Eye of Wisdom's Test

"I want to sell Potion formulas."

"Sequence 9 Seer and Sequence 8 Clown of the Seer Pathway."

"The former costs 250 pounds, the latter 450 pounds."

After much consideration, Abner felt these were the most suitable formulas to sell. Though he remembered many Potion formulas, the only complete starting Sequence 9 formulas he had were for Spectator, Bard, Reader, and Seer. For Apothecary, Sailor, and the like, he only knew the main ingredients; the supplementary ingredients had not been recorded in the novel Lord of Mysteries.

Spectator involved the Psychology Alchemists, a secret organization that was still fairly active in Backlund, as well as Adam behind it. Producing that formula rashly might attract attention, and Abner, who knew full well how terrifying Adam was, had no desire to expose himself so soon. As for Reader, with the gathering's Presider being Eye of Wisdom, who had ties to the Knowledge Church, he had better not test the limits of the man's tolerance. The Bard formula was also quite suitable for sale, but that was a deal the novel's protagonist, Klein, would make at this gathering in the future. Thinking of how that "evil god" was still so poor, he decided not to steal his source of income. The poor guy was pitiful enough...

Lastly was the Seer Pathway formula he had decided to sell. Although this Pathway was controlled by the Secret Order, the Lower Sequence formulas had long since leaked out. Furthermore, the Secret Order's leader, Zaratul, was currently imprisoned by the Goddess in the Nation of the Evernight. His strength was at a low point, so he would not cause trouble over such a trivial Lower Sequence matter.

"The Seer Pathway... I happen to need it. I'll pay a total of 650 pounds. If you agree, we have a deal!" After a long, heavy silence in the room, a woman in the corner spoke.

The price was within Abner's expectations. He looked around at the others and, after confirming that no one else intended to bid, replied, "Fine, but you may not sell these two formulas at future gatherings."

"Agreed. Let Mr. Eye of Wisdom bear witness!" the woman answered.

Abner knew that Eye of Wisdom possessed a Sealed Artifact capable of determining authenticity, so he took out the two Potion formulas he had prepared in advance and handed them to the attendant beside him. The latter walked to the single sofa in the center and passed the folded papers to Eye of Wisdom.

The old gentleman unfolded the papers, but did not give them more than a glance before placing them on the small round table beside him. Then, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his right palm before drawing a ring studded with countless tiny diamond-like gems from his pocket.

The ring's design was intricate and exquisite. At its center sat a cluster of gems surrounding an emerald stone that resembled an eye. At just one distant glance, Abner's Pure White Eye nearly activated on its own. Fortunately, after two nights of training, he had gained some control over this cheat's switch, so he did not put on a performance of fainting on the spot.

I remember this thing was also formed from a Reader Pathway Beyonder Characteristic. If I get the chance to use the Pure White Eye to analyze it more thoroughly, won't I stop worrying about later formulas?

While Abner's thoughts wandered, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom solemnly put the ring on the middle finger of his right hand. Then he closed his eyes, as though gathering something.

Suddenly, the emerald gem on the ring bloomed with brilliant golden light, golden like sunlight.

Old Mr. Eye of Wisdom swiftly extended his right hand to the side, allowing the gem to touch the Potion formulas.

Streams of golden radiance grew ever purer, eventually transforming into the projection of a Seal.

"Authentic and valid!" old Mr. Eye of Wisdom solemnly declared. He immediately removed the ring, not daring to wear it for even one second longer.

Following the Notarization, the transaction was quickly completed. Abner received a thick stack of cash, all of it ten-pound notes.

Six hundred and fifty pounds really is a huge sum... Too bad it'll be spent soon... As he thought this, Abner did not give anyone else a chance to interrupt and continued, "Who has Garrol Fish Pupil and Manhass Monkey brain slices? As you all know, I can offer a satisfactory price!"

Upon hearing him, everyone present fell silent for a while. In the end, it was still the lady who had bought the Seer Pathway formulas who spoke. "Manhass Monkeys are Monsters unique to dreams, and hunting them is not easy. However, I can provide brain slices right now. Ten grams for one hundred pounds, no bargaining."

Abner gritted his teeth upon hearing that and muttered to himself, So expensive! Still, he quickly counted out twenty ten-pound notes and answered, "Here are two hundred pounds. I need twenty grams!"

"Deal!" The woman was equally pleased by Abner's decisiveness. As she spoke, she took two tin boxes from her arms and handed them to the attendant for Eye of Wisdom to authenticate.

Once the old gentleman confirmed that they were genuine, Abner handed over the Gold Pounds and received the two tin boxes. He was somewhat bewildered, for he seemed to have forgotten to prepare containers for Beyonder materials.

The woman in the corner seemed to notice this. With a light laugh, she said casually, "Those tin boxes aren't worth much. Consider them a gift."

Abner immediately felt even more embarrassed, but he still forced himself to remain composed as he put away the boxes and looked around, hoping for news of Garrol Fish Pupil.

Unfortunately, no one else in the sitting room spoke.

Seeing this, Abner shrugged and returned to observing from the sidelines. He listened to others sell or seek items and materials, watching transaction after transaction succeed or fail. Unfortunately, none of them involved anything that interested him.

Besides Garrol Fish Pupil, what he currently needed most were methods for setting up ritual magic and related mysticism knowledge, for those were the things a Reader needed to excel at.

Time passed second by second. As the gathering came to an end, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom began arranging for people to leave, one every three minutes. There were at least five exits here, and Eye of Wisdom's attendants would lead different people through different passages, separating them as much as possible and extending the intervals.

More than half an hour later, only two members remained in the sitting room. Other than old Mr. Eye of Wisdom, there was only Abner.

Sensing Eye of Wisdom's slightly amused gaze, Abner instinctively grew nervous, though he had long guessed that the man would notice him. After all, Reader was a Pathway controlled by the Church of Knowledge and Wisdom. As the Knowledge Church's hidden contact in Backlund, how could Eye of Wisdom not know the Sequence 9 Reader Potion formula?

"Don't be nervous, young man. You should know that if I wished you harm, you would already be dead. After all, you are still only an ordinary person!" At this point, Eye of Wisdom smiled and beckoned Abner over before continuing, "Besides, I have something you want."

Abner was first stunned, then delighted. He actually trusted Eye of Wisdom's character. His nervousness just now had merely stemmed from the other man being far too powerful compared to him.

"You have Garrol Fish Pupil?" Abner asked expectantly.

"I can tell that your body has likely been contaminated by a Beyonder Characteristic. No wonder you are in such a hurry to gather Potion ingredients... Hmm, it should be contamination from a Sequence 9 Reader Characteristic. If it had been Sequence 8 or above, you would probably already be dead." Eye of Wisdom observed Abner for a while before answering a completely different question.

I was contaminated by Sequence 8. You guessed wrong... No, you guessed right, because the original owner really is dead. Abner muttered inwardly, then nodded with feigned hesitation.

Eye of Wisdom was satisfied with the accuracy of his deduction. Only then did he answer Abner's previous question. "I do indeed have Garrol Fish Pupil on hand. Hmm, a pair of them!" He emphasized "a pair." He did not know that Abner already knew his background, so he was deliberately telling Abner that he knew the Potion formula in order to earn his trust.

He really has them... Abner restrained his excitement and asked, "How much do you need before you will trade them to me?"

Unexpectedly, Eye of Wisdom once again answered a different question. "Besides Loenese, what other languages do you know?"

Abner was dumbfounded for a moment, but considering a certain quirk shared by people of the Reader Pathway in the novel, he somehow found himself on the same wavelength and answered, "I also know Hermes... In addition, I recognize a few Ancient Feysac words."

"That is acceptable... Then have you mastered any rituals?"

"Yes. At present, I have mastered the ritual for creating a Wall of Spirituality." He knew some others through the novel as well, but had never personally put them into practice.

After hearing this, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom nodded, seemingly rather satisfied. He smiled and said, "It seems you are a young man who enjoys learning. Very good!" Then, his tone shifted as he returned to the matter of the materials. "As for the price of Garrol Fish Pupil, how about we make a bet?"

"How would we bet?" Abner asked warily. He had never liked gambling with others, because he rarely won.

"Today, you need only pay one hundred pounds, and I can give them to you. However, I will also give you a set of Ancient Feysac materials. If you can thoroughly learn half of them before next Wednesday night's gathering, I will reward you with some books recording mysticism knowledge. But if you cannot master them, then you will need to pay me another one hundred pounds in cash at next week's gathering! So, young man, do you want to take the bet?" Eye of Wisdom asked with a smile.

So he has already set the time for next week's gathering... Hmm, today is Thursday. There are nearly six days until next Wednesday night. With the Pure White Eye, I should have no problem learning these Ancient Feysac materials... Besides, this seems to be a test? There should not be any conspiracy or danger. After weighing it over inwardly, Abner nodded and accepted the wager. After all, he had no other choice if he wanted the Potion materials.

After taking the banknotes, Eye of Wisdom also brought out several small metal boxes and said to Abner, "The box on the left contains the Garrol Fish Pupil you want. The other two are gifts for storing the brain slices you bought earlier. That item's owner has an unknown background. I assume you do not wish to casually bring home an object gifted by a lady who purchased a Seer formula, do you?"

Remembering how Klein, the protagonist of Lord of Mysteries, could use nothing more than one of his own buttons to locate an adulterer, Abner deeply agreed and hurriedly transferred the Manhass Monkey brain slices. Though Eye of Wisdom was also a stranger to him, the man's character had been fairly decent in the original work. He was much more reliable than that woman whose background was unknown.

After finishing this, Abner visibly relaxed. He even joked, "What if I deliberately do not come to the next gathering? How would you know whether I mastered those materials or not?"

After hearing that, old Mr. Eye of Wisdom gave Abner a deep look, then said meaningfully, "You should believe that if I truly wished to find someone, it would be much easier for me than for a Seer!"

Not necessarily. In the original work, your deductions were streets behind Klein's Divination... Abner grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he had no choice but to concede and accept the Ancient Feysac materials the man handed him. After all, the person before him was a Sequence 7 Keeper of Knowledge who possessed a Grade 2 Sealed Artifact, as well as a famous great Detective!

(End of Chapter)