Part 3 THE TRAVELER CHAPTER XLII MEETING
5 P.M., Olive Tree Avenue, Pamé’s Divination Cottage.
Alger Wilson pushed open the teal-colored wooden door with a pane of glass above and entered the occult-themed café.
He ordered a cup of Filmer’s Coffee from the Pas Valley, the starry plateau of the southern continent, and took out the deck of tarot cards he had purchased earlier and placed it next to him, the top card being the “Inverted Hanged Man” card, depicting an angel with his hands tied behind his back, hanging upside down.
Unlike in the morning, he had changed his attire, wearing a classic dark robe and a clergyman’s fedora, as if he were a sorcerer or wizard from folklore.
Inhaling noiselessly, Alger slowly sipped his coffee, not at all anxious about who he was waiting for.
After about five or six minutes, the teal-colored wooden door inlaid with thick glass opened once again, and in came a young man in a black tweed overcoat and a half-height silk bowler hat.
The gentleman’s appearance was less than 30 years old, his face was thin and angular, both mature and somber, and it was Klein who had fine-tuned his appearance and changed his persona a little.
He did not wear gold-rimmed glasses, but his eyesight was not affected in any way, and with a casual glance, his gaze fell on Alger’s dark blue sideburns.
Klein’s eyes then traveled downward and saw the “Inverted Man” card at the top of the list.
Without words, he walked straight over, removed his hat, and sat down across from Alger, smiling grimly:
”I want to divine.”
As he spoke, he had already taken in the appearance of that patriarchal member of the Tarot Society:
The facial features were profound, with a rugged outline and a distinct rain-beaten and wind-blown color, at first glance, he was the type that was more able to fight and was constantly on the move;
The skin is on the bronze side, but there is a certain difference with the local race, like the result of the pure Ruen people after years of sun and rain, but the dark blue hair is more special, not belonging to Ruen, closer to the Dixie Bay by the Raging Sea region of the colonial race.
Mixed blood …… Klein made a judgment in his heart.
Alger looked at the man across from him, slowly overlapping him with the image of “the world”, and then rolled out the deck of tarot cards and said in a low voice:
”This requires you to shuffle and cut the cards yourself.”
Klein reached out and picked them up, unfolded them all and looked at them for a few moments, then brought them together in one piece and did a shuffle with a clatter.
He cut the cards consecutively and drew three, arranging them into a past, present, and future deck.
Klein leaned back slowly, but with his right hand he turned over the center tarot card, which showed a naked woman wrapped only in a purple silk scarf, surrounded by a green wreath that looked like a doorway.
This was the 21st card of the World, and the 22nd returned to zero, symbolizing the Fool.
”How do I read it?” Klein asked deliberately.
Although the “Inverted Man” did not explicitly mention that the “World” was the “Fool’s” family member, Klein did not think it was necessary to take any chances in this regard, and it would be more conducive to building up an image – if the other party had not already done so, it would be better for him to be frank. If the other party has not guessed, it is a sign of sincerity and confidence, if Alger already knows, it can make the “world” appear to be calm, as if everything is under control.
Does he know that I know? He believed that I could guess even before the topic was raised above the gray mist? Powerful ah …… Alger heart a flinch, the speed of speech is not fast or slow to respond:
”The reversed position indicates that things will fail due to lack of preparation.”
”And what preparations are to be made?” Klein asked rhetorically with a thoughtful nod.
Alger retrieved all the tarot cards except the World and skillfully reshuffled and cut them.
Then he turned over the top card.
It was the “Pope” card!
Alger’s voice was still low:
”You need advice, the help of faith and religion to avoid going down the wrong path.”
Without waiting for Klein to say anything, he turned over the second card in the order, with the “moon” overlooking the earth:
”You will be confused, you will be stuck, you will wander in a dream world, but it will only be temporary.”
Following this, Alger gives a third tarot card, a “Sun” card.
”All will pass, and the light will eventually shine on the earth.” He said like a godly man.
Klein was silent for a few seconds, and asked in a confirming manner:
”The church, the dream, the sun?”
A small smile appeared on Alger’s face and he nodded gently:
”That’s it.”
In the Tarot divination just now, he contained hints of a follow-up plan.
In fact, given that he hadn’t entered the card game and hadn’t been noticed at all, there was absolutely no need to be so euphemistic and he could have directly told the specifics, but Alger felt that it was better to test the “world” of the dependents to see if he possessed enough brains instead of relying more on force.
If both sides of the IQ is on the same level, Alger thinks that we can cooperate more in the future, smart people do not need to talk too much, on the contrary, he will try not to let “the world” deeply involved in his own things, only when he needs to fight, ask for his help, unless “the fool” Mr. Fool “unless Mr. Fool ordered otherwise.
Now, the World’s answer and his previous behavior confirmed that the other party was old, tough and experienced.
呵呵，我可是塔罗牌专家……在这方面，”倒吊人 “先生你才刚刚入门 …… Klein secretly laughed and mentally belittled the other party.
The content of the “Inverted Man” hidden in the reading is very simple, the “Pope” card means that he wants to “Flame” Danez and “Steel” McVittie. The “Pope” card means that he wants to inform the Storm Church about “Flame” Danez and “Steel” McVitie, and use the power of the “vicarious punisher” to divide the enemy and reap the benefits.
This is Klein’s usual method, and there is no difficulty in understanding it.
The “Moon” and “Sun” cards are reminders from the “Inverted Man”:
Since the introduction of the “vicarious punisher”, it is necessary to take certain precautions against it, and according to Alger’s experience, when dealing with similar problems, his colleagues in Byam will certainly use a seal that can force many people within the range of the dream, and the “steel” McVitie’s characteristics will certainly have the “steel” McVitie’s characteristics. The characteristics of “Steel” McVitie dictate that there must be a targeted item from the “Sun” realm.
I’m not afraid of the Sun. …… Klein reached out and turned the reversed World card in front of him halfway around, turning it into a positive position, meaning that this option is feasible, and I’ll be ready for it. I’ll be ready.
Alger lifted his head and took a breath:
”The owner of this place specializes in aromatherapy, and can use the scents of different essential oils, pure dews, incense, and flower essences to treat the corresponding emotional problems and soothe the troubled mind, would you like to give it a try?”
Utilizing that contact point on Fragrant Tree Avenue? Klein responded with a smile:
”Good.”
The two of them looked at me, I looked at you, no one moved, no further mention of aromatherapy was made, everything was in the air.
Klein didn’t linger, pulled out his pocket watch and pressed it open to look at it before slowly standing up.
Alger collected his smile, pressed his hand to his chest and bowed slightly:
”Let us praise the gods, all divination results come from the revelations provided by k.”
Yo, you know how to show your loyalty …… Klein stifled his laughter and imitated the appearance of the “inverted hanging man” Alger, responding seriously.
”Let us praise the gods.”
He took two steps outside and suddenly paused, looking back at Alger with a low chuckle as he put on his hat:
”Frankly, you don’t really fit in with this outfit.”
Huh? Alger couldn’t follow Mr. World’s train of thought.
As Klein pulled out of the themed café, Alger withdrew his gaze to the mirror in the corner, scrutinizing his current outfit.
Originally, he did not think there was anything wrong with it, but after the “world” mentioned it, the more he looked at it, the more incongruous it became, and he finally realized why the other party said that:
A guy who looks very rough and weathered, and seems to be able to call for a hundred sailors to beat each other up at any time or take out an axe and cut down a piece of the population, really shouldn’t be wearing such a mysterious classical sorcerer’s robes, and his temperament is very incongruous.
……
Church of the Waves.
Changing back into his original clothes, Alger followed the praying faithful and entered the hall in a low profile, utilizing the opportunity of confession to meet the diocesan bishop, Chogori, through the priest in charge.
After saluting, he said bluntly:
”I met ‘Flame’ Danez, who claimed that the key of the ‘Lieutenant-General of the Iceberg’ had nothing to do with the Treasure of the Dead, and was even willing to sell it.
”He has commissioned me to keep an eye out for ‘Steel’ McVittie, who seems to have previously suffered a wound at the hands of this second lieutenant of the ‘Admiral of the Blood’ and is anxious to be free of his opponent’s pursuit.
”Lord Chogori, I would like to break the news so that ‘Steel’ McVittie and his men can successfully block ‘Flame’ Danez while we take this opportunity to capture or kill them all on sight.
”This can effectively combat the pirates’ arrogance.”
Chogori revealed an appreciative expression:
”Very good, your ability to do things is much better than I expected.”
Alger responded with a devout face:
”This all stems from the Lord’s guidance and thanks to your teachings.
”In the evening I will find the right person to break the news to, if I come back to say my prayers, it means that ‘Steel’ McVittie is not doing anything for the time being, if I do not show up again, it means that it has been taken under control by him or his subordinates to prevent the news from leaking out, which means that they will be in the fishing net. ”
After explaining the exact location and other matters, Alger reentered the confessional and left normally.
……
7:15 p.m., Fragrant Leaf Bar.
Wearing wide-legged pants and a bandana wrapped around his dark blue hair, Alger stood by the boxing ring with a glass of “Lelouch” and watched with implied derision the two bruised and swollen fighters.
Soon, he spotted his target coming in and headed straight for the bar.
After a short wait, Alger sat down next to the thin, dark man and grinned:
”Heard ‘Steel’ came to Bayham?”
The man responded with a wary sideways glance and a leathery smile:
”Why didn’t I know that?”
”Is that so? Looks like ‘Flame’ lied to me!” Alger tapped the bar and took a sip of his drink.
”Blaze …… Danez?” The man asked hesitantly as his eyes lit up.
”Yeah, that’s him!” Alger looked like he was gritting his teeth, “I met him at the Gold Coin Casino in the morning, the damn guy claimed that ‘Steel’ was in Byam, bah, how dare he lie to me!”
The dark, thin man’s eyes rolled slightly without interjecting.
He listened quietly, stood up, and laughed:
”I forgot, I have something I have to do, so we’ll play cards together later.”
He tapped Alger on the shoulder and left the bar in what seemed like a calm but was actually a rush.
Alger was holding a glass of wine, half-turning his body to look at his back, his eyes deep, the corners of his mouth without a smile.