Chapter 149: Tarot Society in Progress

A'erjie was somewhat puzzled why Bai Ta wanted to exchange the reward he had promised him for a page of Russell's diary, or perhaps the diary he had already submitted to Mr. Yu Zhe for review.

But his attention was far more drawn to the Wind Afflicted's demon elixir formula, and he hurriedly asked:

"How many gold pounds, or what kind of magical item do you need?"

"Just give it as you see fit; the other side's condition is a task—a task you cannot complete."

"I will complete that task to obtain the Wind Afflicted's demon elixir formula; you only need to give me gold pounds or items of equivalent value, plus the Russell diary I mentioned earlier."

Lei Ke Dun gave his answer, after all the captain's mission was to investigate the reason for the Hidden Sage's brief descent in Bei Ke Lan De, which was not something A'erjie drifting far at sea could accomplish.

Hanged Man A'erjie nodded slightly, unconcerned with the issue; his only goal was the Wind Afflicted's demon elixir formula, as long as he could get it.

However, curious about the task he could not complete, he asked:

"What kind of task? What makes you think I definitely can't finish it?"

"Investigate last night's event of the Hidden Sage's brief descent in Bei Ke Lan De."

Lei Ke Dun stated the captain's request for investigation in an unflinching tone.

Hanged Man A'erjie was silent for a moment; indeed he could not complete this task—whether he was far at sea or even in Bei Ke Lan De, he would not dare investigate a mission involving an evil god's descent.

Perhaps a single oversight in the task could trap him in danger for unknown reasons, or cause him to lose control and go mad.

"I understand. I will prepare an equivalent reward within these two days, but regarding an event involving an evil god's descent, you'd better not investigate too deeply; it's too dangerous."

Hanged Man A'erjie nodded in agreement to the deal, then added a reminder.

The senior Mr. Yu Zhe thought to himself, "No, he doesn't need to investigate anything; that's what he's doing."

Justice Ao Dai Li, positioned to the side front, recalled the Lan Er Wu Si death incident.

"The timing matches, and the location is also Bei Ke Lan De; it's hard not to link the two events together."

Ao Dai Li kept pondering in her mind.

A routine investigation task involving two evil gods both shocked and worried Ao Dai Li. She felt Bei Ke Lan De was like a huge cake, attracting every evil god to take a bite.

Xiao Taiyang, not fully understanding what the True Creator and Hidden Sage are, stayed silent until everyone else fell quiet, then, imitating Miss Justice, raised his hand and said:

"Mr. Shi Jie, the magical item you gave me is extremely useful; I have already exchanged materials to advance to Sequence Eight, and in these two days I can hire assistants to obtain the true roots and sap of the Mist Treefolk."

Xiao Taiyang spoke in great detail, and the axe that Mr. Shi Jie gave him was so powerful it astonished him; just two or three casual swings could generate a highly lethal lightning bolt.

He loves that extraordinary weapon; in Silver City, sheer power is reason enough!

"Alright."

Mr. Shi Jie, under Ke Lai En's control, gave a gentle nod and replied.

He then turned to the group again and asked:

"Madam, sir, do you have any leads on oblique‑striped Black Panther spinal fluid or the marrow crystal of the Elf Spring?"

Miss Justice and Lei Ke Dun, who never attends extraordinary gatherings outside the Tarot Society, both shook their heads slightly.

Hanged Man A'erjie pondered for a few seconds then recounted that a grand pirate gathering will soon occur, and such a large‑scale trade event might provide the materials Mr. Shi Jie needs.

"But I think you have no terms that would move me."

A'erjie added finally.

"Give some information, then end the conversation with a refusal—Hanged Man truly is a shrewd price‑hiking merchant!"

Lei Ke Dun sat aside, maintaining a proper posture while inwardly muttering insults toward Hanged Man.

Lei Ke Dun considered what Ke Lai En could offer in trade; after a while he realized Ke Lai En truly had nothing that could sway Hanged Man A'erjie—gold pounds would work, but the poor Ke Lai En couldn't produce that many.

"I have an incomplete Sequence Four demon elixir formula in my hand."

Ke Lai En, manipulating Mr. Shi Jie, stated the item he intended to exchange.

Lei Ke Dun instantly understood that this incomplete formula must be the No Dark One of the Solar Path.

Unfortunately, Hanged Man A'erjie has no intention of changing paths, so Mr. Yu Zhe's transaction cannot be completed.

Justice Miss Ao Dai Li's eyes lit up upon hearing about the incomplete Sequence Four formula; this is a demon elixir formula for the half‑human, half‑god ladder, even a fragment cannot be bought with money!

Ao Dai Li, unable to hide her curiosity, asked:

"Mr. Shi Jie, may I ask which path's Sequence Four formula this is? If it's inconvenient, just consider I said nothing."

Ke Lai En, through Mr. Shi Jie, answered in a hoarse voice:

"I was about to say it: it's the Solar Path Sequence Four No Dark One demon elixir formula."

Solar Path? The biggest reaction came from the table—Xiao Taiyang beside Lei Ke Dun. Lei Ke Dun gave a calm nod, his mind pondering that no one wants this formula; how should Ke Lai En preserve it?

Although currently in the Tarot Society, aside from Ke Lai En himself, everyone could make use of this formula, no one intends to switch paths.

The only Solar Path member, Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke, is only at Sequence Eight, still far from Sequence Four.

Predictably, Ke Lai En's trade through Mr. Shi Jie was rejected by Hanged Man A'erjie.

Mr. Shi Jie, under Ke Lai En's control, was silent for a few seconds.

Lei Ke Dun seized the chance, turned his body to face the gloomy Mr. Shi Jie, and said cheerfully:

"Mr. Shi Jie, do you need to borrow money?"

"Or you could go to Inditis, lure out a magician, and I'll help you eliminate him and claim his traits!"

Ke Lai En, who had only been briefly silent and intended to trade with Hanged Man using some secrets about the top tier of the sequences that A'er told him, fell truly silent after hearing Lei Ke Dun's words.

Although A'er's tone was unabashedly giddy, his proposal made the shameful Ke Lai En's heart stir.

Seated on the other side, Ao Dai Li's curious gaze scanned back and forth, looking at the gloomy Mr. Shi Jie and then at the White Tower gentleman she had seen only once, speculating in her mind:

"They must know each other, and from Mr. Bai Ta's tone one can tell their relationship is decent; otherwise he wouldn't speak in such a joking manner."

The Hanged Man, also curious, examined the White Tower, whose eyes clearly showed a tendency to help the world complete the trade, and after deliberation said:

"If you can provide enough gold pounds, I can, at the upcoming pirate gathering, purchase the materials you need."

"Actually, you have an even simpler and faster way to obtain the materials you need."

Lei Ke Dun's tone was subtle as he spoke.

"What method?" Ke Lai En asked, manipulating the world.

Lei Ke Dun shook his head slightly: "After it's over, find a time to ask me again."

Lei Ke Dun thought of a simpler, quicker method: have Ke Lai En go pray once in the Night Church; perhaps on his way home he'll meet an unlucky magician.

Mr. World nodded slightly, did not continue the topic. Ke Lai En plans to wait until today's tarot session ends, then ask Al about his method before deciding whether to trade with Mr. Hanged Man.

Miss Justice, seeing Mr. World had no further words for now, shifted her gaze to the Little Sun beside Lei Ke Dun and said:

"Mr. Sun, I recall you said that in Silver City there is a dragon path from Sequence Nine to Sequence Seven for the magic elixir formula. If I want the Sequence Seven formula, what price must I pay?"

"The Sun path Sequence Seven magic elixir formula." Little Sun answered without hesitation.

Miss Justice nodded slightly:

"I'll try to gather it."

Lei Ke Dun recalled in his mind and found that his memory of the psychologist magic elixir formula only contained the main ingredient, and he shook his head slightly in disappointment.

Lei Ke Dun's curious gaze fell on the Fool at the top; he remembered that Ke Lai En should have a magic elixir formula below Sun path Sequence Four, but since Ke Lai En said nothing, perhaps he was mistaken.

Lei Ke Dun raised his hand slightly and then said:

"I know the Sun path Sequence Seven Sun Priest's magic elixir formula. If you're interested, you can come to me for an exchange at any time; my terms remain the same: extraordinary traits or materials of equivalent value."

"Of course, Miss Justice, if you wish to purchase it first and trade with Mr. Sun, that's also possible."

Ao Dai Li's eyes lit up, then dimmed; she suddenly realized her current finances could no longer afford to buy a Sequence Seven magic elixir formula.

Lei Ke Dun noticed the awkward situation of Little Sun and Ao Dai Li, smiled slightly and said:

"No need to rush; the trade isn't urgent. I think Sun, who just advanced to Sequence Eight and still needs to seek the true root and sap of the Mist Treefolk, can't trade for now."

"Uh, yes." Little Sun lowered his head slightly, a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, thank you, Mr. White Tower."

Miss Justice regained her spirits and cheerfully nodded at Lei Ke Dun.

She now understood Mr. White Tower's meaning; Mr. Sun, like herself, currently has nothing to trade.

So she can simply wait a while, let her finances improve, then purchase the formula from Mr. White Tower and trade with Mr. Sun.

"Phew—fortunately Mr. White Tower is happy to facilitate a deal everyone is satisfied with; if he were to trade directly with Mr. Sun himself, I would have nothing left to exchange with Mr. Sun for the psychologist formula."

(End of Chapter)