Chapter 2: The Emperor Card

In the "sefirah Castle," Hobert regained his memories related to the "Nation of Disorder." He now believed that his amnesia was a form of self-protection. Only within the primordial essence, which can block contamination from high-ranking sequences or outer gods, could he recover those memories.

Hobert then realized that his connection with the "Nation of Disorder" might be similar to Klein's connection with the "sefirah castle." However, comparisons are painful—look at Klein's "sefirah castle," which allowed him to initiate the Tarot Club right after his transmigration. In contrast, the "Nation of Disorder" he was bound to was a complete mess.

With a wry smile, Hobert stood up and said, "Great and mysterious Fool, thank you for your help." Without "Klein's" timely intervention, Hobert felt he might have gone completely insane. Even if he was lucky, he'd still be crazy for several hours.

He thought about his foster mother, sister, and brother, all asleep, while his foster father was on a business trip. If he went mad, there would be almost no one to stop him, and the consequences were unimaginable.

Klein ignored Hobert's thanks, as if to say, "This was a trivial matter." In a deep and mysterious voice, he asked, "How did you learn my name?" Klein was puzzled. He had designed his three-part honorific only a week ago. After telling "Justice" and "The Hanged Man" in the gray fog, this young man had been summoning him every night since.

The most confusing part was how this young man knew the Fool's honorific, making Klein feel a chill down his spine. He wouldn't have brought such an unpredictable factor into the gray fog if he hadn't seen signs of Hobert losing control today.

Hobert had already thought of an answer: "Honorable Fool, I began showing signs of madness a month ago. I prayed to the gods for help but received no response. In my most desperate moment, a gray fog appeared in my mind, and I heard your honorific." This answer was unscientific, but in the mystical world, the unscientific was the norm.

Klein was even more confused, suspecting that the gray fog might have revealed his honorific. Hobert moved on from the topic: "How can I thank you for your help?"

"No need to thank me," Klein replied. He had encountered enough mysticism to neither fully believe nor completely disbelieve Hobert's explanation. Hobert asked again, "Honorable Fool, how can I escape my fate of madness?" He regretted it immediately, knowing that the current Fool's knowledge of mysticism wasn't as extensive as his. Asking might embarrass the Fool.

So, Hobert quickly added, "What kind of sacrifice must I make to escape my fate of madness?"

"I am a Fool who likes equivalent exchange. No sacrifices are necessary," Klein said. "You haven't consumed any potions. Did you come into contact with some Beyonder item and gradually go mad?" In the gray fog, Klein could see if someone had taken potions. The young man's aura was darker than normal, but he was not extraordinary.

Ordinary people could lose control for two reasons: either born as a half-sequence 9, like the "monster" Ademisol Klein had met in the black market, or accidentally contacting a Beyonder item or event and being polluted by a sealed artifact. If born as a half-sequence 9, they would either have gone mad early on or not be greatly affected by Beyonder characteristics.

"That's exactly what confuses me," Hobert answered. "I haven't taken any potions or, at least, I don't think I've come into contact with any Beyonder items."

The madness started after his transmigration, but he couldn't reveal that to Klein yet.

The Fool was silent for a few seconds before saying, "There are two others like you here for different reasons. They wanted me to host regular gatherings for formula trades, material sales, information exchange, and task delegation. I agreed. You understand mysticism and can trade your knowledge with me or others here. Your questions will be answered, and your problems solved."

Hobert replied, "It is my honor."

The Fool continued, "Every Monday at three in the afternoon, free of interference."

He added, "They use Tarot card names as their codenames. You can choose one for yourself too." A set of Tarot cards appeared before Hobert, and he felt conflicted. He hadn't expected to join the Tarot Club and enter the extraordinary world this way.

But it was inevitable since he was bound to the "Nation of Disorder" upon arriving in this world. Why had the "Nation of Disorder" appeared in the Northern Continent? Was the seal of the Celestial Emperor so weak? Or was it part of some god's plan? To find out, he had to enter the Beyonder world, so joining was inevitable.

"Let fate decide my codename," Hobert thought, shuffling the cards and drawing one. "The Emperor!"

A high-profile codename. The symbol on his chair, an abstract throne with a sign of chaos and distortion, lit up.

The Fool announced, "Your codename is 'The Emperor.' Remember the meeting time. You may go back."

After Hobert returned to his body, he found himself lying twisted on the ground. His pajamas were soaked with sweat, as was his hair, as if he had bathed in sweat. He was grateful he knew of the Fool's existence.

The sky outside was already lightening, and Hobert had no more sleepiness. Today was Monday, and in the afternoon, he would attend his first Tarot Club meeting.

New book release—please collect and recommend! This is the author's fourth book, and they have a reputation for reliability. Feel free to dive in!

(End of the chapter)

50 Power stones = Extra Chapter