Lord of The Mysteries: Eternal Suffering

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool."

Miss Justice, also known as Audrey, gave a graceful bow, then shifted her gaze across the table. In the same lighthearted tone, she greeted, "And good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man~!"

Klein smiled faintly, maintaining an air of mystery.

"Good afternoon, Miss Justice."

As Audrey took her seat, she noticed a new presence among them. Curiosity sparked in her eyes as she observed the newcomer: a man with striking white hair and intense red eyes that seemed to pierce through the swirling gray fog. His attire was somewhat blurred, though it held an aura of high quality and a distinct Loen Kingdom style.

Mr. Fool's voice broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention. "This is Miss Justice," he said with an air of calm authority. "And this is Mr. Hanged Man. Our new member goes by Mr. Death."

Audrey's curiosity intensified. She offered the newcomer a warm smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Death." His poised demeanor and refined air struck her as distinctly aristocratic, making her feel an odd kinship with him.

Atlas, now known as Mr. Death, smiled slyly. "Well, well... a noble from the Loen Kingdom and a pirate with the Lord of Storms. This gathering certainly promises intrigue."

Atlas's voice reverberated through the grand hall, an echo that made Audrey, Alger, and even Klein feel a thrill of unease. Though they quickly regained composure, the impact lingered.

Audrey was the first to break the silence, her voice tinged with wariness. "Mr. Death, how did you discern our backgrounds so easily?"

Atlas's smile widened as he explained, "For one, you wear clothing far beyond what most can afford. And even for those of noble rank, some of your attire would stretch even a viscount's salary. It was an educated guess."

Audrey sank back, murmuring, "So that's how…"

Atlas turned to Alger, his tone analytical. "As for Mr. Hanged Man… blue hair is common among Beyonders on the Sailor pathway—a path strictly regulated by the Church of the Lord of Storms. That made you quite easy to place."

Klein felt a chill at Atlas's insight. 'Mr. Death could very well be a high-sequence Beyonder. When we first communicated, he hinted at being on the verge of losing control... I'll have to tread carefully if I want to maintain this guise.'

Curious, Klein decided to test his spiritual vision. Lowering his gaze, he tapped his glabella twice, then shifted his eyes to Audrey.

'Her aura's colors are bright red and yellow—joy, zeal... and a hint of annoyance?' His eyes trailed to where Audrey subtly glanced sideways, clearly perturbed by Atlas's deductions.

Turning his vision towards Alger, Klein found nothing unusual. But when he tried focusing on Atlas, he was met with a strange resistance—a dark fog enshrouded Atlas's form, obscuring his etheric presence as if warding off intrusion.

'What on earth is that? Is that the natural defense of a high-sequence Beyonder?' Klein was stumped, his curiosity piqued further.

Just then, Audrey spoke up. "Mr. Hanged Man, did you receive the box of Ghost Shark Blood?

Atlas chuckled at her words, clearly relishing the chance to stir things up. "Oh, Ghost Shark Blood, hmm?"

He turned his gaze to Alger, his smile turning wicked. "Tell me, Mr. Hanged Man, have you fully digested your Sequence Eight potion? Have you gathered all the ingredients for the Seafarer potion?"

Alger's jaw clenched. He had had no idea of his this person was he wanted to retaliate but restrained himself out of respect for the 'Great Existence' presiding over them. 'Who is this man Mr. Fool has brought here? He has a frightening level of knowledge about the Beyonder pathways.'

Alger's thoughts raced, trying to recalibrate his impression of Atlas. 'With just a few words, Mr. Death identified my Sequence... I may have underestimated him.'

Before the tension could rise further, Atlas gave a casual laugh and raised a hand. "Don't worry, I won't pry further."

Alger exhaled, then turned to Klein with a question. "Mr. Fool, is there a way to make our conversations private? I'd like to share Miss Justice's formula with her."

Klein's pulse quickened as he realized he hadn't anticipated this request. Thinking swiftly, he manipulated the gray fog to envelop Atlas, separating him from the others' conversation.

Atlas scowled, muttering under his breath, "Fuck you, Alger." He regained his composure, though, as an idea for a lucrative scheme formed in his mind.

Clearing his throat, he waited until the private exchange ended before drawing attention back to himself. "Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man, I recall I owe you both some important information. It's a carefully guarded secret that can accelerate your potion digestion by as much as ninety percent."

Audrey's eyes lit up. "How much?"

Atlas's smiled slyly. "Six hundred pounds."

Alger almost choked. Though intrigued, he felt the price was steep. Resigned, he replied, "I'll sit this one out."

But Audrey's curiosity outweighed her hesitation. "Deal."

Atlas's grin broadened. 'As expected of a noble from the Tarot Club. Tossing around six hundred pounds as if it were nothing. That sum could sustain an entire family for generations,' he mused to himself.

After requesting Mr. Fool's assistance in granting them privacy from Alger, he continued,

"The key to mastering a potion isn't just in grasping it—it's in digesting it."