Noticing someone appear behind him, Mozo immediately turned around, intending to relay his message to Miss Knight's messenger.
But the moment he looked back, he froze.
The spirit-world messenger before him was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her crimson hair carried an indescribable charm. Her facial features looked like a masterpiece crafted by the gods themselves. Her figure and bearing were equally flawless.
Even someone like Mozo, who had seen his fair share of beauties, couldn't help but subconsciously admire her.
What made him freeze, however, was not her beauty.
It was because he recognized her.
According to legend, the Storm King, ruler of the skies and seas, had four angels personally assigned by the Goddess as his eternal guardians.
Among them, the leader was known as the Valkyrie, the Crimson Angel, Ophelia.
Ophelia had once been the Ocean Goddess's most outstanding and trusted warrior. She possessed remarkable achievements and overwhelming combat power.
Though only a Sequence One angel, she had been granted the title of Valkyrie by the world itself. That alone spoke volumes.
After the Goddess gave her heart to the Storm King, she bestowed her most exceptional angel upon him, making Ophelia both his shield and spear.
Under the Storm King's command, Ophelia continued to achieve glorious victories.
Until the Ancient Dragon War, where she vanished alongside her king, disappearing from history.
The world, and even the Goddess herself, had long concluded that Valkyrie Ophelia was dead.
And yet now…
Mozo was seeing her again.
Countless emotions surged through his mind. Shock, joy, unease, and a faint sense of dread for what lay ahead.
But above all else, there was relief.
Relief that someone he once knew was still here.
However, that feeling did not last long.
Mozo soon frowned as he looked into Ophelia's eyes.
They were beautiful enough to outshine any gemstone.
But they lacked the most important thing.
Life.
They were exquisite, yet empty.
Stunned, Mozo waved a hand in front of her eyes.
There was no response.
Slowly, Mozo sank down onto the ground.
There was no need for further testing.
What stood before him was nothing more than a shell.
The most essential part of a complete being, the soul, was entirely absent.
For a moment, Mozo didn't even know how to speak, or what to do next.
He had met someone from the past again…
Only to face such a cruel ending.
But while Mozo remained still, Ophelia, no… the messenger, moved.
Her movements were slightly stiff as she walked up to him and slowly extended her pale, jade-like hand.
For a brief moment, Mozo felt a flicker of hope.
He thought she might remember him.
But that hope quickly faded into a bitter smile.
This wasn't recognition.
A being's emotions, memories, and identity all resided in the soul, not the body.
Without a soul, everything was gone.
What remained was nothing more than a delicate puppet, acting on residual instincts.
She was not Ophelia.
She was merely a spirit-world entity wearing Ophelia's face.
Naturally, such a puppet would not remember him.
Her outstretched hand was simply asking for the coin required for her summoning.
After a quiet sigh, Mozo placed a gold coin into her palm.
Then, under her unresponsive gaze, he slowly explained his request.
When he finished, he said softly,
"You may return. I have nothing else to ask."
The messenger gave a slight nod and stepped into the shimmering rift.
Not long after, she emerged again.
With a raised hand, she manifested a projection of Miss Knight.
The projection spoke,
"I understand the situation. I will immediately notify the Inspectorate. Please remain where you are for now. I will arrive with support as soon as possible."
The projection faded.
After collecting another coin, the messenger departed, returning to the spirit world.
At the border between the wealthy district and the slums, inside a standalone house.
Audrey stood trembling in the corner, shaking uncontrollably.
It wasn't that she didn't want to run or resist.
It was simply that the situation before her had already exceeded everything she could bear.
She couldn't understand how her ordinary life had suddenly turned into a nightmare.
When Mozo had gone to the ruins in the Old District, Audrey had received a message from White Dove.
It claimed there was an urgent matter requiring their presence here, with generous compensation promised.
White Dove had always been reliable.
And over the years, aside from those who used Tarot card names, nothing had ever gone wrong.
So Audrey had come without hesitation.
The moment she stepped inside the house, she lost all ability to move.
The other members of the gathering, except for Mozo who was unreachable due to the ruins, had all fallen into the same state.
Unable to move even a single inch.
Then, before their terrified eyes, a man stepped out from the shadows.
Half of his face was that of a handsome man.
The other half was a grotesque, green-haired monster.
With a snap of his fingers, Audrey and the others were forced to walk into a large room.
Then, in a way completely impossible under normal circumstances, they sat in a circle without chairs.
Another snap.
And to Audrey's horror, her companions began to speak.
Their faces were filled with fear.
But their tones were relaxed. Casual. Even teasing.
They talked about trivial matters from past gatherings.
At first, no one understood what was happening.
Until White Dove suddenly spoke.
"Newcomer, give yourself a codename. It'll make things easier for everyone. I'm White Dove. The one beside you is Rose. To your left is…"
Only then did Audrey realize.
They were recreating the scene of Mozo joining the gathering.
Before she could think further, her own mouth opened against her will.
And in Mozo's voice, she said:
"Call me… the Fool."