Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

Charlotte's initial optimism vanished instantly, and she murmured, momentarily doubting the thickness of her wallet.

Even if it involves extraordinary weapons, the price shouldn't be so outrageous. Isn't this just telling me that Miss Watson is still a pitiful pauper?

Clearly, the girl's emotions resonated with him, and the man who had spoken immediately waved his hand and shouted.

"Madam, this price is unreasonable."

The negotiations broke down because the price was difficult to agree on. Fortunately, a relatively young female voice rang out shortly afterward.

"Sir, if you need a single-use spell, I can provide a partial one. Adjust the price according to the desired effect, such as fire, light..."

The tone is melodious and the transitions are smooth.

Even though it was the same loose robe and hooded garment, nothing particularly novel, the more Charlotte observed it, the more familiar the voice seemed, even when she deliberately lowered it.

In a daze, she seemed to recall Miss Parrot, whom she had met at noon.

Melina McCullough?

Although they differed in subtle ways, such as height and chest size, their small habits in speaking could not completely conceal that the girl was already an extraordinary person. Judging from her words and the types she listed, perhaps these talismans were even made by her.

This is great news! A readily available helper, a hidden money bag. It seems she'll have to visit this Miss Parrot more often in the future, hoping to further utilize her value.

"Three Demon Hunter Talismans, the specific price will be discussed later."

Upon hearing this, the person seeking help seemed somewhat relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.

With the deal closed, the gathering seemed to liven up a bit, with people occasionally making requests or selling items and materials.

Without getting involved or revealing Melina's identity, Charlotte quietly observed the successes and failures of each transaction, collecting fragmented pieces of information without paying attention to the details.

As she had anticipated, this extraordinary gathering did indeed greatly broaden her horizons. The exchange of all sorts of extraordinary materials alone sparked the girl's imagination, and she even used her sharp mind to speculate on the corresponding potion recipes.

Similarly, she waited for everyone to present materials similar to the wet egg mass so she could make a rough estimate, but no one offered anything like it until the entire conference room fell silent again.

Although she had prepared her words and thought it through beforehand, Charlotte was not in a hurry to deliver them.

From her observation, in addition to trading, the members of this gathering also post commissions for each other and pay corresponding fees. If that's the case, why not give it a try, a bold one?

The light tapping of fingertips on the table, producing a rhythmic, deliberate sound, is meant to attract attention.

"Gentlemen, I have a big business opportunity. I wonder if you're interested?"

His palms rested on his knees, his mask concealed his eyes, and his calves, dangling from under the sofa, twitched slightly. In the shadows where no one could see him, a faint smile curved his thin lips.

"Assassinating a count of real territory is like—"

"Cliff Bathory".

The dim candlelight flickered suddenly, illuminating the thin, frail figure, and for a moment, even the sound of breathing faded away.

P.S.: Thank you all for your votes and encouragement. I haven't forgotten the backlog of updates accumulated from the bounty, and I will try my best to update more while maintaining the original wording.

I should owe 8 chapters now. ┭┮﹏┭┮

I still love you all~

Chapter 43 The Law of Immortality and Parasites

The conversation subsided, like the rest of a piece of music being played. The entire conference room fell silent, so quiet that you could hear the rustling of breath against your clothes.

"Madam, are you serious? This party doesn't need jokes to liven things up."

The slightly overweight man was not surprised and asked in return, his tone containing a hint of sneer.

"If we could reach that level, why would we need to attend these kinds of small gatherings? Who knows what kind of extraordinary individuals, Sequence Seven or even Sequence Six, are protecting those great nobles?"

Although the remaining members of the gathering did not speak, their thoughts were clearly similar to those of the former, judging from the fact that none of them accepted the commission.

Of course, this completely aligned with Charlotte's guess. She had long suspected that most of the attendees were extraordinary individuals hovering in the lower ranks, and her words were more of a deliberate attempt to probe for information than a genuine inquiry.

Moreover, as a newcomer to the 'Extraordinary One', it is reasonable for him to issue commissions that are not at his level.

Given the current situation, most of these people are not even at Sequence Seven. If Earl Cliff has such a defensive force around him, then fighting him head-on would be even more unwise.

Charlotte glanced at Miss Parrot beside her and saw that Miss Parrot had her head down but was glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. Charlotte figured that Miss Parrot was probably a newcomer who had recently embarked on the extraordinary path.

"Sir, the reason I clarified the contents of the mission is to give you some idea of ​​what to expect, so that you can assess your own capabilities before making a judgment. I can conceal some of the truth, but none of you would want to be deceived and misled into accepting the mission without understanding what you're doing, only to die in some unknown sewer."

Unmoved by the former's teasing, Charlotte raised her voice, making her words incredibly sincere, as if she were considering everyone's feelings.

Although the words were sharp, they were also sincere. Upon hearing this, many people nodded in agreement, and the elderly man at the head of the group clapped his hands lightly and spoke earnestly.

“What this lady said is very good, but perhaps you don’t know enough about our circle. Sequence Seven or Sequence Six are already terrifyingly powerful figures. Even though there have been many cases of lower-sequence extraordinary individuals killing strong individuals of this level, those are experiences that are difficult to replicate. I don’t think any of you here would be willing to take such a huge risk to assassinate them.”

"Therefore, I regret to inform you that I am unable to meet your request, madam."

Is Sequence Seven already considered a mid-level Extraordinary?

Ms. Mosan said that since the Year of the Holy Advent, the number of extraordinary beings has decreased dramatically. The sequence from nine to zero could have been classified in more detail, and sequence seven should have been classified as a lower level according to the number. Could it be that this is due to the scarcity of extraordinary beings?

"Indeed, I was presumptuous. It seems that my assessment was lower than the actual value."

Charlotte subtly revealed a hint of disappointment, deliberately feigning an air of generosity and indifference despite her wealth.

Just because I don't have money now doesn't mean I won't have it in the future...

Without much thought, the girl spread her hands to express her apology. Although this attempt had not been successful, she had already gained a considerable amount.

This old man, codenamed 'True Knowledge,' is most likely the notary of the gathering. He might be able to identify and sell the unidentified wet eggs based on his knowledge.

No longer keeping quiet, the request he had just made not only opened up the conversation but also drew all eyes to him.

This was exactly what Charlotte had anticipated. She then took out the transparent, egg-shaped mass from her suitcase and casually placed it before everyone's eyes, thus concluding the previous setup.

"This is something I got from a corpse. I don't know what it's for, but it seems quite magical. Perhaps any of you recognize it?"

Without providing specific information, the scattered, still-dry bloodstains scattered above served as a subtle warning and hint.

Simple guesses cannot be presented as established information. The extract may have a deeper relationship with the main ingredients of the potion. If someone knows the specifics, she can deduce more important information from the details.

Furthermore, although the party members here cannot see each other's faces clearly through the masks and robes, caution and keenness are the words the girl emphasizes to herself from the moment she steps into this bar.

Appropriately displaying one's skills can often dispel the covetousness of others and achieve unexpected results. Moreover, the image she portrayed for Miss Watson at this gathering was that of an ambitious, wealthy, and powerful extraordinary person.

Ah, if only one day, I wouldn't be playing a role.

Sighing inwardly, countless gazes scrutinized the bloodied, wet eggs placed on the coffee table, their expressions a mixture of bewilderment, astonishment, panic, and fear.

A dozen seconds passed without anyone speaking. The conference room was as quiet as an abandoned cemetery until the old man sitting on the sofa on one side coughed twice and said in a deep voice.

“I have a general idea of ​​what this is and what it does, but, madam, both knowledge and material things are subject to the principle of equivalent exchange.”

“I can pay four hundred and fifty pounds. I will own it and you will also be given all the relevant knowledge. This is an absolutely fair price. Of course, you have the right to refuse.”

Four hundred and fifty pounds...

I'm really tempted by this number. It would be wonderful to become rich overnight. However, is this valuation really reasonable right now?

The previously empowered long-handled hammer was priced similarly. If this mass of wet eggs can indeed replace the main ingredient of the potion, then it is equivalent to a special part of an extraordinary creature.

Charlotte was new to this kind of transaction, so she inevitably lacked some knowledge. Fortunately, she had another bargaining chip to weigh the pros and cons.

"Sir, if I had the Arbitrator's potion recipe, how much would you be willing to pay?"

Knowledge can also be sold. The formula for achieving extraordinary success is extremely attractive to ordinary people. Perhaps there are ordinary people like myself in this gathering.

The old man glanced at the girl with some surprise, then pondered for a moment before adding fifty pounds to his original estimate.

“If the formula is confirmed to be authentic, I am willing to offer two hundred and fifty pounds. After all, the arbitrator route is rarely circulated, and I am a collector, whether it is knowledge or objects.”

No further explanation is needed. As both are of the ninth order, the recipe is naturally not as expensive as the main ingredient. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the wet egg is an item similar to the main ingredient. Judging from the calm demeanor of the crowd, the price should be quite reasonable.

"Gentlemen, regarding the former, besides gold pounds, I would prefer to trade in the form of extraordinary materials, such as the pupils of the Clear-Eyed Demon Worm or corresponding clues."

"Perhaps, I can gain more obedient apprentices because of this."

The need for the main materials in the sequence is revealed logically, and the accompanying afterword further enhances the deliberately crafted image.

The voices echoed, but no one answered. Only the old man continued to look at the girl, maintaining his previous greeting. Clearly, no one knew the whereabouts of such extraordinary creatures.

Upon hearing this, Charlotte had no choice but to give up for the time being.

"Then, according to your offer, Mr. Zhenzhi, the deal is done."

"Alright, that concludes today's gathering. As is customary, everyone may leave one by one, with a five-minute interval between each other. This lady may stay for a moment."

Watching everyone, including Miss Parrot, gradually leave, the girl wasn't worried that the old man would make things difficult for her. As an extraordinary gathering, the most important things were impartiality and secrecy. Besides, she didn't have much money on her.

As for leaving one by one, with a five-minute interval between each person, this is probably to prevent participants from following or even robbing other party members as soon as they leave the party.

About half an hour later, only Mr. 'True Knowledge' and Charlotte herself remained in the meeting room.

Without speaking immediately, the old man remained silent for a moment before slowly looking at the girl and saying in a gentle voice:

"For most extraordinary individuals, knowledge is extremely precious, worth exchanging everything for. But since you have obtained that kind of item and have chosen to complete the transaction with me, it implies an arrangement of fate. Therefore, I might as well share some knowledge that extraordinary individuals need to live longer."

Wearing black silk gloves, Mr. Makoto carefully placed the wet egg into the iron box he had taken out. He sat up slightly and stared at the girl without bias.

"This thing is the Deepwalker, an extraordinary property extracted after death, also known as the 'Deep Diver'. It can replace the main ingredient of the corresponding potion as part of the ascension ritual."

"This involves a law: extraordinary properties are derived from the claws or organs of extraordinary beings. Although they are concocted into potions and consumed, they do not disappear without cause, nor do they increase. They act on the spirit and the flesh, and with the passing of life, they transform from a dormant form into a released form, spontaneously attracting new carriers that can accommodate them."

The old man's voice deepened slightly, and although his tone was calm, it stirred ripples in Charlotte's heart.

Born of dependence, choosing a vessel—if achieving extraordinary success is a process of accommodating unique characteristics, then this cannot be called a noble advancement; it's more like a so-called—

parasitic.

P.S.: Here's another friend's tweet; you guys can check it out if you're interested.

The Sickly White-Haired Girl from Hogwarts

But don't forget me, I'll cry for you all ┭┮﹏┭┮. (More later)

Chapter Forty-Four: The True God and the Three-Day Pact

"Sir, thank you for your generosity."

Often, crucial knowledge is more important than short-term wealth, a principle that actually resolved many of Charlotte's doubts.

Based on the information obtained, in order to obtain the main ingredients for potions, in addition to hunting the corresponding creatures, one can also target Beyonders of the same sequence.

This served as a reminder to the young girl that crossing the hidden boundaries not only meant constantly facing the risk of losing control, but also being wary of the covetousness of her colleagues.

Because no one knows whether you are dealing with a kind person or someone who is greedy and wants to turn you into a madman.

Charlotte paused for a moment, as if considering her words, and then said humbly.

“Mr. True Knowledge, you didn’t have to tell me. After all, it’s not suitable for most extraordinary people to know. If it were made public, it would surely cause mutual killing and destroy the trust between us.”

"You're very perceptive."

The old man pulled out a towel from the counter and sighed, continuing to wipe himself.

With his skillful movements, the table, which only had a few drops of wax, was soon cleaned until it was spotless and looked brand new, just like the tidy room.

"only--"

His voice was deep and resonant, and even through the fabric, the sorrow and helplessness on the old man's face were still palpable.

"Without this law, wouldn't there be mutual slaughter? Suspicion, bullying, murder—aren't they commonplace in Tingen and the Empire?"

No longer nodding in agreement, Charlotte slowly straightened her back and denied it with a smile.

"Perhaps there is still a moment of warmth and compassion."

Like Miss Watson, who acts as a great tree, selflessly helping poor little birds without expecting anything in return, showing her selflessness and kindness.

Of course, this is on the premise that it doesn't provoke anger and that one ignores it.

"hehe."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhenzhi's emotions seemed to calm down considerably, and he smiled with a hint of relief, saying, "So, that's why I'm willing to tell you this information."

"I don't know whether you obtained this mass of Deep One extract by chance or whether you deliberately hunted that man, but judging from the level of corruption, he was probably close to losing control and had committed a lot of killings."

"Whether it's out of good intentions or bad, whether you know this law or not, it at least allows the citizens of Tingen to sleep peacefully. If it's the former, I hope you will act prudently after understanding the whole story. If it's the latter, I also hope this advice can serve as a slight reminder."

These are words spoken with deep meaning.

After recounting all this, he let out a deep sigh.

"In reality, extraordinary individuals who are not part of the official organization have a very difficult life. On the one hand, they must hide secrets, avoid the church, and be on high alert at all times. On the other hand, they must fight against loss of control and madness. Too many of our kind have died because of these two things."