Chapter 12 – Divination Club
On the 7th of July in Tingen, the sun spilled warmly across the streets, drawing up the last lingering traces of dampness that had settled overnight.
Ning Lu changed into a well-tailored suit, tucked the monocle into an inside pocket, and strode openly along the street looking every inch the elegant gentleman.
Ning Lu remembered that shortly after Klein Moretti became a Nighthawk he had joined a Divination Club to help play the role of 'Seer'—the club located near the house of Welch, the classmate who had died in the Antigonus incident.
He couldn't recall the exact address, but the club's tutor was the famous local diviner Haynes Vancent.
Both Aurora Order members involved in the Antigonus incident had sent letters to Mr. Z affirming their devotion to the True Creator, and Ning Lu had read both.
The countdown on the back of his hand ticked steadily; in the days ahead he had to grow far stronger to face the even starker dangers of the Su Huan world.
Digesting potions, for example. Acquiring Beyonder artefacts, for another.
The Aurora Order's rewards were generous, but his contributions so far were limited; even as one of the Gods Favored he could not expect high-level gifts without cause.
And ever since Amon had looted the Order's local treasury, funds were… rather tight.
Ning Lu still had no idea why Amon—who never appeared in Tingen in the original story—now had a clone here. From the hints the Heavenly Venerable had let slip, it might be the ripples caused by this 'Error' from outside the world.
So raising money was one reason he wanted to contact Klein Moretti—but not, he assured himself, by robbing Klein's wallet; he had no intention of turning the man into a Marauder.
What he really wanted was to reach the purse of Miss Justice of the Tarot Club. As an Aurora Order envoy assisted by Mr. Z he could gather rare Beyonder materials quickly; all he lacked was a buyer.
Conveniently, both Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man of the Tarot Club had both the money and the appetite for such materials.
Ning Lu most certainly was not inwardly mocking a certain penniless god.
Thinking this, he climbed the stairs, crossed the hall and arrived at the reception desk of the Divination Club.
The receptionist, an attractive woman, caught the scent of money about him and stepped forward with a smile. "Sir, are you here for a reading—or to join our club?"
Ning Lu studied her with ink-black eyes. "I'd like to join. A friend of mine is already a member."
"No sponsor is required; just fill in the form and pay the annual fee," she said smoothly.
May I ask your friend's name?"
Ning Lu drew out a bulging wallet and pronounced the Loenese name he had memorised: "Haynes Vancent."
He knew the fee was five pounds—he remembered because it matched the stipend of an Intis Ambassador.
The woman blinked, startled to hear their famous tutor's name from this stranger.
Recovering, she accepted the five-pound note bearing Henry Augustus's likeness and tucked it away carefully.
Please fill in the form and I'll issue a receipt—standard procedure, you understand."
Of course." Ning Lu produced a blank form, filled it briskly and slid it across.
The receptionist accepted it, wondering how he had come by their paperwork before she had given it to him.
Welcome to the Tingen Divination Club, Mr. Ning Lu Emonsal. I'm Angelica Barehart."
She pinned a membership badge to his lapel. "Since you know Mr. Vancent so well, I assume you're an accomplished diviner yourself?"
"Barely passable; I can hardly call myself a true Seer," he said, following her down the corridor. "Is Haynes here today?"
"He's lecturing on star-chart techniques. Shall I let him know you've arrived?"
"No need; I'll sit in until he finishes, then speak with him privately."
A faint smile curved his lips. "I imagine it will be… something of a surprise."
Whether surprise or shock remained to be seen—especially for Haynes Vancent, who, fresh from a blunder, would find his superior watching from the audience.