Backlund Fighting Club

"I'll keep an eye out for clues in that regard." Odys handed Max a cup of hot coffee. "I remember you saying you had an acquaintance at the Backlund Fighting Club?"

Max immediately understood that Odys intended to practice fighting and combat at the club. "Leave it to me."

The members of the Machinery Hivemind team also needed to study and practice combat, so they had partnered with a fighting club.

Odys nodded, then carried his cup of coffee behind the counter and happily enjoyed his breakfast.

After seeing off his friend Max, Odys planned to rest for a while at noon. Unexpectedly, just as his assistant Kainer arrived, the image of the Fool and the figure of "The World" appeared in his mind again.

"...Great Mr. Fool," "The World" said devoutly, "please have the Hermit prepare the ritual and receive the weapons rented yesterday, along with the rental fee."

"I would also like to ask whether he is willing to sell an Arrow of Flames."

Odys could only hurry to the laboratory, take out two candles, place them on either side of the table, draw the corresponding symbols, and set up a Wall of Spirituality.

After lighting the candles and dripping on his homemade essential oil, Odys began softly chanting the Fool's honorific name and performed the bestowal ritual.

Very soon, the candle representing Mr. Fool suddenly swelled, forming two illusory and mysterious doors above its flame.

The doors opened a tiny crack. A brilliant light suddenly appeared on the altar, and as it gradually faded, it revealed two Beyonder Weapons and 100 pounds in cash.

The rental fee for the scepter was 50 pounds, while the rental fee for the Arrow of Flames was 20 pounds. Yesterday, "The World" had also ordered thirty bullets, and bullets could not be returned.

Altogether, it came to exactly 100 pounds.

Odys sighed inwardly. The rental business was pretty good too!

Then Odys was somewhat surprised. I remember Klein has the Air Bullet ability. Why does he still need an Arrow of Flames?

But then he remembered that despite having the Air Bullet ability, Klein had still bought Enchanted Bullets.

The Arrow of Flames was far less powerful than Enchanted Bullets and had no special Beyonder effects. It was adequate against Low Sequence Beyonders, but against a Sequence 7, it could only achieve an element of surprise. One could not expect it to inflict much damage.

However, this weapon was well suited for ambushes or sudden encounters, which fit Klein's tactics quite well.

After considering it, he used prayer to tell the Fool, "The Fool who does not belong to this era... Please inform Mr. World that a transaction is possible. One Arrow of Flames costs 500 pounds."

"It requires maintenance once a year and can last five or six years. Each maintenance costs 100 pounds. Without maintenance, it can only be used for about one year.

"Mm, but delivery will take more than ten days.

"Also, bullets can be ordered from me. They still cost 1 pound each.

"I can also provide the method for making the bullets, but that requires an additional payment of 100 pounds."

The bullets used by the Arrow of Flames were not Enchanted Bullets, nor did they require engraving or similar procedures. Ordinary ready-made bullets could be processed for use.

The only technical steps were adjusting the gunpowder formula and preparing the herbal formula for soaking the bullet heads.

But both formulas were relatively simple. If he charged too much, Odys guessed Klein would choose to try divining the formulas himself. It would be better to sell them cheaply.

Besides, in Odys's view, the weapons made from his research results were not impossible to sell, but he did not feel at ease selling them to ordinary Beyonders.

He did feel at ease selling them to Klein. After all, Klein was unlikely to be like those wild Beyonders, dying inexplicably in some corner of the city, only for the weapons on him to be seized by others and completely leave Odys's sight.

Soon, Odys received another reply from "The World": "I'll think about it."

Odys smiled, believing that Klein thought the required maintenance was somewhat troublesome, which was why he needed to think about it.

It was not as though Odys had never considered solving the maintenance issue, but after researching it for some time, he had not found a reasonable solution.

In theory, it was not necessary to disassemble the weapon for maintenance. If a Mid-Sequence Beyonder continuously replenished the Arrow of Flames with spirituality, the formation's effects could be restored.

But the problem was that the amount of spirituality added could not be controlled. Those formations were like precision instruments; even a little too much or too little spirituality would not do.

In fact, Spiritual Materials could retain their effects for one or two years when kept in boxes that prevented spiritual leakage. But without such arrangements, especially while in use, the spirituality dissipated very quickly.

Therefore, after making a Beyonder Weapon or completing its maintenance, Odys had to perform a ritual and pray to the God of Steam and Machinery to suppress the dissipation of spirituality.

As an informant for the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, Odys's prayers received a response from the God most of the time. Even if he did not receive one, performing the ritual again would basically secure a response.

After making Beyonder Weapons, Artisans also had this step of praying to the God to ensure the weapons' "shelf life."

Since Odys's research had yielded little, and since a one-year period of use was acceptable most of the time, he eventually stopped researching this matter.

Selling Beyonder Weapons was not Odys's main source of income, so after "The World" said he would think about it, Odys did not continue paying attention to the matter.

After lunch, Odys took a public carriage to the Backlund Fighting Club in Hillston Borough.

With Max's letter of recommendation, Odys successfully met Fedre, the head coach of the Backlund Fighting Club.

This head coach looked nearly 1.9 meters tall, yet somewhat thin and not especially muscular. He personally introduced Odys to the two ways of joining the club.

"The first method is to directly pay an annual membership fee of 20 pounds and become a club member.

"You may freely use the club's facilities, find suitable sparring partners, and exchange pointers with other members.

"The second method is to pay a tuition fee of 10 pounds and temporarily join the club as a student.

"After completing a series of lessons, you will no longer be qualified to enter the club."

Odys thought, Clearly, the first method is intended for people like me, those with a foundation in fighting who want to exchange pointers and practice.

He said, "I choose the first method."

Fedre nodded without surprise. "Mr. Max roughly described your situation in his letter. You received rigorous combat training but lack actual combat experience, is that right?"

"Yes."

"Please pay the membership fee first. I'll find you a suitable sparring partner."

Guided by an attendant, Odys paid the fee, received the club badge, and entered the indoor arena.

The sparring partner Fedre had arranged was already waiting at the entrance. As he led Odys toward the practice area, he asked, "What level of intensity do you need for the training?"

"I'm not really sure." Odys scratched his head. "It's my first time at a fighting club."

The sparring partner paused slightly. "I understand. I'll mind my strength."

After arriving at the practice area, the sparring partner said, "Begin."

His vision blurred, and he was already flying through the air.