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*****
Wednesday, three in the afternoon, the Tarot Club convened as usual.
The blurry figures of "Justice," "The Hanged Man," and "The Sun" appeared one after another.
Moreover, this time, they were joined by Xio and Fors, who had drawn the Judgment and Magician cards.
They stood up to greet each other. The new and old members exchanged greetings and introductions, followed by the time for dedicating Roselle's diary and for The Fool to read it.
After that came the free exchange and trading session.
"Currently, I have another Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 5, Shepherd, from the Hanged Man pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 6, Corrupting Baron, from the Black Emperor pathway.
Two Beyonder characteristics of Sequence 6, Demon, from the Abyss pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 6, Scribe, from the Door pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 5, Pain Witch, from the Witch pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 6, Wind-blessed, from the Storm pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 6, Requiem Master, from the Darkness pathway.
A Beyonder characteristic of Sequence 6, Potion Professor, from the Moon pathway.
Beyonder characteristics for the Judge pathway: Sequence 8, Sheriff; Sequence 7, Interrogator; Sequence 6, Judge; and Sequence 5, Punisher.
Also, the potion formulas for these pathways up to Sequence 5.
If any of you have need of them, you may trade for them."
George spoke first. These were all his gains from eliminating Mr. A and those MI9 Beyonders this past week.
"Hiss!"
Upon hearing George's words, everyone gasped sharply, including Klein, who sat above, disguised as The Fool.
It must be known that George was speaking of Beyonder characteristics, not just ordinary Beyonder materials.
In most cases, Beyonder characteristics are only extracted after killing a Beyonder of the corresponding Sequence.
So, just how many people had George killed in this short week?
However, considering that George had been tracking the whereabouts of cultists and maintained good relations with the Church of the Evernight Goddess and the Church of the Lord of Storms.
They let out a slight sigh of relief.
These Beyonder characteristics were likely acquired by Mr. George and the Churches through hunting cultists.
Xio and Fors, newly inducted into the Tarot Club, nearly dropped their jaws. They hadn't realized the members of the Tarot Club were so terrifying.
They were casually trading so many Beyonder characteristics and potion formulas, it felt as if Beyonder characteristics grew on trees.
They knew that even at the trading sessions in Backlund, it was rare to find suitable potion formulas and materials.
"I want the Sequence 7 Psychiatrist Beyonder characteristic from last time. I can pay in cash immediately."
Audrey was the first to raise her hand.
Her potion was almost completely digested, and she could start preparing for promotion to Sequence 7.
"I want a Sequence 5 Wind-blessed Beyonder characteristic. I don't have enough money right now, so I'll owe it and pay it back in three days."
Alger was the second to raise his hand.
"What? You can owe money?"
Xio and Fors looked at each other, somewhat stunned. They had never heard of Beyonder transactions allowing debt.
Audrey, recognizing the two newcomers as Xio and Fors, whom she had recommended, did not reveal her identity but enthusiastically explained to them:
"Mr. Strength is the most powerful high-Sequence expert in our Tarot Club. He allows us to buy on credit, and we can even borrow money from him without interest.
We can pay him back slowly once we become powerful later on."
"There's... there's such a good thing? Mr. Strength is too kind!"
Xio and Fors' eyes immediately lit up. The fear they had felt upon joining a mysterious organization vanished, replaced by regret that they hadn't joined sooner.
"Um, I would like a weapon that suits me and can enhance my combat abilities."
The Sun also raised his hand.
At the previous Tarot Club meeting, he had traded for the Sequence 7 potion formula from George, and the City of Silver had the corresponding materials.
So now, all he lacked was a handy weapon to boost his fighting strength.
"How about this sword?"
George used Transfiguration to conjure a greatsword directly, then casually carved some Daoist runes onto it.
"When using it, input spiritual energy and recite the incantation 'Lightning Come' to strike with lightning, recite 'Fire God Come' to shoot flames, recite 'Wind Splendor Come' to manipulate air currents, and recite 'Water Dragon Come' to unleash a burst of water impact."
"T-too good! I want this one! I will exchange it for materials I have collected."
The Sun's eyes immediately shone brightly.
A weapon that could consistently unleash energy attacks was exactly what he wanted.
"By the way, if any of you have combat needs, you can also order similar weapons tailored for you from me."
George glanced at the others, who also looked longingly at the greatsword, and said casually.
Refining such low-level magical items only took him a few seconds; it was simply a matter of convenience.
"Mr. Strength, you are truly generous!"
The members immediately praised George loudly, while secretly sighing in their hearts:
"We didn't expect Mr. Strength to also be capable of refining magical artifacts."
In their understanding, only Beyonders from the Perfected path, namely those from the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, were particularly skilled at refining magical items.
Of course, they assumed the sword George presented had been refined in advance, unaware that George had created it on the spot.
Otherwise, they would have been even more shocked.
"Um, Mr. Strength, I want the Sequence 8 Sheriff Beyonder characteristic, but I don't have enough money. Can I owe you for it?"
At this point, Xio also bravely raised her hand.
She had used all the money Miss Audrey paid her to trade for the Sequence 8 Sheriff potion formula.
Now there wasn't enough to buy the Sheriff Beyonder characteristic.
"No need to be so polite. This isn't the first time we've met."
George took out the Sheriff Beyonder characteristic and tossed it to Xio.
Xio received the Sheriff Beyonder characteristic, her face full of doubt:
"Mr. Strength, have we met?"
"Four days ago, when I went to capture Mr. A, I saw you and Miss Magician at the trading fair."
George said with a smile. He didn't mind exposing his identity in reality.
"It was you!"
Xio and Fors exclaimed simultaneously.
How could they forget what happened four days ago? That was the first time they had witnessed a battle between high-Sequence powerhouses.
"You were that... infant?"
"That's right. That is one of my forms in reality."
George chuckled.
"One of his forms..."
The others felt a stir in their hearts upon hearing this. As expected, Mr. Strength's true identity was definitely not just an infant.
That infant might just be a disguise used by Mr. Strength.
"Mr. Strength, I would like to ask for your help with something. As for the compensation, I will work hard to pay it back slowly."
At this moment, Fors also spoke.
When Mr. Fool pulled her into this place during the Crimson Moon ravings, Mr. Fool had told her that there was someone in the Tarot Club who could help solve her problem.
Now it seemed certain it was this terrifyingly powerful Mr. Strength.
"Tell me your story."
Upon hearing Fors's request, George knew the real business had arrived.
Everything before this was trivial matters to him. The person he truly cared about at this Tarot Club meeting was Fors.
Because he could connect to that 'Mr. Door' through Fors.
(End of Chapter)