from know own I intend to use [ ] to denote thoughts its more connivant and less confusing I think.
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Moriarty waited, quietly soaking in any and all information discussed thus far in the gathering. When he sensed an opening, he voiced a question.
"Mr. Hanged Man," he said, tone casual yet deliberate, "I was quite curious on a topic, and I hope you could shed some light on it. It's… well, in regard to the Criminal potion. What do you know of it—and its next sequence's potion name?"
The Hanged Man naturally turned his attention toward the Devil. His brows knitted together as a thought crossed his mind.
[Could Mr. Moriarty be of the Criminal pathway?
Well… that would match. From what information I have, the Sequence 6 of that pathway is Devil.
But if he already knows this much, then why ask? He certainly picked his pseudonym with that knowledge in mind—transparent, perhaps, an attempt to build trust by letting the experienced members know his pathway.
Or… could this be a test? To gauge my level of capability?]
His expression darkened slightly.
I don't particularly like those unreasonable killers… but so be it. If The Fool has allowed him into this gathering, then there must be some degree of trust given.
Lost in thought, The Hanged Man remained silent for several seconds. The rest waited patiently. Miss Justice, meanwhile, listened with growing intrigue, her understanding of the Beyonder world still bare-bones at best.
Finally, The Hanged Man spoke.
"Mr. Devil, as you know, potion names are intrinsically linked to the acting method. Through certain means—such as divination—even a simple name could allow another party to deduce part of a potion's recipe."
His voice was calm and smooth, though his hands were clenched tightly, betraying his discomfort.
"I am not well-versed in this particular pathway. However, from what I do know: Sequence 9 of the Criminal pathway grants physical enhancement, alongside versatility in weapon mastery and other… criminal skill sets."
He paused briefly.
"Sequence 8, Unwinged Angel, causes one to lose their sense of guilt. In other words, all concerns fade, allowing desire to run rampant. It further enhances the body, bestows certain demonic traits, and grants access to spell-like abilities. These vary from individual to individual."
"That is about all the information I have. This pathway is… quite prone to losing control."
Though his tone remained steady, his clenched hands revealed the truth. Such a reaction was common among official Beyonders when forced to aid a member of such a vile pathway.
Moriarty, having gained this insight, couldn't help but ask another question.
"Oh, if it's not too much of a bother—what pathway would an assassin belong to?"
The Hanged Man answered quickly, almost reflexively.
"The Assassin potion is Sequence 9 of what is commonly referred to as the Assassin pathway. I believe it is mainly controlled by the Demoness Sect."
A moment of silence fell over the gathering. Seizing the opportunity, The Fool began to speak.
Though Moriarty continued to listen, his mind had already begun connecting the threads, arriving at an understanding.
[The bastard lost control because he drank the wrong potion—one that didn't even belong to his pathway.]
Soon, the Tarot Gathering came to an end.
"Ha… giving me homework, Mr. Fool. He really is a god, huh?" Moriarty muttered inwardly.
The Fool that doesn't belong to this era. The mysterious ruler above the gray fog. The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.
Moriarty couldn't help but chuckle.
"I am so fucked. This shitty pathway is gonna turn me into some murder hobo."