The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 980: 50 Chapters: Devil’s Tricks

”Sir, what would you like to divine today?”

Arthur glanced at the thick stack of Tarot cards. He had never believed in such superstitions before, because, as a Contractor of the Devil, someone who had come back from the dead and performed miracles, his existence alone was already superstitious enough.

If Tarot cards could reveal unsolved mysteries, where would a devil like Agares go to earn a living?

However, since the lady insisted on playing, Arthur didn’t want to dampen her spirits.

Arthur casually posed a question with a smile: ”Then please divine my past, present, and future.”

”Past, present, and future? You mean you want to know the major trends of your fate?”

Miss DelaSalle softly asked, ”Are you looking to divine your career, wealth, or love?”

Arthur replied with a smile, ”My career has been quite unlucky lately, so could you please divine my career?”

”If you’re divining the major trends of your career fate, then just choose three cards from these 22 Major Arcana cards. The remaining 56 Minor Arcana cards are used to specify the detailed development of matters.”

Seeing her being so earnest, Arthur complimented her with a smile: ”It seems you are very knowledgeable about divination. I’m sure your readings will be accurate.”

”It’s not me who is divining, but rather you who will point out your fate and uncover them one by one from either the left or right.”

Miss DelaSalle shuffled the Tarot cards and then arranged them into a formation in front of Arthur.

”Alright, please concentrate, and select three cards you feel are destined for you.”

Arthur glanced over the table covered with a dark cloth, and under the bright moonlight, he placed his hand in the moonlit area and uncovered the reflective backs of three cards, one after the other.

The first card revealed depicted a Pope holding a cross with a crown on its head, unfortunately, the card was opened inverted.

Miss DelaSalle was somewhat surprised to see the card: ”Your past, card number 5, inverted Pope.”

Arthur didn’t understand Tarot cards, but upon seeing the ’inverted Pope,’ he couldn’t help but purse his lips slightly.

Coming back to life, such an event is indeed quite inverted for the Pope; for the Church, it could practically be akin to rebellion.

However, it’s likely Miss DelaSalle wouldn’t know about the resurrection, and Arthur was rather interested in hearing how a Tarot Card Master would interpret this card.

”What does this card signify? Does the inverted position have a bad meaning?”

Miss DelaSalle gestured with her hands: ”Generally speaking, inverted cards don’t have good meanings, but inversions of all number five cards are exceptions. They usually signify open-mindedness, and the inverted Pope is no exception. However, compared to the upright Pope, the crown and scepter of the inverted Pope show signs of becoming unstable.

This indicates that at times you harbor excessive or improper kindness and have a tendency to be easily moved and influenced, resulting in excessive generosity and sympathy due to soft-heartedness. This puts you in unfavorable situations in your career, perhaps being misjudged as weak, underestimated, or even directly facing demotion.

At the same time, the inverted Pope card also represents individuality. Even though you know which path is most easily accepted, you prefer to tread those rarely traveled ones. As you pursue answers to life’s questions, you can truly take control, though in mainstream viewpoints you might be perceived as incorrect.”

Arthur, upon hearing this, rarely probed further, giving no more commentary, not even offering a compliment, instead steering the topic toward the second card: ”What about this one? Who is this old man holding a lantern?”

Miss DelaSalle picked up the card and answered: ”This is an upright Hermit. The Hermit is an old man, his age signifying a life filled with wisdom. Wearing a cloak, he stands atop an icy, snowy peak, bowing his head in contemplation, and raising a lantern in his right hand, symbolizing truth. Within the lantern is a glowing Hexagram, which is Solomon’s seal, and the glow represents the subconscious.

That seemingly feeble light, in the desolate, dim snowy night, appears somewhat helpless, but to the old man, it is truth and hope. The lantern doesn’t illuminate what’s right in front of you, symbolizing not to solely pursue distant dreams at the expense of the truths around you. You withdrew during your career’s golden period, misunderstood by others, unaware it was merely you resting in preparation for the next golden age.

The upright Hermit card implies you will leave the past behind, tossing aside previous successes and failures to pursue what you truly wish to do. However, since the lantern’s light can only illuminate short distances, no one can guarantee this will be the right path. Yet, the upright Hermit is mostly still a card symbolizing success, requiring you to experience certain things independently.”

”Solomon, Hexagram...”

Upon hearing these two terms, Arthur instantly understood which horned, red-skinned, long-tongued fiend was being cryptic.

However, in response, he also felt relieved, realizing Miss DelaSalle hadn’t truly divined his life path.

Feeling relaxed, Arthur’s tone lightened significantly: ”That’s an interesting interpretation. What then is my future?”

Miss DelaSalle couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the card: ”Sir, your cards are quite intriguing. This one is the upright Hanged Man. Some say this person bound upside down in a tree is the ’Fire Thief’ Prometheus. To bring fire to mankind, he was bound by Zeus atop the peaks of the Caucasus, enduring great torment, but he never yields, for though his body is trapped, his spirit is free.