered her navel. Her captivating figure and exquisite facial features stirred an inexplicable heat within Angoulême. A sudden urge to kiss "her" flooded his mind, a desire for an intimate encounter with the stone statue.
Not daring to breathe deeply, he forced himself to maintain control.
He recognized this as a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact under the Trier diocese, serial number 82, known as the Ullamos Statue.
This Grade 1 Sealed Artifact could gradually entice nearby creatures to obsess over it, spreading various illnesses, some common and others mystical in nature.
Left unchecked, the statue's influence would transform its surroundings into a nightmarish landscape of agony—living beings wailing, writhing, and perishing in horrifying ways. The relentless plague would expand, unleashing a widening catastrophe.
Angoulême had requested 1-82 for its ability to guide other creatures into the mirror world. Strictly controlling exposure time was crucial to prevent the spread of illness and obsession.
The two Purifiers gently lifted the Ullamos Statue and carried it to the full-body mirror in the study.
Angoulême and his two other teammates approached, placing their palms on 1-82's shoulders.
In perfect synchronicity, they magically phased through the glass mirror, vanishing from Moran Avigny's study.
As soon as Angoulême laid eyes on the dark, hazy, almost illusory space behind the mirror, a tickle in his throat urged him to cough.
"Sigh…" A soft exhalation escaped his lips.
Their attire couldn't isolate the disease spread by the Ullamos Statue…
Its sole purpose was to minimize the rate at which they succumbed to genuine infection!
Weakened yet inexplicably excited, Angoulême and his teammates investigated the area behind the mirror. They quickly discovered numerous dim mirror fragments scattered about.
"A battle took place here. Moran Avigny had to use Mirror Substitution multiple times, but there's no sign of blood, bodily fluids, hair, or any other traces," one of the Purifiers concluded.
Angoulême's heart raced as he speculated. A battle? Someone ambushed Moran Avigny in the mirror?
Impressive, Hidden Blade!
"It seems Moran Avigny couldn't escape right away and multiple Mirror Substitutions were shattered. There's a high chance he was captured," Angoulême analyzed seriously before pivoting to misdirection. "I see. The Aurora Order never expected the assassination to succeed. The assassin's only objective was to drive Moran Avigny into this mirror, where the rest of the Aurora Order awaited him!"
The other Purifiers concurred with this theory, nodding in agreement.
"Definitely the Aurora Order."
"They even utilized a potent item capable of accessing the mirror world to confront Moran Avigny."
"The absence of gruesome scenes suggests the Aurora Order aimed to capture Moran Avigny alive and extract vital information."
"Over the past five to six years, the Aurora Order has grown more intelligent…"
Following a short discussion, one of the Purifiers glanced back at the Ullamos Statue at the entrance and gulped.
"We need to leave now. Return 1-82 to the mirror box. I can't endure it any longer."
Angoulême agreed.
Back in the real world, they sealed 1-82 once more and removed their cumbersome attire. At last, he sighed with relief, feeling utterly exhausted in both body and mind.
…
Inside the quarry cave with a stable mirror world entrance,illuminated by the carbide lamp under the Eye of Calamity's gaze, Moran Avigny smiled as he answered Lumian's question,
"Also through a mirror."
While speaking, he retrieved a makeup mirror from his pocket and elaborated, "Every mirror in the mirror world is unique, each with its own corresponding coordinates. I provided him with my mirror's coordinates, and he reciprocated with the coordinates of a mirror on his side. With this arrangement, I can harness my abilities and the mirror world to transmit information to his mirror for a set duration. He contacts me in the same manner but relies on the Beyonder item I gave him."
"An IP address, I suppose…" Franca muttered in a language unfamiliar to anyone present.
Lumian smiled warmly and inquired, "Would you be willing to share the Overseer's mirror coordinates with us?"
Moran Avigny shook his head.
"It's indescribable and impossible to write down. Only those like us from the mirror world can perceive it. Or Demonesses with godhood—Demonesses of Despair."
Sequence 4 Demoness of Despair? And Sequence 5 is Demoness of Affliction… These two Sequences sound unpleasant. Uncomfortable to act, but the subsequent Demoness of Unaging is quite impressive… Franca gleaned information about the Demoness pathway from Moran Avigny's words.
"How can the Overseer perceive it then?" Jenna asked.
Moran Avigny smiled.
"He can't perceive it either, but his Beyonder item can record and use it."
Franca smiled and raised her sleeve, revealing the glass-like Mirror Cufflink.
Taken aback, Moran Avigny's expression shifted to one of relief.
"You're the ones who killed Jebus."
"The Overseer killed him," Lumian clarified sincerely. "We had no intention of killing him. We even wanted to befriend him, but the Overseer used a mysterious power from afar to end his life. I fear you may suffer the same fate."
Moran Avigny fell silent for a few moments before stating, "It can record it."
He referred to the Mirror Cufflink's ability to record the Overseer mirror's coordinates.
Franca wasn't surprised at all. "I knew it would work."
When she had used the Mirror Cufflink earlier, she realized the mirrors in the mirror world gave her a crystal-clear sense of the mirror world's entrances in the vicinity. There was the full-body mirror in Moran Avigny's study and a few other unknown mirrors.
Franca suspected the Mirror Cufflink would instinctively record the corresponding coordinates of each mirror.
Moran Avigny continued, "You won't be able to find the Overseer directly through that mirror. I've long suspected the mirror is actually with one of the Overseer's subordinates. Naturally, that subordinate must be very close to the Overseer. Otherwise, it would hinder the transmission of information."
Just like many members of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society, the contact points reserved for Madame Hela's messenger are isolated from their real lives… Lumian nodded slightly and said, "That's not an issue. We can visit them one by one, as long as they're truly close. Can you provide us with those coordinates?"
Moran Avigny fell silent. The effects of hypnosis and truth serum battled fiercely against his resolve.
This was a Disciplinary Paladin's principle and corresponding restrictions.
Observing the shifts in his fate tributary, Lumian smiled and said, "You can think it over. Let's discuss something else first."
Having witnessed Moran Avigny's potential loss of control, he intended to inquire about other information. If the other party refused to divulge it later, he would kill him before channeling his spirit!
"Very well." Moran Avigny let out a lengthy sigh.
Lumian pondered briefly and asked,
"What deals did the Overseer make with you?"
Moran Avigny responded nonchalantly, "Primarily providing assistance to certain individuals. In turn, I received help through the Overseer. Consequently, we elevated our political status and acquired more resources.
"This is a common practice among politicians, but with the Overseer, it's even more covert, less detectable, and effective.
"Additionally, protecting specific individuals or indirectly granting benefits to non-high society members to fulfill the requirements on the other side of the Overseer's Under the Table transaction."
Lumian considered for a moment and asked, "Didn't that Overseer communicate with the leader of your Mirror People?"
Unsure if the Mirror People had a de facto leader, he said this to deceive Moran Avigny, implying they already possessed important information.
If the Mirror People truly lacked a de facto leader, Moran Avigny would see through the deception. With the truth serum and hypnosis, this wouldn't affect his subsequent answers.
Moran Avigny's expression shifted slightly. "He did communicate with our leader."
"How did they communicate?" Lumian asked calmly.
"Through a provided ritual. I don't know what was exchanged as I wasn't present," Moran Avigny replied honestly.
Franca asked curiously, "Is your leader in the real world or the mirror world of Fourth Epoch Trier?"
"In Fourth Epoch Trier," Moran Avigny said with a sigh. "Mirror People with powerful godhood can't escape through certain catastrophes via the leakage point."
Franca pondered for a moment and asked, "Does your leader have a corresponding self in reality?"
"Yes." Moran Avigny smiled. "You'll never guess who it is."