Acting Skills Enhanced

"Amon's avatar?"

"Dead?"

The expressions of "Justice," "The Hanged Man," "The Magician," and even "Judgment" were filled with astonishment. After all, the timing was far too coincidental—Amon hadn't died earlier or later but just after "The Sun" had been imprisoned in the dungeon. It didn't seem normal no matter how they looked at it.

"Only I, the mysterious and powerful 'Fool,' the somber and reserved 'World,' and the always 'cheerful' Mr. Tower, remained as calm as usual," Klein thought to himself while silently observing everything from the head of the long bronze table.

"The Sun" Derrick, seeing how seriously everyone was taking the matter, decided to seek their help. Without holding anything back, he recounted the events he had experienced over the past week in vivid detail, even manifesting Amon's image.

Amon appeared as a young man wearing a black, old-fashioned robe and a matching pointed soft hat. His right eye was framed with a monocle made of crystal. His features included a broad forehead, a gaunt face, dark eyes, and curly black hair.

When Derrick described how the former captain—who was possessed by Amon—had suddenly appeared behind him, the ladies were both terrified and thrilled. Fors, in particular, was already mentally drafting a scene for her next novel.

"A general returns from the enemy camp, his face disfigured from torture, and suddenly appears behind his former wife as she prepares for her wedding… It's just so captivating."

While Fors's mind filled with one forbidden scenario after another, Alger, "The Hanged Man," suddenly frowned and asked, "After experiencing such bizarre events and saving your Chief, he simply let you go home? And as soon as you got back, you didn't do anything else but immediately pray to Mr. Fool?"

"Yes," Derrick answered somewhat blankly, confused by Alger's peculiar tone.

Fors, upon hearing this, covered her face with her hands, feeling that Derrick's lack of caution mirrored her own when she first became a Beyonder. Her carelessness back then had cost her a stone from her bracelet and left her with a permanent full-moon curse.

Xio, "Judgment," glanced at Ebner diagonally opposite her, feeling that a few months ago, he was even more reckless than Derrick. But it wasn't surprising—they both had Mr. Fool backing them, so they didn't need to be as cautious as wild Beyonders.

Ebner, on the other hand, didn't think he'd been careless at the time. He had later realized that some of his seemingly reckless actions upon descending into this world were actually influenced by a "Reader" pathway high-sequence ability. It likely carried traces of a "Prophet" power, guiding him to make choices most beneficial to himself.

Even if his actions had seemed reckless to outsiders, they were, in reality, quite prudent. He suspected this influence either came from his weak grasp of the "Pure White Eye" back then or from interference by the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom."

From his subsequent observations, the former seemed more likely. Interference rooted in the "Reader" pathway always left traces, whereas the God of Knowledge and Wisdom rarely used such methods.

Of course, there was also the possibility that even the "Pure White Eye" was the handiwork of the God of Knowledge. But judging from Lilith's attitude toward him, that seemed unlikely.

While Ebner's thoughts drifted, Derrick, prompted by Alger's reminders such as "The Chief might suspect you're possessed" and "They might be monitoring you in secret," began to realize where he had gone wrong. He cast a worried glance at Mr. Fool and, seeing no reaction from him, reluctantly relaxed and explained further.

"I was indeed possessed by Amon at the time…"

"What?" Alger exclaimed.

He nearly rose from his seat, instinctively preparing for combat to guard against any sudden developments.

Startled by Alger's reaction, Derrick quickly added, "It was Mr. Fool who discovered it during my prayer."

As he spoke, Derrick manifested the vision that Mr. Fool had conveyed to him at the time: Amon, wearing his black pointed hat and crystal monocle, coiled around Derrick's spirit like a ghostly python.

Under the varied gazes of the members—some astonished, some terrified, some calm, and some amused—Derrick went on to describe how Mr. Fool had sent an angel to purify Amon's avatar.

Though Derrick wasn't a natural storyteller, his account, despite its plain language and monotone delivery, was enough to leave Alger visibly shaken and nearly losing his composure. Meanwhile, Audrey, "Justice," was so stunned that it took her nearly a full minute to process what he had said.

Alger quickly regained his composure, bowing his head in respect. His heart, however, was a mix of fear and inexplicable excitement, causing his body to tremble slightly.

Audrey, once she grasped the implications of the word "angel," became thoroughly exhilarated. Her eyes sparkled as she instinctively glanced around the table.

To her surprise, neither "The Magician" Fors nor "Judgment" Xio seemed fazed by the mention of an angel, as though they had encountered such a being before. From Fors's surface thoughts, Audrey even "read" a description of the angel: "Black wings, twelve pairs of feathers."

Fors and Xio have seen an angel serving Mr. Fool?

When did this happen?

Audrey then looked toward the gentlemen's side of the table, unsurprised to find Mr. Tower as composed as ever, with his usual air of concealed joy. Meanwhile, Derrick seemed to regard Mr. Fool having an angel as entirely reasonable.

So, in the end, it's only 'The Hanged Man' and I, the so-called Tarot Club 'veterans,' who haven't seen the angel yet?

Audrey barely finished this thought when she noticed that the ever-somber "The World" had straightened up in shock as well.

Although his reaction was even slower than hers, it gave Audrey some consolation.

Mr. Fool's multitasking still needs practice… Or maybe Derrick revealing the angel's existence caught him off guard, leaving Klein unprepared. He was probably distracted by manifesting the image of Amon's possession when Derrick dropped this bombshell.

After watching "The World's" performance, Ebner thought for a moment before addressing Derrick. "There's no need to worry too much. As long as you have no intention of harming Silver City, I doubt your Chief will act against you anytime soon. He's likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

"In his eyes, your situation is probably similar to that of the Shepherd Elder. If he allows the Elder freedom of movement, he likely won't restrict you either."

"I would never harm Silver City!" Derrick declared loudly. Then, realizing his outburst might be rude, he hastily apologized.

Alger nodded. "Mr. Tower makes a good point. However, before anything else, you'll need to clear yourself of the suspicion of being possessed. If you can't prove you're you, trust will be impossible."

"How do I clear that suspicion?" Derrick asked, utterly lost.

"I think we can use the 'Bug of Time' you expelled earlier," Ebner said, pausing before asking, "Have the members who accompanied the Shepherd Elder on the expedition returned?"

The 'Bug of Time'? Was the translucent object Derrick expelled earlier really the 'Bug of Time' that Ebner mentioned in passing before? Fors and Xio were both surprised as they recalled its appearance.

Alger was also taken aback. While he'd heard of the "Bug of Time," this was the first time he'd seen one in person.

At the question, Derrick remembered his original concern and described how his friends who had participated in the expedition were behaving unusually "normal." Finally, he asked nervously, "Have they been corrupted by the Fallen Creator?"

Alger sighed and nodded. "There's no doubt… And mere corruption would be the best-case scenario.

"If they've truly embraced faith in the… Fallen Creator, then they're beyond saving."

He glanced at Ebner, who smiled and added, "But this can be used to clear your suspicion. You'll also need an item related to the Fallen Creator."

After a long silence, Alger agreed. "Yes, that would be the safest approach."

Their cryptic exchange left Derrick, Audrey, Fors, and Xio utterly confused.

Klein, however, understood perfectly and nodded thoughtfully before having "The World" speak. "I possess an item imbued with the spiritual corruption of the Fallen Creator. However, exposing the expedition members to it might cause them to lose control instantly.

"Little one, I can lend you this item. But what can you offer me in return?"

Derrick responded quickly, "I can help you collect the Beyonder characteristic of a Shadow of Humanity, the mutated pituitary gland of a Thousand-Faced Hunter, or some of their blood. I'll try to obtain whichever comes first and use it as payment."

Derrick still couldn't fully grasp the plan devised by "The Hanged Man," "The World," and "Mr. Tower," so he asked hesitantly, "What exactly am I supposed to do?"

Fors, Xio, and Audrey perked up, eager to hear the answer.

Alger glanced at Ebner, who gestured for him to explain.

Without hesitation, Alger launched into a detailed explanation, guiding Derrick on how to "perform" upon returning to Silver City. His instructions were clear and thorough, ensuring Derrick wouldn't jeopardize himself.

Derrick listened intently, quickly absorbing the advice. Though his newfound "acting skills" were theoretical, he now had a coherent plan and a grasp of key points to focus on.

Even Klein and Ebner, as observers, found the explanation insightful and beneficial.

As for Audrey, Xio, and Fors, they finally understood the plan and felt a twinge of frustration at not having thought of it themselves.

Once Derrick's matter was resolved, Xio raised her hand and said cautiously, "I have an opportunity to acquire the Beyonder characteristic of a 'Wind Blessed'… But it requires bidding."

She turned her gaze toward Alger as she finished speaking.

(End of Chapter)