Chapter 65: Lake View Manor

"The only characteristic of this 【Relic】 is that when touched by any finger of the right hand, it allows the toucher to see the Silver Moon. Depending on the moon phase, the form of the Silver Moon seen is also different. This characteristic is actually somewhat useful. If you touch it when falling into a hallucination, it is possible to walk out of the hallucination. After all, the symbolic meaning of the Silver Moon itself... 14 pounds, take it for 14 pounds."

Probably knowing that the effect of this 【Relic】 was not great, the price Old John proposed was not very high.

"But what about its negative effects? And the containment method."

Xia De asked, already intending to buy it.

"Do not touch it continuously for a long time, otherwise you will have dreams at night, strange dreams related to the Silver Moon, and then fall into eternal madness. The containment method is very simple: before midnight every day, immerse it in a colorless liquid for more than three seconds. If you can't do that, it may directly interfere with the holder's dreams."

The negative effects were not very great, but Xia De did not immediately say he wanted to buy it. Instead, he made a thoughtful look and asked after a long time:

"Can it be cheaper?"

"This is already a discounted price, for the sake of that cane."

The old man shrugged:

"I usually don't give discounts."

"5 pounds."

"This is impossible. Do you usually bargain like this?"

"5 pounds and 1 penny? I learned a lesson from selling the cane last time."

"... Remember not to bargain with others like this in the future; not everyone has as good a temper as I do. 13 pounds and 10 shillings."

Old John said, shaking his head.

"6 pounds."

Xia De gestured the number six with both hands.

"12 pounds and 17 shillings, this is the lowest price. Detective, there is no lower price. I can give you a piece of news as a gift, is that okay?"

The elderly shop owner said, looking like he didn't want to lower the price any further.

So Xia De thought for a moment and made a look of reluctant agreement:

"Well then, deal. But you must first explain what the news is. I don't want to hear news that vegetable prices are going to rise."

"Young people are always like this."

The shop owner behind the counter shook his head:

"I heard some news. Do you know 【Mercury Blood】?"

"Of course I know. News about them has almost spread everywhere now."

The academy had even issued bounty orders to correspondence Ringed Shushi, which meant that the matter of 【Mercury Blood】 in Tuo Bei Si Ke did not need to be covered up at all.

"【Mercury Blood】 and a group of heretics seem to be busy with something recently. This is not the point. My news is that 【Mercury Blood】 has a very good 【Relic】 in their hands. You know, since I do the business of recovering relics and dangerous items, I am very sensitive to this kind of news."

But that illegal organization had many good 【Relics】 in their hands in order to raise materials for synthesizing the Angel-level (Level 1) relic 【Mercury Blood】.

"What specifically does it refer to?"

Xia De asked, and the old man said perfunctorily:

"If my news were so well-informed, do you think I would still be the owner of a pawn shop? I would have gone to the black market to trade information long ago. It is a Secret Keeper-level (Level 3) relic, but it is actually a part of an Angel-level relic (Level 1). After being dismantled, its characteristics have declined... It is believed to be related to fate and can be very convenient for finding lost items."

"Fate?"

Xia De raised his eyebrows. For some reason, he thought of the letter from the dwarf rat Peter, which mentioned that the 【Blood Spirit School】 sent a Secret Keeper-level (Level 3) relic to the Old Continent to be handed over to 【Mercury Blood】. Although the Silver-Eyed One was dissatisfied that the other party did not send people in time, anyone could know that the Secret Keeper-level relic must be extraordinary.

"But what could it be? Convenient for finding items and related to fate."

He couldn't think of it. Seeing that Old John had no more news, he paid the money for the relic.

【Moonlight Pearl】 was already the fourth relic Xia De possessed, but just like the 【Fate's Twenty-Sided Dice】 and the pages of 【Poet Cohen's Manuscript】, this could not enhance Xia De's combat power and survival ability; it could only be considered an auxiliary supply.

He didn't know if other Ringed Shushi had many relics in their hands, but he made up his mind that he would buy a powerful 【Relic】 for self-defense after he became wealthy.

In this beautiful vision, Xia De boarded the carriage to Lake View Manor. The manor was located outside Tuo Bei Si Ke City, in the south of the city, and was named after its proximity to Lake Shi Lu He.

This was one of the properties of Count Ke Lao En. The Count held a high position in the Kingdom's Army and was a wealthy and powerful great noble. This banquet was hosted by the Count's second son, Little Ke Lao En, and belonged to the pastime of summer nights.

A flat dirt road led directly from Tuo Bei Si Ke City to the manor. The carriage carrying Xia De arrived at the destination when the evening sunset appeared on the horizon. Leaving the urban area, the burning smell in the air disappeared. The air outside the city was quite good, and the young detective, who was exhausted from sitting in the carriage for too long, was invigorated by the fresh air.

He wore his best black formal suit, put on his hat, took his cane, stepped onto the stone road at the manor entrance, and entered the manor's courtyard together with the guests who arrived one after another.

The night had just begun, and there were not many guests. Everyone was scattered in the courtyard, the maze-like garden, the buildings, and every corner of the manor, chatting with people they were familiar with.

The arrival of summer also changed the way of dressing, but in this relatively conservative era, it was impossible to see a certain kind of scenery. Of course, if Xia De had the connections to attend certain salons and parties, he would definitely be surprised by the activities of the nobles.

The young detective didn't know anyone here. He had scheduled a meeting place with Baron La Wen De, which was the stone table under the grape trellis on the east side of the fountain behind the manor. That was the place where the Baron and his friends competed in Luo De cards.

But it was not time yet, so he could only stroll around the manor alone. Knowing in advance that the banquet would host dinner, Xia De didn't eat too much at noon, mainly feeding the cat.

Now seeing the long table set up in the courtyard from the manor mansion to the manor gate, covered with a snow-white tablecloth, the shining metal tableware and candlesticks illuminated the surroundings and also illuminated the delicacies on the table, which made Xia De, who was not very hungry originally, feel his stomach making demands.

He was also a person who valued decency, so he didn't go to get food regardless of his image. Taking only a little at a time, but taking multiple times from different positions on the long table, was Xia De's strategy.

Of course, while eating, he didn't forget to distribute his business cards to solicit business for himself. This required skill. Xia De would usually lean over silently when people were chatting, and then take the opportunity to say a few words.

When the right time came, he would introduce himself and hand out his business card. Because the address on the business card was Saint De Lan Square in the city center, people who received the business card mistakenly thought Xia De was a very capable detective, and no one would refuse such a business card.

Xia De became more determined that he must never move out of his current apartment unless it was a last resort.

Although he didn't know many acquaintances in this world, after the last ray of sunset disappeared and the night completely fell, Xia De actually saw a familiar figure. That was a black-haired maid, but her clothing was clearly different from the maids responsible for meals and reception in the manor. ===== CHAPTER 66 =====