As a Hunter, Lex's skills meant he certainly wouldn't be bumped into by a girl. He subtly leaned against a nearby display window, ensuring the girl wouldn't hit him, and also that she wouldn't feel guilty for him deliberately avoiding her.
"Be careful, Elizabeth, you almost ran into someone."
Through the display window, Lex saw two young women.
The girl who almost ran into him was about fifteen or sixteen, with naturally curly brown hair and adorable baby fat on her face. She wore a light green dress adorned with lace and looked at him in a panic.
The other girl had a thinner face and naturally flowing black hair; she was the girl Lex had encountered on Narcisus Street yesterday when he went to find Kyle.
The two girls walked briskly, quickly disappearing around the corner into Harold's Department Store.
Lex stopped.
He remembered the girl named Elizabeth just now calling the black-haired girl 'Melissa'.
Melissa, wasn't that Klein's sister!
I met her on Narcisus Street yesterday, that's right, how could I forget, Klein's home is nearby.
Lex couldn't help but gasp.
Former Hunter Kyle lived on Narcisus Street, and Klein also lived nearby. Wasn't this a coincidence?
A Reader had mentioned paying attention to 'coincidences'. Was this the coincidence he was referring to?
No, no, Kyle had lived on Narcisus Street for many years, and according to the Reader's information, the coincidences created by a certain individual or organization were aimed at Klein, and those around him.
This should be something that happened recently, so Kyle shouldn't be within their calculations. I don't need to worry too much.
But Kyle's home is too close to Klein's. It seems that during this period, it's best for me not to appear in the Narcisus Street area.
Also, Melissa is Klein's sister, so I shouldn't get too close to her either.
She and her friend have already gone to Harold's Department Store.
Lex cleared his throat and said to Matthew, "Something unexpected just came up, so I won't be going to the store. Matthew, could you buy a few gifts for me instead?"
He told Matthew the gifts he wanted to give to the councilman and the viscount, then got into a carriage with his bodyguards, changing course for Chris's private hospital.
Arriving at the private ward, Lex left Gru outside and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Kyle's slightly tired voice came from inside. Lex pushed open the door and smelled a faint scent of disinfectant, along with a floral aroma.
In the ward, the disheveled former Hunter was placing a bouquet of dewy fresh flowers into a vase by the window.
"Good morning, Mr. Kyle." Lex smiled politely, "I've already asked my friends to help find a way to treat Ms. Lanci. I believe Ms. Lanci's condition will improve very soon."
A little more light appeared in Kyle's eyes. He nodded, pulled a folded letter from his jacket pocket, and handed it to Lex: "This is the Provoker potion formula. I've written all the Materials and quantities here, take a look yourself."
"You know how to make potions, right?"
Without waiting for Lex to answer, Kyle continued, "As for the Materials, there's an underground trading market in the Evil Dragon Bar. You should be able to find some Materials there."
"Go find Swain. He's the Bartender. Tell him I sent you, and he'll let you in."
"If you don't find anything at the Evil Dragon Bar, you can try your luck at the Elk Tavern. Beyonder gather there from time to time, and there are also many bounty hunters frequenting the place."
"Occasionally, some missions offer potion Materials as rewards. They might not be what you need, but you can trade them with other Beyonder."
"That's probably all I can help you with."
You've already helped me a great deal!
Lex was a little excited. He had thought Kyle would only reveal the potion formula after Lanci was cured, but he unexpectedly gave him the formula today.
He also provided places where he could collect Materials, which would greatly reduce the time it took for him to make the potion.
Without immediately looking at the potion formula, Lex first put away the paper, then took out an envelope.
Inside were the banknotes he had put in earlier while in the carriage. Lex placed the envelope on the nearby table: "Mr. Kyle, here's some money, which should be enough to cover the hospital fees."
"Please believe me, this is not a transaction. Even without the potion formula, I would still do this. Because you are my mother's friend."
"So, if I find out about Ms. Lanci's treatment method, I will notify you immediately."
Lex took out Amelia's handwritten letter: "This is the letter Mom asked me to give you."
Kyle nodded and took it, but didn't tear it open. He put away the letter and looked at Lex, saying, "I don't know if Amelia reminded you, but Beyonder of the same Pathway have a very high chance of becoming enemies. You need to be careful about this."
"This is a conclusion we reached during our adventures, even though the smartest among us couldn't figure out why."
"In any case, consider it advice from those who have come before."
Lex humbly nodded: "Thank you for your guidance. I'll take my leave now."
Leaving the ward, Lex walked while pulling out the potion formula Kyle had given him and began to read it.
On the paper, the former Hunter had written down the relevant Materials and quantities in a messy handwriting.
The main Materials required for the Provoker potion were: one gallbladder from a male red-backed honey badger, and one rhizome from a dragon's blood pitcher plant.
The auxiliary Materials were: 30 ml of red-backed honey badger blood, 80 ml of pure water, 3 peacock orchids, and 5 grams of powdered midsummer grass.
After memorizing them, Lex found a restroom and burned the formula.
Now that he knew the formula, he was eager to collect the Materials, but he restrained his impulse and returned to the hotel first.
He patiently waited until nightfall before taking out a knee-length thin trench coat, putting on a mask, and bringing 'blood praise' and his golden revolver with him as he quietly left the hotel.
By the time he arrived at the Evil Dragon Bar, it was already late, but the bar was still very noisy.
Wearing a mask and pressing down his hat, Lex approached the bar counter and saw another Bartender.
"What can I get you?" The Bartender looked Lex over, showing no surprise at his iron mask.
Lex used a deliberately altered voice, nasal, deep, but not hoarse: "I hear you have an underground trading market here. I want to buy something. How do I get in?"
The Bartender said flatly: "Who sent you?"
Lex calmly pulled out his wallet and placed banknotes on the table.
From soli to pound, in various denominations. When the total on the table exceeded 20 pound, the Bartender covered them with a cup.
"Enough."
He slightly lifted the rim of the cup, pulled out a 1 pound banknote from underneath, and then looked up at Lex: "Put your money away. It's best not to display it casually here; there are plenty of people who value money more than their lives."
Lex put the banknotes back into his wallet: "Thank you for the warning."
The Bartender whistled, and a young man with a slightly sallow complexion, wearing a worn shirt and blue-grey trousers, walked over from nearby.
"Take him to the 'market' in the back."
The young man nodded, hands in his pockets, and walked towards the boxing ring.