Chapter 34: The Tarot Club is Finally Getting Somewhere!
"You must master the abilities of a 'Spectator' as quickly as possible and digest the potion. A clear mind and a pair of eyes that can see into the hearts of people are your most important assets for participating in this game in the future..."
"The knowledge I teach you is also essential; it is the foundation for you to gain influence and establish expert Authority..."
"Use your connections and abilities to spread these ideas subtly. When an idea begins to trend, it gains a power of its own..."
Audrey nodded vigorously, etching every word from Nairn firmly into her heart.
She felt the burden on her shoulders was heavy, but her heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of mission and accomplishment.
This feeling made her feel more excited and thrilled than even drinking the potion to become a Beyonder.
She was no longer just a noble lady raised in a sheltered boudoir who only knew how to shop and watch operas. She was participating in a great cause worthy of being written into the history books!
And all of this was brought to her by Mr. Lovers.
Mr. Lovers even guaranteed:
"Make good use of the 'Spectator' abilities and your family's energy."
"There's no need to worry about the Tarot Club members knowing your identity because of my instructions; I am standing right behind you."
"When signs of such a thing sprout, even if they are in a place forsaken and forgotten by the gods, I will pay a personal visit..."
Miss Justice was very moved.
Mr. Hanged Man didn't dare to move.
Klein watched from the side, a wave of emotion in his heart.
Look at this, look at Nairn's ability to Fool people.
With just a few words, he had fooled an innocent rich young lady into becoming a 'passionate youth' ready to devote herself to a great cause.
If this were his past life, he'd definitely be a pyramid scheme leader.
However, he also had to admit that the blueprint Nairn painted was indeed full of temptation.
Even he himself felt a bit stirred after listening.
To achieve one's personal goals while riding the tide of world progress... this kind of Open Scheme that 'achieves the grand trend while also fulfilling oneself' was truly too cool.
Because of this, Miss Justice's gaze toward Nairn became increasingly bright and burning.
The Tarot Club's agenda had basically reached its end at this point.
The posturing was done, the promises were made, and the tasks had been assigned.
Klein glanced at the crowd, who seemed to have nothing left to say, and prepared to announce the end of this gathering.
Alger was immersed in the huge shock brought by the 'Acting Method'; he felt a door to a new world slowly opening before him.
He wished he could return to the real world right now and immediately start trying the Acting Method.
He had a premonition that as long as he mastered this method, the time it would take for him to advance and digest the sequence 7 'Seafarer' would be greatly shortened.
Klein... Klein was secretly feeling proud of himself.
Although some of the spotlight had been stolen by Nairn again, overall, today's performance was quite successful.
Klein not only successfully threw out the bait of 'Roselle's diary' in exchange for The Fool's answers, but also greatly consolidated his own prestige as 'The Fool,' putting a ragtag group on the right track.
Incidentally, his Tarot Club had witnessed the reaching of a plan with immense influence.
A full sense of achievement!
The Tarot Club is finally getting somewhere!
"By your will," Alger immediately bowed his head in salute.
"By your will," Audrey also imitated The Hanged Man's salute, her tone full of reluctance.
She still had so many, many questions she wanted to ask Mr. Lovers!
For example, where to find the Beyonder materials for the subsequent 'Spectator' potions?
For example, where did Mr. Lovers recommend she start to gain influence within her family?
For example... what did Mr. Lovers actually look like?
However, even though she still had many questions and words she was reluctant to end, when Nairn also stood up to salute and say "By your will," she still heard Mr. The Fool's words:
"Let us look forward to the next gathering."
The crimson light receded like a tide, and the figures of Audrey and Alger instantly became blurred and illusory. In less than a second, they shattered completely and disappeared Above the Gray Fog.
In the empty divine hall, only 'The Fool' Zhou Mingrui and the 'Lovers' Nairn, who was still sitting leisurely opposite him, remained.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
Their eyes met.
It was a bit awkward.
The air seemed to freeze.
Klein maintained 'The Fool's' deep posture, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the mottled bronze long table, exposing his inner state.
Wait, what's going on?
Isn't the meeting over?
Gray fog, oh gray fog, give me some help here! Who is the master here? Why can't I kick him out?
"Useless Fog"!
Being a meeting host is just too lacking in prestige!
Awkwardness, shame, and a trace of helplessness surged into his heart together.
Klein really wanted to ask something, like "Why haven't you left yet," "Nairn, how did you do it," "Why can you come and go as you please here"... and so on.
But the words reached his lips and were all swallowed back down.
He leaned forward slightly and spoke in a tone of seeking advice, with just the right amount of respect:
"Senior Nairn, are there any instructions?"
With one sentence, he instantly switched from the awkward identity of 'meeting host' to the role of a 'junior' humbly seeking guidance.
That's right, this isn't called refusing to leave; this is called a private meeting. The senior wants to give me, a junior, some private tutoring!
Once his thinking opened up, Klein's mood immediately became much smoother.
Senior Nairn staying behind was definitely not to laugh at him.
Is this... a private meeting?
Right, it must be!
There are too many people at the Tarot Club, and some secrets are inconvenient to reveal. Now that only the two 'fellow countrymen' are left, it's the perfect time for private coaching and tutoring!
Klein's mind instantly became active.
There were too many things he wanted to know.
For example, the Antigonus Family's notebook.
He had thrown out this topic at the Tarot Club earlier to test the reactions of The Hanged Man and Justice, but a deeper purpose was to see Nairn's attitude.
That notebook could make the Nighthawks squad and official organizations like the Church of the Evernight Goddess go crazy, not hesitating to invest a large amount of manpower and resources to find it. Its importance was self-evident.
But what about Nairn?
Nairn's reaction at the time was as flat as if he were listening to an insignificant piece of street gossip, which made Klein very disappointed.
Now, only the two of them were left.
This should finally be private tutoring time, right?
About the destruction of the Antigonus Family, about the true purpose of the Evernight Church, about the truth behind the Captain and the others searching for the notebook... he had too many questions, like a tangled mess, occupying his heart.
He felt like a moth caught in a spider's web; no matter how he struggled, he was only wasting his strength in vain.
And Captain Dunn Smith, Old Neil—what roles did they play in this web?
A terrifying thought emerged in his mind: Was there a deeper purpose behind the Nighthawks' search for the notebook that he completely couldn't imagine?
Now, the opportunity had come!
Senior Nairn was going to give him a lesson!
Nairn was perhaps the only person who could help him see through this web.
A trace of burning expectation unconsciously appeared in Klein's gaze.
He couldn't wait!
He was ready at any moment to listen respectfully and welcome a brainstorm.
However, Nairn's reaction was completely beyond his expectations.
As for Nairn, he 'proactively' stayed on the gray fog for a while, but his purpose was contrary to Klein's expectations.
He just looked at Klein, and the playful smile on his face suddenly retracted a bit, replaced by... an apology that Klein completely couldn't understand?
"Klein," Nairn's voice was still relaxed, but carried a trace of a strange meaning, "I have to apologize to you first."
Apologize?
Klein was completely dazed.
Apologize? For what?
You, elder, gave me money and cheats, and even helped me keep up appearances; I can't thank you enough. What kind of apology are you giving me?
Could it be because you stole my spotlight just now? Surely not, is my vision that narrow?
"Senior... you are..." Klein didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Nairn's reaction made Klein feel a bit strange, even fearful.
Don't say it, don't say it, Mr. Nairn, don't say it.
I can't even thank you enough!
But Nairn only held up a finger and shook it gently, the curve of his mouth becoming mysterious again.
"For a sufficiently wonderful drama that is about to happen around you."
His voice was very light, yet like a small hammer, it struck Klein's heartstrings precisely.
"It might cause you a bit of... a little trouble."
"But please believe me, the process will definitely be very, very interesting."
"And, the ending is also good."
As the words fell, Nairn stood up and stretched, as if those words just now were just a casually mentioned weather forecast.
"Alright, time's up. I won't disturb you while you get familiar with your new home."
He waved at Klein with a bright smile.
"I have a date, excuse me."
In the next second, under Klein's shocked gaze, Nairn's figure was not wrapped and shattered by crimson light like Audrey and the others.
His figure began to become blurred and illusory, just like Audrey and Alger just now, but there was an essential difference—
He was not'sent away' by the power of the gray fog, but was actively and calmly 'disconnecting' from this space.
Coming and going as he pleased.
He really could come and go as he pleased!
The whole process was smooth and natural, without the slightest hesitation.
Klein's pupils shrank sharply.
He once again clearly realized that Nairn possessed the Authority to freely enter and exit this place Above the Gray Fog!
From the very first Tarot Club meeting, this man was not 'pulled' in by him, but was cooperating with him in acting!
An indescribable sense of shame surged into his heart, but it was quickly replaced by a more complex emotion.
Senior Nairn... what exactly does he want to do?
Just as Klein's mind was in a mess, Nairn's figure had completely disappeared from the divine hall.
Only a light farewell remained, echoing in the empty hall.
"See you next meeting, Mr. The Fool."
And in the empty, deathly silent palace, only Klein was left, sitting blankly on that high-backed chair belonging to 'The Fool.'
Nairn's last few sentences echoed repeatedly in his mind.
"A drama... happening around me?"
"A little trouble?"
"The ending is good."
Klein felt it was a bit inexplicable.
Why didn't Senior Nairn explain clearly!
Could it be related to himself?
What on earth does he want to do!