Xio and The Fool

Outside a house on Tucker Street, Baron Conva watched helplessly as his target "Teleported" away.

After all, with only his head left, he didn't have the ability to move. At this moment, Mrs. Aston was still affected by Jane's orders and unable to move.

As for the residents of the nearby streets, they had long been evacuated by MI9 in various ways. He couldn't find anyone suitable to reconstruct his body.

About a minute later, Lady Aston shook off Jane's orders. She immediately picked up the baron's head, carefully hid her body, and flew towards the East Borough.

Not long after they left, an ordinary-looking, grizzled elder slowly walked out of the house that had been mostly destroyed as the exit of the sealed space.

He stared in the direction of the baron and Lady Aston as he muttered to himself thoughtfully, "It didn't cause any reaction… Could it really not be him?"

As he spoke, he cast his gaze towards the independent space created by 1-010. It was as though the Grade 1 Sealed Artifact's seal was useless against him.

The military obtained 1-025… Whose plan was this? That Tyrant actually tacitly allowed it…

Just as the elder was pondering over the matter, the MI9 elite team, who had rushed over after receiving the call for help, walked out of the exit.

They covered each other and advanced in turn, appearing very wary… But strangely, the elder was leisurely standing not far from them, but they ignored him as though he didn't exist.

…

In an unknown space, a mummy wrapped in yellow bandages was pierced by countless brown tree branches and suspended in midair.

Its stomach bulged, and from time to time, some parts bulged and shriveled, as though it was giving birth to new life.

The mummy's mouth was open as it kept screaming in extreme pain.

However, when 1-025, which was contaminated by the Primordial Moon, underground corruption, and the aura of Sefirah Castle, was sealed in a special puppet by the military saint,

Although the mummy continued to scream, its painful cries seemed to contain an additional, indescribable feeling.

…

In the bedroom of the villa on Kingst Street, after discovering that they had "Traveled" back to their bedroom, he placed Xio on the bed.

At this moment, Xio's condition was already very serious. The black spots rapidly spread at a discernible pace, covering her neck, shoulders, arms, and chest.

"Ah!" Fors subconsciously cried out when she saw this scene. She then thought of something and hurriedly took out a bottle of restorative medicine from her sling bag.

"It's of no use…" Ebner shook his head when he saw her actions. Then, he said to the two ladies behind him solemnly, "I'm going to hold a ritual for Xio to purify those black spots… Oh, please leave for a moment."

Time was of the essence, so he didn't care how suspicious his explanation was.

Jane guessed that there might be some secret that was inconvenient for her to reveal to them, so she glanced at him and didn't ask further. She only nodded and said, "Okay, call me if you need any help."

With that, she opened the bedroom door and walked out.

Fors came to her senses and looked at the black spots that were still spreading on Xio's body. She couldn't think of a solution as her lips quivered. Biting her teeth, she suddenly turned around and left the bedroom with Jane.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Ebner, but the situation reminded her of a similar plot she had once written in her novel. There were always tragic outcomes, the kind that she couldn't even see the last time…

Therefore, she was very worried and afraid.

"Believe in Ebner. He seems to have a high chance." Jane looked at Fors, who was in a daze and patted her shoulder in consolation.

After a short battle, the two of them had some ties.

"Thank you…" Fors barely composed herself and looked at the mysterious hooded lady in front of her. She politely said, "My name is Fors. Fors Wall… Ma'am, how may I address you?"

"Just call me Jane," Jane introduced vaguely, then changed the subject. "Miss Wall, are you the author of Stormwind Mountain Villa?"

Fors didn't hide the truth as she nodded generously. "Yes, have you read my book?"

"That's my favorite novel to read," Jane said excitedly. "Can you give me an additional character?"

"Huh?" Fors wore a blank look, puzzled as to why the mysterious and powerful Miss Jane would suddenly become so friendly.

Just as they were chatting, a female voice suddenly sounded from the stairs. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Fors and Jane were alarmed as they looked in the direction of the sound. They saw a girl in pajamas with an excellent figure walking over with a lamp in one hand and a revolver in the other.

It was Fani who had been woken up by the conversation.

…

In the bedroom, after using his spirituality to seal the room, he leaned toward the bed and pressed Xio's shoulder. He quickly said,

"Do you remember what I said before?

"Quickly use ancient Hermes to recite that honorific name!

"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era…"

Xio flipped her eyelids that were pressed down by the black spots, unable to move. Her mind raced with great difficulty, and she only reacted two to three seconds later. Following that, she chanted in a low voice without any hesitation,

"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;

"The mysterious ruler above the gray fog;

"The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck…"

Just as she said that Xio was surprised to see crimson starlight surge out of the void and sweep towards her.

Above the gray fog, in the towering palace that looked like a giant's residence.

Seeing Miss Xio finally recite her honorific name and activate the "secret deed" ritual that Mr. Tower had secretly prepared, Klein suddenly felt the entire mysterious space tremble. The motionless grayish-white fog began to flow!

The crimson star representing Miss Xio emitted a tidal-like illusory glow.

Countless beams of light condensed, turning into the blurry figure of Miss Xio. This figure seemed to be bonding with a great existence, allowing her to gain a wonderful Soul Body experience.

However, there were black spots tightly circling the illusory Miss Xio, making her look extremely uneasy.

As the "secret deed" ritual was about to be completed, Klein felt agitated by the "black spots." The grayish-white fog and the mysterious space above it clearly began to ripple with power!

Klein was temporarily unable to combine these powers with his own spirituality to create Beyonder effects that could exorcise evil spirits, but according to the mysticism knowledge recorded in the "Feast of Blood," he had long prepared another method.

Lowering his gaze, Klein's gaze landed on the Fallen Morning Star necklace in his hand.

Following that, he used his spirituality as a whirlpool to draw over the pried power from the mysterious space and directed it towards the necklace like a tidal wave.

The slight tremble above the gray fog became obvious. Specks of pure light intertwined and swept towards Klein, blending with his spirituality.

"Placate!"

"Summoning Holy Light!"

At the same time, Klein activated the two powers contained in the Morning Star of Depravity and transmitted them to Miss Xio through a secret deed.

With the augmentation of the high-level powers, the two powers were essentially close to God's Bestowment.

A few seconds later, he saw the "black spots" on Miss Xio's body and Spirit Body rapidly fade away. However, there were still some ominous marks. Klein hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to pull Miss Xio's Soul Body into the gray fog to perform a thorough "sterilization".

However, before he pulled her up, Klein carefully did a divination.

…

As indescribable beams of light surrounded her, Xio, who was about to lose consciousness, suddenly felt her thoughts turn much clearer. However, before she could think further, she heard a roar.

A second or two later, the terrifying roar vanished. She then saw herself in an ancient and majestic palace, sitting beside a mottled green table. Beneath her feet was an endless grayish-white fog, and in front of her was a towering figure looking down at her.

This scene was both unfamiliar and familiar to her. She had seen it once in a "dream," but it had never appeared again after she found Ebner to exorcise the evil spirit.

That purification was actually useless… He probably knew long ago… He had always believed in this mysterious existence? That's why he didn't feel that nervous when he heard that I had chanted that honorific name…

Or even… That might've been set up by him… I'm so silly. How could I have placed such a precious book of mysticism in my study? I never even suspected that…

So that's how it is. It's no wonder he suddenly knows so much despite being an ordinary public school graduate. It's as if he knows everything! He obtained knowledge here!

However, the Church of Earth Mother seems to think highly of him… Could it be that this mysterious existence known as The Fool is related to Earth Mother?

I wonder if there's a chance of figuring out my father's grievance?

Thoughts suddenly popped up in Xio's mind, but this was clearly not a good time to think. She pursed her lips, stood up, and bowed at the figure shrouded in gray fog.

"Are you… the great King of Yellow and Black?"

"You can directly call me Mr. Fool. Have a seat," Klein smiled and replied calmly.

Xio bowed again and sat down, confirming that she had escaped the state of nearly losing control.

She secretly glanced up and thought.

"Honorable Mr. Fool, what was that black spot?"

How would I know what that is? You're so close to "Tower," so shouldn't you ask him? Although there's no basis, I feel that he definitely knows.

As he lampooned inwardly, Klein said in a calm tone,

"Your spirit and body have been corrupted by some force.

"There's no problem now."

Xio stood up and bowed when she heard that. "Thank you for your help, Honorable Mr. Fool."

"There's no need to thank me. I'm The Fool who likes fair and equal exchange. The Tower has already paid the corresponding price for this," Klein said leisurely.

"Tower? Are you referring to Ebner?" As Xio asked, she was very touched. She couldn't imagine the price that Ebner had paid. After all, the target of the transaction might very well be a deity.

Is it really Detective Ebner Bryan? I've finally confirmed it!

Shrouded in the gray fog, The Fool laughed and nodded gently.

"Yes."