On Saturday night, after borrowing Mr. Gaston's workshop to craft that one-time-use mystical item for "The Sun," Ebner used the remaining materials to produce two more "Mystic Cameras" and one "Projector" capable of synchronized audio playback.
Having completed these tasks, he offered the "compact case" made from the hide of a supernatural creature encountered during his flight from Bayam as a sacrifice to "The Fool." Only then did he set up a disposable teleportation altar to return to his secret hideout on the outskirts of Backlund.
—This was one of two altars previously established during his mission to rescue Talim.
Since the hideout's village location wasn't too far from the city proper, it fell within the range of Ebner's self-developed, low-spec "Teleportation" ability.
Thus, rather than waiting for dawn to hire a carriage, he stepped directly through a "Gate of Teleportation" into his villa's bedroom.
Truth be told, Ebner's current "Teleportation" ability was actually recorded from a "Notary" enslaved by the "Magic Mirror"—a barebones version of an already limited skill, hence its severely restricted range.
Yet even so, Ebner noticed this self-learned ability performed slightly better than the "Teleportation" simulated through his "Pure White Eye."
One might say the "Pure White Eye" demonstrated no superior capabilities—in fact, underperformed compared to Ebner's own skills as a "Mysticism Magister"—when analyzing or simulating abilities closely tied to the Spirit World.
"Almost as if knowledge related to the Spirit World becomes 'distorted' when processed by the 'Pure White Eye'..."
Sitting on his bed, Ebner pondered this until recalling the vision he'd experienced during spiritual resonance with Alvin Abraham, the "Wanderer" from the Night Kingdom:
"...In truth, I would support your bid to compete for the position of 'The Mysteries.'"
"But doing so might plunge this world into peril..."
Repeating this brief exchange, Ebner began forming a hypothesis:
Could it be that the "Land of the Unknown" and the Spirit World are fundamentally incompatible? That their mutual exclusion might trigger catastrophic consequences... Hence that "Wanderer's" reluctance to compete for "Lord of the Mysteries"—a title explicitly including "Ruler of the Spirit World" in its honorifics.
Alternatively, perhaps something dangerous lurks within the Land of the Unknown—an entity threatening the entire world that might be unleashed should an outsider assume the "Ruler of the Spirit World" position...
If the former, nothing more need be said... But if the latter, then the "Pure White Eye's" distortion of Spirit World knowledge might be deliberate...
Such sophisticated information filtering... Could this be the work of the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom"? Or perhaps Roselle during his "Knowledge Emperor" phase?
Attempting a "Prophecy" to investigate yielded predictably inconclusive results.
With a resigned sigh, Ebner abandoned his pursuit of answers. After a quick wash, he pulled up the blankets and drifted into sleep.
...
Atop the Round Tower in City of Silver, within the Chief's chambers, Colin Iliad quietly examined a "compact case" while listening to Derrick's explanation before nodding slightly.
"This item shows promise, though verification remains necessary..."
His gaze shifted toward a shadowy corner where a human silhouette abruptly twisted upright. The figure bowed to the Chief before exiting, soon returning with a black-veiled woman in tow.
Having apparently been briefed en route, the woman tore off her face covering without hesitation, revealing features grotesquely disfigured by fleshy tumors. "Chief, I volunteer to test that item," she declared urgently.
"Ginny?" Derrick blurted out in recognition.
Five or six years his senior, Ginny had been his neighborhood playmate until three years ago, when she'd been confined to the Round Tower's dungeons after a mission—rumored to have contracted some contagious corruption...
So her condition resulted from consuming unidentified monster flesh! Derrick instantly deduced.
"Derrick... You've grown so much," Ginny remarked with complex emotions before asking perfunctorily, "How are Uncle Berg and Auntie?"
"They... they're dead..." Derrick pressed his lips together, remembering the parents he'd personally euthanized.
"My condolences..." Ginnie sighed—such tragedies being commonplace in the City of Silver. "We are the God-forsaken people of darkness, born bearing the curse of kinslaying..."
But "The Fool" has turned His gaze upon this land! Derrick nearly protested, wanting to offer hope to this childhood friend. Yet he bit back the words.
Not yet... "Premature disclosure would only raise the Chief's suspicions," as "The Hanged Man" advised.
With formalities concluded, Ginny—having received Colin's silent approval—scooped powder from the compact, smearing half onto her facial tumors while swallowing the remainder.
—In truth, the actual mechanism lay in the mystical ritual sealed within the powder. Whether applied externally or ingested mattered little, though this dual approach accelerated the process.
Within seconds, a multicolored light enveloped Ginny as twisted, writhing black vapors—seemingly alive—rose from her body before rapidly dissipating.
Her facial tumors then began rupturing, oozing pus, fading, shrinking, and finally vanishing without leaving even a scar.
The sight left "Shadow" dumbfounded, while even Chief Colin's eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion. Only Derrick—who had absolute faith in "The Fool" and "The Tower"—remained composed, having never doubted the item's efficacy.
Meanwhile, Ginny deduced her transformation from Shadow's expression. With trembling hesitation, she picked up the compact's attached mirror.
"It's really gone!" Tears streamed down her now-delicate (if not conventionally beautiful) face. Her weeping wasn't vanity—City of Silver residents cared little for appearances—but joy at being freed from contamination and the infectious tumors that had isolated her.
Shadow conducted an inspection, marveling, "Every trace of internal corruption is purged... Even the highly contagious toxins vanished completely..."
Chief Colin, a "Demon Hunter," confirmed: "Even soul-level contamination is reversed. This ritual was clearly designed specifically for such afflictions." His weathered blue eyes regarded Ginny steadily. "Protocol still requires quarantine until we confirm total eradication of infectious elements."
"I understand! I'll await that day!" Ginny replied without hesitation before turning to Derrick. "Thank you for this miracle... You've given me rebirth."
Flustered, Derrick waved his hands. "No need... I mean..." He nearly credited "The Tower" before catching himself, his face flushing crimson.
Chief Colin observed this exchange keenly. After Shadow escorted Ginny out, he remarked, "Well done. How many more such items do you possess?"
"The item matters less than its contained ritual—which requires no external supplication and can be learned by those with aptitude," Derrick recited his prepared response.
Colin's eyes sharpened with understanding. "If this ritual is truly teachable... What reward would you claim for this contribution?"
He's asking what "The Fool"—no, "The Tower"—wants in exchange! Just as "The Tower" and "The Hanged Man" predicted—the Chief desires communication!
Derrick answered solemnly: "The gear-bound tome from the temple."
Just as I suspected. Colin had studied the mysterious book after its discovery but failed to open it. While potentially significant, its value paled against this purification ritual.
"Should the Council of Six approve, I may grant you that book..." Colin hinted before abruptly shifting topics. "You're approaching Sequence 7, yes? What materials do you lack?"
"Crest of a Dawn Rooster and fruit from the Radiance Pact Tree," Derrick answered plainly.
So easily baited... His innocence suggests deliberate selection as an envoy—perhaps signaling goodwill? After a pensive silence, Colin declared, "The Dawn Rooster crest I can provide from stores. The Radiance Pact fruit you must obtain yourself."
As Derrick began to protest, Colin raised a hand. "No refusal. Ginny was my dear friend's only descendant... This is my personal gratitude."
...
Sunday morning found Ebner freshly awakened when Mrs. Scald announced Miss Fors' arrival.
He checked the clock in disbelief. Fors? What catastrophe warrants her being awake at this hour?
(End of Chapter)