Chapter 179 Shopping
"So it was introduced by the Wise Lady, then I apologize for my rudeness—"
Hearing that name, the young man's vigilance on his face dissipated a bit. He smiled sheepishly and introduced himself:
"My name is Caesar. Of course, here, you can also call me Spade 4."
"Spade 4—" Luo En was slightly taken aback when he heard this familiar code name, composed of a suit and a number.
"Is something wrong?" Caesar keenly noticed Luo En's abnormality.
Luo En thought for a moment, and with the idea of getting closer and also probing a bit, he said, "Nothing, a long time ago, I also had a transaction with someone who called himself Meihua 5."
"Meihua 5, huh?" Caesar fell into a brief recollection, then shrugged, and said in a somewhat indifferent tone, "He's a guy who's always running around, I don't know where. To be honest, I'm not very familiar with him either."
""..." Luo En's mouth twitched upon hearing this answer, feeling a bit awkward.
"Sir, what do you need?" Caesar didn't continue the topic but asked professionally, "Don't worry, the Wise Lady is an extremely cautious person, and we will definitely be responsible for the guests she introduces. Here, customer privacy and safety are our top priorities."
Luo En nodded and said, "I want to buy some high-powered Mystical Items or charms that can cause instant damage."
"As for Mystical Items, it's best if they are close-combat weapons." Thanks to the 'Monster' Pathway's weak combat power, he needed some high-powered weapons for self-defense. He already had 'Phantom' for ranged weapons, so he wouldn't consider them for now.
"High-powered close-combat..." Caesar scrutinized Luo En up and down, falling into thought.
"We do have some good charms in stock," he said, "but high-powered Mystical Items, if they don't have too many side effects, are basically hot commodities, and we don't have any in stock right now. However, we can help you with a procurement request."
"Or," he added, "we also regularly hold Beyonder gatherings here, and you can also buy directly from other guests at the gathering."
"There are gatherings here too?"
"Yes, the next one is this afternoon, starting in just over an hour," Caesar replied, "Don't worry, we provide free appraisal services here, so you don't have to worry about buying fakes or being cheated."
The word 'appraisal service' made Luo En's heart stir. "Can I see your charms first?"
"Of course, please follow me."
"'Explosion' Charm." Caesar took out a brass charm from a locked display cabinet.
Luo En recognized this item.
"Unlike those crude, shoddy imitations outside," Caesar introduced, "the charms here are absolutely guaranteed in quality. This one, when activated, has power equivalent to a 'Hunter' Pathway Sequence 6. It's 230 pounds."
"And this one—" Caesar then carefully picked up a pure gold charm that emitted a soft glow.
"'Blazing Sun' Charm. It has miraculous effects against evil creatures like Wraiths and Zombies, and its damage to ordinary enemies is also quite considerable. When fully activated, its power is equivalent to a full-strength attack from a 'Sun' Pathway Sequence 5. It's 650 pounds."
Evil creatures—Luo En immediately thought of the Rose School of Thought's parasitic beasts and the giant hand on the primitive island.
"Then I'll take two 'Blazing Sun' and two 'Explosion' charms." He didn't hesitate much.
"Okay, okay! Thank you for your patronage!" Caesar immediately rubbed his hands, beaming.
"By the way—" Luo En hesitated for a moment, and after confirming that his 'Calamity' perception showed no abnormalities, he asked again, "Do you have any disguise tools here?"
"Disguise tools?" Caesar thought for a moment, "Do you need something permanent, or something reversible?"
"Reversible."
Caesar pondered for a while, then took out an exquisite small box from the deepest part of the counter. When the box was opened, a small item resembling a cufflink, carved with intricate patterns, lay quietly inside.
"'Disguise Cufflink'." Caesar introduced, "When activated, it can, to a certain extent, alter the user's facial muscles and bone structure, thereby changing their facial features. However, the change is limited and cannot achieve a complete disguise."
"However, its greatest advantage is that it has almost no negative side effects; it only continuously consumes the user's spirituality, but it's within an acceptable range. It can probably be used for about two more months. If you need it, I'll sell it to you for 300 pounds."
If I change my hairstyle and demeanor, it's already hard for me to be recognized; I don't really need a complete face change—Luo En calculated in his mind. This item will just take my disguise to the next level.
"Alright, I'll take it."
"Only one?" Luo En asked again. He wanted to get one for Danitz as well.
"I'm sorry, sir." Caesar showed a helpless, unhelpful smile, "Such Beyonder items with almost no side effects are extremely scarce. Having one is already very lucky."
Luo En did not choose to leave immediately after purchasing those items.
After confirming that his spiritual intuition had no abnormal warnings, he decided to stay and attend the Beyonder gathering Caesar had mentioned.
About an hour later, under Caesar's personal arrangement, Luo En put on a plain white mask without any patterns and a black cloak that completely enveloped his figure. He was then led to a spacious room in the antique shop's basement.
The room's layout was simple, with a large round table in the center and a dozen chairs surrounding it.
Luo En casually found a seat. In the next few minutes, about ten more people, dressed similarly to him and completely hidden, walked into the room, each finding a seat, maintaining silence and vigilance among themselves.
When all the chairs around the round table were filled, Caesar walked to the center of the room and sat in the host's position.
He looked around and, in a steady, emotionless tone, announced, "Alright, everyone, time is almost up. This gathering officially begins."
"I want three complete tail feathers of a 'Blue Shadow Falcon'."
"Seeking a pair of eyes from an adult Phantom Python, they must be removed from a living body."
As soon as the gathering began, someone immediately straightforwardly stated their needs, and all were quite rare Beyonder materials.
Luo En waited patiently for a while, and seeing that no one else spoke, he used his disguised, hoarse voice to state his procurement request: "Seeking a Mystical Item with powerful close-combat lethality."
However, after his words fell, the room was silent; no one responded.
A moment later, a participant wearing a similar white mask, who sounded like a woman—Cattelya, slowly spoke: "I might have information about the weapon you need. But it will take a few days."
Luo En nodded, saying nothing more.
Then, it was time for selling goods.
Luo En cleared his throat: "I have a 'Storm' Pathway, Sequence 6 'Wind-Blessed' Beyonder characteristic for sale." This was one of the Beyonder characteristics he had brought to sell this time, one of the three characteristics for which he hadn't divined a result before.
Caesar stated that any items sold at a gathering he hosted or consigned for sale there could be appraised for free, but correspondingly, once sold, ten percent would be charged as a handling fee.
Luo En agreed to this price and received the appraisal before the gathering began.
"'Storm' Pathway's Beyonder characteristic—" Someone whispered below, after all, the sea was the territory of the Storm Church, and such things were somewhat...
Luo En knew what they were worried about. He immediately explained in a calm tone, "This item comes from an adventure, and has no relation to the Storm Church. This has been verified and notarized."
Caesar, sitting in the center, nodded appropriately, acknowledging Luo En's statement.
At this moment, the woman with the white mask who had previously mentioned having information about a weapon—Cattelya—became interested in that characteristic.
Her First Mate, Nina, happened to be a Seafarer, and this characteristic could be bought for her.
She asked, "How much does this characteristic cost?"
Luo En quoted the price he had already decided on: "3800 pounds."
This price was not low, but it was certainly not high either; it was very fair.
"This price is very reasonable." There was no hint of hesitation in Cattelya's tone. "I'll buy it."
The gathering continued for some time afterward, but Luo En did not buy the items he wanted.
As the gathering was about to end and everyone was preparing to leave, the white-masked lady who had bought his characteristic called out to him.
"I think I have some leads on the weapon you need," Cattelya said. "If you need it, I can bring it to the next gathering. Or, you can choose to let me consign it here and have Mr. Caesar sell it on your behalf."
The next gathering would be several days later.
I hope I'll be safe by then.
Luo En smiled bitterly in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded indifferently, indicating his agreement.
"Madam, I hope we can cooperate happily."]}
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