Chapter 289: Rumors at Sea

Miss Magician's idea is quite creative—the Tarot Club now has another rental platform project. If this develops further, there might even be transactions for renting out Beyonder abilities in the future. I wonder if it'll develop into something like "DiDi Beat People." Klein's thoughts wandered beneath the gray fog.

Renting mystical items. Justice Audrey turned to look at Mr. Fool at the head of the mottled long table. Unable to glean any information from Mr. Fool, she withdrew her gaze and turned to Magician Fors, saying:

"Your proposal is very interesting. If I have need, I will rent that notebook from you."

"Mm." Fors gave a slight nod. She had only proposed the idea on a sudden whim and hadn't expected anyone to rent Le Mano's travel notebook from her right now.

Reckton, who had been lounging lazily against his high-backed chair, suddenly grew interested. He leaned forward abruptly, resting both elbows on the bronze long table before him.

His relatively large movement immediately drew everyone's attention.

Seeing the other Tarot Club members all looking at him, Reckton said with a smile at the corner of his mouth:

"Based on Miss Magician's mystical item, I have a new transaction project. I wonder if you'd be interested."

Having said that, he pushed with both hands, leaning his body back against the chair again, and without waiting for anyone to ask questions, continued:

"I possess a large number of Beyonder abilities. Even at the demigod level, I have quite a few. I can lend these Beyonder abilities to you when you need them."

"Mm—excluding the relatively rare Marauder and Monster pathways, as well as the relatively weak Sleepless, Reader, Lawyer, and Apothecary—these four pathways, I can record Beyonder abilities of mid-sequence or even demigod level from any other pathway in Le Mano's travel notebook."

The Apothecary pathway is among those he's relatively weak in. He should only have some Beyonder abilities of the Apothecary and Beast Tamer, and beyond that it involves us vampires—thinking of this, Emlyn slightly raised his right hand and said:

"I can lend you Beyonder abilities from the Apothecary pathway. As long as the price is right, even a demigod's is not impossible."

I can find a way to request Lord Nibbs to demonstrate his Beyonder abilities—I just need a suitable excuse.

Audrey raised her hand with some excitement, but then put it down again. Mr. White Tower also possesses Beyonder abilities of the Spectator pathway, and is probably even more formidable than a true Spectator like me.

Quick reaction, directly using Miss Magician's mystical item to propose a Beyonder ability transaction. But he alone has monopolized all the Beyonder abilities possessed by members other than Emlyn—not even leaving us a drop of soup!

Klein's figure beneath the gray fog shook his head imperceptibly. The Reader pathway, which can analyze others' Beyonder abilities, fully demonstrates what "knowledge is power" means. Well, it can also be money.

The Tarot Club's overall strength will receive a substantial boost thanks to Miss Magician's mystical item. As long as we prepare in advance, every one of us can display near-demigod level power.

The Hanged Man A'erjie narrowed his eyes slightly, reaching a conclusion in his mind. Recording demigod-level abilities—Mr. White Tower's fees certainly won't be cheap. I need to save more money for a rainy day.

This perfectly compensates for the Spectator pathway's own fragility and lack of powerful offensive means. I really want to buy that mystical item—with the Tarot Club as backing, this mystical item could produce effects far beyond its inherent value.

Justice Audrey pursed her lips. Though somewhat reluctant, she understood that Fors could certainly think of these things too, and would not sell this mystical item.

While everyone had their various thoughts, Sun Derrick slightly raised his right hand, turned to look at Reckton, and proposed a new transaction:

"Mr. White Tower, I would like to purchase from you the Sun Priest potion formula. I wonder what I would need to pay?"

his Light-Bringer potion had been fully digested, and Miss Justice had also obtained the Psychiatrist potion formula and materials through other channels, so the originally planned three-party transaction had to be called off.

"The Necromancer potion formula—this is a Sequence 6 formula. If you can obtain it, I will compensate the difference in price."

Reckton stated his needs after a moment's thought, along with a potion formula that Silver City most likely possessed.

Derrick frowned for a moment, then spoke with careful deliberation:

"I need to ask the Chief first. This belongs to the pathway mastered by the Phoenix. Silver City only has some of the potion formulas, and I'm not certain whether they include the sequence you need."

"No problem." Reckton gave a slight nod and responded.

After receiving Reckton's response, Derrick pursed his lips. He wanted to ask when the grain traded with Silver City would be ready.

Though these past days, Mr. White Tower had been sending some food every day through sacrifice and bestowal, but doing so too frequently troubled Mr. Fool too much.

Klein, at the head of the mottled long table, looked around. Seeing no one continuing to converse, he gave a light chuckle and said:

"Free exchange."

Justice Audrey habitually wanted to speak, but after careful thought, felt she had no news to share this week.

The Hanged Man A'erjie slightly changed his posture at this point, straightening his back and saying:

"Everyone, two major events have recently occurred at sea, and bizarre ones at that."

"What major events?"

Audrey asked, full of curiosity. Any event that the Hanged Man would describe this way was certainly not simple. Well, only events of this magnitude were worth discussing in our Tarot Club.

The Hanged Man glanced at Justice Audrey on the opposite side as if in response, then spoke in a low, husky voice:

"A few days ago, in the waters near the Gargas Archipelago in the White Whale Sea, Vice Admiral Iceberg's Golden Dream engaged in a massive battle with the flagship of the Pirate King of Death, the 'Death Announcer.'"

"A battle between a pirate admiral and a pirate king? Is Vice Admiral Iceberg that powerful? And why did they clash?"

Justice Audrey, who often listened to the Hanged Man A'erjie recount his maritime experiences, was quite interested in this news.

Beside them, Magician Fors and Moon Emlyn also looked at A'erjie with curiosity. Only Sun Derrick, who had no understanding of or concern for these matters, remained silent, quietly listening from the side.

The Hanged Man A'erjie did not mind Miss Justice interrupting his words. He maintained his steady tone and posture, continuing:

"It's said to be because of a treasure. There was a powerful Beyonder aboard Vice Admiral Iceberg's Golden Dream—definitely a demigod, perhaps even a Saint, though it's unclear which pathway."

"In the battle against the Pirate King of Death, that unknown powerhouse displayed powerful Storm domain Beyonder abilities as well as Sun domain Beyonder abilities, both at the demigod level."

"The battle ultimately ended with the Golden Dream's departure. The Pirate King of Death's 'Death Announcer' has recently been recruiting crew members extensively. It's said that all the previous crew members died in that conflict, while Vice Admiral Iceberg's Golden Dream seemingly suffered no damage, without even a single crew member dying."

"... That incredible!" Justice Audrey's eyes were practically sparkling with little stars—this was even more thrilling than those adventure stories.

The Hanged Man had previously described the various maritime forces in the Tarot Club, and she had a fond impression of Vice Admiral Iceberg, who focused on adventure and treasure hunting, and sometimes even fought pirates. This is exactly what I imagined before I stepped into the mystical world!

Is another new pirate king about to emerge? The sea is truly dangerous. Er, but this has nothing to do with me—I won't be going to sea. Emlyn shook his head slightly, reining in his scattered thoughts.

"Mr. Hanged Man, do you know the details of the battle?"

Magician Fors asked with great curiosity.

Hearing Fors's question, Justice Audrey likewise showed a certain curiosity.

"I don't know, and no one else does either."

"A battlefield of that level—no one dared to get close."

The Hanged Man A'erjie shook his head slightly, then adopted the tone of someone telling a story in a tavern:

"However, I did receive some news. It's said that the weather in that stretch of sea was forcibly changed—originally bright and sunny, it was replaced by lightning and torrential rain in just a few breaths' time."

"The Storm Church takes this matter very seriously. The bounty on Vice Admiral Iceberg has reportedly been raised to 100,000 pounds, the same as the Pirate King of Death."

"..." The Tarot Club fell quiet for a moment. Reckton could even hear the sound of the impoverished vampire Emlyn beside him swallowing.

100,000 pounds! This—this is money I could never earn in my entire life. Magician Fors once again felt her own poverty.

Is this really your true purpose? Raise the bounty on the Ice Mountain Lieutenant General, then enforce the law by baiting. Klein's figure shrouded in grey mist couldn't help but glance at Leonard.

100,000 pounds—I won't be voted off the ship by all the crew of the Golden Dream, will I? Leonard let his thoughts wander; he always felt this bounty could still keep rising.

«Mr. Hanged Man, what is the other major matter you mentioned? »

Audrey, who had not reacted so strongly to the bounty, was the first to come to her senses, and she also became curious about the other matter that A'erjie had mentioned together.

The Hanged Man A'erjie cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice calm as he said:

«The pirate admiral I mentioned before, Blood Admiral Seniol, he and all the crew of his flagship, the Flesh and Blood Tree, have mysteriously disappeared, leaving only the ship drifting at sea. »

«Actually, it's not exactly a disappearance; the Flesh and Blood Tree is still littered with countless limbs and organs that cannot be identified as to shape or part. »

«People will likely be panic-stricken at sea for a long time to come. »

As he spoke, he couldn't help but turn his head toward the far end of the mottled long table, where the figure seated amidst the thick grey mist showed no reaction.

«Doesn't the Fool know either? Or is he unwilling to give a hint, thinking it unnecessary? »

The Hanged Man A'erjie was making some guesses in his mind; he too had only just been urgently recalled by the Storm Church today, and thus learned of these matters. Since the news hasn't had time to spread at sea yet, he felt that for a long time to come, the sea would no longer be calm.

(End of chapter)