Mystery: I, the Hermit, am too eager to improve

Chapter 148 The Prey Appears, Remaking the Faceless Man Mask

Hyde and Becky finished packing everything in just half an hour.

Because they originally intended to leave Backlund.

An hour later.

They arrived at Rose Street in the South District with bags and packages, temporarily storing their belongings on the first floor of the house Roy rented.

Then, he took the two to the Harvest Church to pay their respects at the dock.

"Father, they are all my friends."

Roy pointed to Hyde, "This is my friend who was trying to buy the Philosopher's Tree, Hyde Carson, who is just one material away from becoming a wizard."

Utravsky nodded with a smile.

"Hello there."

"Hello, Bishop."

Hyde greeted him reservedly.

after all……

The other party is a Dawn Knight of Sequence 6 and a Bishop of the Earth Church, and they may even determine whether the transaction can proceed.

The Earth Church is not a casual individual.

They are not short of money at all; gold pounds alone could not possibly buy a Sequence 6 Extraordinary trait from them.

This is also the most difficult part of getting promoted.

Often, simply knowing the recipe isn't enough to advance in rank; you also need to know the main ingredients of the potion.

Only by mastering the main material can one truly control this path.

This is precisely how the Steam Church controls the generalists.

There are many other similar organizations.

Utravsky then looked at Becky.

"this……"

"Hello, my name is Becky Corola, and I've just become a weapons master."

Becky said.

Utravsky smiled gently, immediately understanding the other party's purpose.

"You want the Dawn Knight's recipe?"

"If possible, I would definitely like to stay at the Harvest Church for a while. If not, I hope to stay there temporarily."

Becky said.

Utravsky nodded: "No problem, Mother Goddess is merciful and will not refuse your arrival."

As for you.

"The Archbishop has agreed that you can obtain the extraordinary materials of the Philosopher's Tree, but on the condition that, in addition to gold pounds, you must also serve the Earth Church for a period of time."

Utravsky then explained, "It wasn't intentional, but rather we needed to confront the pressure from the Steam Church."

"Green told me that I was fully prepared mentally to come here."

Hyde nodded.

Roy, standing to the side, asked, "What's the deadline?"

"It can be just in name only, as long as it's handled internally."

Utravsky explained.

Within major orthodox churches, there are some unspoken rules.

These rules are essentially a joint monopoly on the means to prevent the potion from leaking out on a large scale.

Most major orthodox churches will abide by this.

The Earth Church is no exception.

of course.

This is why Roy spoke up, and now the scroll is beginning to benefit the area where the Earth Church is located.

otherwise.

They probably didn't want to cause any trouble.

Aside from the Morse Penitentiary and the Dawn of Elements, only the Steam Church possesses the capability to manufacture large quantities of scrolls.

but.

If they don't want to be controlled by the Steam Church or other forces...

Developing one's own extraordinary qualities is imperative.

Roy is currently unsure which of their plans they have.

"Come over tomorrow morning, it should be delivered by then."

……

the next morning.

Hyde woke up very early.

Yesterday, they looked for a place in the surrounding area and finally settled on one that was relatively close, but it would take a few days to vacate it.

therefore.

They will be staying with Roy for the next few days.

This also makes it easier for everyone to communicate.

When he arrived at the Harvest Church in the morning, he saw a woman sitting inside.

Upon seeing him enter, the other person glanced at him indifferently before looking away.

Utravsky is not here.

He sat in a corner, trying not to disturb others' prayers, and fortunately, there weren't many people praying.

After a while, Roy arrived.

Looking around the week.

"Ms. Liana, it's been a long time."

"Green, I think about you every day, but unfortunately, I don't think you've ever really thought about me."

Liana smiled charmingly.

Roy chuckled softly, "Madam, how could that be? I've wanted to come see you every day, but you haven't given me your address."

"Haha, forget about the address. I'm afraid my brother will kidnap you. He's not as easy to talk to as I am."

Liana had a faint smile on her face.

Then, she looked at Hyde, who was staring in disbelief and in shock, and said, "He's your friend?"

"Yes, we have a very good relationship, we know each other very well, and he won't reveal the church's secrets. If he becomes the scroll professor, he can be of great help."

Roy still doesn't know Liana's true identity, but he senses that she is incredibly mysterious and doesn't seem like an ordinary vampire.

Liana nodded gently.

"Not bad, your foundation is very solid. Let's go."

Roy gave Hyde a wink.

Hyde quickly followed.

A moment later, they arrived at the basement, where Liana took out a piece of special bark from her suitcase.

Its surface is covered with antique patterns, resembling a book...

Upon seeing it, everyone will encounter various information and knowledge.

The bark of the Tree of Sages!

Hyde was overjoyed, his face trembling slightly. After a few seconds, he calmed down and took out the gold pounds and other materials from his small suitcase.

"My esteemed lady, this is three thousand gold pounds..."

"1500 will do."

Liana said calmly.

One thousand and five.

This is the market price of the material, but for series 6 and above, the price is often much higher, ranging from two to three thousand.

Original price...

This is incredibly cheap!

"Thank you, ma'am."

"It's nothing, I was just relaying the message."

Liana said.

Then she looked at Roy.

"Shall we go next door to talk?"

"it is good."

Before long, only Hyde and a pot remained on the side.

His expression was complicated.

Obviously.

Roy is not just a simple "outsider".

He was just an ordinary unofficial staff member, while Roy was likely a genuine member of the Earth Church, and of considerable status.

"Well, at least I was able to help, otherwise I wouldn't know how to repay this favor."

……

"Ma'am, I didn't expect it was you who delivered it."

"Living Sage Trees are quite rare, and the Earth Church doesn't control many of them, but the vampires happen to have a collection of extraordinary materials."

Liana sat down gracefully.

Then, she looked intently at Roy.

"I never imagined you'd mastered scroll reel technology to this level in just a few days. Truly remarkable!"

"It's all thanks to the guidance of the Mother Goddess."

Roy was making hand gestures with devotion.

Liana blinked, then smiled.

"No need for that. The Mother Goddess is merciful; things are as they are. However, the scrolls you are studying are indeed very important to the church."

She opened her bag and pulled out a handful of snacks that looked like sunflower seeds or pine nuts.

Roy's eyes lit up immediately.

"Want it?"

"Thanks!"

He reached out decisively.

Liana smiled so much her eyes turned into crescent moons.

"I also really like eating these snacks, they're fun to chew on... Okay, back to the main topic."

Gala.

She bit into a sunflower seed and skillfully spat out the shell.

"Even in Fenneport, there are only a few farmers with a Sequence 7 or higher, but only those with a Sequence 7 or higher have the ability to influence plant growth."

"Your reel solved the problem."

Sequence 7 is already a medium sequence.

In a church where the "role model" is not widely practiced, there are bound to be very few, and even fewer above Sequence 6.

Even the Church of the Night and the Church of the Storm, Sequence 6 is already the deacon level, and the Church of the Earth should be about the same.

and so.

Roy understood the urgency of the Earth Church.

"I will continue to study it, as it also meets my role-playing needs."

"I'm not urging you, I just want to say that you've made progress, and I've also made some progress on my end."

Liana took out a stack of papers.

Roy took it, then looked up in surprise.

This is……

A list.

The top of the document lists some names, followed by corresponding addresses, job titles, and what appears to be an extraordinary sequence.

Roy looked up.

"How did you get it?"

"Vampires are an ancient family. Even though they haven't been actively involved in Backlund, they can still gather a lot of information if they want to."

Liana chuckled, "I can't go into details, but I can tell you that we maintain an underground trading party."

It turned out to be the case.

There is an extraordinary gathering, so by simply paying attention to their purchasing targets, one can get a general idea of ​​their order.

No wonder some of the later descriptions are like "there are suspected to be other Sequence 6 companions".

These sheets of paper are all from members of the Secret Seekers' Path.

Some are two or three per sheet.

Most of them were of noble birth, coming from aristocratic or wealthy families, so descriptions of their family circumstances were included.

Platform operators are selling information...

Few people could withstand or defend against that.

Roy sighed.

He looked at the list and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"The Morse Ascetic Society has gone mad, proselytizing on such a large scale..."

Although there are only about forty people here, most of them are Sequence 9 or Sequence 8, and very few are Extraordinary individuals above Sequence 7.

Obviously.

Those who venture to these gatherings are all members developed by Backlund.

They lack vigilance and a complete understanding of the extraordinary world, and do not comprehend its terrifying nature.

Roy pondered for a moment, then looked up at Liana.

"Ma'am, could you do me another favor?"

"Um?"

Liana looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Then, she seemed to be deep in thought.

"You want to recruit them?"

"Ahem, it's the Earth Church. Think about it, a church must have its own scroll professors, or cultivate its own affinity forces."

Roy whispered.

Liana smiled and said, "No problem, it's within the scope of the deal, but there's a deadline."

"Thank you, and thank you also to Mother of all things."

Roy was making hand gestures.

He is not yet capable of truly starting his own business; he will have to wait until Sequence 4 at the very least.

Until then, they had to rely on the help of the Earth Church.

Liana was about to speak when she suddenly closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she said, "Can you create extraordinary items?"

"That's the skill of a craftsman; how could I, as a seeker of secrets, possibly possess that ability?"

Roy shook his head, then pondered for a moment, "But if I have the relevant knowledge, I can give it a try."

"Sure. The church has some relevant information that I can show you. If you can do that, I hope you can help process a batch of extraordinary traits."

Liana said, "This is also helping yourself."

"By what means?"

"audience."

Liana replied, "You should be quite aware of their abilities."

Audience approach?

Roy's heart pounded harder.

He couldn't stand this stuff; he always felt it was bad luck and that he was likely to run into that Russian priest.

"Are they the accumulation of the church?"

"Um."

Liana nodded. "Four in total: one Sequence 6 hypnotist and three Sequence 9 hypnotists."

This……

A phrase from his past life unconsciously surfaced in Roy's mind—

If the cook doesn't steal, the grains won't be harvested.

Even if there is only one Sequence 6, you will have four in your possession. One Sequence 6 will be returned to the church, and you will still have three in your possession.

The only problem.

Does the Mother Goddess know that she has such power?

Roy was conflicted.

Is this bait on the fishing hook, or...?

He felt it was likely bait, and the question now was whether or not the bait would be taken.

Within a second or two, he had already made up his mind.

Don't bite!

While the extraordinary properties of a Sequence 7 are valuable, they are still unaffordable, but the risks are far greater.

Not worth the candle.

After figuring it out, he relaxed immediately and smiled, "Let's start with Sequence 9. Even if we fail, we won't waste any materials, and it'll be much easier."

"Can."

Liana nodded. "We'll have the messenger send it over as soon as possible."

Roy got up and left.

As he stepped out of the Earth Church, he felt a chill.

Believe in God's power, but not in His mercy...

That's absolutely right.

Although the Earth Mother Goddess seems to have no ill intentions towards me, who can truly understand what she is thinking?

As a low-order sequence, one must be cautious and not act recklessly.

Roy slowly exhaled.

The good news is that he has gained the support of the Earth Church, which allows him to recruit a group of esoteric seekers as his core team.

Even though this has not yet been implemented.

but.

Given that Liana has the resources to obtain these lists, completing this task shouldn't be a problem. In fact, they might have already had this plan in mind, and they just need our cooperation.

In any case, I will benefit.

……

In the afternoon, he went home and used a mask to change his appearance.

He planned to stake out the Mysterious Club to see if Fias would send anyone there later.

Outside the mysterious club, Roy sat down in a coffee shop, his gaze fixed on the street.

A moment later, he saw the woman again.

Fias.

She walked down the street, and after a moment quickly turned into the coffee shop and headed towards a private room.

Roy adjusted his seat so that he could see the corridor leading out of their private room.

A moment later.

Fias came out from inside, and a few minutes later, another man came out of the private room.

He was the one who contacted Fias.

The next moment, Roy noticed that he had walked into the mysterious club.

Are you here to register as a member?

Roy went inside.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

Ollie called him to a stop.

Roy's face showed hesitation and doubt.

"Do you guys really have anyone here who understands the mystical?"

"Our club is made up of a group of enthusiasts, so we can't guarantee that everyone is an expert, but everyone definitely understands."

"Can I see which experts are here? I've encountered something terrible and want to consult someone."

As he spoke, a look of terror appeared on his face at just the right moment.

"sure."

Auli smiled kindly, "Every outsider who comes to the Mysterious Club has a similar reason. I can't guarantee that your problem can be solved, but I can definitely get help."

"I choose this one, Mr. Groot."

Roy pointed to the last one.

His code name is...

The grey-robed wizard.

"Sir, this is a new member who has just joined. I cannot be sure if he is knowledgeable and trustworthy. If you are willing to wait, I think you can come back on Thursday or Friday."

"Mr. Rowling, the Fighting Wizard, will be coming over those two days. He's a truly professional and learned mystic," Ollie whispered.

"Thank you for your recommendation, but I'm in a hurry. I need to meet this gentleman first."

Just arrived?

You've come to the right place!

That's the one I'm looking for.

Roy smiled slightly and followed the directions inside.

After a while, he arrived at a white crystal room.

After opening the door, Ollie gave a brief introduction, and then Roy went inside.

"Hello, Mr. Groot."

"Hello, please have a seat."

The middle-aged man wore a professional smile and was very polite.

Roy sat down and continued, "Sir, do you really understand mystery?"

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have used 'wizard' as my code name."

Groot laughed and said, "A wizard is a legendary sorcerer who understands the mystical arts. Every enthusiast of the mysticism longs to become a wizard."

"Are you a wizard?"

"No, I am just like you, a mysterious apprentice, a lost seeker on the path of knowledge."

Groot sighed, then chuckled and said, "But I think I can still answer some of your questions or offer some help."

"Mr. Groot, I'm in some trouble. My friend is being hunted by a group of cultists who worship death and has now disappeared. I would like to ask you to divine his whereabouts."

Roy said sadly.

Groot paused for a few seconds, then said, "I know a little bit about divination. Do you have any of his personal belongings?"

"have."

Roy took out a purple crystal pendant, which was wrapped in silk and its origin was unknown.

Groot took it, opened it, and prepared to examine and observe it. At this moment—

He heard a voice in ancient Hermes.

The word means "talking incoherently".

Instantly, a terrifying roar enveloped my mind.

A chorus of roars from the true Creator!

His mind went blank for a moment, flesh buds grew all over his body, and his flesh and blood began to explode one after another.

Even the means of those who seek the secrets cannot withstand the wrath of the true Creator.

but.

Soon, Roy flicked his fingers, pinching a ring and activating "Twisting".

He twisted and deviated the roar.

This gave Groot a chance to catch his breath.

but.

The next second, after he had recovered somewhat, a withered vine suddenly wrapped around his neck.

Under the combined effects of madness and the Entangling spell, the wizard named Groot breathed his last in despair.

Roy unleashed the spiritual power of his magic, his gaze calmly fixed on the corpse.

Then, he ascended to the mysterious temple and communicated with the other person's soul.

"Who are you?."

"Groot Meyer, a member of the Morse Ascetic Order."

"Your boss in Backlund."

"Her name is Fias. She is a wizard and also Mr. Danai's student. Otherwise, she would never have been able to lead me."

Who is Danai?

"Mr. Danai, Sequence 5 Astrologer."

Sequence 5?

According to the information he received, Backlund currently only has one Sequence 5.

I never expected to find out about him.

Where is he?

"I don't know. Mr. Danai is only in contact with Fias right now."

Single line?

trouble.

Roy then asked, "Where is your gathering place around here?"

"The bookstore next to Hillston Library, that's our base."

After thinking for a long time, Roy took out the useless mask.

He already knew where the problem lay with this mask—

Before he went mad, the deceased desperately wanted to fix the appearance of this face, which ultimately resulted in this extraordinary object.

but.

This is probably not the deceased's real face.

As a faceless man, he has forgotten his origins...

The consequences were predictable.

We didn't optimize it before because we were worried Bernadette might suddenly want to go back, but now we really need to use it.

There's nothing we can do about that.

He carefully digitized the mask, removing some of the obscure information.

This is the information stream belonging to the previous faceless man.

Then, it quickly transformed, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Waited for a while.

Roy reintegrated the information, but removed the message that "he only wanted this face."

He retained the information about the other party's obsession with "change".

Then, the mask gradually stabilized.

Faceless Man Mask!

(End of this chapter)