"I may not possess what you seek, but I hold the clues. I can present them to you at the upcoming gathering. Alternatively, if you are willing to accept the Golden pounds arrangement, I can provide you with an immediate sum of 800 pounds!" The woman, her face hidden in shadow, quickly spoke.
Lin Ruo glanced at her and then heard the old man, Eyes of Wisdom, calmly state, "I possess a formula for the Provoker potion, available for 450 pounds."
Indeed... Lin Ruo heaved a sigh of relief and felt that the truth was unfolding as anticipated. He cast a swift look at the elderly man from the Eyes of Wisdom and agreed, "Deal!"
He then turned his attention to the woman with the concealed face and said, "The Briber's potion formula, 800 pounds."
"Deal!" The woman, her face still hidden, nodded enthusiastically.
Lin Ruo proceeded to count out the golden pounds that he had just withdrawn from his pouch, handing them to the waiter. Following the same process, he found himself with an additional folded piece of paper and 800 pounds in his possession.
Perhaps due to feeling somewhat coerced, Lin Ruo, having secured the formula, found himself less excited and more relieved. However, he couldn't resist the urge to open the potion formula and read its contents:
"Primary ingredient: Eyes of a mature black cat, complete orangutan plant.
Auxiliary ingredients: 80ml pure water, 10g spring ball grass powder, a black elf flower, 100ml spirits."
The formula wasn't significantly divergent from general Sequence 8 potion formulas. It contained two primary ingredients, neither of which were particularly rare. After all, it was only at the Sequence 8 level. The supplementary ingredients were commonplace in the realm of mysteries. While they might not be as accessible as Sequence 9 supplementary ingredients that could even be found in pharmacies, they were not rare.
At least Lin Ruo was confident that he could procure all these items through his existing channels.
It seemed that after digesting the Hunter's potion, he could advance to become a Provoker. However, contemplating the act of provocation, Lin Ruo's expression took on a peculiar look.
Tsk, If he were to provoke the hot pot evil spirits, would the Provoker's potion melt in his mouth?
Well, forget about that. He couldn't die right away, so he had to restrain himself...
Having secured the Provoker's potion, Lin Ruo observed other transactions, but since nothing particularly caught his eye, he refrained from making further moves.
After all the exchanges concluded, the Eyes of Wisdom announced the end of the day's gathering. The participants were then directed to leave the room one by one, each given a three-minute interval.
Possibly because the Elder, Eyes of Wisdom considered Lin Ruo a potential Sequence 9 novice, he was one of the first to be ushered out.
Lin Ruo didn't reject this offer either and swiftly left the room. He navigated through the alley and returned to the Bravehearts Bar. Upon exiting the bar, he hopped between several carriages and finally arrived at his residence.
Stretching leisurely, Lin Ruo placed the paper containing the potion formula and the wallet on the table. He then picked up the ancient giant language textbook nearby.
"Studying ancient giant language, ancient elven language, ancient Hermes language... acting, script analysis, learning about mysteries from Old Neil's teachings with Klein... Phew!" He catalogued the numerous tasks he needed to accomplish next, a sensation of slight fatigue enveloping him.
"I can't afford to relax for even a moment!"
With a sigh, he plunged back into the sea of learning.
…
"Good morning!"
Having grown accustomed to the sudden transportation to Tingen, Lin Ruo calmly arrived once more. Observing Klein brushing his teeth, he not only adapted without fuss but also greeted him in Chinese.
"Uh, good morning!" Klein, initially taken aback while brushing his teeth, soon broke into a smile upon realizing Lin Ruo's presence.
"You're about to become a Beyonder today. Are you nervous?" Lin Ruo asked, recalling Klein's decision as they had discussed it the previous day.
"I'm a bit nervous... but I'm more excited!" Klein replied after a brief pause, his sentiment clear.
"A positive attitude!" Lin Ruo commented before lapsing into silence. He patiently waited for Klein to freshen up, have breakfast, and then set off with him. Together, they boarded a trackless carriage bound for Blackthorn Security Company.
Exiting the carriage and standing before the entrance of Blackthorn Security Company, Klein inhaled deeply. Suddenly, a thought struck him, prompting him to inquire, "By the way, Lin Ruo, which Pathway have you chosen as a Beyonder? Of course, if it's not convenient for you to share, you can ignore my question."
"Me?" Lin Ruo paused momentarily before breaking into a smile. "I've chosen the Hunter Path! It embodies the essence of war."
War... How does war connect with hunters?
Klein found himself slightly baffled, but he refrained from seeking immediate clarification. Instead, he remarked, "I thought you might opt for something like Spectator or a similar approach... I hadn't expected you to choose the Hunter Path."
While he hadn't yet delved into the details of the Hunter Path, merely the name of the potion and Lin Ruo's explanation that it symbolized warfare led Klein to surmise that this Path emphasized direct combat. Furthermore, despite their relatively short acquaintance, Klein sensed that Lin Ruo wasn't the kind of person who favored direct confrontations.
In fact, Klein had a hunch that Lin Ruo was someone who preferred to strategize behind the scenes, orchestrating events in a way that remained concealed from the participants.
If such were the case, he might have anticipated Lin Ruo to lean more towards a Path that highlighted behind-the-scenes influence.
"Surprised?" Lin Ruo glanced at Klein before emitting a slight sigh, an air of disappointment about him. "If I had the choice, I'd prefer Spectator. It aligns more with my aesthetics..."
"However, not everyone is granted that choice."
Klein paused for a moment, then realized that Lin Ruo's statement alluded to his own half-exceptional nature, as well as Dunn's and Lin Ruo's previous introductions. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry!"
"It's fine; I've accepted this reality long ago. Besides, the Hunter Path isn't all that bad. It lacks a Sequence 0, yet it offers formidable combat capabilities... and that's still better than being a Witch, wouldn't you agree?" Lin Ruo, recovering swiftly from his momentary melancholy, even managed to interject a witticism into the conversation.
Klein couldn't help but recall Lin Ruo's previous teachings about the Witch Path's transformation technique. His lips twitched slightly.
"Well, let's not waste time. Go on in! Today marks the day you officially become a Beyonder!" Lin Ruo urged, prompting Klein to step into Blackthorn Security Company. He inquired about Dunn's whereabouts and, upon learning that Dunn was in his second-floor office, he knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Dunn's voice, as deep and soothing as ever, resounded.