Chapter 18 Talking Business
In the Kingdom of Bryston, only the strictest ascetic churches forbade premarital relations, so it was quite common for couples to seek privacy in the woods.
The murder had taken place near just such a grove, next to a stone bench that was a favorite spot for young couples.
The body was discovered by two young lovers who had been seeking a private moment. By the time Zhou Ning arrived, the police were already at the scene. Several officers were conducting their investigation, some were holding back students who had crossed the cordon, and a few others were marking the perimeter with a chalk line.
Hey, that person is...
Zhou Ning narrowed his eyes, spotting a familiar figure next to one of the policemen. He recognized him as one of the guards who had been following Qi'en last night, though the man had not followed them after they boarded their carriage.
The young man had plain features and black hair, and he wore a deerstalker hat. The reason he stood out to Zhou Ning was his uncanny resemblance, in both hairstyle and appearance, to someone he knew named Li Tie.
The resemblance is uncanny!
At that moment, the black-haired young man was crouched down, frowning as he observed something on the ground. Zhou Ning had no intention of greeting him and instead rubbed his nose vigorously.
Even from a distance, he could smell the overpowering stench of blood.
Freud was right. Desire really can cloud the mind. Who comes out here for 'morning exercises'? Wouldn't it be more comfortable in a dorm room?
Because it had snowed the previous night, Zhou Ning could clearly see a pool of congealed black blood staining the snow, beside which lay a gruesome, colorful pile, half-buried by a fresh dusting. The scene had not yet been cleaned up, and the sight was horrific.
Among the crowd of onlookers, Zhou Ning also saw his mentor, Senior Professor Weasley, and several other faculty members who lived on campus. They stood amongst the onlookers, their faces grim.
In contrast to the somber faculty, the students were much more animated. There were hardly any tears; instead, a heated discussion was underway. It was clear the victim hadn't been very popular.
Listening to their chatter for a moment, Zhou Ning gathered some important information.
First, the deceased was Sharon, a sophomore in the Alchemy Department at Wake University and a junior to Zhou Ning. She was known for being sarcastic and vain, and she was so unpopular that not even her own roommates liked her. She was, however, a very hardworking student.
Second, the cause of death was indeed disembowelment. The two young lovers who had found her were still nearby, vomiting profusely, which seemed to confirm it. The colorful pile on the snow told the rest of the story.
Just then, the crowd parted as two policemen carried out a body covered by a white cloth and loaded it onto a carriage.
Zhou Ning stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Killing and disemboweling someone... This seems like the work of those lunatics from the Life Alchemy Society.
Although the name sounded like that of a reputable and upstanding organization, the Life Alchemy Society actually followed a completely wicked path. They believed that life could be created from scratch—that as long as the formula was correct, humans could create anything, just like the Creator.
This was in direct opposition to the fundamental principle of conventional alchemy: the law of equivalent exchange.
In the game Apocalypse, they had been responsible for several tragedies.
The black-haired investigator emerged from the crime scene with several police officers. When he saw Zhou Ning, his eyes lit up slightly. He took out an ID, flashed it in front of Zhou Ning, and greeted him. "Good morning, Mr. Wayne. My name is Sherlock Moriarty. Lord Qi'en sent me to find you. If you don't mind, could we speak over there?"
Sherlock Moriarty? Good heavens, it's like Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty were merged into one person.
As Sherlock approached, Zhou Ning immediately felt many pairs of eyes shift to him, their owners probably sizing him up as a suspect. He sighed inwardly and nodded. "I'd be happy to. In fact, I believe we saw each other yesterday."
Sherlock smiled and nodded. "You have a good memory. I was standing fourth to Lord Qi'en's left."
It's not that my memory is good, Zhou Ning thought, it's that you're a dead ringer for Li Tie...
Walking to the side with Sherlock, the investigator stopped and looked at Zhou Ning. "Mr. Wayne, you seem to have some thoughts on this case."
"No, I don't," Zhou Ning said, feigning confusion.
"I know you aren't the culprit, but my eyes tell me you have some theories," Sherlock said seriously, staring into Zhou Ning's eyes. "Don't worry, anything you say is in confidence."
"I really don't. But if I had to say something..." Zhou Ning looked at Sherlock's expectant face, thought for a moment, and said with uncertainty, "Perhaps you should change your hairstyle? It doesn't suit you."
The two stared at each other for a moment before Sherlock finally shrugged and gave up. "Very good information," he said with a wry smile. "Well, now let's talk business. Lord Qi'en asked me to bring you something as a token of his thanks and, by the way, to discuss a proposition with you."
Sherlock pulled a golden, intricately patterned card from his coat and handed it to Zhou Ning. "This is the Wester family's VIP card. The holder is entitled to VIP treatment at the Bryston Alchemy Association and a twenty percent discount at all Wester family establishments."
Zhou Ning accepted the card without hesitation. "Please thank Lord Qi'en for me. So, what business did you want to discuss?"
What a coincidence. The reward is exactly the same as the mission reward.
Zhou Ning even suspected the game panel had planned it.
Sherlock smiled and leaned closer. "Mr. Wayne... or rather, the organization Mr. Wayne belongs to... you seem to possess some good-quality firearms?"
As he spoke, Sherlock carefully observed Zhou Ning's expression. His profession had given him a keen eye for observation, and he could have spotted the slightest hesitation or deceit.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Ning nodded honestly. He held out his hand, and a revolver materialized in it. "Yes, but the quantity is very limited. Name your price."
Sherlock was taken aback by Zhou Ning's directness.
"I have some firearms, but as I said, very few. If you want them, just bring the money."
Sherlock hesitated. The current price for a pistol in the Kingdom of Bryston was about 10 Victa, but the revolver in Zhou Ning's hand was at least thirty percent better in terms of firepower and performance. Although extraordinary powers were the main focus of this world, firearms still had their place.
"Fifteen Victa for a pistol, eighteen for a rifle."
Sherlock gave a price, prepared to pay a premium. As long as the cost wasn't exorbitant, he was ready to buy.
"Deal."
"Firearms are just firearms, after all. Lord Qi'en's guard has limited funds and can't offer too high a price... Wait, you agree?" Sherlock was stunned.
Zhou Ning produced another pistol from his pocket and handed both to Sherlock with a slight smile. "I'm a citizen of the Kingdom of Bryston, after all. I only have one rifle at the moment, which I must keep for myself. But I have three revolvers, so I can sell you two to start."
Sherlock nodded. Whether the gesture was sincere or not, it undeniably left a good impression.
Zhou Ning's expression remained neutral, but inwardly he was quite satisfied. The cost of two pistols was negligible for him; it was nothing more than a single Crossing Coin spent on the lottery. He'd received weapons in his last three draws, so the odds seemed high. A single Crossing Coin was equivalent to 10 Victa, meaning he could essentially buy one for that price. This meant that without lifting a finger, he had flipped the revolvers and netted a profit of 5 Victa on each—an amount equal to his current monthly salary.
In the early stages of the game, as the supernatural gradually returns, the demand for firepower will only increase. In a few months, Bryston will be able to manufacture similar firearms on its own. I might as well take this opportunity to make a few deals and replenish my empty wallet.