The next moment, he recalled the origins of tarot divination in this world.
It was invented over 170 years ago by Roselle Gustav, who was the governor of the Intis Republic at the time. Besides inventing tarot cards, he also created Texas Hold'em, Gwent, and many other card games.
In addition to these, Roselle developed the steam engine, improved sailing ships, discovered a safe route to the Southern Continent, and initiated the colonial era.
But what was most unexpected was that this governor received the support and assistance of the Church of the God of Craftsmen, the predecessor of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery. With their help, he overthrew the Intis Kingdom and became the first governor of the new republic.
During his rule, the Intis Republic waged wars across the continent, bringing nations like Lenburg under its protection and forcing powerful Northern Continent nations such as the Loen Kingdom, Feneport, and Feysac Empire to submit. Eventually, the republic was transformed into an empire, and he proclaimed himself "Caesar."
Unfortunately, in his later years, he was betrayed. In the Fifth Epoch, year 1198, he was assassinated in White Maple Palace by the joint efforts of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, the former Intis royal family, the Soren household, and other nobles.
Recalling these facts, Klein couldn't help but suspect that this man might be a transmigrator like himself.
With this thought in mind, Klein became curious to see what tarot cards looked like in this world and how they differed from the ones he was familiar with.
Taking out the pocket watch his sister had just repaired that morning, Klein checked the time before turning to the woman with a pointed hat and face painted with oil colors.
"If the price is reasonable, I'm willing to try," he said.
"Sir, you are my first customer of the day. It's free," she responded.
Free? Free things are often the most expensive! Klein silently muttered, having seen such tricks many times before in his previous life.
Tightening his grip on the paper bag in his arms, Klein bent down and entered the low tent.
The interior of the tent was very dark, with only a few strands of light seeping through, barely illuminating a table covered with cards.
The woman with the pointed hat seemed completely unaffected by the darkness. Her black dress fluttered as she circled the table and sat down opposite him, lighting a candle on the table.
The dim candlelight flickered, casting a mixture of bright and dark hues throughout the tent, adding an air of mystery to the small space.
Without revealing his thoughts, Klein took his seat and glanced at the tarot cards on the table. He immediately recognized some familiar major arcana cards: "The Magician," "The Emperor," "The Hanged Man," and "Temperance."
"They're exactly the same as in my original world... Does that mean Emperor Roselle really was a fellow transmigrator?"
Colonization, the steam engine, Caesar, the civil code—any one of these appearing could be a coincidence, but so many? That couldn't all be coincidental.
"After I finish the ritual today and enter the space left behind by the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, I'll summon Hermes.
"As an angel serving that existence, he must know something.
"Sigh, aside from the memories I've absorbed, I know almost nothing about this world."
As this thought crossed his mind, Klein became slightly dazed, his mind wandering.
Just as he was contemplating the words Hermes had left behind the previous day, the self-proclaimed "accurate diviner" reached out, gathered all the tarot cards into a pile, and pushed them toward him.
"You shuffle and cut the cards," she said in a hoarse voice, interrupting Klein's thoughts.
"Me?" Klein reflexively questioned. "Isn't it usually the diviner who shuffles the deck before interpreting the reading?"
The diviner's red and yellow painted face moved subtly, revealing a faint smile.
"Everyone can only divine their own fate. I am merely an interpreter, so I do not shuffle the cards."
Hearing this explanation, Klein nodded but suddenly grew wary.
"There's no additional charge for the interpretation, right?"
The diviner was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, she muttered, "It's free."
Since there was no extra fee, Klein felt reassured. He set down the paper bag full of food, reached out with both hands, and skillfully shuffled and cut the deck.
"Done," he said, placing the shuffled tarot deck in the center of the table.
The diviner glanced at the deck and suddenly showed an awkward smile.
"Ah, my apologies. I forgot to ask—what is your question for the divination?"
"My past, present, and future," Klein replied.
This was a common tarot spread, where three cards were drawn to represent past, present, and future.
The diviner nodded, then smiled.
"Then please shuffle the deck again. Only by knowing your question can I provide an accurate interpretation."
"Are you messing with me?" Klein's face twitched. He was starting to doubt the reliability of this diviner.
"Perhaps I should ask Hermes for divination instead. At least he possesses true supernatural power as an angel."
Taking a deep breath, Klein retrieved the tarot deck and reshuffled and cut the cards again.
"This time, there won't be a problem, right? You can proceed with the reading now?"
"Of course."
With a smile, the diviner reached for the top card of the deck and placed it to Klein's left.
"This represents the past."
She then placed the second card directly in front of Klein.
"This represents the present."
Finally, she placed the third card to Klein's right.
"This represents the future."
"Alright, tell me which card you'd like to flip first," the diviner said, lifting her head and gazing deeply at Klein with gray-blue eyes that seemed to hold an entire world of serenity and silence.
"Uh... I'll choose the present."
After a moment of thought, Klein made his decision. Compared to the unchangeable past and the uncertain future, he was more concerned with the choices of the present.
Hearing Klein's choice, the diviner nodded slowly and flipped over the card in front of him.
The card was vividly colored, depicting a young man wearing luxurious clothes and a dazzling headdress. He carried a staff over his shoulder with a small bag tied to it, and a small dog tugged at his heels. The number on the card was "0."
"The Fool. The beginning of the tarot, the 0 card of the Major Arcana…"
Softly reading the card's title, the diviner locked her gray-blue eyes on Klein, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"The Fool? The zero card of the tarot? A beginning? A symbol of all possible starts?"
As an amateur enthusiast of folklore and occult studies, Klein had some knowledge of tarot cards and their meanings.
The Fool, as the 0 card of the Major Arcana, represented the start of all things but also concealed the possibility of an end.
The Fool wore a colorful outfit, striding forward without concern for the cliff ahead. His white dog barked frantically at his feet, seemingly warning him to stop.
Yet, the Fool maintained a joyful expression, gazing toward the distant sky rather than the precipice before him, acting purely on instinct.
In his left hand, he held a white rose, symbolizing purity and passion. In his right hand, he grasped a staff with a tied bundle—not just any staff, but a symbol of authority and power. But who else but a fool would use such a powerful emblem simply to carry a bag?