"First, I must warn you: I can only share what's safe for you to hear. Some secrets attract divine attention, and knowing certain truths too soon could bring disaster," Adrian said, clearing his throat, addressing Klein.
Seeing Klein nod, he smiled and continued, "Before we proceed, I need to confirm something: what did your captain see when he encountered the 'True Creator'?"
This was a critical question. The High-Dimensional Overseer needed mortal eyes to gauge the True Creator's current state. To an Outer God, even Alista Tudor or Black Emperor Roselle's madness was mundane. In His cosmic wanderings, the High-Dimensional Overseer had witnessed far crazier spectacles than these mortal gods.
What did He look like? Klein rubbed his head, recalling Captain Dunn's description: "A cross, a massive cross filling the sky. On it, a naked man was nailed with black iron spikes, arms spread, feet up, head hanging like a pendant, body streaked with blood. But the captain said his face held a resolute emotion, surrounded by filthy darkness and writhing flesh…"
"Got it," Adrian nodded. "As for your earlier question, I'll put it in terms you can grasp: the True Creator, in a sense, is the 'first transmigrator,' hailing from our same 'world.' Through my god's communication with Him, He wishes to connect with the entity behind you. It's a gesture of goodwill."
Adrian chuckled, "Of course, in this world's terms, it's the True Creator taking a special liking to you, hoping you'll serve at His throne. But would you accept that phrasing?"
As a modern, upright youth, Klein naturally wouldn't.
"Also, when Old Neil was corrupted by the Hidden Sage, the True Creator intervened to help you. Otherwise, a bit longer, and Old Neil would've lost control completely, facing only death. At that level of evil god corruption, only a deity could save him. That should prove His sincerity, Klein. But I bet you've got other questions, right?"
Klein nodded, pressing, "Then how do you explain the Aurora Order's actions targeting the Antigonus Family notebook? I saw Siris's letters with Mr. Z."
Adrian fell into a "thoughtful" silence. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, "It's a historical issue, Klein. Did you know that in the Fourth Epoch, the True Creator was the orthodox deity of the Solomon Empire?"
"But He went mad…"
The True Creator and High-Dimensional Overseer huddled together, watching Adrian recount a Fourth Epoch history untainted by the orthodox gods. They carefully avoided words or knowledge that could pollute, leaving deliberate gaps in the narrative for Klein.
Halfway through, the Evernight Goddess slipped in. While observing the High-Dimensional Overseer's "live broadcast," she subtly added harmless "details."
Adrian meticulously stripped out knowledge of true gods, narrating only as an observer of nation clashing against nation. Yet, even this depiction weighed heavily on Klein, as if peering through fog at a deranged era where lives were trampled like grass.
Only Old Ones truly understood Old Ones. Under the trio's crafted secrecy, even Adam failed to notice they'd exposed Klein to critical information that could sway his stance prematurely. After all, Adam, now merely a King of Angels despite his Ancient Sun God memories, couldn't detect the schemes of two true gods and an Old One.
Though this history was enough to leave a lasting mark on the still-naive Klein, tilting the scales, the Evernight Goddess— wary of the three gods (Storm, Knowledge, Wisdom) flipping the table—insisted the High-Dimensional Overseer avoid slandering them.
Klein trudged down the street, dejected. He hadn't pried a way home from Adrian—chuckling bitterly, he mocked himself. From their talk, he sensed the Aurora Order and his "hometown" compatriot Adrian genuinely bore him no ill will. But recalling Adrian's parting words, he sighed.
"If you trust me, contact the entity behind you. We'll communicate with Him," Adrian had said earnestly. "I'm giving you two honorific names. If you're in mortal danger, pray to Them."
Klein glanced at the note in his hand, listing two true gods' honorific names: one for the True Creator, the other likely for Adrian's god. There was also a messenger-summoning incantation.
Memorizing it silently, Klein resolved not to recite these names unless absolutely necessary. He was fairly sure Adrian's "backing" and the evil god True Creator meant him no harm—for now. But what if? What if the gray fog I access is special, and these gods want me to chant their names for some scheme? I'd die unjustly!
Muttering to himself, Klein headed toward the Nighthawk base at the security company to report the paper in the sealed artifact's hand. He'd once fantasized about using his pre-transmigration knowledge to found an international charity, outwardly aiding the poor, secretly funding workers' resistance to negotiate with the elite and improve the masses' lives.
But…
Recalling the last epoch—Beyonders running rampant, treating lives as nothing; gods and angels walking the earth, bringing calamity after calamity—Klein felt suffocated.
Sighing, he plodded heavily toward the security company. For now, it seemed he couldn't achieve those dreams peacefully.
…
Above the gray fog, in the grand, ancient temple, a mottled bronze table stood silently.
Enshrouded in thick gray-white mist, Klein sat at the head, watching the still-blurry Justice and Hanged Man appear at their usual seats.
Hmm, Miss Justice's emotions are unsteady—worry, unease, confusion… Klein, with his Spirit Vision active, noticed the Tarot Club's sole female member's anomaly at a glance. Still reeling from the truth a day later, Klein's own mood was low, so he didn't dwell on Audrey's state. To Audrey and Alger, his subdued demeanor read as enigmatic authority.
"Greetings, esteemed Mr. Fool," Audrey said. Though Susie's sudden speech had shocked her profoundly, the note Adrian left in her sleeve—covertly transferred via 0-08—had subtly influenced her, urging her to ask the Fool about the "white moon" after His reading time.
After discussing Beyonder pets, Audrey presented a page, respectfully handing it to the Fool. The new find lifted Klein's spirits slightly, dulling the shock of learning he and Adrian were the True Creator's favored.
Chatting idly with Audrey, Klein glanced at the diary's opening lines: "December 20th, another year's about to begin, but the feedback I've been getting leaves me baffled and troubled."
"This world has no oil! No oil at all!"
*No oil…* Klein's pupils constricted, his heart a tangle of emotions. Without oil, Earth's oil-based industrial systems couldn't develop. No wonder Adrian, when discussing the last epoch's history, mentioned the God of Steam…
Though vague about divine history, Klein caught oddities in Adrian's words. Under Roselle Gustav's—the transmigrator's—push, the God of Craftsmanship only advanced the era to steam power, renaming Himself the God of Steam and Machinery. Klein had assumed Roselle hadn't tapped that tech tree, but now, perhaps this planet's limits stunted progress.
At the diary's end, Klein read: "December 23rd, maybe I should consider that suggestion, securing a backup outside the Church of the God of Craftsmanship. Like joining that ancient, secretive organization quietly shaping world affairs?"
Reading this, Klein found no more text, his mood indescribable: "Great Emperor, what's this ancient, secretive, world-shaping organization? One I don't know?"
"Hiss… Adrian mentioned a Third Epoch organization secretly influencing the world. Could it be the same? I asked him, and he said it's not that he wouldn't tell me, but that he couldn't… Damn, why do I feel he's channeling Zaratul while I'm stuck with Roselle? I'm the Seer here—how's he out-godsticking me?"
Klein mused, grumbling inwardly. Setting the diary down, he eyed Audrey and Alger. Drifting, he wondered about Adrian's pathway.
Seeing "Mr. Fool" finish reading, *Audrey* exhaled, shifting to Spectator mode, smiling lightly: "I'd like to know if there are Sequence potions named 'Arbiter' or 'Actor,' and what kind of Beyonder can pass through wooden doors or negate locks?"
That's the Abraham Family's *Apprentice ability… Hmm, my hometown buddy seems reliable, not lying or bluffing on this. Maybe tied to his "cheat"?* Klein was about to answer when Hanged Man Alger cut in.
After Audrey promised to "investigate if the Loen king plans war," Alger explained eloquently. But on the "Actor" potion, he frowned, shaking his head, admitting ignorance.
Audrey wasn't too disappointed, leaning back gracefully, signaling understanding. When she didn't press, Alger paused, then turned to the head of the bronze table: "Esteemed Mr. Fool, I have a question. Is the 'Sanctuary' the Aurora Order claims for the True Creator the legendary *Forsaken Land of the Gods?"
Sanctuary? Adrian just mentioned that. Asking me, the True Creator's favored, about Him is right up my alley… Klein tapped his armrest, adopting an enigmatic air, staring at Alger with subtle pressure. After a pause, he said in a low voice, "Yes."
Alger's pupils widened, and he fell silent, gasping, the Fool shrouded in gray fog. Audrey, reading Alger's expression, wanted to ask about the Forsaken Land but sensed the mood wasn't right. As the Tarot Club's atmosphere grew quiet, Audrey glanced around, recalling a strange painting. Smiling elegantly, she said to Klein, "Mr. Fool, I recently saw an odd painting."
A painting? Odd? Klein snapped out of the Aurora Order's shadow, regaining some Fool gravitas. Leaning into his massive chair, he feigned intrigue.
"It depicted Desi Bay, painted beautifully," *Audrey* said, clumsily manifesting the painting in the gray fog space as she had with notes. But as Klein saw it, his body stiffened. Audrey's soft voice came from his side:
"Mr. Fool, why is the moon in this painting white?"
Klein turned, staring at the oil painting. Waves flowed across the canvas, pure white moonlight bathing the coast, lending an unparalleled serene aura.
It was pristine white moonlight.
(End of Chapter)