After a brief consideration, Odis added, "Great and mysterious existence, though I do not wish to oppose that formidable lady, may I seek your protection when necessary?"
Before encountering Bernadette, Odis had been reluctant to contact Klein or other members of the Tarot Club, as it often meant trouble and danger...
But now, the situation was different... Influenced by his past-life profession, Odis enjoyed conducting research, so some experiments were unavoidable.
Despite his efforts to remain hidden, his experiments had attracted the attention of powerful figures and Beyonder organizations, putting him in a precarious position...
With the 'Church of the Fool' still nonexistent, Odis had no choice but to temporarily cling to the 'Fool' for protection, thus balancing the threat posed by the Queen Mystic...
Of course, Odis could have chosen to join the Church of the 'God of Steam and Machinery' or 'Element Dawn'...
But he knew all too well that the 'God of Steam and Machinery' had questionable judgment when it came to alliances...
And joining 'Element Dawn' would be no better than aligning himself with the Tarot Club, which guaranteed him 'Demigod' status in the future...
Behind the gray fog, the 'Fool' smiled serenely upon hearing Odis's request, "You may."
This was exactly what Klein had been waiting for... it gave him complete control of the situation.
Following conventional logic, Odis said, "I shall worship and devote myself to you."
But the 'Fool' replied, "I have no shortage of believers. I prefer equivalent exchange."
As Klein had hoped, Odis pressed further, "What must I offer in sacrifice to earn your protection?"
In truth, he knew full well that sacrificing gold pounds would undoubtedly please this 'great and mysterious existence'...
After brief consideration and a quick divination, Klein responded:
"There are others like you whom I have drawn here for various reasons. They requested that I convene regular gatherings for trading formulas, exchanging materials, sharing intelligence, and commissioning tasks. I agreed..."
"...You may learn of my needs, or those of my blessed during these gatherings..."
This approach was slightly reckless, as Klein hadn't yet thoroughly vetted the stranger before him.
But his Spirituality sensed that this newcomer differed from 'Justice' and 'The Hanged Man', and even from 'The Sun' or 'The Magician'...
It was as if the mysterious gray fog itself had "invited" him...
Klein intuited that without establishing further ties, this stranger might reappear outside the doors the following night. Thus, it was better to formally invite him into the Tarot Club...
Confident in his control over the gray fog (though puzzled by its "invitation"), Klein knew that without his permission, any "invited" individual could only linger beyond those mystical doors...
After a quick divination confirmed that inviting this stranger posed no danger and might even bring benefits, Klein extended the offer.
Odis bowed slightly, "It would be my honor."
The 'Fool' declared, "Every Monday at 3 PM, free yourself from distractions." He continued, "The others have chosen codenames based on the Tarot cards. You may select one as well..."
A deck of Tarot cards materialized before Odis. He drew one at random: "The Hermit."
'Just as I expected,' Odis mused, 'I've taken The Hermit from Cattleya... I Wonder how she'll join the Tarot Club now?'
"Your codename shall be 'The Hermit.' Remember the gathering time," proclaimed the 'Fool'... Then he added, "You may pray to me in times of danger."
With a wave, Klein sent Odis back into the crimson star...
.....
Klein didn't leave immediately. Instead, he used 'dream divination' to uncover why 'The Hermit' had appeared outside the castle in gray fog...
To Klein, this realm was his private sanctuary... never before had any being approached its periphery.
"The Hermit's reason for appearing here."
"The Hermit's reason for appearing here..."
After reciting it seven times, Klein entered a meditative trance.
Soon, the gray fog parted, and he found himself back in the 'Roselle Memorial Exhibition', specifically, the reconstructed study on the second floor of the museum...
He saw his astral projection vanish abruptly, followed by the hooded Queen Mystic disappearing in pursuit.
Protected by the gray fog, she couldn't possibly trace his projection's whereabouts. Klein deduced she had relied purely on Spiritual intuition to give chase.
Meanwhile, another hooded figure remained on the bookshelf, stretching a hand toward where the Queen Mystic had vanished, as if protesting, "Hey, you forgot me!"
Then, at the spot where Klein's projection had disappeared, a gray, ethereal orb materialized.
Simultaneously, the hooded figure began to change... a vast, illusory wilderness of light unfolded behind him, and deep within it stood a towering spire...
An irresistible pull seemed to exist between the spire and the gray orb. In an instant, the orb plunged into the figure's chest, and the distant spire blazed brilliantly…
*POP!*
Klein's head exploded like a rotten melon, forcibly ejecting him from the divination.
Thanks to the gray fog's influence, his mind gradually reformed after a minute. Every shred of knowledge in his brain boiled violently before finally settling...
Then, unfamiliar memories surfaced:
Sequence 9... Mystery Pryer...
- Main Ingredients: A pair of Narslagu Mountain Ape eyeballs, 70g of star crystal.
- Supplementary Ingredients: 80ml of pure water, 8 drops of Fatsia japonica sap, 7g of white orchid powder, 9g of dragon's blood grass.
...
Sequence 9... Savant...
- Main Ingredients: Head of a brown-backed firefly, one intact five-colored leaf grass.
- Supplementary Ingredients: ...
...
Sequence 7... Warlock...
- Main Ingredients: Complete brain of a pale long-necked beast, two fruits of the Erigeron plant.
- Supplementary Ingredients: ...
...
Sequence 5... Constellations Master...
- Advancement Ritual: Drink the potion while riding a multicolored star-eyed beast under the midnight sky.
...
Klein soon realized these were fragments of Knowledge he'd absorbed from that 'wilderness of light'...
'What was that illusory wilderness? How could it inflict such damage even with the gray fog's protection?'
This was unforeseen...
The only comparable injury Klein had suffered before was self-inflicted... when he recklessly divined the origin of the blood in the 'Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem'...
Recalling 'The Hermit's' reactions, it seemed even he was unaware of his own peculiarities...
Since 'The Hermit' currently sought his aid, and the gray fog's power could fully restrain him, Klein's concerns gradually eased.
'This new member's background is far from simple,' he mused, 'He seems to harbor many secrets...'
Then he remembered his divination results... 'Perhaps it's precisely these secrets that will bring me benefits...'
A faint smile touched Klein's lips, 'With The Hermit joining, the Tarot Club has gained a new layer of mystery...'
.....
Odis awoke in his safehouse...
'Klein told me to pray to him when I'm in danger... but he didn't give me The Fool's honorific name! How am I supposed to pray without that?'