"However, this time, 'Pride' won't be so easy to kill…" Ebner's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
Observing this scene, and knowing very well that the current "Pride" was in fact Ebner himself, Miss "Judgment" couldn't help but pray for Mr. "World," Miss "Temperance," and Miss "Hermit," hoping they wouldn't be toyed with too miserably.
As for "exposing" Ebner? She didn't even consider it. Setting aside matters of closeness and distance, hadn't Mr. "Fool" himself said nothing?
Perhaps this was precisely a trial that Mr. "Fool" was giving His followers through Ebner's hand!
After "World" and "Hermit" reached a preliminary cooperation agreement, Klein finally looked toward the seat of "Tower," considered his words, and said:
"What do I need to do for that One to hand over the main ingredient for the 'Scholar of Yore' potion to me?"
The "that One" he referred to was naturally the Evernight Goddess. Although he had just advanced to a "Trickmaster," Klein felt that making preparations early was the right course of action.
It was also worth mentioning that the potential hidden dangers on Sharon had given him even more motivation to continue advancing his Sequence quickly.
Hearing this, Ebner laughed and said, "No need to trouble that One. I already have the materials for 'Scholar of Yore.'"
With the backing of the Secret Order, there were still some materials for "Scholar of Yore" available.
I guessed you had them… but this time you can actually make the call yourself? I remember when I asked for the 'Trickmaster' formula, you put on that 'unless the Evernight Goddess nods, you won't bend the rules' ugly face! Klein grumbled inwardly for a few lines before asking in a deep voice, "What do I need to pay in exchange?"
Ebner extended his right palm and quoted a price directly: "I'll give you a discount—500,000 gold pounds!"
Five hundred thousand… gold pounds?! Klein felt as though his breathing had stopped, even though he knew very well that, as a spirit body above the gray fog, he didn't actually possess that function.
Although the others present were also astonished by the figure of 500,000, none of them thought Mr. "Tower" was being black-hearted.
After all, Mr. "World" had already become a demigod; what he needed was naturally the main ingredient of a Sequence 3 potion!
Items of this level were essentially priceless and unavailable on the market. Five hundred thousand gold pounds truly was, as Mr. "Tower" said, a "discount price."
"World" took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm, and nodded. "I'll gather that amount as soon as possible."
As soon as he said that, "Hermit" and "Hanged Man" seemed to see a coming "storm of blood and rain" on the seas, as if hearing the wails of pirates with bounties on their heads…
"Magician" Fors, since she didn't harbor fear toward Gehrman as she had in the original timeline, even began concocting a tragic story in her mind about an adventurer oppressed by a black-hearted merchant, forced to scrape together money desperately, only to be "played with" by the merchant in the end.
Of course, she only thought it to herself and didn't dare let Ebner know—after all, she too had once been oppressed by that same "black-hearted merchant."
Thus, the transaction segment quickly passed, and the Tarot Club entered the free exchange phase.
"Sun" raised his hand first. After the others all nodded to him, he glanced at Mr. "Tower" and then organized his words before saying:
"The exploration of the former Chief's mausoleum has already been completed by the Chief and the elders…
"They brought the former Chief back. He isn't dead… no, to be precise, he has come back to life and has successfully advanced to Sequence 3.
"However, the former Chief seems to believe in an unknown great existence… The Chief asked me to inquire whether anyone here knows anything about that existence…"
"Hanged Man" Alger beside him was quite interested and directly asked, "What is that existence's honorific name? Did the former Chief tell you?"
Within Mr. "Fool's" divine kingdom, he wasn't worried about attracting the attention of other great existences.
"Sun" Derrick nodded solemnly and said, "That existence's honorific name is—
"Scion of the God of Death;
"Heir of Calderón City;
"Ruler of all departed souls;
"The great Vincent Miranda."
Hearing this honorific name, everyone else looked blank. Only Klein glanced at Mr. "Tower," knowing that this was once again Liu Bo's handiwork.
After all, the name Vincent Miranda was not unfamiliar to him—he had seen it many times in Roselle's diaries.
Ebner was also momentarily stunned, then pinched his chin and thought:
This… how did the former Chief of the City of Silver become my believer? Shouldn't it have been the 'Artificial God of Death'? Or at the very least, the Evernight Goddess?
Hmm, perhaps the Evernight Goddess had previously been using Vincent's body to indirectly grasp the uniqueness, so the former Chief was influenced and came to know "my" honorific name?
No wonder I'd always been rather curious about the former Chief's mausoleum before. Looks like it was "Fate" providing guidance…
While Ebner was thinking, "Sun" Derrick looked around once more and asked again, "Does anyone know this existence?"
At the question, "Justice," "Judgment," "Hanged Man," and the others all shook their heads. None of them had heard the name Vincent Miranda.
"Star" and "Moon" wrote down the honorific name, preparing to ask their elders after returning.
Just as "Sun" was feeling somewhat disappointed and about to consult Mr. "Fool," "World" Klein spoke up:
"This existence is called the 'Ruler of the Departed.' He is an ally of Mr. 'Fool' and can be trusted."
An ally of Mr. "Fool"… That's good, then! "Sun" Derrick let out a breath of relief. He had been very afraid that the object of the former Chief's faith would bring disaster to the City of Silver.
'Ruler of the Departed'… Another ancient deity about to revive? And an ally of Mr. 'Fool'… Is the world about to undergo some major upheaval?
"Hanged Man" Alger keenly sensed the implications of an era's transformation. He instinctively glanced toward the head of the bronze table, then quickly withdrew his gaze, because he suddenly realized that Mr. "Fool" was somewhat different from before!
In the past, Mr. "Fool" had combined loftiness and profundity, making Him unfathomable, with a feeling of looking down upon everything from on high—but that was all. Now, however, even without doing anything, He seemed to merge with the entire space itself, clearly occupying the highest position, manifesting directly as the ruler here.
He has truly recovered further, drawing ever closer to His former divine throne!
Alger's heart surged with turbulent waves, unable to calm down.
At this moment, he inexplicably felt that his previous ambitions and goals might have been too small—he had only wanted to become an archbishop of the Church of Storms, to become a Saint with influence across the world, able to secretly guide many affairs.
Since ancient deities were reviving one after another, and Mr. "Fool" was to return to His throne in the Astral World, why couldn't I consider becoming an angel?
Only at that level could one complete a qualitative transformation of life, live for a long time, stand above all spirits, lead a large organization, and wield power on a world-wide scale!
Thought after thought flashed by, and "Hanged Man" Alger even felt a tremor that no one else could perceive, his heart surging with excitement.
Seated at the head, Klein glanced at "Hanged Man" in puzzlement, not quite understanding why he had suddenly become so excited. He didn't dwell on it, merely lightly tapped the edge of the bronze long table with his finger and chuckled softly as he said:
"He is my friend."
—A friend who opens his mouth and asks me for five hundred thousand!
(End of the chapter)