Mystery: Big Alarm Clock Ghroth Path

Chapter 245 Meeting with Alger

"Review?"

Lupin paused for a moment upon hearing this, then sat down cross-legged with great interest and listened to Roger's next words.

He had completely calmed down by now and was eager to hear what the captain who had defeated him had to say.

Roger glanced around at all the sailors, smoothed his hair which was a little messy from the sea breeze, and then spoke loudly:

"As I just said, Lupin's power far surpasses mine, and even surpasses the vast majority of Sequence 8 Extraordinary beings."

"Using such power in combat will render many of the opponent's techniques ineffective; this is how the so-called 'overcoming skill with force' is achieved."

"Considering the enemies our fleet may face in the future, all sailors must actively engage in physical training and strengthen their physical fitness to prepare for any eventuality."

"I think Lupin is very experienced in this area, and he will serve as the physical training instructor for the 'Star Lord' fleet, supervising everyone's training regularly every week."

"Don't worry about nutrition, I'll take care of that for you."

Seeing the somewhat miserable expressions on the faces of some sailors upon hearing about the training, Roger smiled and said:

“From now on, we can organize a strength competition every month and give cash rewards ranging from 30 to 100 gold pounds to the top three winners.”

“This reward will be directly distributed to the individual by me, without any intermediaries.”

Upon hearing this, the sailors' eyes suddenly lit up.

Although Roger's salary wasn't low, the opportunity to earn tens or even hundreds of pounds in cash each month based on one's physical abilities was undoubtedly a huge temptation.

While physical exercise is a meaningful activity for men, many require some motivation.

Roger is now presenting them with a direct temptation: after all, where else can you find such a good deal—the opportunity to make money and improve your health?

Roger also placed Lupin Richmond in a new position, transforming him from the former boatswain of the "Fear" into the physical training instructor for the entire fleet. This was essentially a promotion, and according to the management regulations of the "Star Lord" fleet, he would receive an increase in both treatment and power.

To be honest, Roger quite liked this guy's personality. He was straightforward and decisive. Although he lacked a bit of cunning, he was highly respected among the crew members who had recently been recruited by the "Star Lord".

With Deleuze Johnson refusing to comply, Roger needed to promote someone like him. This would not only eliminate the subtle divisions within the team but also boost everyone's fighting spirit—a two-birds-with-one-stone approach.

Roger paused, then said:

"But on the other hand, fighting skills are equally important. I will personally give everyone a special training session every week, with Linsaya assisting from the side."

"Based on the above two aspects, we can hold a fleet competition once a month to test the training results. The competition will be conducted in groups according to the sequence level. Those who perform well will also receive rewards. Those who perform exceptionally well will be considered for promotion to sequence 9 or even sequence 8."

"The specific details will be drafted by First Officer Philip, and I need to see the plan within three days."

Philip immediately stood up straight and said respectfully:
"Yes, Captain."

These remarks once again caused an uproar among the crew, who had begun to calm down.

Back in the days of Mitron Gadirs's fleet, becoming an Extraordinary was not an easy thing. Only those who were confidants of the management or were willing to pay great benefits could obtain the potion formula and some of the materials, and only then would they have the opportunity to become an Extraordinary.

They had never experienced such fair evaluation as Roger's, which gave them the opportunity to become extraordinary and even be promoted!

In fact, Roger did not want to deliberately suppress the promotion of his men like many pirates did, because these men were very afraid that there were too many powerful extraordinary individuals in the fleet, so that one day they would mutiny and take their place.

Only their confidants were able to receive the relevant preferential treatment.

But this is essentially a frog-in-a-well mentality.

Roger, who traveled from the modern era, understands very well that all the internal problems of an organization are essentially problems of interest distribution. Only when interests are distributed reasonably can the leader's values ​​be truly recognized, and only then will subordinates be willing to truly serve.

Not to mention that his vision extends far beyond these three ships; he aims to build a fleet comparable to a pirate admiral or even a pirate king.

No matter how strong Roger was or how much energy he had, it was impossible for him to manage everyone in every detail every day. Even with the addition of Philip, Zeus, and Matteo, they were still stretched thin.

This means that he must win people's hearts and actively cultivate a sufficient number of outstanding subordinates. At the very least, each ship must have a certain combat strength and two or three extraordinary individuals with considerable strength in order to better manage a large fleet of several hundred people.

In fact, Bernadette had also mentioned these issues to him. This "mysterious queen" seemed to have learned some successful experience from her father, Emperor Roselle, in managing his subordinates. After all, the latter was not only a time traveler, but also had actually managed a country!
"That's not all, there's actually a third point."

After his crew had calmed down a bit, Roger continued:

"We just talked about strength, physical fitness and skills, but what is most important in actual combat?"
"Can anyone answer me?"

Upon hearing Roger's words, all the crew members fell into thought. After a moment, a young crew member tentatively raised his hand:

"How to make good use of the opponent's emotions and the surrounding terrain in combat?"

He was clearly inspired by Roger's earlier use of a wooden crate to lure the irrational Lupin Richmond into a counterattack, which ultimately led to his subjugation.

“Very good, Bob.”

Roger smiled as he looked at the young crew member named Bob. Over this period of time, he had consciously memorized all the crew members' names, to the point that he could almost recognize a person's name just by looking at their face.

"Indeed, using the enemy's psychology and terrain in combat is an important aspect, but is there anything else besides that? Is there anyone to add to this?"

Encouraged by Roger, the remaining crew members began to share their opinions.

They mentioned many aspects, including but not limited to estimating the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, reasonably assessing the gap between the two sides and making the right decisions, and making the most of the other side's weaknesses to reverse the unfavorable situation.

Some even mentioned how to choose a suitable target in group combat, and in the end, the discussion almost turned into a discussion on combat tactics.

Even Philip and Lupin joined the discussion, and the "Mars" became extremely lively. Some of the younger crew members even started arguing because of their differing opinions.

Once everything had calmed down, Roger summarized the valuable insights from everyone's observations and, together with several other fleet members skilled in combat, corrected some incorrect viewpoints.

Until the very end, Roger suddenly changed the subject and pulled out his large-caliber revolver.

For a moment, everyone on the deck of the Mars fell silent, wondering what Roger was up to.

"The most important point."

Roger cleared his throat and continued:

"We've just discussed various aspects of combat, but there's one more crucial point: try not to push yourself into a corner."

"Fighting with bare hands and risking one's life is the last resort, but also the most unfavorable one. The reason we emphasize strengthening combat skills is to cope with this most unfavorable situation."

"In most cases, even the fastest fist can't outrun a bullet."

"Not just bullets... anything can be used, including knives, shovels, cooking utensils, and even bricks. As long as victory can be achieved quickly, an excellent soldier should learn to use all available means."

Roger's speech contained elements reminiscent of the "Mad Dog Fist" and "Unrestricted Fighting Techniques" that circulated on the internet in his previous life.

In this day and age, many people haven't changed their mindset. Even many professional soldiers who are dedicated to pursuing "honor" haven't realized that the outcome of a battle is often more important than the process of the battle.

After arranging the physical and combat training, Roger, who was already hungry and had just fought, felt like he was about to faint from hunger.

He briefly instructed Linseria on how to cook, then sat listlessly at the bow of the "Mars" until the "Pleasure Witch" brought him a plate of fried shrimp and a plate of buttered bread. Only then did Roger begin to eat in a very unladylike manner.

Seeing Roger in this state, Lupin even had his men fetch a portion of cured meat and a small barrel of light beer from the supply ship and place them next to Roger, allowing Roger to enjoy his meal.

"I am full."

Roger patted his belly with satisfaction. He glanced at his watch and realized it was almost 11 a.m.

"Oh right, I was so busy eating that I have to meet with Alger later."

Roger slapped his forehead, quickly stood up, returned to the "Star Lord," took a shower in his private bathroom, and tidied his hair.

After doing all that, he changed into a fine shirt, paired with a beige trench coat and black trousers. He also put on a wide-brimmed hat that matched the trench coat, picked up his silver-inlaid cane, and then looked at his smart and capable self in the dressing mirror before nodding in satisfaction.

"That should be enough."

To be honest, the reason Roger dressed up was not only because he valued his meeting with Alger so much, but also because Alger always considered him a saint under the tutelage of "The Fool," and therefore held him in high esteem. So, in a sense, Roger was not only representing himself, but also saving face for "The Fool," and he had to dress properly no matter what.

Of course, Roger didn't use his own face either, but instead used the face he had been deliberately cultivating over this period, the face known to most people as "John West".

After dressing properly, Roger fed Bendit some dried fish before disembarking and taking a horse-drawn carriage towards the Avenue of Olive Trees.

As the car stopped, Roger, carrying his cane, paid the fare and then walked toward "Pamela's Fortune Telling Hut" not far away.

The café's entrance curtain isn't large, but the decor is very sophisticated, exuding a strong mystical atmosphere.

Roger pushed open the brown wooden door with glass panes on top, went inside, and then looked around.

Soon, he saw a man wearing a classic dark robe, a soft hat like a magician's, with deep features, a rugged profile, and dark blue hair.

In front of the man was a cup of Fermer coffee from the Pass River Valley of the Star Plateau in the Southern Continent, and beside him was a deck of tarot cards.

It is worth noting that at the very top of that tarot deck is the "Hanged Man" card, which depicts an angel with his hands tied behind his back, hanging upside down, with his left leg bent and pointing to the right side of the image.

Roger's heart skipped a beat. He walked straight over, pulled out a chair, and sat down opposite Alger.

"I want to have my fortune told."

Roger smiled and spoke in the voice Alger knew best.

Alger, who had been drinking coffee with his head down, was slightly startled by what he heard. He looked up at Roger.

She had slightly wavy brown hair, deep blue eyes, a thin and clean face, and a pleasant, faint fragrance.

On the other hand, Roger exuded an indescribable aura of power, which was the result of him deliberately releasing a small amount of Chunus Korg's saintly aura.

However, in Alger's perception, this oppressive aura actually reminded him of the "Singer of God" whom he had met several times before.

"He truly is a saint..."

Alger composed himself and continued to summarize in his mind:
"He seems more gentle and introverted than Mr. 'World,' and not at all pretentious... but considering the earth-shattering things this saint has done, these are probably just appearances..."

Thinking of this, Alger nodded:

"I'd be happy to help, but you'll need to shuffle and cut the cards yourself."

Roger smiled inwardly, but didn't show it on his face. However, he made another request:
"Can I combine the Minor Arcana cards for a divination?"

Because compared to the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana can provide the diviner with more details about the divination.

Furthermore, according to the Abraham family's notes, the Minor Arcana was used more often by astrologers in conjunction with the astrological chart than the Major Arcana. Those who were true "astrologers" were able to combine the chart of horary astrology with the Minor Arcana and the relationship between the four elements in the stars to give detailed and definite "answers".

For Roger, who had a close esoteric relationship with celestial bodies, pairing the cards with the Minor Arcana was undoubtedly a better choice.

"of course can."

Alger hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He watched as Roger shuffled and cut the cards with his fair, seemingly newly grown hands, and then selected two cards from the top and two from the bottom of the deck, turning them over one by one.

The first card is the "Wheel of Fortune" in sequence. In the very center of the image is a huge, spoked circular wheel. Climbing on it is a lion symbolizing new life and a skeleton holding a sickle, representing death. In addition, a man and a woman with opposite heads and feet are also clinging to it. One person's head is facing the oncoming sickle, while the other is following the lion, seemingly chasing some kind of change.

The second card is the "Devil," in which a huge, all-black demon with ram's horns and bat's wings sits at the head, while enslaved humans kneel below.

The third card is the reversed "Star" card, depicting countless stars shining in the night sky, with a river flowing below that seems to represent wisdom.

The fourth card is a Minor Arcana card in sequence: the Three of Wands, depicting a magician holding a wand-like wooden staff in each of his left and right hands, while above his head floats another staff with a flame-like light emanating from its end.

How should this be interpreted?

After reading the cards, Roger smiled and looked at Alger, the "Hanged Man".

After a moment's thought, Alger spoke:
The position of the "Wheel of Fortune" indicates that your destiny is in a period of rapid change. Although everything seems fine overall, some things are already showing signs of turning in the opposite direction.

"Of course, the core image of the 'Wheel of Fortune' card is the turning of fate. There is no strict good or bad in it. In the end, everything will be balanced. What is lost will be regained, and what is gained will be repaid. In the end, everything depends almost entirely on the strength of one's own will."

"It sounds like some kind of metaphor."

Roger gave a thoughtful smile.

"Maybe so."

Alger, the "Hanged Man," nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

"And this one?"

Roger pointed to the card with the number "Devil" on it.

"The 'demon' in order of precedence has two main images. It is itself a synonym for the abyss, in which everything is invisible, in other words, everything is a secret."

"It represents an unknown terror in itself, and it is very powerful, but in any case, as a dark force corresponding to the gods, it has been placed in a place that is not suitable for it."

"The Hanged Man," Alger said, carefully choosing his words.

"Yes, I roughly understand what you mean."

Roger nodded, then looked at the reversed "star":
"What about this reversed 'star'?"

"Stars are associated with spirituality and intuition, just like points of light appearing in a dark sky, which can guide lost ships back to the right track."

"But now the star is reversed, and the river is on top. In my opinion, this has two meanings."

"One implication is that spiritual guidance may be temporarily hidden, in which case the outcome will depend heavily on human wisdom... The river is associated with reason, and its placement above this point illustrates this point."

"Another implication is that the order has changed, which may lead to chaos that lasts for some time."

After speaking, Alger looked at the "Three of Wands" again:
"3 is an important spiritual number. It represents basic rules and order and is also related to the divine. The wand at the top of this card is burning, which seems to indicate that the other two wands are subordinate to it."

After Alger finished his tentative interpretation, he looked at Roger, seemingly wanting to hear Roger's opinion.

During the divination just now, Alger was half seriously interpreting the text, and half secretly exchanging some information with Roger.

Firstly, in the interpretation of the "Wheel of Fortune," Alger subtly tells Roger that he is in a certain threat, but this threat is not too great for a saint. As long as he has the will to solve the problem, the problem will eventually be solved.

As for the "demon" in the order of precedence, it represents the power that opposes the gods. This implies two things. First, the powerful pirate Bratov does indeed have some grudge against the Church of the "Lord of Storms," ​​which is why he has been avoiding the Church's headquarters. Second, "it has come to the wrong place" suggests that the power of this "Twilight Admiral" has not only come to a place he should not be in, but has also approached waters that do not belong to him, namely the northern territorial waters of Bayam, and may even have entered the radiation range of Pasu Island.

This is undoubtedly a risky move, and what drives the "demon" to take this risk is very likely the demon's own emotions.

There's a high probability that he's angry, but also a little confused. In any case, his unusual behavior should have been noticed by the Church of Storms, and it's only a matter of time before they take action.

Therefore, Roger needs to act quickly and deal with Bratov and his hidden forces in Bayam before the Church of Storms notices him.

The third card is the most interesting. After the "twilight" curtain falls, it is time for the "stars".

"Besides the spiritual aspect, Alger also seems to be using this card to suggest that I may have found the whereabouts of a meteorite, but further confirmation is needed... After all, a falling star is equivalent to a meteorite, and the river represents the need for further clues to support it, but at the same time, it is also implying that there is a certain danger involved..."

"Regarding 'order,' perhaps it's hinting that this matter requires revelation from Mr. 'The Fool'?"

Roger is somewhat uncertain about this, but if it is true, it would undoubtedly be very good news.

The two can discuss the specific details at the upcoming "Tarot Meeting." Of course, if Alger the Hanged Man determines that the clue is false during this period, the matter will certainly be temporarily put on hold.

As for "Scepter 3", it is clearly a test.

In Alger's rhetoric, the scepter with flames burning above must represent Mr. Fool, who leads the "Tarot Club," while the other two scepters "subordinate to the scepter above" may be hinting at the existence of Roger and "The World" Gehrman Sparrow.

"Good grief, are they trying to get my confirmation?"

Roger was at a loss for words, finding the situation both amusing and exasperating.

(End of this chapter)