How did you all find Qilangos? Mr. White Tower, you're way too fast! Audrey, who'd only traced Qilangos through Fors and Xio's efforts, gaped, thinking Adrian had already located him, rendering her intel useless. Guilt gnawed at her—if her information was pointless, she'd endangered two people and caused an innocent's death…
Audrey thought of the brutally killed man. Though Fors's letter detailed his past crimes, the still-naive Audrey felt remorse for his fate.
But seeing Mr. White Tower stay silent, his expression hesitant, Audrey realized she'd misread him. It dawned on her: Mr. White Tower had only partial intel and couldn't fully pinpoint Qilangos! Otherwise, he wouldn't look so uncertain.
Her confidence surged. She trusted her Beyonder abilities—a Spectator's conviction.
One could only say: never overly trust your Beyonder traits. Your eyes deceive you, your abilities deceive you—only a certain pure Outer God never would…
"Ahem." Adrian coughed lightly, pulling his thoughts from inwardly mocking Audrey.
"I request a private discussion with Miss Justice," Adrian said gravely to Klein, feigning deliberation. Audrey nodded, agreeing. Klein, maintaining The Fool's stoic facade, calmly gestured, enveloping their seats in gray fog to isolate them.
Alger, feigning indifference, twitched slightly, disappointed at missing free intel. Bound by The Fool's authority, he could only sit, exchanging awkward glances with Derrick, waiting for their talk to end.
In the fog-sealed space, Audrey, alone with Adrian, felt an inexplicable tension. Though they'd met only a few times at Tarot Gatherings, the White Tower before her now felt starkly different from the approachable, mysterious, powerful figure in public.
Compared to his congenial public persona, Adrian now exuded an intangible oppression, a strange despair.
If The Fool evoked power, majesty, and unattainable heights, Mr. White Tower now radiated an eerie pressure and ominous dread.
This odd oppression… or majesty? Strange. I never sensed this from Mr. White Tower before. Did his public demeanor mask it?
He's surely a high-Sequence Beyonder, but not as strong as The Fool! Hmm… which pathway's ability does this?
Audrey's thoughts wandered until a soft chuckle snapped her back to reality.
"Miss Justice, regarding The Hanged Man's task, we're not competitors," Adrian said with a light laugh, tapping the table. "Heh, did you hire Fors to track Qilangos?"
Audrey nearly nodded, her Spectator state faltering. Stifling a gasp, she barely controlled her expression as a chilling thought struck: Does Mr. White Tower know my real-world identity? Did Fors betray me?
Adrian chuckled softly. "I know what you're thinking, Miss Justice. Heh, Fors is my student, but even so, she strictly honored your contract—she never revealed her employer. However, Qilangos's task was only shared at the Tarot Gathering. In Loen, it could only be you besides me. Simple deduction."
"Mr. A recently announced a search for Qilangos at his Beyonder gathering. I didn't hire anyone externally," Audrey said firmly, trying to sound mature. But Adrian nodded, "Ah, I instructed Mr. A to do that. So, it was you who sent Fors and Xio after Qilangos."
—You tricked me, Mr. White Tower!
Audrey's eyes blanked momentarily, but she quickly recovered, her face puffing up like an indignant pufferfish. Adrian smiled, gallantly extending a hand. "We need some trust. Let's reintroduce ourselves, Miss Justice."
He doesn't know my name yet… Audrey slipped back into her Spectator state, calmly analyzing. But his next words froze her hand mid-air.
"I'm Adrian Abraham," he said, brimming with mischief. "Seems you know me—hah, a Loen noblewoman familiar with me. You must be Miss Audrey Hall. Hello, Miss Hall. We met briefly at Viscount Glaint's banquet."
"Y-you…" Audrey's face flushed, at a loss for words. Having achieved his goal, Adrian used his Sefirot to capture the moment, then spoke gently, "Calm down, Miss Hall. I mean no harm—sigh, your information security is too lax. For Beyonders, a single clue can unravel everything. I've shared my name, a sign of my sincerity."
Speechless, Audrey listened as Adrian continued, "If you still don't trust me, I can ask The Fool to vouch for me. My presence at the Tarot Gathering proves I've passed The Fool's scrutiny, right? I wouldn't dare deceive a deity, Miss Hall."
Deity?
Audrey and Klein simultaneously glanced at Adrian's smiling face—Audrey in shock, Klein in confusion. Barely maintaining his divine composure, Klein said calmly, "Don't let it happen again."
"My apologies, Mr. Fool," Adrian said, his face apologetic, bowing slightly. Audrey's shock lingered, her reverence for The Fool deepening: He didn't deny it! I'm facing a deity on par with the Evernight Goddess or Lord of Storms! Which great being is The Fool…?*
But Adrian's unruffled voice cut through, "Mr. Fool, I'd like to continue speaking with Miss Justice."
*Wow, Mr. White Tower, your composure is unreal—no, he must've known The Fool's identity from the start, so he's unfazed…*
"Fine," Klein said. Unsure of Adrian's intent but trusting his fellow transmigrator, he played along.
Adrian smiled at Audrey. "Miss Justice, let's keep this brief, alright?"
He doesn't want our real names exposed…In her Spectator state, Audrey nodded elegantly. "Yes, Mr. White Tower."
Adrian cleared his throat. "First, regarding The Hanged Man's task, we should share intel."
"How so?" Audrey, twice outwitted by Adrian, asked cautiously.
"My people have identified Qilangos's motive. He's in Backlund to assassinate someone, but we lack key clues to locate him," Adrian said, exploiting Audrey's earnest nature. "My useless student asked me a slew of questions—hah, describing Qilangos's appearance. I couldn't confirm you issued the task then, so I didn't pry. You've likely made further progress, right?"
Indeed… Fors and Xio found Qilangos but nearly died… Audrey thought. Seeing Adrian's candor, she lowered her guard slightly. "Yes, Mr. White Tower."
"Qilangos killed a vagrant this morning—he likely noticed our pursuit. After the killing, he didn't flee but ambushed Fors and Xio…" Audrey's tone grew serious. "They escaped by luck, but I have no more specific intel."
"I see. The intel's still too sparse to track Qilangos. But perhaps I can try divination," Adrian said gravely. "Mystical matters call for mystical solutions."
"You have divination abilities, Mr. White Tower?" Audrey asked.
"Nope," Adrian said flatly, leaving Audrey gobsmacked. He chuckled, "I have a friend…"
That friend's me, isn't it? Not cool, Adrian! At least share some of the reward… Klein thought, grumbling inwardly. As Adrian and Audrey finished, he dispelled the gray fog isolating them.
Seeing them reappear, Alger tensed, his gaze burning into Adrian's smiling face. He desperately wanted to know what they'd discussed and how it affected him! It's definitely about Qilangos… Alger thought, experienced enough to know White Tower wasn't as naive as Justice. His plan to hire two for one reward was likely crumbling.
"I exchanged intel with Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man," Adrian said with gentlemanly poise. "We've shared Qilangos-related info and are preparing to organize a hunt. But this raises the issue of our rewards. I'd like to propose an alternative."
"Speak," Alger said, his voice steady.
"I suggest you pay Miss Justice her due share, while we stick to our original deal. After all, she contributed," Adrian said, deliberately proposing terms Alger would resist or haggle over. Alger's brow rose. "That's unreasonable, Mr. White Tower. Our agreements with you and Miss Justice already set the rewards."
"As for your intel-sharing…" Alger shrugged, his tone seasoned, "That's between you and Miss Justice. My final gains haven't increased."
Another one hooked. Knowing Alger's nature, the High-Dimensional Overseer mused. People prefer compromise. Ask The Hanged Man to change payment terms, and he'll resist; suggest paying double, and he'll gladly accept a revised deal.
Adrian's goal wasn't to force Alger to pay extra—for an Outer God beyond the world, money and Beyonder characteristics held little value. Even without followers, the High-Dimensional Overseer had amassed relics from countless ruined planets, kept for whims or as mementos of cared-for beings, piling up in His Sefirot.
"How about this," Adrian said smoothly. "Let's adjust the payment terms."
(End of Chapter)