Mystery: Big Alarm Clock Ghroth Path

Chapter 228 The Method to Obtain the First Star Core
Upon hearing Emlyn's words, Roger thought for a moment, then looked up and replied:

"As for authentication, I have many methods... but you just said he's very demanding, what exactly are you referring to?"

Emlyn, the "moon," answered without hesitation:
"He is an eccentric among our vampires. He likes to collect all sorts of rare items and antiques, and he also enjoys sharing information about them."

"It is said that his collection is more extensive than ordinary people can imagine, ranging from ancient artifacts to rare specimens of magical creatures, to many ancient books, and even the pathological tissues cut from the bodies of some people who died from rare diseases, none of which escaped his interest."

Emlyn seemed somewhat disgusted at this point, and the vampire swallowed hard before continuing:

"However, he never sells his collection, even though he has sold almost all of his possessions to satisfy his hobbies, to the point that sometimes he struggles to make ends meet and has to earn money by preparing medicines for humans."

"But this kind of income is very unstable..."

"On the other hand, besides the collections he displays at home, a large portion of his collections are not shown to anyone outside his family."

"And that meteorite was one of them."

It seems there are quite a few collectors among vampires...

Upon hearing Emlyn's account, Roger couldn't help but inwardly scoff.

On the other hand, he quickly realized a contradiction in Emlyn's words and then asked:

"Since he's unwilling to display his collection, how did you know about the meteorite's existence?"

Emlyn replied:

"There was also an element of chance involved."

"The vampires had a gathering a while ago, and that collector came too. Then he got into an argument with another vampire member."

"During the argument, he listed many of his valuable collections, including that meteorite... saying that he bought it for a great price and that it was extremely rare."

"Because you mentioned the meteorite before, I tentatively asked him about it."

"The collector was eager to prove himself, so he said that the meteorite was blown to the west coast of Intis in a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in the mid-Valent period, and that it was not small in size."

"At the time, the stone was very unique in both shape and color, so it was originally placed at the door of a human mineral enthusiast's house as an ornament... But one day, the vampire collector happened to pass by, took a liking to the stone, and bought it."

Roger asked, somewhat puzzled:

"How did he determine that it was a meteorite?"

"That's right. That vampire himself is a naturalist with knowledge of meteorites. He later commissioned an 'appraiser' and a 'notary' to conduct an appraisal, and both confirmed that it was an ancient meteorite."

An ancient meteorite...was blown ashore by a tsunami...

Roger's heart skipped a beat, and he asked:
"How old is that collector, and what rank does he belong to among the vampires?"

"He's not old, but not young either; he's middle-aged and currently holds the rank of baron."

Emlyn replied.

"Is there anything he particularly wants? Such as a higher sequence level or some special items?"

Roger's thinking was very straightforward: everyone has their own weaknesses, and even the most stubborn person has desires.

Not to mention a collector who only collects items and never sells them, it's easy for them to run out of savings, which will inevitably cause a lot of trouble.

Sure enough, after he asked that question, "Moon" Emlyn immediately slapped his forehead:
"Oh, right, he mentioned something."

He often complained that he was not strong enough to go to special places to find rare items, but the elders in the clan refused to help him improve his strength on the grounds that he was aloof and not helpful to the clan, so the matter was left unresolved.

"As far as I know, the baron has always been very resentful about this."

These words gave Roger, the "Wheel of Fortune," a new perspective.

"Yes, money couldn't sway that baron, because he loved the collection more than anything... except the collection itself."

"If he were given the opportunity and the ability to acquire more valuable and rarer items, would he be willing to part with one of his existing items in exchange for such an opportunity?"

As Emlyn "Moon" had previously stated, the sequence of "Baron" titles in the vampires corresponds to "Potion Professor" at Sequence 6 of the "Moon" pathway, and if one were to advance one level to become a Viscount, that would be "Crimson Scholar" at Sequence 5.

Given such an opportunity, Roger believed that the vampire baron would find it hard to resist his temptation.

On the other hand, Roger had another consideration.

That is, he had been looking for a "pharmacist" to serve his crew. Emlyn "Moon" was certainly a suitable candidate, but he was definitely not as good as "Potions Professor".

If Roger can cooperate with the "Potions Professor" and win his favor, does that mean he can later directly exchange money for magical potions from him?

Roger had plenty of money, but the vampire baron was so poor that he couldn't afford to buy many of the items.

In this way, both sides can get what they need, and Roger will have complete control over the situation!

The logic is simple: most of the crew's illnesses can be treated with just a "pharmacist," and there are very few times when a "potions professor" level of ability is needed.

Therefore, Roger was not a stable buyer for that vampire baron; he could choose not only the other party but also other "pharmacists."

In other words, the baron has many potential competitors, and to maintain such a stable sales channel as Roger's, he must drive down the price.

Keep in mind that even on the "Star Lord" alone there are more than twenty people. As Roger's fleet grows stronger, the number of people who frequently need medication will definitely increase.

People are already prone to all sorts of diseases at sea, so this is definitely a long-term and huge demand.

So he spoke:

"Then, if I could provide that Baron with the Sequence 5 'Crimson Scholar' potion recipe... that is, help him reach the level of a Viscount, I wonder if he would be willing to part with it?"

Emlyn was taken aback by this question. The vampire was filled with shock, and he thought for a long time before answering:
"I can ask for you, but I can't guarantee it."

After saying that, Emlyn tentatively asked:

"You...you...is it really possible to obtain a potion recipe at the viscount level?"

"It's man-made."

"The Wheel of Fortune," Roger replied with a smile.

At this moment, Audrey, the "righteous" one, couldn't help but offer a suggestion:
"Mr. 'Moon', you may not know much about Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune'."

“He is a saint… whose strength surpasses that of everyone present except Mr. Fool.”

Even more than me...

"The Fool" Klein's lips twitched violently as he couldn't help but curse himself in his heart.

As Roger's friend, he knew very well how twisted Roger was.

At Sequence 6, Roger was able to fight a Sequence 4 demigod to a standstill when he was prepared. Although he failed to kill his opponent, he did manage to severely injure him.

Roger, who has now become a Sequence 5 and possesses a Sequence 4 level seal, definitely has the strength to kill a Sequence 4 demigod in one fell swoop!
However, Audrey, the "Justice," was unaware of the thoughts of the evil god who sat at the head of the bronze table. She continued:

"Not only that, Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune' has a very deep network of connections, so getting a Sequence 5 potion recipe shouldn't be too difficult for him."

The purpose of these words was twofold: to reassure Mr. "Moon" and to help Mr. "Wheel of Fortune" facilitate the deal.

After all, Mr. Wheel of Fortune has always been of great help to the members of the Tarot Society and even the whole of Backlund. Therefore, whether as a citizen or a colleague of the Tarot Society, Audrey has always held this saint, who has been lurking in the Aurora Society for a long time and has minimized the harm of the "Backlund Great Smog", in high esteem.

After hearing this, "Moon" Emlyn finally made up his mind and asked:
“I can give it a try, but there are certain prerequisites. Give me a week and I will give you a definite answer.”

“Sure, if he’s willing to sell, I’ll send my subordinates to appraise it and determine if it’s the item I need.”

"The Wheel of Fortune," Roger replied immediately.

"By the way, Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune,' I'd like to ask what kind of reward I would receive if I helped you facilitate this deal?"

Emlyn spoke with some anticipation.

Having attended the "Tarot Club" last time, this vampire already knew that if a transaction here involved facilitating a deal between a member of the "Tarot Club" and an extraordinary person from the outside world, then the member of the "Tarot Club" who facilitated the deal should also receive a reward.

Because many times, many things are not just about money, but also involve information channels.

Without the corresponding information channels, it's difficult to get things done even if you have money.

Roger, the "Wheel of Fortune," thought for a moment before saying:

"That's right. I should have told you last time that what I need is a 'meteorite core from a distant star system,' which is not an easy condition to meet."

“If, after examination, I determine that the meteorite is the type I need, I will purchase the vampire baron’s legacy that Mr. Hanged Man mentioned earlier, while paying for the potion recipe from that Baron ‘Crimson Scholar’.”

That way, you can use your money to keep buying dolls...

Roger said this while inwardly cursing.

Upon hearing Roger the Wheel of Fortune's words, Alger the Hanged Man and Emlyn the Moon were both overjoyed.

Currently, Mr. "Wheel of Fortune" has become the biggest client in the "Tarot Club" transactions besides Ms. "Justice," and the two of them have also taken advantage of Roger's own needs to quickly complete the transaction and get what they want.

The only problems now are determining whether the vampire baron is willing to part with it, and whether the meteorite is the type Roger needs. "By the way, Mr. 'Wheel of Fate'."

At this moment, Derrick the Sun, seeing that the transactions between the three gentlemen—the Wheel of Fortune, the Hanged Man, and the Moon—had been completed, spoke up:

"Regarding the meteorite I mentioned earlier in Silver City, I am accumulating contribution points, and the progress is going quite well so far."

"Therefore, the time it takes for me to accumulate enough contributions may be slightly earlier than I mentioned last time. Please be patient."

This was another piece of good news for Roger, who nodded and said happily:
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. 'Sun'."

Afterwards, "The Sun" Derrick released a list of all monsters and extraordinary creatures around Silver City and clues about the extraordinary items currently existing in Silver City within the Tarot Club.

After reading through the list, everyone found it to be extremely valuable. In particular, Alger the Hanged Man and Fors the Magician showed interest in two items and discussed the details and prices with The Sun.

What particularly caught Roger's attention was that Miss "Magician" was asking about the roots and real sap of the Mist Tree Man.

Klein had previously purchased these two items from the Tarot Club through the pseudonym "The World," and they were the core ingredients of the "Magician's" potion!

"By the way, Alice told me before that Sam's progress in digesting the 'Clown' potion is pretty good... Is Fors helping Sam collect the materials needed to concoct the potion in advance?"

Mr. Wheel of Fortune nodded slightly; this was exactly the scene he hoped to see.

"The Magician" Fors seemed to notice Roger's response to her kindness and subtly nodded slightly to this "Saint".

Regardless of their clandestine exchanges, the transaction was quickly completed, and the "Tarot Club" moved on to information exchange and casual conversation.

The "magician" lady spoke first:
"The atmosphere in Backlund remains tense recently. Unless you are an official extraordinary individual, it's best not to take the risk."

"Is the atmosphere tense?"

"Moon," Emlyn asked with some surprise. The vampire, who lived a monotonous life, still couldn't grasp the current predicament of most Extraordinary Beings in Backlund.

"Yes, Miss 'Magician' is absolutely right, everyone should not be careless."

Mr. Hanged Man also spoke up:
"And you too, Mr. 'Sun'."

"When we make the next deal, you'd better make sure that the leader of this exploration team is not in Silver City or is busy with something else."

"'The Hanged Man,' do you mean that His Excellency can perceive the cycle of fate?"

"The Sun" Derrick was somewhat surprised, but he immediately understood what "The Hanged Man" meant.

If that's the case, then when he reminded the "Chief" about the little boy named "Jack," it's very likely that it had already aroused the Chief's suspicion.

"Yes... Although I don't know much about your Silver City, caution and carefulness will help you live longer."

Faced with Alger's sincere confession, "The Sun" took a long breath before saying:

"Thank you for reminding me, Mr. 'Hanged Man,' I will be careful."

Alger, the "Hanged Man," nodded slightly, turned his head, and said with a smile:

"The seas have been relatively calm lately, except for the incident where Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune' killed the second mate, 'Twilight Admiral,' but not many people know about it."

That's just your opinion...

Having just been to Bansi Port, Klein couldn't help but refute this in his mind.

Then, he spoke while using the pseudonym "Mr. World":

"I recently heard about something that happened at sea."

Before Alger, the "Hanged Man," could speak up and ask a question, Mr. "The World" turned to look at the other members of the Tarot Club:

"Ladies in Backlund, could you help me buy a radio receiver?"

"I...I can try."

Miss Magician nodded in agreement.

Because "Justice" Audrey needed to leave Backlund recently, she could only silently apologize for not being able to help "Mr. World".

After the deal was settled, Mr. World then began to recount what he had seen in Bansi Port, of course, from a third-person perspective.

Hearing this, Alger, the "Hanged Man," frowned. He recalled many things in an instant, hesitated for a moment, and then replied:
"This is normal in Bansi... There is a tradition of human sacrifice there, targeting an evil spirit called the 'Weather God'."

“Overseas and in the southern continent, there are many evil spirits like this. Many people have died suddenly or turned into monsters because of them. This is not uncommon.”

Alger, the "Hanged Man," attempted to describe the strange occurrences in Bansi Port as accidental and within the realm of understanding.

However, everyone suddenly heard a low chuckle coming from the head of the mottled bronze table.

That was Mr. Fool's laughter!

The laughter immediately made everyone realize that there might be something strange about this matter, beyond what Mr. "The Hanged Man" had described.

Sure enough, Mr. Fool spoke in a calm voice:
"This matter is not that simple..."

"It's not that simple?"

Everyone was somewhat confused by this statement, at which point Roger, the "Wheel of Fortune," opportunely took over the conversation:

"As Mr. Fool said, I have also heard about what Mr. World just mentioned."

"Based on my limited knowledge, it may be related to 'Red Angel' Medici."

"That was an angel king."

Roger's move was perfectly timed, because he knew that Klein desperately wanted the Church of the "Lord of the Storm" to intervene in the affairs of Bansi Harbor, and that he had certainly learned through divination at the "Source Castle" that a high-level power was involved there.

However, unlike the original story, Klein does not know as clearly about Medici and Binsey as he does in the original story. Therefore, he can only act as a mouthpiece and naturally take over the conversation, conveying knowledge to Mr. Fool in a very reasonable way.

With the reverse psychological suggestion of being a "troublemaker," even Miss "Justice" wouldn't see through this operation.

"The King of Angels?"

Everyone was immediately shocked. They hadn't expected that Mr. Wheel of Fortune had just talked about the King of Angels at the last Tarot meeting, and now another member of the Tarot meeting had encountered an event related to the King of Angels.

The two members who joined the "Tarot Club" later, Miss "Magician" and Mr. "Moon", were even more horrified by these things, because unlike the other four members of the Tarot Club, they had been hearing things such as "the revival of the primordial witch", "the king of angels", and "the true creator" ever since they joined this secret gathering.

This gave the two a strong sense of disconnect—after all, after returning to the real world, they mostly came into contact with low to mid-level extraordinary beings, and had no chance to come into contact with so-called angels and true gods.

Alger the Hanged Man also realized that Mr. Fool was suggesting that he could report this matter to the Church of the Storm Lord, since the Church of the Storm was currently the only righteous force stationed on Banshee Island.

On the other hand, he also realized something.

That is, Mr. World and Mr. Wheel of Fortune are both at sea!
“Is this a coincidence…? It doesn’t seem so. Just now, Mr. ‘World’ mentioned the unusual aspects of the Bansi Port incident, and after hearing my explanation, Mr. ‘Fool’ immediately corrected me.”

"After that, Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune' spoke up and said a lot, seemingly to help Mr. 'Fool' convey a message... Although it seemed ambiguous, these three did seem to have some connection."

"On the other hand, although Mr. 'World' did not say it explicitly, it can be inferred that he also left Backlund and went to sea at almost the same time as Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune'... but it seems that the two of them took different routes."

Alger, the "Hanged Man," was racing with thoughts. Combining this with the fact that Mr. World had not participated in the trading of information related to the "King of Angels," he began to doubt whether his judgment had been wrong.

"Could it be that the 'Tarot Club' has two followers of Mr. Fool? Or is there only one, and it's just my imagination?"

"After all, Mr. 'Fool' has never acknowledged anyone as His chosen one..."

In Chinese parlance, Alger's mind was racing at this moment, as if he were playing Werewolf, trying to figure out who the real witch and seer were.

"We can only wait for further confirmation..."

He pondered for a while, but had no clue, so he took a deep breath:

"Respected Mr. 'Fool', Mr. 'Wheel of Fortune', to which path does 'Red Angel' Medici belong?"

"As far as I know, He should be the angel king of the 'hunter' pathway."

"The Wheel of Fortune," Roger replied.

"'Hunter' pathway? Isn't that the pathway controlled by the Ironblood Cross?"

"The Hanged Man," Alger said instinctively.

At this moment, "The Fool" Klein leaned back in his chair, chuckled, and reminded him:

"To be precise, it's not a complete grasp, but only a partial grasp."

"On the other hand, He is the most likely being to become the 'Red Priest'."

"Red Priestess?"

Everyone present was stunned for a moment, but the members of the "Tarot Club" who reacted quickly immediately guessed that this was the name of the "Hunter" pathway sequence 0!
Unlike them, Roger, though outwardly feigning surprise, secretly had a thought flash through his mind.

Could the worship of the "Weather God" in Bansi Port be related to the skeleton of the suspected "weather sorcerer" on Koske Island?

(End of this chapter)