Odis began explaining to everyone, "The six Pathways are Mystery Pryer, Seer, Sailor, Spectator, Apprentice, and Bard..."
The members all strained their ears, afraid to miss even a single word.
"First, the 'Mystery Pryer'..." Odis continued, "Beyonders of this Pathway possess abundant Spirituality and have the ability to use Spirit Vision. Their learning capabilities are noticeably enhanced. Upon becoming a 'Mystery Pryer', they gain a certain amount of mystical knowledge and can master a wide range of Ritualistic Magic..."
"The 'Seer'... as the name suggests, specializes in divination; be it Astrological Divination, Dowsing Rod Seeking, Dream Divination, and so on. Due to their ample Spirituality, they also possess Spirit Vision..."
"'Sailor' grants the ability to move through water as freely as a fish, allowing them to dive up to 15 meters without any protective gear and remain submerged for over ten minutes. They also develop illusory scales on their skin, which help mitigate damage. I must warn you to choose this Pathway with caution, as the 'Mandated Punishers' are Beyonders of this Pathway. While I can help you obtain subsequent potion formulas, most of the ingredients are controlled by the Church of the Lord of Storms..."
"'Spectator' enhances one's observational skills to levels beyond ordinary people, making it easy to discern others' true thoughts through their expressions and gestures..."
"The 'Apprentice' Pathway starts with the highly practical ability, Door Opening, allowing them to create illusory exits even in enclosed spaces..."
"'Bards' can use their voice to inspire courage and strength in themselves and their companions..."
After Odis finished speaking in one breath, the gathering fell into silence for a long moment. Even Hound hadn't expected the 'Leader' to possess so many potion formulas, instantly turning the Mysticism Research Society's gathering into a wholesale market for potion formulas.
Though some members here belonged to certain Beyonder organizations, most had only seen the formulas for their own Sequences. Few had ever encountered someone like the 'Leader', who could casually list six Sequence 9 potion formulas in one go.
Meanwhile, Xio thought to herself: 'The Leader even has the Apprentice potion formula! Though, now that Fors has already obtained the Trickmaster potion formula, there's no current need. Still, I could asked if Leader has the subsequent formulas for the Apprentice Pathway...'
Of course, Xio didn't know that Leader had acquired the 'Apprentice' formula through a transaction with her good friend...
"I want to become a Seer," declared Giraffe, whose neck was slightly longer than average.
This statement acted like a trigger, sparking a frenzy among the members to purchase the potion formulas. Ten members immediately paid the 230 pounds and obtained their desired formulas.
Two others, who were short on cash, placed reservations.
A few more remained cautious, deciding to think it over and wait until the next gathering.
Still, this was already quite a success. After all, Odis had obtained these potion formulas for only 780 pounds and some knowledge. Today, he had not only recouped his investment, but made a hefty profit.
At the same time, the overall strength of the 'Mysticism Research Society' had improved, which was an intangible benefit.
After receiving their potion formulas, many members remained too excited to calm down, taking close to five minutes before the gathering returned to the intelligence exchange segment...
Hound asked Xio and two others, "How is the progress on the commission I previously assigned?"
He had previously tasked them with identifying the people whom the 'Mandated Punishers' informant had met before his death.
One member chuckled, saying, "I did some investigating, but the individuals I found were already on the list you provided. My apologies, I won't be continuing this task."
Hound sighed and said, "I'll increase the reward, 20 pounds for each new lead!"
The same member smiled, "Somehow, I seem to have regained my motivation."
It was only then that Xio spoke up, "I've found some clues, but my investigation is still ongoing."
Hound smiled and said, "I look forward to your updates."
The earlier excitement over the potion formula transactions carried over into the intelligence exchange, making the session lively. Some members received new commissions, while others obtained the information they sought.
Around ten o'clock, Odis declared the gathering concluded.
With 2500 pounds in earnings from the gathering, he left through the basement. Once again, he had money...
....
~Unit 15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough~
*Ding-a-ling~*
Klein, who had just returned from an outing, was about to prepare lunch when he suddenly heard the doorbell...
Hurrying to the door, his vision instantly projected an image of the visitor the moment his hand touched the handle. Standing outside was a man in his fifties with graying hair, dressed in a butler's attire.
He opened the door and greeted, "Hello."
"Good day, Mr. Moriarty," the elderly man said with a perfectly measured smile, holding a briefcase, "I've heard of your exploits from a friend."
Klein smiled, "I hope they weren't unflattering exploits. Please, come in."
After seating the old man on the sofa, Klein poured tea and asked, "How may I assist you?"
The butler opened his briefcase and handed Klein a folder, "I'd like you to investigate this person discreetly. These are some details about him."
Klein opened the folder and was immediately met with a strikingly lifelike portrait. The figure was a masked man with a slender build, dressed in a black coat and holding a cigar.
The moment he saw the portrait, Klein recognized him: 'Mr. Gale!'
Then he noticed something. The masked man he'd seen at Capim's place was slightly different from Mr. Gale... For one, the mask design wasn't the same. Secondly, the man at Capim's villa had been wearing a cloak, while Mr. Gale wore a coat, giving off a different vibe.
Still, Klein had already divined that the person he encountered that day was infact Mr. Gale. He guessed this might be two different identities Mr. Gale maintained, or simply two different outfits.
Flipping through the file, he found little information on Mr. Gale himself... only a brief account of how he established the Rosewood Pavilion. Most of the details were about Lady Mandy and Mr. Gale's subordinate, Enoch...
Closing the file, Klein thought for a moment before asking, "What aspects of him do you wish to investigate?"
The butler replied, "His residence and preferences, whether he has a wife or children, and who he works for."
Klein pushed the file back, saying, "If it's just his residence and preferences, I might consider taking the commission. But if you're asking about his family, I need to know what you intend to do with that information and who the employer is."
"You're quite the principled detective," the old man said with a smile, "But you must understand, the dance hall he runs has ruined countless innocent girls. Investigating him is an act of justice."
Klein smiled, replying, "My apologies, but I can't accept this commission."
His impression of Mr. Gale wasn't bad, and he had no intention of exposing him to potential threats...