895 Finally At Ease (2/2)
”Its exact characteristic is… I'm not sure nor am I able to recall where Spirit World Plunderers are most active. I suggest you pray to Aiur Moria. 'He' is very friendly to humans and will be willing to answer similar questions while wielding authority in such matters… The ritual's key is the correct honorific name and symbol…
”Once you have the clues to a Spirit World Plunderer, you can wait a while. I might be able to provide you some help…”
How can I bother you… Klein raised his right hand and pinched the two ends of his mouth.
He then flipped the page and read the final page.
”…Likewise, I will help you seal that glove once again… It's not that I do not wish to teach you the way to seal it, but it's unlikely that you can do it. This requires the power of the Underworld, requiring, at the very least, an Undying to do it…
”Alright. I should quickly have some free time. I recall you mentioning about Death's ring…”
Mr. Azik's changes don't seem too significant. At least I can't tell from the letter… Klein slowly exhaled as he flicked his wrist and ignited the paper in his hand, turning it to ashes before it floated into the trash can that was welded to the floor.
Although he didn't receive the whereabouts of Spirit World Plunderers from Azik, he could also determine that this descendant of Death similarly didn't remember Calderón City. He also guessed that this mysterious spirit world city likely had nothing to do with the Underworld; otherwise, Mr. Azik, who had already restored connections with the Underworld, should've recalled something about it. Even so, Klein still planned on replying to ask more about Calderón City.
Regardless, one should always have hope… Also, I should inform Mr. Azik that I'm in the Southern Continent… Klein seriously considered the contents of his reply.
However, he didn't immediately write it, afraid that the act of summoning the messenger would be noticed via the spiritual perception of the other Beyonders on board the airship.
As he turned his gaze, Klein looked out the window once again. It was dark and silent.
…
Looking at the dark sky with the concealed crimson moon, Admiral of Stars Cattleya retracted her gaze, picked up her pen, and deliberated over her words.
”The answer is neither.”
She was originally somewhat perplexed as to why Queen Mystic hadn't directly asked what ”home” was. Instead, she had attached two guesses. This made it easy for the question to receive an ineffective answer. But on second thought, she believed that Queen Mystic had thought it through in a way far better than she could've.
This was because this question was posed to a secret existence that was suspected to be an ancient god. As the number of diary pages she could provide had numbered about twenty, with each attempt giving her an answer; therefore, just three pages, even if they were of high value, made it difficult to be equivalent in value to a key question of where Emperor Roselle's mental and spiritual home was. The secrets concealed within might even be more important than a single Card of Blasphemy.
And Her Majesty's question seems stubborn. She doesn't seem willing to switch to something else; therefore, she specially added two choices, hoping that she could obtain an answer via elimination or directly obtain confirmation. In contrast, this lowers the value of the question. It then abides by the principle of equivalent exchange… As Cattleya thought, she recalled something.
Back then, she was still young and was being educated on all kinds of information. Queen Mystic would test her and tell her that in regards to answering a question, there were three opportunities for reducing the difficulty. First, was to eliminate a wrong option. Second, was to request the help of some specific person on the ship. Three, was to pray to one of the Seven Lights to receive the answer. Of course, the prerequisite to doing that was to complete the ritual herself.
Clearly, Queen Mystic had chosen to use the first method to reduce the difficulty.
Did Her Majesty have such an experience when she was little? After eliminating the two wrong options, I wonder how close she is to the real answer… Cattleya's expression unnaturally softened as she wrote:
”According to the intelligence I've gathered, there's a storm brewing in Backlund. I wish you well.”
She didn't directly mention the deputy director of MI9 or the royal family's consultant. After all, they were news shared between the Tarot Club. It wasn't something she had asked herself and tacitly acquiesced by Mr. Fool to inform Queen Mystic directly.
Folding the letter, Cattleya summoned Queen Mystic Bernadette's messenger.
…
Behrens Harbor. It was twilight.
Danitz and Anderson found a hotel opened by an Intis immigrant, finally experiencing the convenience of not having any language barriers.
After putting down their luggage, Danitz immediately headed towards the staircase wearing a cloak and his boxing glove.
Anderson leaned against the opposite door and asked in amusement, ”Is there anything else?”
Danitz immediately gave a sarcastic chortle.
”I'm heading out to buy a dictionary!
”This is way more reliable than your body language. In a few days, I might even be fluent in a few common words!”
Anderson stroked his chin with his left black-gloved hand.
”Your boxing glove was created from that giant's remains, right? What are its negative effects?”
Danitz blurted out, ”Being rash, often acting before thinking…”
As he spoke, he fell silent.