Chapter 34: Prepaid Remuneration (Second update, requesting recommendation votes)

Chapter 34: Prepaid Remuneration (Second update, requesting recommendation votes)

In a windowless basement, Alger Wilson, with his rugged and deep-set features, sat beside a long table laden with various vessels and parchment scrolls.

Before him stood a half-burned candle; its dim, yellowish flame cast shifting shadows across the surrounding objects and the surface of the long table.

Alger's hair was as disheveled as seaweed, a deep blue color bordering on black. He wore a robe embroidered with lightning patterns, his hands clasped with thumbs touching, leaning forward to gaze intently at a bottle of pitch-black liquid to the left of the candle.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

*Crash! Crash! Crash!*

From within the sealed bottle, the sound of howling gales would occasionally erupt, followed by the surging roar of the ocean. In the areas not submerged by the black liquid, a faint mist drifted and writhed, as if it had grown eyes and a mouth.

Alger glanced sideways at the wall clock and saw the hour hand pointing to three.

He pinched his temples, his eyes suddenly turning dark, and a subtle luster emerged from the various vessels on the table.

At that moment, he discovered a tide of crimson light surging forth out of thin air, instantly drowning him!

…………

Backlund, Queenston, inside the Hall family's luxury villa.

Having dismissed her dance teacher, Audrey locked the door and sat upright before her dressing table.

Outside the window, the sunlight was brilliant and the flowers were in full bloom. On the table, a blank notebook bound in exquisite light-brown parchment lay quietly open; to its right sat a fountain pen with a golden tip and a body inlaid with red gemstones.

Audrey tested it, ensuring that the moment she detached from the "gathering," she could pick up the pen and record the formula in the fastest possible time.

"I'm so looking forward to it..." She took a breath, suppressing her excitement, and pursed her lips while looking into the mirror.

However, she failed to see her own reflection; instead, a deep crimson and illusory light erupted from all around her and from within her body simultaneously!

…………

Above the gray fog, within a magnificent temple that felt like the residence of a Giant King.

Deep crimson blossoms erupted on both sides of the bronze long table, surging upward like fountains before falling like snow, "sculpting" two blurred figures. Their positions remained unchanged compared to the last time.

Audrey, with her smooth blonde hair and tall stature, instinctively looked toward the head of the table. She saw the figure shrouded in thick gray fog leaning back, one hand resting flat on the edge of the table, the other loosely gripping his chin.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~!" Audrey called out in a lighthearted tone.

Then, she turned her head toward the opposite side and spoke in the same manner

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man~!"

*This girl is truly carefree. She's confirmed I'm a good person just like that, without any fear at all? A well-protected noble lady?* Klein smiled, maintaining his profound and mysterious image as he said

"Good afternoon, Miss 'Justice'."

As he spoke, he slightly lowered his head and raised his loosely held left hand, tapping it twice against his brow.

The vision changed instantly; he saw the aura and radiance emanating from "Justice" and "The Hanged Man"!

The surrounding gray fog and crimson stars remained unchanged; no ethereal or seemingly living, clear light appeared.

Shifting his gaze slightly, Klein saw that the color of "Justice's" aura perfectly matched Old Neil's description—the reds were red, the purples were purple, the blues were blue, and the whites were white. Furthermore, the luster was bright and the density appropriate; she was clearly a vibrant young girl.

*Her emotional colors include red and yellow—happiness, passion, excitement...* Klein made his judgment and turned his attention to "The Hanged Man."

Similar to "Justice," the colors of The Hanged Man's aura were nothing special, though his emotions were blue, mixed with a few hints of orange.

*Calmness, thought, caution, and a little bit of satisfaction?* On his first attempt, Klein concluded with some uncertainty.

Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly discovered something strange.

In the innermost layer of "The Hanged Man's" aura, the colors and sensations seemed to be completely unified!

Klein concentrated his spirit and looked more closely, faintly seeing that deep within The Hanged Man's "Etheric Body" was a deep blue color like the ocean, giving off a sense of gales and surging waves.

*His 'Spirit Body'? Or perhaps the surface of his 'Spirit Body'? Looking at it this way, he really is a Beyonder, and seems even more powerful than Old Neil.* Klein's thoughts raced, filled with doubt. *Not necessarily. Perhaps it's only because of this special environment—because this is my home turf—that I can see this. It's not that Old Neil didn't exhibit similar traits.*

He turned to look at "Justice" again, confirming that it was the kind of specialty possessed only by Beyonders.

At this time, Alger also finished his greetings.

Audrey took a light breath and asked with implied anticipation

"Mr. 'Hanged Man', did you receive that box of Ghost Shark blood?"

Alger glanced at Klein and saw him tapping his brow, as if contemplating something else.

"Thank you very much; it perfectly meets all my expectations. I truly didn't expect you to send it so quickly. Ghost Shark blood is no ordinary Beyonder material," Alger answered candidly.

Audrey gave a modest, shallow smile

"I am glad to see this result."

Because she had loved mysterious things since childhood, she had made friends in noble circles who shared the same hobby, exchanging information, books, and rare items. However, prior to this, no one had obtained supernatural powers to become a true Beyonder. A few princes had hinted that if she were willing to become a princess, she would receive whatever gifts she desired.

However, this batch of Ghost Shark blood was taken directly from her family's treasury. Regardless, the inventory recorded it as "one large bottle," without specifying the exact milliliters or whether it was full. She believed that taking a small fraction of a small fraction would certainly go unnoticed; even if an accident occurred and the matter was exposed, her parents likely wouldn't pursue it.

Alger took another deep look at the Fool shrouded in gray fog, then turned back and smiled

"According to our agreement, I will tell you the formula for the 'Spectator' potion."

"I'll prepare myself. Okay, let's begin." Audrey took a breath, concentrating all her attention.

"The preparation of low-sequence potions is very simple; you just need to add the ingredients in the given order. But you must remember: it is better to have slightly less than too much. Too much will cause major problems. You must have heard of Beyonders losing control; I don't need to repeat that, do I?" Alger began with the precautions.

Audrey nodded gently

"I understand completely."

As she spoke, she glanced sideways at Mr. "Fool," wondering if this mysterious powerhouse had anything to add. Unfortunately, in her vision, the "Fool" sat there quietly, like a statue.

Alger thought for a moment and said

"Having less doesn't mean being too far off... If you don't have an assistant, I suggest you spend time familiarizing yourself with chemical experiments first."

"I have tutors for that," Audrey replied without hesitation.

Alger went on to explain matters such as the maximum extent of deviation, and then began to recite fluently

"'Spectator', Sequence 9 potion. 80 milliliters of pure water, add 5 drops of Colchicum essence, add 13 grams of Ox-tooth Peony powder, add 7 petals of Elf Flower, add a pair of adult Manhar Fish eyes, and add 35 milliliters of Ram-horn Blackfish blood."

"The last two are the primary ingredients, both from marine Beyonder species. You must be cautious."

"Mm." Audrey repeated it as she recalled: "80 milliliters of pure water, 5 drops of Colchicum essence, 13 grams of Ox-tooth, Ox-tooth..."

"Peony powder," Alger prompted.

With his help, Audrey gradually memorized the formula in the correct order, but she was still uneasy, muttering to herself and repeating it over and over.

"Do you know how to meditate?" Seeing "Justice" nod, Alger continued, "I don't know what kind of meditation you are familiar with, so let me describe it first... After consuming the potion, start meditating as soon as possible to control your spirituality and power... You must practice every day to truly master the potion's power and excavate its symbolic meaning and further mysteries. Only in this way can you minimize the danger of losing control. And the key to the potion's symbolic meaning lies in its 'Name'—for example, 'Spectator'!"

Klein listened quietly to their exchange. He hadn't intended to interrupt, only to memorize and learn in secret, but hearing this, his heart stirred, and an idea occurred to him.

Audrey was listening intently to "The Hanged Man's" explanation and was about to ask a few detailed questions when she suddenly heard the sound of someone tapping on the table.

She and Alger turned their heads simultaneously toward the "Fool" sitting at the head of the table. They saw the mysterious powerhouse tapping his fingers and speaking in a low voice

"It is not 'mastering,' it is 'digesting'."

"It is not 'excavating,' it is 'acting'."

"The name of a potion is not just a symbol; it is an image, and more importantly, the 'key' to digestion."

Audrey was left stunned and bewildered, not quite understanding what Mr. Fool was trying to express.

She subconsciously used her peripheral vision to check "The Hanged Man's" reaction, only to be shocked to find that his body had shuddered and frozen in place, like an ordinary person hearing a massive, sudden clap of thunder.

"Digesting, acting... digesting, acting... digesting, acting, the key..." Alger whispered over and over, as if he had grasped something crucial or had been struck by a strange spell.

After a while, he raised his head and said in a raspy voice

"Thank you, Mr. Fool. Your hint is as precious as my life. It has cleared up many things for me. Of course, I believe I have not yet fully understood or fully grasped it."

Maintaining his mysterious and profound image, Klein smiled and said

"This is the prepaid remuneration."

In truth, even he didn't quite understand the exact meaning of those words just now; he only knew for certain that Emperor Roselle was stronger than an average Beyonder, and stronger than "The Hanged Man."

*Prepaid remuneration...* Seeing The Hanged Man's reaction, Audrey realized the preciousness of the hint. While savoring the words, she asked

"Mr. Fool, what would you like us to do?"

Across from her, Alger nodded in agreement

"Do you have a commission?"

Klein leaned back slightly, glanced at both sides, and said in a low, soothing voice

"Help me collect the secret diaries of Roselle Gustav—even if it is only a single page."

PS: Requesting recommendation votes~

(End of Chapter)