Within the Sefirah Castle, the Tarot Club members held an impromptu gathering regarding Raphael Collins.
After Miss Hermit interpreted Mr. World's divination, Audrey nodded slowly, "Based on my preliminary observation, although Raphael appears insane on the surface, his inner self is actually quite calm."
At this point, Mr. World addressed Miss Judgment, "Tell everyone about your investigation into Raphael."
When Klein first identified Raphael, he had asked Xio, who had intelligence networks in Backlund, to conduct an investigation on this 'Lunatic'.
Xio said, "According to my sources, Raphael Collins was once a minor leader in the Skull Gang. I've long suspected that the Skull Gang is backed by a mid-to-high ranking member of the Rose School of Thought. Their former boss was a Sequence 8 Lunatic of the Chained pathway, with two subordinate leaders at Sequence 9 Prisoner and one at Sequence 9 Criminal..."
"...Before this year, Raphael didn't show anything remarkable. However, around three months ago, he suddenly underwent some changes. In conflicts with other gangs, he cleverly secured significant gains, allowing several of his key subordinates to benefit greatly, quickly earning their absolute loyalty."
After taking a short breath, Xio continued, "Roughly two months ago, Raphael successfully assassinated the Skull Gang's boss and used his Beyonder characteristic to advance. He then demonstrated shrewd tactics, using leverage against other minor leaders and forceful suppression to quickly secure his position as the new boss, renamed the Skull Gang to the Mafia, and proclaimed himself the Godfather."
"...Afterward, he launched several attacks on surrounding gangs, all ending in victory. The Mafia is now one of the three largest gangs in the Backlund Bridge area. Moreover, according to my informants, Raphael is quite popular among the workers."
Leonard Mitchell, known as 'The Star', occasionally dealt with Backlund's gangs and found this hard to believe: "A gang boss popular among the workers?"
Generally speaking, workers and ordinary people would avoid gang leaders while cursing them behind their backs.
"That's what my intel indicates," Xio confirmed, "How exactly he managed that requires further investigation."
At this point, Alger chimed in, offering his analysis, "He's essentially a 'rational' lunatic! Or rather, he appears insane but actually possesses a sharp mind."
Then he chuckled and said, "Dealing with someone like this is simpler than dealing with a true madman."
After a momentary pause, Alger turned to Miss Justice and advised, "I suggest that after observing Raphael for a while, you reveal some of your abilities to intimidate him. Then assign him tasks. As for rewards, you can trade with members of the Temperance Faction. First, establish a stable connection. After gaining deeper understanding of him, we might discover what makes him special."
In truth, from the terms 'Mafia' and 'Godfather', Klein had already identified one of Raphael's peculiarities... he is a transmigrator!
Audrey accepted Mr. Hanged Man's advice and nodded, "Very well."
At this moment, Xio addressed Miss Justice, "You'd best find a way to persuade your father. Otherwise, besides seeking help from the Church of the Evernight Goddess, he'll definitely also turn to MI9. In that case, Raphael might be captured very quickly."
Just as Audrey was about to respond, Alger interjected, "I'd wager Raphael will be very difficult to find."
"Why do you say that?" Xio asked, taken aback.
'He's just a Sequence 8, after all. Even if he has some special qualities, official Beyonders should be able to find him easily if they dispatch a Demigod...' she reasoned.
Alger chuckled, saying, "Everyone, recall Mr. Fool's description when 'He' assigned this task to Miss Justice. 'He' mentioned that 'He' had Fooled Raphael, and this Fooling seems to be ongoing. Which Pathway Mr. Fool represents... I believe I need not elaborate. 'His' Fooling will undoubtedly cause all divinations to bypass Raphael."
The other members were momentarily stunned. Mr. Hanged Man's analysis was, as always, remarkably insightful.
Even The World thought to himself: 'Even The Fool himself hadn't considered this point...'
~~~
When Audrey returned to the material world from above the gray fog, Raphael hadn't even noticed she had ever left.
After three changes of disguise and switching between public carriages and rental carriages, followed by walking some distance, Raphael's group of three finally arrived in the Bridge area.
By this point, all three had changed into dirty coarse cloth coats and stiff canvas trousers, topped with flat caps; the typical garb of ordinary workers.
Audrey had also been forced into a male laborer's disguise. However, during her makeup application, Raphael found it impossible to conceal her natural beauty, no matter how hard he tried.
Initially, he made multiple attempts to apply makeup that would make Audrey look plain or unattractive, yet she still managed to exude an unusual quality.
In the end, Raphael gave up in frustration. He simply wrapped a bandage around her head, pretending she had a head injury, which finally prevented attracting excessive attention on the streets...
Right now, it was the time when dock and factory workers were getting off work. The three blended into the stream of returning workers and arrived at a dilapidated apartment building in the Backlund Bridge area. Raphael knocked on the door of room 301.
The door was opened by a middle-aged man on crutches with only one leg. The man smiled and said, "Sir."
Raphael nodded, glanced down the corridor in both directions, and entered.
Inside was a combined living room and kitchen area, with two bedrooms. The washrooms were at both ends of the floor. For a Backlund apartment catering to the common people, this place was relatively spacious.
The furnishings inside were simple, with only a few worn pieces of furniture, but it was evident the occupant had tidied up; the place was reasonably clean.
Upon entering, Raphael first went to the window to look outside. Then, feeling his empty stomach, he took out a 2 soli note from his wallet and handed it to the middle-aged man.
He instructed, "Go buy some noodles, enough for four people. Also, get a cabbage, two heads of garlic... Oh, and be sure to buy a halfpenny's worth of cumin."
The man immediately nodded with a smiled, "Yes, sir."
While handing over the money, Raphael inwardly lamented: 'Backlund's prices are truly exorbitant. 2 soli, which is roughly equivalent to 100 RMB, can only buy this little...'
Of course, there would be close to 3 pence left over, but he didn't intend to ask for the change.
After the man on crutches left, Raphael glanced at Audrey, but unfortunately, he couldn't glean any information from her expression.
Audrey adjusted the bandage on her face, asking, "What sort of expression were you hoping to see on my face?"
Raphael grinned, "I thought the benevolent Miss Hall would be angry at my ordering a disabled person to work and feel sympathy for Mark... hmm, for the owner of this place."
Audrey said nothing, because such thoughts had indeed crossed her mind. It was only her 'Spectator' training that prevented her from showing it...
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