On a Wednesday evening, at 7:55, in the back alley of the "Brave Ones" bar. Based on memory, Crane wound his way around until he finally located the house with its dark lights. Today, he had adopted a certain disguise—wearing a gray-blue worker's uniform, a baseball cap, and a beard that covered his face—so that people wouldn't recognize him as the man who had previously bought the "Black Serpent" items purely by luck. He hoped that both the elderly "Eye of Wisdom" and the "Pharmacist" would not recognize him either; otherwise, a newcomer to the extraordinary ranks, who had only recently achieved his status through luck, would be seen within just one week already possessing several potion recipes, which would inevitably raise questions and suspicions. Crane inserted both hands into his coat pockets and felt the Azk copper whistle, the ordinary tarot cards, and the newly replenished talismans. His worker's uniform had also been specially tailored by a tailor, featuring numerous small pockets filled with metal bottles containing various herbal powders, distilled essences, and other such items. Inhaling deeply and then exhaling slowly, Caine pulled from the inside of his coat a iron mask that covered only his upper face, completing his initial disguise. Then, leveraging the abilities of the "Clown," he controlled the subtle expressions and bodily movements of his face, altered his gait, and dampened the facial nerves, striving to make himself clearly distinct from his former self. Yet, I'm not sure how the elderly "Eye of Wisdom" recognizes people—only that he's managed to achieve this level of distinction. Oh, if only I were already the "Faceless One"... but then, wouldn't that make attending such a modest gathering of extraordinary beings entirely unnecessary? Standing outside, Caine remained calm for a few seconds, then raised his right hand and tapped the door three times with a steady rhythm—seven strong taps, one lighter—followed by six longer taps and one shorter one. The wooden panel on the door was almost immediately drawn aside without a sound, and a single eye appeared behind it, observing the visitor from top to bottom. A few seconds later, the main door creaked open, and a servant from the "Eye of Wisdom" presented Klein with a long black robe with a hood. Klein maintained his expression of neutral composure, swiftly donned the robe, pulled down the hood, and let the shadows conceal his face. As he walked toward the sitting room, he deliberately adopted a step pattern unfamiliar to him, striving to eliminate any awkwardness. In the dimly lit, deeply atmospheric room illuminated only by the gentle sway of a single candle, several guests had already arrived. Unlike in previous occasions, when he had typically chosen a corner seat, Klein now sat confidently on a high stool near the center. In short, every outward aspect of his behavior had to differ from the two prior times! This was precisely the domain where the "Clown" excelled at reflecting upon and beginning to master his own presence. In the quiet, almost still atmosphere of the sitting room, time passed slowly until finally, the elderly gentleman known as "The Eye of Wisdom" glanced at the clock on the wall, his voice growing frail: "It's time. Let us begin—there's no need to wait for latecomers." As soon as he finished speaking, Caine immediately said in a low, steady tone: "I would like to sell my magic potion recipe." "From the Eternal Sunny Church—Sequence 9, 'The Hymn-Singer,' and Sequence 8, 'The Light-Prayerer.'" "The former at 220 pounds, the latter at 450 pounds." This was the scheme he had carefully considered. Introducing the 'Audience' and 'Mind-Reader'—members of a secret organization active within the Kingdom of Ruin and in the region of Béklând—might draw their attention if done too abruptly. Meanwhile, the Eternal Sunny Church has been kept outside the Kingdom of Ruin by the Church of the Storm Lord, and consequently, its extraordinary individuals are rare in Béklând, making it difficult for them to engage in any significant activities—thus, a very safe choice. The magic potion of the "Seer" path involves Kline himself, and of course he does not wish to reveal his own traits in this way. —— After so many firsthand experiences and observations of extraordinary beings in battle, he gradually came to a certain realization: below the higher sequences, extraordinary beings from different paths each have their own distinct characteristics, not identical to one another. That is, each has strengths and weaknesses of their own, and these are so clearly defined—some truly excel, while others are quite weak when it comes to their shortcomings. For instance, the "audience" path lacks the ability for direct combat, yet if they are overlooked and passively guided, even with exceptional combat prowess and extraordinary skills, they may perish without understanding the cause—take the case of General Zingels, who possesses the magical item "The Crawling Hunger," achieving a combined combat strength of Sequence 5, yet ultimately dies under mysterious circumstances. While much of the credit goes to Azk's strength, the role of the "audience" cannot be ignored. Since most extraordinary professions below high sequence are clearly defined yet notably deficient in physical resilience, if they can conceal their strengths, gain early insight into their adversaries, and effectively deploy strategies targeting their weaknesses, defeating a stronger opponent is very achievable. In extreme cases, a Sequence 9 character defeating a Sequence 5 one is even plausible. Certainly, this example is a near-perfect assumption—something that in reality is extremely unlikely to occur. By sequence 5, the individuals are already considered strong, and their exceptional abilities each possess a level of wonder that can be deemed magical. The term "skilled" effectively masks their weaker points, and until they reach sequence 6, they remain largely unaffected. On the other hand, many exceptional individuals below higher sequences often fear being overwhelmed, even when facing opponents who are themselves below their own sequence level. Once they become hurried and struggle to manage multiple demands, their weaknesses become decisive factors. These very challenges explain why "shepherds" rank first among those below higher sequences—they are exceptionally well-rounded. When their exceptional abilities are well-combined and properly matched, their weaknesses essentially disappear! Once I reach Sequence 7 and develop these magical, extraordinary abilities, I'll be able to stand up to even a Sequence 6 directly—perhaps even win—while against a Sequence 5, I'll still have a chance to escape. As my thoughts race, Caine surveys the room, hoping someone will speak up. If the "Hymn Singers" and "Luminaries" don't sell, then we'll have to settle for the "Audiences" and "Mind Readers," and rely on concepts like the immortality and conservation of properties—our own path's formulas must remain untouched, neither the "Witch" nor the "Sorcerer" path, for if we sell them, it will lead to serious crises; whether "Influencers" or "Witches," they'll all have to act maliciously. Caine feels a slight unease internally, yet maintains a composed expression, waiting patiently. "Actually, I can consider purchasing," says the plump apothecary, smiling. "I can take on another apprentice and assign him these two formulas, so he can specifically seek light for my herbs—perfect! Luxurious!" His words broke the brief silence in the room. A man in the corner, whose hat was drawn low, spoke with deliberate sharpness: "Perhaps I can offer my children something stronger than my current sequence." "Sequence 9 for 200 pounds, Sequence 8 for 400 pounds—deal if agreed." To be able to offer 600 pounds in one go was certainly a sign of wealth—this would allow one to buy a home in Tinggen City... Klein feigned thoughtful consideration, glancing at other attendees to gauge their reactions. Seeing no one eager to raise their bids and noting that the other party's offer had reached their own psychological threshold, Klein then added: "One condition: you may not sell these two formulations within this gathering; elsewhere, you're free to do so." The man responded sharply: "Very well. Testimony of the Elder of 'Wisdom's Eye.'." Klein didn't know how to prove the recipes were genuine without opening up and asking questions, thus revealing that he hadn't attended several gatherings. He could only remain silent, raise his cloak, and hand the two pre-written potion recipes to the attendant beside him. Instead of going to the corner, the attendant walked to the central single sofa and delivered the folded papers to "The Eye of Wisdom." The elderly gentleman unfolded the papers but didn't glance at them closely, placing them on a small round table beside him. Then, he took out a handkerchief, wiped his right palm, and retrieved a ring from his pocket—set with numerous small diamond-like stones. The ring was intricately designed and elegant, with a vibrant emerald stone at its center resembling an eye. Simply glancing at it from a distance, Klein felt a sensation of dizziness and physical discomfort, much like when he had seen a mathematics exam before. "The Eye of Wisdom" solemnly placed the ring on his right middle finger and closed his eyes, as though preparing for something significant. Suddenly, the emerald stone on the ring burst forth with a brilliant, sun-like golden glow. The elder known as "The Eye of Wisdom" swiftly extended his right hand, guiding the stone to touch the magical potion formula written by Celine. Streams of golden light grew increasingly pure, eventually solidifying into a seal-like projection. "Authentic, effective!" the elder declared solemnly, then removed the ring immediately, unwilling to wear it for even a single second longer. Such a tone—so much like that of a notary! This very ring was the elder's most prized possession, the sealed artifact "2–081"? It had somehow mimicked the capabilities of a notary? Celine watched thoughtfully, eyes gleaming with admiration. Following the notarization, the transaction was swiftly completed, and Celine received a thick stack of cash—all ten-pound banknotes. He counted the bills three times in succession, then held them gently in his palms, without folding or inserting them into his coat pocket, simply waiting for the next opportunity to step outside. — He intended to observe first, to confirm there were no items he needed before making a request. At that moment, the rounded "pharmacist" glanced around and said, "I've brought a few sedatives." Did he really? I've completely forgotten about this... To distinguish himself from the past, Cline had to feign ignorance. He called out several times, but received no response, so the pharmacist mumbled, "Didn't he come this time?" "Perhaps he passed away somewhere." Thank you for your 'blessing'... But the fact that you failed to recognize me is actually a relief... Cline exhaled slightly, easing his tension. The pharmacist then routinely asked once again for the "crystalline essence of the Elven Spring," yet secured no purchase. When he finally paused and closed his mouth, a woman whose face was entirely shaded by her hood and who carried two boxes at her feet spoke up, "I have two weapons with exceptional effects." Is this the woman who sold me the runic steel sword last time? The seer's spiritual intuition suggested that… she had two more similar weapons? She must be backed by the Extraordinary Armaments Group, surely… Ah, perhaps she has a "craftsman" behind her—a "Universalist" path, Sequence 6 "Craftsman," often known as a "mechanical specialist." Kline looked toward her with genuine anticipation. He had agreed to provide the "Sun" with an extraordinary weapon valued between 500 and 700 pounds, one that would effectively enhance the "Sun's" combat strength. He hadn't committed to a specific type or features, so as long as it was roughly adequate and functional, it would suffice—after all, the "Sun" wouldn't be overly picky.