Klein remained silent for a long time before finally breaking the silence, "What do they say? There is nothing impossible for him who will try," he said with a chuckle.
Is bro seriously quoting Alexander the Great to me? Casper thought, astonished.
"Mr. Emperor," Daly began, careful not to step on the God's toes, "what do you mean by "The Fool's Herald"?"
She asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
Casper leaned back, tilting his head, he said slowly. "Mr. King here," he pointed towards Klein mockingly, "Is a Blessed of one of my old friends."
He paused then added with a small, deliberate smile. "His own gathering — the Tarot Club is attended by one of my Blessed whilst his Blessed attends my gathering. You can say we're in a league of sorts."
Daly nodded, digesting his words.
She hadn't expected the enigmatic deity to reveal something so consequential so casually.
Casting a furtive glance at 'Him', she thought in surprise, He's already forging alliances… how long has he been planning this?
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Klein shot a sharp glare at Casper. His lips twitched at its end as he balled his fist beneath the table.
Ah! This thrill-seeking idiot. What else did I expect? But… he's far smarter than I give him credit for, Klein thought, meeting Casper's gaze. With this he's tied our gatherings together, now we can no longer back out of this hastily formed alliance.
He lampooned quietly.
All the while Casper gazed at him with amusement, I really want to read his thoughts!
Anderson meanwhile witnessed the quiet glances exchanged between them but said nothing. He neither cared for the alliance that The Emperor was forging nor another Deity's Blessed sitting at the table.
All that mattered was whether this gathering would lead him into fun, new experiences.
Finally, Casper placed his arm upon the armrest of the ancient stone chair and leaned against it.
He spoke soon after, his voice unhurried and light.
"You are free to trade or communicate now."
"..."
Daly's gaze intensified, finally, the moment she had been waiting for arrived.
This was it.
She straightened subtly, her eyes sharp and focused as she asked resentfully. "Does anyone have information about the former Archbishop of the Evernight Church who turned traitor — Ince Zangwill who killed some Nighthawks?"
Klein's thoughts came to a sudden halt as he gave Miss Knight a second look. After a moment, Klein's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth almost dropped but was stopped only by a Clown's ability to control their facial expression.
Klein knew this lady dressed in dark robes with slight goth make-up.
This was Captain Dunn's closest confidant and the one who could be considered the closest to a lover.
This was Ma'am Daly!
Casper who watched this scene unfold from the head of the table couldn't help but curl his lips up into a smile.
He realised already?
Anderson tilted his head and asked offhandedly, "Who's that? Should I know him? Did he kill someone important?"
The fury simmering within Daly almost burst forth before Klein interrupted with a deliberate cough.
"Are you talking about the Archbishop that recently caused the death of some Nighthawks in Tingen?"
He asked, playing dumb.
Daly turned towards him swiftly, shifting her attention… and rage from Mr. Rook to Mr. King.
"Yes," she said flatly, "that's the one."
Klein nodded, "I see," and after a second added, "What would I get out of this transaction?"
Although Ma'am Daly was kind of a teacher to him and regarded him warmly, Klein couldn't simply give such information for free.
Doing so would simply draw the eyes of that mysterious man sitting at The Emperor's left hand side, moreover even Ma'am Daly would grow suspicious.
Daly nodded in agreement, "Money, Sealed Artifacts, Potion Formula's. Take your pick?"
Money would be good….Klein thought for a moment before immediately dismissing the thought.
Money could solve immediate problems, but it wouldn't break dead ends.
And Klein was very much at one.
He had no further leads on the Seer Pathway further formulas, nor any reliable means of obtaining them on his own.
The higher sequences of the Seer Pathway were tightly controlled, Klein realised that much in his time in the Evernight Church.
There were only two ways in which Klein could pursue the formulas further.
The first was through the Secret Order, the shadowy organisation that monopolised the Seer Pathway. Joining them might grant access to the formulas he needed… but the price would almost certainly be his freedom.
The other path was seated right in front of him.
Casper.
The mysterious man who clearly knew far more than he let on — and if Klein were to ask him for the formula directly, he'd probably make him dance through the streets, naked just to make him entertain the idea.
Kneel to lunatics in the dark… or bargain with a thrill-chasing idiot who enjoys watching me squirm, Klein thought dryly.
Neither option was comforting.
Klein lifted his head, the choice was clear.
"Potion formulas," he said calmly. "Sequence 7 of the Seer Pathway and don't think about lying to me. I know Antigonus' notebook recently came into the Evernight Church's hands. You can redeem the formula with enough contribution points."
Daly's eyebrows raised as she inquired slowly, "How do you know about that?"
Klein merely shrugged, choosing to deflect the question. "I have my sources."
Daly wanted to say more but stopped herself.
She stared at Klein for several seconds then sighed.
"Very well," Daly said at last, her voice restrained but taut. "If it's the Sequence 7 Seer formula you want, I can obtain it. It won't be immediate."
"That's acceptable," Klein replied evenly.
Daly nodded, then her eyes sharpened.
"Ince Zangwill. Now."