Adryan wasn't the least bit interested in making this a private exchange, so he didn't even bother to suggest it.
So, controlling his expression and racing heart, he began reading. A little nervousness crept up inside him, but he didn't let it show; being a Conspirator made it easy to hide.
[History of the City of Silver]
[Much history was lost in the cataclysm that plunged the world into darkness. So much history was lost that we do not know what it was like before. Tales of blue skies and sunshine have become nothing more than tales and legends]
[The following information is not only a compilation of documents, records and books that have been found through explorations and excursions outside the city walls, but also the history that has survived by word of mouth, passed down from generation to generation and documented accordingly]
[Since the Cataclysm 2582 years ago, the world was plunged into darkness. The City of Silver has received no answer from The Creator...]
The Hall of Giants fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the sound of turning pages every few seconds. None of the members said anything, leaving the reader to finish his business while trying to catch a reaction from him.
Everything around the man seemed to cease to exist for him. The only things worth noticing were the yellowing pages in his hands, which were getting smaller and smaller, and the pile beside him where he placed the pages he had finished reading, which was getting bigger and bigger.
At no point did he stop reading; he removed the page he had finished and placed it next to the old ones, without stopping to read it, and repeated the process.
Klein's eyes narrowed inwardly under the curtain that shielded his face. 'His reading speed is quite fast. It only takes him 6 seconds to read a whole page before moving on to the next one, and he finishes it just as fast or even faster. It seems that Mr. Chariot loves to read.
'I can't help but think that he would love to use Qidiam to read web novels and wouldn't take his eyes off the book he was reading.'
Alger looked at the strangely silent Chariot, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. 'So far, he has shown no reaction or said anything. It is as if he already knows at least some of the history of the Silver City, but if so, why ask for information about it? For the Blessed of a God to give a Sequence 9 formula wouldn't be of any interest to him, but this Blessed is Mr Chariot!
'Someone who - as an experienced gambler and investor- is always looking to make as much profit as possible by giving as little as possible... Will he give a Sequence 9 formula in exchange for information that he probably already knows?'
It wouldn't make sense!
'Is there something he wants to complete or obtain? Perhaps to confirm something?'
'No reaction, and his body language has not changed for a while. Still calm and relaxed...' Biting the inside of her cheek, Audrey found herself confused.
Page by page, word by word, Scarlet eyes read and read, and the Conspirator's enhanced brain easily memorizes the information and compares it with what is already known through transmigration.
'So far, all the information has matched what I remembered from the original story, albeit with a little more detail and explanation. At least I now know that the city's current population is 63,600.'
The pile of pages was reduced to a few. If he hadn't had to control his expression, Adryan would have grunted a little.
He knew there had been changes in the past; all his experiences with the new Rose School and his time with them proved it. But he couldn't think of anything that could prove it so far.
'Even though I expected this, I can't help but feel a little disappointed... Perhaps my expectations were too high even when the staff was already in Hell, limboing with the devil...'
Sighing inwardly, Adryan pushed the penultimate page aside. His eyes focused on the last piece of information the little Sun had written, immediately noticing that it was the shortest.
'Let's see what he's got...' The sudden cold words on the paper wiped away any disappointment he felt.
'...Huh?'
His body cooled, and his eyesight sharpened, but he did not react in a cold sweat. He controlled his reaction and kept his exterior calm.
What the hell is this?!!
[Though much of our history has been lost before the cataclysm that plunged the world into storms and darkness, there is something that has survived these two millennia.
[And that is the reason for the city's name.]
[The Lord Who Created All Things named this city as a token of 'His' great love for 'His' most precious and most loved angel...]
[The Angel of Silver]
[The one who has been at The Creator's side ever since 'He' awakened and freed humanity from the bondage and oppression of the Ancient Gods and has accompanied 'Him' in the war against 'Them'. The Right Hand of the Lord and the Angel who interacted most with 'His' subjects, guiding us and telling us stories, many of which have survived today.]
[Unfortunately, many of these stories and teachings have been lost. Only small sayings and parables that are written in the Holy Bible have survived. But the fact that the City of Silver was named after 'Him' will never be erased.]
'Angel of Silver?!! That name was never mentioned in the original story!!!' His heart skipped a beat, and Adryan smiled broadly. White teeth showed.
This was what he had been looking for!
'According to the information the City of Silver has on this Angel of Silver, as little as it is, he has followed the Religious Fanatic since his awakening and in the war against the Old Gods; not only that, but he was his right-hand man and 'his most beloved angel.'
'This would mean that at least... This Angel of Silver was a King of Angels! I don't know if it's because he had two Sequence 1 characteristics, the Uniqueness, or maybe even both, but his minimum level is that... A new King of Angels... Holy shit.'
Inwardly, Adryan frowned. His mind was a bit confused; the last bit of information revealed left him with several doubts nagging at the back of his neck.
'Most Beloved Angel... That's a first. He wouldn't call any of his two kids loved, so why should this angel be any different?
'Something about loyalty? No, it can't be. If it were, the three-flavour soup and the fanatic would also be 'loved'... hehe... Maybe it's the much-theorized 'mother' of those two monsters?'
'Of course, the writings said it was a 'He', so perhaps 'Father' would be more appropriate? After all, to someone like the Religious Fanatic of the time, creating a womb to give birth to would be nothing more than a yes or no question.'
'...he...'
'Pff! Ha! As if!' Laughing inwardly at his joke, Adryan pulled down the last page and placed it beside the rest.
His smile turned into a small, more serene one. Looking at Sun and sensing the expectant look he was giving him, Adryan let out a soft chuckle. "That was some pretty interesting stuff little Sun, enough for a little praise along with the formula."
Derrick's eyes immediately lit up as he watched excitedly as a yellowish sheet of paper and the strange pen formed in front of the man. After a few moments, Adryan finished writing, and the sheet reappeared before the Fool, who would verify the formula.
By divining the origin of the Blood Drop of the Eternal Blazing Sun, Klein had not only received information on how to create the Sun Flaring Charm along with high-level information, but he had also received several formulas of the Sun Path, including that of Sequence 9.
Therefore, this time, he wouldn't be lying when he said he would 'verify' it.
'This time, I can truly act as the organizer of this meeting!' Klein thought, feeling good about himself as he checked the formula.
'Hmm... The formula is already written in Jotum, and not only that but the ingredients are also adapted to the 'time' Mr. Sun lives in... It makes sense, with who is behind Mr. Chariot, it's no wonder he knows the language they speak and the ancient titles they use.'
Nodding slightly, he lowered the formula. Without another word, the yellowed page disappeared from his hands and reappeared in front of Sun, who bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Mr. Fool." Thanking the kind deity first, Derrick, not forgetting his manners, turned to the formula giver and repeated the action. "And thank you too, Mr. Chariot!"
Adryan waved his hand dismissively, "No problem, Little Sun, it's just business."
Derrick nodded gravely and sat back down. The young giant finally looked down and clutched the piece in his hands.
**
Potion Formula Sequence 9: Bard
Main ingredients;
One crystal sunflower
-Or the tail feather of an adult Flint Bird
-Or a Firebird tail feather
A piece of Siren Rock
-Or one singing sunflower.
Additional ingredients;
A blade of midsummer grass.
5 drops of July vine juice.
One blade of Elf Dark Leaf.
***
His cheeks began to ache from the size of his smile.
'These ingredients are all easily obtainable. I'm sure I've seen the singing sunflower at the market before. The rest I can exchange for things I have at home!'
Derrick looked at the formula in his hands for a long moment, reading it repeatedly to ensure it stuck in his head. In full view of everyone present.
The young blonde looked at the other man in confusion for a moment before her mind clicked. Looking at the rest of the clubbers and noticing that they didn't look like they would say anything, Audrey decided to be the icebreaker.
"Excuse me, Mr Sun?" Audrey asked, catching the young man's attention as he looked at her in confusion.
Derrick snapped out of his concentration at the sudden voice and looked at her, "Yes Miss Justice?"
"You don't need to memorize the formula; if you need to remember it, just pray to Mr. Fool."
"Oh..." Looking around the room, somewhat embarrassed, Derrick took one last look at the formula before placing it on the table.
"I..."
"Fufu~"
Blushing a little more and sinking a little deeper into his chair at the familiar laughter, Sun looked down slightly.
'And I feel bad already, I feel like I kicked a puppy.' Groaning inwardly, Adryan decided to do his good deed for the day and save Little Sun from this.
But of course, he'd save him in his own way~
Turning to look at the Hanged Man, his cheek resting on the palm of his hand, Adryan simply smiled. "I have the formula for WindBlessed. Are you interested, Mr Hanged Man?"
"!" In disbelief, Alger looked at the man with alarm, his mouth hanging slightly open.
How could he have the formula?!!
The Church of the Lord of Storms no longer gave out the formula after Sequence 6, only the finished potion. The formula from Sequence 6 onward was heavily guarded, and the only thing Alger had any idea that had led to that sequence outside of the church was...
'Ah, of course.' Remembering something, Alger relaxed, but not before he felt a shiver creep up from the tips of his toes to the back of his neck, ruffling all his hair.
'This is the man that killed Qilangos.'
'No one saw how he killed him, but apparently he kept him alive long enough to get the formula from him...'
The still vivid and horrible expression of terror on the severed head of his 'old friend' was still etched in his mind.
After a few seconds of silence, Alger spoke, "What do you want in exchange for the formula, Mr Chariot?"
Smiling, Adryan closed one eye and replied. "Two thousand pounds or...
"An artifact capable of making one immune to the influence of the full moon."
Alger stared at the red-haired man for several seconds, his brow slightly furrowed.
'Just that? Such a simple request from the Blessed of a God? No, it must be something more!'
'I need to read his intentions and understand his request: 2,000 pounds or an artifact that can make him immune to the effects of the full moon... Yes, that's it!'
'Although 2,000 pounds is an amount that is a little out of my hands, it is something much easier than obtaining an artifact with the qualities that Mr. Chariot seeks...'
'But that is why it is a test!'
Alger understood! The reason for such a request!
'The easiest thing would be to just pay with the pounds and get the formula, but that would be like a complete failure! I would get the formula, but it would be a disappointment to Mr Chariot!'
Where the blessed of God stands, there is also his God. The two cannot be separated, one acts in the light of 'His' will.
'If I can get the artifact Mr. Chariot needs, it will prove my capability. I will be someone who can be trusted with more difficult missions, and my value to the Tarot Club will increase!'
Seeing the truth behind the man's request, Alger acted immediately.
"I will keep my eyes open, Mr Chariot. I will let you know of any breakthroughs or leads I get."
'Never change, Mr. Overthinker.' Smiling, Adryan closed his eyes and nodded. "Do your best, Mr. Hanged Man."
'An artifact capable of nullifying the effects of the full moon... Has something happened to his companion's condition... No, he's very calm. If something had really happened... I'd really be a fool.' Remembering their conversation, Klein couldn't help but worry a little, but when he looked at the red-haired man more closely and noticed how calm and relaxed he was, he relaxed a little.
If one of the reasons he had agreed to the deal with the White Dragon ended up being lost, Klein didn't know how he would look himself in the mirror in the morning without seeing himself with a painted face and a big red nose.
'Mr. Hanged Man is already looking for a way to make Mr Chariot like him...' Audrey saw the man in front of her with a slightly complicated look on his face, his lips slightly pursed.
Shaking his head slightly with a chuckle, Adryan, still with his cheek in his palm, looked at the young noblewoman.
"Miss Justice, when you go to a tea party or one of those noble dances with your friends, I suggest you watch for anyone who had a close relationship with Dutch Willson."
Not expecting such a request, Audrey looked slightly surprised at her fellow club member.
"If I may ask Mr Chariot, why is that?"
Nodding, Adryan simply said, "Because Dutch Wilson has been dead for over a month, and whoever took his place was nothing more than a parasite using his corpse as a puppet. That Parasite was one of the responsible for what happened in East Borough, one of the biggest actually."
Horrified, Audrey let out a small gasp and fell back a little in her seat. Her heart raced, and a terrible shiver ran down her spine.
"What?!"
Closing his eyes, the redhead added calmly. "In the world of the Beyonders, not even the dead are spared. Even if you're dead, no one can say that you won't become someone else's pawn."
Opening his eyes in boredom, Adryan looked directly at Justice. "Extreme caution is paramount. Never, and I repeat, never be left alone with any of these individuals, and if for some reason that happens, look for any excuse to get out of there. No matter how ridiculous.
"Say you suddenly get an itchy belly from a bad shrimp in your salad and get out of there. Also, never eat or drink anything they offer you. Everything could be infected."
'... What kind of recommendations are these?' Audrey felt everything blur together and had to take several deep breaths to calm herself. She could only stare dazedly at the red-haired man.
"Mr. Chariot... Wouldn't it be better if you were the one to investigate all this? I'm afraid I don't have the strength I need in case I'm discovered."
Adryan nodded at his words. "You are quite right, Miss Justice. Compared to the potential danger of these people, you're just a little mouse. It is like feeding a caged snake with live prey."
Knowing that his words could be dangerous, he added immediately. "Besides, don't put yourself on a pedestal you don't paint, Miss Justice. You don't have a shadow of the strength you'd need to survive to investigate these potential dangers.
"I'm just saying, be careful. I already told the churches about the grass snakes; they will care for them. Concentrate on your tea parties and digesting the potion, and leave the danger to the adults, yeah?"
"..."
Unconsciously, Audrey turned to look at the top of the bronze table.
Klein gave a simple nod, keeping his lips from quivering. 'You may be a bit more mature, Miss Justice, but you're still very green!'
She was barely Sequence 9! Why would a demigod like Mr. Chariot give such a dangerous mission to someone so weak?
It was ridiculous!
'No matter how noble she acts, a bit of upper-class arrogance still shows through, huh?' Klein added in his heart, just watching as Justice turned to Chariot with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Th-Thanks for the warning."
"That's what elders are for, to look after the little ones~" Adryan said with great sweetness and satisfaction. His eyes flashed mischievously like a fox.
Sight...
A long sigh left her lips, but her reliable relaxation exercise did little to ease the great pain in her stomach. Her mind couldn't help but wander back to the thought that one of her few 'friends' was adding to the pain.
'I hope you're all right, Glaint.'
Knowing that the discomfort in her stomach would only grow if she kept thinking about it, Audrey quickly tried to distract her mind with a new goal.
"I'm looking for the Rainbow Salamander's complete pituitary gland. Does anyone have any clues?"
"I've seen this ingredient in the market, but I don't have enough points to buy it..."
...
Sigh.
With a sigh, Adryan rose from the seat he had used to attend the Tarot Club.
He was now in the dining room of his new apartment. He still hadn't found a better place to attend the meeting, so this time, he would use this one.
Opening his fine new pocket watch, the black-haired man nodded to himself.
'Half an hour... The level of the Traitors' Club is too low for me at the moment, but that doesn't matter. This is an easy investment that will pay off as soon as the club picks up speed.' He picked up the cup of cold coffee he had left on the table and let out a small breath of hot air.
The cup, now emitting a small cloud of white smoke with the delicious smell of freshly ground coffee, was brought to his lips.
His gaze went deep, and his black eyes went lightless as his mind reviewed the information.
'Angel of Silver... A new King of Angels from the Third Epoch, most likely from the end of the Second Epoch...' With dull eyes, Adryan took another sip of his latte and laughed softly.
If he remembered correctly, silver had always been used as a means of purification, health, and prosperity in many cultures past and even some of the present.
If he was going by that name and considering the method of naming the Religious Fanatic - who called the one who brought war and disaster to the world the Red Angel - then the Angel of Silver would have to be of a related path in some of these things.
'But of course, it can't be Moon or Mother. Not only because those Paths are controlled by the Divine Whore, the natural enemy of the religious fanatic, but also because those Paths in high sequences turn men into women!'
'Besides, at that time, the Evernight Goddess and the former Earth Mother walked the Earth together with the Ancestor. There's no way that Angel could have been part of those Paths...
And I can't forget the little description of his person at the end.'
The One who was closest to the people of the Lord, Who told them stories and spent time with them?
A slight reminder of his spirituality, a small shiver, made Adryan stop his thoughts on the subject, but not before he smiled in amusement.
"How interesting~"
As with everything in this life, the answer lies in looking back and counting the footsteps of those who came before. Footsteps buried in the damp earth, hidden behind the plots and schemes of unknown existences.
He could feel it deep in his bones and broken soul. The truth of his transmigration to this world was somehow connected to this mysterious King of Angels.
Moreover, he could not help but compare the supposed time of the appearance of the Silver Angel with that of the mysterious Tower.
Perhaps 'He' is the Creator? After all, the times match.
"Fufu, it's too early to think about that." With a chuckle, Adryan lowered his already empty coffee cup onto the plate. Next to a larger plate, with a few biscuit crumbs on it, was an envelope, on top of which was an open letter.
Picking it up, Adryan took one last look at it before snorting and throwing it in the air. The next moment, a firebird formed at his side and flew towards it, devouring the letter and quickly turning it to ash.
"That strange woman and the undead are the best choices. Their sequences may be suppressed, but they'll still be Sequence 7. Don't take the gorilla and the brat; they'll be a burden when it starts." Flora commented calmly, her tone serious and calculating.
"Remember, no artifact higher than Sequence 7. To take one is to ask for its destruction."
"Well, from what you said, at least the Tower has the decency to save the artifact feature until I complete the level," Adryan replied as he picked up the utensils he had used and rose from his seat, but not before picking up the newspaper on the table and taking it with him.
"That's only if you complete the level. If you 'escape' you can forget about getting the items back. The tower has eaten them, and the beast won't let go until someone gets them back as a reward."
He walked down the corridors of his flat to his kitchen, washed the cutlery, and put it away.
That done, and walking across the beautiful hardwood floor, he made his way to his office.
Turning around his desk, Adryan took his seat. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a sheet of paper and a red fountain pen.
He jotted down a quick message, sealed the letter in an envelope, and put some initials on the front.
M. S.
With that done, he took another object from the drawer. It was a tetric black bell with several bones covering its body. But that wasn't the only thing he took out, he also took out a bar of white chocolate with a nutty candy filling.
He shook the bell, which strangely made no sound, and then lowered it.
After a few seconds, the air in the studio turned cold, and the temperature dropped several degrees at once. Before Adryan knew it, the letter and chocolate bar were gone.
'Chicho's condition is still pretty bad.'
Shaking his head slightly, Adryan looked down at the newspaper he had brought from the dining room. His eyes sparkled, and a small smile formed on his face.
There was a simple advertisement in it. An advertisement about someone he was very familiar with.
<Private Detective, Sherlock Moriarty. Open for all kinds of investigations. Consultation of 3 Sassem per half-hour...>
'It seems our meeting is getting closer, Mr. Fool~' Adryan thought simply as his gaze turned deep.
'Perhaps a short visit will be adequate? Shall I wear Mr Holmes' spare suit and emerge from the shadows to demand royalties from him? Fufu, that would be hilarious~'
Shaking his head, he looked down some more at an advertisement below the detective. One marked with a big red circle.
<Business for sale. Starting price 15,000 sassem...>
<Owner looking to sell a reputable investment firm with a solid client base and decent market standing. Decent business district location offering a wide range of financial services. Ideal for financial professionals or expanding businesses.
For anyone interested, the doors of Apex Financial Solutions are open every day from 8 am to 6 pm...>
Holding a hand to his cheek, Adryan smiled softly as his eyes closed slightly.
"Miss Worm, are you ready to enter the business world?"
"Ha! Princess, do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Flora snorted arrogantly. I may have been born into wealth, but every Jacob has a business on the side, and I'm no exception! Don't worry; with me by your side, you'll be swimming in notes in less than five years!"
At the clear pride in his companion's voice, the red-haired man could only shake his head gently, smiling amusedly.
Technically, they had at least ten years but didn't have the luxury of waiting that long. Adryan knew he only had about a year and a half before the war started, which was positive.
He was sure that with the constant changes that were taking place, the world war would only accelerate.
And he planned to have all his businesses ready when that happened.
With that in mind, he took the fountain pen and circled another advertisement in red ink.
<Law Firm...>
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