"Lady Dayle's sister is a Psychology Alchemists member?"
Audrey read the name on the note, a ripple stirring in her heart. Snow chimed in timely.
"As per Loen noble tradition, titled ladies often enjoy a period of freedom. You can use this to attend the same balls or salons, showing interest in psychology to draw the Psychology Alchemists' attention. As a Spectator, you'll know how to balance it."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice. Shall I send the payment as before?" Audrey nodded, already forming a plan.
Snow and Audrey settled on a payment schedule, while Hanged Man and Little Sun reacted differently.
Little Sun, barely grasping the conversation, was unfazed. Hanged Man, however, pondered Devil's intelligence network.
Naming a secret organization's member so casually—especially from the observant Spectator pathway—meant Devil was either a Psychology Alchemists insider or…
Hanged Man stopped there. Either way, Devil was no simple figure.
But that could work in his favor.
Alger narrowed his eyes, choosing his words carefully before speaking.
"I'd like to make a commission."
"What kind?" Snow knew what was coming but played along since Alger addressed him directly.
"I've heard 'Hurricane Lieutenant General' Qilangos, the pirate, has secretly slipped into Backlund for unknown reasons. I want his whereabouts. Name your price."
"'Hurricane Lieutenant General' Qilangos? One of the seven pirate generals?" Miss Justice's curiosity flared. What did she, a new Beyonder, most want? To meet legendary figures, of course!
"He's a Sequence 6 'Wind-Blessed' of the Sailor pathway, wielding a magical item. He's cunning and cruel. Best not to tangle with him," Alger warned, spotting Justice's eager tone and knowing her noble-lady whims.
Then, glancing at Devil, he turned to Klein.
"Mr. Fool, may I request your favored one's aid at a critical moment? I'll pay a price you find intriguing."
"My favored one? Does Devil count?" Klein's mind flashed to the Mr. Devil who woke him daily, then he smiled.
"Only if my favored one is in Backlund."
"Fair enough," Alger said, half-disappointed, half-hopeful, withdrawing his gaze. Snow tapped his brow, speaking gravely.
"I'll take the commission. For payment… I'd like you to investigate something for me."
"Go on," Alger said, frowning. Something Devil treated so seriously wouldn't be simple, but he'd hear it out.
"You mentioned being at sea, right? I want you to check if there've been reports of missing people—slaves or freemen—in recent years."
Snow paused, as if recalling something, then added,
"This is my independent commission. If I don't find Qilangos, I'll pay you another way."
"Why's he asking this?" Alger's brow twitched, but he nodded. Such intel was easy to gather. Meanwhile, Audrey, her "adventure gene" sparked by Qilangos, couldn't hold back.
"I can help search for Qilangos too. Can you share some details? Like that magical item?"
At Justice's question, Hanged Man's mood lifted. Compared to Devil's extraordinary intel web, Justice's secular noble network was broader. Her help was ideal.
So, he detailed Qilangos's traits, and when he described Creeping Hunger's near-omnipotent powers, Little Sun finally joined the conversation…
…
Back in reality, Snow sat up from bed, fed Lily dried fish, and began debriefing today's Tarot Club.
"The formula for Mr. Fool is delivered. The 'Devil knows about missing people' hint is passed to Alger. Confirmed Mr. Fool visited Ramde Town. My contact info reached Klein, the 'Fool's favored one,' plausibly. Nabbed a Sunflame Charm from Mr. Fool too. But I was a bit eager with the Psychology Alchemists—good thing Audrey's still green and didn't notice. Need better emotional control next time. Also, the diary… Hm, Ain's name is worth noting. Could use it later, maybe as a cover for Trissy…"
Snow scribbled lines on paper, crossing them out one by one. After confirming no oversights, he burned the page and used White Horse, Not Horse for anti-divination. Then he turned to Lily, who'd finished her fish.
"Same place as last time. And don't bully that dog!"
"Meow~!" Lily raised her head, letting out a haughty yowl, then vanished in a flash.
"This little one's getting faster," Snow muttered, shaking his head and grabbing the calendar from his desk.
He seemed in control, but he was rattled. Ince Zangwill still hadn't acted.
By now, Tingen was chaotic enough—prime time to unleash the evil god's heir. Any longer, and once Backlund's Aurora Order members were depleted, Backlund's elite squad would storm Tingen. Then the evil god's heir wouldn't make a ripple!
"Fine, time to have the Demoness fan the flames. How to play the Witch this time?" Smirking, Snow took a fresh sheet and drafted questions for the Demoness. Despite always holding the upper hand in their talks, that control stemmed from a question bank as intricate as a high-stakes galgame choice tree—
Originally crafted to counter choice paralysis, now it served to digest that last mental residue.
(End of Chapter)