LOTM: Paradox Pathway

Having received Mr. Devil's response, Klein's mind became active. What he most wanted to ask about was actually matters related to the Spectator pathway, but that would seem too deliberate. After thinking for a moment, he spoke:

"I'd like to inquire—do you know which sequences can create coincidences?"

Hearing Klein's question, Snow's expression changed slightly, then he deliberately put on a mocking expression and said:

"Why would you think that someone like me, a mere Sequence 9, would know about such things? Aren't you overestimating me?"

'That's not what you said before!' Klein complained inwardly, though he understood that such knowledge probably wouldn't be casually shared with someone he'd just met. So he suppressed his disappointment and said with feigned indifference:

"I was just asking. By the way, to find Lanevus, do you have any personal belongings of his?"

"Unfortunately, no. Although I found his former residence, he's obviously a clever fellow and didn't leave any clues. The reason I wanted to cultivate a Seer was to see if I could find anything from that almost completely emptied house." Snow spread his hands helplessly, but Klein immediately pressed further:

"Where is that house?"

"62 Howles Street." Snow reported this intelligence he'd obtained from the original work, then revealed a meaningful smile:

"I'm still on the official records, so I won't go with you. If you find any clues, please come find me at Room 203 of the Fragrant Tree Hotel on Champagne Street. Oh, and here's the funding."

Saying this, he pulled out two gold coins gleaming with beautiful luster from his pocket and placed them on the table, put his silk half-top hat back on, turned around, and walked toward the door.

Watching Snow leave at a leisurely pace, Klein suddenly had an epiphany—'He seemed to have said before that official Beyonders don't understand the acting method. In other words, in his eyes, I'm actually a member of some secret organization? Right, the Secret Order! Mr. Devil should have taken me for a member of the Secret Order! So his purpose is actually to pass information about Lanevus to the Secret Order? He also mentioned the captain before, and he's ostensibly still a member of the Aurora Order... What exactly is he trying to do?'

Klein vaguely felt that there was a thread connecting everything, but due to his lack of mysticism knowledge, he couldn't completely link them together.

After hesitating for a moment, he stood up. Although he didn't know what Mr. Devil was scheming, he knew that investigating Lanevus's house first should be fine. Well, he'd need to divine for danger first.

Thinking of this, Klein was about to leave the divination club, but before leaving, he turned back and picked up the pounds from the table.

'Mr. Devil is really generous—two pounds right off the bat!' Klein carefully put the two gold pounds into the inner pocket of his formal wear, then organized his personal items and walked toward the door. Who knew that before he could leave, a familiar figure walked in from the entrance—it was Mr. Glacis, who had previously asked him to divine about the investment related to Lanevus.

...

"Everything went smoothly." Having ordered afternoon tea at the restaurant across from the divination club, Snow sat quietly in a position where he could see the divination club's entrance. Only after a young lady wearing a lotus leaf hat appeared did he finally relax.

Taking out a gold coin from his pocket and flicking it high, he waited for the coin to fall into his hand before standing up and leaving the restaurant.

Returning to the hotel, Snow completed his routine physical training. After a simple wash, he returned to his room and began writing a letter—

"Esteemed Mr. A:

"You would never guess what I've discovered! Although Hanass Vincent is an idiot, he did something extremely correct! That swindler—he succeeded!

"Although I don't know how he did it, just today, I inadvertently saw a lady—please forgive me for not finding a more appropriate way to address her, because she is carrying our Lord's offspring!

"You need not confirm again—I can guarantee that everything I say is true! You know, as a Secret Suppliant, my sensing in this regard is absolutely reliable! What that lady is carrying is definitely divine offspring with our Lord's divinity!

"Praise our Lord, I can hardly wait to see the scene of our Lord's offspring being born!

"However, mixed with such good news is an unforgivable discord!

"That lady carrying the divine child has actually made contact with the Nighthawks heretics! Although the Holy Son's power prevented him from daring to look directly, you should understand that this is still a hidden danger.

"I am merely a Secret Suppliant with no way to protect the safety of the divine child. Therefore, I humbly request that the Angel personally come to protect the divine child so that it may be born smoothly.

"Our Lord's faithful servant,

Snow von Penredax."

...

Watching Mr. A's messenger take the letter away, Snow let out a long sigh of relief. According to Mr. A's messenger's speed, he would arrive in Tingen by the day after tomorrow at the latest.

An evil god's offspring in Tingen would be a huge disaster, but if it were in Backlund, it would just be an ordinary incident.

Stretching his body, Snow drank a glass of hot milk to completely relax his body and mind, then began the final wrap-up of his day's work—

"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era,

You are the mysterious ruler above the Gray Fog,

You are the King of Yellow and Black who wields Good Luck..."

The honorific name recited in ancient Hermes echoed continuously in the spiritually sealed space, turning into layers of noise that spread toward the astral world. In such an environment, Snow clasped his hands together, pressed them against his forehead, and began his bedtime prayer for the day with a reverent tone...

...

"Mr. Devil is praying again! Having such a devout believer, I don't know whether to be happy or sad!" At No. 2 Daffodil Street, Klein, who had just finished bathing and was about to go to bed, heard the repeated murmuring beside his ear and immediately knew that Mr. Devil was praying again.

However, even so, he didn't just let it be. Instead, he returned to his bedroom and took the four steps counterclockwise to reach above the Gray Fog.

He had heard the story of the boy who cried wolf. If he really ignored it, what if one day someone else called for help at this time and he ignored it again? What would he do then?

Arriving at the head of the bronze long table, Klein looked at the constantly contracting and expanding crimson star, sighed inwardly "Indeed a devil," and extended his spirituality to touch it.

Klein, who had originally planned to let the "recording" play through and then go back to sleep, listened to a few sentences and suddenly froze slightly. His face, hidden behind the Gray Fog, also began to grow serious...

(End of Chapter)