False Face

Just as Black Snake had said, Mr. A's gathering was considerably larger than the old gentleman Eye of Wisdom's, with nearly sixty participants attending that day.

It's not just because of his strength. It also has to do with the Aurora Order's philosophy... The old gentleman Eye of Wisdom wants to survive, while Mr. A might be itching for trouble to break out in Backlund... Lorry muttered inwardly.

His arrival was like an inconspicuous pebble tossed into a lake, stirring only a faint ripple before everything settled again.

Apart from the organizer, Mr. A, and a few people nearby who cast appraising glances his way, he attracted no attention from the other members.

The gathering continued.

Every so often, someone would summon an attendant and speak in a low voice. Others would follow attendants into private rooms for further discussions.

After Lorry handed his request to an attendant, he soon saw the corresponding description on the blackboard.

Hopeful and a little nervous, he exhaled and turned his gaze back to the blackboard on the left, continuing to browse the remaining entries.

"Emperor Roselle's notes, three pages, 20 pounds."

Lorry's gaze paused, temptation stirring in his eyes.

This must be Emperor Roselle's Diary, right? If I remember correctly, he recorded plenty of valuable mysticism knowledge in it. Of course, there were also plenty of accounts of his amorous adventures...

Even if the contents are useless, I could resell it. I might even turn a profit... After all, the richest member of the Tarot Club is right here in Backlund...

Uh, forget it. Maybe next time... I don't have much savings left...

One thought followed another until Lorry finally came to his senses at the last moment.

After paying Black Snake 10 pounds and buying a revolver, his wallet had grown considerably thinner again, leaving him with 65 pounds.

That sum was only a fraction of what a Mystical Item would cost.

If I find a suitable Mystical Item today, I'll have to sell the Bird's Beak... Lorry told himself silently, reaching up to brush his chest.

The Bird's Beak was tucked inside his clothes, ready to serve as emergency funds at any moment.

Phew... He gathered his thoughts and continued browsing the blackboard to broaden his knowledge, all the while secretly hoping someone could meet his request.

Time flew by.

Mr. A suddenly rose from his armchair.

"We'll now take a break. You may speak freely among yourselves."

Lorry had seen no offers for Mystical Items that could alter one's appearance on the blackboard. A trace of disappointment welled up, and he sighed inwardly in resignation.

Just as he was wondering whether to get up and talk to the other members, an attendant suddenly approached and handed him a note.

"From Mr. A."

The attendant lowered his voice and spoke into his ear.

Lorry unfolded it and took a look. His eyes instantly lit up.

"I have a similar Mystical Item, but its negative effects are quite severe."

He took the attendant's pen, quickly wrote a few words on the note, then folded it again and handed it back. He watched the attendant walk lightly toward Mr. A.

Three minutes later, the attendant approached him again.

Lorry eagerly took the note.

"Its name is 'False Face.' It is the product of a black magic ritual.

"A countess in Intis, seeking eternal youth, created a pool of blood using the blood of unsuspecting young girls and prayed to a mysterious entity.

"She was fortunate. The ritual succeeded.

"The countess's face remained forever eighteen, but her body could not resist aging.

"At the moment of her death, the skin of her face peeled off by itself and became a Mystical Item capable of changing one's appearance. Her descendants kept it as a family heirloom.

"It is transparent and resembles the moisturizing masks commonly used by women. When you put on the False Face, your face will become that of the last person it imitated.

"If you wish to change to a new face, you must lay it over the face of the person you wish to imitate and recite its name in Hermes.

"Please note:

"You must never wear the False Face for more than half an hour at a time. You must then remove it and soak it in clean water for five minutes.

"Otherwise, the False Face will fuse completely with you and become impossible to remove.

"Unless you cut off the skin of your face along with it.

"The False Face's disguise is extremely effective. It can perfectly fool ordinary people, as well as some low-sequence Beyonders who are not skilled at observation.

"Therefore, despite its severe negative effects, its price is still quite high.

"My lowest price is 500 pounds."

If I use it for more than half an hour, the False Face will weld itself to my face, and the only way to remove it will be to cut my face off... Merely imagining the scene sent a chill through Lorry and raised goosebumps all over his body.

But its supernatural effects really do meet my needs perfectly. It can even fool Beyonders... If I buy it, I'll have to carry a pocket watch and a portable water cup everywhere... No, I shouldn't be thinking about what to do after buying the False Face right now. It costs a full 500 pounds...

He took a deep breath and wrote a reply to Mr. A on the note.

"I have a Mystical Item called the 'Bird's Beak'...

"If you need it, you may exchange the False Face and 300 pounds for it. If not, please have an attendant copy its information onto the blackboard."

Lorry's gaze followed the attendant as he walked toward Mr. A.

He saw Mr. A shake his head slightly. The attendant then approached the attendants beside the two blackboards, and a few minutes later, the words appeared on the board.

If it won't sell for 800 pounds, I could consider lowering the price a little, or taking it to another Beyonder gathering... Uh, provided Mr. A is willing to give me time to raise the money... Lorry clenched his fists beneath his robe, watching the other participants' movements with considerable tension.

About ten minutes later, an attendant approached.

"Someone would like to speak to you privately," he said in a low voice.

Lorry's interest stirred. He did not refuse and followed the attendant into a small room.

A woman was already waiting there. She was about 1.6 meters tall, with only a pair of sharp eyes and a few strands of blond hair behind her hood visible.

Under her gaze, Lorry suddenly experienced a strange feeling-the feeling of a mouse encountering a cat, of meeting a natural predator.

The last time I felt this way was when I saw a police dog... he grumbled inwardly. After the attendant left the room, he said:

"Hello, ma'am."

"Hello." The woman deliberately altered her voice, replying in a raspy tone.

She got straight to the point. "I'm very interested in this Mystical Item of

"yours and would like more detailed information."

The descriptions of Mystical Items on the blackboards were all fairly vague, giving only their general effects and whether their negative effects were severe, to avoid revealing too much information.

Anyone interested in buying would naturally need to discuss matters further.

Lorry explained the Bird's Beak in detail. He saw the woman's eyes suddenly brighten and heard her breathing grow somewhat heavier beneath her hood.