The "Moon" Emlyn, now being watched by a stream of eyes, felt a bit overwhelmed, vaguely realizing he must have asked something inappropriate. What was it—wasn't there room for a bloodline friend? Should he explain? No, what was so special about the bloodline? He was a bloodline himself! There was nothing to be ashamed of. The bloodline had a long history, a long lifespan, accumulated great wealth, and was a noble race. You weren't exactly outstanding either—just now, the items traded were at most sequence 6 level! As his thoughts flickered and shifted, Emlyn Whitely raised his chin with pride and added, "Yes, I am a true-blooded bloodline member." No one had asked him that—so the "Moon" gentleman seemed a bit uneasy, reacting with some urgency. Odile, the embodiment of justice, observed Emlyn's demeanor closely. Indeed, you are of the Bloodline... "The Magician" Fols said curiously: "Master of the Moon, have your Bloodline adopted the ranks of duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron—like humans—so as to denote different levels and standings among the powerful?" "No, it is *you* humans who have borrowed our system!" Emlyn sat up straightaway. "Even before the Great Cataclysm, even during the Second Age, our Bloodline already had such hierarchical ranks. The young Bloodline members who had not yet fully mastered their powers were considered junior; I, as a mature one, would attain the rank of baron upon reaching the next level. Then, progressively upward—through viscount, count, marquis, and finally duke. Above duke were the Queen and the Prince. At that time, your human civilization was still under the rule of the Giants and had no possibility of inventing such a system!" As he finished speaking, the "Sun" Dric beside him exclaimed immediately: "There is no record of such a system in the history of our Silver City." "The division among the vampires is marked by the emergence of the 'Tabula Rasa.' Before that, it was quite vague—limited to titles such as clan elders or regional leaders—with the highest rank being Lilith, the Primordial. Afterward, the system became strictly aligned with the magical potion hierarchy, with specific sequences assigned to each rank." Emlyn, known as "The Moon," responded with disdain: "Our vampire history is written over centuries of long lives—it cannot be overturned by a haphazard account from a modest city like Silver City." Wait—Silver City is always mentioned. Where exactly is it located? I've never heard of it before... After finishing his rebuttal, Emlyn realized he had overlooked a crucial point. "Our Silver City does not fabricate history," Deryck, known as "The Sun," emphasized with a touch of frustration. "Our records stem from verifiable ancient texts or ruins of other city-states." If no one intervenes, I think they'll keep arguing over this issue until the gathering ends… Though the little "Sun" is honest, sincere, and reserved, he is also quite tenacious and persistent, while the "Moon" gentleman seems particularly invested in the history of the bloodline. "Justice" Audrey observes with keen interest the usual patterns of the "clairvoyant." At this moment, "Temperance" Aljer interrupts the discussion between the "Sun" and the "Moon": "I know exactly how the bloodline can strengthen its power." Emlyn immediately shifts his focus: "Um, Mr. Temperance, what would you like in return? I could offer some of the bloodline's lost histories in exchange." "Temperance" Aljer smiles warmly: "No, we're all members of the Tarot Circle—this kind of information exchange is free." Mr. Temperance truly is generous and noble… Emlyn makes an initial assessment in his mind: "Thank you for your kind offer." "Algier thought for two seconds and said: 'The vampire house can also achieve advancement through the consumption of magic potions, but only the specific, correct kind. Within the various churches, certain experiments have been conducted, proving this method viable; however, I'm unable to access the detailed records.' 'But the primary ingredients of those potions are actually my own kin!' objected Emlyn, the 'Moon.' 'The 'Hanged Man' smiled and remarked: 'Never speak of absolute certainty. For instance, I have a clue to a noble vampire's inherited traits—his death occurred suddenly during a conflict, leaving no time to appoint a successor. With the potion method, you can receive this inheritance, preserving the vampire strength without loss.' This was an item belonging to a sea-dwelling pirate that Algier knew well. Due to uncertainty about the corresponding sequence or specific potion, it had remained unsold. The newly established 'Craftsman' channel showed little interest in it either." "Inheriting the legacy through the method of potions, without letting the strength of the bloodline fade away..." Suddenly, Emlyn found himself convinced that the "Hanged Man" made excellent sense, and so he changed his question: "What sacrifice will be required?" The "Hanged Man" Aljer chuckled warmly: "Between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds. The exact figure will depend on whom I finally meet." He hadn't yet spoken with the great sea-dweller, but he was certain that, as long as the price wasn't unreasonable, the pirate would accept it—since for pirates, selling meant earning, and they didn't typically have much capital. "Five thousand pounds?" Emlyn, known as "The Moon," exclaimed in surprise. With such a sum, I could easily bring home several dolls I've long admired, and even furnish each one with a fresh set of clothes! Emlyn's first instinct was to walk away from this deal, yet then he recalled the favor shown by the ancient lineage, the glory of the bloodline, and his own role as a savior of his people—leaving him deeply uncertain. Alger didn't press, merely smiled lightly. "I know this is a difficult decision—you can take your time, no need to rush." "Good," Emlyn exhaled. "Mr. The Turned One truly is...” "Justice," Audrey murmured to herself, then turned to Emlyn, looking at the others. "Ladies and gentlemen, do you have any news about the fruit of the Elder Tree and the Mirror Dragon's blood?" "Yes," Emlyn answered without hesitation. Having once earned a good profit by procuring rare materials for a distinguished detective, he had always remained attentive to such updates during each bloodline gathering. Before Audrey could even ask with evident delight, he continued: "The fruit of the Elder Tree is priced between 600 and 700 pounds, and the Mirror Dragon's blood is no more than 100 pounds. I can't recall the exact amounts, though." "He accurately reported the seller's listed price, then calmly added, 'But you'll also have to pay me an additional 50 pounds—no, 100 pounds—for the service. As you know, I have to bear the risk and the time commitment.' This is the way Emlyn learned from Sherlock Moriarty, and he found it both fair and sensible, since intermediaries do need compensation! 'Deal!' The moment the other party finished speaking, Audrey happily accepted. She knew she could negotiate, but felt it unnecessary, fearing that doing so might upset the other party and jeopardize the transaction. For me, the most important thing is the promotion sequence 7—Rossel the Great once said, 'Any problem that can be solved with money isn't really a problem.' Audrey's recent mood of contemplation has begun to improve. After the New Year's ball, she received full control over her own 400,000-pound estate, though she will need to hire several accountants and managers sent by her father." At the same time, the jewels, horses, hounds, paintings, and other gifts she received totaled over twenty thousand pounds, most of them coming from her mother, her two elder brothers, and other members of the Hall family. As for cash, however, it was rather modest—only five thousand pounds. The contributions she made during the great smog crisis in Beckland, which she had requested to keep private, went unacknowledged in terms of rewards; instead, they were converted into political capital for the Earl of Hall. As a result, the distinguished noble and banker pledged that any expenses his young angel might incur in the field of mysticism could be covered at his own expense. Of course, Audrey was not yet ready to reveal her ambition to reach Sequence 7, and thus had to rely on her savings and personal funds. Well, she could settle the final balance due to Grelint this month, and by next month she would be able to pay the 2,000 pounds owed to the followers of the "Ace of Pentacles"—a rather manageable sum. Audrey thought with a pleasant sense of ease. …so well off, isn’t he? “Moon” Emlin almost failed to respond, and then asked with curiosity, “How exactly shall we complete the transaction?” Audrey smiled lightly and explained, “By offering a sacrifice to Mr. The Fool.” She proactively secured The Fool’s agreement and manifested the corresponding ritual requirements. Upon receiving the two sheets of parchment, Emlin was left stunned—this mode of transaction far exceeded his expectations. Only now did he truly grasp how the Tarot Society differed from ordinary secret organizations. Watching the members carry out their exchanges, Caine felt deeply satisfied, as over time the Society’s networks and resources had grown increasingly extensive, making it easier for each member to achieve their individual goals. They no longer constantly voiced needs that went unanswered. The "Justice" lady, representing the Psychological Alchemy Circle, the Roon noble circles, and financial power; the "Hanged Man" gentleman, representing the Storm Church and maritime resources; the small "Sun" representing the forsaken lands and Silver City, embodying the Abraham family and certain middle- and lower-tier extraordinary individuals from Beckland; and the "Moon," representing the vampire lineage—these figures are steadily enhancing the Tarot Society's capabilities in resource and intelligence exchange. They're all on the verge of promotion. While thinking this, Caine gently manipulated the "World" card, its voice now hoarse, saying: "I have a lead from a trait inherited by my 'psychologist' friend. Would the 'Justice' lady still need it?" Caine had refrained from competing with Emlyn earlier because he knew the 'Justice' lady maintained a pet of the same path, ensuring no items would go unsold. "Of course," Audrey replied without hesitation. Her idea was simple: if an enemy launched an attack, relying solely on herself might not be enough. Adding someone unexpected—someone like Suzy—would be even more effective. "This will take some time," the "World" murmured, "perhaps a month, or even two." "No problem," Audrey said, completely at ease. She knew Suzy had not yet fully absorbed the "mind-reading" potion. Relief settled in— the deal was final. Now, she just hoped Suzy could soon free herself from the "psychologist." The "Justice" lady hadn't asked about the price at all. In her mind, with the " Fool" overseeing things, the price wouldn't be unreasonable, and as long as it wasn't, she could accept it. Her financial situation had improved significantly lately. Klein then asked the "World" to look at the "Hanged Man," and smiled softly. "Would you be interested in helping me sell one more item?" "At a minimum of 3,500 pounds, with a 15% commission." "Excellent cooperation." "Alchemist" Arjeh agreed first, then asked with genuine interest, "What kind of item?" He was quite curious about "World," always sensing that the other knew many things and had plenty of valuable offerings. "A unique trait left behind by a remarkable individual, equivalent to Sequence 6—primarily enables changes in appearance and physique, and comes with abilities such as combat and fire control. Of course, the specific effects will depend on the 'Craftsman's' vision and skill." "World" smiled lightly. Changing one's appearance and physique... that sounds wonderful... Both "Justice" Odile and "Magician" Folshe thought the same thing at once. The difference was that Folshe merely considered it, while Odile, her eyes shining, spoke up: "Mr. 'Pendulum,' may I reserve a magical item crafted by the 'Craftsman' using this trait? As long as the transformation of appearance remains effective!" With a magical item that doesn't have a severe negative effect, Dad would surely agree. Audrey added it to her mind with exceptional ease.