Chapter 2322: A Gift from the Ocean

"But I just want to use this coin for divination. Counting this one, I have six special coins in my hand. It's really not bad... Speaking of which, if I use this coin in the Moon Bay area, I wonder what will happen."

After coming out of the black market, it was already past eleven o'clock. Thinking that there would likely be no more gains in Coldwater Port, Xia De was too lazy to go to the beach to bother those smelly mermen who occasionally appeared. So, he finally went to the "Pink Rose Hotel" in a deep alley in the dock slums.

This was where Xia De first met the "Demon Scholar" Mr. Sean Asmon. Xia De also listened to the beginning of that demon story here and won the 【Demon · Soul Stealer Bishop】 (Suit of Hearts Moon 9) by playing cards.

In the wet weather, even the hotel felt damp. The indoor lighting was poor, so the stingy owner lit kerosene lamps on the tables with guests.

There weren't many people in the hotel's first-floor tavern on Saturday morning. Besides the guests, there were a few scattered women dressed somewhat seductively sitting in the corners waiting for customers.

Xia De sat down at the table against the wall where he had played cards with the Demon Scholar. After ordering a glass of rum he didn't actually intend to drink, he planned to sit until 11:40 before going home for lunch. He didn't expect that there was really a surprise waiting for him in this hotel.

After sitting down, he unfolded the day's "Derarion Daily," wanting to continue to see if there was anything interesting in the advertisements on the back page. But before he finished reading the second advertisement for "Lap Tobacco Company Lemon-Flavored Cigarettes," someone took the initiative to sit opposite him.

Xia De peeked out from behind the newspaper and saw that it was a strange man wearing a black hat, and he was just an ordinary person. The latter seemed to be afraid of the light; his hat covered half of his face, he wore a cloth mask, and his whole body was wrapped in thick black clothes, with bandages that had turned somewhat yellow wrapped around his hands at the cuffs.

"You are..."

Xia De raised an eyebrow. The stranger lifted his dirty black briefcase onto the table and then took out a dirty gray cloth bag. The bag was tied with a rope. After untying it, he pushed the bag to Xia De:

"Merchant, a merchant of the lottery game. Three pounds, choose one from the three prizes in the bag."

Xia De twitched his nose and clearly smelled the foul, fishy odor unique to the ocean. If he had met such a person elsewhere, he would have immediately identified him as a swindler. 3 pounds was not a small amount, but now...

"Alright, I like lottery games."

He took three 1-pound coins from his pocket, and the man opposite the table swept them into his coat pocket very casually.

Xia De stared at the bag in front of him, thinking for a moment before reaching his hand in. The space in the bag was normal, and what Xia De touched were three paper balls rolled up in a very simple way.

Because "She" could perceive the outside from any part of Xia De's body, theoretically, Xia De could use some means to know the content on the paper balls. But he didn't do that; instead, he followed his heart and very casually touched one out of the bag:

"This one."

The stranger opposite the table signaled for him to open it himself. The crumpled paper ball looked like it had been torn from a notebook at random. After unfolding it, there was only a red whirlpool pattern drawn on it. So, the person opposite the table tapped his briefcase three times very casually with his bandaged hand and pushed it toward Xia De with force:

"It's yours."

After saying this, he got up and left, not even thinking about taking the bag containing the paper balls. Xia De didn't think about chasing after him; instead, he looked at the briefcase inquisitively and then at the bag:

"What would be on the other two paper balls?"

He satisfied his curiosity with action. After opening the other two paper balls, they were an ink-blue skull pattern and a brownish-yellow lightning pattern, respectively.

【Do you understand now?】

"She" suddenly asked in Xia De's ear. Xia De nodded:

"They represent those three. I think if I had touched a different paper ball, the things in this box would also be different."

Saying this, he stuffed the drawstring bag, which was truly just an ordinary item, into his pocket, and then picked up the briefcase and left, leaving only the untouched wine glass still resting safely beside the kerosene lamp with its flickering flame.

Xia De certainly wouldn't open the box in the tavern. He carried the briefcase and his umbrella to a remote part of the slums, then directly threw the Crystal Shoes to return home.

With a *bang*, he closed the umbrella. The splashed raindrops hadn't even splashed onto the maids' bed before they were controlled by Xia De and flew back.

The sound of Little Mia *thump-thump* running downstairs to greet him appeared immediately. Xia De touched the emblem on his chest, knowing that Miss Galina, who had gone to the meeting this morning, had also returned.

"How did the meeting go?"

When he carried Little Mia to the second floor with one hand, the witch was sitting on the sofa talking to Dorothy. Dorothy moved her body slightly to make room for Xia De, letting Xia De sit between them, so the red-haired witch leaned directly on his shoulder without hesitation:

"Oh, what results could such a breakfast meeting have? I prepared the meal, the Speaker prepared the black tea, and the others prepared their own snacks. Grandma Cassandra's snacks are the best every time; she definitely has a secret recipe. I don't know how much Miss Rita Swift has learned."

"Just now Galina told me that they didn't reach any conclusions all morning. They just used the power of the Council to know what kind of skincare products can resist harmful light."

Dorothy said with a smile, covering her mouth, and the beautiful red-haired Duchess also nodded:

"Yes, yes. However, the Speaker asked again this time if she needed to go to Moon Bay to help. Bella said it wasn't needed for now, and if it was needed, she would directly ask others for help. This time, the Speaker generously opened the Council's armory, allowing the girls participating in the Moon Bay incident—yes, witches and witch apprentices count, and even Sister Daifulin, Miss Elais, Grace, and Helen who are sitting in the Council count."

She seemed to feel this was very unfair:

"Megan and Audrey didn't claim to be two people this time, but why didn't I?! Although the best weapons in the armory opened this time were only Sage-level, I had long since set my eyes on a set of very beautiful jewelry in the armory."

"Because you are in Tobesk."

Xia De said with a smile, and Dorothy also smiled on the side.

"But holding a meeting so early isn't just about distributing weapons. There are two things that reached a conclusion this time. One is the matter of the Secret Keeper-level relic 【Star Sword Stone】 you mentioned."

She leaned lazily on Xia De's shoulder, watching her maids clear away the teapot on the coffee table and replace it with a new teapot and fruit:

"The Speaker said that the material of her pocket watch is not a relic from the Fifth Era, but a product of the Sixth Era. 【Star Sword Stone】 is highly likely to be in the hands of a small-scale Ringed Ringed Ringed Shushi organization called the 【Volcano Alliance】. This is a group of Ringed Sorcerers active in the archipelago kingdom off the west coast of the Old Continent. It is said to be a sect of believers of the Ancient God - Volcano God - 【Lord of Lava】, but this organization is too small, and we don't know much about it."

She sat up straight and picked up the freshly poured teacup, but handed it to Xia De:

"Since Bella said they can still handle the situation in Moon Bay, the Speaker and the Great Witch of the 'Moon' have set off to find that relic. They can both fly and know the approximate location of the 【Volcano Alliance】. Regardless of whether it goes smoothly, there will be news in a day or two."

"That's a good idea."

Xia De said, deeply feeling the benefits of having enough manpower:

"What is the second conclusion?"

"Tomorrow, that is, from Sunday afternoon until before night completely falls, the sun's light will also have problems. It will still be centered on Moon Bay. Because sunlight is far stronger than moonlight and starlight, this will cause some adverse effects in Moon Bay this time."

This is the result accurately divined by the power of the Council itself. Miss Isabella asked Bella to remind the Church... But I think the Church should also be able to know in advance, after all, they have that large group of diviners from the Diviner Association."

Xia De frowned slightly, and Dorothy on the side asked again:

"Xia De, what is in this briefcase you brought? Why is there such a strong fishy smell? Look at Little Mia, it has hidden behind you on the sofa."

"The cat actually hates the fishy smell~"

The witch covered her mouth and chuckled, but she and Dorothy moved the things on the coffee table aside, letting Xia De put the briefcase on the coffee table.

"I just went to Coldwater Port. A few guys who didn't want to help sponsored me some good things, but I don't know what these are."

*Click, click*—he opened the locks on the lid. The good news was that Xia De didn't feel any divine power, so Galina and Dorothy could see what was inside. The bad news was that there was no divine power inside, which was exactly what Xia De lacked most when facing the Evil God about to descend on Moon Bay.

After all, even the most powerful "Unknowable-level relic (Level 0)" could at most slightly restrict a god.

The box was lifted, and three items were embedded in the lining: a "ruby," a "square stone" with a cross pattern on the surface, and a blood-red copper whistle.

"Only these three? Stingier than I thought. This is..."

Xia De picked up the "ruby," which was about a quarter of his fist, and was astonished after his palm touched it:

"Philosopher's Stone? So much?"

The Philosopher's Stone he had left over from Laplace Howard and the gift given by the Church added up to about this much.

"But what is the Philosopher's Stone for? I know the Philosopher's Stone is very valuable, but for what's coming next..."

He paused slightly. Gods have reasons for doing anything. Although Xia De thought the three were very stingy, since they gave it, there must be a reason.

So his eyes narrowed again:

"Could it really be like this?" ===== CHAPTER 2323 =====