...such divine reasons... Hearing the pharmacist's reply, even the "clown" Klein couldn't contain his expression. Fortunately, he still wore a metallic mask over his face. The pharmacist didn't notice Klein's or the elderly gentleman with the "Eye of Wisdom"’s reactions, and continued speaking at length: "So, I truly love Beckland. There are so many street performers—waitresses and entertainers—who appear outside concert halls and theaters, waiting in the streets and alleys. Some are full-time professionals, others part-time, originally working as factory workers or maids, each with their own charm. I've heard that in certain areas of the west district, even the daughters of bankrupt noble families occasionally show up. It's truly enchanting." "...” Klein pushed his metallic mask slightly, which covered the upper half of his face, and quickly changed the subject. "Does your teacher have any concerns about my choice?" "The pharmacist shook his head slightly, saying, 'No—he simply kicked me out after finishing teaching me about herbal medicine, sending me to wander across the continent to experience life firsthand. What a nuisance! He never told me where to find the subsequent magical ingredients!' As he spoke, he turned to Caine and added, 'If you know where to find the marrow crystals of the Elven Spring, please let me know—I'll pay you a fee. Of course, you're welcome to buy them first and then resell them to me at a higher price. You're quite lucky, perhaps even able to help me fulfill my wish.' 'Certainly,' Caine replied casually, thinking carefully. 'Then, when I have the crystals, could I exchange them for the pharmacist's magical recipes?' In his view, the role of 'pharmacist' was a highly useful support position that could be developed into a valuable asset for his team. The pharmacist, not particularly heavy but rather well-rounded, quickly shook his head. 'No!' 'I can only teach my own students.' Is that the rule of the Life School?" Perhaps even with the silent presence of some hidden figure as witness, a vow was solemnly sworn—something克莱恩 did not find surprising. At that moment, the pharmacist cleared his throat. "But I can tell you where to find a pharmacist's formula—it's right in Bekkanth." "That's excellent,"克莱恩 remarked, quite surprised. As the elderly man with the "Eye of Wisdom" prepared to see him off, he quickly asked, "Doctor, do you have any potions for treating mental disorders or similar conditions?" This was a deliberate performance for the guard's benefit, intended to strengthen her conviction that克莱恩 had been subtly influenced by the "True Maker," now on the verge of becoming a potential madman, actively seeking treatment. "Yes, we have sedatives—ten sou per vial. I'll bring four vials to your next gathering. Believe me, they're far more effective than those from the hospital; I've added some spiritual ingredients," the pharmacist replied without hesitation. It's quite expensive... In Tinggen's underground market, tranquilizers originating from hospitals cost one to two souls per vial, while those flowing from the Night Watch team, the Penal Squad, and the Mechanical Heart team cost four to five souls per vial... As his thoughts flickered, Caine performed a full act, turning to the "Eye of Wisdom" and saying: "Mr. Esteemed, may I attend the next gathering?" "Certainly," the elder said, nodding. "Your two recent performances have demonstrated your goodwill, young man. Keep an eye on today's *Becelands Morning Gazette*. When you see an advertisement in the fifth section for Ernst & Co. acquiring goods, that will signal a gathering the following evening at eight o'clock. The rhythm of the knocks—light and heavy—depends on your offer: the first number indicates the number of heavy knocks, the second the number of light ones, the third the length of the interval, and the fourth the short interval. All subsequent knocks are unimportant." After describing the situation, he sighed and said: "Non-official, unorganized extraordinary individuals don't fare as well as you might imagine. On one hand, they must constantly hide their secrets, evade official scrutiny, and remain vigilant and cautious; on the other, they have to fight against chaos and madness. Too many of our kind perish from these two struggles. Even if they successfully avoid official notice and manage to escape chaos and madness, they are always at risk of running out of materials, unable to find the items they need, or lacking sufficient knowledge. That's why I've organized gatherings like this—to enable mutual support among members. Unfortunately, we now live in an age of scarcity, where many extraordinary materials are becoming increasingly rare." "Yes, but I have a 'Hangman' gentleman who knows the original coordinates of certain island settlements, and a 'Sun' classmate from Silver City who constantly battles monsters deep in the darkness—some exceptional materials can be obtained through their assistance. Kindly rising, Caine bowed slightly to the elder known as the 'Eye of Wisdom': 'Your character is truly admirable.' After settling back, Caine suddenly remembered something and carefully asked: 'Mr. Elder, do either of you possess any magical items—something like the one the 'Black Serpent' sold me—without too many serious or negative drawbacks? I'd like to have a bit of self-protection ability.' His intention was to first identify items of interest, ascertain their prices, and then decide on his targets. Though I currently don't have much money, that doesn't mean I won't have it in the future—does it? Caine silently added this thought to himself. The pharmacist spread his hands, indicating that he either had nothing to offer or would not sell anything. "The Elder of Wisdom's Eye" chuckled warmly and said, "I do have a few. Would you like to know what kind of item you're looking for? Just give me a general idea." There were some... he was likely one of those exceptional individuals who achieved their wisdom through external means—the "generalists." Without hiding his admiration, Caine said, "I'm looking for someone who surpasses me in ability, not just in combat skills, but preferably with some truly extraordinary power." He kept his description somewhat vague to preserve his image as a newcomer. "The Elder of Wisdom's Eye" smiled and replied, "I have an item that perfectly fits your needs. It was previously designated as '2–081.'" "2–081?" Caine asked, puzzled. His confusion was only superficial—deep down, he was genuinely astonished. Was this a sealed artifact flowing out from the Church of the Goddess, originating from beyond the gates of Charnis? Caine hadn't expected to encounter such familiar numerical designations here. "The Eye of Wisdom" explained briefly: "Many magical items come with obvious drawbacks that can cause significant harm. Therefore, the seven orthodox divine churches collect and seal them, calling them 'seals,' and assign them unique numerical designations." "After years of debate and coordination, the seven churches established a unified naming system, using '0,' '1,' '2,' and '3' to indicate different levels of danger, with '0' being the most perilous—some of these items are said to be capable of destroying entire nations or even the world." "The seven churches exchange information about their '0' and '1' seals, informing each other of which ones they possess, ensuring that the designations for these levels do not repeat. For '2' and '3' seals, each church maintains its own sequence, so different churches may share the same designation." Klein had already been aware of the general situation within the Watchers, but he remained deeply puzzled about one point: "Why do they regularly exchange the designations of their '0'-level and '1'-level seals?" Isn't that revealing their core strengths, letting the other churches know exactly how many cards they hold in their hand? Of course, it could also be seen as a strategic deterrent, preventing direct conflicts among the seven churches. Klein pondered the possible rationale. "Yes, though I cannot fully grasp the reasoning behind it, the practice has indeed taken place—reportedly established during the late Fourth Age and early Fifth Age, through an agreement reached among the seven churches." "The Elder of the 'Eye of Wisdom' spoke slowly and steadily, 'My '2–081' originates from the Church of the Deities of Knowledge and Wisdom. It enables you to understand and grasp much—allowing you to swiftly recognize the specifics of even your opponent's exceptional abilities, discern their strengths and weaknesses, and with a certain probability, imitate them to some extent. The stronger the opponent, the higher the chance of failure. Of course, even if successful, the result will inevitably differ significantly from the original.' That sounds impressive indeed... Is knowledge equivalent to power? Eventually, will it evolve into a state where omniscience equals omnipotence? Hmm... I retract my earlier assessment. Perhaps the Elder is not, in fact, a 'Judge'—his ability to identify items may rely entirely on the sealed artifact '2–081.' Quietly impressed, Caine inquired with keen interest, 'Then, what should I offer to acquire it?' 'And what are its limitations?' "It will keep your mind constantly in high gear. Once the time limit is exceeded, you'll become a fool," the "Eye of Wisdom" simply replied, offering only a brief description. At that moment, the pharmacist beside him murmured, "Perhaps your mind has already been damaged by all your talk about your collections. Eventually, someone will come and rob you, even kill you!" Mr. Klein, your words when advising others are never particularly pleasing—his inner critique surfaced. The "Eye of Wisdom" chuckled and said, "How do you know I'm not deliberately saying this, deliberately waiting for the greedy ones to take the first move?" "Ah, just like Emperor Roscel described the practice of fishing with a net—where you wait patiently for the fish to come to you." After the laughter subsided, he tapped the armrest of the sofa and sighed, "As someone who loves collecting, it's truly painful to be unable to showcase your treasures to others." He then turned to Caine: "I'm sorry, but I won't be selling '2—081.' It's my finest collection piece, the one I purchased for 6,800 pounds back then. For sealings of this grade, prices typically range from 4,000 to 20,000 pounds, depending on their specific functions and potential risks. However, even with sufficient funds, one often can't secure them." So what are you trying to say all this for...? Caine managed to keep a steady grip on the tremor at his lips. The elder with the "Eye of Wisdom" seemed to sense Mr. Crane's reaction, and chuckled warmly: "What I truly wish to recommend are two items. First, a brooch that grants you protection from evil, purification abilities, and the capacity to use certain solar domain spells—though its drawback is that as long as you wear it, you'll never feel cool, always remaining in the scorching heat of southern summer. Second, a hat that can change shape; once worn, you may freely move underwater for at least half an hour and employ various water and wind domain spells—yet the downside is that you'll grow increasingly thirsty, and as you walk upon land, your strength will gradually fade. The price for such items typically ranges from 1,500 to 3,500 pounds. Indeed, even when I double the price, I sometimes can't secure them, as they are rarely available. Over thirty years of collecting, I've only managed to gather a few." "Having said that, he deliberately smiled and added, 'Moreover, I don't have much money these days.' PS: An early update is available at midnight.