The caravan went inside Giyaku. The place was abandoned. Not even a single Yokai in sight.

The mercenaries didn’t believe Kazou at first when he said one single man cleansed the entire city. But they had to believe now.

"Insane! How could a single man do this?" A mercenary said.

’Maybe I can build some lore into this...’

"He isn’t a man. He is a God." Carter said.

Chiaki snapped her head toward Carter.

"A literal god?" She said.

Carter nodded, "From what I’ve seen, he is. He even battled another god back in the past."

"Did he win?"

Carter smiled. He didn’t answer that question. It was obvious. If the man didn’t win, he wouldn’t be here.

Chiaki understood Carter’s smile so she didn’t push the question further.

"There should be an intact building right around here." Carter led them inside.

"How did you know, Lady Mikoto? Have you been here before?" Kazou widened his eyes.

"You are the Land Spirit, Kazou. You should already know I haven’t." Carter said.

"The power of a seer is remarkable." Kazou said.

The mercenary set down near the building. Carter found a clean place to sit down and spread her cards on a wooden table.

"You are someone important, Chiaki. I can feel it." Carter said.

"Yeah, right. Don’t act like you only say this to me." Chiaki was still very suspicious of Carter.

"I don’t. Only those that are truly important shall I say it."

Constable Nakasuji shall play a role in the upcoming event. Koji the Rider would also be present. Tenmaru was also there. Carter saw the future for many other people, but only a few of then gave Synchronization and only those three impacted the fate of this kingdom.

Similar to this red-haired girl in front of him.

"What do you want to ask, Chiaki?" Carter smiled gently.

"I can ask anything?" Chiaki said.

"Of course."

"Well then. I want to test you first. Tell me some that no one else know about me."

Carter flicked his finger. A card drew itself out of the deck and landed between the two of them. The card burned itself.

Chiaki frowned, "What kid of trick is this?"

"We shall see, don’t we?" Carter flipped the card over.

On it was a black dragon wrapping itself around a weak woman.

"What does this even mean?" Chiaki said.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what it means, Princess." Carter said.

The painting moved. Carter’s eyes flashed all kinds of colors.

Then Chiaki saw it. The painting warped her vision. The black dragon became a large man in purple cloak. He pushed a woman on the ground and did unspeakable things to her.

That man was Tengo Ryuja and that woman was her mother, the one and only Lady Masuhara. She was once the daughter of the lord of this region.

Carter did use the word ’princess’ deliberately. Chiaki could be called a princess since her father, Ryuja, was the self-proclaimed King of the Jado Kingdom.

Chiaki widened her eyes. She drew her dagger and went for Carter’s throat. Her secret must be kept at all cost.

Carter flicked his finger and sent the dagger flying away. The other mercenaries stood up and drew their weapons.

"Please, everyone! Remain calm!" Kazou shouted.

"You can’t kill me, Chiaki. Even with all your men. All of you are just mere Awakens." Carter squinted his eyes.

"You?!" Chiaki held her trembling hand. That simple flick contained so much power in it that it made her bone hurt. "Who are you really? How did you know? Did Ryuja send you?"

"I told you already, Lady Masuhara. I am a fortune teller. And Fate has told me your story."

Chiaki took a deep breath and ordered her men to stand out. She knew that they couldn’t win.

This mercenary caravan wasn’t created out of nowhere. It was what Clan Masuhara got left after being destroyed by Ryuja. They were all loyal men to Chiaki’s household.

"Alright, I bite. What can you tell me about my future?"

Carter flicked his fingers more. Two cards landed on the table.

One card hardened into a rock. The third one was a fire card.

"You’re trying to kill your own father, Lady Masuhara."

The rock card flipped over, revealing Chiaki going around gathering men and support to kill Ryuja.

"This is a big obstacle, obviously. Because Ryuja is a powerful man, both figuratively and literally. He’s a Champion, isn’t he?"

Chiaki stayed silence. Her silence answered the question.

"And this is your end."

The third card flipped over. The black dragon swallowed Chiaki, the red-haired woman in the painting.

Chiaki smiled bitterly. She knew that Carter was legit now.

"Are there no other ways? Fate has decided my end already?"

"Of course not, Chiaki. Fate is not constant. It can be changed."

Carter grabbed a card physically and showed her. He used his own power to influence what the card would show.

"I will help you with your cause. The Gods are with you."

This card was different than any other card. No element showed up, instead it was glowing bright Gold.

[Aether Seed is having a reaction]

In the card, a painting of three otherworldly figures looking down on the black dragon. The other two were faded and Chiaki couldn’t make up what they were. But she could see the figure in the middle.

A large Dark Angel with four wings in a black armor.

"That is?" Chiaki widened her eyes.

"The Unnamed. He is already here to turn the course of Fate. And if you follow him, he would grant you the power to defeat your enemy."

Chiaki clenched her fist. Her revenge was closer than ever. She had finally found an opportunity to kill him.

"What do I need to pay for his help?"

"Loyalty and faith, Chiaki. The nature of a good follower."

[Synchronization +3.0%]

[Synchronization +10.0%]

[Current Synchronization]: 53.3 %

The Synchronization rose. One for a successful card reading, the second was for his sublime acting. He had acquired the first ever followers for the Shrine he was about to build. And with Clan Masuhara help, everything would be easier.