Whisperer's Mystic House

Luke unzipped the bag, revealing it to be stuffed with money. Without counting it, he tossed the bag into his opened spatial backpack.

He finished the drink in his glass, then said to Billy, "Goodbye! I suspect you won't have any more business tonight, so you might as well close up early and get some rest."

"Goodbye, Miss Clear Sky."

Luke stood up and headed for the exit.

However, as she walked out of the Assassin Tavern, Billy the Lizardman chased after her.

"Miss Clear Sky, my boss asked me to give this to you." Billy held out a silver dagger with both hands; it was inlaid with golden patterns and looked exceptionally ornate and beautiful.

Luke didn't take the dagger, instead asking Billy, "Is the Silver Blade of the Blade Bearer Brotherhood given away so easily?"

Billy replied, "The boss said: Miss Clear Sky's process of assassinating Jumu was truly spectacular, and many people have been asking him for information about you. If you find the attention bothersome, you can show them this dagger.

Although the Blade Bearer Brotherhood is not as powerful as it once was, some people will still give it a modicum of respect."

Luke took the dagger, spun it a few times on her fingertip, and tucked it into her spatial backpack.

"Since it's a gift, I'll accept it. Please thank your boss for me again, but I make no promises to do anything for him."

Billy bowed and said, "The boss simply wishes to make a friend of such a powerful elf as yourself."

"I'll consider him a friend, then. Bye."

Luke leaped onto the roof and quickly vanished into the night.

The Blade Bearer Brotherhood was a group founded by early Golden Shield Empire nobles to resist imperial power; at one time, they were powerful enough to draw their swords in the imperial palace and trade insults with the Emperor.

But with the explosion of technology and the rise of the industrial-commercial new nobility, the old nobility, who rejected new culture, declined rapidly.

Later, extremist members of the Blade Bearer Brotherhood initiated persecution and massacres against cyborgs, inviting imperial suppression and further accelerating the downfall of the old nobility.

The Blade Bearer Brotherhood never regained its former glory, but because most of its members were ancient hereditary nobles, their influence within the Empire remained significant.

As the Blade Bearer Brotherhood was the conservative faction among the conservatives of the Golden Shield Empire, Luke did not want to get too entangled with them, even if the Assassin Tavern owner was an enlightened member of the brotherhood; it was best to avoid trouble.

Still, the status of the Blade Bearer Brotherhood was undeniably useful—it would be a waste not to use it.

For instance, when she encountered patrolling constables in the central district, she only had to flash the Silver Blade, and the constables would immediately salute and let her pass.

Walking the streets of the central district, one could clearly feel that this place and the Cape District were simply two different worlds.

The roads were wide and clean, with streetlamps that burned all night every few paces, and some main thoroughfares even had tracks for steam-powered buses.

Even the patrolling constables lacked the thuggish air of those in the Cape District.

A sense of security allowed some shops to remain open late into the night.

It was a scene of prosperity and flourishing activity.

At level 60, Clear Sky consumed very little electricity, so Luke strolled along until she reached her destination.

The Whisperer's Mystic House.

In the Era game, this was a place that sold items related to arcane arts. Aside from high-level materials for mystic words, other common items could be purchased here.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The pale purple lighting added a touch of mystery to the place.

Near the entrance was a counter where a young girl was resting her chin on her hand, dozing off. The shop floor was piled with a dizzying array of goods—bottles and jars, clocks, vintage armor, old books... it was like a general store.

Opening the door caused the rope to jingle the bell above the counter.

The girl woke up immediately.

"Welcome, honored... Miss Elf. My name is Wen Lisa. How may I help you? You are so beautiful; I have never seen an elf as lovely as you."

"Thank you for the compliment." By now, Luke had grown somewhat accustomed to the praise and gazes brought on by Clear Sky's appearance. "I need some items and materials. Could you help me find them?"

"Of course!" Wen Lisa stepped out from behind the counter and boasted, "Our Whisperer's Mystic House has the most complete collection of mystic items and materials in the central district. Many mages and alchemists come here to purchase their supplies.

Tell me what you need, and I will help you find them."

Luke recited from the list she had prepared: "Four Burning Fin Whale Oil Lanterns, six sheets of 120cm×120cm alfalfa drawing paper, three jars of oil paint made from Lantern Nectar and Stone-Slick Powder, and ten Formation Painting Brushes.

Fifty crystals, fifty bloodstones, ten kilograms of sulfur, one kilogram of resonant copper, 300 grams of Mithril, the carcass of an adult male Red Bat, and fourteen Moor Wolf fangs..."

As Luke recited the items and materials she needed, Wen Lisa scrambled back behind the counter and pulled out a pen and paper.

"I'm so sorry, Miss. I didn't expect you to buy so many things. Could you please start from the beginning? A little slower, so I can write them down."

"No problem..."

Luke slowly listed the mystic items and materials she required, while Wen Lisa recorded them diligently before heading off to gather the stock.

There were many items to buy, and it would take some time to find them all. Luke wandered around the Mystic Shop to see if there was anything else she needed.

Soon, a wood carving caught Luke's interest.

The carving was a cylinder the size of a water glass, sitting on a shelf with other miscellaneous items. It was made of Oily Wood with black grain, and the surface was carved in relief with a coiled venomous snake.

The snake's eyes and tongue were highlighted with a striking red dye.

Luke picked up the carving and asked Wen Lisa, "Is this for sale as well?"

Wen Lisa walked over, looked at the carving, and said, "In addition to our regular stock, our Mystic House also accepts mystic items sold by walk-in customers."

This wooden carving was sold to us by a customer.

Judging by the material and carving style, it should be a sacrificial item made by a troll tribe in the Mandel Jungle that worships snakes, imbued with strong mystical energy.

It can probably be used to cast secret arts related to snakes, poison, or curses.

Do you need it?"

Luke handed the wooden carving to Wen Lisa and said, "You are absolutely right, it does come from the Mandel Jungle. For me, it's an unexpected find. Please pack it up for me."

"Yes, beautiful elven lady."

Wen Lisa happily took the wooden carving to pack it. This elven customer was her unexpected delight for the evening; buying so many mystical items would bring her a very generous commission.

Luke continued to wander among the shelves of the Mystic Shop, picking up interesting mystical items and handing them to Wen Lisa to pack into boxes.

Soon, the counter of the Mystic Shop was piled high with packed boxes.

And just as Wen Lisa was itemizing the goods and calculating the payment, an Imperial spy wearing a leather jacket and a bowler hat pushed the door open and walked in.