Chapter 562: Helene

Beyonder gathering? Klein thought for a bit, then he nodded

and responded, "Okay."

*I should bring forward to the collection of the supplementary

ingredients of the Marionettist potion. I can also see if I might meet

an Artisan...* He subconsciously started to make arrangements in

his mind.

Upon seeing Gehrman Sparrow agree, Danitz breathed a quiet sigh of

relief, unable to contain his joy.

For the past few days, having had his bounty raised significantly, he

had obediently stayed in the suite to monitor the radio transceiver. He

was so bored that he yearned for the evening to arrive immediately.

The Beyonder gathering that Danitz mentioned was at the Amyris Leaf Bar,

where pirates, informants, and adventurers were active. It was the first

choice if one wanted to gather information and buy supplies.

Dressed in a black coat and silk top hat, Klein followed Danitz through

the crowded bar's lobby and into a card room. Under the watchful gaze of

several bouncers, he gave the predetermined signal and descended down a

flight of hidden stairs to a wide underground area.

*It's like the Evil Dragon Bar in Tingen City. There's an underground

market for herbs, essential oils, ancient books, charms, and all sorts

of common mysticism materials. However, the difference is that there are

also all sorts of guns and ammunition for sale.* Klein even

discovered antiquated muskets and lead bullets.

*Heh, they also sell fake identity documents and fake seals... As

expected of an overseas colony, their industry is much more developed

than Tingen's... I'll buy a batch of ingredients later to make charms in

the Sea God domain. There will always be some discounts if I purchase

them in large quantities...* Klein slightly turned his head from

side to side to take in the situation in the underground area.

Next to him, Danitz, who was already doubtful about his own disguise

skills, had deliberately put on a cap, keeping the front of his cap down

to cover half his face. With great familiarity, he led Klein to the

other end of the underground market and knocked on the closed door with

two long knocks and four short knocks.

Behind the door, there was only a single candle. It swayed on the

lampstand on the side wall, scattering yellow light onto the tiny room.

Danitz pointed to the long robes, masks, and other items which were

hanging or placed on a table, and said to Klein, "It's up to you to

decide whether you would don a disguise. You can also choose not to."

Klein looked around, his gaze sweeping past the bouncers in the room.

"I don't need it."

*I am now an informant for the kingdom's military, and the Church of

Storms also knows of my identity, so there's nothing for me to be afraid

of... If the pirates and adventurers have any malicious thoughts about

me because of my lack of a disguise, and if they attempt to attack me,

hehe...* Klein suddenly pictured bounty rewards flying towards

him one by one.

Danitz curled his lips secretly, picked up a black iron mask, and wore

it.

Then, he and Klein passed through a dim corridor and into another room

under a bouncer's lead.

The place was lavishly decorated. The floor was covered with a thick

carpet from the Southern Continent; the walls were decorated with

shining lampstands, and the fresh smell of candles could be caught as

they suffused with light.

Klein glanced around and, without Danitz's help, found a brown leather

sofa and sat down on it. He leaned back and crossed his right leg.

There were already more than twenty people of various genders gathered

here. Some were in hooded robes, while others showed their faces.

According to Danitz's description in the morning, not all of the people

attending this gathering were Beyonders, there were spokesmen for

certain factions, as well as adventurers, pirates, and mysticism

enthusiasts who wanted to become Beyonders.

Time slowly passed in that quiet environment. About seven or eight

minutes later, the old man who was sitting on a reclining chair

straightened his back and crossed his hands. He chuckled.

"Everyone, let's begin."

Because he was old, his white hair was sparse, leaving only a thin

layer. However, his light brown eyes weren't turbid, with them being

bright and sharp.

"The organizer of the gathering, Strongman Ozil, a famous pirate in the

past, and now the secret boss of the Amyris Leaf Bar," Danitz leaned

slightly and introduced the man to Klein with a suppressed voice.

He'd actually mentioned it in the morning, but he was afraid that

Gehrman Sparrow failed to match a name to the face and would later vent

his anger on himself.

It's a sorrowful matter to have a secret grasped by others...

Danitz sighed inwardly.

Klein nodded indiscernibly as he silently watched the transactions

happen.

There were potion formulas for Warrior, Sailor, Mystery Pryer, and

others, but no one bought them. The expectant sellers were disappointed

again and again.

Danitz glanced at Gehrman Sparrow, who wore an expressionless face, he

then leaned over, and explained in a low voice, "There is no Notary at

this gathering, nor any powerful Seer. The authenticity of the potion

formula cannot be guaranteed. It's too easy to fake such things, and

even if people recognize that the formula is fake, the seller cannot be

punished because he might be a victim as well."

*I know... This is one of the reasons why potion formulas fail to be

widely spread...* Klein uncrossed his right leg, leaned forward

slightly, and said in a voice that was neither loud nor low, "I need the

remnant spirituality of an ancient wraith."

He didn't mention the eyes of a six-winged gargoyle, the spring water

from Sonia Island's Golden Spring, or any other supplementary

ingredients. He was worried that others would guess that he was a

Faceless who was preparing to advance to Marionettist.

When he was in Tingen, Klein had relied on the purchase of supplementary

ingredients to accurately suspect that Daxter Guderian was a prospective

Spectator, and thus, he figured out his identity as a member of the

Psychology Alchemists.

It was impossible to deduce any more from the remnant spirituality of an

ancient wraith alone, as many of the rituals in the undead domain would

use it.

Although Klein didn't disguise himself, he still had to be careful.

The room was silent for two seconds. Then, a slightly hoarse voice

sounded.

"How much do you need?"

Someone really has it? Klein controlled his expression and

didn't let his joy show on his face.

He tilted his head to look at the speaker and saw that he was a man in

his thirties who was clearly of native blood.

The man's skin was bronzed, but he had a dull luster from chronic

malnutrition or a lack of light. His face was thin, his cheekbones

protruded, and his eyes were sunken, more white than black.

"A small bottle." Klein pulled out a small metal bottle as an example.

The thin, dark man was silent for a moment before saying, "500 pounds."

That's reasonable... Klein originally wanted to haggle, but he

caught a glimpse of Danitz sitting beside him out of the corner of his

eye.

I'm Gehrman Sparrow, a cold, crazy adventurer... Klein

repeated this line three times inwardly, quietly took a deep breath, and

calmly nodded.

"Okay."

He took out the large stack of cash he had prepared, and he counted out

a sum of 500 pounds.

The man with the mostly white eyes took out a glass test tube from his

pocket, threw it at Klein, and said, "All the spirituality will be gone

after a year."

He wasn't afraid that the other party wouldn't be unable to catch it,

because even if it were to break, it wouldn't affect the material

itself. It would only be a matter of changing the container.

Klein raised his right hand and accurately caught the glass tube. He saw

many phosphorescent spots floating in the tube, and when they touched

the glass wall, they would strangely expand, forming a face with blurred

features that opened to form a mouth that screamed silently.

It's real... Klein nodded to himself and handed the thick

stack of cash worth 500 pounds to the attendant who approached and

handed it to the seller.

The trading continued, most of it failing with only a small number

succeeding.

At the end of the day, the gathering's organizer, Strongman Ozil laughed

and said, "I have a request."

As he spoke, he pulled out a photo from his inside pocket.

"The reward for finding the person above is 1,000 pounds or some other

common Beyonder ingredient of equal value. Remember, do not hurt her."

*1,000 pounds? This would make most adventurers go crazy... I wonder who

he's looking for, to offer such a high reward...* Not

surprisingly, Klein saw that everyone present was willing to give it a

try.

The picture began to be passed in a counterclockwise fashion, and a few

minutes later, it was in Klein's hands.

As he casually swept a glance over it, a bit of surprise suddenly

surfaced in his heart.

The woman in the photo was rather pretty, with bright red hair and a

pair of green eyes that resembled emeralds. Her skin wasn't fair, but

she gave off a healthy feeling.

At the time of the photoshoot, she was wearing a long, lake-colored

skirt. Her waist was tightened with a flower-shaped ribbon, making her

appear exceptionally slender. Although her face seemed to be smiling,

her overall appearance was one of displeasure and awkwardness.

*A girl with a good family background... Who would pay 1,000 pounds to

find her? Furthermore, the premise is that she cannot be hurt... Hmm, a

picture of her forcing a smile...* Many romance stories with

intertwined love and hate flashed in Klein's mind.

Stories like a tyrannical pirate falling in love with a wealthy

merchant's daughter, abducting her onto his boat before she eventually

escaped; or some noble lady from a declining noble family turning into a

pirate, and was later caught due to a mistake, only to have a sinful

relationship with a mid- or high-ranking Mandated Punisher or military

officer, thus escaping from her predicament and imprisonment; how a

newly advanced Demoness accidentally fell into a debt of love when

giving someone pleasure... Such thoughts flashed through his mind, and

Klein almost raised his hand to cover his face.

*I've read too many novels in my previous life... And I happen to have a

trauma because of Demonesses in this world...* He sighed to

himself, looked up at Ozil and asked, "What's her name?"

"Helene," Ozil answered succinctly, "but she must have switched to using

a fake alias."

Helene, a typical female Intis name... Klein asked again, "Is

there anything she often wears?

"Hair is fine too."

This was a medium that could be used to seek her with divination.

Klein didn't mention things like recently worn clothes that hadn't been

washed, afraid that the employer behind the scenes would throw him a

piece of lingerie, making it awkward.

Ozil shook his head.

"Nothing.

"She has a strong anti-tracking ability."

"What's her strength like?" another member of the gathering asked.

Ozil said in a serious manner, "The employer didn't give a detailed

description. It's said that she isn't too strong, but she's stronger

than a Sequence 9.

"You don't need to capture her. As long as you determine her

whereabouts, you will be paid."