From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

Chapter 68 A Series of Questions

Ms. Xiao smiled and gestured towards the chair opposite her, only speaking after Edmund sat down.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Cole. I am Ligeia Shaw, the manager of the club. I hope the club has made a good first impression on you."

Edmund was not surprised that she had discovered his identity.

"That's really impressive, Ms. Xiao. Your business model is remarkable, as you can generate revenue from tickets, drinks, news, and ceremonial materials all at once."

""

Ms. Xiao smiled gently and raised her hand to press the small silver bell on the table.

A moment later, a maid entered the room carrying a tray and placed a white porcelain teapot and two celadon cups on the table.

Under Edmund's astonished gaze, the lady personally picked up the teapot, and the clear, light green tea poured into the cup, the steam rising and releasing its aroma.

Edmund picked up his glass, took a sip, and sighed.

The tea was slightly bitter, with a familiar sweet aftertaste. It was different from the green tea he had most often in his previous life, but this was the first time he had tasted a beverage that truly resembled his hometown since he came to this world.

He wasn't exactly a sentimental person, but at this moment he couldn't help but think of a fact—that he was separated from his previous life by a world and three bodies.

While with the Yuanqian Order, he had heard about the situation in the nine provinces of the Far East, which the followers described as a remote place...

A nation with complex rules and a rejection of foreign esoteric religions, they sailed ships made from ancient trees and magical airships to the Western Continent, transporting all sorts of special products to sell as luxury goods.

One of the cult's banquets even served so-called "Far Eastern style" pastries, which were light green dry powder cakes that were somewhat similar to mung bean cakes from my previous life.

"You seem to be engrossed in a cup of tea, Mr. Cole. It is said that only the most perceptive and sensitive poets can be so moved by rain, tea, and the winds of the seasons."

"You are a poet too, madam—you have seen into my vast and sorrowful heart." Edmund held the teacup with his long, slender fingers. "Tell me, how many people in the entire Western Continent bear the surname 'Xiao'?"

Ms. Xiao gently turned the lid of her cup, parting the tea leaves floating on the surface. "If it's just 'shaw,' there must be tens of thousands of people using it. Fortunately, the name is easy to remember, and Mr. Cole probably understands this convenience."

Edmund smiled and didn't press the matter further.

They then exchanged pleasantries over the time it takes to drink half a pot of tea. Edmund had a very peculiar feeling about the manager—he was refined in his speech, patient with any topic, and always made people feel at ease.

He seemed to be facing a gentle whirlpool, where a thrown pebble might only cause a few ripples, but could not break the harmonious cycle within.

Unable to glean more information from the conversation, Edmund took out a handkerchief and spread it on the table, revealing the tooth-swallowing ring inside.

[The Tooth-Swallowing Ring: Forged from the naturally shed teeth of the deceased, the wearer will be mistaken by lower-ranking undead as having already been "tasted" by the dead, thus losing some of their interest...]

"Ah, this must be why you've come here. May I take a look?" Ms. Xiao smiled, took the ring, and pressed it lightly with her palm.

Just then, a round of applause came from downstairs. Edmund felt a surge of spiritual energy, and Ms. Xiao's eyes seemed to brighten even more.

"This is a tooth of an adult male who died. The workmanship is a bit rough, but it is still a useful little gadget. Did you make it?"

"I bought this from an underground rally in the Federation, but it was a pretty good deal."

After Edmund briefly explained the function and side effects of the device, he then made his own request.

"I have the ability to identify extraordinary items, and I also have things that can be traded. Can the club provide a supply channel?"

Ms. Xiao leaned back in her chair: "The club holds an internal exchange every two weeks. We will confirm that the participants have the ability to fulfill the transaction and try to eliminate any unstable factors."

She took a price list from the drawer and pushed it over.

"New participants will need to pay the equivalent of approximately two thousand Veridea dollars. The club will provide access to this exchange, a list of traders, three pre-submitted purchase requests, and items to ensure anonymity."

This is close to a regular employee's monthly salary, which seems somewhat unreasonable.

Not wanting to be ripped off, Edmund glanced at the price list printed with peacock feather patterns and remembered the information he had gleaned from the woman in front of him: [She was looking for a collaborator to provide authentication services.] After a lively exchange of words, Edmund successfully reduced the entrance fee to five hundred and forty yuan.

As an additional condition, the club will provide him with an item to appraise before the exchange begins, which is actually a good opportunity for him to broaden his horizons.

After Ms. Xiao accepted the money, she took out a booklet from another drawer.

The directory lists the participating guests' codes, along with information such as common needs and whether prior contact is accepted.

Edmund quickly glanced through it and determined that the list was indeed valuable.

"Purchase requests can also be sent to the club by tomorrow afternoon." Ms. Xiao took out a blank form. "To avoid leaks, each request should ideally only describe the nature of the item."

After Edmund finished writing, Ms. Xiao looked up and asked, "Are you planning to engage in underwater salvage in Twilight Harbor?"

The former responded with a smile, and the latter did not pursue the matter further; she took out a flat wooden box from the display case behind her.

Once the wooden box is opened, a moth specimen with light blue stripes is found inside.

[Announcer Moon Moth]

[Made from moths bred using special methods, after being infused with a small amount of spiritual energy, the specimen will connect to a mysterious place in the spirit world, and the moth's wings will then transmit information through flapping frequency.]

Ms. Xiao handed the wooden box to Edmund: "You infuse a small amount of spiritual energy into the copper needle, and the moth will indicate how much time is left before the gathering begins."

After learning a series of somewhat complicated instructions on how to use it, Edmund took the wooden box.

"A very interesting clock, which certainly fits the aesthetic of underground gatherings."

"People who participate in the exchange usually really like these special little gadgets." Ms. Xiao took out a sealed glass jar soaked in a translucent film and pushed it over, with the corresponding text appearing in the information stream.

[Borrowing skin film]

[A specially crafted skin membrane, once applied to the user's face, can be spiritually adjusted to conform to the user's imagination, providing spiritual veil protection.]

[The membrane cannot alter bone structure, height, or voice. It loses its activity rapidly after six hours or upon removal and requires replenishment with high-quality alcohol. During use, it may cause facial numbness, skin sensitivity, and temporary loss of facial expression control.]

"You can use it to choose the face you'll use when participating in the exchange, but please don't create a face that's too eye-catching."

Ms. Xiao pointed to the glass jar and gave a helpless smile.

"Someone sculpted a face of Lady Rose, and then died mysteriously three days later. We had to adjust the item to make it less spiritual."

Edmund turned the glass jar, watching the membrane slowly unfold inside, and felt that the service here was quite attentive.

"Welcome to this month's Transformation Night, Mr. Cole. She'll be there in about six days. Hopefully, your eyes will find something of value here."

Ms. Xiao welcomed him, but Edmund was in no hurry to leave.

"Ms. Xiao, could you sell me some of your tea? Also, I have some questions about the local situation that I'd like to ask you. Don't worry, I'll offer a reasonable reward."