“The Attention-Seeker’s Acting Method Rules.”
“First, true conspicuousness stems from the contrast between one’s own code of conduct and others’ expectations, not from deliberately seeking attention.”
“Second, being conspicuous is not entirely negative; on the contrary, a true Attention-Seeker knows how to attract others’ goodwill and admiration at the appropriate time.”
“Third, a prominent Attention-Seeker can serve as a mirror for onlookers, prompting them to reveal their true selves or helping them to reflect on their own actions.”
Roger put down his fountain pen and nodded slightly, looking at the three rules for his potion’s Acting Method that he had summarized.
After that evening’s dinner, Mr.
Willis had another lunch with young James and Roger.
But unlike before, he rarely mentioned his business, instead beginning to talk more about his children and his views on the Church.
According to Mr.
Willis’s own account, he was almost sleepless for the two days he waited for Roger to deliver the task.
He recalled many instances of neglecting James during his upbringing and imagined various possibilities if his son had died, feeling immense regret and self-reproach.
Therefore, upon James’s return, he saw it as an opportunity to correct himself and decided to spend more time accompanying his family in the future.
On the other hand, having tasted the benefits of divination, Mr.
Willis even wanted to spend a large sum to hire Roger as a consultant for his company, but Roger, with his grand ambitions, did not want to be bound by employment terms and did not accept the invitation.
After all, “Becoming a God” was a very important part of his long-term plan; by then, he couldn’t very well be divining for Willis in his own Divine Kingdom, could he?
However, the coal merchant, having been rejected, did not give up, repeatedly probing Roger during their conversations to see if he had any other needs.
When the topic shifted to Bandit’s background, Mr.
Willis had a sudden idea, clapped his thigh, and proposed funding an animal protection foundation, with Roger serving as its executive director, specifically to protect and shelter stray cats and dogs like Bandit within Tingen City.
This way, the two would become partners, and he would have a reason to frequently bother Roger in the future.
Faced with this positive and beneficial idea, Roger finally found no reason to decline.
Subsequently, both parties signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of a lawyer, just waiting for the foundation to be officially registered and begin operations.
“I never thought that, by a strange twist of fate, the Tingen City Stray Cat Protection Association would actually come true.”
Roger was feeling a bit emotional when he suddenly saw a cat shadow, like a gray lightning bolt, flash past his feet.
“Bandit, stop, stop!”
Roger stopped the tabby cat, who was trying to go through the wall to bother the Moretti family next door, and picked him up onto the table.
“I’m going to an Beyonder gathering with Mr.
Vincent later, so I can’t take you.
“You stay home and honestly study the word cards I made for you.
Don’t run around.
I’ll test you when I get back later.”
He stared at the tabby cat, who had already gained a noticeable amount of weight and had round, big eyes, and solemnly instructed him.
After thoroughly digesting the “Attention-Seeker” potion, Roger also began to consider the digestion of Bandit’s “Apprentice” potion.
Compared to Susie, who had consumed the “Spectator” potion, getting a cat to digest the “Apprentice” potion through the Acting Method was not just doubly difficult, it was absurd.
Making a cat an apprentice—no one would believe it if he told them…
Considering that Bandit’s current intelligence couldn’t “learn” any complex knowledge, Roger could only make him some simple Loenese vocabulary cards, letting him try to understand and memorize them first.
Just as he was about to properly consider the planning for the stray animal protection foundation, the wall clock upstairs chimed.
“Dong, dong, dong…”
Roger, sitting at his workbench, was muttering to himself when he suddenly saw crimson and illusory light erupting simultaneously from all around him and from within his body!
When he came to his senses, he was already in a magnificent temple, resembling the dwelling of a giant king.
Gray fog permeated everywhere, and before Roger was a long bronze table.
Around this long table were 22 tall chairs, and he was currently sitting in one of them.
At the head of the bronze long table was an illusory figure.
“This is…”
Roger immediately reacted; he had been pulled into the Sefirah Castle by the “The Fool,” Klein!
And the person at the head of the bronze long table was undoubtedly the latter.
It was not in vain that Roger had gone to such lengths to contact Klein, establish a connection, and pique his interest…
Joining the Tarot Club was one of his core objectives in Tingen!
“This is…?
Who are you?”
He feigned confusion, trembling, and showed undisguised fear.
“You can call me ‘The Fool.’ And this is a confirmation.”
The figure at the head of the long table let out a soft chuckle, seemingly completely unconcerned by Roger’s reaction.
“Confirmation?
What confirmation?
And where is this place?”
Roger pressed with a barrage of questions.
“This is the ‘Tarot Club,’ a place for exchanging knowledge, insights, and information.
“You can obtain what you desire here… But I need to confirm your situation beforehand and tell you the taboos here.”
The “The Fool,” Klein, replied.
“Gathering… an Beyonder gathering?” Roger tried to calm himself and asked tentatively.
“You can understand it that way.” The mysterious existence at the head of the bronze long table gave Roger an affirmative reply.
“Mr.
The Fool, may I ask what taboos I should be aware of?”
Roger asked respectfully, his tone now almost devoid of panic, completely adopting the posture of someone facing a superior.
And the “The Fool,” Klein, could even see a hint of excitement from him.
“He looks very expectant… Besides that, there’s no other abnormality; I can continue to observe.”
Klein secretly evaluated him, made up his mind, and then continued to Roger:
“First, you must not disclose the existence of this place or the content of the transactions to outsiders, not even to your closest relatives.
“Second, you must not attempt to contact other members of the ‘Tarot Club’ outside of the gathering.
“Third, you must not reveal my name to outsiders unless I permit it.”
These were all clauses for safety considerations; according to Old Neil, many secret organizations had similar regulations.
Roger took a deep breath: “No problem, Mr.
The Fool, please rest assured.”
“Very good.
The other attendees will arrive shortly.”
Mr.
The Fool nodded with satisfaction, and after confirming that Roger complied, he summoned the two red stars representing the The Hanged Man and “Justice.”
As soon as the two appeared, they noticed a strange figure sitting on the chair to the The Hanged Man’s right.
“Who is this?”
“A new member?”
They both made uncertain guesses in their minds.
Audrey’s gaze lingered for only a moment before turning back to the head of the long table.
“Good afternoon, Mr.
The Fool~!”
She called out in a cheerful tone, then turned to the opposite side and spoke in the same manner:
“Good afternoon, Mr.
The Hanged Man~!”
After greeting both of them, Audrey then turned to Roger, who was next to Alger, and asked in an uncertain tone:
“Excuse me, who is this…?”
“A new member.”
The “The Fool” at the head of the bronze table lightly tapped the long table with his index finger, calmly looking at Roger, whose expression was somewhat flustered.
“Indeed…” Alger confirmed his thoughts.
“This newcomer… Mr.
or Madam, I am ‘Justice.’ May I ask what your codename is?”
Audrey asked politely, somewhat uncertainly.
“Codename?
A Tarot card?” Roger’s tone showed clear confusion.
“Yes, according to Mr.
The Fool’s instructions, this young lady and I have chosen ‘The Hanged Man’ and ‘Justice’ from the Major Arcana as our codenames respectively.”
Alger explained, then glanced at the The Fool again, asking in a deferential tone:
“Mr.
The Fool, should this new gentleman also choose a codename, like Miss Justice and I?”
“Yes.” The The Fool nodded gently.
After receiving confirmation, Roger quickly surveyed his surroundings, then asked in a reverent tone:
“So, besides the The Fool, Justice, and the The Hanged Man, I can choose any other card as my codename?”
“Yes.” This time Alger answered on behalf of the “The Fool.”
“Then…”
Roger took a deep breath and stated his choice:
“I choose, ‘Wheel of Fortune.'”
There’s one more update tonight.