Secret: I can play two paths

Chapter 6 Wheel of Fortune
Star doesn't think too much about it, so as not to reveal some of his preferences.

He interrupted his thoughts and continued his transaction. He bowed to Zhou Mingrui at the head of the long table and said, “Dear Mr. Fool, I hope you can be a witness to our transaction.”

Audrey also reacted. She was worried about how this gentleman would guarantee to give her the formula of the potion after receiving the 300 pounds, and how to verify the authenticity and effectiveness of the formula.

Although this gentleman's voice sounds unexpectedly attractive and he seems to be knowledgeable about the occult, he should be a good person?
Just as she was thinking about it, Star made a proposal that made her very satisfied.

Audrey half turned around and looked at Zhou Mingrui sincerely. She lifted her skirt slightly, bent her knees, and saluted, saying, “Dear Mr. Fool, please allow me to make a bold request. Can you be a witness to our transaction?”

"It's a small matter." Zhou Mingrui's thoughts raced, and he answered in a manner befitting his status.

In fact, he was shocked by Audrey's generosity in taking out 300 gold pounds.

Zhou Mingrui was very sensitive to the amount of money: this was the amount that Klein's brother could only earn by saving for four years without eating or drinking.

Star thought that Xiao Ke’s current spiritual level might not be enough to wait for a few people to slowly exchange opinions.

So he took the opportunity to say after Mr. Fool finished speaking: “Mr. Fool, do you mind trying this a few more times? You see, through such gatherings, we can trade without being restricted by space. And since we are in different places and have different channels, maybe one day we can help you complete those trivial things that are inconvenient for you to do yourself.”

Audrey was also excited after hearing this. In her opinion, it was a wonderful thing to have such a magical "party".

Several suggestions from this learned gentleman really hit the mark.
So she agreed without hesitation, “Mr. Fool, I think this gentleman has made a very good suggestion. As long as the ‘gatherings’ become regular, if there are things that are inconvenient for you to come forward, you can completely transfer them to us. Of course, it must be within our capabilities.”

Alger had just seen that the audience's potion formula had been sold first. He had originally planned to sell the information to the noble lady in exchange for ghost shark blood after their transaction, but now he was attracted by this suggestion.

He nodded in agreement and said, “Mr. Fool, I also think it is very exciting to hold such a ‘gathering’. We have different backgrounds, different resources, different information channels, and different understandings of mysterious fields. If we can communicate with each other and cooperate in a limited way, it will produce wonderful effects that cannot be estimated or measured!”

Zhou Mingrui also came to his senses from his previous envy and weighed the pros and cons. More "gatherings" would indeed allow him to gain more extraordinary secrets and mystical knowledge, which would be helpful for traveling back in time. For example, he had obtained information about four potions at this gathering, and the potion formula of the "audience" should appear at the next "gathering". Similarly, he could also obtain information for his current real life and get some help.

Of course, maybe you can also get some money...

However, the more "gatherings" there are, the easier it is to expose one's true self! Just like when the talkative man mentioned the fortune teller, he glanced at him, as if the Fool had a connection with the fortune teller that he didn't know at all.

Zhou Mingrui stretched out his right hand again and tapped the edge of the long table with his fingers.

But soon, Zhou Mingrui made a quick decision. The convening and disbanding of the party were all under his control. Even if any problems were exposed, they were within the controllable range, and the benefits outweighed the disadvantages.

It's impossible that someone could see through him at a glance, right?
Even if they find out, I'm afraid they won't be able to recognize who is behind this mysterious vest of mine?
As soon as he loses connection to the Internet, who can find him through the network cable?
So he stopped tapping, smiled softly at everyone's expectant and anxious gazes, and said:
"I'm a person who likes equal exchange."

"I won't let you help unconditionally."

"Every Monday at 3pm, try to be alone. Once I have tried a few more times and figured out some things, maybe you can ask for leave early and don't have to worry about being in an inappropriate situation."

Well, Xiao Ke is really good at pretending. I wonder if he has noticed his spiritual condition.

Star thought about it, turned to the others considerately, and followed the progress according to the plot in his memory. He was the first to speak and suggested: "Since we have to communicate regularly, why don't we each take a title?"

When Mr. Fool answered "Yes", Star continued:

"Mr. Fool's name comes from the Major Arcana card of the Tarot. Let's also take our code names from these twenty-two cards."

"Good idea." Audrey's eyes sparkled. She smiled at her "companion" opposite her and noticed that Star always seemed to be able to come up with ideas that suited her taste.

Like you know yourself very well?
This feeling of familiarity, have they seen it somewhere before?
However, she was a girl with a serious mind and didn't think too much about it. She quickly said happily, "It's decided. My title is, 'Justice'."

"My title is 'Wheel of Fortune'." Star continued, choosing the card that represents the opportunities and changes in destiny in life, implying the endless cycle of changes.

Arger, the inverted political commissar, replied briefly: "The Hanged Man."

"Okay, then we are considered the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey said happily at first, then looked timidly at Zhou Mingrui who was shrouded in gray mist, "Is that okay, Mr. Fool?"

Zhou Mingrui shook his head with a smile: Miss, you and Mr. Wheel of Fortune have already expressed your ideas, what else do I have to say?

So Zhou Mingrui said: "For such a small matter, you can make your own decisions."

"Thank you!" Audrey was obviously excited.

Alger then turned to Audrey and said, "Miss Justice, I wonder if you have the blood of a ghost shark. I would like to purchase this material from you. I can give you my knowledge of mysticism in return."

As for the Wheel of Fortune, he doesn't look like a novice in mysticism. If he can "pay for knowledge" on the side of justice, he won't have to pay gold pounds to buy the Wheel of Fortune. The Hanged Man also needs to save money to buy other things.

Audrey obviously had no idea about the prices, so she agreed immediately: "Okay, I remember seeing this kind of material... By the way, where should I send the items later?"

"If you can get the ghost shark blood, have someone deliver it to the Warrior and the Sea bar on Pelican Street in the White Rose District of Pritz Harbor and tell the owner, Williams, that this is what the Captain wants."

The political commissar was obviously somewhat impressed by Audrey's naivety, as she agreed without even asking what the reward was, and answered with a hint of surprise.

"This address?" Audrey read it once.

"That's right." Alger was quite satisfied with Audrey's seriousness and repeated the address.

After reciting it silently three times, Audrey said with great interest, "I heard that Tarot cards are just a game invented by Emperor Roselle and don't actually have the function of divination?"

"No, in many cases, divination comes from within oneself. Everyone has spirituality and can communicate with the spirit world and higher-level information about themselves. It's just that ordinary people can't perceive this, let alone interpret the 'hints' they get. When they use divination tools, this information will be presented with the help of the tools. The simplest example is dreams and dream interpretation."

Alger glanced at Zhou Mingrui and Star. Seeing that they did not say anything, he denied Audrey's statement. "Tarot cards are actually such a tool. They use more symbols and more reasonable elements to help us interpret the 'hints' more conveniently and accurately."

Zhou Mingrui seemed nonchalant, but he was actually listening very carefully. However, his mental emptiness began to become serious and his head started to throb with pain.

"I see." Audrey nodded in agreement, and then emphasized, "That's not what I meant. I'm not questioning the Tarot. I heard that Emperor Roselle actually made another deck of cards, a secret deck that symbolizes some unknown power. There are a total of 22 cards. After it was completed, he referred to this and invented the 22 main cards of the Tarot as a game tool. Is this accurate?"

She looked at Zhou Mingrui, as if wanting to get an answer from the mysterious Mr. Fool.

Zhou Mingrui just smiled without saying anything. He turned his gaze to the "Wheel of Fortune" Star, as if he was testing him.

Seeing Zhou Mingrui's gaze, Star took into account Zhou Mingrui's current spiritual state, so he didn't bother to complain that Mr. Fool's body language was too rich and his acting skills needed to be improved, and said directly:
"Yes, it is said that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemous Slate and made his own 'Blasphemy Card', which contains all the potion formulas for the twenty-two divine paths."

"Twenty-two divine pathways, all potion formulas..." Audrey repeated in a tone full of longing.

At this time, Zhou Mingrui's headache worsened, and he felt that the invisible connection between himself, the deep red stars and the gray-white mist began to shake.

"Okay, let's end the party here today." He made a decision immediately and announced the end of the party.

"We will obey your will." Everyone saluted hastily. Star was also happy that Klein was able to end the Tarot Club in time.

The “star” became brighter, and the deep red light shrank back like water. The figures of the people became more blurred and more illusory. Only Mr. Fool’s last whisper could be heard in the gray fog:

"Let's look forward to our next gathering."

In less than a second, the "projection" shattered, and silence returned above the gray fog.

……

The wind was howling and the rain was pouring. The three-masted sailboat rose and fell between one wave "peak" after another, like a toy being thrown and caught by a giant, and then thrown again.

The deep red in Alger Wilson's eyes faded away, and he found himself still standing on the deck, no different from before.

Then he saw the oddly shaped glass bottle in his palm shatter, and the frost and snow melted into water and merged into the raindrops.

After just two or three seconds, this ancient artifact completely lost all trace of its existence.

A hexagonal crystal snowflake appeared in Alger's palm, then quickly faded until it disappeared, as if it had shrunk into the flesh and blood.

Alger nodded imperceptibly as if he was thinking about something. He did not care about the damage to this extraordinary item. Instead, he remained calm in the rainstorm, facing the strong wind and huge waves. He had a premonition that a huge change had come.

……

Backlund, the capital of the Kingdom of Loen, Queens District.

Audrey Hall pinched her cheeks, unable to believe what had just happened.

On the dressing table in front of her, the ancient bronze mirror was broken into pieces.

Looking down, Audrey saw a "deep red" color flowing on the back of her hand, like a star "tattoo".

The "deep red" gradually fades and eventually disappears into the skin.

It was only at this moment that Audrey was sure that she was not dreaming.

Looking at the broken bronze mirror in front of her, she remembered that she had not yet asked Mr. "The Hanged Man" for payment. It seemed that the party ended a little hastily.

But it doesn't matter, Mr. Fool will help. There will be a party next week, and I can become a Beyonder too.

Her eyes were moving, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and she couldn't help but stand up, bending down and lifting up the hem of her skirt.

After bowing to the air, Audrey walked briskly, turned her body, and danced the most popular "Ancient Elf Dance" in the court.

Her figure was graceful and her face was full of a bright smile.

……

In Tingen City, on Iron Cross Lower Street, on the second floor of Franky's apartment.

Zhou Mingrui felt himself getting heavier rapidly, his surroundings drifting away, his eyes first went dark, and then there was bright sunshine.

He was still inside the apartment, still standing in the middle.

“It’s like a dream… What on earth is that gray foggy world… And who or what force caused the changes just now…” Zhou Mingrui sighed in a low voice, full of confusion, and walked towards the desk with his legs as if they were filled with lead.

He picked up the pocket watch he had left outside and checked how much time had passed.

"The time flow rate is one to one." Zhou Mingrui roughly judged.

He put down the pocket watch, his head throbbing and he could no longer bear it. He sat down on the chair, lowered his head, and used the thumb and middle finger of his left hand to massage both sides of his temples.

After a long time, he suddenly sighed and said in Chinese:

"It seems that I can't go back in a short time..."

Only the ignorant can be fearless. After witnessing such magical things and understanding the extraordinary realm and the mysterious world, Zhou Mingrui dared not rashly try the "lucky change ritual" in the ancient Feysac and Loen languages ​​again!
Who knows if there will be other situations, maybe even more bizarre, more terrifying, or even making life worse than death!

"At least I have to have a deep understanding of mysticism before I can try it." Zhou Mingrui thought helplessly.

Fortunately, the so-called "gathering" can provide help.

There was another silence, and he spoke to himself with frustration, loss, pain and melancholy:
"From now on, I am Klein."

……

In the same city, Star stood up from his bed and looked at the mirror that he had spent so much effort on. It was broken into pieces. He felt no pain at all. After all, the original mirror would only cost a few pennies. On the back of his hand, a big "deep red" mark passed by.

"From today on, I am also a veteran of the Tarot Club."

Star was so excited that he couldn't help but make a joke: "Celebrate! The king of time and space is born. He interprets the past and creates the future. He is the mysterious master above the gray fog. History has opened a new chapter."

"But, Xiao Ke, it's still a little early for you to say goodbye."

He thought as he picked up the fragments around the bronze mirror.

After packing up these things, he had another idea he wanted to implement.

While cleaning, he sighed:

"I am really frugal."

"Even these bronze mirror fragments are intended to be preserved as a memorial."

Suddenly, Star remembered something important, and Audrey memorized the address and read it several times.

But she didn't seem to bring herself to repeat the number of the bearer account.

So, "Did Miss Justice remember my number?"

(End of this chapter)