Chapter 590: Arrodes's Bottom Line

Early in the morning, above the gray fog.

Klein conjured a pen and paper as he deliberated over the divination

statement: "Using the radio transceiver is dangerous."

After carefully checking the statement twice, he took out the spirit

pendulum under his left sleeve and began divining.

During this process, he was on high alert and was somewhat afraid. He

was like a child covering his ears while lighting firecrackers---if the

outcome would involve the True Creator or the Primordial Demoness, then

he would encounter danger simply from divining it. If it were any other

person, they would only end up losing control or dying. However, Klein

had the gray fog to shield him and prevent him from having such a tragic

outcome. Hence, it was obvious that anything that happened above the

gray fog was better than courting death in the real world. He was afraid

that the using it repeatedly would allow the evil gods to lock onto him

and personally pay him a visit.

He quickly entered the state of Cogitation and silently recited the

divination.

After chanting seven times, he knew the answer without opening his eyes,

since he was completely fine sitting there in his seat and wasn't

suffering from any extreme pain.

When Klein looked at the dangling topaz, he discovered that it was

indeed spinning counterclockwise.

Phew... Klein heaved a sigh of relief and immediately returned

to the real world and began preparing a ritual to bring the radio

transceiver from above the gray fog to the real world.

After about half an hour, he finally heard the radio transceiver produce

its clickety-clack. An illusory piece of white paper was spat out with

lines of Loenese words written on it.

"I'm here.

"Great Master, is that you?"

Why does it feel like it's craning its neck... Klein suddenly

recalled the emoticons from his previous life. It was an adorable alpaca

that craned its neck out.

He took two steps forward and tersely answer in a reserved manner.

Amidst clicking sounds, more illusory paper was spat out.

"Your loyal and humble servant, Arrodes, at your service."

Klein hid his discomfort in the depths of his heart and asked, "Arrodes,

tell me. Where is Roy King from the Life School of Thought?"

Due to the chubby Apothecary's description, he knew that the

organization developed itself based on a master and apprentice system.

He inferred that they grasped the two Beyonder pathways of Monster and

Apothecary. This matched the characteristics of the Life School of

Thought.

Meanwhile, Klein prepared Roy King's picture, with the intention of

relying on himself rather than on others.

The tapping sounds intensified as Arrodes produced a portrait with the

radio transceiver. It was none other than Roy King with his hair neatly

combed back while wearing a framed pair of glasses.

"Is this him?" A line of Loenese appeared behind the portrait.

Klein nodded.

"Yes."

Arrodes made the radio transceiver's tapping sound turn abnormally

brisk.

"Great Master, the person you wish to find is imprisoned in the

governor-general's office of the City of Generosity, Bayam."

Locked in the governor-general's office? Klein frowned

slightly and wasn't in a rush to continue asking. He said with

confidence and frankness, "Alright, according to your rules, it's your

turn to ask."

Tap. Tap. Tap. Arrodes used the radio transceiver to produce a

smiley face and a line of text.

"I've already asked, and you have already answered."

When did that happen? Klein was taken aback before looking at

the content before the illusory piece of paper. He saw the previous

question: "Is it him?"

This works? That actually counts? In that instant, Klein

finally understood how much freedom Arrodes had to its rules. Against

any ordinary person, it could be as strict and vile as it wanted. It

even needed spectators, but when it came to Klein, those rules were

ignored, and he blatantly made it easy.

How did this guy adopt such a personality... Klein considered

for two seconds before asking another question.

"Arrodes, do you know the book 'Groselle's Travels'?"

Arrodes fell silent for two seconds before making the radio transceiver

type. It spat out more illusory paper.

"Great Master, your question is too nice for me. All I needed to do was

answer 'yes' to be done with the question. I've modified the question a

little, changing it to 'tell me what you know about Groselle's Travels.'

"This is a very magical book. Many of its owners have vanished.

"I'm unable to tell who it's creator is, but I'm certain that it first

appeared among the dragons, after the disappearance of the City of

Miracles, Liveseyd."

*It appeared after the City of Miracles, Liveseyd, which was conjured by

the Dragon of Imagination, Ankewelt? I might be able to recommend this

to Miss Justice. She might be interested. If she really wishes to buy

it, as a middleman, I can study it ahead of time above the gray fog...

If something bad happens from the study, resulting in the complete

destruction of the book, I can tell her that the seller went back on

their word and a refund was made... Thinking of this, being a platform

is really promising!* Klein's thoughts raced as he said to the

radio transceiver, "It's your turn."

I do want to know what kind of odd question you can ask...

Klein thought silently.

Arrodes didn't pause as he produced a line in Loenese: "Great Master,

I've already asked and you have already answered."

When did that happen... Klein looked in confusion and

amusement at the first few pages of illusory paper before finally seeing

the so-called question at the beginning: "Great Master, is that you?"

*I have to say that this magic mirror named Arrodes really shows no

shame when it tries to suck up to me... However, such a paired question

format really satisfies an OCD. It's like the AND operator back when I

studied programming languages myself...* Klein cleared his

throat and continued asking, "Why was Roy King imprisoned in the

governor-general's office?"

The radio transceiver produced its clickety-clack and spat out illusory

paper.

"Ever since the disappearance of the Snake of Mercury from the Life

School of Thought, the organization fractured and encountered plenty of

danger. Some even died at the hands of the Rose School of Thought.

"The Life School of Thought developed in a secretive manner with the

master and apprentice format, but they have an Elder Council among the

upper echelons. They harmonized the conflicts between the different

internal factions. Since the Fifth Epoch, the Elder Council changed to a

more trendy name known as the Fate Council. There are seven councilors,

and the Snake of Mercury is the president.

"Roy King's teacher is one of the Fate councilors and had got into

trouble after the Snake of Mercury's disappearance. And before this, he

had handed an important Sealed Artifact of the Life School of Thought to

Roy King. This is the reason why Roy King was secretly captured by the

Loen military."

The disappearance of the Snake of Mercury? Klein instantly

made the connection to Will Auceptin, who was hiding in Backlund, as

well as the other Snake of Mercury that had been pursuing him without

ever showing its face. Klein suspected the other Snake of Mercury to be

Angel of Fate, Ouroboros.

*The Life School of Thought's Snake of Mercury is definitely not the one

searching for Will Auceptin, as he has had plenty of opportunities to

contact his organization and not be "missing"... Perhaps it's Will

Auceptin or a third snake. This cannot be determined...* Klein

gently nodded and said to the radio transceiver, "Ask."

*I'm sure you haven't asked me any other questions. Hehe, let's see what

you'll ask... I have to say, people have a little bit of masochism in

them. Others are afraid of Arrodes's questions, but it has already

waived off two questions for me. Now, I do wish for it to formally ask

me a question...* Klein waited with piqued interest.

Tap. Tap. Tap. The radio transceiver's sounds suddenly became

somewhat solemn as the illusory piece of paper spat out with increasing

difficulty.

"Well, Great Master, what should I do to be a better, loyal, and humble

servant?"

...I've underestimated your bottom line... Klein restrained

his exasperated expression as he replied in a deep voice, "Just maintain

your present state."

"Alright." The tapping sounds became lighter again. "The aura is about

to disperse. Your loyal and humble servant, Arrodes, awaits to be at

your service."

Finally, Arrodes added a drawing of a hand waving.

*It's really talented... That's right, it's not hard for a magic mirror

that knows so much, to know such things...* Klein watched as the

radio transceiver turned silent.

He took a few steps and sat by the edge of the bed, considering the

matter regarding Roy King.

He had no intention of infiltrating Bayam's governor-general's office

and rescuing Roy King under the military's tight security. This was

because he didn't know the man at all, and he hadn't even seen him

before. The only connection they had was through the chubby Apothecary.

*The basement of the Church of Storms definitely has many Beyonders

locked up there. But what has that got to do with me?* Klein

chuckled as he shook his head.

In the information provided to him by Arrodes, Klein noticed that the

mystical item which Admiral of Blood Senor had, which made him

sufficiently lucky, came from the Life School of Thought. There was a

high probability that the faction backing this pirate admiral was the

Rose School of Thought. They were taking advantage of the Snake of

Mercury's disappearance, so they could kill members of the Life School

of Thought.

*This also reminds me that I need to be more careful than before when

dealing with pirate admirals. Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy had gotten

Demoness of Unaging Katarina Pellè without any notice. The other pirate

admirals wouldn't be without their supporters. They often represent a

faction, an organization... Admiral of Blood is backed by the Rose

School of Thought, while Admiral of Stars is backed by the Moses Ascetic

Order, as well as for our Tarot Club. The backer of Admiral Hell is

likely the Numinous Episcopate and the King of the Five Seas. As for

Vice Admiral Iceberg, she's likely backed by the Church of the God of

Knowledge and Wisdom...*

*The backers for Vice Admiral Deep Sea and Vice Admiral Dusk are

currently unknown, but it's definitely impossible that they relied

solely on themselves to reign supreme over the seas for so many

years.*

*Now on second thought, which faction was backing Vice Admiral Hurricane

Qilangos? The one that gave him Creeping Hunger, or the unspeakable

organization that instigated him to assassinate Duke Negan?*

*Yes, I must be careful not to expose my intention of hunting pirate

admirals in the future. Furthermore, I can only make one attempt and

immediately distance myself if I fail.* As Klein's thoughts

varied, he suddenly thought of something.

The paper crane that was personally folded by that Snake of Mercury,

Will Auceptin, was still with him!