CHAPTER 824: CHAPTER 558: THE FOOL’S TWIN BROTHER? (PART 2)

The fundamental issue may be a lack of some enigmatic spirituality.

However, appraising poetry is more demanding than evaluating games. To grasp the spirituality hidden in poetry, the appraiser must possess spirituality themselves.

As Kawas claimed, poetry is merely a tool, akin to motorcycle repair or postpartum care for sows.

Therefore, it can only sense the uniqueness of this manuscript, but cannot truly comprehend it.

Fortunately, collectors in the Metropolis are a rather peculiar crowd, and there is no shortage of connoisseurs among them.

"I’ll offer a book for this!"

A collector was the first to raise a bid.

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng looked over and found a gray cat dressed in a tuxedo and gray hat.

Aside from fur color, it looked identical to the Black Cat "The Fool."

"Is this a relative of The Fool? Or its admirer?"

He pondered.

In terms of human aesthetics, it’s normal to think two cats look alike, but having the same outfit is peculiar.

He looked at what the gray cat was holding, a book shrouded in gray mist, the mist sometimes swelling and rolling like writhing worms.

"The sense of déjà vu from this gray mist is quite strong too."

Liu Zheng confirmed that this gray cat absolutely had a deep connection with The Fool.

"Help me appraise its auction item."

He immediately instructed the projector.

"Alright, please hold on."

Appraisal takes a bit of time.

"Excerpts from the bestselling novel ’The Witch and Her False Redemption.’ Upon use, one can temporarily acquire the abilities of a random character from the novel. If a sufficient amount of ’flesh’ is used as a base, a random character can be summoned temporarily to assist. The better the user matches the character, the higher the summons chance."

The projector soon provided the appraisal results.

"What kind of novel is ’The Witch and Her False Redemption?’ Are the characters powerful?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"It’s this year’s best-selling long novel penned under the pseudonym Chariot. But aside from the pseudonym, all other information about the author remains a mystery. Once, a fanatic fan spent ten million hiring detectives to probe ’Chariot’s’ true identity. The result was all detectives perished in extreme bliss, and the fan ended up in the mental hospital."

Replied the projector.

"Chariot? Chariot and The Fool are both tarot cards, right?"

He pondered aloud.

"Yes."

The Fool is the first card in the tarot deck, numbered 0, symbolizing ignorance and omniscience.

Chariot is the eighth card, numbered 7, representing overcoming obstacles to achieve victory.

"...Hasn’t anyone suspected a connection between Chariot and The Fool?"

Liu Zheng asked with squinted eyes.

Though non-human thinking can be rather rigid, certainly there are humans among Chariot’s fans?

"Of course. In fact, many speculate Chariot is merely a facade for The Fool. However, The Fool itself has issued a firm statement denying this hypothesis. Given The Fool’s reputable standing, most believe its account."

Said the projector.

"Is that so?"

Based on his understanding of The Fool, it shouldn’t lie.

However, not being a facade doesn’t imply no connection.

Liu Zheng pondered briefly, then dialed The Fool.

"Calling me this late, do you have an urgent matter, deliveryman sir?"

The Fool’s voice sounded a bit drowsy, yet maintained a steady pace.

"Look at his composure."

Liu Zheng cast a disdainful glance at a certain Niu Ma with worse morning temper than he.

"It’s like this, Mr. Fool, I’m attending an auction."

He replied.

"Which auction?"

The Fool asked.

"It’s an auction hosted by four penguins."

"Oh, I know. Madagascar’s Penguin Agent Team, the legendary temporary workers of the City Hall."

The Fool said.

"Are they temporary workers at the City Hall?"

"They were, but they retired. I can’t divulge much concerning the City Hall. Regardless, they’re a powerful and intriguing team. I once planned to write a novel based on them, which was later vetoed by the City Hall."

The Fool said with a chuckle.

"I see. But anyway, at the auction, I encountered a gray cat looking remarkably like you, exchanging my collection for excerpts of ’The Witch and Her False Redemption.’

Liu Zheng continued.

"..."

The Fool fell into silence upon hearing.

"What is your collection?"

It asked moments later.

"The final poetry manuscript by the Snake-man Clan’s genius poet Bai Langzi."

Liu Zheng replied.

"Excuse my ignorance, but I haven’t read this poet’s works or heard of his fame."

The Fool recalled briefly before speaking.

"There’s quite a bit of poetry; reading it can be quite a hassle. I’m currently on Rose Street; if convenient, you can inspect it personally."

"Alright. I’ll come over immediately."

The Fool said decisively.

Soon, a carriage lacking both a horse and coachman entered Rose Street.

The carriage itself was only half visible, with the rear enveloped in gray mist.

In a blink, the carriage arrived before Liu Zheng.

"Deliveryman sir, I’m here."

The door opened, and The Fool jumped out of the carriage.

"Good evening, Mr. French Plane Tree, and the gentleman projector."

Upon seeing French Plane Tree and the projector, it greeted them politely.

"Mm, good evening."

French Plane Tree greeted apathetically.

"Good evening, esteemed Mr. Fool."

The projector reciprocated respectfully.

"Mr. Fool, there is Bai Langzi’s manuscript."

Liu Zheng pointed to the light screen.

"Sorry, I can’t see anything."

The Fool shrugged and said.

"Only those on the attendee list can perceive the projection. Of course, Mr. Fool possesses the capability to forcibly crack it, but a gentleman like him would never exhibit such discourtesy."

Said the projector.

"Alright. No matter, you may view the original manuscript directly."

Liu Zheng presented the Snake-man’s manuscript.

The Fool took the manuscript and studied it closely for several minutes before closing it.

"Did you discern any insights?"

He asked.

"No."

The Fool shook its head.

"Frankly speaking, although I possess some expertise in the long novel domain, I’m quite inept at even writing a simple verse in poetry, incapable of perceiving any marvel within."

It confessed slightly awkwardly.

"Alright."

"However, I possess alternative means. Who is that?"

After speaking, The Fool glanced at Niu Ma in the distance and asked.

"That’s my boss, we’re bonded by life-and-death camaraderie."

Liu Zheng said.

"Just as I am with Mr. Delago here."

He added.

"Hmph, only a fool would want any camaraderie with you, idiotic human."

French Plane Tree said disdainfully.

"Okay. Next, I shall enter a state of high alert, where any discourtesy might provoke my retaliation, so I hope you won’t be harmed accidentally."

The Fool issued a reminder, also a warning.

"Rest assured, we won’t."

Liu Zheng promised.

"Alright."

Upon seeing his sincere gaze, The Fool finally decided.

It took off the hat, extended its paw into it, then slowly withdrew a book composed entirely of gray mist.

Its pace was extraordinarily slow, expression exceedingly solemn, as if seizing not a book, but a mountain.

"Seems just about ready; I’ll seal the bid after the countdown."

Just then, Penguin Captain’s voice echoed from the auction hall.

"Mr. Fool, it’s closing time."

Liu Zheng reminded.

"Alright."

The Fool replied gravely, then exerted forcefully on the gray mist; the book was completely extracted at last.

Following this, The Fool cautiously approached the manuscript with the gray mist book.

As the gray mist book closed in, the manuscript’s text floated out, connecting head to tail, forming a Snake-man silhouette.

Initially, the Snake-man’s silhouette was as large as two manuscripts but shrank to thumb-size as the gray mist book drew nearer.

"Collect!"

Seeing this, The Fool promptly retreated and energetically stuffed the gray mist book back into the hat.

"I know what this is now."

It said grimly.