Chapter 115: Anonymous Account

Above the mysterious gray fog, streaks of deep red light flashed as three illusory figures gradually materialized around the bronze long table, taking their customary seats.

Mr. Fool sat at the head of the table as always, his right hand resting on the edge, fingers casually tapping the surface. Seeing the others arrive, he stilled his movements.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool, Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man."

Angel waited a moment. When Justice, who usually greeted everyone first, remained silent, she took the initiative.

The Fool and Hanged Man returned her greeting routinely.

Only then did Miss Justice speak timidly, like a shy young girl who hadn't yet taken any potions, rather than an "Audience" who had already stepped into the Extraordinary ranks.

"Mr. Fool, and everyone... I want to know—if a pet, say a pet dog, gained extraordinary abilities, what would happen? I mean, what could it do for its master?"

Pet dog gaining extraordinary abilities... An Extraordinary dog?

Angel felt today's Tarot Club had an unusual atmosphere. Miss Justice's opening question was already beyond her knowledge.

The Hanged Man seemed equally puzzled. Rather than answering immediately, he looked at Mr. Fool, then at Angel, before returning his gaze to Justice.

Angel also looked toward the head of the table. Though she couldn't see Mr. Fool's movements through the gray fog, she was certain he was doing the same.

Under the weight of three stares, Justice lowered her head.

"I... I'm asking for a friend..."

Her voice was barely audible.

Angel remembered a previous Tarot Club meeting when Justice had asked a similar question: what would happen if a canine drank a Sequence 9 potion.

Combined with Miss Justice's current behavior, it was easy to conclude that her pet dog had successfully survived the risk of losing control from taking the potion, becoming a supernatural creature.

A pet dog with "Audience" extraordinary abilities?

Angel struggled to look away, lest she begin imagining the "Audience" Miss beside her—head lowered, hands supporting her legs in shame—as a silly golden retriever.

Finally, the kind Hanged Man broke the embarrassing silence at the bronze table.

"A pet that becomes a supernatural creature should gain the corresponding sequence abilities. Assuming it's an 'Audience,' it could help you observe others from a different angle, or even replace you in eavesdropping on conversations in situations where you couldn't appropriately appear."

"Moreover, after becoming a supernatural creature, it would have sufficient intelligence to communicate with you and relay information."

Mr. Hanged Man, why did you use Audience as an example, and keep saying "you" repeatedly—didn't you notice Miss Justice's head is about to disappear under the table?

"Thank... thank you, Mr. Hanged Man. I understand."

After a long silence with her head down, Justice finally looked up again, thanking the Hanged Man for his answer.

"Mr. Fool, I've found another page of Emperor Roselle's diary."

Using the time needed to materialize the diary, Justice finally stopped being shy and uneasy. She glanced left and right, discovered the others hadn't submitted new diaries this time, and seemed somewhat proud—Angel could clearly see her making small celebratory gestures under the table.

Then came the customary reading time for Mr. Fool. He lowered his head and eyes, carefully studying the single page. About five minutes later, the sound of knuckles rapping the table rang out.

"You may begin."

Actually, didn't we already begin exchanging earlier? Angel thought privately, then faced Justice and spoke.

"Miss Justice, the 1000 pounds I temporarily entrusted to you—can I withdraw it soon?"

This represented two 500-pound payments Justice had promised when Angel answered questions about the "Acting Method" and Justice's inquiries about major secret organizations. The Hanged Man had similarly earned 500 pounds, but he'd provided transaction methods at the time and collected his payment.

"No problem—I can pay anytime. Would you prefer to provide a mailing address, or use a bank account transaction?"

"Bank account. I'll give you an account number—you deposit the money and I'll find time to withdraw it."

This era's banking industry, relying on the widespread adoption of telegraph technology, could already conduct same-day cross-regional settlements. Money deposited in Intis capital Trier in the morning could be withdrawn in Loen Kingdom's Backlund by afternoon.

Angel had spent nearly all her cash buying the "Instigator" extraordinary characteristic in Enmat Port, purchasing Klein's gift, and investigating "red chimney" clues. Considering she'd soon need to pay the private detective's fee and prepare "Witch" potion materials, she decided to withdraw all 1000 pounds "stored" with Miss Justice.

Though conducting bank transactions in the Tarot Club somewhat diminishes the meeting's mystique, I really have no money...

She glanced surreptitiously at Mr. Fool at the head of the table. When he didn't object, Angel breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking back, she found parchment and a steel pen for one-on-one trading had appeared before her.

Praise the Fool!

Angel was delighted. It seemed Mr. Fool didn't mind such trivial matters and would even provide convenience for everyone.

Recalling the anonymous account she'd opened at Backlund Bank's Tingen branch that morning, she took the pen and wrote the bank name and unique account number on the parchment, rolled it up, and handed it to Miss Justice beside her.

This type of anonymous account only required the account name for deposits and a password for withdrawals—very safe for both parties.

Justice received it, lowered her head to memorize it for a few seconds, then looked up at Angel.

"No problem—I've got it. I'll deposit the 1000 pounds into this account as soon as possible after today's meeting."

Thank you, generous Miss Justice!

Angel praised silently.

After completing the cash transaction, the meeting quickly turned to intelligence exchange.

Miss Justice asked numerous questions every meeting, answered by the other two or even Mr. Fool. This time she again inquired about clues to "Arbiter" potions and some extraordinary ability that could pass directly through wooden doors.

"Arbiter"... This was even recorded in the Nighthawks' internal documents. Angel was about to answer this "financial backer" who'd helped rescue her from poverty when the Hanged Man spoke first.

"I can answer you, but in exchange, you need to help me investigate something."

The Hanged Man made his own request, asking Justice to investigate whether Loen's king, George III, would retaliate against the Feysac Empire in the near future by opening a new front in the war on the Southern Continent's Balam.

Miss Justice mentioned that the kingdom's upper echelons were under pressure from multiple parties after the defeat in the Balam East Coast war... It seemed the Hanged Man believed Justice might be descended from the kingdom's high-ranking officials, or at least able to contact that level.

Angel observed the two completing their transaction. Miss Justice had also changed from her previous reluctance to bargain, now demanding the Hanged Man pay an additional price for his request.

It seems Justice is gradually maturing... Not like the naive little girl with vast wealth she once was.

Angel sighed, suddenly feeling her position in the Tarot Club was somewhat precarious.

The Hanged Man was knowledgeable with extensive connections; Justice was wealthy with deep pockets; Mr. Fool, as the Tarot Club's organizer, possessed unfathomable strength...

Only she—having nearly died advancing to Sequence 8 in Enmat Port, merely a basic member within the Nighthawks, with little to offer in trade aside from some memories inherited from Cole Granger.

Watching Justice and the Hanged Man finish their transaction and carefully asking Mr. Fool whether she could join other organizations to obtain materials and intelligence, Angel had a thought.

"Mr. Fool, may I ask—if I discover other Extraordinaries suitable for the Tarot Club, can I guide them to join?"

She thought of her colleague who similarly harbored secrets, whose strength improved at rocket speed—Klein Moretti.

If he were also brought into the Tarot Club, it should benefit both of them considerably. It might also ease this feeling of being left further and further behind...

At this thought, Angel's mouth curved upward, but remembering that Mr. Fool and the other members were watching her, she quickly composed herself into a serious expression.

The gray fog space fell silent as a tomb. Just as Angel thought the Fool was displeased with such presumption, a low voice responded:

"If you encounter suitable candidates, you may inform me here or through ritual magic. I will ultimately decide whether to permit them to join. But before this happens, you cannot reveal the Tarot Club's existence."

"Remember, for those who are not members of the gathering, my name may not be recited without my permission."