No oil? Is it simply that it hasn't been found yet due to certain reasons, or is there truly no oil at all? For over one hundred and fifty years, since the assassination of Emperor Rosel, there has been not a single trace of oil appearing—still not a single mention. Klein's pupils contracted, and his hand, gripping the journal, nearly trembled. Without oil, not only would internal combustion engines remain a mystery, but the chemical industry would stall as well, preventing the establishment of true modern industrial systems on Earth! In other words, the course of development of this world in the coming years was something Klein had not anticipated. His original plan had been that, though he only understood a little about everything and could not personally engage in invention or creation, he possessed a broad awareness of various fields, enabling him to foresee the direction of change and the trends of the times. Once he had saved enough money and accumulated his first fortune, he would make risk investments in promising industries, never putting all his eggs in one basket. Klein felt that sooner or later, he would amass a substantial fortune. Then, he would appoint the white-gloved man as his official representative and establish an international charitable fund—publicly alleviating poverty, while secretly supporting labor movements across nations, thus engaging in strategic competition with the upper echelons of society to improve the lives of the underprivileged. Should he find a way to return to Earth, he would divide his assets equally: one-third to Bensen, one-third to Melissa, and one-third to his own foundation. Yet, unfortunately, just now, half of his vision for the future had been shattered. "Good news—good news, this world still has electricity and magnetism, and successful telegraph cases. I'll focus my investments in this direction..." Klein steadied himself, his eyes scanning down line by line: "On December 21st, let's set aside oil for now. Raising my sequence level is the real path forward." "On the 22nd of December, the environment in the old city district was so unsanitary that it was unbearable. Had it not been for my personal visit, I might never have realized it still retained the appearance I remembered from my youth. I shall convene my ministers and establish a 'Capital Sewer and Public Toilet Improvement Plan.' Yes, I also need to correct the residents' outdated habits—encourage them to boil water and drink it, wash their hands, face, and avoid littering, defecate and urinate in designated places, and make use of condoms. Ha! Now I know exactly how to name this initiative—the Patriotic Sanitation Movement! Klein saw this and suddenly realized that what was below had vanished—his feelings were utterly overwhelming: "Great Emperor, what is the name of that ancient, secret organization that has been quietly shaping the course of world affairs? Is it one I simply haven't heard of?" "Why have you stopped here? Why not add a few more sentences?" "This is exactly like reading a novel and reaching the end only to find the author has left it unfinished..." "And the Patriotic Sanitation Movement—Emperor, you're clearly a master of such things." "The content of this page should date from after he became the Chief Executive of the Inthess Republic—perhaps even styling himself as Caesar." "I need to go back and consult my books, check foreign history textbooks, and find out in which year Inthess launched its 'Capital Sewer and Public Toilet Improvement Program.'" After a silence of several seconds, Klein gathered his thoughts and allowed the journal to fade from his hands: "Now you may speak to one another. Audrey exhaled, settled into her role as an observer, and smiled gently. "I'd like to know if the sequence potion is named 'The Arbiter,' and also, which extraordinary being can pass directly through the wooden door—or even render the locked door ineffective?" I know that...克莱恩, still veiled in gray-white mist, was about to speak when the Inverted Man interrupted. "I need you to investigate a matter in return for your answer." "What matter?" Audrey asked, clearly intrigued yet puzzled. Aljer glanced at the Fool, then said thoughtfully, "I'd like to know whether the King intends to retaliate against the Fsaq Empire either this year or by June next, by launching a new war along the Bayland coast." The current common language of "The Tarot" is Rûn, established based on the accents of the three parties during their first gathering. Thus, Aljer knows that Miss Justice is a noble of the Kingdom of Rûn, and he also believes that Miss Justice knows he is from Rûn. As for the Fool, Aljer believes that the Ruin characteristics He displays are merely a façade, a convenient one for communication. ——Since that ritual magic, Aljer has unconsciously begun using "He" to honor the Fool. Audrey recalled the various social encounters and conversations during this period, and nodded with a quiet sense of confidence: "There's no issue, but it will require sufficient time to confirm." "I can wait," Aljer, the Hanged Man, smiled. "With the Fool here as witness, I believe you won't fail to keep your promise." Audrey glanced at the silent, enigmatic Fool veiled in gray mist, and smiled gently: "But I think the value of this matter exceeds the combined worth of the two questions I've asked." "Once you've confirmed the answer, I'll make appropriate compensation," Aljer replied, already prepared. Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man—do you need virtual currency to measure value? Kline leaned back, smiling, and gazed at the two. Audrey took a quiet breath, clapping herself mentally on the back. Wonderful! Audrey, you've learned to haggle! Excited, she almost lost her place in the audience and quickly found a random topic to ask about, "Ah, yes—Mr. The Hanged Man, did you receive the £1,000 cash?" "I'm sorry, I'm still at sea and haven't returned to land yet," Aljer replied without elaborating, directly addressing the previous question. "The extraordinary person who can pass through a wooden door and render it unlatched is likely a Sequence 9 'Apprentice.' The Secret Order, the Order of the Illuminates, holds the formula for that, though it's not impossible that they might have acquired it through another means—such as an ancient tomb from the Fourth Age." The Order of the Illuminates—the secret organization deeply connected to the sorceress's order... Caine idly stroked his chin with his finger. Seeing Master The Fool didn't object, Audrey couldn't help but remark, "If there had been a formula for the 'Apprentice' back then, perhaps I wouldn't have chosen 'The Audience'." That was absolutely outstanding! Aljer paid no attention to Miss Justice's words and continued speaking on his own: "Indeed, the name of the sequence potion is similar to 'Arbiter.' I believe you're quite familiar with it, as the sequence pathway jointly held by the Augustus family and the Castellia family of the Feneport Kingdom begins precisely with this. Of course, in ancient times, lower-level sequence recipes were often awarded as rewards—some noble families may have received them at one point." The Augustus family is the royal house of the Ruin Kingdom, while the Castellia family is the royal house of the Feneport Kingdom. "So the Augustus lineage begins with 'Arbiter'..." Audrey suddenly realized, as if a long-standing puzzle had finally been solved. She sighed silently: It was no wonder that, before them, I always felt the need to conform to the arrangements, always felt uneasy, always inclined to yield—always not truly myself! I still thought it was due to my own timidity... "The Arbitrator possesses a compelling charm, sufficient authority, and outstanding combat skills to handle unforeseen circumstances," Aljer succinctly described the situation. Audrey nodded slowly, leaning back gracefully, and then spoke with elegance: "I have no further questions." Aljer paused, then turned his gaze toward the bronze table's head: "Mr. The Fool, I would like to ask you one question—does the Aurora truly promote the divine creator, 'The Sanctuary,' as being the very same as the legendary 'Land Abandoned by the Gods'?" The Land Abandoned by the Gods? I've only encountered this term once in Roser's journal... Perhaps it appears in the Night Watch's confidential records, but it's not part of what I currently have access to... How am I supposed to answer? Kline nearly twitched at the corner of his mouth. After a few seconds of thought, he responded calmly and evenly: "This is not something you are meant to know yet." Aljer felt a tightening in his chest and immediately bowed: "Please forgive my slight overreach." Audrey had intended to ask about the "Land Abandoned by the Gods," but upon hearing this, she abandoned the thought. Within the grand temple rising above the gray mist, quiet and silence suddenly became the prevailing atmosphere. At this moment, Audrey felt she should have said something and thus opened her mouth: "Mr. The Fool, if I may, if I have the opportunity to join another organization—say, the Psychological Alchemy Society—would that be possible?" Klein remained in a relaxed posture, and smiled lightly: "There's no issue at all. My only request is that you never reveal the existence of the Tarot Society." "If you join another organization, the materials and intelligence you can offer will undoubtedly be enhanced." As he said this, he suddenly realized that he himself was a member of another organization—a true night watcher—and that The Hanged Man likely had some connection to the Church of the Storm's Sovereign. Could it be that my Tarot Society is precisely what they call the 'Betrayal Alliance'? Or perhaps the 'Second-Five Gathering'? Klein found himself deeply contemplating. "I understand now." "Audrey grew even more excited and then thought of a question, 'Sir Fool, if I discover a gentleman or lady suitable for the Tarot Circle, may I guide them to join? How should I go about guiding them?' Alje thought for a moment and then asked, 'Sir Fool, what are the criteria for new members joining our gathering? How should we determine that?' In his mind, the phrases 'having ideals, morality, culture, and discipline' instantly surfaced. He remained silent for a few seconds, his slight unease growing as Justice and the Temperance appeared to hesitate, before speaking, 'Those of you who feel someone is suitable—please let me know. I will decide whether they join. Until then, you must refrain from any subtle gestures or indications, for such actions would risk revealing the secret of the Tarot Circle. Remember, to members outside the gathering...'克莱恩 paused, speaking with solemnity, 'No one may mention my name without my permission.'