Well… Firth paused for a second, almost doubting she had read it right. Then, a cascade of thoughts surged uncontrollably into her mind: "Mr. World" wants to take on this assignment? That makes sense—he’s right in Bekland. But this is an investigation, not a murder case. Doun Thantès has already suffered enough; let him alone! If the investigation’s objective is eliminated, does that mean the investigation is considered a success? Because then there’d be no need to continue investigating… What should I do? Should I accept this assignment, for a full 500 pounds? I’d only need to restate the facts I’ve already uncovered—still, that would earn me at least 200 pounds. But my competitor is "Mr. World"... Perhaps it’s collaboration, not competition? Hmm, how does "Mr. World" even come to be interested in this particular assignment? Isn’t his real focus the baron’s false accusation case or the attack on the member, Macht? Only when Foulis grasped the essence of the matter had "The Hermit" Aljere and "The Wife" Gardeleya already turned their attention toward "The World" Germain Spalro. To them, whether the Baron Sindras was falsely accused, the attack on the Member Mahert, or the wealthy merchant Daven Thonastes' generous donation of over ten thousand pounds—these were all matters that no longer required special attention. Yet the very fact that "The Fool" had taken the initiative to assume responsibility for the investigation immediately complicated the situation, suggesting that something significant lay concealed beneath the surface. "The Moon" Emlin didn't dwell on these intricacies, yet he now realized that what appeared to be a straightforward inquiry was far from easy. He had originally intended to earn some extra income to offset the impending loss of his five thousand pounds in cash. Now, however, he found himself reluctant to speak. Indeed, Daven Thonastes was far from ordinary—there were serious issues at play, such that "The World" himself had taken the initiative to investigate him? Or perhaps these two cases are more significant and crucial than I had imagined? "Justice" Audrey's eyes flickered with interest, subtly shifting her gaze to absorb the reactions of all the Tarot Circle members in her mind. Among them, only "Sun" Derek remained unaffected. To him, wasn't mutual assistance among the Tarot Circle a perfectly normal matter? Didn't it make sense that, when given a task and capable of fulfilling it, one would simply accept it? "Justice" Audrey then turned her attention back to the member seated at the very bottom of the bronze long table, her eyes expressing quiet anticipation: "Mr. World, would you like to take on this assignment?" Upon returning to Beckland, she had gathered maritime news from the past few months and confirmed that Mr. World was the daring adventurer Germaine Sparrow—someone whose seemingly polite demeanor masked a profound sense of danger and whose accomplishments she deeply admired, feeling her own passion for maritime adventures gradually fading. Klein had already thought through his response. After the dummy "World" raised his hand, he simply waited for Miss Justice to ask questions. At that moment, he made Mr. Gervais Spalro's expression serious and his voice low, saying: "Dawn Thantès is a title." After a brief yet repeated deliberation, Klein decided to reveal a portion of the information—positioning Dawn Thantès as a shared alias for his followers. He believed that if he chose to withhold this now, exposure would inevitably follow, since Dawn Thantès was about to immerse himself deeply into the upper echelons of Beckland society, where he would soon uncover traces of the Great Fog incident and other cases. In such a scenario, Miss Justice might be called upon to offer indirect assistance. At that point, the "audience" would likely notice something, realizing that the "World" had deliberately concealed this information, while Mr. The Fool had failed to alert them. This would diminish her sense of belonging and even cast doubt on other matters, triggering a crisis of trust for the " Fool." The two members had never met, were unaware of each other's existence, yet worked in perfect synchrony, achieving the overall objective through completing assigned tasks—an ideal scenario that, in practice, proved extremely difficult, especially when one of the partners was a mid-tier extraordinary member who had joined via the "audience" path. In that case, it would be nearly impossible to conceal their connection. Therefore, honesty was generally more effective, more reliable, and less burdensome than deception. As to why he didn't simply state that Doun Tangtse was indeed Gérman Spalro, it was because Klein didn't want to leave the impression among the Tarot Circle members that it was once again him—why him, why only he, the favored of the "Fool." Doun Tangtse was merely an identity? "Justice" Odile敏锐ly perceived the subtle implication in those words and began to form a faint conjecture. Then she heard "The World," Gérard Spaldo, speak simply: "We share the same identity. I occasionally assume his role." As he said this, his gaze passed over "The Magician" without emotion. Shared identity... occasionally assuming his role... Was the rather unfortunate Daron Tantrès really "The World," Gérard Spaldo? Was the wealthy businessman with kidney or prostate issues really "The World," Gérard Spaldo? "The Magician," Folsom, seemed struck by lightning—his entire body stiffened. In the moment of paralysis, she unexpectedly felt a sense of apprehension, instinctively recognizing the wisdom in her earlier, seemingly casual remarks: When a person's butler, male servants, neighbors, and surrounding environment all present problems, it's not particularly likely that the person himself is entirely normal. No, it’s not the neighborhood where Dune Thénardier lives, nor the housekeeper he hired who holds secrets—rather, it’s precisely because they hold secrets that Dune Thénardier and Germinal Spáro have chosen them! The unfortunate ones are not Dune Thénardier, but rather the very things around him that are extraordinary! I was wrong—I should not have let Hugues say, “May the goddess protect him.” To Mr. Germinal Spáro, the “World,” this feels more like a curse… Fleur suddenly shivered, especially glad she hadn’t suggested in her note that Dune Thénardier see a doctor for kidney or prostate issues. Otherwise, she doubted she would be able to attend this Tarot gathering at all—or attend in the form of an extraordinary being, sold to the other members as “World.” Normally, Mr. “World” should not know that I am the “Magician,” yet at that moment I had brought with me “Léman’s Travel Notes.” He had used that magical book, and even added a semi-divine extraordinary ability! He must have been quietly observing me, memorizing my appearance, assessing my worth... Furse’s lingering apprehension surged like a vast ocean, her expression thick with bitterness. At that moment, she noticed the "World" gentleman coldly glancing at her, and her sense of regret instantly intensified into profound regret. Fortunately, fortunately, I hadn’t answered immediately, hadn’t mentioned my impression of D’Artagnan—thank goodness. As Furse gradually regained her composure from the initial shock, a new question arose: During the earlier security assignment, were we protecting D’Artagnan, or was D’Artagnan protecting us? Should I return the money to Mr. Gérard Spaulo? This… at certain times, Daven Thantès was equal to the "World" himself. "Justice" Audrey was first startled, then immediately felt all her questions resolved: It was true that Furse knew Daven Thantès, but she didn't know he was the "World" gentleman—her clearly startled reaction just now proved that. Daven Thantès' recognition of me was primarily due to the "Lies" necklace, though the item had changed in appearance; it still stemmed from the extraordinary qualities provided by the "World" gentleman. Perhaps there was some kind of resonance between this remarkable adventurer and the "World" himself, since even Germán Sparro could assume the appearance of anyone and possess the ability to adjust his features! Although I had only asked Mr. The Tower once about what to do when animals ingested the potion, I often gathered materials in double quantities, which likely led Mr. The World to suspect that there were other "audiences" present beside me—thus making him cautious about Suzy observing the hall from the shadows. Others might not doubt the animals, but Mr. The World, with his rich experience, had undoubtedly encountered extraordinary beings, and thus his vigilance in this regard was entirely natural. That is to say, Mr. D'Artagnan, no, Mr. The World, Germán Sparo, already knew I was "Justice" at that time, yet had chosen not to engage or communicate with me. His handling of the situation was sound—unless he directly mentioned it, it would have been extremely difficult for me to deduce or believe otherwise. To speak about Tarot matters in the Saint-Séverin Church—this, this was truly extraordinary! After a brief moment of astonishment and shock, most of Audrey's emotions settled quickly, leaving only excitement. It's been the first time she's actually met any of the other members of the Tarot Circle beyond the "magician" who introduced her, Fothering. "There's a sense that history is being written right now! Hmm, the 'World' gentleman, and the other followers of the 'Knight of Cups,' er, they should really count as 'World' figures. Why have they chosen to present themselves as D'Artagnan? What exactly do they intend to achieve?" "The incidents involving Baron Sindras being falsely accused, Lord Mahet being attacked, and their donation to establish a scholarship fund—truly turn out to be more complex and significant than I had anticipated... How suddenly it feels as though the upper echelons of the kingdom are growing restless—this sensation I first experienced during the great smog following Prince Edsack's death has now intensified dramatically. Now that I know Lord Dauv Tanats' true identity, perhaps I can step in indirectly and support my parents and others, thereby reducing the risk of them being caught in the crossfire and minimizing the loss of innocent lives..." As her thoughts flowed, Audrey, embodying the principle of "Justice," quickly made her decision: to accept her father's invitation and join the "Rune Charitable Scholarship Fund." In her mind, she murmured: Isn't it perfectly logical that a charitable fund established by the "World" card of the Tarot now includes the "Justice" card as a key pillar? "Strength" Aljere and "Wise One" Gardeleia were not particularly surprised that Doun Tangtse—representing the world—was indeed the gathering of followers of the "Fool" themselves. The thought that flashed through their minds most frequently was: Beckett will witness great things! PS: Today, there's an additional update from the Golden Alliance. PS2: I recommend a book, "The Grand Nephew of the Ming Dynasty," written by Lan Wang, a Greedy Wolf student who appears stern and rugged, like a seasoned street elder, yet possesses deeply positive values. He mentioned he'd like to treat me to a large serving of large shrimp!