On the warm brown sheepskin paper, the Chinese script, slightly distorted and vigorous, reads: "August 2nd: This body of water is deeper than I imagined. History truly is a little girl who can be dressed any way you please." "August 5th: Today I witnessed the true strength of high-sequence beings—truly astonishing. They have undergone a qualitative transformation in certain aspects, now resembling deities. It's no wonder they've always been described as 'half-god, half-man.' I believe 'mythical beings' might be a more fitting term." "August 6th: Something puzzling—why do the seven churches treat potions so strangely? During the mid-to-low sequence stages, they not only supply key materials to those advancing in rank but also generously share recipes, demonstrate the process of preparing potions, and thoroughly explain any accompanying rituals. Yet, at the high-sequence level, they offer only finished potions." "This makes no logical sense. During the mid-to-lower sequence stages, when primary materials are relatively easy to source and the production process is fairly straightforward, shouldn't we keep the recipes confidential and simply prepare the potions on demand for the intended recipients? Shouldn't we, during the higher sequence stages—when primary materials become difficult to obtain—share the recipes so that promising members proactively seek them out?" "There must be a secret I haven't yet uncovered." "On August 9th, the recent events have left me feeling uneasy. The industrial revolution I personally initiated, the age of steam and machinery I personally forged—will it become the very cradle for the rise of the demonic deities?" What does that mean? The cradle for the rise of the demonic deities? Klein furrowed his brow, his index finger gently tapping the edge of the ancient long table. Is the 'Fool' facing difficulties? Something that can trouble him must involve a very high level of significance... Audrey gazed at the leader, enveloped in dense gray mist, interpreting from his body language the current state of his mind. Klein, indeed pondering deeper, high-level questions, found himself without answers and began considering the possibility of seeking guidance through divination: Hmm, with just such simple, straightforward two sentences, it's impossible to derive substantial insights—after all, I'm not a seer. Could I even directly divinate the cradle of the chaotic deity? Feeling like I'm making a huge mistake… The demon gods might not be as terrifying as the eternal blazing sun, but their abilities could be more strange and unpredictable—perhaps they've already traced me down through a series of connections. And there's no way to gauge the level of danger such an attempt poses, because once the divine realm is involved, the very act of attempting a divination becomes dangerous in itself. Keep this in mind, observe closely, and think deeply. Regarding the potion matter, the Church's arrangements do seem rather odd—there's clearly something hidden beneath the surface. Maybe once "the seer," no, "the necromancer" Daili, becomes a cardinal or a senior steward and enters the Church's inner circle, I'll begin to receive clearer hints. Rosalie truly makes one long for the grace and presence of high-tier champions. A cascade of thoughts passing through his mind, Caine paused his gentle tapping along the edge of the ancient long table and glanced at the cards representing "Justice," "The Hanged Man," and "The Sun." "You may now freely exchange your thoughts." "Aljer spoke immediately: 'Mr. Fool, Miss Justice, I've just received new intelligence: Admiral Zinglars has entered Beckett to accomplish a challenging mission. He may stay there for an extended period and even commit a shocking series of tragedies. Furthermore, I know that this matter involves a particularly significant item—one that will enable Zinglars to swiftly ascend to a high-tier powerhouse.' "Of course, these are all my speculations, based on the intelligence I've received: Zinglungs believes that once he completes his commission and secures the item, he will soon be able to stand alongside the 'Five Kings of the Seas,' such as Nastor, elevating the four pirate kings to five and reducing the seven pirate generals down to six." "Ordinary people might not be aware of this, but as extraordinary beings, we should all know that the 'Four Kings of the Seas' are either inherently high-tier powerhouses or, through the combined strength of their extraordinary ships and magical artifacts, achieve high-tier combat capabilities. For Zinglungs to gain recognition and be considered equal to them, he must likewise possess a comparable level of strength—thus, my reasoning." I only know that Nastor, the 'Five King of the Seas,' is a Tier 4-tiered powerhouse; I'm not certain of his specific magical formula. Klein listened quietly, without immediately expressing an opinion. Derek Berg, known as the Sun, though entirely baffled by the events described in the image of the Empress, and completely unaware of who was who, listened intently, feeling as though a new door had been revealed before him. Pirates? Did they live in a world where the sea—the very sea described in books—existed? That seemed so different from the environment surrounding the City of Silver. They appeared never to worry about curses or invasions by dark entities. What a fascinating contrast. Ah, the Fool had reminded him not to ask others about their secrets, for that would be impolite. Derek silently pondered, carefully observing the Empress and the Justice. "Your interpretation is quite reasonable," said Justice Audrey with a gentle smile, "though it's also possible that this could be a truly remarkable artifact, one that rivals even the mightiest of high-tier beings." The Hangar Man glanced at the Fool, who stood high above the thick gray mist, paused, and then looked at Justice, emphasizing: "My earlier description had two key points: first, Zilings will remain in Beckland for a long time, and second, there's an important—possibly even magical—item involved." So, Sir Fool, don't you feel drawn to this? You have ample time for your followers to journey to Beckland... Aljere silently added this to his thoughts, yet hesitated to say it directly, only gently nodding. Sir Hangar Man, you needn't repeat yourself—I understand what you're trying to convey... but my current strength doesn't allow me to become involved in this matter, and I also can't leave Tingen without permission... Klein leaned back against the chair, thinking with a sense of quiet resignation. As for the ones who are not particularly strong, I actually have two fairly capable extraordinary individuals who could assist me... One is Daili, who has already reached Sequence 6. However, I wouldn't be able to explain all the details to her—only mention the latest intelligence that "Admiral of the Storm" Qilinggs has infiltrated Beckland and is now residing at a certain street, with plans to carry out certain actions. With that information, Daili would likely immediately mobilize the night watch forces, turning the situation into a significant mess and disruption. Should we still fail to find any support, then, I suppose we could try this approach—just to avoid a major catastrophe. The other is Mr. Azk, but I can't reveal the identity of "The Fool" to him. Without a sufficiently solid and legitimate reason, I wouldn't be able to involve him in Qilinggs' affairs. As these thoughts pass through my mind, Kline speaks calmly: "I understand." "Seeing that the fool still hadn't expressed an opinion and remained indifferent to Zhenlingzhi's matter," Tarot card "The Pendragon" Aljer sighed quietly, gathered himself, and began sharing with the "Justice" lady the findings from the past week. "Well, to sum up, we've initially narrowed down Zhenlingzhi's general area of activity and are now moving on to more detailed searches," Audrey began, briefly outlining the specifics, then spoke with the tone of someone undertaking something serious and important. "We need more intelligence—particularly about his hobbies and daily routines." Aljer recalled as he spoke: "He particularly enjoyed eating fish, especially sea fish, sliced and eaten raw..." "He favored strong spirits, looking down on champagne and red wine..." "Once he landed on land, he always sought out women to satisfy his needs—his robust physique made it difficult for a single woman to keep up with him..." "He preferred cold weapons and was resistant to hot ones." "He has a hard time staying away from water for long periods—by my meaning, he needs to swim or dive every few days." Audrey remembered this detail, mentally sketching out and enriching the character named Zinglars. "I hope we're successful. Looking forward to working together." After listening quietly, she offered a gentle smile. "Looking forward to working together." Alger could only force himself to believe in the dynamic 'Justice' lady who was clearly making waves in Beckettland. During their conversation, Caine appeared to be listening attentively, yet his mind was drifting to an earlier question: how, if the 'Sun' wished to obtain materials, would it compensate the provider? Having only a modest grasp of mysticism, he instinctively turned to ritual magic as a means of problem-solving—a pattern that had gradually solidified through prior successes. “…Previously, while reviewing internal records of the night shift, I came across references to the goddess bestowing sacred gifts upon her devotees. Hmm, in many rituals involving chthonic deities and demons, there are also descriptions of objects appearing spontaneously… Does this mean that, when responding to a devotee’s request, I can ‘bestow’ them with tangible items, thus fulfilling my material obligations?” “Until now, my attempts have only allowed me to respond to intentions that include images and sounds. But this doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll remain limited to such responses. Once I reach Sequence 8 and stabilize, there may well be new developments.” “Additionally, there’s one crucial point: Can I bring real materials or physical objects into the realm above the mist? Hmm… Wait—ah, yes! In rituals involving chthonic deities and demons, there’s often a ‘sacrificial’ component. Perhaps I could consider offering something of mine as a personal sacrifice.” "Then perhaps we can truly bring real materials and objects into the mist above..." "If this effort succeeds, I will be able to directly draw materials and items from 'Justice,' 'The Sun,' and 'The Hanged Man,' and then bestow them upon myself." "Indeed, 'sacrifice' is a more advanced ritual—I haven't yet reached that level." "Right now, the most important thing is to swiftly enhance myself!" Klein returned to his thoughts, maintaining his composed demeanor as he listened to the three members discussing everything from the matter of Zhilinggs to the characteristics of certain monsters. After a while, he smiled and said: "Let's conclude for today." "Accorded to your wishes," responded both "The Sun," Drik, and "Justice" and "The Hanged Man," rising simultaneously. After severing contact with the three members, Klein swiftly descended into the mist and departed from that enigmatic space. Back in the bedroom, he removed the spiritual barrier, pulled aside the curtain of the bulging window, letting the outdoor sunlight stream in. "This week has two major developments: first, passing the assessment and advancing to Sequence 8, and second, creating the 'Yang-Flame Seal'—its power will even surpass that of Sequence 7 and Sequence 6." Klein gazed out at the street, thinking with growing anticipation, "Tomorrow, tomorrow I should receive the report on the supernatural incidents prepared by Mr. Azk!"