LOTM: Paradox Pathway

'Could it be that the sealed artifact in Mr. Devil's hands is powerful enough to interfere with divination above the Gray Fog? Or perhaps, it's not that I failed to see anything, but rather that Mr. Devil's own fortune is as elusive and unpredictable as white mist? Then were my previous divinations truly valid and effective?'

Thinking of this, Klein immediately changed his divination statement and performed the divination again. Then, to his surprise, he discovered that among the divinations pointing to Snow, most of them could function normally, but once they involved divination statements about the other party's fortune and fate, they would all point to that patch of white mist.

'Considering that the space above the Gray Fog possesses the power to exclude interference, Mr. Devil's fate trajectory should be shielded by some force at roughly the same level as the Gray Fog. But this doesn't prevent me from divining his actions—as long as it doesn't involve his destiny, the results of the divination should be trustworthy.' Klein thought to this point and shook his head again, saying, "No, I can't be superstitious about divination results. The precautions that should be taken still need to be taken..."

Having completed several divinations, Klein didn't linger any longer above the Gray Fog. He immediately returned to reality and tried to use normal astrolabe divination to interpret the information Snow had provided. However, the answer he received was as ridiculous and laughable as an ion-permed baboon's curly fur.

"Phew..." Klein took a deep breath, adjusting his mentality to a peaceful state. Just as he opened his room door, intending to go to the reception hall to find Mr. Devil he heard that gentle voice—

"Mr. Moretti, do you have results from your divination?"

"..." Klein looked deeply at Snow, who seemed to have been waiting at the door all along, and stepped aside from the doorway, saying:

"Let's go inside to talk."

"Alright." Snow reached out to stroke the cat's head, lifted his foot, and stepped into the topaz room. He tactfully turned around to lock the door, and then heard Klein speak:

"Can you tell me the real purpose of your divination visit this time? Mr. Beyonder?"

'Plan C!' Snow's third contingency plan was triggered, and his expression became serious accordingly. "It seems my luck is really good—I actually encountered a genuine Seer."

'He knows I'm a Seer? Or rather, did he come here specifically to look for a Seer?' Klein tried to analyze some information from the other party's words. His original plan to directly develop the other party as an informant using his official Beyonder identity was also suppressed, and he just narrowed his eyes and said:

"It seems I guessed correctly?"

"That's right, or rather, we both guessed correctly." Snow revealed a slight smile, reached out to stroke Lily's head, and said, "I need a Seer's assistance. If you're willing to provide help, I can give you the subsequent potion formula for the Seer sequence."

"You have the subsequent potion?" Klein suppressed the excitement in his heart, asking in as peaceful a tone as possible.

"That's right. Actually, my purpose in coming here was to find a young, talented fortune-teller to cultivate my own Seer. I didn't expect to encounter a ready-made one." Snow spread his hands, his tone carrying obvious self-deprecating color.

Hearing this, Klein frowned slightly, but still spoke tentatively:

"Aren't you afraid I'm an official Beyonder?"

Hearing Klein's words, Snow seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and his entire demeanor became casual—

"First, official Beyonders don't understand the acting method. Since you appeared at the Divination club, you're most likely not an official Beyonder. Hmm, hearing me mention the acting method, you showed no surprise or confusion whatsoever, which further increases the probability that you're not an official Beyonder.

Second, even if you are an official Beyonder, only the Church of the Evernight Goddess possesses the Seer potion among the official organizations. However, they don't have the potion formula for further advancement in this sequence. In other words, as long as you want to advance, we have room for a deal.

Actually, if you are an official Beyonder, I'd be even happier, because then I wouldn't have to think about how to report to that Beyonder with terrible memory! As for you arresting me, that's fine too, because I think that during the upcoming period, the church basement would actually be the safest place."

"A Beyonder with poor memory—are you referring to Captain Dunn?" Klein felt that the corners of his mouth might be twitching. This Mr. Devil... how should I put it? Isn't he being a bit too casual?

Realizing that the rhythm of the conversation was being led astray by Mr. Devil, Klein forcibly suppressed his urge to complain and then said seriously:

"So what do you plan to have the Seer do?"

"Find a person." Snow's expression immediately became serious, and that abrupt change left Klein somewhat at a loss for a moment.

"Tell me about it. If it's not too dangerous, I don't mind earning some extra income." Klein showed an interested expression, but Snow maintained that serious expression—

"His name is Lanevus, a fraud, very likely a Sequence 8: Swindler. As for other matters, those are not things you can participate in. You just need to help me find him."

"Lanevus?" Klein vaguely remembered hearing this name somewhere. After thinking for a bit, he recalled that Mr. Glacis had once asked him to divine about an investment, and that investment pointed to a person called Lanevus.

Considering the other party's sequence name of "Swindler," Mr. Glacis's investment would probably really go down the drain.

However, why was Mr. Devil looking for this person?

Klein instinctively felt that this matter wasn't simple, because as a member of the Aurora Order, Mr. Devil had no reason to come forward over fraud. In other words, was this related to the seed that Mr. Devil had mentioned before, planted by Hanass Vincent and another Secret Suppliant?

Or perhaps, Lanevus was that seed?

Thinking of this, Klein couldn't help but widen his eyes, while Snow suddenly looked at him and revealed a disturbing smile:

"If you're an official Beyonder, then please arrest me. It would be best to lock me up in the church's underground prison—if you could escort me to Backlund, that would be even better. If you're not, then help me find Lanevus, and then leave Tingen as soon as possible. The farther you run, the better."

"..." Klein activated his spirit vision, looking at Mr. Devil's somewhat chaotic ether aura, feeling slightly uneasy. However, thinking of his previous doubts, he hesitated slightly before speaking:

"Mr. Penredax, I will try to complete your commission, but besides the subsequent formula for the Seer potion, could I inquire about some intelligence in the Beyonder field from you? Um, I will pay the appropriate compensation."

Saying this, Klein couldn't help but feel guilty, but thinking of Miss Justice behind him, he gained some confidence. At worst, he would use the excuse of "I have a blessed one who needs activity funds" to trade with Miss Justice. Well, as a novice in the Beyonder field, Miss Justice had quite a lot of things that could be traded.

Seeing Klein's constantly changing aura, how could Snow not guess what he was thinking? While finding it amusing in his heart, he nodded and said:

"Sure, if I know about it."

(End of Chapter)

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Personal opinion: Among the twenty-two pathways, the two strongest are undoubtedly Spectator and Hanged Man. The trio of "survival" families rely on advance preparation, which is essentially having the advantage of the prepared against the unprepared. This in itself means their weakness in direct confrontation, though they excel at survival.

In terms of direct combat, the Death pathway seems decent too, but it's too pure in nature, has deficiencies in versatility, and is easily calculated against. Judge and Black Emperor are purely support roles and can't serve as main damage dealers.

The Spectator pathway is the earliest to unlock mythical creature form for combat, decent at close combat, omnipotent in mental abilities, and when fighting against a Spectator, you can hardly generate the will to resist. Turning around to discover a Spectator has been watching you from behind—I think that's more terrifying than a monocle. Moreover, the Spectator's mental control and script guidance abilities mean they always have the initiative. Not to mention that as a true god, they can even fantasize about Great Old Ones... Simply the child of the current version.

As for the other pathway, Hanged Man, this is also of the comprehensive suppression type. Secret Supplicants master large amounts of ritual magic and directly communicate with hidden existences. Listeners come with inherent pollution—if you hit me, you suffer losses; if I hit you, you still have to endure it. Hermits are anti-divination, Rose Bishops are almost physically immortal, and Shepherds can directly debut as main damage dealers through herding. For others, Beyonder items with strong side effects can be directly used by Shepherds to pollute a person, turning them into a semi-out-of-control Beyonder and then herding them. It can be said that Beyonder items are just Beyonder items in others' hands, but in a Shepherd's hands, they become selectable Beyonder abilities.

The only problem is that they really go mad. If True Creators weren't insane, the Secret Suppliant pathway that directly communicates with deities would definitely be more overpowered than Spectator.