Chapter 5 - Xio and Jane
"Why am I helping you? Well, because you're the future 'Judgment' of the Tarot Club, of course. I'm just investing in a bit of goodwill in advance..." Ebner thought to himself. But he knew he couldn't say that out loud. Instead, he stroked his chin and decided to sidestep the question, putting on a serious face as he replied, "Maybe you should pay me a consultation fee? Consider it as if you've hired me for an investigation. That way, it's not a favor but a transaction."
"What?" Xio's mind nearly short-circuited at his response. She stared blankly for a couple of seconds, eyes widening as she finally asked, "Sir, are you a detective?" But I've never met a detective who would actively work for someone and then show up to ask for money.
Ebner caught onto Xio's line of thought and played along, casually saying, "Not yet... You know, people who want to make a name for themselves in the world usually find the opportunities they need. And if they can't find them, they create them." The Reader path was bound to lead him into detective work sooner or later. Even if he wasn't a detective now, he would be someday.
"Those words do sound like Emperor Roselle..." Xio nodded in approval. But somehow, it felt like you were just brushing me off, the same way Fors often does! She held this thought back, though, as she could tell Ebner meant no harm.
Wait, what? That was a quote from Roselle?! He could even pull out such obscure sayings to make himself look wise—no wonder he was considered an emperor! Ebner was momentarily speechless, thinking back on the way Klein often grumbled about Roselle in the novel. Truly, that emperor had left no gaps for future transmigrators to carve out their own paths.
"So, how much in gold pounds do you plan to charge for that information?" Xio asked earnestly. She was a fair person by nature and didn't like to owe others favors, even if the information was yet to be verified.
"Uh... ten pounds?" Ebner had only recently transmigrated, so he didn't have a good grasp on how to make money and was hesitant to set the price too high.
Xio's expression flickered in surprise, and her serious demeanor softened as she chuckled. "Sir, do you realize your price almost makes you sound like a fraud? Just the insight into the Swindler Sequence alone is worth more than that. And if that acting method is real, there are people who would pay thousands of pounds to know about it!"
Thousands of pounds?! Ebner's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm as he clarified, "Knowledge is priceless. But I enjoy sharing it... so ten pounds is only for the deduction." Though he felt a pang of regret, he didn't mind offering this discount to Miss Judgment. After all, she'd learn this information in a few months anyway, even without him.
Xio didn't notice anything amiss in his expression and nodded in acceptance of his reasoning. "I'll verify the information you gave me. Here's five pounds as a deposit. If what you said proves true, I'll pay the rest later. So, Mr. Future Detective, what should I call you, and how can I contact you?" she asked, pushing five pounds over to Ebner from her wallet.
"Just call me Ebner. I'll be having breakfast at this restaurant every day for the next month," he replied. This identity of his was clean enough, so there was no need to adopt a false name. He also didn't hesitate to pocket the five pounds she offered.
"Although you might recognize me, I'll introduce myself formally anyway. I'm Xio—Xio Derecha. That'll be all for today, Mr. Ebner. Goodbye!" With that, Xio stood to leave the restaurant.
But Ebner couldn't help calling after her with a cautionary reminder: "Miss Xio, it's best if you keep the acting method to yourself. Don't spread it around. If the Church finds out, you could be in serious trouble!"
"Is the acting method something monopolized by the Seven Churches?" Xio stopped in her tracks, pondering as she asked.
"Technically, most Beyonders within the Church's middle and lower ranks don't know about the method at all. Only the higher-ups are aware." Ebner emphasized the word "higher-ups."
"Thank you for the warning!" Xio responded with a formal bow, acknowledging his advice. Then, after saying goodbye once more, she left the restaurant.
After Xio's departure, Ebner sat down to enjoy the breakfast that had just been served. As he ate, he reflected on his actions: Making a connection with Miss Judgment was certainly a goal, but perhaps I was a bit too forthright... Maybe I got carried away because I'm in an alternate world, talking to one of my favorite characters, so I couldn't help showing off? Or is this 'Reader' Sequence potion already making me eager to flaunt knowledge? Thinking back to the original, all the Beyonders on this path did seem fond of showing off—Isengard always showcased his Sealed Artifacts, and the Iceberg General loved displaying her collections... Nearly every Beyonder in this path was eager to teach others...
"Well, thinking that far ahead is a bit premature. I'm not even a Beyonder yet!" Ebner muttered to himself, then quickly and gracefully finished his breakfast.
With his stomach taken care of, Ebner took a public carriage to Cherwood District and stopped in front of a clothing store he remembered well. Since he'd be attending a secret gathering tomorrow night, his initial plan was to buy fabric and sew a hooded cloak to cover his face. But now that he had the five pounds Xio had given him, he could afford to buy ready-made clothes.
This store was owned by the family of a school friend, and while it wasn't exactly high-end, it catered to people who had just reached the middle-class threshold, with reasonably priced clothing.
Just as he stepped inside, he saw a young girl, about the same age as his original self, rushing out in a flustered manner. Familiar memories surfaced, and he sighed helplessly, reflexively reaching out to catch her before she crashed into him. "Jane, you're still as much of a hurry as ever!" he said with a smile.
Once Jane steadied herself, she recognized him and beamed. "Ah, Ebner, sorry! I didn't notice you! Haha, it's been days since I saw you. Are things at home settled now? Did you come to see me?"
"Everything's sorted. You know I've already applied for graduation. I came to your family's store to buy an outfit for job interviews." Jane was one of the few friends who had pooled money to help him during his family's troubles, so he explained more than he normally would.
"Oh... I'd love to help you pick something out, but I have a club meeting to get to, so I need to hurry," Jane replied apologetically.
"Club?" Ebner asked. If he recalls correctly, Jane was in a grade below him and was a member of the Ancient Language Club he had formed. That club disbanded after he applied for graduation since, aside from him, no one else knew Hermes.
"Yeah, Ebner, you know I'm a fan of all things Mysticism! Since your club was disbanded, I joined the one led by Professor Kapusky!" Jane explained with a grin.
"Professor Kapusky?" For some reason, the name struck Ebner as vaguely familiar.
"Right! Professor Kapusky believes that death isn't the end. He says you can directly feel death's essence through secret techniques and that anything can be reversed. Yes, he believes that the dead can be revived! Isn't that amazing?" Jane said, clearly excited.
So it's that guy! Ebner immediately remembered the rookie teacher from the novel, who held séances with students in cemeteries.
Though the professor wasn't dangerous in the short term and Klein would eventually help when things went south, Ebner didn't want this kindhearted girl who'd once helped him to be drawn into Beyonder affairs. With a serious expression, he warned her, "Jane, you really shouldn't be spending so much time around Professor Kapusky. He's dangerous!"
Jane froze for a moment, then blushed slightly and stole a glance at Ebner. "Ebner, are you worried about me? Do you not want me to be interested in anyone else?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Girl, that's not the right reaction! What kind of scenario did you imagine? Seeing her expression, Ebner's mouth twitched slightly as he steeled himself and continued, "Jane, if you're truly into the Mysticism, you should know that raising the dead is forbidden! If Professor Kapusky promotes such ideas, he's either foolish or malicious." And I know it's the former since Klein described him as a rookie among rookies.
"Alright... You're right, I suppose. But don't you want to know if the dead can truly be revived?" Jane bit her lip, seeming torn as she half-accepted Ebner's words but still feeling reluctant.
"Even if it's true, how would you verify it? By stealing corpses? That's a crime!" Ebner replied, his tone slightly stern.
The girl was clearly intimidated, fumbling for a response.
At that moment, the store owner, Jane's father, Mr. Charlie, walked over and asked with a frown, "What crime?"
Jane quickly ran to her father's side and, without a hint of shame, chattered on about her conversation with Ebner. This girl had nerves of steel and didn't think twice about confessing the truth.
After listening, Mr. Charlie grew serious. As a devout follower of the Goddess, he didn't believe in resurrection at all. He fixed Jane with a stern look and said, "Today, you're staying home. You're not going to that club!"
Seeing Jane nod reluctantly, he turned to Ebner, saying gratefully, "Young man, thank you for cautioning Jane. I had no idea she was involved in something so dangerous! Since you came to buy clothes, pick anything you like, and I'll give it to you at cost."
Ebner hadn't expected such generosity, but he didn't refuse (especially since he was strapped for cash). Delighted, he picked out a casual outfit and a hooded cloak for only three pounds.
In light of the discount, Ebner decided he would check on Jane in a few days. If she still attended that club in secret, he'd alert the authorities to ensure she didn't fall into real danger.
...
That night, Ebner activated the Pure White Eye once more, attempting to analyze and decode the Sequence 8 formula through his Beyonder ability. Unfortunately, he failed miserably, fainting twice without gaining any new insights.
"Perhaps I lack the necessary foundational knowledge in the Mysticism? Or maybe my spirituality is too weak, making it impossible to fully utilize the current potential of the Pure White Eye?"
(End of Chapter)