Odys's Backer

Recently, Backlund had been thrown into panic by a string of murders. Official Beyonders had tightened their control over the entire city, leaving even wild Beyonders afraid to make any moves.

Odys stopped Kainer, who was about to head out. He first found some paper and a pen and wrote a few lines, then took out a five-pound note and handed it to him. "Go to the Backlund Post again. As usual, place this advertisement on the third page."

This money could be reimbursed by the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, so he looked exceptionally generous when he paid.

In Backlund, the most popular newspapers were the Backlund Morning News and the Loen Evening News. Placing a small advertisement in an inconspicuous spot in a poorly selling paper like the Backlund Post only cost five pounds.

Of course, in Odys's memories, five pounds sometimes happened to be the price of a certain ambassador.

Last year, through Max's introduction, Odys had met Ikanser Bernard, the captain of Machinery Hivemind's Backlund division.

After multiple rounds of negotiations, Odys established the Mysticism Research Society with the help of the Church of Steam. In the form of a gathering, it purchased Beyonder materials and Spiritual Materials the church needed from private sources, while also handling items they had no use for.

In theory, it would have been difficult for someone of Odys's strength to maintain such a gathering. However, his "backer" was the Church of Steam, so no one dared voice any objections.

After more than a year of operation, the gathering had gained over a dozen Low Sequence Beyonders.

In addition, the gathering included more than a dozen experienced mysticism enthusiasts carefully selected by Odys. They all had their own channels and methods for learning of the existence of Beyonders, and they hoped to become one themselves.

It was an excellent place to gather intelligence and spread information. By now, Odys had gradually become the eyes and ears of the Church of Steam in Backlund.

Publishing advertisements in the Backlund Post was a way of announcing the gathering time in code.

This was how Eye of Wisdom announced its gathering times. Odys found it useful, so he adopted the method without hesitation.

After Kainer left, Odys sat behind the counter to mind the shop. Usually, from evening onward, mysticism enthusiasts in need would begin visiting the herbal shop, and the stream would continue until late at night.

Looking across all of Backlund, Gall Herbal Shop had the most comprehensive selection. Mysticism enthusiasts throughout the city knew that any herb unavailable elsewhere could certainly be found here.

After a tiring night, Odys lay back in his recliner to rest as usual.

Ding-a-ling~

Odys raised his head somewhat helplessly. Hearing that sound now felt a little like hearing a telephone ring before he had crossed over.

The visitor was a woman in her thirties. She was not particularly beautiful, but she possessed an elegant bearing. Her hairstyle was extremely fashionable, and her clothes resembled those worn by the "new-era women" depicted in magazines.

Odys stood up. "How can I help you?"

The woman surveyed the herbal shop before looking at Odys. "Are you Odys Gall?"

"That's me."

"I'm here to pay the deposit and learn how to maintain weapons." The woman handed Odys a paper packet with a cold expression.

To be honest, she was thoroughly puzzled by this assignment. She had no idea what this casually dressed young man in front of her could teach her.

But since it was the Queen's order, she had rushed over as quickly as possible. Even so, she could not help letting a trace of disdain enter her tone.

Odys paid little attention to her expression. Based on his observations, the woman before him was at least Sequence 7, perhaps even Sequence 6.

She had every reason to be proud before a Sequence 9.

Odys opened the paper packet and counted the money. It was exactly one thousand pounds.

He casually placed the money on the counter. "Come back tomorrow at two in the afternoon. I'll explain the Magic Formations within weapons and the methods of maintaining them."

The woman lightly furrowed her brow. "Would morning work?"

"No. I have something to do tomorrow morning."

Since it had been a long time since the last gathering, Odys had scheduled it for the next morning.

The Backlund Post was sold in the evening, so there was enough time.

The woman glanced at Odys, then suddenly gave a faint smile. "Then the afternoon."

With that, she turned and left, without even offering the most basic introduction.

At eight in the morning, Odys, wearing a dark trench coat and a low-brimmed hat, arrived at 77 Hilton Avenue in the southern part of Green Park.

It was a small residence. Though the inside was very clean, it lacked the feeling of being lived in.

After looking outside through the window, Odys opened the door leading to the basement. He reached out and infused spirituality into the correct spot, disabling the Beyonder trap along the passage below.

The basement was extremely empty, containing only a table and a coat rack. On one wall was a huge Octagram Magic Formation.

Each node of the formation was filled with gemstones carved with Occult Symbols. At the center of the formation was the symbol of layers upon layers of doors, embedded with an Ahorna Crystal.

The Ahorna Crystal was one of the main materials for advancing to Traveler, and its value went without saying. The crystal on Odys's coat was tiny, yet it was worth twelve hundred pounds. The Ahorna Crystal embedded in the wall was worth an even greater thirty-three hundred pounds.

However, Odys had later split the expense into more than a dozen reimbursements from the Church of Steam.

Here, Odys put on an iron mask carved with Occult Symbols. He then removed his trench coat and draped himself in a hooded cloak, concealing all his features.

He then came before the wall bearing the Octagram Magic Formation and infused spirituality into one of the gemstones. With the effect of the Beyonder materials, the Octagram Magic Formation opened an illusory passage.

Odys stepped into the illusion and arrived in a basement three streets away.

This formation operated on the same principle as the one on his coat. However, this was a fixed passage, so it was more stable. It would not produce that feeling of being blown into the sky by a storm.

Unfortunately, this formation could only accommodate one person at a time and only had one fixed Teleportation destination. After each use, it needed an hour of rest before it could be used again, and it could not be carried around.

Upon arriving in the other basement, Odys did not feel any discomfort. In the darkness, he left the basement and entered the living room outside.

Several gathering participants had already arrived in the living room. Odys had always appeared from the basement, so they were already accustomed to it.

There were several rows of chairs in the spacious living room, while Odys sat on a small platform opposite them.

The gathering members arrived one after another. Soon, it was half past eight, the agreed-upon starting time, yet only a little over half of the usual attendees had come.

Odys said, "All right, we won't wait any longer."

A tall participant wearing a mask as well said, "I hope they're all still alive."

Odys smiled. "Don't be so pessimistic."

After a pause, he announced, "The gathering begins!"

A participant seated in the back row spoke first in a rough voice. "I'd like to recommend a new member! She's a bounty hunter active in the East District. I've dealt with her several times, and she's very reliable.

"She seems to be an Arbiter. Uh... she's just a little short."

Odys froze. Could the person this guy was recommending be Xio?