Would I get in his way?
I wasn't sure.
Because I had no idea how he planned to obtain the Saint's ashes this time.
The key issue wasn't whether I wanted to interfere—it was whether Ince Zangwill perceived me as an obstacle.
Just like in the original novel, no one had actively tried to stop him. But if it weren't for Klein and Dunn fighting desperately, the number of casualties wouldn't have been just two.
No.
I can't just sit around and wait for him to come for me.
I hadn't chosen to come to Tingen, but since I was already caught in this mess, I had to make preparations—even if only for self-preservation.
Edward's emotions shifted drastically, and Klein immediately noticed.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
———
Monday Morning.
Audrey had just finished breakfast when she received a telegram from her second brother, Alfred Hall, who was in the Balam Empire on the eastern coast of the Southern Continent.
—I have found the Rainbow Salamander you wanted—two of them. Please wait for delivery.
Yes!
Audrey's heart leaped with joy, and she couldn't resist pumping her fist in excitement.
She hadn't expected Alfred to find the Rainbow Salamander so quickly!
With this, she now had all the ingredients needed for the Telepathist potion. She could advance to Sequence 8 at any time.
"You seem very happy, Audrey," Susie said, tilting her head in curiosity. "What happened?"
Audrey showed her the telegram with a bright smile.
"I've finally obtained the last ingredient for the Telepathist potion—the pituitary gland of the Rainbow Salamander. And I have two of them! I think I'll be able to advance to Sequence 8 very soon."
Susie's tail wagged slightly as she shared in Audrey's excitement.
"Two? Does that mean I can advance too?"
"Uh…"
Audrey was caught off guard. She hesitated before asking uncertainly,
"Susie…are you sure you've fully digested your potion?"
The large golden retriever blinked and gave her a very human-like expression.
"Hmm…I should have finished digesting mine before you did."
"…"
Audrey had always envisioned her future as a renowned detective or a distinguished psychologist—with her faithful assistant, Susie the dog, by her side.
But if things turned out the other way around—if it became Detective Susie with Audrey as her assistant…
That would be…would be…
No.
Not just a little weird.
It would be very weird.
So weird that she had no idea how to respond!
Audrey felt a wave of defeat wash over her. She puffed up her cheeks and muttered,
"Susie, you should learn to be more humble."
"But I was telling the truth."
"…"
Audrey sighed.
"Sometimes, a little dishonesty can be a form of modesty, you know?"
Susie stared at her for a long moment, her tail swishing thoughtfully. Then, after some hesitation, she asked,
"Audrey…are you teaching me how to lie?"
Audrey immediately denied it.
"No! Absolutely not! It's just…just…"
"Haah—"
Susie let out a long sigh and flopped down onto the floor, muttering to herself.
"Humans are too complicated…I'm glad I'm just a dog."
———
[Monday Afternoon—The Tarot Club]
At exactly 3 PM, Audrey's vision blurred as her perspective shifted from crimson and hazy back to the familiar boundless gray fog.
She saw the colossal palace, as if it were the residence of a giant.
She saw the ancient, timeworn bronze table.
She saw The Fool, forever shrouded in thick mist.
And she saw The Hanged Man, The Sun, and The Tower.
Audrey immediately greeted them with enthusiasm.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool! Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man! Good afternoon, Mr. Sun! Good afternoon, Mr. Tower!"
"Good afternoon, lovely Miss Justice."
How wonderful.
The early Tarot Club meetings would have been so gloomy and oppressive if Audrey hadn't been there to lighten the mood.
As for the later meetings?
With The Star and The Moon around, every session would be filled with endless amusement and joy.
Audrey turned to The Fool with curiosity and asked,
"Honorable Mr. Fool, did your Blessed receive the 300-pound compensation yet?"
As she asked this, she couldn't help but wonder—
Could this Blessed of The Fool be the same person that Edward knew?
Klein chuckled softly.
"I haven't paid much attention to that matter, but since my Blessed hasn't asked for further assistance, I assume he has received the payment."
"That's wonderful!"
Audrey pinched the hem of her dress lightly and curtsied before falling silent.
At this moment, The Hanged Man, Alger, spoke up.
"Miss Justice, Mr. Tower, have you made any progress on the matter I entrusted to you last time—the investigation of Vice-Admiral Hurricane, Qilangos?"
Ah!
Audrey instinctively covered her mouth, feeling a pang of guilt.
She had agreed to look into it so readily before, but after Edward had told her that Qilangos would appear at Duke Negan's ball in the future, she had stopped actively pursuing the matter.
Technically, she did possess crucial information about Qilangos…but that knowledge came from Edward's foresight, not her own investigation.
Feeling a bit lost, Audrey turned to Edward for help.
Edward understood her predicament immediately. He smiled and said,
"Mr. Hanged Man, I have more or less figured out the reason behind Qilangos's trip to Backlund. Once I confirm the details, I will request the great Mr. Fool to relay the message to you through a ritual."
He then turned toward the ever-misty Mr. Fool and asked respectfully,
"May I do so, Mr. Fool?"
Klein responded indifferently,
"You may."
"Praise be to Mr. Fool."
Alger, however, sat up straight, his expression filled with disbelief.
"You've figured out Qilangos's goal? What is he planning?"
"Hmm…" Edward said thoughtfully. "Based on my investigation, he seems to be here to assassinate someone. In exchange, he will receive an item from a mysterious organization—something that can greatly enhance his strength."
He kept his explanation vague, not because he wanted to be cryptic, but because if he were too precise, he wouldn't be able to explain how he knew.
"Who is he trying to assassinate?"
"I'm still investigating, but I'm fairly certain it's a high-ranking noble of the Loen upper class."
Alger frowned.
A high-ranking noble?
Why was this suddenly connected to the nobility of Loen?
After a moment, he decided it wasn't worth overthinking and turned back to Edward.
"Thank you, Mr. Tower. What would you like as payment?"
"There's no rush," Edward replied. "I haven't provided definitive information yet. Once I confirm Qilangos's exact movements—or even eliminate him—you can compensate me then."
After a slight pause, he added,
"That being said, I am currently looking to purchase Lavos Squid's Crystallized Blood, mandrake sap, and poison hemlock juice. If anyone has them, I'm willing to pay."
Alger nodded.
"Understood. I'll keep an eye out for those materials as well."
Seeing that Edward had successfully handled the matter with The Hanged Man, Audrey finally let out a breath of relief.
Since her second brother Alfred had already helped her obtain the Rainbow Salamander, she no longer needed to request it during this week's Tarot Club meeting.
At that moment, Alger turned toward The Fool, his tone reverent.
"Mr. Fool, I will soon obtain a large batch of Emperor Roselle's diaries. I believe that by the next, or at most the following, gathering, I will be able to present them to you."
A large batch of diaries?
Now this…this wakes me right up.
Though Klein felt a surge of joy, his tone remained as calm as ever.
"Good."
Right after Alger, Edward raised his hand.
"Mr. Fool, this week, I managed to obtain two pages of Emperor Roselle's diary."
"Oh?" Klein's interest was piqued. "And what do you wish to exchange for them?"
Edward placed his right hand over his chest in a respectful gesture.
"I wish to use these pages—along with the ones I have previously accumulated—to request an opportunity from you."
"An opportunity to…perform a magic trick for you."
———
[Note]: Here's the promised Extra Chapter. Enjoy~ I'll post another Extra Chapter if we reach 500 Powerstones by tomorrow. Go, VOTE!