Tarot Club Without "The Tower"

As several "Decrees" were pronounced by Vera, all escape methods attempted by the black-clad "Scribe" were rendered ineffective. The man stared in horror at the tall woman standing at the market entrance, utterly unable to believe he had drawn the pursuit of a demigod.

Yet, even faced with a demigod, he had no intention of surrendering without a fight. His only slim chance of escape lay in creating chaos among the ordinary bystanders—after all, official Beyonders always cared about innocent lives.

With this thought, just as he was about to unleash the "Disease" ability he had recorded from a "Demoness of Affliction," a faint sigh echoed in his ears:

"Has the Tamara family fallen to this state?"

Before the words faded, the man saw the tall, imposing woman at the entrance clench her right fist and slash downward violently!

"Execute!"

Amidst the sound of shattering glass, the man's original body abruptly fragmented. Staggering, he reappeared beside Xio, who had long been prepared and easily restrained him with "Confinement."

Though he had once again evaded death through the "Mirror Doppelganger Technique," this time he couldn't completely avoid injury, sustaining wounds severe enough to render him combat-ineffective!

Vera casually withdrew the protective barrier she had placed over the market's ordinary bystanders and stepped forward, reinforcing the restraints on the "Scribe" before similarly "Imprisoning" the two assassins.

By this point, the others present finally regained their senses, though aside from a few Beyonders, most remained oblivious to what had just transpired.

Truth be told, while the battle seemed drawn out, the entire sequence—from Baron Larry's sudden assault to the black-clad "Scribe's" imprisonment—had lasted barely over ten seconds. A significant portion of the market's vendors and customers had been isolated by Vera's "Barrier," and the "Arbiter" pathway's combat style lacked flashy "special effects"...

To ordinary onlookers, the only notable disturbance was the two assassins being sent flying and crashing into stalls.

Of course, the black-haired, brown-eyed girl who had nearly been used as a human shield by Baron Larry was an exception...

She had witnessed with her own eyes as the hooded man sank into the ground like a stone plunging into the sea!

...

At Baron Hoy's estate, "White Saintess" Katarina, disguised as a young maiden, had effortlessly infiltrated the ball. With her charm, she had secured dance invitations from nearly every gentleman present.

From Baron Hoy and Sir Deville to Viscount Hibbert, she refused none—even emboldening some timid junior members of the New Party with encouraging glances to share a dance.

"Not this one...

"Nor this one..."

After eliminating another law firm attorney through the dance, Katarina began doubting the results of her earlier "Mirror Divination."

Could Baron Larry have disguised himself as a woman to sneak in?

As this new thought emerged, Katarina prepared to excuse herself after the current dance under the pretense of resting, intending to seek out the young girl she had chatted with before the ball began—hoping to be introduced to Tingen's socialites and noblewomen...

But just then, her finely trimmed eyebrows furrowed briefly before smoothing again—she had sensed the contingency measures planted on her subordinates in Tingen being triggered.

"The others are expendable... but even 'Scribe' Lipis failed to escape?

"Was it an ambush? Or did a demigod intervene?

"Though my failsafe was triggered, there's no guarantee the silencing was complete...

"It's wiser to withdraw for now."

With this conclusion, Katarina dared not delay further. Politely concluding her dance with the young lawyer, she glided away.

The lawyer watched her departing figure with lingering regret, taking quite some time to compose himself—though his spirits remained dampened.

...

In the secret trading market beneath the Dragon Bar, both vendors and customers had long since fled at the first sign of trouble. Only a pale, disheveled young man with eyes brimming with terrifying madness remained huddled in a corner...

His gaze toward Vera was filled with dread.

After identifying themselves to the local "Mandated Punishers" who had arrived upon receiving the alert, Xio witnessed black flames suddenly erupting from the two assassins' bodies. In moments, their spirituality was utterly consumed.

The black-clad "Scribe's" eyes similarly ignited with dark fire. However, as a mid-sequence Beyonder, he wasn't as fragile as the assassins. Vera's timely intervention saved his life—though his psyche had suffered severe damage, teetering on the brink of losing control.

"The Demoness of Unaging? Katarina?"

Vera examined the black flames she had "Imprisoned," her brows knitting in uncertainty.

...

Having just left the ball, Bianca declined a certain gentleman's invitation for "deeper mutual understanding" and returned to the carriage bearing the Panis family crest—only to be startled by the scene inside.

Baron Larry was not only covered in mud and nauseating sewage but his face had swollen grotesquely, his lips tinged bluish-purple.

His hand fumbled weakly toward his pocket, seemingly trying to grasp something but falling just short.

In his despair, seeing Bianca reinvigorated him. Summoning his last ounce of strength, he gestured for his lover to retrieve the charm from his pocket and place it in his hand.

Bianca hurriedly complied. A brilliant light immediately filled the carriage, and Baron Larry's symptoms visibly alleviated.

"What happened? Darling... were you suffocating just now?" Bianca feigned concern, her voice urgent.

"Nothing serious. I used a mystical item whose side effect prevents normal breathing—recovery is only possible in sunlight...

"I'd prepared the corresponding charm, but ironically, the item's backlash erupted prematurely for some reason... Thankfully you arrived in time, my dear."

During their time in Port Enmat, Baron Larry had educated his lover on basic Beyonder knowledge to prevent accidental exposure. Thus, he wasn't worried she'd fail to understand now.

Bianca glanced at the activated charm, feeling slightly puzzled. After all, the item with partial "Druid" abilities had been obtained during their counterattack against pursuers in Port Enmat. Given his unhealed injuries, he certainly hadn't had time to prepare a charm to mitigate side effects.

So did he just purchase it at the trading market? Or had he possessed it all along? Either way, the coincidence seemed too perfect...

"Sun" pathway Beyonders weren't common in Loen.

However, Bianca soon stopped dwelling on it. Coincidences could occur naturally, and perhaps Baron Larry simply had exceptionally good luck—

Though that luck might not hold now that he'd crossed paths with her.

...

At No. 2 Pansy Street, a shaken Melissa rushed home. After perfunctorily reassuring her brother's concerned inquiries, she locked herself in her bedroom, replaying the unbelievable scene she'd witnessed.

Before tonight, Melissa had never truly believed supernatural powers existed. Even her reverence for the Goddess had been more about respect and comfort than genuine faith.

But what she'd seen at that bar's trading market had completely overturned her worldview!

She'd even inspected the market floor carefully, confirming there were absolutely no hidden mechanisms.

Nothing but supernatural power could explain what she'd witnessed.

Do supernatural forces truly exist? Were all those things Elizabeth told me actually real?

Klein... could Klein's death have been more than it seemed?

Melissa's thoughts whirled endlessly until the next morning—Saturday—when Elizabeth's knocking at her door finally interrupted her reverie.

Worried by his sister's abnormal behavior and evasive responses, Benson had summoned her best friend.

Hearing Elizabeth's voice, Melissa hesitated, then opened the door.

Ironically, her visit to that hidden market yesterday had been because of Elizabeth too.

Benson had decided they'd move to Backlund by year's end—both to prepare for civil service exams and to enroll Melissa in university. When Melissa shared this with Elizabeth, her nostalgic friend suddenly remembered the secrets she'd kept for Klein.

With Klein gone and Melissa leaving, Elizabeth feared those secrets might disappear forever. After much deliberation, she finally revealed the extraordinary Klein she'd known—

Selecting charms in underground markets, banishing the mirror "demon" at Selena's birthday, dispelling nightmare spirits at the Divination Club...

Each story astonished Melissa. She'd never realized Klein possessed such abilities—just as she'd never known about his culinary talents before.

Initially skeptical, Melissa had dismissed them as tricks to impress Elizabeth. But the earnestness in her friend's voice planted seeds of doubt.

That's why she'd visited the Divination Club yesterday, then ventured into the "Dragon Bar"—to trace Klein's footsteps and uncover this hidden side of her brother.

Returning to the present, Melissa looked at Elizabeth, feeling a pang of resentment toward Klein for sharing these secrets with Elizabeth rather than his own family.

If Benson and I had known, we'd never have let him dabble in such dangers!

Elizabeth, guessing what Melissa might have witnessed at the bar, offered quiet comfort. Melissa eagerly pressed for more details about Klein's past, listening far more attentively than before.

After their discussion, Elizabeth cautiously asked, "Do you still want to uncover the truth about Klein's death?"

"Of course! Before, I didn't know... but now, how can I accept those vague explanations?" Melissa pressed her lips together.

"Is that Blackthorn Security Company suspicious?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Judging by the generous compensation they gave Benson and me, they're likely an official organization handling supernatural affairs," Melissa reasoned after a night of reflection. "Klein mentioned they collaborated with police... Their secrecy probably aims to keep ordinary people unaware."

"So we won't get the truth from them—they'll just repeat their official story... Our only lead is Klein's colleague Leonard. For a time, he went out of his way to help our family... Perhaps he feels guilty about Klein's death..."

"He mentioned during his last visit that he might relocate to Backlund."

Besides, if uncovering the truth required becoming a Beyonder... Backlund would offer far more opportunities than Tingen.

Melissa had previously hesitated about the move. Now, she couldn't wait to depart.

Having made her decision, Melissa relaxed and curiously inquired about Elizabeth's experience at Baron Hoy's ball last night. Elizabeth's mother, daughter of a New Party baronet, and her father, a party donor, had secured their invitation.

"Aunt Maisie said she'd found you a promising match—that barrister Mr. Royce with his own practice was attending. What did you think?"

"Don't ask... That barrister wouldn't glance at me now," Elizabeth pouted. "I've told Mother to drop the matter."

"Why?" Melissa looked shocked. Though still blossoming, Elizabeth was undeniably pretty.

"A Miss Carina caught his eye... Actually, I'd never seen her in Tingen's social circles before. We met before the ball and clicked instantly—as Emperor Roselle said, 'like old friends at first sight.' I nearly invited her to meet you..."

"Fortunately, Viscount Hibbert's arrival interrupted me. Imagine how awkward that would've been!"

...

Monday, 2:55 PM

Golden sunlight—warm but not scorching—streamed through the windows of 15 Minsk Street's terraced house.

While Backlund residents would cherish such rare fine weather, this particular tenant proved himself utterly indifferent to such pleasures by promptly drawing his curtains.

Ensuring his spiritual isolation, Klein reversed his steps four paces, ascending to the mysterious hall above the gray fog.

At precisely 3:00 PM, as his spirituality extended toward the crimson stars, familiar figures materialized around the mottled table.

As customary, the ever-radiant Audrey rose first to greet their host:

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

Her cheerful gaze swept the gathering—then froze upon the empty high-back chair diagonally across from her.

The seat always occupied by "The Tower" stood vacant.

"Has... has something happened to Mr. Tower?"

"The Justice" instinctively looked toward "Judgment," then upward at "The Fool."

Recalling "The Tower's" prior notice of absence, Klein adopted "The Fool's" composed tone:

"'The Tower' is preoccupied and will miss several upcoming gatherings.

"He requested I convey this message:

"His 'Doctor Strange' identity has been 'transferred' to another."

(End of Chapter)