Mystery: When the Fool Meets the Masked Fool

Chapter 572 The Ascension Ritual of the Ether Ghost

Leaving the dream, Klein opened his eyes with minimal movement, raised his head, and lowered his clasped hands.

Under the watchful eyes of the followers of the Goddess of Night, Klein stood up with an air of nonchalance, strode out of the church.

"Klein." Leonard, who had been waiting at the gate, called out to Klein as soon as he stepped out.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Klein turned around.

Leonard paused for a moment, took two steps forward, and raised his arm, making a downward swinging motion.

Invisible ripples spread out, enveloping the two of them.

This is one of the extraordinary abilities of the "Consciousness Censor".

The effect is similar to psychological invisibility, but the essence is to "kill" the memories of those around you related to a certain area.

Leonard has even fully absorbed the Sequence Four "Vengeful Agents" in the [Hunter] pathway, greatly enhancing his abilities in this area. He can even kill all extensions of this information dissemination here, much like a meme.

“Heh.” Klein chuckled. “There’s no need to do all that around me.”

“Now, if I wanted to, even Adam wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation.”

Leonard paused for a moment.

"So, Mr. Fool's recovery progress within you is already quite advanced?"

“Yes.” Klein’s lips curled up slightly. “It will probably fully recover soon.”

"Okay, it won't be long... um... about half a month, and I'll be able to become a real 'fool'."

Lennart said in a low voice, his right eye, marked with a crosshair, staring intently at Klein: "Klein, do you simply want Mr. Fool to return, or do you want Mr. Fool to be revived within you?"

“Oh? It must be that Pales told you something.” After thinking for a moment, Klein replied, “In fact, I’m the Fool now.”

Those eyes with the crosshairs seemed to focus on Klein's pupils, trying to see if Klein was lying.

But no.

Leonard couldn't detect any "lies".

Even if he were to advance to the third rank of "Fictional Judge" right now, he still wouldn't be able to see any lies.

Because this is the truth from beginning to end.

Leonard lowered his eyes, took a step back, and released the information shield.

"I see."

Klein smiled and shook his head: "Don't overthink it, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

This statement only fueled Leonard's anger.

This pent-up anger had nowhere to go but build up inside him, and he didn't know how to vent it.

"Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going now." Klein waved goodbye.

"Goodbye," Leonard managed to squeeze out the word of farewell.

Klein turned and took a step.

His body was instantly engulfed in flames, and he disappeared amidst the scattered sparks.

Leonard turned around, clenched his fist, and looked up at the church.

The cathedral has a distinct earth-like Gothic style, with an overall black color. The main facade is dominated by a tall, mottled bell tower, which stands on a huge central buttress between red and blue lattice windows and pierces the sky.

…………

In Klein's own room, Klein strolled out from the sudden burst of flames. "Having fun?" Serris's voice sounded from the side.

Klein turned his head to look at the desk and saw Serres sitting there waiting for him.

"Hmm...not bad." Klein rested his chin on his hand, not at all surprised that Serres would appear in his room.

"Wouldn't you feel bad about it? For deceiving your friends or something?" Serres pressed.

"I guess it's a mix of guilt and amusement," Klein replied with a smile. "And that contradiction is what makes it even more fun for me."

"Besides, you've been lying to me all along, I'm used to it."

“Haha,” Serres placed a bottle of potion on the table. “Sequence three. This is the last time I’ll provide you with potions. Remember to dig them up yourself in Fate’s Lair after this.”

"I'm not even sure if I'll get promoted," Klein shrugged.

“You can at least be promoted to Advice Physician, which is something that was confirmed when you borrowed the Advice Physician's ability using the mask,” Serres advised.

Klein picked up the potion and examined it closely: "If I stop advancing after my promotion, will that change the predetermined future?"

“You can do it, but I don’t recommend it,” Serres said. “Fate is a strange thing, especially a fate that is already determined.”

"In any case, this predetermined future will not remain unchanged. But it may come about in ways you never expect."

"for example……"

Serres thought for a moment: "For example, that Celestial Venerable found this bug, created a loophole, and revived you by finding a way to advance to the rank of Advice Physician."

"Oh, never mind then." Klein curled his lip in disdain.

After waiting a few seconds and seeing that Serres didn't make a move, Klein started to shoo him away.

“You should leave. I can’t advance with you here.” Klein said to Serres, “Why don’t you go to the moon and play with the Fallen Mother Goddess? I feel like she suits your XP quite well.”

Serres considered it seriously for a moment, then replied, "Hmm. It does seem interesting."

As he spoke, his body color became lighter and more transparent.

After he said those words, the table behind him could be seen through his body.

"Okay, bye then." Serres waved gently.

"Bye-bye," Klein waved in response.

Klein watched Serres disappear until the spiritual voice reminded him that "the ritual may begin." Only then did he turn his gaze away, casually reaching into the mists of history to retrieve a mirror.

Arodes's consciousness was immediately awakened in the historical projection.

“Great master, what do you wish to test me with?” Words appeared on the surface of the silver mirror.

"Arods, what's your opinion on the recent events concerning the Church of the Fools?" Klein asked calmly.

"Great master, those ignorant people are simply lawless!" Arodes exclaimed indignantly.

“I understand.” Klein still didn’t give much of a response, just nodded and deactivated the historical projection.

Having confirmed Arodes's opinion, Klein finally felt relieved, raised the potion bottle in his hand, and looked at the light reflected from the potion in the glass bottle.

[Pleasure] pathway, Sequence 3, Etheric Ghost.

Promotion Ceremony:

A media frenzy is created across more than one country, in which the perpetrator and victim are simultaneously portrayed. The public opinion gradually expands from a small scale, lasting for over six months. During the ceremony, no one can reveal or expose this event; at least within one country, no one can be aware of it during the promotion process.

(End of this chapter)