"Try?" Audrey brightened, nodding with grace and poise. "I'd be delighted to assist." As an observer, she clearly remembered that the Sir of "The Fool" had only used the word "try" twice: once when he drew himself and "The Hanged Man" into this mysterious space, and again when he offered his own name, inviting them both to attempt a prayer—both instances having been remarkably successful and revealing glimpses of His true nature. What would this try be now? How exciting! Audrey restrained her eager anticipation, striving to remain a proper observer. Try... The spirit of "The Hanged Man" Alje instantly stiffened, alert and cautious toward the Fool's proposal. What did He intend? What was His real purpose? Was this beneficial or detrimental to him? Thoughts surged and then receded, and in Alje's mind, the swift decay of Zingl's body as he fell in the midst of the storm came vividly to mind. In the end, he bowed his head and replied with deference, "Your wish is my hope." Beside him, Driek of the "Sun" glanced at the "Hanged Man," then at "Justice," puzzled as to why they were so sensitive to what was merely considered a "trial." Klein's fingers, lightly tapping the edge of the bronze table, paused, and smiled, "This trial will simplify and secure your transaction—and ensure sufficient confidentiality." He slightly tilted his head toward the "Hanged Man," speaking calmly, "Do you remember the sacrificial rite described by the 'Sun'?" By deliberately mentioning this, Klein aimed to demonstrate his integrity, making it difficult for the Tarot members to imagine that the sacrificial rite he was about to offer had originated from the "Sun's" description, or that he had initially devoted so much effort merely to secure a template for a sacrificial ritual. "Of course, I've also been involved in such matters on a regular basis." "Alger answered honestly, yet felt a growing sense of unease in his heart. With the orthodox deities rarely responding to such rituals in recent times, the word "sacrifice" has come to be associated almost exclusively with demons and infernal beings since the Fifth Age! The thought of potentially facing dreadful consequences made the "Hanged Man" feel as though he were walking on the edge of the abyss, just a stumble away from falling into it—being corroded, consumed. Without elaborating further, Kline simply nodded, as per the established plan: "My proposal is that you offer extraordinary materials through this ritual as a sacrifice to me, and in return, I will bestow upon the 'Justice' lady. This transaction benefits both of you." Can that really be it? Audrey was momentarily stunned, finding it far beyond her expectations. But soon she realized the advantages of this approach and grasped the profound essence of the divine beings hidden beneath its seemingly simple operations! What a wonderful man the " Fool" is! Indeed, our Tarot Circle is truly distinct from other secret organizations! We exchange goods and materials using the gods' method! Audrey nearly instinctively murmured a praise for "the goddess," but ultimately settled on praising "Mr. The Fool." Aljer grew ever more cautious, entering a state of calm reflection: "Respected Mr. The Fool, what should I do?" He sought to deduce the Fool's true intentions from the ritual's established procedures. After previous trials without using spiritually charged materials, Caine confirmed that his designed sacrifice ritual could create a phantom gateway above the gray mist—similar to a summoning gateway—though his own power still couldn't stabilize the channel, making it impossible to access the unique qualities of that mysterious realm above the mist and thus complete the sacrifice. Therefore, he was ninety percent confident the ritual would ultimately succeed. The only question remained: could ordinary spiritually infused materials build a stable channel, or would exceptionally rare materials—sufficiently rare—be required? Then, let the "Justice" lady and the "Hanged Man" gentleman bear the cost of this experiment... After all, they had known from the outset that the Tarot itself was a product of trial and experimentation, and that further trials were entirely foreseeable. And trials inevitably lead to failure—even for the gods. Caine decided to pass on the cost. As the cards "The Hangings," "Justice," and "The Sun" strive to remember that symbol, Caine chuckles softly and says, "Should you forget, simply ask me—and then you'll be able to 'remember' it again." "Excellent!" Audrey replies with bright enthusiasm. With Mr. The Fool here, the ritual isn't any longer tedious or complicated! She thinks with genuine delight. Seeing "The Hangings" nod in agreement, Caine continues: "Next, follow the usual procedure, but without the need to burn additional herbs or anoint with holy oil, nor do you need to select a specific time—merely reciting my name is sufficient." "Remember to recite it in ancient Hermes or Giant tongue, accompanied by the following prayer:" "I, your faithful servant, beg for your gaze;" "I beg that you accept my offering;" "I beg that you open the doors of the realm." "Upon completion of the recitation, combine the spiritually charged materials with the natural vibrations generated by the incantation and await my response." "Should this step fail, replace the spiritually charged materials with extraordinary ones and begin anew from the outset." The quiet figure of "The Hangman" Aljer listened attentively and felt his earlier conjectures likely close to the truth: "The Fool" is indeed in a certain predicament! Through a series of carefully designed, suggestive attempts, step by step, The Fool is gradually seeking to free himself—leveraging his own strength, supported by "Justice" and "The Sun"—with the hope of ultimately manifesting in the physical realm. This, in fact, is the true purpose behind His initial invitation to draw people into this mysterious space and His agreement to establish the Tarot Circle! Even without prior speculations, Aljer would have reached the same conclusion upon hearing this incremental, trial-based sacrificial ritual and comparing it with past efforts. The one thing he couldn't quite figure out was that the Sir of Fool had powerful followers who, quite frankly, didn't need him at all—his own followers could easily carry out similar efforts on their own. There must be a secret that I haven't yet discovered or even begun to suspect... The attempt had to be sufficiently concealed, while at the same time, his followers were being watched by certain entities? The Sir of Pendant, Aljer, found himself lost in thought. "I currently only have the extraordinary material known as the seven-colored lizard dragon pituitary gland. There are indeed many spiritually infused materials available... Mr. The Fool, once the gathering concludes, I will immediately attempt the first scenario. Should that fail, I will then gather additional extraordinary materials. Once I have made progress, I will inform you of my findings and propose a specific time." As Aljere spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Miss Justice. As an observer, Audrey instantly grasped his intent and responded without hesitation: "Should any additional extraordinary materials be required, I will compensate you afterward. Though, I cannot guarantee that they will be the specific materials you desire." Indeed, the well-off Miss Justice had proven herself adept. The "Fool" Kline, seated at the head of the bronze table, couldn't help but offer a quiet admiration and a gentle smile, declaring, "The transaction is finalized." Turning to Miss Justice, he paused and then said, "After Mr. The Hangover's attempt is successful, I will inform you of the ritual I have requested." "Understood!" Audrey had great confidence in the abilities of the "Knight of Cups." After finishing her response, she suddenly thought of something—perhaps the exchange of money could also be facilitated through this method, of course, provided the attempt succeeded. She wondered whether inanimate, spiritless objects might work... she would ask the "Knight of Cups" once the trial was successful. With a slight upward curve at the corners of her mouth, Audrey imagined the delightful scenarios ahead. As the conversation on sacrifice and bestowal came to a close, she paused for a few seconds before speaking again: "Sir Knight of Cups, I have discovered two women who would be excellent fits for our Tarot Circle. Both are exceptional individuals, each with their own circles and resources in Beckett, and both are trustworthy, possessing admirable personalities. Would you be willing to invite them to join our gatherings?" Did the "Justice" wish to strengthen their position within the Tarot Circle? That was the very first thought that came to the "Hanged Man" Aljir. Meanwhile, "The Sun" Deric found the idea particularly appealing and turned his gaze toward the "Knight of Cups," awaiting his response. Klein felt a slight sense of difficulty. In his original expectations, the members of the Tarot Circle should be strangers to one another, each then developing their own subordinates to form a relatively cohesive and well-structured organization. In such a setup, even if one member were exposed, captured, or revealed through spiritual communication, the overall impact on the Tarot Circle would be limited. Yet, just now, Miss Justice's description had precisely struck at his vulnerability—he had hoped to meet extraordinary individuals from different circles and with diverse resources in Beckland, in order to trace leads on the Confraternity and Larnus. Through Miss Justice, the others would inevitably remain cautious... but he wasn't certain whether simply reciting his name would be enough to draw them into the Gray Mist. To preserve his image, Klein didn't dwell on it too long and instead adopted a delaying strategy. He spoke calmly, "This will require some further investigation." "Madam Justice," Audrey exclaimed with excitement as her proposal began to gain traction, "you've subtly informed them of my name and piqued their interest without revealing yourself." After further exchange, the gathering concluded, and the figures of "The Sun," "The Hangman," and "Justice" returned to their respective places, while Crain remained atop the gray mist, awaiting the sacrifice.