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The gray fog was as calm and mysterious as ever.
Ancient towering hall, high-backed chairs stood around the long mottled bronze table. The Fool sat at the head in silence, shrouded in mist.
Dark red beams shot up, materializing into different figures on both sides of the long bronze table.
One by one, members fully taken shape. Symbols glowing faintly on top of the chairs of each member
“Good afternoon, Mr. Fool.” Audrey greeted Mr. Fool with a bow and smiled.
Others also followed suit and greeted the deity before them.
Audrey surveying her surroundings, taking in any changes or emotion fluctuations. At this moment, as a senior Spectator, she acutely noticed one of the member, Mr. Star looked… strange. Not dangerous strange. Sometimes he might have appeared too relaxed or not as mannered during meetings but this was something else. Now he looked more like someone desperately trying not to laugh during a funeral. What could be the case? Audrey was curious.
"Mr. Fool, there are no diary pages for now." Said The Hermit Cattleya.
Silence descended, most members have already acquired what they need for next advancement, they were not in need of much, while some waited as they needed time to prepare for next operation like Mr. Moon Emlyn. Nobody had anything to purchase for now.
Seeing that they naturally entered free exchange segment, Audrey didn't waste time.
“Mr. Star?” she asked cautiously. “Did something good happen?”
Leonard pressed a fist against his lips.
“No.”
Fors narrowed her eyes. “Mr. Star, paraphs you have something to share with us?”
Everyone's attention was now on Leonard.
Looking over, Klein suddenly had a terrible feeling. What's up with him?
Leonard coughed.
“Well,” he said carefully, “I have some news regarding the Tarot Club.”
The atmosphere instantly sharpened.
Cattleya’s gaze focused.
Emlyn sat upright.
Even Derrick unconsciously straightened.
The Tarot Club had always operated in secrecy. To ordinary beyonders, they were at most scattered rumors connected by tarot card codenames and inexplicable situations.
And now Leonard sounded like a man trying not to laugh himself unconscious.
Klein’s intuition screamed. Have we been somehow discovered? Is it Amon? Adam? No, no sane person would laugh if matter was even slightly involved with any of these brothers.
Audrey spoke.
“…Has something happened?”
Leonard paused dramatically.
Then he announced:
“The Tarot Club has officially entered the records of the Churches and major Beyonder organizations.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Fors nearly fell out of her chair.
Emlyn’s mouth opened.
Alger froze for a moment, all kinds of thoughts going in his mind.
Cattleya’s pupils contracted.
Even Mr. World seemed to lost composure for half a second.
Only Klein maintained perfect dignity beneath the gray fog.
Internally, he was contemplating what this would mean for his relationship with Evernight Goddess. Is he still considered as Her blessed? Is he Her enemy now?
“What,” Fors said weakly, “does that mean?”
Leonard folded his hands together with suspicious seriousness.
“It means,” he said, “that official organizations now recognize the Tarot Club as a real hidden organization with considerable influence.”
Emlyn looked horrified.
“Influence?!” He was messiah but hasn't became a demigod yet. Aren't things proceeding too fast with such complications? I'm not ready. He thought.
Leonard nodded solemnly.
“There are currently multiple theories.”
Audrey suddenly looked nervous but her voice also had hint of excitement. After all, she dreamt of this when she was still a naive girl.
“…What theories?” asked Miss. Judgement Xio.
Leonard began counting calmly on his fingers.
“A secret ancient organization attempting to revive the Solomon Empire.”
Fors choked.
“A hidden church devoted to an unknown evil god.”
Cattleya stared.
“A cross-national angel-level intelligence network.”
Now even Alger looked concerned.
“And,” Leonard continued, visibly struggling, “one report described the Tarot Club as a gathering of ancient existences manipulating the course of the Fifth Epoch from behind the scenes.”
The gray fog became extraordinarily quiet.
Klein almost coughed blood.
Audrey slowly turned toward The Fool with newfound reverence.
Nobody spoke.
Alger rubbed his temples violently.
“How much do they know?”
“Not much,” Leonard reassured him.
Everyone relaxed slightly.
“They only confirmed the existence of tarot-card codenames, multiple Blessed-level members, suspected Death angel involvement, Suspected involvement of Gehrman Sparrow and a leader referred to as ‘The Fool.’”
The relaxation vanished instantly.
Audrey looked faint.
Derrick silently prayed.
Fors looked ready to pack her things and relocate.
Klein sat upon the ancient throne shrouded with grey fog. As long as Amon and Adam were not making appearances, he could deal with most things, but was still apprehensive, from now on how to proceed with things. Certainly with more caution.
Then Alger suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“…If the Churches are investigating the Tarot Club,” he said slowly, “who is leading the investigation?”
The question froze everyone. That was true. If official Beyonders had taken notice, suspected their connection with the deity and suspected angel involved with them, then someone dangerous was definitely assigned to investigate them. Someone competent and relentless. Experienced. Possibly a demigod.
Fors paled.
Cattleya became visibly cautious.
Even Audrey looked concerned.
Leonard went quiet.
Then he coughed modestly into his fist.
“Well,” he admitted, “that would be me.”
Silence.
Fors blinked.
“Mr. Star…You?”
Leonard nodded with dignity.
“I was selected because I possess extensive experience regarding Tarot Club-related incidents.”
The atmosphere became indescribably strange.
Audrey’s lips trembled.
Emlyn looked flabbergasted.
Alger stared at Leonard as though reassessing every life decision that led him here.
“The Churches,” Cattleya said slowly, “assigned a Tarot Club member… to investigate the Tarot Club?”
Leonard considered this.
“When you phrase it like that,” he admitted, “it does sound somewhat questionable.”
Fors put both hands onto the table and leaned forward.
“SOMEWHAT?!”
Leonard looked straight at her.
“In fairness,” he continued, “I am quite qualified.”
“You are literally biased!” Fors accused.
Leonard looked thoughtful.
“…Possibly.”
Then, after a pause:
“However, even accounting for bias, I do consider myself very capable.”
At that point Audrey completely lost composure and started laughing.
Then Fors joined in. As well as Xio.
Then Emlyn, despite himself.
Even Cattleya lowered her head slightly, shoulders trembling.
Above the gray fog, Klein leaned back against the high-backed chair of The Fool and silently praised Evernight Goddess for granting his companions this ridiculous situation.
Leonard, meanwhile, still looked perfectly serious.
Which somehow made it even worse.
The End.