While Fang Yuan was planning his next steps, he decided to take a short rest. He lay on his dilapidated bed, but as soon as he closed his eyes, the necklace around his neck suddenly exploded into a thick crimson mist, wrapping around his body and swallowing him in the silence of the room.
In the heart of the infinite gray fog, Fang Yuan regained his sight. He began to contemplate his strange and sudden situation, noticing the blurred features of a man and a woman on his sides; they were doing the same, despite the woman's obvious terror.
Immediately after, the three discovered another mysterious person not far from them, surrounded by dense gray fog. That mysterious person was none other than "Klein Moretti," who was actually as shocked and dazed as they were.
"Sir, where is this place?" Audrey broke the silence with her question. Alger and Fang Yuan were initially surprised and stood in silence. Fang Yuan decided to observe from the sidelines before doing or saying anything. Then, Audrey and Alger immediately began speaking in unison: "What do you plan to do?"
Klein's Perspective The newcomers didn't just speak the same "Loen" language; they shared the same grim and tense emotions. 'Where am I? What do I plan to do here? I would like to know that too...' Klein silently repeated the questions the two asked while trying to calm himself.
What left the deepest impression on him was not the words, but the display of confusion, vigilance, panic, and reverence from the pair! Although the third one (Fang Yuan) was looking at him with extreme vigilance and caution. For some puzzling reason, these people were mysteriously pulled into this world. As the true culprit, Klein was feeling shocked, let alone those who were pulled in against their will!
Klein thought of two options: pretending to be a victim to hide his identity, or maintaining his mysterious identity to influence subsequent developments and gain valuable information. To exploit the psychological state of others to obtain the greatest benefit! He made his decision immediately.
After a few seconds of silence, Klein laughed in a low but not heavy voice, and spoke calmly: "An attempt."
"An attempt... an attempt at what?" Audrey Hall looked at the mysterious man veiled in fog, feeling that everything happening was unbelievable and terrifying. She had been at her dressing table in her room just moments ago, and now she was here! She took a breath and revealed a polite smile: "Sir, is the attempt over? Will you allow us to return?"
Klein looked at the questioners. He could distinguish the tall blonde girl and the mature man with messy blue hair. As for the teenager, he looked to be sixteen or seventeen years old, with an ordinary face and long black hair reaching his waist, but what truly frightened Klein were his eyes; dark and deep eyes, as if they were a bottomless abyss absorbing the light. One look into them made Klein feel fear; these were never the eyes of a teenager.
Klein suddenly realized: 'They are the visitors, and I am the Master!'. As soon as he thought of a palace, the gray fog began to swirl, causing Audrey and Alger to be shocked, while Fang Yuan's caution increased manifold.
In an instant, towering stone pillars and a massive dome appeared like a legendary palace of giants, with a long bronze table and high-backed chairs carved with star patterns. They all sat down, and Audrey looked around, murmuring: "How magnificent..."
"This is a wonderful experience... Yes, I have always hoped for something like this to happen. I mean—I love mysteries and supernatural miracles. No, my point is—what I mean is, Sir, what should I do to become a Beyonder?"
She felt more excited the more she spoke, to the point where she was stumbling over her words. The dream that had sprouted in her as a result of listening to the thrilling stories told by her elders finally saw the possibility of coming true. However, with just a few words, she had forgotten all her previous fears and horrors.
'Good question! And I would also like to know the answer...' Klein complained internally.
Alger studied the surrounding area, and after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly opened his mouth and answered Audrey's question instead of Klein: "Are you from Loen? If you want to become a Beyonder, join the churches... but most of us will not meet a Beyonder in our entire lives."
Klein listened intently while pretending to be indifferent, while Fang Yuan continued to gather information and observe Klein cautiously. Audrey said with a sigh: "I know about the Nighthawks and others, but I don't want to lose my freedom. Are there no other solutions?"
After a silence, Alger offered two formulas for Sequence 9: "Sailor" and "Spectator." He explained the features of the Sailor and the abilities of the Spectator.
Here, Fang Yuan decided to speak: "I also have two formulas for Sequence 9 potions." This caught the attention of the three. Fang Yuan explained his first formula: Reader: They gain enhanced memory, understanding, and learning abilities, a wealth of knowledge, and the ability to use ritualistic magic. Marauder: Physical improvement, proficiency in short weapons, speed and agility of hands, superior observation ability, sensing valuables within 10 meters, and stealing targets without detection.
Then Fang Yuan continued: "But I advise you to choose the Spectator."
Audrey asked in confusion: "Why?"
Fang Yuan said: "I have the Sequence 8 and 7 formulas of the Spectator pathway."
Audrey was deeply astonished, while Alger felt shock and suspicion. Audrey turned to Alger and asked how to exchange, and he asked her for "Ghost Shark Blood." When she asked Fang Yuan for his price, he said: "I want 1500 Pounds for the Sequence 8 formula, as for Sequence 7, I will tell you when I know what I want."
Audrey agreed enthusiastically and asked how to guarantee the promise.
Alger said: "We can feel reassured under the supervision of the mysterious Mister." Audrey turned her body and looked at Klein seriously: "Sir, please be a witness to our exchange. Sir, how should we address you?"
Klein tapped his fingers on the bronze table, withdrew his right hand and placed it under his chin, then gave the pair a slight smile and spoke calmly: "You can call me... The Fool."
The simple answer quickly emerged, echoing across the grand hall and fading into the gray mist. However, the voice continued to resonate in the hearts of Audrey and Alger, stirring wave after wave of shock; they had never expected such a designation.
The moment Fang Yuan heard the name, his pupils contracted and his heart jolted violently. But before anyone could notice, he suppressed his thoughts with terrifying speed, his face returning to its usual calm as if nothing had happened at all.
After a few seconds of silence, Audrey stood up, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt, and bowed respectfully to "Klein": "Your Excellency, Mr. Fool, may I take the liberty of asking you to be the witness to our trade?"
"It is a small matter," Klein replied in a manner befitting his high position.
"It is an honor for us, Mr. Fool," Alger stood as well, bowing his back slightly with his right palm over his chest, while Fang Yuan merely lowered his head in silent respect. Klein lowered his right hand and smiled: "Continue."
Alger nodded and sat back before looking at Audrey and Fang Yuan: "If you can obtain the Ghost Shark's blood, have someone send it to the 'Warrior and Sea' bar on Balkan Street, White Rose section of Pritz Harbor. Tell Manager Williams that this is what the 'Captain' wants. Once I accept the receipt, will you give me an address to mail the potion formula to, or do you want me to tell you here directly?"
Audrey thought for a moment before saying with a smile: "I will choose the safest way. Let's do it here, though it will be a test of my memory." Suddenly, she turned to Fang Yuan, but before she could utter a word, Fang Yuan said with his usual coldness: "It is better to do this in the next meeting, after you have become a Beyonder."
Audrey felt a pang of disappointment but quickly shook it off; it was better not to become greedy. Since Mr. Fool had agreed to witness, it meant there would be a similar "gathering" next time. She suddenly turned her head toward Klein with sparkling eyes: "Mr. Fool, would you mind having a few more attempts like this?"
Alger listened to the suggestion calmly, tempted by it as well, and quickly added: "Mr. Fool, don't you find these 'gatherings' interesting? Although your powers exceed our imagination, there must be areas you do not fully comprehend. The young lady is of high status, the young man is clearly unique, and I also have experiences, means, and resources. Perhaps a day will come when we help you complete a trivial task that might be inconvenient for you."
Alger realized that Mr. Fool was in control, so it was best to reap benefits to compensate for his negative state. Audrey thought blankly: 'A young lady of high status... was my behavior that obvious?' But she quickly nodded: "Mr. Fool, I think it is an excellent suggestion, as long as this gathering becomes regular."
From the moment he heard the suggestion, Klein had been weighing the pros and cons. Gatherings meant learning the secrets of Beyonders, but they also meant the risk of exposing himself. "Indeed, there is no such thing as a free lunch..." Klein thought as he tapped the table with his finger, then made his decision:
"I am someone who likes fair and equal exchange. Your help will not go unrewarded. Every Monday at three in the afternoon, try to be alone. This is a form of agreement."
Audrey, seventeen years old, couldn't help but clench her fist excitedly in front of her chest and said with thrill: "Then, shall we give ourselves code names? We cannot use our real names."
Klein replied simply: "A good idea."
Audrey's mind began to brainstorm: "You are Mr. Fool from the Tarot cards, so we should be the same. I have decided, my name will be 'Justice'!" Then she looked boastfully at her two partners: "What about you two?"
Alger frowned slightly before relaxing: "The Hanged Man."
As for Fang Yuan, he thought for a while before choosing: "The Emperor."
"Alright, then we can be considered the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey said happily, then looked fearfully at Klein: "Would that be alright?"
Klein shook his head in amusement: "You may decide such trivial matters for yourselves."
Alger repeated the address to Audrey, who feared forgetting it, and then she asked curiously about the Tarot cards and whether Emperor Roselle invented them as a tool for predicting the future. Alger explained to her that divination stems from the self and that cards are merely symbolic tools. Klein listened carefully despite the throbbing headache that began to assail him.
Audrey added that she had heard Emperor Roselle created a set of secret cards containing a mysterious power, and she looked to Klein for an answer. Klein merely smiled, as if putting "The Hanged Man" to the test. Alger replied in a deep voice: "That is correct. It is said they contain the secrets of the twenty-two Divine Pathways."
At that moment, Klein's headache intensified, and he felt his connection to the mist scattering. He said in a deep voice: "Well, that will be all for today's meeting."
"By your will," the three bowed their heads respectfully.
As Klein cut the connection, he said with a smile: "Let us look forward to the next meeting."
The projections shattered, and the mist regained its silence, while Klein felt himself becoming heavy. He found himself standing in his apartment, looking at his pocket watch; not much time had passed. He sat in his chair rubbing his temples and muttered in Chinese: "Apparently, I won't be able to go back anytime soon..."
He sighed as he tried to clear his negative emotions and suddenly thought about the nature of what had happened: "People in different places discussing face-to-face and providing for each other's needs... Wasn't that a social networking site?" Klein burst out laughing at the thought before surrendering to the silence.
-------------
Those dark eyes opened in the gloom of the room, beholding the cracked ceiling and the scent of dampness that never left the place. Fang Yuan was still lying in the same position, but a cold truth had settled in his mind; what had been transported was not his body, but his soul.
"First the Weaver, and now the Fool..."
This kind of spiritual interference represented an existential threat in Fang Yuan's dictionary. He recalled the moments spent in that gray mist, wondering if "The Fool" was capable of reading his thoughts. He had exerted double the effort to suppress any stray thought, fortifying his mind.
He realized at that moment that the "Marauder" pathway might not be a sufficient shield; it would not show its true effectiveness against an entity like The Fool except in the higher sequences. He had to search for a pathway that repels spiritual influences, and quickly.
His fingers clenched around the cold necklace around his neck, then he slowly sat on the edge of the bed. He moved toward the wooden table and lit the oil lamp, the pale light casting dancing shadows on his face, which looked like a rigid mask.
Fang Yuan began arranging the chess pieces he had:
"Justice": A daughter of a noble family from the heart of the capital, Luen. Her confident tone, her total lack of caution, and her naive enthusiasm for the supernatural made her, in his eyes, a "fat sheep" easy to manipulate. She is not just a member, but the easiest financial and informational source in this club.
"The Hanged Man": A wolf with field experience, perhaps a captain or a seasoned official Beyonder. His caution toward The Fool was palpable, but he clearly sought to exploit the situation for his own goals. He represents the practical and dangerous side of the gathering.
"The Fool": The grand enigma.
Fang Yuan stopped moving for a second. "The Fool"? "Justice" or "The Hanged Man" might not realize the weight of this name, but Fang Yuan realizes it is the name of a Sequence 0 entity. Is he an ancient being who has just awakened? And what was the reason for his agreement to meet with such ease?
Despite his pretense of indifference and absolute sovereignty, Fang Yuan's senses told him there was something "not right" about this entity.
His choice of the name "The Emperor" was not mere passing vanity, but a foundation stone he laid to ensure an unshakeable position among these strangers. His offering of Beyonder formulas (Sequence 7 and 8) was not generosity, but a "bait" whose price was reserved in advance: the seat of sovereignty and prestige in that club before the actual meeting even began.
Fang Yuan pulled out the "Glass Eye" and placed it before him, beginning to contemplate it. He had planned to sell it, but there were many risks. He took out an old paper calendar, drew a red circle around the coming Monday, and wrote beside it in a bold, sharp script a single number: "500."
This was the urgent financial goal. Power, the potion, and money; a trinity he could not move without.
He extinguished the oil lamp, letting the darkness return and envelop the dilapidated room once more. Fang Yuan stood before the window, watching the police patrol pass in the alley below with rhythmic steps. He took out his pocket watch, adjusted it precisely to the beat of their footsteps, then put on his shabby coat.
Despite the clarity of the plan in his mind, he decided to get some rest. Because he had been planning since the moment of his birth without pause. He lay down in silence, waiting for the moment he would begin executing his plans.