22) Autumn Approaching
"The Fallen Creator… Fallen…"
Hanged Man ruminated over Mister Fool's words and fell deep in thought. Nonetheless, what struck Alger the most was The Fool's relaxed, natural, and nonchalant attitude.
He acted as if they were equal!!!
Innocent Alger who unaware of Klein's posturing, now was of the opinion that even if The Fool was inferior to the True Creator, he was at least close to that level.Alger spoke with a smile, "Mr. Fool, your description is indeed more appropriate. According to our observations, Beyonders who believed in the True Creator, no—the Fallen Creator, have a higher probability of losing control. The rest of them are mostly psychopaths." Klein who had no clue, maintained his seated posture but didn't continue with the conversation.He was still considering how to inquire about the Secret Order and Clown potion, but he couldn't figure out a way of asking the questions in a way that fit with his persona.
Upon seeing The Fool remain silently engulfed in the thick gray fog, Audrey asked both wistfully and curiously, "That sounds scary. Mr. Hanged Man, Mr.Emperor and Hanged man could you share, in detail, information about each, and every mysterious organization? And also the matters regarding each secret cult? It's hard for me to come into contact with them during my daily life. I can only understand them through the both of you. I'm willing to pay for it. May I know what you'd like in return?"
'That's a great question! Miss Justice, you're playing the role of my smurf account to a certain extent… This way, both will definitely bring up the Secret Order… You're the best!' Klein's mind stirred when he heard that, but he didn't let his emotions show through his expression or movements. Alger thought for a moment before saying, "I need money—a thousand pounds. It'd be best if they weren't bills marked by a serial number. Or maybe gemstones that have just been unearthed. Price them according to the Backlund Jewelry Exchange's monthly average price."
'A thousand pounds? That's a huge sum of money. It could be used to buy a house in a high-class street in Tingen City! Not everyone would have that available immediately… Captain might have an annual salary like that, I guess? Hayley's death compensation was only three hundred pounds… Although Miss Justice is a noble, she obviously hasn't inherited her family's wealth yet, and she'll only be receiving some sort of annual allowance… Hmm, it's no wonder that The Hanged Man stated that it could be paid via gemstones…' Klein was very susceptible towards financial structures. Luckily, he was coated in thick fog or else his money grubberness would free for all to spectate.Even in Backlund, a single lady or madam, two thousand pounds could let her live a decent life! If two thousand pounds were invested, the investment could reliably produce an annual return of about a hundred pounds. "A thousand pounds?" Audrey said, sounding astonished. She then replied happily, "No problem, do I send it to the previous address?" 'Judging by Miss Justice's tone, she finds it very cheap?' Mr.Fool didn't look over.
Edessak silently observed the conversation
Alger was quiet for a good twenty seconds before he said, "Yes, send it to the Warrior & Sea Bar at Pelican Street, in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Tell the boss, Williams, that it's what the 'Captain' wants."
"Alright." Audrey leaned back and posed in a Spectator-like manner. "Mr. Hanged Man, you can start now." Alger looked at The Fool and then at Emperor, he deliberated for a moment before saying unhurriedly, "Let's start from the Moses Ascetic Order. It is the earliest hidden organization. Of course, many think that the earliest hidden organizations are the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of Mother Earth, and the Church of the God of Combat.
"These people must be from the Church of Lord of Storms, the Church of Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom," Audrey rebutted sulkily.
'The Church of the Goddess is the earliest hidden organization?' That was the first time Klein had heard of such a claim.
'What exactly happened in the Fourth Epoch or the Third Epoch???'
Alger smiled and said, "The truth is buried in ancient history. Only one thing is certain: no one has ever said that the Church of Lord of Storms, the Church of Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom were once hidden organizations.
Edessak added in sluggish baritone, "Every orthodox organisation was once a hidden organisation in third epoch."
"Alright, let's save some time and return to main topic. The Moses Ascetic Order was first established by a few humans that had read the Blasphemy Slate. They believed in an non-anthropomorphic god, called 'the Hidden Sage'." Alger continued, "The description is that of a god, but it is more of an ideology, a natural law. For example, all objects are numeric. The Hidden Sage is an embodiment of Spirit Numerology. Or that knowledge is supreme, and the Hidden Sage is knowledge itself. Hence, the original Moses Ascetic Order was a very respectable organization, and it maintained a good relationship with the other major churches. The members of the organization led ascetic lives to resist losing control and to resolve the effects of the Remnant potion. They strictly kept their order's secrets, and they upheld moral and religious precepts. They believe that humans continuously reincarnate after death…
The Sequence 9 that they grasp is called Mystery Pryer… The word 'Warlock' was also spread from that organization."
Audrey listened to The Hanged Man's description carefully and asked sharply, "You said that the Moses Ascetic Order used to be a respectable organization. Are they not one anymore?" Hanged Man bobbed his head indiscernibly and spoke, "Yes, they have fallen into corruption and are now an evil organization." "Why? I find their beliefs very good and very normal," Audrey conveyed her turmoil. That was Klein's predicament too. The information that he could get at his security clearance didn't provide the reason for the Moses Ascetic Order's fall from grace.
Alger looked at the unfathomable Fool and tersely agreed, "I am not sure of the real reason. It might be because it has been buried by history. However, I have heard one terrifying explanation. In that story, the main reason why the Moses Ascetic Order fell into corruption was because the god that they believed in, the Hidden Sage, had come to life!
He became the personification of an evil good!!!"
"Came to life? This… how?" Audrey found it unbelievable as she replied with an incredulous manner.Without realizing it, she had exited from her Spectator state.
It's like a horror story, but the ghost is even a god… Klein's heart stirred with a surge of emotions as well. "I'm sorry, no one knows the answer." Alger had originally wanted to casually say, "Maybe Mr. Fool would know," but he held back the urge.He had already teetered on the borders of danger once.
In the The Book of Storms 5:7, there was a saying that Alger remembered clearly, which was: "Do not test God!". Klein maintained his seated posture and his silence, validating The Hanged Man's descriptions with his own understanding. Audrey calmed herself down and didn't press for more answers. She gestured for him to continue, at that moment Edessak spoke up as Justice and Hanged Man turned towards him, "The Hidden Sage is not a true God, only a pretender, he is King of Angel Sequence 1 Knowledge Emperor of the Mystery Pryer pathway but due some reason he's mad." Both Alger and Audrey controlled their inquisitiveness, as they were not even aware of terms as King of Angels. Audrey couldn't help but ask "Mr.Emperor can you tell us more about about King of Angels?" "I shall answer your questions but in a future date, certain knowledge in our world can lead to people losing control and falling to madness. So I'll be answering when you guys reach sequence 6" Mr.Emperor said as Audrey and Alger nodded their heads in reluctance.
After a further exchange of information, Klein announced the end of the Gathering.
"By your will." Edessak ,Audrey and Alger stood up unison and bowed towards the seat of honor.
***
As Edessak's eyes opened and his consciousness returned to his Bedroom, he gazed towards the clear evening sky lf Tingen and felt the summer heat receding. He knew as July ended, Autumn shall arrive and with it shall come Lavenus's child, Disaster of Tingen and his opportunity to advance.