Another Gathering

"I'll take you somewhere," Kaspars said. "The people there aren't as good as Maric, but they're all quite capable. Whether you can strike a deal is none of my business. Still, I must warn you beforehand: don't anger them, or you might not live to see tomorrow's sun. Of course, seeing the sun in Backlund after September isn't easy anyway."

"Do I need to pay you?" Klein asked sincerely.

Kaspars nodded in satisfaction. "Two pounds."

With great reluctance, Klein handed over two one-pound notes. Kaspars then led him into the alley behind the bar and stopped outside a completely dark house.

After handing him an iron mask that covered only the upper half of his face, Kaspars knocked on the door. Klein held his breath and focused, allowing himself to be scrutinized. Once the person inside finished speaking with Kaspars, he was finally allowed into the gathering.

Klein found a chair in a corner and sat down. A man with a chubby face began complaining:

"A pack of beasts has appeared in the sewers recently. They've eaten a lot of the medicinal herbs I planted.

"They're very smart and haven't touched any of the poisonous ones. I need someone to help me get rid of them. As you all know, this isn't my specialty. I'm only good at preparing medicines and treating your illnesses."

Good at preparing medicines and treating illnesses, and he grows medicinal herbs in the sewers... He must be an Apothecary, right? How could Sequence 8 of this Pathway be Beast Tamer...?

Klein remained silent rather than speaking carelessly. He planned to observe the situation first. The Apothecary spoke again, the fat on his cheeks quivering:

"I'll repeat myself. I need someone to clear out the beasts that have recently appeared in the sewers. You only need to cover the Backlund Bridge area. I'll pay you four bottles of valuable medicine. Two can effectively stop bleeding and help wounds heal. Believe me, they're better than going to a clinic for stitches. They'll remain effective for six months."

He suddenly gave a low chuckle and continued:

"The other two have a shelf life of a month and a half. They can help gentlemen rediscover the urges they had at seventeen or eighteen and turn them into Beyonders in bed. Heh heh, you know what I mean. Even after they expire, they'll still work, except the effect will spread from down there to the whole body. The user will become unusually berserk, with greatly increased strength, speed, and agility. Uh, after half an hour, they'll become weak."

"..." Klein suddenly felt an urge to buy a bottle for Neph.

No, that would be rather rude. Besides, it isn't cheap. I'm very short on money right now...

Klein cautiously put a stop to that dangerous thought. The room remained silent. After a brief wait, the Fat Apothecary gritted his teeth and said:

"On top of the four bottles of valuable medicine, I'll add thirty pounds!"

Finally, a man sitting on the edge of a sofa spoke.

He glanced around and said in a low voice, "I'll take the commission. Pay me two bottles in advance, one of each kind, with Mr. Eye of Wisdom as the witness."

"No problem," an elderly man seated in an armchair said with a nod.

He had deep lines running down either side of his mouth, slightly withered skin, and an aged voice. From this, Klein judged that he was a gentleman of considerable years.

"All right." The Fat Apothecary breathed a sigh of relief.

After that deal was concluded, the gathering seemed to grow a little livelier. Soon, a woman whose face was entirely concealed in the shadow of her hood said:

"I have two weapons for sale."

Weapons? Remembering Derrick the Sun's request, Klein adjusted his posture and listened attentively.

"One is a Rune Steel Sword made by the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun. It has purification and exorcism effects, making it the bane of undead creatures such as water ghosts, Wraiths, and Zombies. It can still be used for three years. Of course, it's also sharp enough to kill people." The woman's voice rose and fell, clearly disguising its characteristics. "Five hundred pounds, or the potion formula for Sequence 8 Barbarian, and it's yours."

Barbarian? Barbarian!

Klein's eyes lit up. He realized that this was why he needed the Barbarian potion formula.

But what's the additional cost? Could it mean I'll buy a more expensive weapon? At that possibility, Klein did not know whether to laugh or cry. He patiently waited for the lady to finish introducing the other weapon, the "Meat Saw," and was somewhat shocked by the difference between supernatural weapons and ordinary ones.

Once the lady finished her introduction, a gloomy man in a corner said, "Four hundred and eighty pounds. I'll take the Rune Steel Sword."

A rival bidder...? Klein's expression remained unchanged as he spoke up as well. "I have the Barbarian potion formula."

The lady immediately turned toward Klein, but the man in the corner was unwilling to give up. He continued, "Five hundred pounds."

Klein said nothing and simply remained seated. He could feel the elderly Mr. Eye of Wisdom watching him. The woman turned to the gloomy man and said:

"Sorry, but I'd rather have the Barbarian potion formula."

"Five hundred and fifty pounds!" Unwilling to give up, the gloomy man raised his bid substantially.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but the Barbarian potion formula takes priority." The lady turned toward Klein. "Deal! But please give the formula to Mr. Eye of Wisdom first so he can authenticate it."

Having already performed a divination beforehand, Klein had no concerns about this. He emphasized:

"You can't sell this formula at this gathering. What you do elsewhere is up to you."

After the lady nodded, Klein took the potion formula he had written in advance from his pocket. He checked it again, then folded it and handed it to the attendant.

Instead of heading to the corner, the attendant approached the armchair in the center and handed the folded sheet to Eye of Wisdom.

The elderly gentleman unfolded the paper but did not give it another look, placing it on the small round table beside him.

Then he took out a handkerchief and wiped his right palm before retrieving a ring set with numerous tiny, diamond-like stones from his pocket.

The ring was intricately and exquisitely designed, with a green, eye-like gemstone nestled in its center. Just glancing at it from a distance made Klein's head feel swollen and his body uncomfortable, much like looking at a mathematics exam paper in the past.

The elderly Mr. Eye of Wisdom solemnly slipped the ring onto his right middle finger, then closed his eyes as though preparing something.

Suddenly, the green gemstone on the ring burst into a brilliant gold, golden like sunlight.

The elderly Mr. Eye of Wisdom quickly extended his right hand to the side, bringing the gemstone into contact with the potion formula Klein had written.

The golden rays grew purer and purer until they finally formed a seal-like projection.

"Authentic and effective!" the elderly Mr. Eye of Wisdom began to declare in a deep

voice, then immediately removed the ring, not daring to wear it for even another second.

A Notary...? Klein reluctantly looked away. After receiving the Rune Steel Sword, he said in a low voice:

"I have an item for sale."