Chapter 595: Domain

Without waiting for The Hermit to answer, Audrey added, "If you believe

this is an important piece of information and isn't something to be

given for free, then I can provide you with some payment."

"No, there's no need to. Anyone familiar with the Feynapotter's Church

of Earth Mother will have some understanding of this." Cattleya didn't

doubt Miss Justice's sincerity when it came to the principle of equal

exchange. She believed that Miss Justice was fully capable of satisfying

her price in terms of wealth and resources, but she decided to provide

the information for free.

Firstly, it raised Miss Justice's impression on her and would build a

foundation for any future transactions. Secondly, by providing the

information, she could observe the reactions of the members and estimate

their standing in their own organizations and factions.

*I'm very familiar with the Earth Mother's Blessed, Bishop Utravsky, but

I didn't know anything about that... Of course, I truly am a little

scared of him. His height and build are just too intimidating. Every

time I'm there, I only seek out Emlyn White...* Sitting at the

end of the long bronze table, Klein thought in a self-deprecating

manner.

Cattleya didn't pause as she continued, "Vampire is from the Moon

pathway. The corresponding Sequence 9 is Apothecary; Sequence 8 is Beast

Tamer; Sequence 6 is Potions Professor; Sequence 5 is Scarlet Scholar;

Sequence 4 is Shaman King. I'm not sure about the higher Sequences."

"Ahem." Emlyn White coughed. "Ma'am Hermit, I have to emphasize that

it's Sanguine, not Vampire. Heh heh, I won't object it if you call those

humans who consume the characteristics of my kinsmen vampires. I would

even be very agreeable to it."

*So Vampire is from the Apothecary pathway. So is Shaman King. It's no

wonder they revere the Primordial Moon and not the Goddess...*

*Could the Scarlet Lunar Corona, that Ma'am Sharron obtained, be from a

dead Scarlet Scholar or Sanguine Viscount? Apart from being able to

recreate the effects of a full moon and neutralizing the corresponding

effects, it can provide terrifying speed, unimaginable recovery speed,

and rather powerful darkness-related spells. The negative effects can be

neutralized by drinking the fresh blood of the living... Indeed, it does

seem to be a result of a Sanguine...*

*Among the various jobs of this pathway, there are some that resemble

the Seer pathway. There's no connection between the Sequences, while

there are some that have an obvious progression. How strange...*

Klein joined the bits of bread crumbs together, feeling somewhat

enlightened and puzzled.

Alger, Fors, and company were either in thought, listening in relish, or

pretending to be disinterested. Everyone had different reactions, but

Cattleya was able to figure out that they didn't understand much about

Vampires prior to this.

*They are low- or mid-ranking members in their organizations or

factions. They match the characteristics of being recently pulled into

the Tarot Club and at the stage of rapidly advancing... The World didn't

react. Either he's very staid, or he long knew of the matter regarding

Vampires, or both... After repeated observations, I have to admit that

The World is the Tarot Club member that needs to have the most attention

paid to and be guarded against...*

Audrey listened with great interest as she thought over it carefully. As

though she was attending a family education class, she raised her hand

slightly.

"Ma'am Hermit, why are the Sequences in the Moon pathway seemingly

unrelated?"

The Hermit Cattleya looked at Miss Justice and discovered that the dress

and accessories she wore were completely different from the last

gathering. There was no repeat, but it exuded her luxurious and noble

bearing.

As her mind went adrift, she seemed to see the portrait of the Queen

back when she was young. Every piece of clothing she wore was completely

different. The same set of clothing was never worn a second time at a

formal event.

After a moment of silence, Cattleya said, "A pathway's Sequence doesn't

necessarily need to be related or superficially connected. The common

trait is that this pathway corresponds to the god's domain. For example,

the Moon represents spirituality, plants, beauty, parts of life, parts

of darkness, and parts of mystery. Therefore, this pathway has

Apothecary of the plant domain, Vampire of the life domain, and Beast

Tamer of the intersection of life and spirituality."

"Sanguine!" Emlyn White emphasized and lifted his chin slightly. "This

should be why us Sanguine are very handsome and beautiful."

*No, that's not the case. The vampires I've seen are all disgusting and

ferocious...* Derrick retorted weakly in his heart.

*It can be explained in such a manner? It's quite different from

Captain's and Daly's explanations... Different pathways represent the

domain possessed by a Sequence 0... Or could it be that the two combined

is the most accurate answer? I wonder what the domains the Sequence 0 of

the Seer pathway represents. From the symbol behind my chair, it

represents strangeness and change?* Klein's expression didn't

change as his mind whirled.

Audrey easily understood Ma'am Hermit's explanation and couldn't help

but guess the name of her pathway's Sequence 0.

*It's definitely Dragon. There are many species of dragons. Many powers

are not contained within this pathway. It's closer to the domain

represented by the mind dragon...*

*I wish Mr. Fool can quickly find the Card of Blasphemy of this

corresponding pathway...*

*That Groselle's Travels originates from dragons. I wonder if it has

anything to do with a mind dragon...*

At this moment, Emlyn asked as a form of validation, "That is to say

that to successfully become a Sanguine Viscount, I similarly have to act

as a Potions Professor, even if I'm a favorite of the Moon?"

*My dear Emlyn, I know you are trying to bring attention to the latter

half of your sentence...* Klein nearly reached out his right

hand to pinch his chin.

This was also one of the reasons why he had entrusted Miss Magician to

check for abnormalities in Williams Street. He ultimately felt that

Emlyn White, a vampire who didn't enjoy going out or socializing, was

rather unreliable at present. Another reason was that he knew that he

was being controlled by the Sanguine's upper echelons in secret. Getting

him to head to Williams Street made it easy to expose the matter

regarding the underground ruins.

"Yes." Cattleya nodded.

The exchange continued, and as it came to a close, Audrey seemed to

recall something. She turned her body and looked towards the end of the

long bronze table.

"Mr. Fool, the second round of the Civil Servant Unified Examination

officially ends today. What's left is the final interview."

Her tone was brisk and with clear delightful emotions. It was like an

excellent student reporting her results to her parents.

From her point of view, the Civil Servant Unified Examination was a

suggestion raised by Mr. Fool in passing. She had pushed forward the

idea via inconspicuous methods, the first time she had attempted to use

her Beyonder powers to change reality. Therefore, she had always paid

great attention to it, often reporting the situation to the suggester.

*The second round of the examinations are over? I wonder if Benson can

pass and have the opportunity of entering the final

interview...* Klein leaned back and suddenly felt wistful.

He nodded slightly and said with a smiling tone, "Not bad."

Audrey, who had been praised by Mr. Fool, became happier. She felt that

she was indirectly changing the fates of many people, allowing people

who were stuck in the lower and middle classes to have a chance at

entering the middle and upper classes.

When Cattleya heard this exchange, she couldn't help but frown. She felt

that this was very different from the style the Tarot Club had

previously shown.

*Could it be that the reforms of the past half a year in the Loen

Kingdom were a result of the Tarot Club's turning of the wheels? As a

young noble lady, Miss Justice played an important role? If that's the

case, I have to reevaluate my views... Although the members aren't of a

high Sequence and are low-ranking members of their organizations,

they're still able to influence the situation of the world to a certain

extent?* Cattleya retracted her gaze and considered whether she

wanted to use her different resource channels to figure out the

backstory of Loen Kingdom's reforms.

After a few minutes of exchanges, The Fool Klein announced the end of

the Gathering.

While Miss Justice and company got up to express their farewells, he

severed the connection and leaned back into his seat. He silently

watched the endless grayish-white fog around him for a very long while.

Backlund. In a coffee shop next to King's Avenue.

Melissa was holding a porcelain teaspoon as she gently stirred the black

tea which had a lemon in it. From time to time, she would turn her head

to look out into the faint fog.

Her black veiled hat was sitting beside her. Placed in front of her was

a plate of the cheapest toast, but she hadn't taken a single bite.

She originally imagined that she would anger the coffee shop's owner for

sitting there all this while, preventing him from earning more. But she

later discovered that there were many people waiting for the end of the

test opposite the road like her.

As seconds turned into minutes, the water condensing on the glass

windows grew thicker. Melissa couldn't help but extend her hand to clean

up a relatively clear spot.

Finally, she saw a bunch of people surge out of the test venue. The

glass-inlaid wooden door of the coffee shop was pushed open as about

eight men and women entered.

Just as Benson took off his rather old top and before he could smooth

his rather high hairline with his fingers, he discovered his sister

standing as she asked nervously, "How did you do, uh---Were the

questions tough today?"

"It might've been considered difficult for others, but it was a piece of

cake for me. Mathematics is my forte." Benson looked around and saw

everyone discussing it without noticing him. Hence, he chuckled. "After

the test ended, I saw quite a number of people with blank sheets. Do

they think a low-ranking civil servant will have a mathematics

secretary? If that's the case, what's the difference between hiring a

curly-haired baboon and them?"

Melissa heaved a secret sigh of relief and looked to her side before

turning her head back.

"Benson, if you're really confident, you should consider the matter

regarding the interview.

"You need to buy a new decent set of clothes."

"Let's leave that to tomorrow. We should celebrate today. I've already

decided on the restaurant." Benson smiled as he pointed outside.

Melissa pursed her lips and looked at her elder brother in an extremely

serious manner.

"I've already bought the meat and vegetables."

Benson locked his gaze with his sister for a few seconds before moving

it away in submission.

"Alright, let's go home."

Above the gray fog, Klein gradually found his train of thought and

calmed his emotions. He began considering how to separate the True

Creator's mental corruption of the All-Black Eye.