Chapter 20: Trading with Me, See What I Have

"Miss Justice."

Ashes looked at Miss Justice, who had fallen into a state of melancholy once again, and asked, "Why are you looking for the Psychological Alchemy Society?"

He was searching for the Black Emperor to hunt down the Ashen King, but this Miss Justice might have a different reason.

"Actually," Audrey explained, "I am currently a beyonder of the Spectator pathway, so I want to find the Sequence 8 potion of the Spectator pathway before the potion is fully digested. So far, I only know that the Psychological Alchemy Society has the Sequence 8 potion of the spectator pathway."

In fact, I only learned about the Psychological Alchemy Society from Mr. Hanged Man, Audrey thought to herself.

"I don't know anything about the Psychological Alchemy Society," Ashes shook his head, making Audrey almost want to complain, 'I get it, you don't need to keep saying it!' But in the next moment, Ashes slowly said, "However, if you only want the Sequence 8 potion of the Audience pathway, I think I can help."

"Really?!" Audrey was first surprised and then overjoyed. "Is it true, Mr. Lover?"

"Yes," Ashes nodded slightly. "I know where to get it."

Arianna had provided a choice of sequences, including the Spectator pathway. He just didn't choose it, so he didn't know the exact potion. But since the Church of the Night had it, there would be a way to obtain it.

"Where is it?" Audrey asked out of curiosity and then quickly apologized, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay," Ashes said calmly. "The Audience pathway potion I know of is in the hands of the Church of EverNight. The Sequence 8 potion should be called 'Mind Reader.'"

In fact, it's not just Sequence 8 'Mind Reader.' The subsequent Sequence 7 'Psychologist,' Sequence 6 'Hypnotist,' and Sequence 5 'Dreamwalker'—these middle to low Sequence potions of the Spectator pathway are all possessed by the Church of EverNight. Or rather, the Church of EverNight has all the middle to low Sequence potions of the twenty-two divine pathways. However, the Church of EverNight has always predominantly distributed potions of the Sleepless and Corpse collector pathways to their followers, possibly because they only have the high Sequence potions of these two pathways.

But it's not necessarily the case. Given the Church of the Night's ancient history spanning thousands of years and the presence of a true god, it wouldn't be surprising if they had all the high Sequence potions for all twenty-two pathways.

But since Miss Audrey only asked about the Sequence 8 'Mind Reader,' Ashes didn't reveal more. After all, he was an apprentice, and an apprentice should be humble.

"In the Church of EverNight?" Audrey was first thrilled, then troubled. She was excited because the headquarters of the Church of EverNight was in the Ruen Kingdom, with its chapels everywhere, and Backlund being of paramount importance, where a bishop resided. But she was troubled because she didn't want to become an official Extraordinary and thus had sought the Spectator pathway potion from Mr. Hanged Man.

"In fact," seeing Audrey's troubled look, Ashes said slowly, "I am currently an apprentice in the Church of the Night. I can use my connections to help you think of a way."

"Really? That's great! Thank you, Mr. Lover!"

"What kind of apprentice has connections sufficient to get Sequence potions?" The Fool and the Hanged Man exchanged peculiar looks, quite different from Audrey's excitement and joy.

"Mr. Fool," Audrey looked at the Fool with hope and asked, "Can I also give the diary to Mr. Lover?"

"Why are you saying that so smoothly? Weren't you blushing initially?" Klein felt a bit helpless in his heart but remained expressionless. He said calmly, "Of course."

He didn't mention charging for materialization, as that would be too demeaning. Instead, he directly materialized the diary in front of Ashes—yes, it was undoubtedly stock, and the kind with little value.

"Mr. Lover," Audrey said sweetly, "This diary page will be your reward for the information. If you can get the Sequence 8 'Mind Reader' formula, I'll provide additional compensation. Is that okay?"

"Alright," Ashes was silent for a moment before nodding lightly and then lowering his head to read the diary.

"July 4th, I start this new diary, to urge myself to work harder. I must first finish reading 'A Comprehensive History of the Continent.'"

"July 13th, trivial."

"July 14th, trivial."

"July 15th, trivial."

"July 16th, Roselle, oh Roselle! How could you be so decadent! You've forgotten the study plan you made earlier? Confucius said: I examine myself three times a day. I can't go on like this!"

"July 17th, Madame Elena's oral skills are excellent."

"..."

Ashes put down the diary, expressionless.

"Miss Justice," Ashes said, "I will search for the 'Mind Reader' potion for you, but can we exchange it for something else as compensation?"

"Huh? Sure, that's fine," Audrey nodded, somewhat surprised and curious. What did the diary page record that made Mr. Lover change his mind?

"I really am a little genius!" The Fool Klein could barely hold back his laughter. This was undoubtedly his plan. Using boring diary pages to make Ashes give up on reading the diaries—after all, if it weren't for some key clues in the diaries, he wouldn't bother reading them himself.

Klein's mood brightened considerably as he continued reading the diary in his hands.

Then, he could no longer smile.

"July 14th, I met the mysterious Mr. Charlatan again. He turned out to be the leader of an ancient organization, the Secret Order."

"He told me that for low Sequences, if you strictly use the acting method, it won't take more than six months to digest the potion, and the fastest could be just one month. The standard is simple: once fully digested, every beyonder can immediately feel it. It is or it isn't."

Klein's previously joyful smile vanished. Although he gained new information, knowing that Charlatan was the leader of the Secret Order and confirming that Ashe's earlier mention of one month wasn't just nonsense but had a basis, why did he still feel unhappy?

After all, shouldn't he be the one presenting the diary's contents to others? The Fool Klein resisted the urge to cover his face, feeling very conflicted.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Klein sighed inwardly and turned his attention back to the others.

"It's our honor," Audrey stood up and bowed, feeling flattered.

Then, Miss Justice asked curiously, and with Mr. Hanged Man's explanation, the members of the Tarot Club gained some understanding of the world's secret organizations.

But when Mr. Hanged Man explained that the Witch Sect was also known as the Witch Family in the Fourth Epoch, with its members being few and relying on bloodline reproduction, killing the fathers of their children and abandoning male infants, so all members were female, Ashes suddenly interjected.

"Correction," Ashes said slowly, "There are very few real females in the Witch Sect; most are men."

"What do you mean?" Klein and Miss Audrey, who had been listening intently, looked bewildered.

"The Witch Sect possesses the Witch pathway," Ashes explained, "The corresponding low Sequences are Sequence 9 'Assassin,' Sequence 8 'Instigator,' and Sequence 7 'Witch.'"

"Sequence 7 'Witch'?" Audrey exclaimed, "Does drinking this potion turn one into a female?"

"I think so," Ashes nodded lightly. He paused and added, "So I've considered whether I should feed my pet the Witch pathway potion."

"..."

The others, initially shocked by Ashe's revelations, now looked at him with strange expressions.

"The Witch pathway seems quite suitable for Susie, but she has already drunk the Spectator potion," Miss Audrey pondered, feeling somewhat regretful. If Susie hadn't drunk the Spectator potion and had taken the Witch pathway potion instead, wouldn't she have turned into a human? Wouldn't Audrey have gained a sister?

"Although it's somewhat disgraceful," Klein felt a twinge of desire, "it does seem feasible. A beast-eared girl..." But quickly, he remembered he had no potion formula and no money, feeling a pang of sorrow. How could he afford to raise a beast-eared girl when he didn't even have a potion for himself?

"Wait!" Klein suddenly grasped something. "Sequence 8 'Instigator,' Sequence 7 'Witch'? Could the Instigator Triss have transformed into a woman by drinking the Witch potion and thus escaped successfully?"

"Because she turned into a woman, we probably wouldn't recognize her even if she stood right next to us."

"Hiss!" Klein suddenly recalled the round-faced girl he encountered on his way home last time, feeling a chill down his spine. "Could she have been Triss?"

Thus, after everyone's minds had been greatly impacted, the fourth Tarot Club meeting concluded smoothly.

(End of chapter)

50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter