When evil gods hold a meeting in my head

Richard muttered to himself, "Finding Puta is the most important thing right now! But if I just ask around one by one, it might take years and I still might not find him. I can afford to wait, but Rosalie can't..."

He glanced around; Thales was looking around anxiously. He instinctively asked, "Can we find those errand runners selling information now?"

Thales pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then solemnly replied, "It should be possible..."

Richard pulled Rosalie along and walked a few steps forward with Thales, standing on a slightly higher spot to look around. The alley was bustling with people; many were squatting against the walls, some dozing, some chatting, and some watching the passersby.

Thales looked around, then pointed to a corner diagonally opposite: "That one looks a lot like it..."

Upon hearing this, Richard followed his finger and saw a man squatting in the corner, wearing a tattered, black, fishy-smelling coat that was so dirty that its original color was unrecognizable. His most striking features were his tangled hair and unshaven beard, making him look like a destitute homeless person.

He squatted there, a cigarette in his hand, taking a puff now and then, while his eyes shrewdly glanced at both ends of the alley.

In the past, Richard definitely wouldn't have noticed anything.

But after drinking the potion, his focus and insight far surpassed those of ordinary people...

You can tell at a glance that something's definitely wrong with this person!

Richard squinted, able to see the traces of careful disguise in the young man's unkempt hair and the edges of his beard...

He saw a small piece of something sticking out of the man's sleeve. When the man smoked, he would use his hand to bring that thing to his mouth... It looked like a piece of paper. Every time he moved his hand, the piece of paper would shake, and when it shook, he could see extra words on it.

"It's for keeping a record." Richard looked away.

This guy doesn't look like an ordinary errand runner; he's someone who makes a living by running errands and gathering information! He looks very professional!

Richard thought for a moment, then told Rosalie and Thales to wait where they were, while he took a step back and retreated into the shadows of the alley...

He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

Purple mist surged from the ring, swirling in his palm. He imagined the shape of sunglasses, the shape of a beard, and the mist gathered, stretched, and took shape on his face. A few seconds later, a pair of sunglasses sat on his nose, and a beard hung on his chin.

He looked down at his hands. The hands were still the same, but his face had changed.

Thales, standing to the side, was stunned: "My benefactor, what are you doing...?"

"Don't make a sound," Richard said. "Wait here."

He adjusted his sunglasses and walked towards the corner.

He walked up to the man and squatted down.

The man turned his head and glanced at him. His gaze was quick, sweeping over him from head to toe before looking away.

"What's up?" The voice was lazy, as if the speaker couldn't be bothered to respond.

Richard lowered his voice: "Do you sell information here?"

The man took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and the smoke dissipated.

"No, no, we're busy."

As he spoke, he didn't look at Richard at all; his eyes were fixed on the other end of the alley. After a few seconds, he suddenly stood up, took two steps forward, then stopped and looked around.

"Damn it," he cursed, his voice full of frustration, "I lost them."

Richard was taken aback for a moment.

Lost him? Was he stalking someone?

The man stood there, looked around for a long time, and finally walked back dejectedly, plopping down in the corner. He threw his cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out, and kept cursing.

Richard saw the look of regret on his face.

He gave an awkward laugh. This person must have just accepted a commission and was tracking someone... but he had interrupted him just now, and immediately lost track of them.

It really is a task that requires energy and patience...

Now, it's probably going to be difficult to discuss the news with him, right? He's already annoyed, and might just kick you out. If you can't get rid of him, it could cause other trouble.

Richard thought for a moment, then raised his right hand and quietly snapped his fingers.

Purple mist drifted out of the ring, fine and swift, seeping straight into the person's nostrils...

But a few seconds later, the person just sneezed and rubbed their nose!

Richard looked him in the eyes and lowered his voice, saying, "I'm your client! Don't you remember?"

The man stared at him for a few seconds, but his eyes didn't change in the slightest...

"It didn't work?" Richard was surprised for a moment...

He tried activating the ring again. Purple mist surged out, drifted towards the man, and entered his nose. The man sneezed again, rubbed his nose, and then continued to stare at him.

"Is your nose bothering you?" the man asked. "What have you been muttering to yourself from the beginning? I couldn't hear a thing!"

Richard looked at him, a chill running through him.

This person is not affected by hypnosis...

And without exhibiting any means of resistance, is this some kind of natural immunity? Richard wondered, "This person might be a superhuman, and possibly a type I've never heard of before..."

Seeing Richard still muttering to himself, the young man immediately moved aside, creating some distance between them, and gave him a look that said, "This guy's an idiot," his disdain practically radiating outwards...

"What exactly do you want?" he asked, his tone now more wary.

Richard snapped out of his daze and composed himself.

"As I just said, I was gathering information, but... you said you wouldn't sell."

The young man stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly scoffed, "Gathering information?" He pointed to the other end of the alley, "Do you know who I was watching just now?"

Richard shook his head.

The young man said, "That's a pirate on the bounty list! If he finds out, not only me, but you'll be dead too!"

Is it that serious...?

Richard's heart skipped a beat.

Then, the young man revealed a smug expression: "Look at you, you can't even handle a little scare! And you think you can get information out of this?"

"kindness……"

"Tell me, what do you want to know?"

Upon hearing this, Richard described the image of Puta that he wanted to know.

Why are you asking about this?

Richard did not answer.

The young man stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Interesting. Since you want to find out information, and I happen to be an informant, although I don't know where you got this information from, let's keep things separate. You just ruined my plan, so you have to pay me!"

Richard also stood up.

"How much?"

The man held up one finger.

"One gold coin."

Richard was taken aback for a moment.

One gold coin is enough for an average family to live on for a month.

But without hesitation, he took out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it over.

The man took the gold coin, weighed it in his hand, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"The old man's name is Puta. He seems to be from Metz and is a professor at the University of Tehran. He's been looking for some kind of potion formula for months."

Richard stared at him: "You know this person so well? Where is he now?"

The man extended another finger.

"Give me another gold coin."

Richard pulled out another gold coin.

The man took it, stuffed it into his clothes, and then pointed into the depths of the alley.

"Go that way, turn right at the third alley, there's a dilapidated courtyard with piles of rotten wood at the entrance. That's where he lives."

Richard turned and left.

The man suddenly called out to him, "Hey, what do you want with that old man?"

Richard did not turn around.

He pulled Rosalie along and quickly walked deeper into the alley.

Thales followed behind, jogging along.