Mystery: The Ultimate Tarot

Chapter 4: Advice and Analysis of "The Hanged Man"

Inside the "Source Castle," the Tarot Club members held a makeshift meeting targeting Raphael Collins.

After "The Hermit" Cattleya interpreted "The World's" "divination," "Justice" Audrey slowly nodded: "Based on my initial observations, although Raphael Collins appears crazy on the surface, he is actually quite calm inside."

At this point, "The World" said to "Judgment" Hugh, "Tell everyone about your investigation into Raphael."

When Klein found Raphael, he asked Hugh, who had an intelligence network in Backlund, to conduct some investigation into this "madman".

Hugh Deercha said, "According to information I got from my informants, Raphael Collins used to be a minor leader in the Skull Gang. I had previously suspected that the Skull Gang was a gang supported by a mid-to-high-level member of the Rose School."

"Because their previous leader was a Sequence 8 'Madman' from the 'Prisoner' pathway, and two of his subordinates were Sequence 9 'Prisoners', and one was a Sequence 9 'Criminal'."

"Before this year, Raphael did not have any outstanding performance, but about three months ago, Raphael suddenly changed.

"In battles against other gangs, he cleverly reaped considerable benefits and ensured that several of his key subordinates received many advantages, quickly gaining several gang members who were completely loyal to him."

"About two months ago, he successfully assassinated the leader of the Skull Gang and used the leader's characteristics to complete his promotion."

"Then he demonstrated his skill by using leverage over other leaders or by suppressing them with force, quickly securing his position as the leader and transforming the Skull Party into the Mafia, calling himself the Godfather."

"After that, they launched several more battles against the surrounding gangs and won them all. Now the Mafia is one of the three largest gangs in the Bridge District."

"Moreover, according to the informant, Raphael was very popular among the workers."

Leonard Mitchell, who occasionally came into contact with Backlund's gangsters, found it hard to believe: "A gangster boss, so influential among the workers?"

Generally speaking, workers or ordinary people would avoid such gang leaders, while secretly harboring resentment towards them.

"Based on the information I've received, that's how it is," Hugh said. "We need to find out more about exactly how he did it."

Alger, the "Hanged Man," then analyzed, "This is a 'rational madman'!"

"Or rather, he may seem crazy, but he's actually very intelligent."

Then he laughed and said, "Dealing with people like this is easier than dealing with lunatics."

Alger said to "Justice", "I suggest you observe Raphael for a while, then you can demonstrate your abilities and intimidate him."

"Afterwards, we will assign him some tasks. As for the rewards he receives, we can trade them with members of the 'Temperance Faction'."

"First establish a stable connection, and after gaining a deeper understanding of him, you may find out what's special about him."

In fact, from the titles "Mafia" and "Godfather," Klein already knew one of Raphael's special characteristics: he was a time traveler!

"Justice" accepted the "Hanged Man's" suggestion and nodded, saying, "Okay."

At this point, Hugh said to "Justice," "You'd better try to persuade your father. Besides seeking help from the Church of the Goddess of Night, he will definitely also seek help from MI9."

"In that case, we might be able to capture Raphael very quickly."

Just as "Justice" Audrey was about to speak, "The Hanged Man" Alger said, "I bet Raphael will be very hard to find."

Hugh was taken aback: "Why do you say that?"

That's a Sequence 8. Even if it's somewhat special, if the official extraordinary individuals send out demigods, they should be able to find him easily.

Alger laughed and said, "Gentlemen, recall the description Mr. Fool gave Miss Justice when he was assigning her the task."

"He fooled Raphael, and this fooling seems to have been ongoing."

"I don't need to say which path Mr. Fool represents; his 'fooling' will surely make all 'divination' bypass Raphael."

The other members were taken aback. Mr. Hanged Man's analysis, as always, made a lot of sense.

Even "The World" Klein thought to himself, "The Fool" himself hadn't thought of this."

……

Audrey returned to the real world from "above the gray fog," and Raphael indeed did not discover that she had "left."

After changing their clothes three times and taking public carriages and taxis, Raphael and his two companions finally arrived at the bridge district after walking a distance.

By this time, Raphael and the other two had changed into dirty coarse cloth jackets and stiff cloth trousers, and wore baseball caps on their heads, the attire of ordinary workers.

Audrey was forced to dress as a male laborer, and no matter how Raphael did his makeup, he could not hide her natural beauty.

At first, Raphael tried many times to make Audrey look ugly with makeup, but she always managed to show an unusual side.

Finally, Raphael had no choice but to wrap a bandage around her head to pretend she had a head injury, which prevented her from attracting too much attention from people along the way.

It was the time when dock and factory workers were getting off work. The three men joined the workers and went to a dilapidated apartment building in the bridge area, knocking on the door of room 301.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man with only one leg and a cane. He smiled and said, "Sir."

Raphael nodded, glanced at both sides of the corridor, and went into the room.

Upon entering, there is a combined living room and kitchen, as well as two bedrooms. The bathrooms are located at opposite ends of the floor. For a public apartment building in Backlund, this is relatively spacious.

The apartment was simply furnished with only a few worn-out pieces of furniture, but it was clear that the owner had taken the time to clean it, so it was fairly tidy.

After entering, Raphael first looked out the window, then rubbed his rumbling stomach, took out a 2-sol note from his wallet, and handed it to the middle-aged man.

He then instructed, "Go buy some noodles, enough for four people, a cabbage, two heads of garlic, and oh, and make sure to buy half a penny's worth of cumin."

The middle-aged man with a cane immediately smiled and said, "Yes, sir."

As he paid, Raphael thought to himself: Prices in Backlund are really expensive. Two soles are roughly equivalent to 100 dollars, and that's all I can buy.

Of course, he would have two or three pence left, but he didn't intend to keep the rest of the money.

After the middle-aged man left with a cane, Raphael glanced at Audrey, but unfortunately, he couldn't see any information in her expression.

Audrey pushed up the bandage on her face: "What kind of expression do you want to see on my face?"

Raphael laughed. "I thought that kind Miss Audrey would be angry at my practice of ordering disabled people to work, and feel sorry for Mark... well, for the master of this place."

Audrey didn't say anything, because she did have such thoughts in her mind, but her "audience" etiquette prevented her from showing them.