Cadrya understood that the "Temperance" meant—if the issue were significant—she could invoke the "Moon," drawing the entire vampire lineage into the matter, thereby recovering losses and securing benefits amid the chaos. She then smiled and said, "If the situation were that serious, why not simply go directly to the 'World'? That seems simpler." Aljer paused for a few seconds and replied, "I must first demonstrate my ability to handle such challenges—so that becomes my last resort." Hearing his response, Cadrya immediately drew a connection: "Indeed, the 'Temperance' places great weight on the opinion of the 'World,' Germain Spalro—since he is the steward of the 'Emperor'?" Moreover, his attitude aligns in a certain sense with the political jokes commonly found in places like Beckland and Trier: when encountering problems or making mistakes, the first instinct is to suppress them, find alternative solutions, and never let the "superior" or "client" know. This indicates that the "Hanged Man" has, either in the past or even today, belonged to a highly organized, powerful force, one that has cultivated such habits and acquired the corresponding competencies. The "Storm Church"? No, such individuals would be seen as outliers there. The fleet of the "Five Seas Kings"? As the pirate general pushed his heavy glasses up his nose, his thoughts shifting, he gently steered the conversation back on track: "Now, let's continue with the story of that 'craftsman.'." Aljere spoke as if he had already composed his draft—without pause, without reflection, at a steady, unhurried pace: "To conceal the identity of that 'craftsman' and prevent others from gaining access to this channel, I deliberately portrayed him as an internal member of the Steam Church. In reality, however, he had long been drawn to fine wines, enchanted by beauty, and extravagantly spendthrift, compelled to produce goods for the Wild Exceptionals in order to earn a living. He eventually defected from the Steam Church and took refuge in Bayam. This time, he first fell ill unexpectedly, came under surveillance by strangers, and then was taken over by those believed to adhere to the faith of the 'Primordial Moon,' who claimed to have experienced a rebirth..." Gautheriya listened intently, her eyes—slightly purple behind the lenses—deeply focused. When the "Emperor of the Hanging" had finished speaking, she paused and asked, "A craftsman would surely never lack magical items, and they are well skilled at combining various extraordinary effects with their negative impacts—definitely capable of reaching the Sequence 5 level. How exactly did those followers of the 'Primordial Moon' manage to control the craftsman without harming him? Was there a half-god involved?" "Based on your description, this 'craftsman' has always preferred to transact with familiar, trustworthy friends and hasn't been particularly eager to expand his networks—his approach to safety can be said to be extremely cautious." Alje hesitated slightly and added, "I'm not entirely certain, but I have a hunch. I once helped the 'World' sell a unique 'Lupine' trait to this 'craftsman.' The 'Lupine' path falls under the 'Outsiders' category, and both its formulas and traits have been tightly held by the Rose School, with rare instances of external diffusion." Similarly, those on the southern continent who follow the 'Primordial Moon' are largely part of the Rose School... Gardeleya silently noted this in her mind, now fully grasping the 'Hanged Man's' speculation: He suspects that the 'Lupine' trait may harbor an underlying issue involving hidden elements, which has drawn the 'craftsman' into the Rose School's scrutiny! And that is precisely why the Rose School has been able to maintain such strong control over the 'Outsiders' path's formulas and traits. "Star Sovereign" Gathelie raised a few more questions, all of which were satisfactorily answered. Finally, she asked, "What is the craftsman's name, and which country is he from?" "He is from Intis; he calls himself Charf," Aljer replied without hesitation. "Charf..." Gathelie furrowed her brows slightly, softly repeating the name of the craftsman. What's wrong with that? Seeing this, Aljer asked directly, "Have you heard of him?" In Aljer's view, "Star Sovereign" Gathelie is an experienced, well-established figure with strong background and excellent self-control. If she didn't wish to discuss Charf, even if she had doubts or anomalies, she would not have made such a clear and evident response. Based on this assessment, he chose to ask the question openly and without reservation. Gathelie paused and said, "The eldest son of Emperor Roser is named Char, which is very similar to that name." "Before the 'Emperor' had even opened his mouth, she spoke on her own: 'Shortly after the Emperor was assassinated, the Prince fell ill due to fear and anxiety and passed away. At that time, the Soron family wished to hang his descendants and exile them, but the Steam Church chose instead to accept them as clergy.' Aljer nodded slightly, with a touch of clarity: 'Do you suspect that this Prince's lineage is the one in question?' In Intis, in Fasak, and in most of the northern continental nations, it is not uncommon for individuals to adopt the name of their ancestors or a similar name, symbolizing the continuity of honor—thus, the more illustrious the family, the more frequent the 'Second X', 'Third X'. Of course, it is also very common for two unrelated individuals to share the same name. Yet, 'Craftsman' Charf is no ordinary man—he not only bears the name 'Charf', but also hails from the Steam Church and is originally from Intis, having reached the rank of 'Craftsman'." Regarding the issue of the "Hanged Man," the "Star General" Cadrya gently nodded, saying, "If I can obtain his blood, I'll be able to confirm the matter swiftly." Aljere understood the reason and didn't elaborate, instead asking, "Shall you act now? I can provide support." Cadrya's glasses reflected the deep crimson moonlight streaming in from the window: "No, I intend to observe for a while longer. At the very least, we need to understand why those who believe in the 'Primordial Moon' seek to control the artisan Charf. If their aim is merely to have Charf serve them and produce magical items, the matter will be straightforward and manageable. But should there be other intentions, the situation may prove more complex than we anticipate, requiring greater preparation." Indeed, she is the "Star General"... Aljere nodded, saying, "I cannot remain in Bayam for long, or suspicions will arise. Should you need my assistance, then let me know promptly." After receiving a positive response, "The Hangover" rose slowly, pulled his hood slightly, and stepped out of the room. Gardelise, who knew the current residence of the craftsman Charles, removed her thick glasses, pressed her foreheads gently, and gave a clap. "Hisse, come in." A shadow at the doorframe suddenly stirred, and a slender, pale figure emerged. His high nose was striking, his facial skin nearly translucent, as if unwell—this was Hisse Dole, the second officer of "The Future." Gardelise looked at him and said, "The details—now, it's up to you." "Aye, Captain," Hisse Dole replied simply, then retreated back into the shadow. Gardelise raised her right hand, paused for a few seconds, and said, "Recently, recently, I've been distancing myself from Frank. His mushroom experiments have stalled. I'm worried he's coming up with some new idea again." “…my second companion’s position…,” Kline held two branches in his hands, murmuring softly in succession, yet he didn’t notice them begin to rotate. This meant the divination had failed, or that Gularin City did not harbor a suitable second companion for him. The esoteric method seemed to be temporarily ineffective—today he would tidy up and then leave. Kline muttered this to himself, then casually tossed the branches into the trash can. Although Enzo, the companion standing beside him, dared not meet his master’s gaze and instead stared at the floor, he skillfully prepared a cup of tea and offered it to Kline. This “winner,” compared to before, now had a sun-browned, slightly peeling complexion; when all this improved, he would possess a deep, dark skin tone. — Kline had arranged for Enzo to undergo prolonged exposure to the intense sunlight at the seaside, on a journey to disguise him from the Rose School’s recognition. At the same time, he manipulated the secret doppelgänger to shave off most of his hair, leaving only a thin layer, which, combined with the contouring of his eyebrows, the application of powder to his face, the reestablishment of highlights and shadows, and the wearing of glasses, made Enzo seem entirely different—so much so that even close friends found it difficult to recognize him, unless he was the "Faceless One." Beyond the physical disguise, Kline undertook certain esoteric preparations: first, the embrace of the "Paper Angel," and second, the constant carrying of the Azkhan copper whistle. He also initially confirmed that the passive "luck" and "misfortune" of the "Winner" were now ineffective, though he remained uncertain whether this was due to becoming a doppelgänger or to the influence of the gray mist. After taking his tea and sipping it, Kline turned his gaze toward the map placed on the table before him, considering where to go next in search of the second doppelgänger. At that very moment, the colors around him suddenly deepened, as if painted anew with oil ink by an artist. Immediately, a figure took shape beside the secret figure Enzo. He wore a silk hat and a black formal suit, of medium build, with a bronze complexion, weathered eyes, gentle features, and a small black mole just below his right ear—none other than Azk Egers. Mr. Azk has finally arrived... Caine was first surprised, then noticed that Azk had appeared right beside the secret figure. This immediately brought to mind a rather amusing scene in his mind: As before, Mr. Azk, who relied on the copper whistle for orientation, would immediately grasp the shoulders of the whistle’s bearer, use the spirit realm to step through and vanish, while Caine could only watch helplessly, reaching out to stop him only to find himself too slow, thus frozen in place. Azk seemed a bit more reserved than before. Glancing at Caine’s fresh face, he said, "Are you ready?"