LOM: Lord of Mysticism

"The Fallen Creator... Fallen..." Alger muttered softly and spoke, "Mr. Fool, your description is indeed appropriate. According to our observations, Beyonders who believed in the True Creator—no, the Fallen Creator—have a higher probability of losing control. The rest of them are mostly psychopaths."

Klein didn't continue with the conversation. He was still considering how to inquire about the Secret Order and Clown potion, but he couldn't figure out a way of asking the questions.

Upon seeing The Fool remain silently engulfed in the thick gray fog, Audrey asked, "That sounds scary. Mr. Hanged Man, could you share, in detail, information about each and every mysterious organization? And also the matters regarding each secret cult? It's hard for me to come into contact with them during my daily life. I can only understand them through the both of you. I'm willing to pay for it."

Alger thought before saying, "I need money—a thousand pounds. It'd be best if they weren't marked bills. Or maybe gemstones that have just been unearthed. Price them according to the Backlund Jewelry Exchange's monthly average price."

A thousand pounds? That's a huge sum of money. Although Miss Justice is a noble, she obviously hasn't inherited her family's wealth yet, and she'll only be receiving some sort of annual allowance... Hmm, it's no wonder that The Hanged Man stated that it could be paid via gemstones. Klein was very sensitive towards monetary figures. Luckily, he was blanketed in thick fog.

For a single lady or madam, two thousand pounds could let her live a decent life!

"A thousand pounds?" Audrey replied indifferently, "No problem; do I send it to the previous address?"

"Yes, send it to the Warrior & Sea Bar at Pelican Street, in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Tell the boss, Williams, that it's what the 'Captain' wants." Alger said.

"Alright." Audrey leaned back in a Spectator-like manner. "Mr. Hanged Man, you can start now."

Alger began to slowly explain, "Let's start from the Moses Ascetic Order. It is the earliest hidden organization. Of course, many think that the earliest hidden organizations are the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Church of Mother Earth, and the Church of the God of Combat."

"These people must be from the Church of the Lord of Storms, the Church of Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom," Audrey refuted sulkily.

Alger continued, "The truth is buried in ancient history. Only one thing is certain: no one has ever said that the Church of the Lord of Storms, the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, or the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom were once hidden organizations.

Alright, let's save some time and return to the main topic. The Moses Ascetic Order was first established by a few humans that had read the Blasphemy Slate. They believed in a non-anthropomorphic god called 'the Hidden Sage'.

The description is that of a god, but it is more of an ideology, a natural law. For example, all objects are numeric. The Hidden Sage is an embodiment of Spirit Numerology. Or that knowledge is supreme, and the Hidden Sage is knowledge itself. Hence, the original Moses Ascetic Order was a very respectable organization, and it maintained a good relationship with the other major churches.

The members of the organization led ascetic lives to resist losing control and to resolve the effects of the Remnant potion. They strictly kept their orders's secrets, and they upheld moral and religious precepts. They believe that humans continuously reincarnate after death.

The Sequence 9 that they grasp is called Mystery Pryer... The word 'Warlock' was also spread from that organization."

Audrey listened to The Hanged Man's description carefully and asked sharply, "You said that the Moses Ascetic Order used to be a respectable organization. Are they not one anymore?"

Alger nodded. "Yes, they have fallen into corruption and are now an evil organization."

"Why? I find their beliefs very good and very normal," Audrey expressed her confusion.

That was Klein's confusion too. The information that he could get at his security clearance didn't provide the reason for the Moses Ascetic Order's fall from grace.

Alger added, "I am not sure of the real reason. It might be because it has been buried by history. However, I have heard one terrifying explanation.

In that story, the main reason why the Moses Ascetic Order fell into corruption was because the god that they believed in, the Hidden Sage, had come to life and became the personification of an evil god."

"Came to life? This... how?" Audrey found it unimaginable.

"I'm sorry, no one knows the answer." Alger had originally wanted to casually say, 'Maybe Mr. Fool would know,' but he held back the urge.

Klein maintained his silence. There were four points that he needed to take note of.

First, the Demoness Sect was also known as the Demoness Family in the Fourth Epoch. Back then, they had very few members, and their beliefs were passed down through their bloodlines. Plus, they would kill the fathers of their children and abandon the baby boys. Hence, all the members were female. Of course, that was all from Alger's description, and there was no way to verify it at the moment.

Second, the Numinous Episcopate that believed in Death and the Rose School of Thought that liked bloody sacrificial worship ceremonies both originated in the Southern Continent. After the colonial era came, they almost vanished under attacks by the seven churches. But as such, they began spreading to the Northern Continent.

Third, the current Psychology Alchemists were similar to the earlier Moses Ascetic Order. They believed in a non-anthropomorphic existence and believed that the human spirit could change everything.

Fourth, the Secret Order had the lowest activity level among all the other hidden organizations. Thus, they were the most unknown. Every time they appear, they seem to be after something or looking for something.

Klein recalled the diary page from earlier: The leader of the Secret Order, Zaratul, cooperated with Roselle. His goal was to get something left behind by the Antigonus family.

After a further exchange of information, Klein announced the end of the Gathering.

"By your will." Audrey and Alger stood up together.

Cutting off the connection, he saw their figures shatter and disappear.

Klein attempted to conjure another character with his mind. As he thought, a figure appeared at the furthest end of the long bronze table. That figure was wearing a black tuxedo, a silk top hat, and a dull expression. His actions were clumsy and inarticulate. Even though he was engulfed in gray fog, it was obvious that something was wrong with him.

That won't do. Klein experimented a few more times before sighing and dismissing the idea of creating a smurf account.

He attempted other things too, then considered what Audrey had said, and he cast his gaze curiously at the illusory crimson stars.

After a moment of silence, Klein started to pray as a form of feedback instead of establishing contact with those stars.

Amidst the tranquility and silence, he didn't receive any feedback from the ten plus crimson stars nearby.

He didn't want to forcefully pull someone into this mysterious space.

Klein was just getting ready to leave. Just then, he felt that there was a faint and insignificant prayer deep inside a crimson star.