Chapter 49: Divination (Second update, requesting recommendation votes)

Chapter 49: Divination Techniques (Second update, requesting recommendation votes)

As a "diviner" who had just stepped through the gates of mysticism, Klein wouldn't dare say he knew a great deal, but he certainly knew more than the average person. He was aware that various divination techniques could be categorized into three major types based on a certain standard.

And that standard was the source of the "revelation"!

The first type of divination included methods such as Tarot, playing cards, pendulums, dowsing rods, and dreams. These relied on the "revelation" obtained by communicating with the spirituality of the "inquirer" through the Spirit World to interpret the results. However, pendulum and dowsing rod methods placed very high demands on spirituality, spiritual bodies, and astral bodies; without being a Beyonder, one could not obtain accurate and obvious "revelations." Card divination, on the other hand, used a system of pre-provided fixed symbolic elements, allowing the vague "revelations" sensed by ordinary people to find expression. Dream divination sat somewhere in between.

The second type of divination included numerology, astrology, and all their derivatives. The diviner would calculate, deduce, and interpret results based on objective information provided by the inquirer or natural changes. The initiative lay not with the inquirer, but with the diviner.

The third type of divination involved utilizing a third-party power outside of both the diviner and the inquirer. The Ouija boards and pen divination Klein knew from his previous life belonged to this category. Through certain rituals, one would request answers directly from unknown, mysterious entities. While ordinary people were unlikely to succeed, if they did—and if they communicated with an entity filled with malice or one so terrifying that mere contact caused mental collapse—it often resulted in tragedy.

The "Mirror Divination" mentioned by Hinas Vincent just now belonged to this method. In mysticism, mirrors are gateways to the unknown, the bizarre, and the spiritual world. Thus, Klein paused outside the meeting room, intending to listen to how this renowned diviner would explain it before deciding whether to notify the Captain and go "skim" the other party's gas meter in the middle of the night.

Of course, "Mirror Divination" also had a safe way: praying to the seven orthodox deities for answers. Even if it was extremely difficult for ordinary people to receive true "revelations," at least there would be no danger or lingering side effects.

The kind of "Mirror Divination" strictly regulated by the Nighthawks and Punishers involved requesting help from evil gods or mysterious entities worshipped by certain organizations. Furthermore, one could not simply make things up on a whim; perhaps a single word or a specific characteristic could attract unknown attention.

In this world of Beyonder powers, similar divinations always tended toward extremely bad outcomes. Klein even suspected that the original owner of this body, along with Welch and Naya, had performed a similar kind of "black divination" based on the notes of the Antigonus family.

At this moment, Hinas had finished explaining the principles of Mirror Divination to the five members and began describing the specific process

"First, based on the deity you believe in, select a suitable date and time. This can be determined using the *Astrology Manual*. For example, as we all know, Sunday is symbolic of the Evernight Goddess and represents rest. Furthermore, the hours of 2:00 to 3:00 AM, 9:00 to 10:00 AM, 4:00 to 5:00 PM, and 11:00 PM to midnight are Moon hours, governed by the Evernight Goddess. Therefore, a diviner who believes in the Evernight Goddess can perform 'Mirror Divination' during these time slots on a Sunday."

*His foundation is quite solid...* Klein nodded slightly, using the half-open door of the meeting room as cover.

It had to be said that under the mutual checks and balances of the seven great churches, some mystical knowledge had indeed leaked out. For instance, the *Astrology Manual* provided many symbolic meanings, though without potions or Beyonder powers, ordinary people could almost never achieve the desired effects.

"Next, we carefully wipe the mirror—it must be a silver-plated mirror—and place it in a position in your home that symbolizes the Moon..." Hinas demonstrated using the props in his hands.

*No, at this stage, what's needed is the 'Pendulum Method.' First, pick a location, recite 'This is suitable for Mirror Divination' seven times in your mind, and then observe the direction the pendant swings. Clockwise is correct, counter-clockwise is wrong... Of course, if you are praying to a malicious, unknown, or mysterious entity, the location isn't the key; whether He is interested is the real point...* Klein corrected silently.

At this moment, he felt a bit like a teacher listening to a lecture...

Hinas Vincent could not hear Klein's inner thoughts, so he continued to explain the preparations in detail with a normal tone.

Once the members had finished taking notes, he continued

"After completing your ritual bath, ensure all curtains are drawn and the door is locked tight. Next, light a single candle and place it in front of the mirror. Pray devoutly to your deity. Keep the question as simple as possible; do not use complex modifiers... After praying seven times, pick up your mirror and drop it lightly on the floor. It must be very light... Remember the pattern of the shards; this is the revelation given by the deity... I will now explain several major symbols in detail."

*Whew, so this is orthodox 'Mirror Divination.'* Klein breathed a sigh of relief, walked slowly into the meeting room, sat back in his previous seat, and finished the rest of his Southwell coffee in one gulp.

The so-called "orthodox" method did indeed allow one to receive revelations, but they were basically impossible to truly interpret.

However, if a "Beyonder" received a response during this step, they could directly see certain images in the mirror and obtain relatively clear information!

Because the symbols formed by the shards were numerous, Hinas spoke for a long time. He had not even finished his concluding remarks by the time Edward Steve finished helping someone with a divination and returned to the meeting room.

Klein did not ask what Edward had divined for or what method he used. This was an unwritten rule among diviners, and as a "Diviner" himself, he naturally had to strictly abide by it unless the other party brought it up.

"I've found that many times, our interpretations are too vague, as if we are catering to different needs so that different people can find something that fits their own description within the reading," Edward sighed softly after taking a sip of Ceylon black tea. "For example: 'You will encounter many twists and turns and many tribulations, but ultimately you will see the dawn.' Heh, no one knows when the dawn will arrive. Or: 'Your journey won't be very smooth, but you will certainly arrive alive.' Hey, dead people won't come back to argue with me."

Because he hadn't been listening from the start, Klein had missed Hinas's "Mirror Divination lesson."

"Survivor bias," Klein added with a smile.

The general idea of survivor bias was that many statistics often only come from the living, the survivors, while ignoring the dead, resulting in a significant bias.

"True, Emperor Roselle was indeed a philosopher," Edward praised aloud.

...Klein picked up his empty coffee cup and pretended to take a sip.

Throughout the afternoon, the members were immersed in star charts and Mirror Divination, occasionally coming over to discuss things with Klein and Edward.

During these times, Klein fulfilled his duties as an informal member of the Nighthawk team, working hard to guide them away from lines of thought that might involve Beyonder matters or danger.

However, the thing he wanted to do most was unsuccessful; several inquirers came and went, but none chose him to help with their divination.

*Perhaps next time I should take the initiative to 'serve' them? Maybe drop a few lines like 'You are plagued by misfortune,' 'You will soon encounter calamity,' or 'Nothing will go smoothly for you'? No, that doesn't sound like a diviner...* Thinking of this, Klein couldn't help but shake his head in self-mockery.

He picked up his cane, stood up, and took his leave.

At five-thirty, Edward Steve put on his coat and was about to walk out of the Divination Club when he suddenly saw a familiar figure.

"Good afternoon, Glacis. Long time no see," he greeted with a smile. He saw his friend, who shared the same hobby, wearing his usual formal attire with a black bowtie and a monocle hanging from his breast pocket.

Immediately after, he noticed that the other man's complexion was quite poor, and even his pale yellow, soft hair showed signs of dryness.

"Good afternoon, Edward... *cough, cough*." Holding his hat, Glacis suddenly pressed his fist against his mouth and coughed several times.

Edward asked with concern: "You seem to be ill?"

"A very serious illness. It even turned into pneumonia before. If my wife hadn't happened to meet a powerful apothecary who gave me some miraculous potions, you might have seen me in a graveyard instead," Glacis's tone was full of lingering fear and relief.

"Lord, I can hardly believe it. You were so healthy before. Look, look, you are so weak now! I remember divining for you last week, and there were no signs that you would fall seriously ill," Edward moved his cane, exclaiming in surprise.

"My own divination results were the same as yours. Perhaps we are not yet qualified diviners, and, and..." Glacis suddenly remembered the events of Monday, and his expression became exceptionally solemn.

Just then, the beautiful lady Angelica approached, bowing with a gentle smile.

After exchanging greetings, she first addressed Glacis's health, offering some advice, before casually mentioning

"Mr. Glacis, that Mr. Moretti who sought your divination last time has also joined the club."

"The one who sought my divination last time?" Glacis's eyes lit up instantly. "Lord, where is he?"

"He has already left." Neither Angelica nor Edward could understand Glacis's abnormal reaction.

Glacis paced back and forth excitedly and said

"If he comes next time and I am not in the club, please be sure to ask him when he will return!"

"Glacis, what is going on? Did that Mr. Klein Moretti do something to you?" Edward asked in confusion.

Glacis raised his arm and, meeting the inquiring gazes of Edward and Angelica, answered with an impassioned tone

"He is a very, very, very miraculous..."

With his arm sweeping down, Glacis, who had used three "very"s in a row, proclaimed loudly

"Doctor!"

PS: Second update, requesting recommendation votes

(End of Chapter)