Chapter 678: Punishment

On the two sides of the ancient mottled bronze table, blurry figures

extended outward from the embrace of deep red beams of light before

turning corporeal. The surroundings remained as silent and empty as

always, as though no living creature had ever set foot there for

millions of years.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool\~" Audrey's brisk and cheerful voice soon

resounded through the resplendent palace held up by stone columns.

Klein nodded his head with a smile, watching as the other members

expressed their greetings under Miss Justice's lead.

Here, there was no doubt that The Hermit Cattleya appeared rather

reticent. Audrey's read on her was that she had many things on her mind.

After the voices came to a stop and the members had taken their seats,

The Fool Klein swept Miss Justice a glance, making the Psychiatrist

instantly understand his intentions; hence, she didn't raise her hand

slightly and speak out. Following that, he looked at Cattleya and

chuckled indifferently.

"Tell Bernadette that she can use certain items in exchange for some

answers."

Bernadette... After hearing this familiar name which was

neither Queen Mystic, the owner of Dawn, nor the leader of the Element

Dawn, Cattleya realized that Mr. Fool already knew everything. Her cheap

tricks were laid bare in front of "Him!"

This made her heart sink as she couldn't help but feel an intense sense

of fear. She was temporarily at a loss in regard to the attitude or

words that she needed to show in response.

To her, Mr. Fool's words were clear. Pass on the message, but only that

one message; nothing else. She wasn't allowed to provide any other

hints!

Cattleya believed she knew what "He" meant between the lines.

*Bernadette? That's a common name for Intis females. Who could it be?

What is the answer she wishes to exchange for? What relationship does

she have with Ma'am Hermit? Ma'am Hermit had privately made a request,

and Mr. Fool's answer is "yes?" No, that's not it. Definitely not it. If

it's a private and reasonable request, Ma'am Hermit wouldn't have

mentioned it specially in front of us. He would've directly replied to

her prayers... "He" is giving a warning?* Audrey forgot to

observe the other members as a series of questions flashed through her

mind. Following that, with her acumen from the Spectator pathway, she

grasped Mr. Fool's true intentions.

Following that, she had a particular theory.

*Ma'am Hermit had privately hinted about our Tarot Club to this Ma'am

Bernadette because she hopes to acquire some answers... Mr. Fool is very

displeased regarding this matter, so he pointed it out directly and gave

this first-time offender a warning?*

*Seriously, why would you divulge matters of the Gathering to others? I

haven't even told Susie! This will bring danger to everyone! Thankfully,

Mr. Fool is around!*

Audrey nearly puffed up her cheeks, forgetting her image and etiquette.

For the first time, she realized that not every Tarot Club member had a

sense of belonging like she did, showing such reverence and faith in Mr.

Fool.

The Hanged Man Alger, The Magician Fors, and The Moon Emlyn also had

similar questions and theories, but their focus wasn't the same.

As Alger anticipated what Mr. Fool would do, he began to wonder who this

Bernadette---a commonly seen female Intis name---represented. He was

curious as to why the reserved Hermit would risk divulging some

information on the Tarot Club. While Fors was worried if the existence

of the Tarot Club would be exposed, she also instantly imagined a spy

and double spy story. Emlyn watched in schadenfreude, believing The

Hermit to be truly foolish.

*Heh, even our Sanguine's Ancestor treats Mr. Fool equally and had sent

me as an envoy to be nurtured. You aren't even a demigod, but you

attempted to try pulling off cheap tricks under Mr. Fool's watch? Do you

have a death wish? Indeed, I can't understand the thoughts of

short-lived creatures. Emperor Roselle once said that bugs that can only

live in summer have no way of truly knowing what snow looks

like...* Emlyn sat back in a relaxed manner as he didn't hide

the shaking of his head.

The Sun Derrick didn't have many thoughts on the matter; all he felt was

that the mood wasn't right. Out of curiosity and puzzlement, he asked,

"Mr. Fool, who's Bernadette?"

*Well asked! I thought Miss Justice would be the one asking. Yes, she

seems a little angry, which is why she doesn't wish to speak...*

Klein silently commended him as he casually answered, "Roselle's eldest

daughter;

"Owner of the Dawn;

"The leader of the Element Dawn."

He mentioned all of Bernadette's identities, making her appear without

any secrets before all the Tarot Club members.

And the reason why he had used "Owner of the Dawn" in place of Queen

Mystic was that Klein didn't believe that The Fool should address

Bernadette as a queen.

*The owner of the Dawn... Queen Mystic! She's actually Emperor Roselle's

eldest daughter! Ha, The Hermit, I can confirm that you are Admiral of

Stars Cattleya. So the rumors of you having a falling-out with Queen

Mystic are fake...* Alger felt excited. He felt that the

restriction and pressure he had endured for the past three months had

vanished at once.

This made his staid self mock The Hermit inwardly.

*Emperor Roselle once said that those who play with fire will ultimately

burn themselves. And you, Admiral of Stars, dared to challenge a god's

clairvoyance!*

At that moment, Alger was rather thankful, thankful that although he had

attempted to pull off some cheap tricks and attempted to figure out Mr.

Fool's identity, goals, and present state, he hadn't involved any

outsiders. He hadn't divulged any information, so he hadn't suffered any

punishment.

As he had introduced the Four Kings and the Seven Pirate Admirals,

Audrey and company just needed to recall in order to confirm that

Bernadette was Queen Mystic, a demigod that reigned supreme over the

Five Seas. They were also surprised that Emperor Roselle's eldest

daughter would still be alive and had become an important figure that

was known throughout the world.

*The answers that Queen Mystic wishes to obtain are hidden inside

Roselle's diary?* Combining everything that had happened and the

words that were said, Audrey vaguely guessed Bernadette's goal,

believing that the emperor's daughter wished to figure out the truth

behind her father's assassination.

At this moment, Cattleya had already regained her ability to think. She

turned her body to face the end of the long bronze table and said

without any hopes that she could be let off, "Yes, I committed some

mistakes. I will not defend myself. It was indeed wrong.

"Mr. Fool, no matter how much you punish me or even kill me, I'll accept

it."

*Hypocrite... If Mr. Fool really wishes to punish you, do you think you

have any means of resistance?* Mr. Hanged Man scoffed on the

opposite side of the table. He could identify the problem with such a

simple sentence.

Ma'am Hermit is still a little afraid... Audrey could notice

the hidden fear from the minute actions and words Cattleya had used.

To her, people who deliberately emphasized their willingness to be

executed were often afraid of dying right there and then.

Fors found her peace from The Fool's calm attitude, believing that there

weren't any leaks about the Tarot Club; or that the leaks weren't

anything important. Hence, like Emlyn, she waited curiously and

expectantly for the punishment Mr. Fool would mete out.

Derrick remained clueless about what had happened, uncertain why Ma'am

Hermit would suddenly request to be punished.

At that moment, seeing Mr. Fool's brief moment of silence, Cattleya

resisted her unease and lifted her head slightly, observing the

existence behind the thick gray fog without a trace, in an attempt to

figure out "His" true intentions so as to give a better response. She

didn't wish to make another mistake again and provoke "Him," making the

situation irredeemable.

The dark purple hue in her black eyes produced a sense of mystery as her

eyes penetrated through the gray fog and saw The Fool.

Suddenly, Cattleya's eyes heated up as illusory blood bled from them.

A sinister, terrifying, and depraved language and an indescribable roar

sounded in her ears. It instantly filled her senses with extreme pain as

her body began to convulse and tremble uncontrollably.

Her face, hands, and the areas that weren't concealed by her clothing

had quickly cracked opened, revealing her flesh and blood. Inside, black

worms and white moths squirmed before forming all kinds of indescribable

eyes.

Cattleya's cries and painful grunts resounded above the gray fog,

causing Alger, Emlyn, Fors, and company to exchange looks as though they

could sense the pain she was suffering.

Meanwhile, the blurry figure turned rather clear, allowing them to see

The Hermit's mutation.

The disgusting and nasty scene frightened Audrey enough for her to look

away. She straightened her back and looked straight ahead without daring

to move.

Although the others didn't have such an exaggerated response, they also

shared the same behavior.

The True Creator's ravings are indeed useful... Klein, who was

shrouded in the thick gray fog, reflected from the bottom of his heart.

The reason why he hadn't immediately replied to Cattleya's request for

punishment, was because he wanted to confirm if there was anything

special about her eyes, whether they could see beyond what he allowed!

For this, he had stirred some of the mysterious space's powers to be

hidden in the gray fog that shrouded him ahead of time. It was to

connect anyone who used a Beyonder power to see through the obstacle to

Tinder!

This was equivalent to the owner of the Beyonder power directly

observing an item corrupted by the True Creator at a psyche level.

Hence, with Klein not using the gray fog to deliberately suppress the

influence, Cattleya naturally heard the True Creator's ravings. Her

"organ" which used the Beyonder power was first severely damaged before

she was imbued with extreme pain, causing her mutation!

If Admiral of Stars hadn't tried observing him, then the plan Klein had

prepared was to get her to apologize to every Tarot Club member, and

also to allow them to discuss a method of punishment in a democratic

manner.

And regardless of how democratic it was, the major punishment would

ultimately be to stir some of the mysterious space's powers to connect

Cattleya to Tinder!

After waiting two seconds, Klein knew it was enough. He gently lowered

his palms, allowing the gray fog to silently repress the True Creator's

ravings and revert Cattleya's mutation.

Admiral of Stars trembled as she calmed down at a discernible pace. The

cracks in her skin gradually closed as her thoughts returned to her,

allowing her to take in her surroundings once again.

At this moment, Alger said in a deep voice, as though he was warning

himself, "Do not pry into the mystery of God..."