Mystery: A Spark

Audrey composed herself, looked at Arthur, and organized her thoughts before speaking:

"Mr. Chariot, there's something I've always been wondering about."

"I've attended several gatherings of extraordinary individuals and found that very few people sell potion recipes, and even if they do, it's very difficult to close a deal. Why is that?"

Arthur chuckled:

"Since the reliability of potion recipes cannot be guaranteed, how can you be sure that the potion recipe you bought is genuine? Even genuine and effective potion recipes can go out of control, so fake potion recipes are even more likely to lead to certain death."

"Do you expect me to experiment on animals first? Even if you're rich, you wouldn't be so wasteful."

But you seem to have a special pet too, otherwise why would you have asked me to help you find the apprentice recipe... Audrey muttered to herself, feeling a little guilty.

However, she was also aware of the difference between herself and Mr. Chariot.

Susie became an Extraordinary entirely due to an accident, but judging from Mr. Chariot's appearance at the time, it seemed that he was consciously trying to cultivate an assistant.

Arthur, unaware that Audrey was secretly criticizing him, continued:

"Moreover, in those secretive underground gatherings, everyone usually hides their identities."

In such a situation, if someone has a fake formula and intends to scam you and run away, then even if you get scammed, you won't be able to find them afterwards.

Therefore, unless the host of the gathering or a member has the ability to distinguish the authenticity of a potion recipe, such as being a notary of the solar pathway or possessing the corresponding magical item, it is impossible to obtain the potion recipe.

Furthermore, he himself needed to gain the trust of most of the members and possess a certain degree of authority at that extraordinary gathering; otherwise, the transaction of the formula would generally be very difficult to conduct.

"Hmm, the sealed artifact numbered 2-081 in the hands of the old man 'Eye of Wisdom,' although not a solar pathway item, can simulate notarization abilities... And Mr. A is a shepherd, so he should also possess similar abilities, which is why they can conduct formula transactions at their extraordinary gatherings..." Klein leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself silently.

"Justice" Audrey, on a whim, asked:

"Can't this be accomplished by making a vow?"

“Miss Justice, how can a deal made at a secret and extraordinary gathering be sworn in by the seven gods? It’s like gangsters making an underground deal and asking the Rune police to act as guarantors,” Arthur said, shaking his head.

The Hanged Man then chuckled softly:

"Judging from the quality of the police in Rune, this may not be the case. In some parts of Rune, officials and police officers may actually act as protectors for gangsters."

Arthur quickly coughed lightly and said:

“Ahem, Mr. Hanged Man, let’s keep our conversation harmonious. Tarot readings are not above the law.”

Klein: ...

Alger the Hanged Man looked at Arthur with some confusion, not quite understanding what he meant, but ultimately nodded and didn't continue the topic.

Arthur continued explaining to Audrey:

"Although there are evil gods, demons, and hidden beings such as the 'Hidden Sage' and the 'True Creator' in addition to the Seven Gods, if you are not their follower, rashly getting involved with them will most likely only result in death."

"Furthermore, with the spread of 'acting techniques' restricted, potions are prone to causing out-of-control situations and turning people into monsters. The corresponding materials are also difficult to obtain and quite expensive. Therefore, as long as the seven major churches do not allow such transactions to be officially certified, potion recipes can be prevented from spreading on a large scale without deliberate control, let alone becoming popular."

"So that's how it is..." Audrey murmured to herself, finally resolving a major doubt in her mind.

No wonder... Klein suddenly realized.

Seven orthodox gods? "The Sun" Derrick really wanted to ask who the seven were, but ultimately he cautiously held back.

After considering it for a moment, he brought up the recent exploration of Silver City.

According to Derrick's description, Klein immediately recognized that what he had encountered in Silver City was the temple of the true creator.

From the Hanged Man, Derrick learned that the true creator, this evil god, controlled the extraordinary path of the "Shepherd."

Lovia, one of the six elders of Silver City, is a "shepherd".

In previous explorations of the surrounding area, Silver City had discovered several cities that had been completely destroyed. In those places, only a few words inscribed on the back of rubble proved that such a civilization once existed.

Those words are all variants of Dragon Language, Giant Language, and Elven Language, and most of them are repeating descriptions of a single existence.

That kind of existence is called:

"Evil God!"

Elder Lovia's extraordinary path is controlled by an evil god. In addition, many people in Silver City have also embarked on this extraordinary path. Could this be a hidden danger? What kind of impact will it have on Silver City...? Derrick frowned.

He was considering whether to tell the chief about this, and what kind of impact it would have on Silver City if he did.

Derrick returned to his taciturn state, much to Audrey's disappointment, who was eagerly awaiting gossip.

Alger was also somewhat surprised. He had thought he could still get some information out of this naive boy, but he didn't expect the other party to just fall silent like that.

But he couldn't ask any more questions, because he was now burdened with a heavy debt and no longer had enough leverage to get information.

At this moment, Klein, concealing his exhaustion within the thick gray fog, chuckled softly:

Let's end this gathering here.

“Your will is our will.” “Justice” Audrey immediately stood up, lifted her skirt slightly, and bowed, and the other Tarot Club members responded in similar words.

……

In the basement of 7 Downsend Street, Queens.

Arthur was now earnestly reciting before the altar:

"You are a fool who does not belong to this era. You are the mysterious master above the gray fog. You are the king of yellow and black who controls good luck."

"Thy faithful servant beseeches thy gaze;"

"I beg you to accept his offering;"

“Please open the gates of your kingdom.”

……

The bestowal ceremony ended quickly, and a large paper bag appeared on the altar, bulging with contents.

Arthur stepped forward and tore open the paper bag, immediately smelling the distinctive scent of banknote ink.

"Ah, what a wonderful taste."

He made a perfunctory remark, put the large paper bag aside, and then resumed the sacrificial ceremony.

Last week, after Arthur inquired with Danitz about whether there was any spinal fluid from the Black Panther on the Golden Dream, he quickly received an affirmative answer.

Without hesitation, he spent five hundred gold pounds to buy back one of the main ingredients of the magician's potion.

After offering the spinal fluid of the evil-striped black panther to Mr. Fool, Arthur returned to the living room with the paper bag in his arms.

As soon as Arthur entered the living room, he excitedly called out to the puppy lying on the sofa:

"Little rascal, our family is rich now!"

Arthas looked up, somewhat surprised, at the bulging paper bag in Arthur's arms, and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Arthur, you didn't go and sell yourself, did you? I can eat less, please don't abandon your dignity!"

Arthur walked to the sofa, tapped the puppy on the head in an annoyed tone, and said:

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly sell myself for such a small amount of money? You're underestimating me."

"So, if the price is high enough, you're really planning to sell yourself?" Arthas asked Arthur with a hint of disdain.

“If there are really enough, then it’s not out of the question.” Arthur sat down and placed the large paper bag on the coffee table.

"Eek~ You have no morals at all. I'm ashamed to associate with someone like you." The puppy moved aside and said with a look of disgust.

Arthur, expressionless, grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck, scooped it up, and gave it a good rub in his arms.

Only after the puppy begged loudly for mercy did Arthur say:

"Alright, stop joking around and come help me count the money."

"Help you count money? My claws don't have that function, how can I help you count money?" Arthas shook his two little paws and asked with some surprise.

“Stick your tongue out,” Arthur said.

The puppy did as instructed.

Then, Arthur dipped his finger into the puppy's wet, pink tongue and began counting the money.

Arthas: ...

There were quite a few banknotes worth over ten thousand pounds, which made Arthur count them for quite a while before he finished counting the pile.

Naturally, the little puppy's tongue, which was "assisting" from the side, was wet and then dry, then wet and then dry again, several times over.

"Ah, twelve thousand five hundred pounds, not a pound less." After counting, Arthur stretched comfortably.

"So you really didn't get this money by selling yourself?" the puppy's voice rang out at this moment.

"Of course not, we are people with dignity."

Arthur pointed a finger at the heavens:

"Even if I, Arthur, die poor."

He then pointed to the ground.

"Go outside and become a beggar, starve to death outside."

Then, patting his chest, he said decisively:

"I would never sell my body for money!"

"Pfft..." The puppy couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Arthur asked expressionlessly.

"Uh... I remembered something happy."

"Your wife gave birth?"

"Right, right... oh wait, I don't have a wife." The puppy realized his mistake in time.

"No wife? What about Susie?" Arthur leaned closer, a comical smile on his face.

"What are you thinking? There's only pure friendship between me and Miss Susie. Your thinking is so unhealthy." The puppy pushed Arthur's big face away and said speechlessly.

“Well, pure friendship is pure friendship. By the way, did you know that there’s a serial killer in Backlund recently?” Arthur said, his expression returning to seriousness.

The puppy twitched its ears and said:

"I'm not too sure."

"Judging from the crimes it committed, this should be a demon undergoing a promotion ceremony."