At one moment, Emlin White was stiff, mindless, as if a marble statue seated there. Then, the figure lounging in the thick gray mist asked calmly, "Why have you come to me?" Emlin's mind instantly buzzed, and he blurted out, "This is the revelation from the Primordial. It tells us, through dreams, that the End is approaching and we must prepare. And I—I am one of the key figures. My task is to pray to the 'Fool,' to you!" Hearing Emlin's detailed, unreserved response, Kline, who had been readying his follow-up questions, found himself at a loss—knowing exactly what Emlin White, the vampire, had already fully disclosed. The revelation from the Primordial... hadn't Lilith, the Ancient God, already fallen during the Second Age, or been reclaimed by the Creator long before the Great Cataclysm? Precisely for this reason, many vampires have attempted to appeal to the "Primordial Moon," only to suffer profoundly tragic outcomes... Moreover, the "Gate" gentleman mentioned that the "Moon" card was vacant. This suggests that the "Primordial Moon" is likely an embodiment of a deity or a high-ranking demon, and it also indirectly confirms that the ancient goddess Lilith has lost her position in the Sequence 0—typically, this is equivalent to death. At that moment, Caine instantly recalled relevant clues. He had originally assumed that the "Lilith" who responded to the vampires' petitions in specific circumstances was merely a relic of the ancient goddess—such as the "uniqueness" of the "Moon" path—resulting in a rigid, inflexible, passive, and highly constrained presence. Yet, the fact that she now actively offers insights has led him to reject this hypothesis. Two possibilities arise: either "Lilith" is actually a deity posing as such, strategically occupying key positions to block rivals seeking the throne of Sequence 0—the Moon pathway—thereby fundamentally not caring for the bloodline, offering insights merely as a test. Among these, the most suspicious is the goddess who seized the title of "Red Sovereign," yet she herself is already part of Sequence 0, corresponding to the "Star" card in the Card of Desecration. Why then does she still covet the Moon? To undermine her rivals' endeavors? "Secondly, the ancient deity does not grow rigid upon death; as long as no other powerful being ascends to become the Sequence 0 of the 'Moon' path, it will exist in a peculiar, incomprehensible manner, waiting for its moment of renewal—just as the 'Black Emperor' card describes. The goddess bestowing upon herself the title of 'Master of Crimson' may well be an effort to disrupt this very situation... According to this logic, Lilith's recent apocalyptic revelations represent the culmination of years of sustained efforts toward resurrection, and I, the 'Wanderer,' will play a pivotal role in her prophecies—thus, this could be considered a form of cooperative invitation. Yet, as a非凡 being of only Sequence 6, what can I offer to collaborate with an ancient deity that has not yet faded away? Could Emlyn White join the Tarot Circle?" The House of Blood is a race of long-lived beings, spanning from the Second Age to the present day—there must be many secrets they've preserved over the centuries… though, of course, uncovering them comes with significant risk. Perhaps we could simply consult a divination before each meeting to decide whether to summon Aelmin. "By the way, there's a similar apocalyptic prophecy in my notes on 'The Observations of the Spirit Realm,' attributed to 'The Golden Light' Winitan. He also notes that the curse upon the House of Abraham will be lifted by a 'student' who receives aid from a hidden presence—this fits remarkably well with the current state of the 'Magician' lady. She is indeed a student receiving help from me, the ' Fool.' That's quite intriguing. Are all the high seers who excel in prophecy seeing the inevitability of the end times, and also recognizing the presence and potential role of the 'Fool'? Thoughts flash through my mind, yet my expression remains unchanged. Leaning back against the chair, I speak calmly and gently: "What should your progenitor ask of me?" The calm tone brought Emlyn back from his stiff, bewildered state, where he could hardly remember what he was doing. He shook his head slightly, dazed: "I don't know..." At that moment,克莱恩 noticed the stars behind the chair where Emlyn was seated swiftly shifting and rapidly forming a symbol representing the "Red Moon." Indeed, the divine path corresponding to the ancient deity Lilith's lineage pointed toward "the Moon."克莱恩 chuckled softly: "With seven principal gods and so many hidden entities present, why did your ancestors believe I would be the key to the end times?" Emlyn White's demeanor, once that of the 'Fool,' finally settled, realizing he had truly encountered something extraordinary—being pulled into this magical realm by a hidden presence! He was the 'Fool'... And yet, He hadn't been angry. Was that because I represented the primordial ancestor? I, Emlin White, am indeed the special one, mentioned by the Primordial and granted the response of "The Fool"... As he thought this, Emlin sat up straighter, carefully choosing his words: "Respected Sir Fool, the revelation bestowed by the Primordial is this: I, Emlin White, shall become the key to saving the House of Blood and to overcoming the End Times—beginning with this very appeal to you." He meant to imply: the pivotal point of the End Times is not *you*, it's *me!* There's quite a "dramatic" side to this man... After all, he's always been rather arrogant, self-assured... Klein quietly tossed under a few phrases from past pop culture. He found himself chuckling as he said: "The same question: why me, rather than one of the Seven Deities or any other hidden entity?" "...I don't know," Emlin honestly shook his head. Klein thought for a moment, then deliberately said, "Actually, I believe I understand the meaning of your ancestors. They hope that, with my assistance, you will grow into a true high-ranking member and thus save the House of Blood when the end comes." "Growth?" Emlyn asked in wonder. "As you know, the House of Blood cannot grow on its own. We must receive gifts from elders and inherit traditions through special rites in order to advance in rank." Indeed, it was the same principle of the conservation of extraordinary characteristics... In other words, there must be another way—provided only that the fundamental laws are upheld. Klein chuckled. "Your own understanding has blinded you, preventing you from seeing the broader world beyond. Of course, I won't answer this question for you. The answer must come from you—my role is simply to offer you an opportunity." He paused, speaking with a gaze that seemed to look down upon him. "Do you wish for such an opportunity?" "Emlyn rose immediately to his feet and bowed, saying, "This is exactly what I wished for!" Hm. When faced with someone so hidden, where has your pride gone, and what remains but humility? Klein muttered under his breath, lightly tapping the edge of the weathered long table. "But you must abide by certain conditions." "I shall listen," Emlyn restrained his inner excitement. Klein smiled gently. "You must not reveal anything concerning me to anyone, unless granted my permission. This includes the bloodline present during the previous ritual." "But..." Emlyn found it hard to accept. Klein responded with calm, gentle inquiry. "Shouldn't Lilith have prevented you from reporting to anyone afterward?" It's already evident from the revelation—there was not even a prayer mentioned! Lilith... directly invoking the name of the Primordial... it sounds like an old friend. Emlyn's heart skipped a beat; he lowered his head. "None." Klein spoke calmly, with only slight inflections, smiling as he added: "This is a quiet, behind-the-scenes arrangement, which is why I responded only after you had turned away. Likewise, you need not report to Lilith—otherwise, certain people will notice." Seeing Emlyn nod with growing clarity, Klein added: "To become a key figure in saving the bloodline, one must endure corresponding thorns: lack of understanding, slander, and dismissal, always moving forward in darkness, bearing a heavy burden, silently and steadily." These targeted words instantly brought vivid images to Emlyn White's mind: himself, constantly mocked by his kin for his fondness of dolls; himself, lost and stumbling into the Harvest Church, leaving behind marks of shame; himself, never truly valued or recognized by elders, quietly serving the clan, guarding everyone, without ever being acknowledged. Moved deeply, Emlyn responded with respectful reverence: "Your will shall be fulfilled throughout the land." Klein leaned back, speaking softly and gently, as if the clouds were faint and the wind light: "I have approved the establishment of a secret gathering right here. Would you like to join it and seek ways to grow strong enough to save the bloodline?" "I would!" Emlyn answered without hesitation. Klein nodded with satisfaction. "Do you have any other requests?" Emlyn was filled with delight and quickly said, "Most noble Sir Fool, I would like to ask you to help me dissolve a psychological suggestion—this is a bishop from the Great Mother Goddess's Church..." "I know," Klein calmly interrupted his explanation. He knew... truly a hidden presence... Emlyn lowered his head again. Klein smiled gently and said, "I can assist you, but what would you like to offer in return?" Above the gray mist, he possessed an exceptionally strong spiritual sight, having just noticed that the deep,幽black psychological suggestion within Emlyn Whitelane's mind had already dissipated significantly, now thin and fragile. Originally,克莱恩had intended to follow the rituals outlined in The Book of Secrets to address this issue, but the current situation convinced him that a single mystical ritual, combined with the suppression of the "Black Emperor" card and the purifying effect of the "Sun Brooch," would be sufficient to completely dispel the psychological suggestion within Emlyn Whitelane. As for the cost? Emlyn pondered for a while but couldn't recall what specific element the enigmatic entity known as "The Fool" might be particularly interested in. Seeing this,克莱恩offered proactively, "I'm quite interested in certain aspects of your house's history—perhaps you could exchange with me on that." The history of the house? Emlyn thought briefly and agreed. "You can begin to formulate the content you'd like to share, hmm. But first, you'll need to select a designation from among these." Klein materialized the unselected Major Arcana cards on the bronze long table. Emlin White watched them carefully and remarked, "The Moon. I choose the 'Moon' card!"