Evil Gods Don’t Save People

Alger turned to ask Derrick, "Have you investigated the matter regarding your former Chief's mausoleum?"

Upon hearing Mr. Hanged Man's question, Derrick replied in shame, "No. I've been constantly assigned to patrol missions recently, and I didn't have the time to investigate."

Alger wasn't too surprised, but he was puzzled over one thing.

"Why don't you get the help of a few friends? You don't have to tell them your true motives. Split the task into very minor missions that wouldn't garner much attention. Let them search for information in different areas. This way, even if anything gets exposed, it wouldn't implicate them in a fatal way."

Derrick fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "I do not have friends."

Alger choked at the Sun's reply. After taking a breath, he reorganized his words and started 'convincing' Derrick that he had to make friends.

After the gathering, returning back to the Future, Cattleya stood behind the window of the captain's cabin. She was clearly in a dilemma.

Finally, she took a deep breath and exhaled. As she nudged her glasses, she left the captain's cabin and walked to Frank Lee's room.

After a brief exchange, she slowly asked, "I have a channel that allows me to obtain a Druid's Beyonder characteristic. Do you need it?"

"Ah? Of course!" Frank became thrilled. "Many a time, my abilities are what limit my ideas!"

'This… I kind of regret it…' Cattleya suddenly had such a thought.

Meanwhile, after packing her things, Fors saw Xio come back from hunting criminals.

"Xio, I'm moving out. I will be traveling around the world for a while to digest my potion."

The advancement ritual for Sequence 5 Traveler was to set up special coordinates in four completely different spots extremely far away from each other deep in the Spirit World. Then, there was also the corresponding acting as a Traveler.

And Xio had reasons to stay in Backlund.

"Do you really need to advance?"

Fors hid her guilt for lying to her friend. Although she had already been traveling with Mr. Fool's help during Full Moon nights to digest her Scribe potion and thus didn't really need to move out—with the Full Moon ravings, the Tarot Club, and everything she was hiding from Xio, Fors had made up her mind.

She had already slowly begun to distance herself from her friend as she had to hide her participation in Tarot Club meetings on Mondays and her escapades during Full Moon nights, so this wouldn't feel unnatural.

"You know that my teacher is part of the Abraham family. I want to help them. Moreover, you have enough money to buy yourself a house now. You should seize this opportunity to buy your own house and live in it with your family."

That way, Fors wouldn't have to hide from her every time there was a meeting or a Full Moon.

That way, she wouldn't put her friend in danger.

Xio reluctantly nodded, convinced. As Fors stored all her things into a subspace, Xio watched her friend with sad eyes.

The apartment felt a bit more empty now.

After a few more exchanges and reassurances, Fors finally left.

Fors glanced behind her, taking in the sight of this apartment one last time.

Then, she booked an hotel room and set up a ritual to pray to the Fool.

It was time to begin her advancement ritual now.

***

"I have a commission."

It was one of the rare instances when Miss Temperance spoke up.

Hearing this, everyone's gazes gathered onto her, awaiting her explanation.

"We intend to steal a Mummy on a ship belonging to the Loen army; it may be protected by a demigod. Due to security reasons, I will reveal the finer details only if you accept."

Sefirah Castle was quiet for a while, some members considering the situation and others instantly deciding that it didn't concern them.

'Stealing?' As a sheltered noble lady, Miss Justice felt somewhat hesitant to participate in something of the sort. Moreover, her abilities were not oriented toward fighting.

Although she usually had an adventurous spirit and knew she couldn't escape dirtying her hands since she was part of the Beyonder world, she was mainly dissuaded by the lack of details.

'The Loen army? Protected by a demigod?' Mr. Hanged Man's focus was instead on this point. Being part of an Orthodox Church, he instead feared the repercussions if they failed or his identity got discovered. And like most members, the lack of more details concerning the operation unsettled him.

People's gazes turned to Cattleya one after another, gauging her reaction. Currently being the only demigod in the Tarot Club, she was the only one more likely to be able to provide help.

However, Ma'am Hermit showed no signs of being willing to take up the commission. Understanding this fact, the other Tarot Club members retracted their gazes.

Indeed, as an experienced Beyonder, the cautious pirate wasn't inclined to accept such an unclear request for help.

Meanwhile, the Fool—who wished to participate—was noticed by Fors.

Already accustomed to His antics, she shook her head to Him before He could speak up, hoping her gaze could convey the fact that a God personally descending to help a Sequence 5 could scare away Miss Temperance.

The Fool saw her reaction and paused.

Although her gaze did not really convey her feelings, stealing her thoughts certainly did, so the Fool decided to slightly change what He was about to say.

"I have a Blessed who could help," He announced.

'Ah?' Miss Magician, who could in a way be considered a Blessed, controlled her expression.

'He's not speaking about me, right?'

She pushed away the dreadful thought.

'No, then who? That pirate? Or- Wait.'

Finally realizing what the Fool had in mind, she heard the god confirm her thoughts.

"Actually, it's someone you know. He introduced you to my honorific name," The Fool hinted.

'Right. I should have known…'

Fors wanted to sigh.

'Miss Temperance has already met Mr. Fool's Blessed?' Unable to ask, Audrey had to suppress her curiosity.

That's how it was decided that 'Zhou Mingrui' would assist Miss Temperance.

***

Zhou Mingrui appeared outside the Bravehearts Bar in the Backlund Bridge area, the place where he and the wraith had first met.

He then nudged open the heavy wooden door to step into the bar.

After asking the bartender, he held a cup of Southville beer and went to Billiard Room 3 where he knocked on the locked door.

'Knock! Knock! Knock!' Amidst the rhythmic knock, the door creaked open a tiny gap.

The red-eyed Ian peeped his head out before warily gesturing inside.

"Sir, please come on in."

Zhou Mingrui nodded and entered the billiard room.

Maric, with his hair a little messy, was wearing a white shirt, black vest, and black pants. He was sitting at a table, playing cards with living corpses.

Meanwhile, Sharron, with her small black bonnet and black regal gown, appeared beside the card table, sitting on a high stool.

"Good evening," Zhou Mingrui greeted.