435 Aggregation Effec (2/2)
He muttered to himself in a low voice, ”My suitcase…
”My tin box…”
…
On the lamp-lit street, a carriage rolled over the puddles and headed for the edge of Empress Borough.
Fors has told her good friend, Xio Derecha, that she had a teacher and had ended up consuming another Apprentice potion.
After confirming that she didn't have any signs of losing control, Xio looked outside the window at the gas lamps, which weren't much taller than she was, and asked in puzzlement, ”I've always wondered why they're preserved as ingredients and not as a potion. Your teacher could've concocted the potion beforehand and brought them here, so there was no need for him to do it on the spot.”
Fors gave a faint smile and said, ”I've asked him about this before. He said that there are two main reasons. One is that different Beyonder ingredients have different uses, and when they're made into a potion, they cannot be used flexibly. The second is that when the Beyonder characteristics are solidified, they can be kept forever, but after it becomes a potion, that won't be the case unless one uses a special isolation technique.”
”Why?” Xio asked in surprise. ”This isn't an ordinary type of medicine or Beyonder weapon in which its spirituality will continue to dissipate and weaken.”
Fors wasn't in the mood to laugh, but she had no choice but to maintain her smile.
”It's not a problem about the characteristic loss, but that once Beyonder ingredients become potions, not only can humans absorb them, even other creatures or materials without life can. It's just relatively slower. For example, if I use a glass bottle to store the potion, it might appear fine, but after a few days, the glass bottle would 'finish' drinking the potion, becoming a special mystical item. It might even gain intelligence. Of course, my teacher said that such a situation has very huge side effects, akin to what a Rampager leaves behind.
”The seven Churches and some hidden factions have special isolation techniques, but it's rather troublesome, and they won't use it on Low- or Mid-Sequence potions.”
”How amazing!” Xio sighed.
She took another look outside and said in a low voice, ”We're almost there.”
She and Fors were here to attend the Beyonder gathering which Mr. A was holding.
Fors smiled while feeling her heart bleed.
”I hope there's the Spirit Eater's stomach pouch.”
Her teacher, Dorian Gray, had taught her the acting method before he left. He even gave her the potion formula for Trickmaster and got her to attempt to find the Beyonder ingredients on her own. If she hadn't gathered all of the ingredients by the time she digested the Apprentice potion, she could write to him for help.
This left Fors in a rather lost state.
Why did I spend large sums of money to purchase the Trickmaster formula and the acting method?
Up to now, the greatest and invaluable help the Tarot Club has given me were the things Mr. Hanged Man and Miss Justice taught me to take note of, as well as Mr. Fool's interference in divination. Otherwise, Teacher would've long discovered a problem with me, and I wouldn't have become his student…
Sigh, I'll just consider it as the price for neutralizing the full moon's curse…
As the thought crossed her mind, Fors suddenly noticed that the house where Mr. A had his gathering held had visibly collapsed, and there were even scorch marks in many places.
There was a fierce battle here… Who dealt with Mr. A? An official organization? Fors immediately signaled to Xio and instructed the carriage driver outside, ”Not here, two more streets up ahead.”
…
”Aurora Order's base found. Terrorist organization suffers severe setback.”
The next day, Klein saw this article the moment he flipped the newspapers open.
”Let's hope Mr. A died in this ambush.” He drew the crimson moon on his chest in solemnity.
He had already thrown the Thousand-faced Hunter's blood and mutated pituitary gland from last night above the gray fog to ensure that they wouldn't be lost.
Even if I die, they won't be lost… Klein chewed on a piece of bacon with great ease.
After last night's transaction, his cash reserves had fallen back below 1,000 pounds, leaving him with only 735 pounds, which was only enough to buy a Deep-sea Naga's hair. After that, he didn't have the ability to purchase the Human-skinned Shadow's characteristic.
Without any better clues or money, Klein rested at home the entire morning. After lunch, he dressed up and headed straight for the Backlund Bridge area.
He had previously made an agreement with Carlson of the Machinery Hivemind to find him at the Lucky Bar near the West Balam dock if he had any intelligence. If the intelligence was especially important and Carlson wasn't there, he was to go straight to Lever Cathedral. After all, Sherlock Moriarty wasn't a member of a secret organization, so there was no need for caution.
There weren't many customers at Lucky Bar in the afternoon, so Klein instantly saw Carlson sitting and drinking alone in a corner of the bar.
He walked over, knocked on the table, and reported with a suppressed voice, ”Many people in East Borough are spreading the faith of the original Creator.”
Carlson sipped some alcohol brewed from pure malt and replied noncommittally, ”I'm aware.”
As expected… Klein commented silently before smiling.
”I have a clue regarding a Fourth Epoch tomb of a noble.”
”Ah!”
The glass in Carlson's hand paused as he looked at Klein in surprise, and he unconsciously nudged his thick glasses.
But he noticed that Detective Sherlock Moriarty wasn't continuing to describe the matter, but looking at the bartender a few steps away while saying with a smile, ”One glass of Southville beer.”