Chapter 13: Knowledge Is Money

Chapter 13: Knowledge Is Money

Finally…

The moment the transaction was settled, Klein quietly let out a breath of relief, feeling the pressure on his shoulders ease by quite a bit.

Although Miss Messenger had said that the ten thousand Loen gold coins could be repaid in installments, and had not specified when repayment had to begin, Klein still did not want to delay for too long. He was afraid of angering Reinette Tinekerr.

This was a demigod-level creature of the spirit world. If she truly became angry, then even with a contract restraining her, she would have no shortage of ways to make things difficult for her “employer”!

And the expenses of playing a tycoon are simply enormous. The salaries and related costs of twenty-odd servants are only a small part of it. The carriages, horses, wines, gifts for neighbors, expenses for balls, and investments to conceal my identity—each one is more fatal than the last. If I don’t keep enough cash in reserve, I really might go bankrupt one day and be unable to continue…

Sigh. With the 6,500 pounds plus the money I already have, it should be enough to last until I confirm my target, right? No. These past two days have taught me never to use my own experience to imagine the life of a tycoon. I’ll probably need another five or six thousand pounds before I can barely maintain it…

Klein very much wanted to raise a hand and rub his temples, but in the end, he restrained the impulse.

Composing himself, he made the World sweep his gaze around the table again and say with a hoarse chuckle, “The second item is the Biotoxin Bottle…”

In fairly concise language, he described the brown, translucent glass bottle he had manifested, focusing on the characteristics of several toxins, the time they took to take effect, ways to prevent them in advance, and the negative effects of carrying it.

As Justice Audrey listened, a chill ran down her spine, but she also felt slightly embarrassed. The former came from that terrifying toxin that made people tear away their own skin and flesh, while the latter came from its strange, wide-range aphrodisiac effect.

This truly is a mad mystical item… Hmm, it belongs to the type that must be prepared in advance before it can be used effectively. For ordinary Spectators, it’s actually quite compatible. Observation and mind reading can help low-Sequence Beyonders of this pathway sense danger in advance and prepare a response…

But I don’t need that. If I detect danger in advance, I can directly call for protection… Besides, besides, its effects are not to my liking! It can easily harm me as well! Audrey, you are already a mature, rational Beyonder. You can’t want to buy everything you see!

Audrey thought seriously for several seconds and gave up the idea of asking about the price.

Seeing that Miss Justice did not speak, Klein could not help making the World add, “5,200 pounds.”

Justice Audrey lightly bit the inside of her lip and shook her head politely.

“What I hope to obtain is a more offensive mystical item.”

Spectator was also a pathway that lacked direct offensive ability in the early stages and was skilled only at influencing and controlling targets.

“5,200 pounds…” The Hanged Man Alger, the Magician Fors, and the Moon Emlyn repeated the price quietly at almost the same time. Not the slightest extra thought remained in their minds.

“5,200 pounds…” The Hermit Cattleya seemed to think of something and paused noticeably, then quickly added, “For me, it is unnecessary.”

Miss Hermit seems to be afraid of something… Justice Audrey keenly read the other party’s emotion.

In that instant, Cattleya had first felt that the Biotoxin Bottle was very compatible with Toxin Expert Frank Lee. Its abilities did not overlap too heavily with his and even complemented him in some ways, so she wondered whether she should buy it for her first mate. After all, he had saved up quite a bit of money.

But immediately afterward, she considered what terrifying experiments Frank Lee might conduct after obtaining the Biotoxin Bottle. For no reason at all, a chill ran through her, and she abandoned the thought she had first had.

She did not wish to see the deck of the Future grow the crew members’ children—especially not the kind that mooed.

After the gathering, I’ll write to Miss Sharron and tell her that Admiral of Blood’s necklace has been sold, leaving only the Biotoxin Bottle…

Klein concealed the disappointment in his heart. After some thought, he made the World speak again.

“I have a Book of Secrets. It is a mysticism text left behind by the Shaman King, Klarman, of the Southern Continent. It is suitable for mid-Sequence Beyonders with a decent foundation.

“The price is 1,000 pounds.”

Knowledge is money!

Justice Audrey, who had long been instructed by Mr. Fool, Mr. Hanged Man, and the other members of the Psychology Alchemists, was immediately moved.

She already possessed a very solid foundation in mysticism and was thirsting for more advanced content.

The Psychology Alchemists should teach me some higher-level mysticism knowledge later, but it definitely won’t be comprehensive. It will be limited to the domain of the mind…

Audrey briefly convinced herself, nodded slightly, and said, “This is exactly what I want.”

The Magician Fors was likewise very interested, but after thinking of the money she had on hand, she silently closed her mouth. As for the other members, none of them lacked similar knowledge.

As expected of Miss Justice. She didn’t bargain at all. My bottom line was actually only 800 pounds. No, there was no bottom line at all. Knowledge isn’t something that can only be sold once…

In a pleasant mood, Klein made the World laugh softly.

“Deal.

“However, I must remind you: absolutely do not pray to the Primordial Moon. That will turn you into a writhing lump of flesh that madly mates with different species and gives birth to all kinds of children. Of course, you must not pray to other hidden existences either. That is equally dangerous.”

Justice Audrey felt a burst of fear and could not help shifting her sitting posture.

She soon calmed down, looked toward the seat of honor at the long bronze table, and said firmly, “When conducting secret rituals, I only pray to Mr. Fool.”

She said it with complete sincerity, without the slightest falsehood.

Miss Justice really worships and trusts the Fool… Klein felt inexplicably touched, and also somewhat ashamed. The domain of the Sea God Scepter did not overlap much with that of the Primordial Moon. For some rituals, he could not provide the most effective response and could only attempt to mobilize a tiny bit of power from the mysterious space above the gray fog in return.

Then, as the Fool, he expressed his attitude.

“Very good.”

At the same time, having basically achieved his goal, he made the World casually add, “I also have an Interrogator Beyonder characteristic. Only 1,200 pounds.”

…Just how many items does he have? The Magician Fors was stunned.

Considering that Xio still lacked quite a bit of money and did not have the corresponding formula, she could only withdraw her gaze and pretend not to have heard.

As for the Interrogator Beyonder characteristic under Mr. Fool’s subordinate, she did not believe the other party would reserve it for her for that long.

Seeing that no one responded, the World gave a cough.

“I have no further transactions.”

The moment he finished speaking, the Hanged Man Alger, who had been waiting all this time, looked toward the Hermit Cattleya and said, “I wish to know where there are Obninsk sea monsters that do not belong to the Church of Storms.”

Obninsk sea monsters that do not belong to the Church of Storms? Is the Hanged Man really not a member of the Church of Storms?

The Hermit Cattleya frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed her brow.

“I will help you ask around. Once there are definite clues, we can discuss the price.”

“Good.” Alger silently exhaled.

The scene fell quiet for several seconds. Seeing this, the Moon Emlyn said to the Magician Fors, “I will give you the 100-pound clue fee today.”

“Thank you,” the Magician Fors replied in a somewhat low mood.

Mr. World’s trades just now had all involved thousands or tens of thousands of pounds. She felt a little numb.

The Moon Emlyn then turned his head toward the Sun Derrick.

“The crystallized root of the Tree of Elders and the supplementary ingredients you wanted are all ready.

“Give me the list of monsters and resources around the City of Silver, and I will choose several items of equivalent value.

“Mm, they cost me 2,000 pounds in total. Adding my 200-pound commission, the total is 2,200 pounds.”

At that moment, Emlyn only wanted to exchange for something that could quickly be sold. Otherwise, he would not have much money left on him.

“Alright. Uh, thank you, Mr. Moon.” The Sun Derrick felt a surge of joy and suddenly felt that Mr. Moon did not seem quite so annoying after all.

He quickly manifested the corresponding list and handed it to the Moon Emlyn.

Emlyn casually flipped through the pages. As he read, he suddenly sensed something was not right.

That was because this information itself was highly valuable. It reflected the detailed conditions and corresponding resources of the area surrounding the City of Silver!

I remember, they also viewed this list without paying any compensation…

The Moon Emlyn could not help glancing at the Hanged Man Alger and the Hermit Cattleya.

In that instant, he seemed to understand something.

When he looked at the Sun again, Emlyn felt both a renewed sense of superiority and an unavoidable guilty conscience. He cleared his throat and said, “This one, this one, and this one…”

The Sun Derrick carefully memorized them and indicated that he did not need to return to the City of Silver. He could gather these items around Afternoon Town.

After that, Justice Audrey once again asked about clues to the fruit of the Illusory Chime Tree, but the answer she received was disappointing.

The transaction segment ended there. Without Klein, the Fool, needing to announce it, the members entered the free exchange segment on their own.

The Hanged Man Alger turned his head toward the little Sun and asked, “Are you still in Afternoon Town?”

“Yes, but I will be returning to the City of Silver soon. The new exploration team arrived today.” The Sun Derrick not only answered Mr. Hanged Man’s question seriously but also took the initiative to mention, “I have already told the Chief that while clearing the monsters in Afternoon Town, I obtained the Notary potion formula.”

The Hanged Man nodded slightly.

“What was his attitude?”

“He only said, ‘Very good,’” the Sun Derrick replied, carefully recalling the situation at the time.

Hearing this, the Hanged Man Alger gave a low laugh.

“You may relax for now. Your Chief is quite happy to see you grow in this way. By comparison, he is far more guarded toward that Shepherd elder.”

He did not continue the topic and instead threw out a piece of news to all the members.

“Recently, many pirates went to Bansy Harbor and discovered that it has already been completely destroyed. Even if it were rebuilt, it would take several years.”