Chapter 131: Spending Like Money Is No Object

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One
Spending Like Money Is No Object

Inside the underground shooting range of the Cragg Club.

After finishing his shooting practice, Klein carefully maintained the revolver that had come as a free addition, then adjusted the ratio of Purifying Bullets, Demon-Hunting Bullets, and Exorcism Bullets in its chambers to three-to-one-to-one.

Hoo. He exhaled, put away the revolver, straightened his coat, and leisurely returned toward the first-floor hall.

The attendant had already told him that today’s limited offering was pan-fried dragon-bone fish.

Just as he entered the buffet restaurant, Klein saw an acquaintance: Talim Dumont. The riding instructor, with his short, curly brown hair and fallen-noble background, was eating lunch without tasting it, his eyes unfocused.

Klein carried his own plate over, sat down, and greeted him.

Talim turned his head to look at him. His lips moved a few times. After three or four seconds of silence, he finally opened his mouth and stammered, “Sherlock, do you know—do you know anyone with strange abilities? Someone very powerful, very rare?”

I do. He is sitting right in front of you…

Klein’s brows shifted slightly, but he did not answer directly.

“What do you want to do?”

Talim opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

He thought with a grave expression for a while, then forced out a smile.

“Nothing. I was just curious.”

Last time you asked what someone should do if he fell in love with someone he should not love. This time you ask whether I know people with strange powers… Are you thinking of having the other person dealt with, completely cutting off your friend’s thoughts? What kind of person is worth taking that sort of risk? Hiring a killer is the same as murder!

Klein silently muttered several lines, cut off a piece of boneless fish, and placed it into his mouth.

Talim drew in a breath, quickly finished the food on his plate, and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

He seemed to have already returned to normal. With a smile, he said, “Mike wants to hire you for a few days as his bodyguard.”

Mike Joseph? That reporter from the Daily Observer? I remember his performance at Golden Rose was rather outstanding…

Klein chuckled.

“What does Mike want to do this time?”

Talim spread his hands.

“I’m not sure. He only mentioned it casually. It seems to have something to do with an interview assignment. He said he would visit you the day after tomorrow, hoping you would have time to accept the commission.”

“I cannot be certain yet.”

Without understanding the specific circumstances, Klein did not give a definite answer.

Just then, layered, illusory prayers sounded beside his ears. They came from a lady.

Miss Magician? Has she prepared the money for the sacrifice and the formula exchange?

Klein sped up, dealt with the remaining food, drained his black tea in one swallow, then went to the reception desk and had an attendant open a lounge for him.

After sealing the room with a wall of spirituality, he entered above the gray fog and discovered his judgment was correct. Miss Magician was indeed requesting permission to conduct a sacrificial ritual.

The reason Fors had delayed until now was that she had only 370 pounds on her. She had first needed to withdraw part of her savings from the bank.

After some procedure, she watched the 450 pounds in cash vanish inside the illusory door, while a formula appeared in her mind:

“Sequence 8: Trickmaster.

“Main ingredients: Spirit Eater’s stomach pouch; twenty milliliters of deep-sea spearfish blood.

“Supplementary ingredients: five milliliters of hornbeam essential oil; ten grams of Threadball Grass powder; one blooming red chestnut flower; eighty milliliters of pure water.”

Finally—finally I obtained it!

It had been years!

Joy filled Fors. She could not help pacing back and forth, full of ambition.

Immediately afterward, not entirely reassured, she took out paper and pen, recording the formula lest she forget it and have to trouble Mr. Fool again.

If I cannot meet someone who does not understand market prices, each of the main ingredients will cost at least three hundred pounds, and I only have four hundred thirty pounds left… I must work hard to earn money… I—I need to write a new book!

In that instant, Fors felt utterly motivated, no longer the mid-to-late-stage procrastinator she had previously been.

…

Wednesday evening, 7:55.

Carrying the entirety of his savings, Klein stepped into the house where old Mr. Eye of Wisdom held gatherings, his feelings extremely complicated.

He was covered in a black robe, his face hidden beneath the shadow of the hood, and wore an iron mask as well.

“One thousand six hundred seventy-four pounds in cash, plus five gold coins. This is the new peak of my personal wealth. I wonder how much will remain after this gathering…”

With thoughts surging, Klein entered the sitting room. By the wavering candlelight, he swept his gaze around once.

Eh, the Apothecary did not come. Did something delay him?

Klein frowned faintly, then sat where he had the previous time.

Several minutes later, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom lightly clapped his hands.

“Let us begin.”

His voice had barely faded when someone spoke impatiently. It was the lady wrapped so tightly that nothing could be seen, the one who seemed to have the support of an Artisan behind her.

She deliberately lowered her voice.

“Is the friend who sold the Briber formula last time here?”

“I am,” Klein answered succinctly.

The lady clearly let out a breath. She raised a hand to push at her iron mask and said, “This time, I have the Beyonder weapon you need. Of course, you may also choose cash.”

“What kind of Beyonder weapon?”

Klein suppressed the restlessness in his heart.

The lady organized her words before saying, “It is a whip woven from the feathers of a Sacred Sunbird.

“Normally, you may disguise it as a belt.

“When used, it will be covered in pure, sacred flames of light. Any dead spirit-type monster struck by it will suffer tremendous damage. Weaker ones may even be directly annihilated.

“It can also be soaked in liquid to create Sun Holy Water. But doing so will reduce the time its spirituality can be maintained—one month per use.

“At present, it will remain effective for thirteen more months.

“If you are willing, I can exchange it for the Briber formula. You need not pay anything extra.”

Sacred Sunbird? Not the Sun Divine Bird. If it were the latter’s feather, I would take it! Of course, it would have to be a tail feather—that can be used to concoct the Sequence 4 Unshadowed potion…

Klein was still fairly satisfied with the weapon itself. The problem was that its effects overlapped quite a bit with Purifying Bullets and Exorcism Bullets. Moreover, it could only last thirteen months, and every time it was used to produce Sun Holy Water, that would be reduced by a month. After that, he would need to replenish similar items again.

Thinking to this point, he turned his head toward the seat of honor.

“Mr. Eye of Wisdom, could you give a detailed introduction of the brooch you mentioned last time?

“Mm. Write it on a slip of paper and include a price that would satisfy you.”

He was afraid that once everyone present heard the introduction, they would also become interested in the brooch, driving its price upward.

Without waiting for Eye of Wisdom’s response, Klein deliberately spoke to the lady with an Artisan behind her.

“Let me compare the two items first.”

The lady gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

Very soon, an attendant brought a slip of paper to Klein’s hand. Spreading it open, he saw descriptions written in a neat, slightly old-fashioned hand:

“The Sun Brooch. Its origin is unknown. I can only confirm that this is the weakest sort among items corresponding to Grade 2 Sealed Artifacts.

“With it as the center, a ten-meter range will be filled with pure, warm power. Ordinary people cannot perceive it, but dead spirit-type monsters will continuously suffer damage. They will ‘evaporate’ rapidly like a pond beneath a scorching fireball. Even resentful spirits and shadows are the same, though they can hold out a little longer.

“In such an environment, powerful dead spirits will be noticeably weakened.

“The wearer will find it difficult to be possessed or contaminated by evil-spirit-type monsters and can use spells such as Summon Holy Light, Create Holy Water, Flames of Light, Purifying Slash, Immunity to Fear, Sacred Oath, and Sun Halo.

“Its flaw is that while wearing it, you will forever be unable to feel coolness and will always remain in terrible heat. Young man, do not underestimate such a state. Hot, irritated, and restless, you will inch toward the abyss of losing control.

“Only at a price of 2,000 pounds would I consider selling it.

“Do not attempt to bargain. You should know very well that I am not especially short of money, and that I am a collector.”

It is quite a bit more powerful than I imagined. Last time, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom was too vague…

Klein felt deeply tempted. After thinking for several seconds, he tilted his head toward the lady with an Artisan behind her.

“Nine hundred pounds in cash.”

A Sequence 7 potion formula normally sold for around eight hundred pounds.

“Deal!”

The lady answered without the slightest hesitation.

…If I had known, I would have asked for one thousand pounds…

Klein squeezed out a faint smile.

He was a person who kept his word. Without going back on it, he used the formula he had prepared to exchange for nine hundred pounds in cash. The banknotes he carried immediately surged to 2,574 pounds—savings enough to let an unmarried gentleman live fairly well for the rest of his life.

After old Mr. Eye of Wisdom verified the formula, the lady again examined it with satisfaction:

“Sequence 7: Briber.

“Main ingredients: one Baby’s Cry flower; one crystallization of strange-face hemp.

“Supplementary ingredients: five drops of golden mandrake juice; five drops of black mandrake juice; four drops of Fantasy Grass essential oil; eighty milliliters of red wine.”

Having completed that transaction, Klein inhaled quietly, looked toward old Mr. Eye of Wisdom, and spoke solemnly.

“Two thousand pounds. I want that Sun Brooch.”

Eye of Wisdom chuckled twice.

“To be honest, I am not especially eager to sell it. But since I now have 2-081, the existence of the Sun Brooch is no longer necessary. And since I already named a price, going back on my word is not my style.

“Wait three minutes. I will go bring out the Sun Brooch.”

“Very well.”

Klein answered with both pain and anticipation.

At that moment, the eyes of every Beyonder in the sitting room fell upon him. Transactions worth two thousand pounds were very rare in a gathering of this level. One might not see such a sum even once in a year or two.

And within those gazes, Klein clearly detected a certain greed and covetousness.

After a brief silence, the trading continued. It lasted until Eye of Wisdom returned, his open palm quietly holding a dark-gold brooch shaped like a sunbird.

One could clearly see that a little sweat had appeared on Eye of Wisdom’s face.