Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 183 Arrangement
"Since there is such a convenient magical item, could you give me some more time to deal with the things at hand?" Claire asked Saint Anthony, holding the small roulette wheel in her hand lovingly.

Saint Anthony nodded thoughtfully. "Go see whoever you wish to see, but you must ensure you use the roulette wheel to reach the temple before dawn. Be aware that without the protection of darkness, this roulette wheel will have serious negative effects."

What happens during daytime use?
Claire wanted to use her identification ability to observe this magical object, but with Saint Anthony beside her, she suppressed her curiosity for the time being and planned to do the identification when no one was around.

There were less than six hours left until dawn, and there weren't many places she could go in such a short time. Claire didn't plan to delay for another day. Although the Temple hadn't set a specific time, since they had even taken out such a long-distance teleportation artifact, they naturally didn't want her to be delayed in Backlund any further.

Without giving it much thought, Claire quickly went to Daly's nearby residence.

"Are you going to the temple tonight? So suddenly?" Daly, whose sweet dream was disturbed, casually tied up her messy hair with a hairband, and her clean face showed a look of astonishment.

"Yes." Claire didn't know the reason for the sudden summons from the Holy Temple, so she simply responded and then instructed:
"While I'm away, you should refrain from any further contact with Tai Perslan. Any actions against the Witch Cult will be discussed after I return. However, if you encounter any difficult issues, you can ask her for help. She will be willing to assist you."

"The rest of the team members are at a lower level. While I'm away, the church won't assign any more missions to our Seventh Team. If you want to accumulate merit, you can follow Dunn and his team. And..."

"If any trouble arises within the church, go find Captain Dunn and the others immediately. There seems to be a hidden agenda behind the formation of this team, which suggests there must be someone powerful behind them."

Claire's constant chatter made Daly laugh. "Captain Galadilla, you're just returning to the Sanctuary... How come all these instructions make it seem like it's dangerous for me to stay in Backlund?"

Claire paused briefly, narrowed her eyes, and said, "Don't you think you're in danger?"

Daly looked thoughtful. "You mean Messerli Dougherty?"

Claire sighed and said, "And Alicia, if Messeri really does something, it won't be possible without the tacit approval of her, the leader of the Nighthawks. So I can't trust this 'gatekeeper'."

Daly thought of the strangeness of Alicia and the warning given by the witch Tai Perslan, and her expression became slightly serious. "I will pay attention."

Claire warned, "Try to avoid her."

"I will." Daly smiled. "No matter how conceited I am, I won't bother a 'gatekeeper' who possesses a sacred relic."

After leaving Daly's residence, Claire rushed to the Oak Leaf Bar under the cover of night.

Without showing up in the bar, Claire went underground through the secret door, triggered the hidden alarm, and met Tessa who came with Xio.

"Galadia, disturbing others is not a good habit." Tessa saw that Galadia was alone, and her expression was a little disappointed, and there was sarcasm in her words.

Xio whispered, "Captain, Miss Purcell has been busy with me all the time arranging this week's gatherings. She hasn't even had a break, so it's understandable that she's a little irritated."

"I'm afraid it's more than that." Claire chuckled.

Xio chuckled, "Also, not seeing the person I wanted to see made me feel even more disappointed and angry. Captain, did something happen that made you come here so late? Where's Flora?"

Tessa rolled her eyes, but her small, delicate ears perked up.

"I'm here to tell you about Flora." Claire sighed, "Flora, as the appraiser, can't come to this week's party."

"What's going on?" Tessa was a little out of control. She opened her eyes wide, and there was a hint of helplessness in her cold and beautiful expression.

"I need to take her back to the temple." Claire smiled at Tessa's concerned gaze. "Don't overthink it. It's not a bad thing. Returning to the temple will help her get better."

After hearing Claire's explanation, Tessa's expression drooped like a cat, and she squinted lazily. "That's perfect. We'll just temporarily suspend the gathering. Without Flora here, it'll be easy to ruin the reputation we worked so hard to build."

Tessa emphasized the syllables in Flora's name to express her dissatisfaction. In fact, she said this because she wanted to give in and be lazy without seeing Claire, and she had lost the motivation to strive.

Xio asked like a curious baby, "The Holy Church? Are you referring to the headquarters of the Church of Night, the Church of Tranquility?"

"Yeah." Claire nodded. Seeing that Quinn seemed to have something to say, she asked, "What's the matter?"

Xio hesitated a bit, but after spending some time with them, she felt that the two people beside her were people she could trust, and they were also Extraordinary seniors she could ask for advice.

"I seem to have...seemed to have joined a gathering organized by a deity," Xio stammered. After she finished speaking, she realized nothing unusual had happened. She breathed a sigh of relief, then spoke in a much calmer tone, "Captain, that's the deity mentioned in that description."

Tessa glanced at Hugh casually when she heard that. At the Tarot meeting today, based on his obvious physical features, she guessed that the newcomer "Judgment" was Hugh.

At this time, the real person admitted it himself, and she didn't have to guess anymore.

"Did you pray to a high-ranking being regarding Fors's matter?" Tessa asked.

Xio nodded with a bitter face. "Yes, I thought at the time that there was nothing more despairing than watching Fors lose control. I didn't expect the church to rescue Fors in time... Now that I'm being watched by that god again, I'm very panicked. Captain, what should I do?"

Is Xio asking Galadilla for help?
And looking at Galadilla's expression, this woman actually knew about the existence of the Tarot Club and "The Fool"?

I just don't know if it was Claire who revealed it, or if the Church of Evernight has already noticed The Fool...

Several thoughts flashed through Tessa's mind, and a look of surprise appeared on her face. "Look at Xio's expression, Galadilla, do you know a lot about the god Xio mentioned?"

Guessing what this "Queen" was thinking, Claire frowned and shook her head.

"I don't know much about it. The organization is very mysterious."

"I initially suspected an unknown secret organization lurking in Backlund through the accidental discovery of a noble becoming a Beyonder. Later, when I saw the three-part honorific name that Xio had brought, I realized that this organization was actually connected to a high-ranking being."

The noble... is Miss Justice, no wonder...

How could an inexperienced noble lady escape the tactics of a cunning woman like Galadilla?

but……

Looking at Galadriel lost in thought, Tessa couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion welling up in her heart—

Including her, along with "Priestess" Claire, "Justice" Audrey Hall, and "Judgment" Hugh Dilcha... poor Captain Galadilla, the Red Gloves, had been surrounded by the Tarot Club without even realizing it...

Well, that's not the way to think about it. On the other hand, Galadriel has probably discovered the true identities of Justice, Judgment, and the others...

Seeing this, Claire probably didn't confess anything about the Tarot Club to the Red Glove Captain, nor did she reveal her identity as the "Priestess." However, with Quinn's reticent attitude, I suspect she'll be exposed soon...

Noticing the strangeness in Tessa's eyes, Claire couldn't guess what this woman was thinking, so she continued the conversation with Xio: "Xio, how did you get involved in that organization's gathering? Where was it held?"

"In...a dream?" Xio answered uncertainly.

"Dream?" Claire was visibly stunned.

Seeing the confused look of Galadilla, the "nightmare", Tessa laughed in her heart and almost couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

This was also why she didn't care about Xio revealing the Tarot Club's affairs to Galadriel. The Fool's gathering method was so magical that even the Orthodox Church could hardly understand and imagine it.

It was impossible for Galadilla to find the Tarot Club's meeting place based on Hugh.

Unless someone at the divine level takes action...

And if it really involves a struggle between gods, then it is not something that a little witch like her can worry about.

Meanwhile, Xio took a deep breath, organized his words, and considered how to explain to Claire her bizarre experience.

She sincerely hoped that Captain Galadria or the church behind the captain could deal with the issues of the Tarot Club and The Fool to prevent her good friend Fors from being involved.

Xio murmured, "I don't know how to describe it. I was resting alone in my room when my consciousness was suddenly pulled into a gray foggy space. Within the fog stood a giant's palace. I sat at a long bronze table inside the palace and saw several people who claimed to be members of the Tarot Club, as well as that indescribable figure sitting at the head of the table."

"Did you see the features of those members clearly?" Claire pretended to be clueless and continued to ask.

Xio shook his head regretfully. "Everyone was obscured by a layer of gray fog, and the sound was also suppressed by unknown means... But the woman sitting closest to the god is probably... the person you warned me to be wary of."

Because Tessa was present, Xio didn't continue to say the name "Audrey Hall", but she was sure that Claire understood what she meant.

After a pause, Xio continued:
"However, they don't seem like some evil organization. Even though we only attended one gathering, it's clear that they're hiding their identities from each other, and the connections between members aren't close."

"According to those members, this gathering, created by that great power, simply facilitates their communication, transactions, entrustment, and other such activities. This kind of organization isn't quite like a church, but more like... the gatherings and transactions we're currently doing."

Xio recounted his first impression of the Tarot Club, as well as his gains and experiences at the club:

"...Also, I obtained a very valuable method at the party that can quickly increase my strength, but due to restrictions, I cannot disclose the details of this matter."

"...Oh right! Captain! I overheard the conversations between these members and pieced together a shocking story. Beth Lyonness was killed by a member codenamed 'Queen'!"

Hearing Xio say this, Claire glanced sharply at Tessa.

Tessa smiled at Claire.

Xio was unaware of the two men's little tricks.

Claire did not reveal Tessa's identity to Hugh. After exchanging information with Hugh, Claire left the token she had prepared with him. This would allow Hugh to bypass the Nighthawks system and directly contact Daly and others for help when leaving a message in the Church of Evernight.

After explaining all this, Xio returned to the tavern on the ground to rest, leaving space for the two people who obviously had something to discuss privately.

After Xio left, Claire looked at Tessa with a playful expression and said, "'Queen'? You're hiding it quite well! How many identities do you have, woman?"

Tessa said calmly, "Out in the world, multiple identities open up multiple paths. I'm alone and weak, and it's not easy to survive in this world. Unlike Captain Galadilla, you don't have to live in fear with the support of the Church of Evernight."

Tessa felt a little regretful about her identity being exposed, but it wasn't difficult to accept. She wasn't even afraid that the Red Glove Captain would attack her because of it.

This woman didn't arrest her for being a member of the Witch Cult, so why would she make things difficult for her for being a member of the Tarot Club?
"Let's talk. Tell me about your Tarot Club's intelligence. I'll give you a satisfactory reward depending on the value of the information. But first, I have to make it clear that the reward doesn't involve Flora. I can't control her." Claire said to Tessa in a threatening and tempting manner.

After hearing Claire's words, Tessa shrugged and smiled calmly. "Well... well, I really don't have any advice. Honestly, the Witch Cult is my enemy, and I have no problem betraying them. But as for the Tarot Club... the only thing I can promise you is that I won't report Xio as your informant to that person."

Claire raised her eyebrows and asked, "What kind of organization is the Tarot Club that even such a ruthless witch wouldn't betray them?"

"That kind of comfortable way of getting along isn't common in this world." Tessa smiled faintly, glanced at Claire, who seemed to be listening, and said a word:
"equality."

Tessa pursed her lips, which were lightly pigmented, and spoke in a flat voice.

Then Tessa continued:

"Of course, there are sequence levels and high-level beings. Such idealized words are somewhat empty..."

"But under the leadership of that being, the atmosphere of the Tarot Club has always been based on fair dealing. Communication between members is simpler and purer than any other organization I've encountered. It's a friendly, unrestricted, and convenient organization."

"Well, Captain Galadilla, are you interested? Do you need me to introduce you to the group? That being is open to new members, but I see that seating is limited."

Although Tessa was always wary of the Fool, she also recognized that the Tarot Club organized by Mr. Fool was a very good organization.

In response to Tessa's half-joking and half-serious invitation, Claire said, "I'll consider your invitation."

So this is what the Tarot Club looks like from Tessa's perspective... Even the proud and indifferent Tessa has such a high opinion of the Tarot Club, so other members like Audrey must have an even higher sense of belonging.

Tessa stared at Claire for a moment, then said, "On the trip to the temple, take good care of Flora for me. As for Quinn, I won't do anything that would endanger her. But if you truly care about Quinn's safety, I advise you not to do anything under the noses of higher-ups."

"Yeah." Claire replied softly, "She actually asked me to tell you that someone seems to have set their sights on the 'Devil's Painting' recently. Be careful."

Tessa's eyes trembled slightly, and she nodded.

A brief silence fell between the two of them, and it was Claire who spoke first: "There's something I don't have time to deal with. I'm afraid I have to entrust you with it."

"what's up?"

"Investigate the Capin in Cherwood for me."

(End of this chapter)