"The Hermit" Cattleya let out a soft breath, adjusting her emotions. She planned to ask more about Mr. Door during the free exchange later and was willing to pay a certain price for the answers.
Anyone who could make Emperor Roselle mention them so solemnly in his diary, and make Mr. Fool speak in such a formal tone, was surely involved in many secrets—it could not be anything simple!
Klein didn't say more. As "The Fool," after answering The Hermit's question in accordance with the principle of equivalent exchange, he had no obligation to elaborate further.
He swept his gaze around and said lightly,
"You may begin."
After speaking, he immediately manipulated "The World," who rasped,
"I have two mystical items and two Beyonder characteristics I'd like to sell."
The cost of maintaining his act as a rich man was becoming rather heavy, forcing Klein to sell off some of his inventory.
Besides, "Mr. Tower's" territory had recently opened for investment. Having great faith in his fellow countryman's business ventures, Klein wanted to put in some money as well… after all, in his opinion, Ebner's "Shadow City" project couldn't possibly lose money.
"The Hanged Man" Alger felt a wave of interest. He had heard from a friend about "The World's" remarkable deeds on the outskirts of Bayam and judged that the items for sale most likely came from that battle—surely not bad at all…
But thinking of how he was currently stranded on Pasu Island, with his previous resources nearly exhausted and even the secret of that primitive island traded away, he sighed silently, feeling a little dejected.
"Justice" Audrey, on the other hand, already possessed the "Fallen Box" and its accompanying assistant, Easlant, so she wasn't particularly in need of mystical items—unless, of course, they looked very pretty.
As for "The Magician," "Judgment," "Temperance," and "The Moon," there was curiosity, yes, but neither the desire nor the funds to purchase.
Only "The Sun" Derrick and "The Hermit" Cattleya showed real interest. The former, after his promotion to "Solar High Priest," found that his "Hurricane Axe" no longer enhanced his strength much; he indeed needed a more suitable weapon or item.
The latter was considering where The World's items might have come from. If the item suited her and didn't conflict with the two she already possessed, she was inclined to buy.
Seeing that of his two potential big buyers only one seemed tempted, Klein felt a twinge of disappointment, but he still controlled "The World" to laugh in a low, rumbling tone:
"One of them is the 'Bloodstained Astrolabe'—a name I came up with myself…
"Its ability is to create a 'Starlight Cage' that imprisons enemies within it. Below demigod level, only a few specific powers can break it."
Klein had tested this himself; with his current methods, only using the "Death Knell"—and striking the same spot three times with fatal attacks—could shatter it.
Back during the chaotic battle outside Bayam, it was precisely because "Admiral of Blood" Senor's subordinate possessed this item that they managed to resist his "Admiral of Hell" Ludwell marionette.
After introducing the item, Klein even pretended to formally request permission from Mr. Fool and manifested the astrolabe—a device marred by indelible bloodstains.
"This 'Starlight Cage' seems much stronger than the one I can form… the cages I create from astral dust aren't nearly this sturdy…" Cattleya thought as she studied the blood marks on the astrolabe's image, a flicker of recognition stirring in her eyes.
Images flashed through her mind rapidly, finally settling on a few scenes. Her pupils contracted slightly, and she spoke in mild surprise:
"Senor?"
Yes—Senor had once ordered his men to use this very item to trap people from "Elements Dawn." The "Moses Ascetic Order's" intelligence reports had mentioned it.
Hearing her subconscious remark, Klein's spirit immediately lifted. He manipulated "The World" to reply at once, "He's dead!"
Nice performance. I'd give that a solid ninety points. Ebner couldn't help remarking inwardly when he saw the shocked expressions of "The Hermit," "The Magician," "Justice," and "The Moon," who hadn't yet heard the news.
Though come to think of it, in the original events, Fors should have already seen that in the newspapers… hmm, she'd probably been too exhausted from acting with me day and night these past few days to bother reading them.
While Ebner mused, "The Hermit" Cattleya carefully asked, "What's the negative effect of this item? As far as I know, Senor never used it personally."
"Its negative effect is quite peculiar—each time you use it, you'll hear the murmurs of your pathway's potion within your mind…
"I'm sure everyone here is familiar with such 'whispers.' Every time we drink a potion, we hear them to some extent.
"Using this item will let you relive that sensation. And the more often you use it, the longer it lasts; the greater the number of uses, the stronger the 'whispers' become—until you're like a Beyonder about to lose control.
"Even stranger, when you stop using it, the item will 'reset' your potion digestion progress based on the degree of corruption caused by the whispers. That's the main reason Senor refused to use it himself."
Klein described in detail the results of his divination of the "Bloodstained Astrolabe."
In truth, his "Dream Divination" had revealed that the blood on the astrolabe came merely from an ordinary man—an easily slain peasant with no supernatural power whatsoever.
But when he tried to divine the origin of the item's negative effects, his spirituality warned him not to proceed… That origin was likely even more dangerous than the "Eternal Blazing Sun" or the "True Creator!"
Of course, such danger applied mainly to someone like him—someone prone to courting death. For ordinary Beyonders, it was relatively "safe."
Upon hearing that negative effect, "Admiral of Stars" Cattleya instantly lost interest. The enhanced "Starlight Cage" wasn't worth the risk and potential setback.
"Justice" glanced at the bloodstains on the astrolabe and quietly shook her head as well.
Ebner, however, found it rather intriguing. The way it influenced potion digestion was fascinating, and he couldn't immediately determine which pathway the power originated from.
After thinking for a moment, he requested through Mr. Fool that an image of the "Book of Endless Transmission" he'd crafted a few days ago be manifested. After briefly explaining its function, he smiled and said,
"Though your 'Astrolabe' is made from a Sequence 5 'Astrologer' characteristic, it's quite limited in function and carries a serious side effect. Strictly speaking, it might not be worth more than my 'Book of Endless Transmission,' which I made from a 'Scribe's' characteristic…
"How about we exchange them?"
Trading a Sequence 6 item for a Sequence 5 one might seem like "The World" was taking a loss, but as "Mr. Tower" said, the price of a mystical item couldn't be judged solely by its main material; its function and drawbacks had to be weighed together.
Indeed, most present clearly preferred "The Tower's" Book of Endless Transmission—after all, teleportation was a truly rare ability. Were it not for "The Tower" voluntarily trading with "The World," "The Hermit," "Justice," and even "Temperance" might have tried to bid for it.
"The Magician" Fors stared blankly at the item, a hint of doubt rising in her heart. To her knowledge, "Scribe" characteristics were extremely rare, most locked away in the Abraham family's vaults—where had "Mr. Tower" gotten his?
"Judgment" Xio, noticing her friend's puzzled look, sighed inwardly and thought sourly, Just how much do you trust him? Or are you simply too lazy to think? You still haven't suspected a thing…
Under the weight of mounting financial pressure, Klein hesitated a little. He really needed cash right now…
But how could he pass up an item capable of teleportation? Moreover, if he didn't make the trade, the "Bloodstained Astrolabe" might just end up gathering dust in his hands!
He quickly convinced himself and had "The World" say after brief consideration,
"Deal."
Still, it felt like a bit of a loss… In the hands of someone lucky, it might truly be the "Book of Endless Transmission." But in mine—the "Yellow-Black King who rules luck"—it might well become the "Book of Thirty-Three Transmissions," huh?
Smirking inwardly at his own joke, Klein promptly produced his second item—the "Roselle's Grip," a mystical glove with the powers of a "Disciplinary Paladin."
It was a magical item that the thief "Black Emperor" had taken from Mr. Helas, the protector of the Kaping mansion, during their battle there.
This "Roselle's Grip" had once helped Klein defeat many enemies in Backlund, but ever since acquiring the upgraded "Creeping Hunger," it had become redundant. He hadn't used it in months, so he decided to sell it for some cash.
In the end, the glove named "Roselle's Grip" was bought by "The Hermit" Cattleya for 12,000 pounds.
After all, it was something crafted and once used by Emperor Roselle himself—there might even be hidden secrets within. Cattleya knew that the Queen had been collecting such relics, so she didn't even bother haggling.
Finally… at the moment the deal was sealed, Klein quietly exhaled, feeling the weight on his shoulders ease considerably.
Then, collecting his thoughts, he had "The World" manifest two Beyonder characteristics.
One came from Senor's subordinate, an "Apostle of Desire." The other came from a "Dawn Paladin" he had slain during the battle in the "God War Ruins" at sea.
This time, he controlled "The World" to glance at "The Tower" and "The Hanged Man," saying,
"Interested in handing these two characteristics to a craftsman to make into items and sell? I can offer you a twenty percent commission."
A Sequence 5 item could fetch at least ten to twenty thousand pounds. Twenty percent meant two to four thousand—quite a sum! "The Hanged Man" Alger was tempted, but since he was stuck on Pasu Island and had no way to contact Xio's friend the craftsman, he regretfully shook his head.
"I won't be able to reach that craftsman anytime soon."
Ebner, though hardly in need of the extra cash, thought for a moment and agreed, considering it a favor between friends.
"Well then, consider it repayment for the patent rights on Klein's bicycle invention."
(End of chapter)