"Indeed, what you said seemed to make some sense."
Luther pretended this was the first time he had heard a similar theory. After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "I'll look into it and try it after I get back."
"Alright. Remember to tell me if it works."
Klein nodded and continued forward.
This could count as laying the groundwork. When I shared the Acting Method with everyone later, it wouldn't seem so abrupt.
Hmm, it felt like my potion was nearly fully digested. When the time came, I could submit a special application...
Naturally, Luther had no idea what his colleague was thinking. He merely followed behind him toward the Evil Dragon Bar across the street.
Though it was only afternoon, faint clamor could already be heard inside the bar.
Even through the heavy doors, frenzied shouts could be heard from within.
A burly man stood guard at the entrance with his arms folded, a blue Anchor tattooed on his bare, knotted arm.
"Good afternoon, sir."
Klein greeted him politely.
The muscular man nodded at him.
The two of them pushed open the doors and entered the bar.
The instant the door opened, a wave of heat mixed with the smell of sweat and alcohol hit them head-on.
Luther nearly found himself unable to breathe.
After sweeping his gaze around the bar, he roughly understood why the shouting was so loud.
A boxing ring stood in the center of the bar, where two bare-chested men were fiercely brawling.
The drinkers below had gathered in a circle, cheering for whoever they had bet on or hurling crude insults at the other side.
Klein led Luther around the boxing ring and into a billiards room at the back.
The people inside were playing pool. When they saw the two enter, they all turned to look at them.
"Mr. Swain."
Klein removed his hat and saluted one of the burly elderly men.
"Mm, you're here."
The old man carried himself like a soldier. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and wore a tattered naval officer's uniform.
He first greeted Klein, then looked Luther up and down before waving the others out of the billiards room.
Once everyone else had left, Swain turned to Klein and asked, "I heard Old Neil was taken away after nearly losing control?"
"That's right."
"In fact, if it hadn't been for this newly hired colleague beside me, Old Neil would have become an unsalvageable monster."
Klein answered truthfully.
"Him?"
Swain looked surprised and turned his gaze toward Luther again.
"My name is Luther Rondal, Mr. Swain."
Luther introduced himself.
"I'm Swain, the owner of this bar and the former captain of Tingen City's Mandated Punishers team."
Swain said, "From the look of you, you should be support personnel as well. How did you save Old Neil? Could it be that you're also a Mystery Pryer from the same pathway as him?"
"More or less. I'm a Secrets Suppliant."
The moment Luther's words left his mouth, he saw Swain instinctively lean back slightly.
"Aurora Order?"
Swain frowned.
That was quite a reaction.
"I have nothing to do with the Aurora Order. Becoming a Secrets Suppliant was merely an accident."
Luther hurriedly explained.
Perhaps Luther's explanation had worked, because Swain no longer seemed quite as wary.
After chatting for a few more moments, he stepped aside and revealed a hidden door behind him.
"Go in. Don't cause trouble in there..."
"Also, if you take a liking to something but haven't brought enough money, you can borrow from me."
"I'll charge reasonable interest."
Beyond the door was one room after another.
After passing through several rooms, the world before them suddenly opened up into a small tiered plaza.
People had set up stalls on every level, selling herbs, jars and bottles, ancient books and manuscripts, or strange antique-looking objects.
Even more people moved between the stalls, picking out goods they liked or bargaining with the vendors.
"Let's take a casual look around first. Is there anything you want to buy?"
Klein asked.
"I need a ritual dagger, an engraving knife, and some candles."
Luther answered.
As a Secrets Suppliant, he did not need that many ritual materials. Flesh and blood were enough.
"Right, you should buy a dagger and an engraving knife. They'll be useful whether you're carving patterns onto charms or creating a Wall of Spirituality."
Klein nodded.
"Then let's take a look over there."
He led Luther toward the stairs in the middle.
This level mainly contained stalls selling metal materials and amulets.
Most of those amulets used gold, silver, copper, and similar materials as their base, supplemented by artistic designs and mystical carvings.
They were quite attractive.
However, through the eyes of a Secrets Suppliant, Luther could tell they were all mundane objects with practically no spirituality.
Ah, right. Once I learned how to make amulets, I should make one for Cecilia first.
"Do you have a silver dagger and an engraving knife?"
After picking through the wares at a stall selling gold, silver, and blades, Klein spoke up.
The vendor was a balding middle-aged man.
He took out a cloth bundle from behind him. When he untied it, it revealed rows upon rows of silver daggers in various lengths and styles.
"How much is this one?"
After looking for a while, Luther picked a simple dagger of moderate length with no unnecessary decorations.
"Thirteen soli."
The vendor answered.
"Alright."
Luther picked up the dagger and made a few simple motions with it.
Seeing that there was nothing wrong with it overall, he nodded and took out banknotes from his wallet to hand over.
The vendor stared at the money in a daze, seemingly not expecting Luther to pay so readily.
"You're... just paying like that?"
Klein asked in surprise from the side.
"Yeah."
Luther had always been too lazy to haggle. As long as he felt the price was reasonable, he would pay.
If the other party was the sort to take advantage and demand more, he would not haggle either.
He would simply turn around and leave.
"Oh, right. I forgot you weren't short on money now."
Klein smiled and began buying some silver sheets from the vendor, openly bargaining over the price.
Luther had no opinion on Klein's haggling.
Everyone had their own way of living.
He put away the silver dagger and stood up, intending to browse the other stalls.
However, because he was not paying attention, he bumped into someone behind him.
"Ah!"
The person let out a soft cry, her delicate voice enough to stir one's heart.
"Sorry. Are you alright?"
Luther apologized.
Looking closely, he saw that the person before him was a sweet-looking woman.
Her face was round, and her features were not particularly stunning, yet the longer one looked at her, the more captivating she became.
No, if he had to put it plainly, she could practically be called a beauty.
Since Luther's transmigration, she was probably the second most beautiful woman he had seen.
Who was the most beautiful?
Naturally, it was his younger sister, Cecilia.
This wasn't just an older brother's bias. His sister really was exceptionally beautiful.
"I'm fine."
The woman spoke softly, her narrow eyes sweeping across Luther's face.
Hmm?
Luther suddenly felt that something was wrong.
There seemed to be a faint aura of corruption around this woman.
It was unlike the bizarre, frenzied feeling of the True Creator, but it was not a good inclination either. It carried the suffocating sensation of slowly sinking into a mire and dying in despair...
Seeing his expression change, the woman immediately lowered her head as if frightened. That faint aura vanished as well.
She hurriedly moved around Luther and headed in another direction.
That aura was gone again...
Luther blinked and stared at the woman's graceful retreating figure, yet he could not see anything strange anymore.
He could not help wondering whether he had seen it wrong.
"Ah, Mr. Azik."
Just as Luther began doubting his own eyes, he suddenly heard Klein greeting someone nearby and turned toward the voice.
A pale color, obscure and terrifying as though it symbolized death, abruptly flooded Luther's vision without warning.
Boom!
His mind exploded with a roar, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Before you continue