2:32 PM.
Clap.
Lex closed his pocket watch. It was still early, and he planned to find a place to test his two trap abilities and see if his other abilities had improved. But before that, he had another plan.
He planned to pray to a deity to interfere with divination for him.
Slyde was a member of the Secret Order. Now that he was dead, if he had companions on the island, they would also be members of the Secret Order and would surely understand divination.
Although Lex was wearing the 'black night embrace', he was worried that the item's grade was not high enough to interfere with the divination of mid-sequence or even high-sequence Beyonder.
As for praying to a deity, Lex could only think of two.
One was the Lord of Storms, and the other was Fool.
Inside the house, he first tried to pray to the former. As expected, he received no response.
Then he adjusted his state and softly chanted Fool's honorific name.
"Fool who does not belong to this era,"
"You are the mysterious Ruler Above the gray fog,"
"You are the King of Yellow and Black who controls good luck."
"I wish to pray to you and tell you what happened to me today."
"On my way to visit a friend, I encountered members of the Secret Order. They were plotting over a treasure map of Antigonus's ruins. I fought one of them and ended his life."
"I am worried about being divined for relevant information by other members, and I hope to receive your help."
A moment later, a vast, grayish-white mist surged before Lex's eyes, boundless and instantly engulfing the room.
Within this grayish-white mist, an illusory yellowish-brown parchment descended from the sky and landed before Lex.
It contained some knowledge, knowledge about a certain ritual.
"Amazing, Klein already looks a bit like a deity." Lex memorized the content on the parchment and then left the inn.
He purchased some materials needed for the ritual in the Town, including candles, essential oils, hydrosols, and herbal powders. These could be bought in ordinary shops.
After returning to the inn, he began to set up the altar, lit the two candles symbolizing Fool, and threw the materials one by one into the fire.
A moment later, the room was filled with a serene and ethereal fragrance. A faint, illusory mist enveloped the altar. Lex, following the content recorded on the 'parchment,' adjusted his body and mind, entered meditation, and silently chanted Fool's corresponding honorific name repeatedly.
A moment later, Lex felt himself floating in the mysterious and ancient palace Above the gray fog, seeing Fool seated at the head of the long table.
Then, in a daze, between dreaming and waking, he saw Fool wave a hand at him, and a ray of light suddenly expanded. It was an angel with twelve pairs of wings on its back!
This angel, with lifelike, black feathers and wings, was majestic and solemn, wrapping itself in layers with its black wings.
After an unknown period, Lex 'woke up' from his semi-conscious state, seeing the candles on the altar still burning silently, the ethereal mist around him not yet dispersed, and the serene, ethereal fragrance still lingering in his nostrils.
"An angel… What a wonderful experience." Lex exhaled and then ended the ritual.
Above the gray fog.
Klein had not yet left. He frowned slightly, watching the crimson star representing Chariot gradually dim.
"Chariot actually encountered the Secret Order. Since Tingen City, I haven't encountered this organization again. They are still pursuing things related to Antigonus."
"I hope Chariot can share his experiences at the next Tarot Club. I also want to know what the Secret Order is plotting."
Waving his hand, Klein enveloped himself in spirituality, simulating the sensation of falling, and disappeared Above the gray fog.
Evening.
Lex walked back to the Town.
He tested his newly acquired abilities in the deserted mountain forest to familiarize himself with them, so he could use them freely in battle.
Additionally, after his tests, he found that the skills at the Pyromaniac stage had increased in power by about 30%. The Provocation ability could not be tested due to lack of an object, but his physical fitness and combat abilities had greatly improved.
Unfortunately, there was no actual combat target, so he also couldn't test the mystical 'Conspiracy,' but he believed he wouldn't lack opportunities.
Returning to the Town, he took a shower, then changed into a new winter coat purchased from a shop in the Town, wrapping himself up tightly before leaving the inn.
Through the inn owner's introduction, Lex came to a popular restaurant in the Town.
The sign of 'Battle Axe Restaurant' featured a short-handled battle axe. Lex was reminded of 'Tomahawk Steak,' which he had heard of in his previous life but never had the chance to try, and he began to look forward to this restaurant.
Unfortunately, when the waiter presented the menu, he found that the restaurant did not have steak, let alone 'Tomahawk Steak.'
Finally, at the waiter's recommendation, Lex ordered a boiled cod, a crispy roasted pork, a beef and potato stew, and three skewers of pork meatballs.
The main course was 'Gran Crisp,' a specialty bread from the Town, and for drinks, 'Earl's Beer.'
While waiting for the food to arrive, Lex observed his surroundings but found no suspicious people, except for the loud chatter of Feysac men drinking and the occasional suggestive glances from two Feysac beauties.
"So big… so tall," Lex returned a polite smile to them and summarized.
"Mr. Rayleigh." A familiar voice rang out.
Lex looked up to see the shy clockmaker Harry walking in, saying with a surprised expression, "What a coincidence, are you dining here too?"
Lex nodded and thought, Don't you cook at home? Look at Klein, how diligent and thrifty.
"Mr. Rayleigh, I have good news for you."
"I've already contacted Artisan. He wasn't very interested at first, but when he heard about that 'demon' characteristic, he exclaimed that it was very challenging and asked me to arrange for you to meet him at his workshop tomorrow afternoon."
Harry scratched his brown hair: "I was just wondering where to find you. It's great to run into you here."
Lex smiled: "Tomorrow? Alright, I've noted it. Also, I'm staying at the 'Amber House' inn. If you need anything, you can find me there."
"I'll be staying there for a while. If I'm not around, you can leave a message with the owner."
"Alright."
Lex originally wanted to invite the clockmaker to dine with him, but the shy young man declined. He sat at a table in the corner by himself and told the waiter 'the usual,' apparently a regular customer here.
After enjoying the local delicacies of Grand Town, Lex followed the address and found the 'Red Moon' shop, located on the east side of the Town, deep within 'Flint Alley.'
Before Lex even approached, he saw two suspicious figures near the shop. They stood by the alley wall, chatting, but their eyes constantly glanced at the shop, as if observing or monitoring something…