The Fallen Creator

Klein continued reading and successfully learned about the Card of Blasphemy that Emperor Roselle had hid as a bookmark, without much else.

"You can start your discussion freely now."

At that moment, The Sun Derrick raised his hand, having learned it from Miss Justice, and said, "Mr. World, the Beyonder weapon you gave me far exceeds my expectations. I've already accumulated enough contribution points to trade for the ingredients to advance to Sequence 8. I'll use the remaining contribution points to hire helpers to obtain a chance to obtain the true root and juice of the Mist Treant. I'll be able to complete the deal soon."

"Alright." The gloomy World nodded under Klein's control. He then looked around and asked again, "Mr. Death, when are you planning to meet me? I really need the Dark Patterned Black Panther Spinal Fluid and the Spring of the Elves Marrow Crystals."

"I will find you tomorrow. We will discuss it then. Anyways, does anyone have any news on the ingredients I have requested on the board?" Max asked while scanning everyone in the room.

Audrey shook her head without hesitation. After musing for a few seconds, Alger suddenly said, "There will be a grand event held on the Sonia Sea soon. Ships from the four Pirate Kings and the six Pirate Admirals will be participating."

"Heh, I should call them the seven Pirate Admirals. Another person has joined the ranks. There'll definitely be transactions of Beyonder ingredients at such an event. It's very likely that the not-very-rare Dark Patterned Black Panther Spinal Fluid or Spring of the Elves Marrow Crystals will appear. I have the opportunity to participate in this event, but what can you offer in exchange?"

"I have a lot of potion formulae, especially of the Sailor pathway. Particularly, the potion formula for Wind-blessed. Of course, it won't be cheap. Just the potion formula should be worth 2000 pounds in the open market, but to you, since you will have a lot of need for it, I can sell it to you for just goods worth 1000 pounds and a favour."

Alger frowned at the last bit of Max's sentence and many thoughts ran through his mind.

"Alright, alright. I was joking. The items on my list of requests, totalling worth 2000 pounds. It does not have to be immediately, but I will not give you the formula until you can find me at least 1000 pounds worth of ingredients."

"DEAL!" Alger exclaimed in a rather unbecoming manner, but quickly found his fault and calmed down, adjusting his clothes and sitting back onto his high-back chair.

The rest of the meeting went without any issues, except for the fact that Mr. Hanged Man did not get to know about there being a Sequence 0 above Sequence 1, and that it corresponded to being a True God.

Of course, there had been an odd moment near the end of the meeting…

Derrick thought for a moment and said, "The City of Silver has recently organized an expedition to explore deep into the darkness and found a semi-destroyed temple. The statue that's worshipped inside was a naked man nailed upside down on a cross. There were also a lot of bloodstains on its surface. Do you know which god that is?"

'This is... the True Creator! The Forsaken Land of the Gods actually has a temple of the True Creator! Judging from what The Sun said, the True Creator shouldn't exist before the cataclysm; otherwise, it would be impossible for the City of Silver to not recognize it!

Klein used his Clown ability to control his expression to prevent the shock from showing on his face.

Justice, The Hanged Man, and The World exchanged looks, shook their heads, and said in unison, "We don't know."

Just as they finished speaking, they heard Mr. Fool in the grey fog say in a deep voice, "That's the Fallen Creator."

"Indeed. It's the upside-down maniac who suffered a fate worse than death…" Max added to the Fool's statement, taking away some of his awe at that moment.

'You think I will let you remain all mysterious all the time? What is the fun in living then, oh fool?'

Klein thought for two seconds on what to say to bring the attention back to him, and deliberately said, "We have another name for the Fallen Creator. It's the True Creator. The faction that believes in 'Him' is in control of the Beyonder pathways such as the Secrets Suppliant, Listener, and Shadow Ascetic. The subsequent Sequence includes the Shepherd you mentioned before."

'Shepherd?' The silent Derrick sat up straight, his eyes filled with horror as he quickly made a connection he did not want to be true.

"Mr. Death, what do you mean by a fate worse than death?" Audrey could not help but ask.

"Oh, Ms. Justice… that answer will cost you, and it is not something you can pay just yet. Please wait until you at least become a High-sequence Beyonder before asking questions about True Gods, no matter how insane they might be."

This immediately shut the girl up, and the meeting feel into a brittle silence, which was only broken by Klein who decided to end the meeting.

…

Back in his room, Max left the apartment and headed to the warehouse which contained a large number of doors. He ensured the warehouse was locked and safe, before pulling out his Wanderer's Key and beginning the repetitive process of trying to find access points to Independence, to other worlds entirely.