"' Blood Owl ' Gilan Iros ..."
"Okay," the White Sage on the other end of the phone said. "Put 2 Pfennig into the alchemy array as a processing fee."
Gilan was somewhat surprised.
In his mind, people like the White Sage and even the big shots in " Midnight Rose " probably weren't short of money, let alone two silver coins.
As if knowing Gilan would think this, the voice came through the microphone again:
"Equivalent exchange, young man, this is a truth that every alchemist will abide by."
"Okay, I understand."
As Gilan spoke, he obediently took out another 2 Pfennig in paper money and placed it into the alchemy array.
In a flash, the banknotes disappeared.
"Wait a moment," the White Sage said again.
A moment later.
An object suddenly appeared in the center of the golden alchemical array on the wooden floor.
Gilan took a closer look.
It was a palm-sized, top-opening brown leather card.
He secretly marveled at how incredibly efficient the other party was.
He bent down to pick it up and examined it closely.
He discovered that in the very center of the Carbone was a circular metal badge, the "X" symbol of the Bremen Empire, with white stripes on a black background.
Opening the brown leather card holder, there's a space in the middle for a photograph, with more formal bold text below:
Name: Gilan Iros.
"Position: Senior Prohibition Agent "
"Subject to: Balance Department - Prohibition Bureau "
Senior Prohibition Agent?
Gilan raised an eyebrow.
When he first transmigrated, he was arrested and sentenced to death as a gangster bootlegging dealer.
Now, however, he has transformed into Prohibition Agent...
It's still high-end.
It must be said that life is always full of surprises.
Gilan fiddled with the card, looking at the intricate anti-counterfeiting features, and secretly marveled at the other party's superb forgery skills.
As for the " Balance Department," he was somewhat unfamiliar with it and couldn't help but ask a question into the microphone.
The White Sage then explained:
"This department, like the ' Purification Department,' belongs to the Empire's special departments. Their functions are similar, both responsible for enforcing high-level decrees and handling thorny issues related to the mysterious."
"The difference lies in the fact that they belong to different superiors and have completely different attitudes towards work."
"The ' Balance Department ' is under the jurisdiction of the Logistics Department of the Imperial Administrative Center, the ' Four Directions Palace,' while the ' Purification Department ' is subordinate to the Imperial Propaganda Department."
"The former has a more moderate attitude, or to put it bluntly, a lax attitude. The latter is more radical, even brutal. Therefore, within the Empire, the latter appears far more often than the former, to the point that most people in the Empire have never even heard of the ' Balance Department '."
"This involves the internal power struggle within the Empire, between the ' Crow Faction ' and the ' Hawk Faction,' which I won't go into detail about... Just know that the department you're affiliated with, as indicated on your identification document, does indeed exist."
After the White Sage patiently explained, Gilan gained a general understanding.
He fiddled with the capsule, still a little uneasy.
"Although it's realistic, it's still a forgery. If someone with ulterior motives investigates, wouldn't it be easily exposed? Presumably, the Empire has clear records of personnel information for such positions and departments..."
"Who told you it was a fake?"
A slightly helpless voice came from White Sage other end of the microphone.
"This identification is already registered. Even if someone checks, they can find the person ' Gilan Iros ' in the internal files."
"It's legal, you can use it without worry."
"?!"
Gilan's hand, which was gripping Capben, paused.
Is it real, not a fake?
Who exactly is White Sage, that he was able to obtain a legitimate "Senior Prohibition Agent " ID in such a short time?
"Alright, young man, I look forward to your performance."
One last sentence came from the other end of the microphone, followed by a soft click and a long silence.
Gilan knew that the other party had hung up the " Alchemy Hotline ".
Looking down, I saw that the Mercury Battery connected to the microphone by the red wire had just completely burned out.
The golden alchemical array inside the metal microphone, and even on the wooden floor, dimmed and eventually disappeared.
Gilan took a deep breath.
He quietly put away the Alchemy Hotline, the four Mercury Battery, and the agent's badge.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Finally, I got my hands on Mercury Battery..."
He said it, and a huge weight was lifted from his heart.
Mercury Battery were essential for viewing True Film Reel, and even the Alchemy Hotline required this restricted energy source for communication.
I bought four at once, so I won't be short of them for the time being.
"As for the mystical main materials needed for the ' Wick Potion,' we've finally found them."
Gilan let out a long sigh and smiled.
To quickly advance to the second-tier Origin Rank, the aid of magic potions is indispensable.
Now we finally see a clear goal.
That is to complete the White Sage's test and become a member of " Midnight Rose ".
Gilan glanced at the calendar on the wall.
Dawn Era, Wednesday, July 28, 1926.
There's still about a week until August 5th.
He thought to himself.
'A youth staff-wielding competition?'
With a flick of Gilan wrist, the ancient sheepskin scroll appeared in his palm.
The first chapter of < Gerard's Bloodletting Sword >, < The War-Stopping Chapter >.
The rise of cane fighting was a necessary compromise as civilization arrived, forcing people to replace medieval swords with canes.
It can be said that swordsmanship is the origin of cane techniques, its ancestor.
Although Gilan had never learned cane techniques, as long as he mastered the Secret Sword Art technique created by the leader of the Healing Knights," he could still unleash terrifying effects even when using a cane as a sword.
This can be described as a dimensional reduction attack.
'But before that, let's try to upgrade the < White Cross Body-Forging Technique > to its final stage.'
Gilan muttered to herself.
He has obtained the "secret technique" twice in a row.
Even if they use "secret techniques" again, we're not afraid, because we have plenty of Mystery Points!
Trying to recall the contents of the Body Tempering Technique, the number "275" in the corner of his vision flickered slightly.
But this time, the price did not suddenly drop.
It seems that the only secret techniques that the third-stage "blood" can learn are " Bloodbath " and " Skull-Melting."
Gilan understood.
'So, we can finally advance to the " Black Bile " stage!'
Full of anticipation, he retrieved Espi's Secret Notes from the dimensional space, flipped to the last page, and carefully read the contents about the final stage, " Black Bile."
Not long after.
Gilan closed her notebook, walked to the open space beside the bed, and began to perform a series of bizarre and difficult postures that defied human anatomy, while controlling her breathing rate.
The fourth stage of practice is particularly difficult.
One of the movements requires Gilan to do a one-finger handstand while keeping his other hand perpendicular to his body at a 90-degree angle. Then, he straightens his left leg and bends his right leg, crossing them to form a cross shape.
Given his current physical condition, this is not a difficult task.
The difficulty lies in the breathing rate.
While maintaining this inverted position, he also needs to breathe at a frequency of one fast and four slow breaths, continuously increasing the number of inhalations.
Continue until you exhale briefly once, then inhale slowly twelve times.
The cycle repeats itself endlessly.
This continued for nearly half an hour.
Gilan's face had turned a deep purplish-red, and the veins on his forehead were bulging.
He felt his lungs filling with air, but he could only force himself to hold it in.
Visibility was black, with twinkling stars.
Some mysterious force began to work through his specific posture and breathing rhythm. In the darkness, Gilan suddenly heard the sound of ocean waves.
There was also a sound like the flapping of a bird's wings.
Suddenly, he understood.
The part of his body that was enhanced by this body-strengthening technique was his brain!
boom!
A roar that only he could hear suddenly echoed in his mind.
Gilan, still upside down, fell to the ground with a thud.
He had still lost his sight; all he could see was darkness.
At the same time, the sounds of surging waves, fluttering bird feathers, and rumbling roars intertwined in my mind, growing louder and louder.
He gradually noticed that his body was becoming numb and stiff.
It spreads from the fingertips to the palms and soles, then to the limbs, and finally to the torso and head.
Gilan's thoughts were all confused by the effects of this body-tempering technique, and she began to feel dazed, with her thoughts only flashing through her mind once in a long while.
He knew that if things continued like this, without the aid of the secret medicine, his body would eventually become completely paralyzed. Even his mind would fall into endless silence.
Equivalent to being in a vegetative state.
' Iridescence!'
As another thought flashed through his mind, he immediately roared inwardly.