Chapter 718 "Craftsmen"
Fortunately, no, it was a pity that Angel came to Klein's bedroom right after the Tarot Club, just to ask a few questions, not...
Seeing Angel take the initiative to sit on the single sofa by the balcony, Klein smiled half regretfully and half relievedly, followed him, and spoke with some speculation:
"About my trip away from Backlund?"
Angel nodded and asked:
"It's not just about the arms business, is it?"
When she returned from Trier and contacted Sander of the East Balam Veterans Club, he mentioned that Dwayne Dantès was also interested in joining them to pave the way for a batch of arms smuggled to the southern continent.
At the time, Angel thought that Klein was just using the same method as himself to investigate the Loen military, but Klein's positive attitude showed that his purpose might be more than that.
"I mentioned last week that 'Amon' might have come to Backlund. While he's looking for an organization that believes in 'The Fool,' another target might be me..." Klein replied softly, as if worried about the 'Angel of Time' Amon standing outside the door eavesdropping. "According to 'Orange Light' Hilarion's reminder, before I became a demigod and possessed divinity, my unique characteristics could be observed by certain higher-level beings. I think he's referring not only to certain angels from the same path, but possibly even to those from adjacent paths."
Adjacent paths, just like "Witch" and "Hunter" can transform into each other at Sequence 4, does "Fortune Teller" have a similar method?
Several possible paths flashed through Angel's mind, and he blurted out:
"You mean the 'Thief's Path' where Amon is?"
"Dwayne Dantès" once used a dream conversation with Leonard to scare the "parasite", so it is not difficult to guess where "Amon" is.
"Yes, according to... some known information, 'Diviner' and 'Thief' may be interchangeable at high sequences. Furthermore, the 'Apprentice' path is also possible."
These three adjacent paths are somewhat different from the "Witch" and "Hunter" paths. Of course, it's possible that some paths can also be interchanged with the "Witch", but I don't know yet... Angel pondered and asked:
"So, it's not just the aggregation effect that attracts the attention of neighboring pathways, but also your 'specialness'?"
At this moment, she also thought about her frequent encounters with various "hunters": the Dominican Federation, "Flame" Danitz, Elaine, Anderson, and even in Trier, she could encounter "Iron Knight" Syrio Soren...
During his adventure at sea, Angel had some understanding of his special ability to attract Beyonders from two paths, and now Klein's words confirmed this again.
"Yes, it's okay that Amon and I are not in the same city. Once "He" arrives here, even if it's just a low-sequence clone, it is very likely that due to its own high status and the law of aggregation of Beyonder characteristics, it will "accidentally" encounter me on the road and immediately discover my abnormality."
Klein said with a serious expression.
That would be too scary... Thinking of the ghost story that Mr. "Sun" had shared at the Tarot Club, about being "parasitized" by Amon's clone, Angel felt a little shudder.
"So, you accepted the military's commission and went to the Southern Continent to sell some arms, just like I went to Trier?"
After the fear in his heart dissipated, Angel continued to ask.
"It's just that their goals are different. They hope that the arms will fall into the hands of the tribes and rebels in the Intis-ruled area. This makes me a little curious... If these veterans still represent the interests of the kingdom, it means that Loen intends to provoke both Feysac and Intis at the same time." Klein touched his temples, which were trimmed with silver hair under the power of the Faceless Man, and said carefully.
Indeed, Sandor asked me to sell arms to the Gargas Islands, causing great distress to the Feysac Empire, and Klein is about to stir up trouble for the Intis people in West Balam... Angel also fell into deep thought.
She immediately thought of how Hvin Rambis, the royal advisor and member of the Psychological Alchemist Guild, was trying to exacerbate the divisions between the Conservative Party and the New Party. She also thought of how the "White Saint" Katarina had been lurking near Backlund, wondering what she was planning.
Now the "Angel of Time" and "Blasphemer" Amon has also arrived in Backlund...
This place is about to become even more dangerous than Trier. I was just mocking Loen for being inferior to Intis a few days ago... She pursed her lips and asked worriedly:
"Do you need me to accompany you to the Southern Continent this time?"
"It shouldn't be necessary. They can return in a week or two at best. Besides, 'The Blasphemer' Amon can't stay in Backlund for too long. Even if it's just a clone, the presence of an Angel King in this city will alert the major churches... I suspect his clone came to Backlund as bait, to see who will be discovered and destroyed first, so as to locate his true target."
Klein politely declined Angel's help, but then changed the subject:
"But I might need your help with another matter. One of the materials I need to advance to the rank of 'Trickster' requires me to go to the legendary city of Calderon in the spirit world to obtain it. Once Miss 'Magician' has obtained the specific information from the Abraham family..."
"I'll go with you."
Angel agreed before he could finish.
Only by promoting him to demigod as soon as possible can we conceal his "specialness" and avoid being targeted by the Angel King hiding in the dark like Amon... Angel thought secretly and suddenly asked:
"When do you plan to leave?"
"Tonight, take the military's airship to Dixie Bay, and then transfer to a ship to the Southern Continent."
Klein replied, a sense of spiritual awareness gradually rising in his heart.
"So, this afternoon..."
Angel could no longer hide the smile on his face.
"What, what afternoon..."
"Wait, not the genius from the day before yesterday..."
The spiritual premonition that had been given as a warning before Angel's arrival finally came true.
————
Bayam of the City of Generosity and Alger Wilson of the Hanged Man hid their faces in their hoods, lowered their heads and entered the alley, walking quickly in a lane that was only wide enough for two people to pass side by side.
He had just received the latest news from Bishop Chogori of the "Church of the Waves", confirming the accuracy of the information exchanged at the Tarot Club: the Pirate Conference had indeed been attacked by the "Rose School" and suffered heavy losses. The recently rising "Shipbreaker" and "Golden Queen" Angelica Thatch had performed outstandingly in the battle and was even more valued by the Church of the Storm.
This also made my task more difficult. After all, the Mandated Punishers thought I might be able to contact the Admiral of the Stars and thus find out information about Angelica Thatch... Alger curled his lips, disdainful of this task that was clearly beyond his ability.
After exiting the alley, he quickly turned a few corners, watching out for any followers, and came to an unremarkable house. He rang the doorbell and waited quietly.
This was the residence of the "Craftsman," with whom Alger had collaborated many times. This had earned him a generous commission while also maintaining his status and importance in the Tarot Club. Therefore, upon hearing that the "Craftsman" had a problem, Alger quickly returned to Bayam to handle the matter, lest he delay Mr. "World"'s commission and allow him to teleport to his home. The following week, he appeared at the Tarot Club as the "Ocean Singer" and was then bought by Miss "Justice" at a high price.
Unfortunately, the Beyonder traits provided by Miss Queen are all Sequence 4. According to the Hermit, only demigod craftsmen can deal with demigod Beyonder traits... I can ask Sharf if this is true...
While he was thinking, the door was opened from the inside, and a face with some tanned skin and sharp angles appeared, his face full of confusion:
"Alger, why are you here?"
"Didn't you say you were sick? I was passing by Bayam and came to see you."
Looking at the thin but not sickly face of the "craftsman" Sharf, Alger breathed a sigh of relief and replied.
What he feared most was entering the house and seeing Charles dying in bed. At that time, apart from three points of regret for the death of an acquaintance, the remaining ninety-seven points would be regret for the loss of a skilled "craftsman".
"It was cured a long time ago. I just used some herbal medicine. You know, there are doctors of all schools in the City of Generosity."
Sharf, with his short flaxen hair and brown eyes, answered impatiently, as if this was not the first time he was asked this question.
"I'm glad you're okay. Of all the craftsmen I know, you're indispensable," Alger praised him. "Is the 'Ocean Songster' I gave you last time finished?"
As he spoke, he squeezed forward two steps, entered the room, and took in the empty and somewhat shabby room.
Sharf was stunned for a moment, but did not stop him. Instead, he followed him into the room and took out a bottle of expensive Sonia Blood Wine from the wine cabinet in the corner. While pouring a glass for the pirate captain who often drank with him, he replied:
"It will be completed in a few days. After that, I may have to stop taking commissions for a while."
"Why?" Alger took a sip of the blood-red, sweet wine. His eyes kept scanning the furnishings in the room, lingering for a moment on the blood moon grass and monkey face tree leaves common in the southern continent in the cupboard, and asked back.
"It takes a little bit of adjustment, physically and mentally."
Sharf answered perfunctorily. Seeing that Alger had already drunk quite a bit of wine, he quickly drank the one in front of him and took the lead in adding another glass.
Alger nodded, revealing a regretful expression.
"I was planning to wait until you finished this order so I could make you a magical item with demigod properties, a 'puppet'... but it seems I'll have to find someone else."
"'Puppet', Sequence 4..." Sharf muttered after hearing this, but his face lacked the expression Alger expected. "Sorry, I can't handle Beyonder characteristics with divine power. Perhaps only a high-sequence 'craftsman' can do it."
Just as the Hermit said... Alger finally sighed with genuine regret, drank the last bit of Sonia's blood wine, and left this simple house.
With his face slightly flushed and slightly tipsy, Charles still sat there with his eyes narrowed. He waited until the footsteps outside the door faded away before he slowly stood up, closed the door, returned to the back of the room, and opened the trapdoor to the basement.
"He didn't doubt it?"
"No, I just asked about the production progress, then had a drink and left."
"Very good. Complete his commission without arousing suspicion, receive the balance, and then leave with us."
"He seems to have other Beyonder characteristics, even high-sequence ones..."
"It's too dangerous. Didn't you say he might have a background in the True God Sect... What kind of extraordinary characteristics are those?"
"He only mentioned 'Muppet.'
"puppet?"
There was a slight commotion in the room.
"You continue to stay here and keep him steady. You can tentatively agree to help him find a craftsman who can handle the characteristics of the 'puppet'."
"OK."
…
In a garden two alleys away from here, Alger Wilson, the "Singer of the Sea," sat quietly on a bench, one hand resting against his ear in a trumpet-like shape, as if listening to the conversation on the wind.
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