Lord of Mysteries

Chapter 35 Exchanging Messages (Third Update, Please Vote)

Russell Gustave's Secret Diary?

Emperor Roselle?

Sure enough, only something like this would attract the attention of a powerful figure like Mr. Fool… Audrey was taken aback at first, then realized that she was not surprised at all.

It is said that Emperor Roselle once saw the "Blasphemy Tablets," and that the secret cards he created contained twenty-two divine paths—something that every high-ranking powerhouse would certainly care about!

"A diary? That's a diary?" Alger frowned slightly, keenly noticing a detail.

Mr. Fool affirmed that Russell Gustave's remains were a diary!

How did he know?

How did he confirm it?

Did he have mastered the method of deciphering the "Roselle Codex"?

Faced with the "Hanged Man's" question, Klein, having achieved his desired effect, leaned back in his chair, clasped his hands together, and answered in a relaxed tone:

"Let's treat it as a diary for now."

He neither denied nor confirmed it.

"It is said that Emperor Roselle's, well, diary was written in a secret script or symbols that he invented himself?" Audrey had heard other noblemen mention this, but had never actually seen it, so she was quite curious and asked.

"Yes," Alger replied simply. "Some people think it's a unique set of occult symbols, others believe it's a kind of hieroglyphics, but to this day, no one has found the correct way to interpret it, at least not to the extent I know of it."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Klein, as if seeking some kind of affirmation, or perhaps doubting something.

That's a script that has evolved over several generations, and it's no longer the original pictograph. How could you possibly decipher it according to your line of thinking... Klein remained calm and chuckled to himself.

As for treating it as a mystical symbol, it instantly brought to mind some absurd and laughable scenarios:

An evil sorcerer, dressed in a long black hooded robe, rolled up his sleeves to reveal a mysteriously powerful symbol tattooed on his arm, said to be a relic of Emperor Roselle: two large, simplified blue characters.

"A funny guy!"

Klein's lips slowly curled upwards, his mood growing increasingly good.

After hearing the description of the "Hanged Man," Audrey said with difficulty:

"If we can't understand the symbols or characters... how can we translate them for you here, Mr. Fool? Or rather, send them somewhere?"

That is an important question... I don't yet have a way to secretly receive things... Klein didn't rush to answer. His hands, which were clasped together, had their thumbs touching and separating.

He quickly found an idea:

Since I can create temples and tables and chairs here according to my own ideas, can I let others directly copy the content that appears in their minds?

Give it a try...

At this moment, Audrey and Alger saw Mr. Fool, shrouded in thick gray mist, slowly sit up and say:

"Miss Justice, let's try something. Imagine a passage of text and give it the feeling of urgency to write it down. Now, pick up the pen next to you and start writing on the paper."

Before Klein could finish speaking, Audrey saw a brown parchment and a dark red pen placed in front of her.

With a mixture of doubt and curiosity, she picked up the pen and, as instructed, imagined a line of poetry once written by Emperor Roselle:

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" (Note 1)

After reviewing the text, she picked up her pen and began to conceive of presenting it all.

Klein sensed this "emotion" and used the "pen" as a medium to guide it.

As soon as Audrey put down her pen, she noticed a new line of words on the parchment:

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

"Goddess, this is amazing!" Audrey exclaimed in surprise, full of emotion.

Then, she looked at Klein with some fear:

"Mr. Fool, can you read my mind?"

"No, I'm just a guide, simplifying the process of you writing down words and turning it into a form of imprinting. If you yourself don't want to 'express' yourself, then there won't be any trace left," Klein reassured in a deep voice.

"I see... So if we just remember what those symbols or ciphers look like, we can present them directly according to our wishes?" Audrey breathed a sigh of relief and asked in realization.

"Yes," Klein replied briefly.

"That's a really good way, Miss Justice. Don't doubt your memory. Once you become an 'audience,' you'll see a significant improvement in that area." Alger had observed the previous attempt and felt that "The Fool" was even more mysterious and powerful than he had imagined.

He believed that his memory would improve significantly with his upcoming promotions.

Audrey nodded happily in response:

"That's a welcome hint, Mr. Hanged Man. What else can I learn from the 'audience'?"

At this point, she turned to look at the person at the head of the table:

"Mr. Fool, I will do my best to complete your task and collect as many of Emperor Roselle's secret diaries as possible."

"As I said, I'm someone who likes equal exchange. The advance payment I just made is only equivalent to two pages of the diary for each person. If there's any extra, I'll give you more," Klein said calmly, in a tone that suggested he wouldn't take advantage of a child.

As for where the extra reward will come from, it will be from the new secret diaries of Emperor Roselle, which will create a virtuous cycle.

"You are a very generous gentleman." Alger paused for a few seconds, then placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly.

After bowing, he turned to "Justice" and said:

"I'll emphasize again, the audience will always just be the audience."

"I know that many viewers like to imagine themselves as the protagonist or other characters, and thus invest a lot of emotion, to the point that they cry, laugh, get angry, and feel sad with the drama, but this is not what you, as an 'viewer,' should do."

"When faced with the 'dramas' of secular society, and the characters who consciously or unconsciously play a certain role, you must maintain an absolutely detached attitude. Only in this way can you calmly and objectively examine them, discover their habitual actions, detect their lying verbal tics, smell their nervousness, and grasp their true thoughts from all sorts of subtle clues."

"Believe me, everyone will naturally secrete different 'things' and emit different scents due to their different emotions, but only the true 'audience' can smell them."

"Once you get emotionally involved, your observation will be affected, and your perception of other people's emotions will become distorted."

Audrey listened intently, her eyes growing brighter:

"That sounds really, really, really interesting!"

Klein, sitting at the head of the table, felt a sudden thought:

The requirement for the "Audience" potion can be summarized as "being an absolutely neutral spectator".

This is equivalent to playing a role to some extent...

Playing a role?

Could this be what Rosell meant by "playing a role"?

Do I need to play the role of a "fortune teller" to gradually digest the potion?

Just as Klein was deep in thought, Alger finished explaining what he knew about the requirements for the "audience," and after a moment of contemplation, said:

"It seems like everything's alright?"

"Maybe we can just chat casually and talk about what's happening around us. What might be ordinary news to us could be very important clues to someone else."

"Okay." Klein snapped out of his daze and nodded slightly.

He's already planning to try playing the role of a "fortune teller," since it doesn't seem like it'll have any negative consequences.

"Shall we start with you, Mr. Hanged Man?" Audrey agreed with great interest.

Alger thought for a moment and said:

"That great pirate who calls himself 'Admiral Ludwell' has once again embarked on a voyage to explore the eastern end of the Sunia Sea."

"Hmm, the owner of the 'Black Tulip'?" Audrey asked thoughtfully.

"Yes," Alger nodded in reply.

I don't even know who it is... Klein listened silently, considering what information he should say that would neither reveal his identity nor fail to elicit any feedback.

He quickly made a decision, maintaining the aloof image of the "Fool," and ran his fingers along the edge of the bronze table, saying:

"As far as I know, the Secret Order lost a notebook belonging to the Antigonus family."

This information was not only known to the Night Watchers of Tingen; the Secret Order and their close associates among the Extraordinary also knew it.

"The Antigonus family's notes?" Alger repeated, shaking his head with a low laugh. "I'm really curious about the Church of the Night's reaction when they find out."

Why only mention the Church of the Goddess of Night? Klein keenly sensed the problem, but hesitated to speak up.

That would ruin the mysterious and profound image of the "Fool".

At this moment, Audrey spoke up in confusion:

"Why are you curious about this? Will the goddess's church have any particular reaction?"

Alger smiled and said:

"The Antigonus family was destroyed by the Church of the Goddess of Night."

"I'm not quite sure whether it's the end of the Fourth Age or the beginning of the current Age."

This… Klein’s eyes narrowed, and a chill suddenly surged through his body:

"It seems the Night Watchers value that Antigonus family notebook far more than I imagined!"

"The reason they suggested I become an extraordinary person was probably only a small part of the reason, which was to 'have some merit' and 'prevent danger'. What they wanted was for me to enhance my inspiration, which would help me find the notes."

"The captain didn't hide this; he mentioned it, but I didn't pay attention to it at the time..."

After hearing the explanation of the "Hanged Man," Audrey spoke with great interest:

"I never expected something like this to happen..."

"Okay, it's my turn. Let me think about what to say."

She tilted her head slightly, rested her hand on her forehead, and chuckled as she spoke:

"Yesterday, my etiquette teacher was teaching me how to faint, how to faint gracefully and politely. It's a practical skill for avoiding awkward situations and nasty people in social settings... Hehe, I was just organizing my thoughts. What I really wanted to say was that since the defeat in the war on the eastern coast of Bayon, the King, the Prime Minister, and all the gentlemen have felt immense pressure and have an urgent desire for change."

Note 1: Shelley, Ode to the West Wind

(End of this chapter)