Chapter 78: Seller and Notary in One

Chapter Seventy-Eight
Seller and Notary in One

There is a high probability they will appear…

Klein controlled The World and let out a low, gloomy chuckle.

“Yes. I indeed do not yet have the Wind-blessed potion formula, nor can I find a way to obtain it in the short term.

“But I possess an incomplete formula for a Sequence 4 potion.

“Although it is incomplete, I believe you should understand its value. At the very least, it can exchange for ten thousand gold pounds. And most of the time, even if one offers double the premium, one still cannot buy it. This is the crucial step where a human undergoes a qualitative change.

“How about it? Are you interested? Evil-patterned Black Panther spinal fluid is worth between five hundred and seven hundred pounds, while pith crystals from the Elven Spring are worth between three hundred and four hundred pounds. I imagine you will still need to prepare an additional nine thousand pounds in cash or equivalent items.”

Klein had long guessed that Sequence 4 of the Sun pathway, Unshadowed, could be interchanged with equivalent Sequences from the Sailor and Reader pathways. This guess had received sideways confirmation from Mr. A’s request and from Roselle’s diary, and had even extended into the suspicion that the Secrets Suppliant and Spectator pathways might also be included.

Because of that, he believed that an incomplete formula for Unshadowed would be a temptation difficult for The Hanged Man, who was of the Sailor pathway, to refuse.

If he cannot immediately produce something worth nine thousand pounds, that does not matter. With Mr. Fool as witness, he can pay in installments and repay it slowly…

Klein silently added that thought.

At present, the only thing he lacked was Evil-patterned Black Panther spinal fluid, so he did not mind letting the other party owe a debt. In any case, he did not need to worry about The Hanged Man running away.

Uh, there is still one hidden danger. If Mr. Hanged Man suddenly dies, I lose out badly…

Faced with such an important transaction, Klein could not help feeling a little uneasy.

An incomplete formula for a Sequence 4 potion? An incomplete formula leading to the path of half-god and half-human? This is something that cannot be bought even with money!

Justice Audrey’s eyes brightened. Before The Hanged Man could speak, she asked with unconcealed curiosity, “Mr. World, may I ask which pathway’s Sequence 4 formula it is? If it is inconvenient to answer, please pretend I did not say anything.”

Mr. World actually possesses a Sequence 4 potion formula. Even if it is incomplete, that is still extremely astonishing… No wonder Mr. Fool pulled him into the Tarot Club! He is not an ordinary Beyonder… Uh, Xio and Fors’s examination mission has already ended, but Mr. Fool has not mentioned whether they may join. Mm… He must have other considerations. Perhaps He wishes to observe them a while longer. I cannot ask proactively. That would be impolite…

In that short time, Audrey thought of many things.

Miss Justice’s question happened to suit Klein’s needs perfectly. He made The World answer in a hoarse voice:

“I was already planning to say it.

“It is Sequence 4 of the Sun pathway: Unshadowed.”

The Sun pathway?

Derrick suddenly looked toward Mr. World, seated at the far end of the bronze long table. In his eyes, fervor and longing burst forth instantly.

Still, he remained silent, because he knew he was still far from that door leading to half-god and half-human. His limited resources had to be used first on strengthening himself.

Focusing on what lay before them was the City of Silver’s style, because to its residents, there might not be a future at any moment.

“Unshadowed…” Justice Audrey nodded elegantly and said with delight, “Thank you for your answer, Mr. World.”

She felt that she had learned another very important piece of information.

“Unshadowed…”

The Hanged Man Alger repeated the word in a low voice, then calmly answered, “My apologies. I do not need it.”

Do not need it?

Klein was stunned at once.

That was completely different from the reaction he had imagined, utterly contrary to the script he had prepared!

His shock indirectly made The World display a look of incredulous dullness. Only several seconds later did he say, “You may owe a portion first. With Mr. Fool as witness, I believe you will certainly make up the difference.”

“No. I truly do not need it.”

The Hanged Man Alger shook his head.

He does not need it… He truly does not need it… Does he have great confidence that in the future, he will definitely receive the favor and attention of the Church of Storms and be directly bestowed the corresponding potion? Or does he actually possess the Sequence 4 potion formula of the Sailor pathway? Its name is Cataclysmic Interrer?

Klein swiftly thought of two possibilities.

What now? Exchange the Witch formula—or perhaps the Demoness of Pleasure formula—with him?

Klein mocked himself silently. He deliberately made The World fall silent for a few seconds before saying, “Other potion formulas, or some secrets I know?”

“For example… secrets at the top of the Sequences.”

The Hanged Man Alger slightly changed his sitting posture. After considering his words, he replied, “I myself know some secrets at the top of the Sequences. How can you guarantee that the two do not overlap? How can you determine that the secret you speak of has value equal to Evil-patterned Black Panther spinal fluid and pith crystals from the Elven Spring?”

“We will respectively give the secrets concerning the top of the Sequences that we know to Mr. Fool. He will compare whether they repeat and confirm their value. Mr. Fool, is that acceptable?”

Klein controlled The World, asking himself that question.

Immediately afterward, he used a posture like one looking down from above and answered, “Acceptable.”

Alger slowly nodded.

“I have no further questions. Let us begin.”

I really want to know the secrets at the top of the Sequences… But I have no extra money lately to buy them…

Justice Audrey looked enviously as The World and The Hanged Man each manifested a sheet of goatskin.

For the first time since childhood, she, who had never worried about money, finally experienced the taste of “poverty.”

Very quickly, Klein received the content written by the two members.

The first he looked at was undoubtedly the sheet of goatskin belonging to The Hanged Man. He discovered that its content was extremely simple, only a single sentence:

“At the top of the Sequences lies the path to becoming a god.”

Hoo… Good. Otherwise, I would have had to switch to other knowledge…

Klein carefully examined the sheet belonging to The World for several seconds, then chuckled.

“They do not repeat.

“For most Beyonders, the secret Mr. World provides has little value. But in the eyes of certain people, it is vital—something not measurable by money.”

Hearing that conclusion, The Hanged Man Alger immediately became troubled.

For him, obtaining both of those Beyonder materials at once was no small burden. He would need to sell many valuable items to make the exchange.

Was he to pay so great a price merely to hear a secret that might be of no use to him?

Alger thought for more than ten seconds before saying, “Mr. Fool, may I receive a little more of a hint? I cannot decide right now.”

Cannot decide?

The corner of Klein’s mouth twitched. He understood that what he had just said in order to maintain his image had produced the opposite effect, and a bad one at that. He hurriedly weighed his words and smiled faintly.

“The content he describes is a detailed supplement to the secret you know.”

A detailed supplement? A detailed supplement to the path of godhood?

The Hanged Man Alger hesitated no longer. He turned to The World and said, succinctly and forcefully, “Deal.”

He then added, “Within this week, I will exchange for the Evil-patterned Black Panther spinal fluid and pith crystals from the Elven Spring for you.

“Of course, this is under the premise that they appear at the pirates’ gathering. Although the probability is high, we must still believe anything can happen. If so, perhaps it will be delayed to next week, the week after, or even next month. Please be assured—I will certainly fulfill my promise.”

“No problem. With Mr. Fool as witness, I need not worry about anything,” The World answered hoarsely.

Once the two confirmed the transaction, Klein manifested a sheet of goatskin before The Hanged Man.

Alger lowered his head impatiently and read every word with intense hunger:

“Above Sequence 1, there is also Sequence 0!

“Sequence 0 is the Sequence occupied by true gods!

“It can likewise be advanced through the corresponding potion and ritual.”

Sequence 0? The Sequence occupied by true gods!

The Hanged Man Alger was first startled, then shocked. Immediately afterward, he felt relieved, and then joy. Silently, he said to himself:

“So that is how it is…

“I understand now. I understand what it means!”

He quietly inhaled, leaned back against his chair, and acted as though nothing had happened.

That secret must be astonishing… Mr. Hanged Man lost composure slightly…

Justice Audrey reluctantly moved her gaze away and looked toward The Sun across from her.

“Mr. Sun, I remember you once said that the City of Silver possesses the Sequence 9, Sequence 8, and Sequence 7 potion formulas of the Dragon pathway?”

“Yes,” The Sun Derrick nodded honestly. “The Sequence 7 potion is called Psychiatrist.”

“What price would I need to pay if I wanted to obtain it?” Audrey asked with reserved elegance.

“The Sun pathway’s Sequence 7 potion formula,” Derrick answered without the slightest hesitation.

Justice Audrey nodded gently.

“I will do my best to collect it.”

Mm… Xio and Fors mentioned that at Mr. A’s gathering, there is a Beyonder of the Sun pathway, at least Sequence 7, skilled at purification and exorcism. Once the recent situation passes, I can try starting from there… In addition, I should attend more gatherings at that abandoned medical college teaching building and find a way to make contact with a member of the Psychology Alchemists… Walking on two legs is definitely steadier than walking on one…

Thought after thought flashed through Audrey’s mind. Then she suddenly discovered that even if she had a clue to the formula, she might not be able to obtain it.

Because these few months were a period of financial crisis for her. She could only barely maintain appearances.

A Sequence 7 formula is worth around eight hundred pounds. If I scrape together funds, I can still gather that much… Mm, it is already October. New Year is close, and by then I will formally come of age. I will have much more wealth I can freely control… Or perhaps I can use the knowledge Mr. Fool taught me to exchange? I wonder what attitude He holds toward that kind of action…

Audrey’s thoughts gradually wandered.

She decided that after the matter of the formula showed hope, she would ask Mr. Fool.

With the transaction portion over, Klein had originally intended to use the knowledge he held to exchange for a magical item with few hidden dangers. But after sensing The Hanged Man’s pain, he knew the other party would pay a considerable price for those two Beyonder materials, and likely would not have many additional things left. He could only regretfully give up.

The moment the free exchange period began, The Hanged Man Alger took the initiative to speak.

“Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos’s fleet has been taken over. A new pirate admiral has been born.”