When Luke's Spirit Body arrived at the Gray Castle, there were already people waiting for him.
Before he could even think properly, though, his eyes landed on the high-back chair at the end of the table, which had remained empty during his last visit.
Presently, a mysterious figure, surrounded by gray fog, was seated there.
Mr. Fool!
Luke's eyes widened, and he hurried to bow, but stumbled.
A weakness, from the depths of his soul, crossing dimensions along with his Spirit Body, surfaced, making him dizzy.
Suddenly, an enormous amount of gray fog churned and wrapped itself around Luke.
A sense of freshness and calm pervaded his mind, making him straighten his spine.
This time when Luke bowed, he bowed with a little more reverence. "Thank you, Mr. Fool," he said. "It's an honor to be in your presence again."
Mr. Fool nodded. "Take your seat, Mr. Devil. We have a lot to discuss in a limited time."
Luke lifted his head and nodded at the rest of the Tarot Club members, who nodded back at him… a touch more eagerly and enthusiastically this time? Even as he sat down next to Mr. Star, he couldn't help but wonder about that.
"Before we begin," Mr. Fool said, looking at Luke, "I will share the adventures you have been through with the rest of the members since your last appearance here. There will be no personal matter; only the events that need to be addressed will be shared, saving us time. This can also serve as an advance payment for the questions you have."
Equal and fair exchange… Luke remembered the Tarot Club's policy — a policy that he was trying to implement in the Apostles of Mr. Fool, too.
As he nodded, several motes of light left Luke and entered the Tarot Club members' minds.
In only a few moments, their bodies began stirring as if they were going through intense emotions and experiences.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it finished.
This time, when the Tarot Club members looked at him, Luke didn't sense eagerness and enthusiasm, but total disbelief.
"With your permission, Mr. Fool," Miss Justice suddenly said, standing up, "I would like to say a few words to Mr. Devil."
The God nodded.
Luke was already taken aback by her request, though.
He had learned that it was customary for Mr. Fool to finish giving directions before the rest of the members could begin discussions.
For Miss Justice to suddenly break that tradition… did he do something wrong?
A womanly chuckle echoed across the vast hall of the Gray Castle. "No, Mr. Devil, you haven't done anything wrong," she said, accurately guessing his thoughts. "It's the opposite. You have done a commendable task. A task that the rest of us are also striving for, albeit much more slowly because of the difference in time between our and your worlds. I think I represent everyone's thoughts here when I say… Thank you."
Every single Tarot Club member nodded, repeating, "Thank you."
Luke hadn't even blushed this much when he was facing Momo only a few days ago.
As Miss Justice sat down, he nervously looked toward Mr. Fool, trying not to look straight at him. "Is it because of… me dedicating the miracle to you?"
Mr. Fool nodded calmly.
"Your actions didn't bring me true followers, Mr. Devil," He said. "However, despite lacking in faith, your words resonated in the hearts of millions of people. That's why I am presiding over this meeting today. As it would have taken a few more months otherwise."
Luke… was dumbfounded.
He had obviously known that the vague words he had left behind at the end of the Kamino Incident through Mushroom-nimi weren't nearly enough to make people start believing in Mr. Fool.
They had been nothing but a foundation, over which he needed to build a castle with his subsequent actions.
But Luke hadn't guessed in his wildest imagination that it would have been enough to affect Mr. Fool's unusual state.
"If that's so…" Luke said, thinking, "… I can attempt to repeat things through another event. Again and again."
"…"
Gaping, a few members like The Sun and The Moon looked at Mr. Fool, trying to gauge the feasibility of such a thing.
Mr. Fool didn't reply, though.
Taking a cue, The Hanged Man cleared his throat. "That would be counterproductive, Mr. Devil," he said, catching attention. "First, you have already generated curiosity regarding Mr. Fool in your world, for better and worse. Better because of obvious reasons. Worse, because of Conformity, Singularity, and others, who might get spooked by Mr. Fool's sudden influence in your world.
"Second, a repeated, similar undertaking would not bring Mr. Fool more followers and would only end up working against you. It might even make your last claim, dedicating All Might's health to Mr. Fool's benevolence, look like a cheap attempt to make headlines, with no solid evidence backing it up.
"For now, people are curious… You must capitalize on that curiosity, turning a few people into true followers, instead of countering the lack of quality with quantity."
This time, it was Luke's turn to gape.
Damn… Luke cursed, astounded. All the Decryptions and I still couldn't outsmart Mr. Hanged Man's thought process… He truly must be an extraordinary figure in Mr. Fool's world.
"I will work on your advice, then, Mr. Hanged Man," Luke said. "People in my world have short attention spans because of social media content. But… I think I can capitalize on that, generating many AI-generated reels on Mr. Fool and spreading His name across continents, until I find a way, or an opportunity, to turn that curiosity into true faith."
"…"
There was pin-drop silence in the Gray Castle.
Luke had a very hubris feeling that Mr. Fool had just… smiled.
"That's alright," Mr. Fool said with a nod, breaking the silence. "Now, let's discuss the true matter of importance. Ask."
Luke gulped.
He truly wanted to ask about Amon first, but he could still feel the lightning coursing through him. He could still see that… worm. It was obvious to him now where that lightning had come from.
"May I ask why you struck me with the lightning, Mr. Fool?" Luke asked. "And… what was that ringed worm?"
"The lightning was to expel that worm," Mr. Fool answered the first question.
When He answered the second question, Luke almost stood up in terror.
"… that worm — was the parasite infesting your world — Amon."