14)The Pritz

"Alright, then we can be considered as the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey was the first to blurt it out happily, only to look fearfully at the fog-concealed Zhou. "Will that be alright, Mr. Fool?"

Zhou shook his head in amusement.

"You can decide on such trivial matters by yourselves."

After saying Alger to repeat the address once again, Audrey started to talking about the history of tarot cards,

"But I have also heard that Emperor Roselle had actually created another set of cards, secret and mysterious ones. They were paper cards which symbolized a particular unknown power. There was a total of twenty-two cards that he completed. Later on in life, he referenced them to create the twenty-two Major Arcana tarot cards which are used as a gaming tool. Was what I said correct?"

"That's right. It is said that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemy Slate and that set of paper cards contain the profound mysteries of the twenty-two paths of the divine."Alger answered in a deep voice.

" Indeed, twenty-two tarot cards, twenty-two beyonder pathways." Edessak added.

"Twenty-two paths of the divine…" recited Audrey with a yearning tone.

At this very moment, Zhou's headache intensified, and he felt that his invisible connection with the crimson stars and the grayish-white fog ws beginning to falter.

"Alright, that will be all for today's gathering," he said in a deep voice after making the decision immediately.

"By your will." Edessak bowed his head respectfully.

"By your will." Miss Justice and Mr.Hanged Man mimicked his action.

As Mr.Fool severed the connection, he said with a smile, "Let us look forward to the next gathering."

The 'stars' brightened once more as the crimson light receded like a tide. Just as Audrey, Alger and Edessak heard Mr. Fool's words, their figures turned into a blur as they phased away.

With the breaking of projection, Zhou found himself back in his apartment.

"It was like a dream… What the heck was that foggy world… Who or what sort of power created the changes that just happened…" Zhou Mingrui sighed softly.  After a long while, he suddenly let out a sigh and said in Mandarin, "From the looks of it, I won't be able to return any time soon…","From this moment forth, I'm Klein."

***

Hall Manor, Empress Borough.

Audrey Hall pinched herself in the cheeks to make sure that what had occured wasn't a dream.On the dressing table in front of her, the old bronze mirror had shattered into pieces.She cast her gaze downwards and saw the swirling "crimson" on the back of her hand; it was like a tattoo depicting a star.

The "crimson" gradually faded and disappeared into her skin.Only at this point in time was Audrey certain that it was not a dream. She couldn't help but pump her fist in joy, once she became a real Beyonder, maybe then she could get close to that cute prince. Little Susie sighed in doggy language as she watched her mistress curtseying towards thin air and start dancing lively. It was the "Ancient Elf Dance", the most popular dance among royalty at the moment.

***

The Royal Navy base, Pritz Harbor, Oak Island.

When Audrey took her father Earl Hall's arm and stepped down from the carriage, she was abruptly amazed by the juggernaut in front of her.In the military anchorage not far away, there was a huge vessel shimmering with metallic reflections. It did not have a sail, leaving only an observatory deck, two towering chimneys, and two turrets at the edges of the ship.It was so majestic and enormous that the cavalcade of sails nearby were like newborn dwarfs clustering around a colossus.

"Goddess"

"Holy Lord of Storms…"

"Oh, m'lord."

"An ironclad warship!"

Amidst the furore, Audrey was also amazed by this phenomenal spectacle created by humanity. It was an ocean wonder that had never been seen before! It took a while for the nobles, officials, and members of parliament to collect themselves. Then, a black spot on the sky began to grow in size until it occupied a third of the sky and entered everyone's view. The atmosphere suddenly became dignified.

It was a tremendous flying machine with a beautiful streamlined layout hovering in mid-air. The profound blue machine had airbags made of cotton which were supported by alloy structures that were strong but light. The alloy structure's bottom had openings mounted with machine guns, projectile launchers, and muzzles. The unreasonable humming noise from the ignition steam engine and the tail blades produced a melody that left everyone stunned.

The King's family arrived on their airship, exuding a lofty and indisputable authority.

Two swords, each with a ruby crown at the handle, were pointing vertically down and reflected the sunlight on both sides of the cabin. They were the "Sword of Judgment" emblem which symbolized the Augustus family and has been passed down from the previous epoch.The marvel that mankind used to conquer the sky touched down gently. The first ones to step down the stairs were the handsome young guards who wore red ceremonial uniforms with white trousers. Decorated with medals, they formed two lines with rifles in hand. They were awaiting the appearances of King George III, his queen, and the prince and princess. As the King descended followed by the Queen, Crown Prince Jevington and the famous Prince General Edessak who turned towards the crowd and gave a endearing smile as the mob applauded.

The ceremony commenced with the arrival of the king's family. The incumbent Prime Minister, Lord Aguesid Negan, went up to the front. He was a member of the Conservative Party and the second non-aristocrat to become the Prime Minister till this very day. He was given the title of a Lord for his great contributions.Aguesid who was a slender and almost bald fifty plus year old man with a sharp gaze. He surveyed the area before speaking,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe you have witnessed this history-making ironclad warship. It has dimensions of 101 by 21 meters. It has an amazing port and starboard design. The armor belt is 457 millimeters thick. The displacement is 10060 tonnes. There are four 305-millimeter main cannons, six rapid-fire cannons, 12 six-pound cannons, 18 six-barrel machine guns, and four torpedo launchers. It can reach a speed of 16 knots! It will be the real hegemon! It will conquer the seas!"

The crowd was roused. 

Aguesid smiled and spoke a few more lines before honoring the monarch and petitioned, "Your Majesty, please give it a name!"

"Since it will set sail from Pritz Harbor, it should be named "The Pritz," George III acknowledged. His expression revealed his pleasure.

"The Pritz!"

"The Pritz!"

"The Pritz!"

"The Pritz!"

…