From a curly-haired baboon... "Justice" Audrey momentarily couldn't tell whether "World"先生 was referring to a genuine curly-haired baboon or using it as a metaphor for certain humans who simply can't compute. In the kingdom of Roon, the curly-haired baboon is a frequent term of mockery, often associated with jokes about intelligence. (Note 1) It seemed "World"先生 had no intention of offering further clarification. Well, then, let's take it as a real curly-haired baboon. Audrey didn't ask any more questions, but instead said: "Didn't I previously go to a place with a tradition of dragon worship in search of the Heart Dragon?" "But didn't you discover that the Heart Dragon resides within the collective unconscious of the local inhabitants, and, for its own safety, chose to leave?" replied "The Hermit" Gautheria. "Have you returned there?" speculated "The Magician" Folshe. "Justice" Audrey shook her head. "No, I've long since moved away. I only recently heard a rumor. An archaeological team entered a rural area within that region. At night, one of the members suddenly went mad, and this mental illness seemed contagious—others soon followed, eventually succumbing to madness, either by killing one another or taking their own lives, until none remained." "Death's Head" Aljere was about to speak, but "The Hermit" Gardeleia had already interjected: "This aligns perfectly with the traits of a Mind Dragon." "I don't doubt that," Audrey replied, "but I'm curious whether the Mind Dragon still resides in its original region." "Not at all," both "Death's Head" Aljere and "The Hermit" Gardeleia responded in unison. At the very head of the weathered long table, "The Fool" Kline drew a parallel to another matter: the gods' "anchors!" He suspected that the region's longstanding dragon-worship traditions served as a stabilizing force—something like an anchor—maintaining the Mind Dragon's current state. As long as this custom remains intact and unshaken, the great spiritual dragon need not worry about the "anchor" any longer. Thus, after its departure, it can fully retreat into the collective unconscious of the living beings in the new region,无需 venturing into individual dreams to shape beliefs. In that case, the three major churches would find it extremely difficult to locate it, since none of them are specialists in this domain—even with appropriate seals, they could at best engage in combat within the collective unconscious and drive the dragon out. The Psychological Alchemy Society, however, might just grasp something. Klein thought of this casually and allowed the dummy entity "World" to say: "The tradition of dragon worship plays a significant role in stabilizing the state of the spiritual dragon. You should keep an eye on this aspect. Should there be substantial changes, it will indicate that the dragon is establishing similar traditions elsewhere." He had intended to say that he himself doubted the spiritual dragon was at the angelic level, at the second tier, but after careful consideration, he found this uncertain. Indeed, humans only at the second tier, reaching the angelic level, needed a "steadfast anchor of faith" to stabilize themselves and prevent madness. Yet that was a true dragon—a venerable, transcendent being—carrying an inherited madness, even as generations of purification and weakening had taken place. It was certain that such a creature would be more prone to losing its sense of self than humans. Therefore, perhaps even at the third or fourth tier, an anchor would be necessary to counteract the tendency toward instability. "Would such customs help stabilize the dragon's condition?" "Justice" Odile asked, puzzled and still uncertain. "Yes," replied "World" Germaine Sparo, without elaboration. Odile instinctively turned her head toward the head of the bronze table, considering whether to seek guidance from "The Fool" and what price she might be willing to pay. The Fool, Klein, surveyed the room and chuckled, saying, "Do you think the gods came to preach because they care for humanity?" That... isn't it exactly what the orthodox answer would be? The idea suddenly flashed into the mind of "Justice" Odile. Then, just like "The Empress" Aljere and "The Hermit" Gardeleia, she recalled a second answer: "Stability!" Impossible! At this moment, "The Magician" Fols felt her mind was no longer sufficient—no matter how many stories she could invent, she couldn't fabricate something so extraordinary! Indeed, perhaps the Fool only mentioned one reason—after all, the divine power was quietly eroding the authority of "The Storm Sovereign." Was this somehow connected to divinity? She would have to ask the Queen about it later. "The Hermit" Gardeleia pushed gently at the heavy glasses resting on her nose, as if making a tentative guess. Before Aljer, the "Hanged Man," had seen the fresco, he now heard this news without the earlier tremor of fear, but instead thought seriously about why faith could stabilize the state of semi-divine beings. The others, including "The Sun" Deric, felt uneasy, as though they had heard something sacrilegious, hesitating to ponder deeply or speak up. This wasn't merely a matter involving only the "True Deities" and other devils—it was closely connected to the seven principal gods and the former state of the Silver City's divine creator! "The Fool" Caine said nothing further, allowing everyone to remain silent, maintaining an exceptionally composed and serene demeanor. After a few seconds, "Justice" Odile managed a hesitant smile: "This has been the only thing I've encountered recently." Implied in her words was that it was now their turn. "The Magician" Fols and "The Moon" Emlin had neither experienced any noteworthy events this week worth sharing, and both shook their heads in quiet agreement, indicating they had nothing to add. Of course, the latter actually wanted to showcase his achievement as the final victor of the hunting competition, having received a ring crafted by the Primordial. "The Hangings," Aljer thought, turning to "The World" Germain Spaulo, "could we share that mural with everyone?" He believed the mural was directly connected to certain events that had unfolded within the town and the Giant King's court earlier that afternoon. By sharing it, "The Sun" would gain early insight into what the Silver City would discover and encounter on its continued journey, allowing for timely preparations and the avoidance of potential dangers. Therefore, sharing was clearly a better choice than withholding. "I have no objections," said Kline, sharing a similar perspective, which prompted "The World" Germain Spaulo to respond. What mural... it seems quite significant... Was this the mural that "The Hangings" and "The World" observed during their collaboration in discovering the "The Tyrant" card? "Justice" Odile eagerly awaited its presentation. With one gaze after another, "The Hanged Man" Aljer secured the "Emperor" gentleman's consent and brought forth the vivid image of the King of Angels, materializing it from the fresco of the Silver City's Creator. The blood-soaked, evil, startling, and shadowed scene instantly stunned the members of the Tarot Circle, even the learned and well-traveled "Watcher" Gardeleia, who momentarily lost her train of thought. Who are they? What are they doing? This dining manner is utterly wild—so barbaric! Since the Fourth Age, our bloodline has always emphasized respect for life, simple blood-drinking. "The Moon" Emlyn found himself bewildered, as he had never seen the six divine statues within the Toudre ruins and could not identify the three figures standing around him—these were figures he had not yet encountered when he first shared the six humanoid statues with the Circle. Yet, from that luminous cross, he recognized the identity of the victims being consumed—perhaps, likely, even the divine creator of Silver City, the ancient sun god, "Sol" Deric, whose symbolic emblems and sacred regalia corresponding to the Supreme Creator had been previously showcased during the free exchange session. Isn't this precisely what the "World" gentleman presented—the "Eternal Radiant Sun," the "Lord of Storms," the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom"? Why are they devouring humanity? No—why are they consuming the ancient sun god, the divine artisan of Silver City! "Justice" Odile was deeply shaken, instinctively suspecting that someone might be distorting or defaming the true image of the divine beings. "The Magician" Folshe trembled slightly, both apprehensive and awestruck, finding the mural filled with a dark, otherworldly beauty, of exceptional artistic merit. In her mind, she had already settled upon a title for the mural: "The Last Supper!" "The recluse" Galadriya had never seen statues of the Six Deities, only knowing the ancient Sun God; at once frowning, she exclaimed, "The Archangels?" "Yes, at least three of them around here," confirmed "The Turner" Aljer, though he himself was uncertain about the dark infant seated between the chest and abdomen of the Creator of the Silver City—whose identity he could not quite determine. As he spoke, Aljer glanced toward "The Sun" Deric, noticing the youth's glazed expression, as though lost in thought. At that moment, Deric's mind was flooded with pain and despair. He recognized the one being devoured as the Creator venerated in the Silver City, and he also recognized the three figures around him—the Eternal Radiant Sun, the Storm Lord, and the God of Knowledge and Wisdom! This realization cast doubt upon the notion that the gods had abandoned the land. — In various records of the Silver City, it is consistently emphasized that the gods abandoned this land only due to certain circumstances, thus making people like us the people of darkness. Therefore, as long as we remain devout, sincerely repenting and pleading for forgiveness, the gods will one day truly return and bring sunlight to the entire world. "No, no matter how repentant we may be, no matter how fervent our prayers, the Silver City will never be saved," Drik, the 'Sun,' murmured to himself. "For the gods have died—they have been consumed—and will never return." This means that the hope the Silver City has long waited for and pursued is merely an illusion—an illusion that will never come true. After a long silence, Audrey, the 'Justice,' spoke to herself, as if persuading herself: "Is this a distortion of the ancient legend that the three gods emerged from the spirit of the Creator?" The three gods? The eyes of the "Hermit" Cadellia and the "Moon" Emlin narrowed simultaneously, instantly grasping the general meaning of the fresco and understanding what startling event it symbolized. "Perhaps," replied the "Hanged Man" Aljer, "we can't quite explain the infant." He glanced quietly at the "Ace of Cups," observing that the great being remained silent, merely gazing with calm composure. "Justice" Odile could say nothing; none of the other Tarot members could either. This silence lasted until the "Hanged Man" Aljer stepped back, dispersing the fresco, and turned to ask the "Sun" Deric, "Have you investigated the matter of the previous Chief's mausoleum?" Note 1: Originally, I designed the curly-haired baboon merely to represent the Roon customs, symbolizing individuals of low intelligence. Yet, one after another, you all have taken the cue—so many of you have done so—that I now feel embarrassed to mention it outright. I've had to soften the tone, speaking only of a connection to intelligence-related jokes.