The Supplicant was core to the Aurora Order — almost all of their members walked that pathway.
Bernadette gave a slight nod. "Your call. If he seems suitable, bring him in."
"Understood."
At the chalkboard, the attendant kept reading aloud: "Black rhino horn, 200 grams, asking price 320 pounds."
"Rapid-clotting and detox medicine for sale, twelve pounds a dose."
"Wanted: weapons or extraordinary items with bonus damage against dark creatures. Price negotiable."
"Baby's Cry, Blossom variety, one hundred and eighty pounds."
Every so often, attendants would escort both parties in a given deal into a back room to complete the transaction — though the overall success rate barely cracked thirty percent.
Time drifted quietly forward.
By just before half-past nine, with no new requests coming in, tonight's gathering was declared closed. Everyone filtered out in turn, and soon the once-crowded sitting room held only Bernadette and the attendants.
One gathering done. A small step closer to Sequence 5.
Bernadette drained the last of her wine and was about to cross into the spirit world to head back, when the same attendant came running over: "Mr. A — you may need to handle this one personally."
"What?"
"It's the man seeking the Supplicant formula. His situation is a bit… different. He's already a Beyonder, but he still wants to take another dose of the Supplicant potion."
"???"
Bernadette couldn't hide her surprise. "Does he not know you can only ever walk one pathway?"
"He does. But he says he received the Master's salvation, was called by the Master himself, and he's willing to sacrifice everything — even his life — for the Master. So he insists on forcing a pathway switch to Supplicant."
Vincent blurted: "Holy shit, he's that far gone? Not even Mr. A or Mr. Z would go that far, right?"
"Take me to him."
Soon Bernadette was led into a modestly-sized room. A man in a shirt and waistcoat — handsome, sharp-featured — was speaking with feverish, zealous excitement, going on and on about his admiration for the True Creator. He looked ready to offer up his life for the Master on the spot.
If tonight's gathering had been hosted by Mr. Z, he'd have taken one look at this man and thought: perfect Aurora Order material — devout faith, suitably unhinged, and good-looking to boot.
But Vincent and Bernadette could tell at a glance who it was: Leonard. The disguise was competent enough, but to people who actually knew him, it was no challenge.
What are you doing here, future Mr. Star?
Oh right — he hadn't joined the Tarot Club yet at this point.
But when did you become a True Creator fanatic willing to drink two different pathway potions just to throw yourself into the Master's arms?
"Heh, isn't it obvious?" Bernadette gave a quiet laugh. "Almost certainly the Evernight Church sent him to infiltrate the Aurora Order undercover. Our tip-off wasn't entirely wasted — the Church is at least trying to make some arrangements."
She sat down across from Leonard and said evenly: "You're sure you want to take a second dose of the Supplicant potion."
Leonard stated it like a fact: "Absolutely."
He spread his arms wide, practically reciting poetry: "I've walked the wrong path for too long. The time has come to return. Nothing will change my decision!"
Bernadette raised an eyebrow and turned to the attendant. "Do you have Supplicant materials? Prepare him a dose."
"Yes, Mr. A."
"Are you serious?" Vincent asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Bernadette said flatly: "He's asked so urgently — not to oblige him would be our problem, wouldn't it?"
"What if he loses control on the spot?"
"Then he'd at least have proven with his actions that he truly wants to throw himself into the True Creator's arms. As the saying goes — be careful what you wish for."
"..."
While Vincent and Bernadette were quietly exchanging words, Leonard was inwardly asking: "Old man — you're sure this is going to work? If they bring the potion out and I suddenly change my mind and refuse to drink, they'll definitely kill me on the spot, right?"
"What do you gain from you losing control into a monster?"
Pallez said placidly: "Relax. Before the potion enters your body, I'll steal it directly. To them, you'll look like a miracle — a natural-born Supplicant. They'll probably take you for one of the True Creator's personal Blessed."
"That means your undercover assignment is practically half done right there."
Leonard said weakly: "But… I'm still a bit scared."
"Who was it, just moments ago, loudly swearing he'd do anything to avenge the Captain and Melissa? And now you're losing your nerve over one little performance?"
"..."
He steeled himself, gritted his teeth: Fine. All in.
A few minutes later, an attendant carried in a cup of dark-reddish liquid that bubbled and gurgled. "Mr. A, the potion is ready."
Bernadette took the cup, placed it on the table, and then slowly slid it across to Leonard. "Please, go ahead."
Leonard, having already psyched himself up, kept his expression fevered and ecstatic, grabbed the cup, tipped his head back, and downed it.
The next second he felt a cold, bitter liquid sliding down his throat — then it simply vanished before it even reached his stomach.
Leonard's heart settled. He was just about to follow the plan and fake some dramatic suffering when the old man spoke: "That wasn't a potion. They made it out of coffee mixed with sparkling wine."
"???"
He went completely still, and the genuine shock that broke across his face couldn't have been more real: "That… wasn't the potion?"
Bernadette gave him a long, meaningful look, then turned to the attendant. "He's one of us now."
She stood and left the room.
Vincent asked: "I thought you were really going to give him a Supplicant potion."
"I wasn't sure whether he was just some actual idiot who'd down it and immediately lose control. And I still need him alive to relay information back to the Church."
You do read people, don't you. The Tarot Club's trio of Sun, Moon, and Star really do have a reputation for a reason.
Bernadette continued: "But it's clear I was overthinking — the fact that he was willing to knock it back without flinching means he had a plan. Something prepared in advance."
"What tipped you off?"
"Not certain yet. But the moment that 'potion' entered his throat, it vanished — probably some sealed artifact's doing."
Vincent's mind clicked: Could that be Pallez, living inside Leonard, pulling strings?
"With that performance, winning Mr. Z's trust shouldn't be hard. Those people, the moment the Master comes up, their judgment goes right out the window. This Leonard came well prepared."
"Shame he ran into a rational type like you, and got seen through immediately."
Bernadette smiled slightly. "But either way, he got what he came for."
She let out a small yawn. "Going to sleep."
On the other side of the wall, once the attendants had arranged Leonard's room and he was sure no one was watching, he finally let out a long, shuddering breath.
Maintaining that feverish, ecstatic face the whole time had been absolutely exhausting.
But then he crossed his legs, leaned back in his chair, and smirked with satisfaction: "Hey — first performance, went off without a hitch. Turns out I actually have a talent for this."
Pallez immediately doused that. "That Mr. A already saw through you."
To be continued…
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