Could extraordinary beings gather? Klein paused briefly, then nodded in agreement. "Certainly." It was also time to begin gathering the auxiliary materials for the "Master of Secret Figures" potion, and perhaps he could meet with a craftsman or two—he unconsciously began planning the arrangements in his mind. Upon hearing Germain Spalro agree, Daniz quietly exhaled, his expression breaking into a genuine smile. For several days, with his reward significantly increased and his duties of constant listening demanding, he had remained steadfastly in his hotel suite, feeling increasingly restless and eager for the evening to arrive. The gathering of extraordinary beings Daniz mentioned took place at the Shy Leaf Tavern, a vibrant hub frequented by pirates, informants, and adventurers—exactly the first choice for gathering intelligence and procuring supplies. Caine wore a black coat and a silk hat, following Daniz through the bustling, crowded bar hall, its air thick with mingled scents, into a card room. After giving the agreed-upon signal to several guards, he descended a hidden staircase, arriving at a broad underground area. Like the "Dragon's Den" in Tinggen, this space hosted a market for herbs, essential oils, ancient texts, talismans, and various common esoteric materials. Yet here, in addition, a wide range of firearms and ammunition were available—Caine even spotted antique matchlock guns and lead bullets. Ah, and they sold forged identity documents and engraved seals as well—no wonder, given that this was a colonial outpost, such services were far more developed than in Tinggen. He’d stop by to purchase supplies for the talismans of the "Sea God" domain; bulk purchases would surely come with some discounts. Caine gently turned his head from side to side, taking in the full scope of the underground market. Daniž, standing beside him, had begun to doubt his own makeup and grooming skills, deliberately wearing a baseball cap tilted low over his forehead, partially concealing half his face. Now, he guided Caine with practiced ease toward the far end of the underground trading market, tapping the closed door with a rhythmic pattern of two long and four short strokes. Inside, only one candle flickered, swaying gently on a lamp bracket against the side wall, casting a soft, dim yellow light that barely illuminated the small room. Daniž pointed to the long robes and masks hung or placed on the table, and said to Caine, "You can choose your own disguise—or decide to make none at all." Caine glanced around, taking in the guards stationed throughout the room: "I don't need any." "I'm now an inside source for the royal military, and the Storm Church knows this as well—there's nothing to fear... If the pirates and adventurers grow ill at ease because I haven't disguised myself and decide to launch an attack, well... Klein suddenly envisioned in his mind a series of rewards cascading toward him, like golden accolades arriving one after another. Danzis gave a subtle sigh, picked up the black iron mask, and donned it. Then, under the guidance of the guards, he and Klein moved through a dimly lit corridor into another room. The room was quite luxurious—thick carpets from the southern continent covered the floor, golden lamp fixtures adorned the walls, and fresh-scented candles diffused a warm, layered glow. Klein glanced around, found a brown leather sofa on his own, sat down, leaned back, and rested his right leg. Several dozen people have gathered here—men, women, some draped in long cloaks with hoods, others openly revealing themselves. As described by Daniz earlier in the morning, not all attendees are extraordinary; among them are representatives from various powers, as well as adventurers, pirates, and enthusiasts of esoteric studies. It is truly tragic when a secret falls into someone's hands... Daniz sighed inwardly. Klein gave a barely perceptible nod, quietly observing the transactions unfolding around him. Several magical potion recipes—such as "Warrior," "Sailor," and "Observer"—had appeared here, yet no one had purchased them, and the hopeful sellers, one after another, grew disheartened and eventually abandoned their efforts. Daniz glanced at Germain Spalro's composed face, then leaned in slightly, speaking softly: "This gathering lacks a notary or a powerful seer. The authenticity of the potion recipes cannot be guaranteed—such things are too easily forged. Even if a recipe is discovered to be fake, the seller cannot be held accountable, since he too might have been a victim." I understand... that's one of the reasons why these recipes haven't spread more widely... Klein lowered his lifted right leg, leaned forward slightly, and spoke in a steady, moderate tone: "I need the residual spirit of ancient spirits of malice. He didn't mention the six-winged specters' eyes or the golden spring water from Sunya, fearing that others might deduce he was the "Faceless One" and thus guess that he was aiming to become a Master of Secret Figures. ——When he was in Tinggen, Klein had relied on the combination of supporting materials to firmly suspect that Dastur Gudrian was a near-"spectator," thereby uncovering his identity as a member of the Psychological Alchemy Circle. The isolated remnants of ancient spirits, however, could not reveal much more, as such elements were commonly used in many necromantic rituals. Although Klein didn't disguise himself, he maintained the necessary caution. The room fell silent for two seconds, then a slightly deeper, more resonant voice spoke: "How much?" Really? Klein controlled his expression, holding back his delight. He turned his head to the speaker and found a man in his thirties with clear local ancestry. The other had a copper complexion, yet it was dull, as though long suffering from poor nutrition or insufficient sunlight exposure; his face was thin, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eyes, and his whites were more prominent than his blacks. "A small bottle," said Kraen, holding up a metal vial as an example. The thin, pale man remained silent for a moment, then said: "Five hundred pounds." That was reasonable... Kraen had intended to negotiate, but his peripheral vision caught sight of Daniz sitting beside him. "I am Germain Spalro, a cold and passionate adventurer..." Kraen repeated these words in his mind three times, took a quiet breath, and nodded calmly. "Agreed." He produced the stack of thick cash he had prepared, counting out the five hundred pounds. The man with an overwhelming amount of white in his eyes pulled out a glass test tube from his pocket and tossed it casually toward Kraen. "Within a year, the spiritual essence will completely vanish." He wasn't afraid that the other might miss it, because even if it broke, the material itself would remain unharmed—merely requiring a new container. With a smooth motion, Kline lifted his right hand and grasped the glass test tube precisely. Inside, phosphorescent dots floated, and when they touched the inner wall of the glass, they strangely swelled, transforming into faces with blurred features, opening their mouths, and silently shrieking. It was truly remarkable. Kline nodded to himself, then handed the thick stack of 500 pounds in cash to the waiter who had approached, who would deliver it to the seller. The transaction continued, with most of the attempts failing and only a few succeeding. As the gathering drew to a close, the host, "The Mighty Ozer," smiled and said, "I have a commission." He drew a photograph from the inner pocket of his clothing. "Find the person in the photo. The reward is 1,000 pounds—or an equivalent common extraordinary material. Remember, she must not be harmed." 1,000 pounds? This would drive most adventurers mad...how could anyone possibly find someone to take such a high fee...Klein didn't find it surprising when he saw that everyone present expressed willingness to try. The photograph began passing clockwise, and within a few minutes reached Klein's hands. He glanced at it casually, and suddenly felt a sense of surprise. The woman in the photo was quite beautiful, with vivid red hair and eyes the color of emeralds, her skin not particularly fair but healthy and vibrant. Dressed in a long dress of lake-blue, the waist cinched by a ribbon that had formed a bloom, she appeared slender, yet her expression, though seemingly smiling, was overall uneasy and somewhat stiff. A girl from a well-to-do family...who would offer 1,000 pounds for her, on the condition that she not be harmed...ah, a photograph showing only a faint, forced smile...Klein immediately recalled several intricate love stories filled with conflict and tension. What powerful pirate fell in love with a wealthy merchant's daughter, only to have her escape back to land, what downtrodden noble lady ended up as a pirate, captured by accident, and found herself falling in love with the "punisher" and upper-level military officers, thus overcoming her predicament and breaking free from her prison—what fresh, newly emerged sorceress, delighting her loved ones, ended up with an unexpected emotional debt... As these ideas flowed through him, Kline nearly raised his hand to cover his face. He'd read so many novels in his previous life... and now, with sorceresses in this world, he felt a psychological shadow. He sighed quietly, lifted his head, and addressed the gathering's host, Ozer: "Her name?" "Elain," Ozer replied simply, "though she's certainly already adopted a pseudonym." Elain—a classic name for an Indis woman... Kline asked again: "Does she have any items she often wears? Hair, for instance, would suffice." That serves as a medium for divination and locating her. Klein didn't mention that he hadn't yet pressed his recently worn clothes, fearing that his hidden employer might send him a women's undergarment—which would have been rather awkward. Ozler shook his head: "No. She has strong anti-tracking abilities." "Then, what's her level of strength?" asked another attendee. Ozler said seriously: "The employer didn't go into great detail, only that she's not particularly strong, but better than Level 9. You don't need to capture her—you just need to confirm her whereabouts to receive your payment." PS: Last few hours of 2018—please vote for monthly tickets! The voting for the most popular character is also ending soon. Regardless of the final outcome, our sustained first-place position is something to be proud of. I'll be adding an extra update in the early morning. Thank you all.