After a short pause, "Magician" Fors glanced around. Seeing that the others still seemed hesitant, she was the first to speak:
"Everyone, you've already heard the introduction to 'Lemano's Travel Notes' just now and understand its abilities…
"Though it only corresponds to Sequence 6, normally worth about 5,000 pounds, with its special properties, it's worth at least 10,000 pounds…"
Before her voice fell, "Justice" Audrey interjected with interest:
"Are you planning to sell this notebook?"
After hearing the functions of "Lemano's Travel Notes," Audrey had been deeply tempted by this item—similar in some ways to "Creeping Hunger" and "Fallen Morning Star," able to use different extraordinary abilities from various pathways.
And she believed that no matter how much she paid for this item, her father, Earl Hall, would reimburse her.
It was just that each time it required her own blood… The thought made "Justice" Audrey shrink her hand back in faint fear.
The others, especially "Hermit" Cattleya, were also moved and ready to bid.
At that moment, "Magician" Fors realized the misunderstanding and hurriedly explained:
"No, no, I'm not selling it—I'm renting it.
"When you need it, you can temporarily lease it for a period of time, with Mr. Fool as witness."
This idea had actually come from Ebner—on the night when Fors was recording abilities, she also discussed with him how to make money quickly.
Of course, Fors didn't know yet that Ebner was "The Tower." Her probing had been indirect, and Ebner hadn't exposed himself, simply giving advice as a "friend."
Rent it? That's possible? At that moment, aside from "Tower" Ebner and "Judgment" Xio, even "World" Klein froze slightly—now that "World" had become a true puppet, there was no delay in reaction.
They certainly knew what rental transactions were, but had never thought of applying them to mystical items, let alone seeing it in the Tarot Club!
For us, this means spending little money to use a powerful extraordinary item whenever needed. For Miss Magician, it means accumulating quite a bit of money over time, while also effortlessly recording different practical abilities from various pathways… This is exactly what Emperor Roselle once described as a 'win-win!' "Hanged Man" Alger quickly grasped the essence of the rental arrangement.
Miss Magician does have a business mind… no, more likely she received a certain someone's advice… Thinking this, "World" glanced in the direction of "Tower," then rasped out a question before Alger could:
"How does one rent it?"
Even if he himself didn't need it, he could ask on Sharon's behalf—though she was already a demigod, her methods were too limited, and she lacked powerful items.
"Each rental costs 300 pounds as a base. Every additional day is 50 pounds. When returning it, the Travel Notes must contain two more extraordinary abilities than when borrowed. If borrowed with only one blank page or no blank pages left, then it must be replenished until the whole notebook is full," Fors explained. She didn't set the price too high, planning for steady income.
Two extra pages didn't mean two of the same kind—users could freely employ the extraordinary abilities recorded in "Lemano's Travel Notes," but at the end they simply needed to add more, without restriction on type.
Fifty pounds per day… that's 1,500 pounds for a month… if possible, I could just keep renting it forever… "Justice" Audrey did a quick calculation.
But she wouldn't dare do something so greedy and offensive.
As for the others, since they didn't currently need to fight, "Hanged Man," "Moon," "Temperance," and "Hermit" didn't need it for now. "Tower" and "Judgment" had no need to rent at all. So only "Sun" Derrick, after some hesitation, spoke up:
"I'll rent it for three days, starting today… but I don't have gold pounds. Can I pay with extraordinary materials?"
He had exploration tasks for three days and badly needed an item that could handle various situations.
"Magician" Fors thought for a moment, then, with Mr. Fool's help, manifested the "Silver City" materials list, carefully marked a few easy-to-sell items, and passed it to "Sun."
"Sun" Derrick glanced at it once and breathed in relief. Those items were available near Afternoon Town—no need to borrow for now.
"No problem. I can gather them within a day," he said.
After this rental agreement was settled, "Magician" Fors looked around again and continued:
"Does anyone have a complete Asman's Brain, or any news of it?"
This was one of the main ingredients for the "Recorder" potion formula.
As for the other main material—the "Cursed Item of an Ancient Wraith"—it had already been obtained in Roselle's dream mausoleum and was currently kept by Ebner. Fors could take it anytime.
In fact, she had also planned to issue a commission to assassinate Louis Wayne, hoping "Tower," "World," or "Temperance" would accept it. But she remembered she had already paid Ebner, who had agreed, so going to others would be a loss. She decided not to mention it.
Asman was a monster spoken of only in ancient legends, resembling an unprotected human brain large enough to fill a room. It could create terrifying illusions and cause attackers to die by their own methods. Upon hearing of it, "World" Klein immediately recalled what he had studied during his time as a Nightwatcher.
Ebner, however, found it strange. In the original, this material had been given freely to Fors by Dorian. Why now did she have to gather it herself?
But then he felt relieved. After all, with an "ancestor" like Alwin Abraham appearing, it was only natural that things had shifted.
At this point, "Sun" Derrick cautiously said:
"There seems to be one such Asman monster near our Silver City… but it would take about one week—no, two weeks to hunt it down…"
"Magician" Fors had no objections to one or two weeks of delay. She had just advanced to Astrologer and wasn't sure how long it would take to digest, but clearly not within a week or two. So she asked directly:
"What do you need?"
Just as "Sun" was about to answer, "Moon" Emlyn cut in with a chuckle:
"What else could he want? Naturally, the potion formula for Sequence 6 of the Sun pathway, 'Adjudicator.'"
"Sun" shot a glare at this annoying vampire who always targeted him. But he had to admit the bloodsucker was right. He nodded:
"Miss Magician, that is what I need."
"Magician" Fors thought for a few seconds. She believed her teacher might have the formula, but wasn't sure. So she replied cautiously:
"I'll try my best to obtain it."
If necessary, she'd just ask Ebner, who seemed to know everything.
At that moment, Klein suddenly felt ashamed. When he first obtained "Creeping Hunger," he had intended to release the soul of the "Priest of Light" inside, to obtain the formulas for Sequence 6 and 5 of the Sun pathway, and sell them to Little Sun. Yet after so long, he had never accomplished it.
He was about to say he could get the formula, but "Hermit" Cattleya spoke before him:
"I have the formula for 'Adjudicator.' I suggest a three-way trade."
Hearing this, Klein swallowed back his words. After all, he had just taken the Queen's money and disciplined her daughter. It would be immoral to snatch this deal from her as well… Besides, he would later get a "Gatekeeper" puppet from Cattleya at a discount. Either way, he profited.
"Three-way trade?" Fors was stunned at first, then quickly understood and asked with interest:
"Miss Hermit, what do you need?"
"I need a drop of Mythical Creature blood, any kind… But this doesn't equal the 'Disciplinary Paladin' formula." She paused deliberately, then shifted to the real condition: "What I want in return is the Sequence 6 'Judge' formula of the Arbiter pathway."
Because the unlucky Anderson had once used an item formed from a "Judge" characteristic as payment when leaving the Future, and among Admiral of Stars' fleet was a vice-captain Arbiter who had long accumulated enough contributions, Cattleya intended to cultivate her own "Judge."
"Judge" formula? Xio should have it! Fors first glanced at the "Judgment" beside her. Seeing Xio silent, she confidently said:
"I can get the Judge formula within a few days."
Seeing that "Magician," "Hermit," and "Sun" had all quickly obtained what they wanted, "Justice" Audrey couldn't hold back anymore. She raised her hand slightly:
"I hope to obtain a young Mind Dragon's complete pituitary, or 60 milliliters of Black-Hunt Giant Lizard spinal fluid, or one fruit of the Hypnotic Windchime Tree."
These were the main ingredients for the "Hypnotist" potion. After reporting the special circumstances of Kabas Town to the Psychology Alchemists, she had accumulated enough contributions to exchange for the Sequence 6 Spectator pathway formula.
No sooner had Audrey finished than "Hermit" Cattleya responded:
"Since the Fifth Epoch, Mind Dragons are almost extinct. Very hard to find.
"I can obtain Black-Hunt Giant Lizard spinal fluid, but it will take two to three weeks, costing between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, as the matter isn't mine to decide.
"I'll also inquire about the Windchime fruit, but I can't guarantee results."
So fast… Miss Hermit really seems more active, kinder, more invested in the Tarot Club after her punishment… For a moment, "Justice" Audrey was speechless.
After a few seconds, she bowed slightly:
"No problem."
See? Children must be disciplined or they won't behave. The Queen simply didn't punish her enough! Look how effective it was—worth every bit of the 15,000 Feys she paid.
As Klein was mocking inwardly, he suddenly noticed "Hermit" Cattleya glance toward him. Before he could hide his guilty thoughts, she asked vaguely:
"That item—do you still want it? Same price, 10,000 gold pounds."
"Yes!" "World" Klein exhaled in relief, then asked: "Do you accept bank notes?"
"Which bank?" Cattleya asked.
"Intis Sucit Bank," rasped "World" Klein, adding: "There's exactly 15,000 Feys inside."
Sucit Bank… Cattleya murmured, seeming to realize something. She nodded: "No problem."
Considering that he had essentially freeloaded a puppet from her, Klein felt guilty. After a pause, he manipulated "World" to say again:
"I'll keep an eye out for the 'Mythical Creature blood' you need."
He planned to ask Liu Bo in the small gathering later what exactly that meant.
"Good." Cattleya didn't place much hope in it.
The reason she had deliberately revealed her need was solely to show Mr. Fool her willingness to integrate into the Tarot Club. She believed this attitude would dispel the aftermath of her earlier punishment better than trembling in fear.
Ebner had also intended to speak up about the "Mythical Creature blood," but after careful thought, chose not to.
Although it wouldn't be difficult for me now to draw some blood from the God of Luck, my own situation is far too unusual. Who knows what problems that blood might carry… Lady Yaloran, who advanced with Rhine's blood, seems to be trapped in some predicament lately… though it might not have come from me.
In any case, until I understand the details, I shouldn't act rashly. Besides, I should leave some opportunities for 'World' and Mr. Fool to flaunt themselves.
(End of Chapter)