In fact, after that battle in which he wiped out the fleet under the "King of the Black Throne" in one fell swoop, Klein had already nearly completed half of the 500,000 target. As a result, he had tasted the sweetness of it and would "teleport" to the sea from time to time to find some unlucky pirates to withdraw money from, while conveniently completing his "Miracle Invoker" acting and creating some horror stories.
For this reason, he would leave one or two survivors each time…
It was precisely because of these "witnesses" that the stories later fabricated by Danitz were so convincing.
It had to be said that the combination of the abilities of a "Miracle Invoker" and a "Marionettist" created an atmosphere of "strangeness" and "terror" far stronger than Klein working alone in the original story!
Moreover, appropriately "indulging" in malice also had considerable auxiliary effects on the acting of a "Marionettist." Sharron had originally estimated that it would take several years to digest the Sequence 4 potion, but now it seemed that perhaps one year would be enough.
As Torzna had said, the "Prisoner" pathway should be a path of first "indulgence," then "restraint." Therefore, the "Indulgence Faction" was stronger in the early stages, but after becoming a demigod, the situation gradually reversed.
Logically speaking, with Sharron's prior "acting" before becoming a demigod, she should digest the subsequent Sequence potions quickly after advancing… and the reason she believed it would take several years was precisely because she lacked appropriate "indulgence."
Without "indulgence," "restraint" would have no meaning.
At this moment, after hearing "World" Gehrman's words, the Tarot Club members each had their own thoughts.
"Hermit" Cattleya and "Hanged Man" Alger sighed that the bloody storms on the sea over the past two months were finally about to end.
After all, what pirates feared most now was no longer the "King of the Five Seas" Nast, nor various terrifying legends, but the mad adventurer Gehrman Sparrow. Every pirate warned each other not to drink too late, not to walk at night, and not to relieve themselves in alleyways, because that might lead to their disappearance—and the rumored culprit was that gentleman.
"Star" Leonard, on the other hand, marveled at Klein's money-making ability. Thinking back to his frugality in Tingen, he couldn't help but sigh at the unpredictability of life… but after pondering for a while, he still couldn't come up with a suitable phrase.
The two ladies, "Magician" and "Judgment," looked toward "Tower," congratulating him with their eyes for soon obtaining such a large sum of money.
Ebner smiled at them, then looked toward the end of the long table and replied, "After the Tarot Club ends, I'll visit your new estate and bring that material to you."
"Alright." Klein nodded and said nothing more.
With that, the trading phase came to an end, and the Tarot Club entered the free exchange segment.
"Hermit" Cattleya adjusted her glasses, glanced around, and said solemnly, "The 'Hidden Sage' has gone missing over the past two months. There have been changes in the upper echelons of the Moses Ascetic Order. Miss Yaloran, originally one of the 'Ten Pillars,' has risen to power, and the 'Ten Pillars' have become the 'Nine Pillars.' A 'Sage' has fallen."
This piece of information shocked everyone, as the fall of an angel was no small matter, and there had been no prior signs.
The 'Hidden Sage' has gone missing… did something happen to Him? And I remember that 'World' once had dealings with Miss Yaloran, who has now risen to power, exchanging for that "Book of Calamity"…
Could it be that that very transaction caused Yaloran, this angel, to join under Mr. Fool, and then win in the struggle against the 'Hidden Sage'?
So that's how it is… the schemes of great figures are truly hidden. When 'World' mentioned this matter back then, I thought he was only plotting against the "Sea God" Kalvetua. I never realized it might involve the 'Hidden Sage'… the games of great existences are truly complex. Perhaps only angels are qualified to participate… "Hanged Man" Alger sighed inwardly, once again feeling a yearning for the demigod level.
"Justice" Audrey also recalled how "World" had obtained the "Book of Calamity" from Miss Yaloran, and thus cast a curious gaze toward the end of the table.
But at this moment, Klein himself was also at a loss. Seeing everyone looking over, he thought for a moment and kicked the "ball" to "Tower":
"You should explain this matter."
He believed Ebner definitely knew the ins and outs of this, after all, that lady had a close relationship with him.
As for the disappearance of the "Hidden Sage," Ebner had actually heard about it from Bernadette last week.
As the leader of the organization "Element Dawn," which existed to oppose the "Hidden Sage," she was naturally the one most concerned with the state of that evil god.
After hearing this news, Ebner had used the "Pure White Eye" to discern His whereabouts, but unfortunately obtained very little information, only roughly guessing that He was preparing for His apotheosis ritual.
And the first step of that preparation was to completely disappear from the sight of "people," preferably to make everyone "forget" Him—yet not completely.
After all, the so-called "Hermit" was an existence that people normally couldn't recall, but would suddenly remember at critical moments.
If his guess was correct, then Yaloran's current seizure of power was, in a sense, actually helping Him.
Without eliminating the diehard believers who worship Him, He wouldn't be able to achieve the state required for the "Hermit" ritual.
It was just that before doing this, Yaloran hadn't asked for his help, so Ebner truly didn't know she had already taken control of the Moses Ascetic Order within just two months.
For matters he didn't fully understand, Ebner never said much. So after Klein directed everyone's attention to him, he only said calmly:
"Miss Yaloran is an angel under Mr. Fool."
I am a believer of Mr. Fool, and Yaloran's avatar is carried with me. Rounding it up, it's perfectly reasonable to say She is Mr. Fool's angel—no problem at all.
So it really is like that! "Hanged Man" Alger, seeing his guess confirmed, sighed again: Mr. Fool had already recovered to the extent that He could interfere with a secret organization backed by a great existence?
At this moment, "Justice" Audrey asked curiously, "Then what exactly happened to the 'Hidden Sage'? Why did He go missing?"
Hearing the question, Ebner hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't voice his speculation. After all, if it spread, the "Hidden Sage" might silence everyone who knew.
He only smiled at Miss "Justice," then looked toward the "Fool" at the head of the table and said, "I'm not very clear about this either. I was just about to ask Mr. Fool for guidance."
He kicked the "ball" back to Klein.
Seeing the unusually "joyful" emotional color of "Tower," Klein was speechless. He felt that this guy's insistence on not exposing him as the "Fool" might just be so he could enjoy moments like this.
But with everyone's gaze focused on him, he had no choice but to respond, so he smiled inscrutably and said, "This matter is not yet suitable for you to know."
As his strength increased, he had become more and more skilled at pretending to be a big shot.
Even Mr. "Tower," who was already a demigod, wasn't suitable to know? Everyone felt a chill in their hearts and didn't dare ask further.
Only Ebner, while pretending to be "terrified," had his emotional color turn an even brighter "red."
After "enjoying" himself for a moment, he looked at Miss "Hermit" and asked, "Has the change in the upper echelons of the Moses Ascetic Order affected you?"
"Hermit" Cattleya shook her head and said, "I've always been on the periphery of the Moses Ascetic Order, acting as a pirate, and haven't been deeply involved in the organization's internal affairs. After all, that might expose the fact that I'm still in contact with the Mystic Queen…
"So this change in the upper ranks has little to do with me."
"Is that because you haven't revealed your demigod strength yet?" Ebner asked after thinking for a moment.
"Yes." Cattleya nodded slightly. In fact, ever since she left the "Future," when everything had to be borne by herself, the "Admiral of Stars" had always felt a sense of fatigue, as if a heavy weight rested on her shoulders. Her reluctance to reveal her strength also stemmed from a hidden thought—that one day she might be able to leave the Moses Ascetic Order more easily and return to the "Future."
But she often despised this thought, because she was no longer a carefree little girl. What she bore now was not just her own life, but also the fate of her crew—Frank, Heath, Nina, Jane, and the others.
"In that case, I suggest you reveal your strength and become the tenth 'Pillar' that the Moses Ascetic Order lacks.
"The Beyonder characteristic of that fallen 'Sage' won't have few competitors… If you want to step into that level, this might be the only opportunity. You must enter the game now!"
Ebner said earnestly.
Upon hearing this, "Hermit" Cattleya felt conflicted, yet a strange emotion arose in her heart:
Mr. "Tower" seems to care quite a lot about my affairs…
(End of Chapter)