Upon the undulating waves of the Sunya Sea, the "Ethereal Avenger" drifted like a leaf, occasionally lifted high and then rolled downward, yet showing no sign of capsizing. Algier Wilson stood in the captain's cabin, facing away from the shelves displaying red and white wine, and walked aimlessly. Finally, he bit his lip, returned firmly to the walnut desk, removed the brass sextant, pulled out paper and a pen, and bent down to sketch the intricate, enigmatic symbol given to him by "The Fool." Drawing upon the memory of a navigator, Algier swiftly completed the first step of the sacrificial rite. Next, he opened the drawer, took out candles, and arranged them according to the "dual method"—one placed atop the symbol formed by the fusion of "The Eye Without Pupils" and "The Twisted Line," and another positioned at the center, representing the sacrificer. After clearing away the clutter on the desk, "The Hangman" Alje gathered fresh water on his palm, wiped the altar thoroughly, and, with the ritual silver dagger, managed to create a sealed wall encircling the desk. Then he lit the two candles with his spiritual energy and stepped back a few paces in the soft, golden light. Inhaling deeply, Alje bowed his head and recited in ancient Hermes: "O fool of a time unmade! You are the sovereign of the mysterious mist above; You are the King of Yellow and Black, ruler of fortune. Your faithful servant beseeches your gaze; That you accept his offering; That you open the gates of your realm." ... This ancient incantation resonated within the spiritual wall, stirring a fierce, swirling wind and causing a tremor of natural forces. It was the oldest and most sacred language of human exceptionalists, rich in mystery, yet lacking sufficient protection for its practitioners. Alder endured a pain akin to his skin being scraped by a knife, pulling out a small brown glass bottle from his pocket, twisting off the lid, and pouring out a generous amount of particles resembling sesame seeds. These particles shimmered with a metallic luster, possessing an indescribable elegance. As the "Hanged Man" Alder scattered them into the wind, the gusts grew more vigorous yet less intense, each now tinged with either silver-white or deep black hues. As the winds of differing colors collided and merged, they surged into the candle flame symbolizing the "Card of the Fool," expanding and tearing open a phantom door of normal size—its surface inscribed with the very symbols Alder had just drawn. At that very moment, on the gray mist above, Caine watched as a hazy gate, one he had previously seen, materialized behind the high-backed chair, and felt the spiritual energy rippling outward, stimulating the mysterious space around him. It seemed possible... Suddenly, Caine felt a premonition and immediately extended his own spiritual essence, adding to the vibrations and stimulation. Clang! Within the somewhat unreal sound, the vast, hazy door slowly opened! In the captain's room, Algier suddenly saw a phantom door composed of wind and light unfold, behind it deep darkness, countless indescribable, nearly formless shadows, radiant streams of pure light carrying vast knowledge, a thick gray mist hovering above them, and an ancient palace gazing down upon the real world. In this scene, Algier could not help trembling—deep fear, an inexplicable excitement. He quickly reached for the seven-colored lizard brain pit he had prepared in advance, held it in both hands, lowered his head, and presented the object—this ever-shifting, palm-sized thing, with a soft, textured surface—to the phantom door. Within the brief suction that surged and then vanished, Aljer’s hands grew lighter, losing the subtle pricking sensation brought by the seven-colored lizard’s hypothalamus. He dared not lift his head until the low, resonant voice of the "Fool" continued to echo at his ear: "Very well done." "It is my honor," Aljer replied without hesitation. He turned his gaze forward again, and there, the ethereal gate had dissolved, the fierce wind ceased, and the candle flames returned to their original state. Following the standard ritual of extinguishing the candles, the "Hanged Man" Aljer sat down with a complex expression, murmuring silently: "Initially, one could only draw people into the world above the gray mist… then, after some time, one could hear prayers and respond to them… now, one can accept offerings and bestow gifts… Is it true that the 'Fool' is gradually overcoming his difficulties, inch by inch, delving deeper into the real world?" This observation and conclusion filled Aljer with both fear and concern, yet also with a quiet, hopeful anticipation. At the very least, I am a member of the Tarot Circle—the earliest member... He exhaled, as if in a sigh. The Emperor Roserel once said that when encountering important matters, one must remain calm... Audrey, come, take a deep breath... or go play with the dog? Though, Suzanne now speaks and thinks for herself—she's a creature of dignity and won't be treated casually. Audrey wanders off in thought, unconsciously kneading a delicate, elaborately dressed stuffed toy. After an indeterminate length of time, a thick gray mist suddenly rises before her, and deep within the mist stands a chair elevated high above. "The Fool" sits there, smiling and saying: "Madam Justice, your attempt has been successful. Are you ready with materials imbued with spirit?" Wonderful! Truly, the "Fool" is no ordinary man! Audrey sets aside "The Hangover," holding back her excitement and saying: "Yes, I've always had such materials at my side. Even before joining the Tarot Circle, Audrey had always done this, though at that time she wasn't clear about which materials counted as spiritually attuned—she simply kept gathering and transferring various incense and essential oil recipes from the family archives. Klein nodded gently. "When would you like to hold the ceremony?" "On the condition that no extraordinary beings are present." Did the extraordinary dog count? Audrey glanced nervously at the closed door. "I can do it now." Klein hummed in response. "The procedure will be the same as I described earlier, with one adjustment: the prayers should be revised to read: 'Your devoted servant asks for your gaze;' 'Asks for you to open the doors of the realm;' 'Asks for your strength.' Additionally, we'll use the dual-ritual method." Audrey recalled the details, holding back her urge to nod repeatedly, and began preparing for the ceremony. When the fantastical gate finally opened and the scene unfolding surpassed even the dreamiest of starry skies, Audrey felt her body and soul intoxicated. This is the mysterious world I have always sought—this is exactly the feeling I have always longed for! She sincerely praised the "Knight of Fools" for this moment. To the goddess, it was faith; to the "Knight of Fools," it was worship—Audrey quietly justified this to herself. Then, she was startled to see something new on the "altar," a soft, textured object constantly shifting in hue and bearing deep, flowing contours. "The pituitary gland of the seven-colored lizard dragon!" Audrey's heart leapt with joy, her eyes shining, and she reached forward to take it. Yet her sense of etiquette soon took over, and she once again offered a heartfelt tribute to the "Knight of Fools." After concluding the ceremony, she eagerly approached and carefully examined the extraordinary material five times. "Our Tarot Order stands one level above all other secret societies," Audrey thought to herself, feeling a quiet sense of pride. Then, she glanced warily toward the door, as if afraid Suzy might suddenly burst in. She was determined to press on, immediately preparing the potion and securing her promotion! A few minutes later, Odile held in her hands a liquid that shimmered continuously, as though it could reflect each person's innermost thoughts. With confidence, she drank the "Thought-Reader" potion and smoothly navigated the integration phase of her exceptional traits, achieving her promotion. The scene before her now seemed remarkably clearer, with additional depth and richness; Odile calmly gathered her dispersed spirit through meditation. Once her sequence stabilized, she smiled gently, her steps light and brisk, and walked toward the door, letting in the golden-haired hound. Suzy's dog, meanwhile, displayed a clear expression of suspicion. "You've taken longer than ever before," Suzy said, without hiding her thoughts. Audrey sat down on the soft bench, dryly smiled, and changed the subject: "Susie, what do you think—I should tell Hugh and Furse about something, without revealing myself, and at the same time spark their interest?" As she spoke, Audrey began to seriously ponder the task the Fool had entrusted her with. Then she looked at Susie, and Susie looked back at her—both woman and dog fell into thoughtful silence. Only at this point did Caine feel adequately prepared, and the East District left a lasting impression—most areas were similar to Tinggen's Lower Street, yet the scale seemed vastly broader. The residents' clothing, even if slightly worn, was generally respectable; many, however, were dressed in tattered garments, pale and emaciated, as though they might at any moment be reduced to beasts by hunger and poverty. Thus, in the East District, crime was rampant and organized gangs dominated. When Caine returned to Joewood, he felt as though he had stepped from hell into heaven. Over the next two days, he experimented with rituals and created seals using only his own spiritual essence, no longer seeking divine intercession, while waiting for the small advertisements to take effect and for clients to begin arriving. On a Thursday morning, Caine finally heard the sound of the doorbell ringing.