Mystery: The Traveler Who Holds the Star Key

After leaving the Brave Ones Bar.

The two then dealt with several minor neighborhood disputes.

Until the afternoon sun pierced through the thin mist.

Monday, 2:30 PM.

15 Minsk Street, living room.

"Um, um... Orion."

Klein glanced at the clock on the wall.

He cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly, trying to make his voice sound like that of a reasonable and good employer:

"The remaining tasks for today are not urgent, you can leave work early."

I'm also planning to take a rest. Last night... because of something involving some important person, I didn't sleep well.

Orion paused in his work as he was organizing files, a knowing smile playing on his lips hidden behind the documents.

It's not that I can't sleep well.

He was clearly supposed to go up to the gray fog at three o'clock to preside over the "weekly meeting".

"Yes, Detective Sherlock."

Orian stood up gracefully, even thoughtfully putting away Klein's teacup, his tone light and slightly teasing:

"Leaving get off work at 2:30... I must say, you are truly the most generous employer I have ever met in Backlund."

Klein paused for a moment, feeling that there was something more to those words.

But looking at his assistant's sincere smile, he couldn't find any fault with it.

"...If you knew that this 'generosity' was because the boss was rushing to host a 'cult' gathering, you probably wouldn't think that way."

He muttered something to himself as he watched Orion leave.

……

Twenty minutes later.

Orian returned to the mid-range hotel not far from Minsk Street.

Lock the door, draw the curtains, and confirm the spiritual blockage.

He lay in bed, watching the hands of his pocket watch slowly move toward that sacred mark.

Ding, ding, ding.

3 PM.

A deep red light exploded on his retina right on time.

……

Above the gray fog, lies the giant's dwelling.

A deep red light shot into the sky and solidified beside the ancient bronze table.

Good afternoon, Mr. Fool.

As soon as she appeared, the graceful "Justice" Audrey lifted her skirt and greeted the head of the table in a light voice.

At this moment, her mood was a bright and cheerful golden yellow.

Clearly, that "Mind Reader" potion had allowed her to successfully advance to Sequence 8.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man, Mr. Sun..."

She turned to her side, her gaze finally settling on the figure still languidly leaning back in his chair:

"And good afternoon, Mr. Tower."

Orion nodded slightly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, his posture composed.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Alger, the "Hanged Man," was the first to materialize six pages of Russell's diary and place them at the head of the long table.

While waiting for "The Fool" to read, he seemed to have thought of something.

He glanced at Orion, then looked at the crowd, and released the intelligence he had gathered over the past week:

"I recently found some information about 'secret societies'."

Alger's voice was deep, carrying a confidence that came from possessing classified information:

"This clandestine organization has an extremely close connection with the upper echelons of the Republic of Intis."

After he finished speaking, he subconsciously looked at the "tower".

After all, he was impressed by the member's extensive knowledge.

However, Orion simply chuckled softly.

"Related?"

Orion shook his head, his tone as if he had heard some outdated almanac:

"Mr. Hanged Man, your information is too subtle."

He leaned forward, his hands crossed and placed under his chin.

Through the gray fog, those eyes shone with a chilling clarity:

"It's not a 'connection'."

"The leader of the secret order, Zarathustra... was the true creator behind the Intis intelligence agency."

Even the early rise of Emperor Roselle bears their imprint.

boom.

Alger's pupils contracted sharply.

Zarathustra? The Rise of Roselle?

The weight these names represented shattered his initial sense of "intelligence superiority" instantly.

He only scratched the surface, while this "tower" directly pointed out the root of history!

"It seems... my assessment of the tower was still too superficial."

Alger quickly raised his level of vigilance towards the "Tower" in his mind.

Audrey remained in the "spectator" position throughout.

The fingers resting on her knees unconsciously tightened slightly.

As a noblewoman who was well-versed in the biography of Emperor Rosell, she was all too aware of the significance of this period of history.

That is a truth that may not even be recorded in the encrypted archives of the Royal Library of Rune.

But when Mr. Tower said these things, his tone was as calm as if he were talking about today's weather.

"Is this the perspective of those in high positions? Treating what ordinary people consider 'secrets' as 'common sense'..."

Audrey quietly adjusted her breathing.

In my heart, I silently labeled this mysterious gentleman with a new tag:

[A learned witness to history].

As for "The Sun" Derrick next to him, he looked completely bewildered.

Intis? Zarathustra?

What is that? Is it edible?

I've never heard of this word in the language of giants...

……

After a brief interlude.

"The Fool" Klein put down his diary.

He looked around, but the faces shrouded in thick gray fog made their expressions unreadable.

Only a flat, emotionless sound echoed within the grand palace:

"Another of my companions has arrived in Backlund."

Krishnamurti finally spoke.

Orion's spirits lifted.

Klein, manipulating the authoritative voice of "The Fool," continued:

"He needs to complete a task, but for some reason, it's inconvenient for him to do it himself."

"What mission?" Audrey immediately switched into "Fool's fangirl" mode and asked curiously.

"What he needs to accomplish is..."

Klein paused, his tone remaining calm, as if he were discussing a trivial matter:

"Assassination of Beckeran Jean Madan, Ambassador of the Republic of Intis to the Kingdom of Ruen."

The words fell.

A deathly silence fell over the long table.

Audrey's mouth dropped open slightly, and her ladylike demeanor nearly crumbled.

Assassination of a foreign ambassador?!

This is a super-major event that could trigger a war between the two countries!

Mr. Fool's followers, are you playing this big game?

Alger frowned deeply, frantically analyzing what this meant.

however.

In this somber atmosphere.

"puff……"

An extremely untimely laugh, seemingly unable to be suppressed, suddenly came from the side of the long table.

Everyone turned around in astonishment.

"The Tower" Orion was seen covering his forehead with one hand, his body trembling slightly.

He seemed to be struggling to suppress some kind of enormous laughter.

Klein's face, hidden behind the gray fog, instantly darkened.

What is this guy laughing at?

"I'm sorry... I was rude."

He felt the death stare from the person in the seat of honor, as well as the strange looks from those around him.

Orion took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the smile on his lips.

The so-called "inconvenience to come forward"...

It was clearly the detective who was frantically trying to protect himself.

They carefully packaged their desperate "cries for help" as a lofty "divine oracle."

This truth, which only he could see through, was simply... too absurd.

He straightened up, bowed apologetically to the "Fool" with his hand on his chest, but his tone still carried a hint of amusement:

"Please forgive my disrespect, Mr. Fool."

"I just... suddenly felt that the script of fate is full of dark humor."

"An ambassador skilled at weaving conspiracies ultimately dies in a public 'murder' commission."

Orion shrugged, a meaningful glint in his eyes:

"This absurd contrast is like a spectacular... circus."

Alger was startled.

circus?

In the eyes of "The Tower", the assassination of a country's ambassador, such a momentous event, is nothing more than a circus.

How much inside information did he actually know? Or... did he simply not take that ambassador seriously?

"He's not simple; I can't see through him anymore..."

The more Alger thought about it, the more unfathomable this "Tower" seemed...