Along the斑驳 ancient bronze long table, blurred figures stretched and solidified under the warm red glow, while the surroundings remained as quiet and vast as ever, as if untouched by any living being for thousands of years. "Good afternoon, Mr. The Fool~" Odile's cheerful and bright voice resonated throughout the grand palace supported by the towering stone pillars. Cain smiled and nodded, observing the members briefly exchanging greetings under Odile's guidance. Among them, Gauthier, the "Keeper," stood out as notably reserved—Odile sensed that he carried a significant weight of thoughts and concerns. When the voices had settled and the members were seated, Caine the Fool glanced briefly at the Lady of Justice, instantly clarifying his intent to the physician, who did not raise her hand slightly to speak first but stepped forward immediately. He then turned to Galadriya the Hidden, offering a casual, almost indifferent smile. "Tell Bernadette that she may exchange certain things for some answers." Upon hearing the familiar name—rather than "Mystic Queen," "Master of the Dawn," or "Leader of the Elements"—Galadriya understood at once that Caine the Fool had already grasped everything, that she had been entirely transparent in her thoughts and intentions. It was now clear that nothing had escaped His awareness. This deepened her sense of weight, and a profound sense of fear began to rise within her, so strong that for a moment she found herself at a loss, unsure of how to respond—what tone or words to adopt. In her view, the true meaning of the "Knight of Cups"' words was that he had to convey this very message—yet could convey only this one message, nothing more, not even a hint! What the unspoken implication pointed to, she was certain she understood. Bernadette? That was a common Inters female name—so who could it be? What did she hope to gain in return? And what was the relationship between her and the "Hermit" lady? The "Hermit" lady had privately requested something, and the "Knight of Cups" had responded with a simple "yes"? No—definitely not. If it were a private, reasonable request, the "Knight of Cups" would not have特意 mentioned it in front of us, but rather responded directly when the "Hermit" lady made her plea…He was, in fact, issuing a warning. "Justice" Audrey had momentarily forgotten to observe the other members, but then, through the sharp awareness afforded by the "Audience" perspective, she grasped the "Knight of Cups"' true intention. Immediately, she had a few clear ideas. "The 'Hermit' lady subtly conveyed some details about our Tarot Circle to Madame Bernadette, since she longed for answers... The 'Wanderer' gentleman, however, was not too pleased and thus directly brought up the matter, giving the newcomer a clear warning. 'Really! How could one reveal the details of the gathering to others? I didn't even tell Susie! This would surely put everyone at risk—thank goodness for the 'Wanderer' gentleman!' Audrey nearly forgot her sense of etiquette, puffing out her cheeks. For the first time, she realized that not all members of the Tarot Circle shared her deep sense of belonging or held the same strong faith in the 'Wanderer' gentleman." The same questions and speculations linger in the minds of Alje, the "Hanged Man," Fols, the "Magician," and Emlin, the "Moon," though their areas of focus differ: Alje, while eagerly anticipating what the "Emperor" might do next, is deeply pondering the significance of the common Intis woman's name, Bernadette—whom exactly she represents, and why the contemplative "Wanderer" would risk revealing even a hint of the Tarot's secrets; Fols, simultaneously worried about the Tarot's existence being exposed, has already conceived a vivid tale of espionage and counter-espionage in an instant; Emlin watches with satisfaction, finding the "Wanderer" utterly foolish. After all, even our bloodline's founding ancestor treats the "Emperor" with equal regard, dispatching me as a special envoy to be trained—how dare you, a mere half-god, attempt subtle maneuvers in the presence of the "Emperor," as if you were short on life? Indeed, I couldn't grasp certain ideas of the short-lived ones. The Emperor Roscel said that insects capable of surviving only in summer could never truly understand what snow and ice looked like... "The Moon" Emlyn leaned back comfortably, shaking her head openly. "The Sun" Deric didn't dwell on it much; he only vaguely sensed something was off, and thus, with a mix of curiosity and mild doubt, asked: "Mr. 'The Fool,' who is Bernadette?" Excellent! I had expected 'Justice' Miss to step in as a buffer—well, she seems rather upset and has temporarily decided not to speak... Klein nodded appreciatively, responding lightly: "The eldest daughter of Roscel, the mistress of the 'Dawn,' the leader of the Element of Dawn." He outlined Bernadette's identity clearly, ensuring she had no secrets left among the Tarot Circle members. It is precisely because Caine believes the "Fool" could never address Bernadette as a queen that he opts to refer to the owner of the "Dawn" instead of the "Mysterious Queen." The owner of the "Dawn"... the "Mysterious Queen!" She is none other than the eldest daughter of Emperor Roscel! Ah, "The Hermit"—I am certain you are the "Star General" Gauthier. So the rumor that you and the "Mysterious Queen" have parted ways is false. "The Hanged Man" Aljere feels a surge of excitement, as if the sense of being suppressed and constrained over the past three months has finally vanished. This prompts the steady "Hermit" to quietly mock him in his heart: "Emperor Roscel once said that anyone who plays with fire will inevitably burn themselves. Yet you, the 'Star General,' dare to challenge a deity's insight!" At this very moment, Aljere felt particularly fortunate, grateful that although he had made a few discreet efforts to uncover the identity, intentions, and current status of the "Knight of the Fool," he had not involved anyone else, thus avoiding any direct exposure or pressure. Since he had previously introduced the "Four Kings" and the seven pirate admirals, the members of "Justice," particularly Audrey, were able to quickly recall and confirm that Bernadette was indeed the "Mysterious Queen," a half-god who had ruled across five seas. They were all astonished that the eldest daughter of the great Emperor Roscel was not only still alive but had lived to become a world-renowned figure. "Is the answer the 'Mysterious Queen' seeking contained in Roscel's diary?" Based on the context and their conversations, Audrey subtly deduced Bernadette's purpose, concluding that the Emperor's daughter wished to uncover the truth behind her father's assassination. At that moment, "The Hermit" Cadrya had regained her faculties and turned her side toward the head of the bronze table, speaking without any hope of侥幸: "Yes, I have made some mistakes. I do not need to defend myself—those were indeed errors. 'The Fool,' whatever you decide to do to me, even if you decide to kill me, I accept." Faux pas... Can "The Fool" really punish you if he wishes, and will you still have any means of resistance? "The Hanged Man" scoffed from across the table. He immediately sensed the flaw in such a straightforward statement. "The Hermit" still seems afraid, "The Justice" Audrey observed, picking up the subtle gestures and word choices in Cadrya's side-lean. Those who emphasize their willingness to accept death, especially by being executed, often harbor a deep fear of actually dying. Forth, the Magician, found stability in the calm and composed demeanor of the Fool, believing that the situation regarding the Tarot cards had not been compromised, or that if any part had been, it was of minor significance. Thus, like Emlyn, the Moon, she felt a blend of curiosity and anticipation, waiting to see what punishment the Fool would impose upon himself. Derek, the Sun, still remained unclear about what had transpired, puzzled as to why the Hermit lady had suddenly sought self-imposed penance. At this moment, observing the Fool's brief silence, Giselle, the Hermit, restrained her unease, slightly raised her head, and subtly observed the presence beyond the thick gray mist, striving to discern the true intent of the figure, so as to respond more accurately and avoid both further errors and offense that might irreparably damage the situation. Deep within her dark eyes, a subtle purple shimmered, imbuing the scene with an air of mystery, and through the mist, she saw clearly the Fool. Suddenly, Gauthier's eyes warmed, and flowed ethereal blood. A strange, terrible, fallen roar erupted in her ears—so alien, so horrifying, that it rendered her senses overwhelmed by unbearable agony, causing her body to convulse and tremble uncontrollably. Across her face, the backs of her hands, and any parts of her clothing exposed, cracks began to spread, revealing flesh and muscle. Within these fissures, black worms and white moths moved in rhythmic pulsations, gradually forming eyes of indescribable form. Gauthier's cries and groans echoed through the gray mist, making the "Hanged Man" Aljer, the "Moon" Emlyn, and the "Magician" Folshe stare at one another, as if directly sensing the suffering unfolding in each other. At the same time, the blurred images grew clearer, allowing them to clearly observe the physical transformations of the "Hermit." The scene—both repulsive and terrifying—startled Audrey, the embodiment of justice, who instantly turned her gaze away, straightened her spine, and fixed her eyes firmly ahead, motionless. While others' reactions were less dramatic, they shared a similar undercurrent. The murmured words of the "True Maker" truly proved effective… As the "Fool" Kline, shrouded in gray mist, witnessed this, he genuinely sighed with appreciation. He had not immediately responded to the "Watcher" Gardeleia’s plea for self-punishment precisely because he wanted to verify whether she possessed a special sight—whether she could perceive him. To that end, he concealed within the gray mist that enveloped him certain pre-activated forces of the mysterious realm, ensuring that should anyone with extraordinary perception penetrate the veil, their observation would be seamlessly transferred to the "Seed" gauntlet. This was equivalent to the master of extraordinary ability directly measuring the item polluted by the "True Maker" through spirit, so that, without relying on the gray mist to deliberately suppress the influence, the "Recluse" Gardeleia naturally heard the murmurs of the "True Maker"—first suffering severe damage to her organs of extraordinary ability, then being overwhelmed by pain and undergoing transformation. If the "Star Above" had not examined the situation, Klein's original plan would have been for the counterpart to apologize to the Tarot Circle members, and together with them to deliberate on a penalty, thus demonstrating "democracy." Regardless of how democratic the process might be, while minor penalties might be overlooked, major penalties would inevitably involve slightly drawing upon the mysterious space's power to link the "Recluse" Gardeleia with the "Seed" glove. After waiting for two seconds, Klein decided to make a prudent adjustment, gently brushing his palms over the gray mist, allowing it to silently suppress the murmurs of the "True Maker" and restore Gardeleia's transformation to calmness. The tremors of the Celestial General began to subside at a visibly accelerating pace, the cracks in his flesh and muscle gradually healing, his thoughts inching back, and once again sensing everything around him.