Chapter 299 Tarot Club’s biggest deal?
"Is that the guy just now your usual source of information? I don't think he's even an adult."
After entering the alley, Angel asked Sherman curiously.
"They're indeed underage. There are many youngsters like them in the East District. They're nimble, observant, and unlikely to attract attention. Most importantly, they charge much less than gangsters or professional bounty hunters."
Sherman muttered, glancing to the sides from time to time, observing the people walking outside the alley.
Watching Sherman's rapid growth and transformation from a timid victim into a qualified assassin, Angel nodded with satisfaction, took out the last bottle of communication potion and handed it to him, quickly explaining its usage.
"...Use this to contact me in case of an emergency. Use it sparingly, it's very expensive."
She had explained twice today how precious her blood was. Now she was thirsty and didn't want to repeat herself, so she summarized it as "very expensive". Upon hearing this, Sherman carefully put away the glass bottle and continued to report today's harvest.
"I've gathered clues about Barron. Unfortunately, the problem is that there are too many of them. There are at least three Barrons who fit your description, but their appearances can't be compared based on verbal descriptions alone. I plan to 'visit' each one next week. Maybe one of them will be the real one."
"Be careful. If you encounter the real Barron, don't alarm him. Report directly to me."
Angel felt that he was becoming more and more like Sylvia, who sat at home and gave orders every day. The only difference might be that he was poorer and could not afford expensive pastries.
Complaining about his superior, Angel followed Sherman back to his house and watched him turn the gas lamp on the wall. There was a clicking sound, but the heartwarming light did not appear.
“…It seems like I’m in arrears.”
Sherman smiled awkwardly, walked to the door, put two coins into the gas meter, and turned on the gas lamp again amid the sound of gears turning, and this time he successfully lit it.
"Have you started looking for your first assassination target?" Angel changed the subject to ease the poor and awkward atmosphere. "My only request is that you don't point the dagger I gave you at innocent people. There are no other restrictions. Anyone who has attacked you, bullied your friends, or is notorious in the neighborhood is welcome."
After returning home, the assassin returned to his timid demeanor. He shrank back hesitantly upon hearing this, and after a moment, he replied:
"I've found him. He's the guy who often captures the kids in the neighborhood to gather information for him, but never pays them. He even steals the little money they earn... Um, do I need to tell you in advance when I take action?"
"Just choose your target. I won't help or monitor you. But be careful not to provoke other Beyonders. Although Sequence 9s in the Assassin Path belong to the combat sequence, they are not the strongest. Many Sequence 9s also possess considerable combat abilities, such as warriors, criminals, and arbitrators."
Angel listed several potion sequences that also had excellent melee capabilities and introduced their extraordinary abilities, allowing Sherman to identify them and avoid direct conflict.
But when she mentioned the "arbitrator" who could make people nearby obey involuntarily, she noticed that the other person's expression changed.
"Do you know any Beyonders from the Arbitrator Path?"
"Yes, yes. I have a friend, a bounty hunter who has helped me many times. She's very powerful. She can defeat anyone with a single punch, and can shock an entire crowd with just one word... It was only after I learned about potions and Beyonder powers that I realized that she was a Beyonder."
There was a hint of longing in Sherman's eyes. It seemed that he had originally thought that all extraordinary people should be like that. No wonder he was a little uncomfortable with the "assassin's" behavior.
"You can also try to be like her, punishing evil and promoting good, and 'dealing with everyone with a single blow,'" Angel said with a smile as he guided the newcomer. "But remember, whether your target is an ordinary person or a villain, you are the one who brings disaster to them."
Disaster is the unavoidable theme of the "Assassin" or "Witch" path.
When Angel thought of this, he also had some insights.
————
On Monday afternoon, Angel attended his regularly scheduled Tarot meeting.
A crimson light flashed before her, and she appeared in the towering palace that she was already extremely familiar with. On her left was Miss Justice, who was politely greeting everyone. On her right was Mr. Fool, a hazy figure sitting at the head of the long table, hidden in the gray mist.
Miss Magician presented the first diary of Emperor Roselle since she joined the Tarot Club. After the Fool's reading time ended, everyone began to communicate freely.
"Ms. Queen, I have contacted the craftsman. He just completed a nearly perfect magical item and has rested long enough to take on this order."
The Hanged Man spoke in a flat tone.
"The only question is, which Beyonder property do you wish to use as raw material?"
Angel had already made up his mind, and when he heard the Hanged Man's question, he answered without hesitation:
"The extraordinary qualities of 'Shepherd'."
Ms. D's power was well-known to her. The "Creeping Hunger," which had previously made "Vice Admiral Hurricane" Qilingos famous, was also a magical item crafted with the "Shepherd" attribute. Its ability to herd Beyonders had made Qilingos, a mere Sequence 6 Wind-Favored Person, a feared figure, one of the strongest Beyonders below the rank of Demigod.
These two were the living GGs of the "Shepherd", although they are dead now.
Moreover, the extraordinary characteristics of the "Faceless Man" and the "Dawn Knight" have been initially combined with external objects to form items that can be used directly. Although the former should be able to be made into some magical item that can change appearance, and the latter can even become a powerful weapon under the skillful hands of craftsmen, neither of them is what she urgently needs at the moment.
Even if I really need it, I can just put the "Faceless Man" on my face...
So she repeated, "Just choose 'shepherd.'"
"No problem, Sequence 5 'Shepherd'. The craftsman will charge £1,700 for the production."
Hearing this number that was not an integer, Angel frowned. Before he could say anything, the Hanged Man added:
"Five hundred pounds of it belongs to me."
His words were so frank, as if he was talking about what he had for breakfast today, which made Angel feel relieved.
This was the information fee, or introduction fee, that he deserved.
A Sequence 6 Beyonder trait could fetch over 3,000 pounds at a Beyonder gathering, with a few rare examples even fetching 4,000 pounds. The Sequence 5 "Shepherd" trait could easily double in price. Adding in the production costs, the total price of the entire transaction reached 9,000 pounds. The Hanged Man's request for a 500-pound reward wasn't considered high.
"No problem, the price is very reasonable." Even though he said this, Angel still felt a pang in his chest, the pain of money leaving him. "I think this must be the highest transaction amount in the Tarot Club, right?"
There was an awkward silence at the long table.
"Well, actually, during the time you were on leave, Miss Justice accepted a commission from one of Mr. Fool's followers and bought the head of a Backlund ambassador for 10,000 pounds. This was part of the bounty on Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilingos, who was worth 30,000 pounds."
The Hanged Man said this with a rare smile in his tone.
30,000 pounds?
All my magical items and Beyonder characteristics combined should be worth less than 30,000 pounds...
Angel's little joy of winning the first place burst in an instant like a soap bubble under the scorching sun.
"Then, Mr. Hanged Man, I will give you the Extraordinary Characteristics through sacrifice after the Tarot Club ends."
She quickly changed the subject to ease the awkward atmosphere.
"There's also the production fee. You can pay my portion after you get the magical item, but not the craftsman's."
The Hanged Man added.
The craftsman's production cost was 1,200 pounds, but Angel now had less than 700 pounds in cash, which even included the 600 pounds he got from selling the "Sheriff" trait to the magician a few days ago.
She suddenly felt overwhelmed.
She originally thought it was a cash-on-delivery deal, but the 1,200 pounds in cash offered by the Hanged Man stumped her.
"Ms. Queen, I can now repay part of the debt I owed you last time. I will cover the production costs this time."
As if sensing her embarrassment, Miss Justice whispered beside her.
The Hanged Man immediately turned his gaze towards Justice and nodded. "Alright, you can each offer sacrifices to Mr. Fool later."
"Thank you, Miss Justice." Although Justice meant "repay the debt," it solved Angel's urgent need, so she expressed her gratitude wholeheartedly. "And Mr. Hanged Man, thank you for contacting the craftsman for me."
After the deal was concluded, the group began to share their experiences of the week. The "world," which hadn't spoken in a long time, looked around and said in a low, hoarse voice:
"Backlund has been a bit restless lately. Someone's looking for a case involving 'Tarot Cards' and an organization using them as a codename. This organization believes in 'The Fool.'"
Everyone sat up straight, even the magician lady who seemed to be absent-minded. They looked at Mr. Fool at the head of the long table, but when they saw that he didn't react, they quickly looked away.
"Someone in the royal family is also paying attention to this matter. Although they haven't mobilized official forces, they have mobilized a number of private detectives and bounty hunters. From what I understand, the scope may not be limited to Backlund."
Miss Justice also added.
"Also, there's the 'Aurora Society'. They're offering a high reward for anyone who believes in 'The Fool'."
This hesitant voice came from the "Magician".
As one of the members who reported Mr. Fool, Angel had been mentally prepared for the Tarot Club to discuss this matter. However, he did not expect that after a few people supplemented and compared the information, they discovered that most of Backlund, and even the surrounding cities, were searching for "The Fool" and the "Tarot Club."
They are famous!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
