Upon hearing this, Trissy's eyes shifted instantly, and she gasped, "What did you say?"
Her tone carried a hint of joy, as if she hadn't expected a chance to revert to male. When she was half-forced to drink the Demoness potion, Trissy had a minor breakdown. But after days of gloom, she gritted her teeth and continued acting.
"Pathway swap," Adrian said calmly to the young Demoness. "The *Red Priest pathway's Sequence 4 Iron-Blooded Knight can swap with Demoness. Unlike Demoness, its masculine power can transform females into males upon advancement."
Trissy's breathing grew heavy. She glared at Adrian with a dark expression, calculating how to pry the adjacent pathway's demigod potion formula from him. She knew he'd gone to such lengths to bring her here, so he must be using this as leverage to make her do something.
Adrian stood, saying softly, "The Order of the Iron Cross holds the Red Priest pathway. Otherwise, seek out the Einhorn or Sauron families. Heh, but the Order of the Iron Cross worships the True Creator, and the other two are family legacies. Of course, you could try joining the military—get lucky, and you might reach demigod?"
As if it's that easy… Trissy cursed him inwardly. Is he hinting I'll get the Sequence 4 formula by following him? Damn, does he actually have a demigod formula, or is he bluffing? What's the cost for this potion… No, I have to become a man again! Trissy opened her mouth unwillingly, staring at Adrian.
"…I accept your terms."
"Wise choice. Now, go to Tingen, infiltrate the Demoness Sect, and deliver your intel to me every Monday morning. In exchange, I'll give you acting methods for Demoness up to Sequence 6 and knowledge you can't access elsewhere. Here, this book—read it before you leave." Seeing Trissy's unease, Adrian smiled, guessing she was fretting over her potion. "Want the potion? Complete a task worth a Sequence 4 formula, or bring me another pathway's Sequence 4 formula, and I'll hand over the Red Priest formula. Heh, I could give you the potion now if you provide what I need."
"Don't forget, the Order of the Iron Cross also worships the True Creator."
With that, Adrian walked out, seemingly unconcerned that Trissy might steal the book of Beyonder knowledge. She glared at his departing figure, stomped fiercely, and dove into the book. The situation was stronger than her—she needed to leave Tingen, fast. Trissy wasn't sure if the Nighthawks would track her, but if they did, her life would likely end in prison or a desperate flee.
A pair of cold eyes opened, silently watching Trissy standing there. Ha, what book? It was all knowledge Adrian had infused into her mind using the Hidden Sage's uniqueness!
Audrey Hall eagerly donned a black robe, sneaking out without her parents' knowledge to attend a Beyonder gathering introduced by Fors. She saw Fors Wall, now her friend, and Fors's friend Xio Derecha at Viscount Glaint's doorstep. Xio chatted animatedly with Glaint, while Fors stood beside her, looking miserable, as if facing an unspeakable ordeal.
"Fors, what's wrong?" Audrey asked, observing Fors with curiosity. Hm… she's anxious, tense, but not afraid. If I had to describe it, it's like my old dread of classes I wasn't good at.
"Teacher Adrian says he's coming to check my potion digestion progress…" Fors said, utterly dejected.
From receiving the Trickmaster potion to now, Fors hadn't digested it. One day, she suddenly found a letter in her pocket, realizing the Abraham Family's mentor-student bond was real—and it came with exams!
Fors felt the panic of an impending test she hadn't prepared for.
"Uh… good luck, heh," Audrey smiled awkwardly, boarding the carriage again.
Fors, I get you. Hope you survive your 'final exam'… Praise Roselle—no, Emperor, why'd you invent such a brutal term?
At the secret gathering's entrance, the four said little more, stepping forward to knock on the wooden door—three long, two short. With a creak, the door opened slowly. In her Spectator state, Audrey saw people scattered inside, some hiding their faces with hoods or masks, others baring their features openly.
The moment the door opened, Audrey noticed a black-robed man on a single sofa.
He feels familiar… Have I seen him somewhere? Her Spectator's keen observation caught the man's familiarity. Studying him, she confirmed his hand adornments matched a singer from Glaint's literary salon! Him? A powerful Beyonder hosting gatherings?
Audrey tugged her hood, lowering her head nervously. Good thing I wore an extra cap under the hood—no one will recognize me… she thought, relieved. Fors introduced, "That's Mr. A, a powerful Beyonder and this secret gathering's organizer."
Guess Fors didn't see through… didn't see Mr. A's disguise, Audrey thought. Since Glaint had already obtained an Actor potion from Mr. A, he had no current needs. Audrey, having taken her potion, couldn't openly use the formula from Mr. Fool's Tarot Gathering…
After buying a Roselle diary from another attendee, Mr. A distributed slips, asking participants to write their needs.
Audrey pondered, writing her request on Mr. A's slip. It'll cost a bit, but it's worth it… She quietly praised herself.
…
Megose gently touched her belly, listening to her child's heartbeat. Leaning against the ship's railing, she let the sea breeze tousle her hair and brush her gaunt cheeks. The ship's owner, like her, had been aided by that great being in a crisis. Learning she was helped by that mighty lord, he gladly arranged for the captain to offer her a job.
The math and business knowledge were daunting, but for her child, Megose felt she could learn. On the ship, beyond necessary rest and socializing, she buried herself in books, studying fiercely.
She'd never lived like this before, but now she felt she was living for herself—not as someone's daughter or fiancée.
Megose gazed at the emerging coastline, her furrowed brow easing—that was East Balam, a Loen colony. It would be her sanctuary, her home, and where her child would be born.
Unseen by others, cold eyes watched Glaint, Megose, and Trissy from behind. Like loyal cameras, they streamed their experiences live to the High-Dimensional Overseer's Sefirot.
His vast form floated in the courtyard's center, calmly observing the screens showing three souls—mingling with nobles, fretting over new lives, or fleeing desperately—smiling with satisfaction. Before Him, thousands of scenes flowed, featuring humans and bizarre alien races, all united by their vibrant struggles against others.
He gazed down at these beings living for themselves, granting the free souls their due gifts. A massive light screen dominated His view, centered on Klein's figure.
Adam appeared in Tingen, dressed as a priest, standing by the street, watching Ince Zangwill hurry past, a flicker of puzzled doubt in His eyes. Adam studied the transparent eyes, pondering long, unsure why the Hidden Sage watched the tool delivering His pen.
…
"You say you found the Forsaken Land of the Gods? Ha, the Aurora Order searched for years, and you just stumbled on it?" Adrian sat across from Klein, savoring his coffee, casually responding. Klein, wistful, recalled the boy who prayed to him, puzzled. "Why's it like that? Isn't the Forsaken Land of the Gods the True Creator's sanctuary?"
"That's exactly why it's so dark, why it's called the Forsaken Land of the Gods…" Adrian shook his head, smiling. "It's too early for you to know the secrets behind it. At least wait till Sequence 8… no, Sequence 7, then I'll tell you."
"Got it," Klein nodded, sensing the gravity in Adrian's tone and dropping the topic. Thinking, he asked, "You sent me a Tarot card before, The Tower. Is that your chosen alias?"
"Yes, it's my pathway's symbol," Adrian said. "I didn't let you pull me into the Tarot Gathering earlier due to our identities. Imagine, in a meeting with just two members, someone appears representing another true god collaborating with The Fool. What then?"
"I don't know about Miss Justice, but I bet The Hanged Man would be nervous—he's not that seasoned a Beyonder," Klein chuckled, teasing the deputy commissioner. "But if you join as a 'collaborator,' future Tarot Gathering members might be wary, distrustful. They'd fear being pawns in a game between two great beings."
"I don't much care about them," Adrian downed his coffee. "I've got something like your gray fog—roughly like that painting I gave you. Besides, I shouldn't dominate the Tarot Gathering's voice; it could spark division later."
"Thanks, Old Gao. Benson was thrilled with that painting," Klein laughed. "Speaking of, it's getting late. I should head back."
"See you. Shine at the Tarot Gathering. By the way, I'm trying to recreate xiao long bao—come try some later," Adrian waved lazily, bidding Klein farewell. He strolled to a nearby food shop, buying three ice creams to bring back.
"Try this? The ice cream's pretty good."
The High-Dimensional Overseer offered an ice cream to the True Creator. The True Creator stared, then took it. Under Adrian's recent reshaping of the Aurora Order, while not fully sane, the True Creator was slightly better off than in the Fourth Epoch. His experience as the Ancient Sun God let Him seize the chance to stabilize, shifting from a hanged giant to a human form.
"Amanises didn't come? Shame, no share for her," the High-Dimensional Overseer asked. The True Creator stayed silent, and He didn't press, adjusting the vessel to help separate the True Creator's madness later while turning His gaze to the stars. Emerging from His curtain, He patted the Primordial Hunger's maw.
"Try this."
The High-Dimensional Overseer tossed the ice cream from His avatar's sacrifice into the Primordial Hunger's mouth, then sauntered off. The Primordial Hunger eyed the tiny ice speck on its tongue, paused, then dredged up ancient frost from its stomach, chilling a planet it was about to swallow, devouring it with its life in one gulp.
"Too little, but nice flavor. Maybe I'll visit Earth," the Primordial Hunger mused.
(End of Chapter)