Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

I arrive at the appointed time precisely, so are the others late?

Unlike last time, she didn't choose a corner spot; instead, she sat down confidently on a high stool near the center.

While observing with her eyes lowered, Charlotte also subtly manipulated the little parrot's hand, watching the slender fingers, tightly wrapped in white gauze, leap up and down, so lively.

The living room was filled with a silence so profound it was almost frozen. Time ticked by, and finally, the wise old man glanced at the wall clock and spoke in a deep voice:

"It's time, let's begin. We don't need to wait for our late friends; they probably won't be coming."

Clearing his throat, the old man offered a few simple explanations.

"With the upcoming Blooming Flowers Art Exhibition, many churches have sent out numerous official 'extraordinaries' to conduct small-scale searches and investigations in the Tingen area. Under these circumstances, it is normal and understandable that some friends are unwilling to go out or participate in gatherings."

As expected, the circle of extraordinary individuals is not isolated; they are also affected by current events.

After listening for a while, Charlotte stopped holding back her words, raised her voice, and said in a clear, crisp voice:

“Just like before, Mr. Masashi, I’m going to sell three extraordinary materials.”

Charlotte took out three soft blocks that were packed in small iron boxes. She didn't go into much detail, but simply explained the origin of each one.

“They are from one Sequence 8 and two Sequence 9. I will not give a specific valuation for now. You can make your own quotes, and I will consider them.”

When that clear, cold voice fell silent, the entire living room fell silent. The people who had come looked at each other in bewilderment, some in fear, some in excitement. For a moment, it was as quiet as if you could hear a pin drop.

After a while, one of the thin men spoke in a high-pitched, hoarse voice.

"You were the one who did that in the port area? The India Party is no pushover. You'd better be prepared to suffer."

There may be whispers among those in the know that the ability to kill three Extraordinary Beings is enough to establish Charlotte's image at the gathering as a powerful Extraordinary Being on the verge of promotion.

"The former is 1,000 pounds, and the latter two together are 800 pounds. This is a reasonable price."

Listening attentively to the conversation, the elderly man in the center offered his assessment and valuation.

"Okay, I accept. Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Zhenzhi. Also, I would like to ask for verification—"

Her thin lips exhaled warm breath as she revealed the purpose of her trip:

"The next sequence of arbitrators."

Chapter 74 Sealed Artifacts and Their Price

The candlelight flickered gently, and when that soft voice began to rise, the whispered words suddenly disappeared, and the room fell into a still silence.

After a long while, a thin man sitting on the side finally spoke, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Madam, if you are interested in the 'Arbitrator,' you can pledge your allegiance to the Empire and join the Military Intelligence Service. Of course, the prerequisite is that you must have noble blue blood and hope that they will have the mercy to take you in."

Clearly, this is sarcasm and mockery. If wild extraordinary beings had a path to enlightenment, they wouldn't be in their current predicament of being controlled by the church and slaughtered by the military.

Upon hearing this, Charlotte remained silent, only staring at the former, her piercing gaze seemingly penetrating through a mask, chilling others to the bone.

After a long pause, she said:

"Sir, I didn't want the atmosphere to become awkward, but this is just a request I made as the seller. Of course, if your attitude continues like this, perhaps another rotting corpse will appear in some unknown corner."

Charlotte tapped the metal box containing three extraordinary items, listening to the accompanying sound, and said with a half-smile, while the little parrot next to her reached out and grasped the girl's knuckles, as if to support her.

"Uh......"

Upon hearing this, the man was about to lash out, but upon seeing the dark mass lying there, he immediately fell silent and felt even more apologetic.

The silence continued until the elderly man in charge coughed lightly, breaking the less-than-smooth start to the gathering.

"Madam, my understanding of this channel is also quite limited. It has always been controlled by those in power, passed down orally and in writing by ancient surnames, and rarely leaked. This gathering may not be able to meet your needs, and it may be a long time before we hear any relevant news."

Sure enough, Charlotte didn't have high expectations. Even Mr. True Knowledge had shown at the last gathering that he was unfamiliar with the arbitration process, so it was naturally difficult for these lower-ranking attendees to access the official levels of the Empire.

It's just an attempt, not a necessity.

The girl handed over the tin box containing the items, took the banknotes given to her by others, counted them carefully, and then put them one by one into the deep pocket under her robe.

All told, he had amassed a fortune of nearly two thousand pounds.

As her purse bulges, perhaps before Miss Watson completes her mission, she will need to find a secluded place to secretly transfer the remaining pounds to Charlotte for future planning.

Silence fell, and the atmosphere of the gathering soon returned to the calm of the morning, as the group of people, who were mostly indistinct, began to make their requests.

Extraordinary weapons, unique spells, ancient books...

Charlotte then returned to an observer's attitude, quietly listening to others selling or seeking goods and materials, watching each transaction succeed or fail, wondering if there was anything that interested her.

Amidst the sounds of harmonious and conflicted conversations, it became increasingly rare for someone to speak as time passed. However, unexpectedly, the little parrot with its emerald veil took the initiative to open its mouth and tell everyone what it needed.

"I think that when I'm looking to buy an extraordinary item, it would be best if I could sense someone's malice or detect spiritual fluctuations beforehand... Ideally, it would also be a small piece of jewelry that wouldn't attract too much attention when worn."

Strange, although Melina is neglected by her family and looked down upon by the haughty rich girls, she is not in a crisis and should have no need to buy such a cautionary item.

Could it be——

"Jewelry, beautiful. Forgive my bluntness, but your request is just like, well, just like a gift prepared for lovers."

A woman on the side glanced over, her words laced with a casual, teasing tone.

However, as if she had hit the nail on the head, the little parrot silently raised its head and glanced at the silver-haired girl beside it, as if it had remembered what had just happened.

The blood flowing down her friend's cheek, the frivolousness of his willingness to sacrifice, deeply disturbed her. Melina did not want this to happen, nor did she want to just sit idly by.

Josephine's ideal, the justice she sought, was met with the ruthless attacks of the high-ranking nobles because of their actions. Today, only a drop of blood has been shed, but in the future, if their actions touch upon fundamental interests, bloodshed will be inevitable.

"Ah, it seems I guessed right. In fact, I do have similar ornaments that can sense ripples of spiritual energy within a range of two streets. Of course, it cannot be precise enough to target an individual; it can only provide a vague range and a superficial warning."

"That's why the owner can't tell whether the malice is directed at them or someone else. It's a relatively useless item, and the overly complicated feedback might even annoy you. After all, there are so many people around, and there will always be someone who is hostile to others. In short, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. This little item only costs eighty pounds."

He rolled up his robe and took out a small silver box. The lady from before did not open it, but instead curiously inquired about it.

"May I ask if your friend is male or female? If he is a gentleman, this brooch might be a bit too flashy for him."

"female......"

After a moment of silence, the little parrot pursed its lips, glanced at Charlotte again furtively, and gave a low reply.

"That's quite a coincidence. I was just worried that it would be stuck in my hands and no one would want it. Speaking of which, the seller before was really dishonest. He concealed a lot of information, which greatly reduced the actual effect."

Without any concealment, at Connor's Bar, Mr. Truth's gatherings have strict rules: everything, good or bad, must be clarified and witnessed by the pointer of truth; otherwise, the liar will be permanently expelled from the business and banished from the gathering.

The box was opened, revealing the contents: a silver frame and a sparkling sky-blue gemstone—truly a finely crafted women's brooch.

Does this suit your taste?

"Yeah, deal."

The exchange was straightforward, with money exchanged for goods. Eighty pounds was not a significant sum for an extraordinary individual who produced his own talismans, but the whispered fragrance in her ear disturbed Melina's peace of mind.

“Miss Parrot, I didn’t know you had such a good friend who gave you such a precious gift.”

As if she couldn't understand the chestnut-haired girl's wishes, Charlotte leaned down and whispered in her ear, her words tinged with a hint of grievance and sadness.

"This, this is for you..."

Melina wanted to be more formal, but remembering the original copy of the new book that she hadn't given away, she abandoned her reserve and whispered in each other's ears.

Of course I know, but your bluntness is really putting Miss Watson in a difficult position, making her feel guilty and ashamed, unsure of how to express her gratitude.

Charlotte held the little parrot's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, and smiled shyly. Even through the veil, a slight blush could still be seen.

"Thank you."

A soft thank you, a touch of pink on her cheeks—the girl's blush said it all.

She pressed her knuckles down, placing the brooch between their palms. The contrasting temperatures conveyed a cold, astringent sensation—a deliberate act.

"I will repay you."

But not now. Right now, we just call each other Starlight and Parrot. We're strangers at the party, and we shouldn't be showing any intimacy.

Of course, it won't happen again.

Time ticked by, and as the voice faded, the old man began to gradually arrange for people to leave, one every three minutes.

Charlotte was the last one to leave last time and was unaware of what had happened before. Only now did she notice that there were at least five exits here, and the old man's servants would lead different people through different passages, trying to keep them separate and prolong the time.

About half an hour later, only three members of the party remained in the living room. Besides Mr. 'True Knowledge', the other two were Charlotte and Melina.

Rarely cold, the old man looked the silver-haired girl up and down, his voice gentle and inquiring.

“Madam, I have heard about the India Party. Mr. Bright has indeed done a lot of bad things. While I shouldn’t applaud his fate, I won’t blame the person who did it, whether she did it with good intentions or bad ones.”

This statement carried a hint of suggestion; he should recognize me as the person who sold the formula last time...

Without any attempt to conceal it, Charlotte nodded slightly and readily praised herself.

"Yes, I heard that she also led the suffering people to witness the scene at that time, which may have been an enlightenment and awakening for them who were deeply suffering."

"Well, standing aside, I used my own channels to learn more about this matter. The lady's starting point was mostly good, but I think everything should be done in moderation and not be rushed, whether it's appealing for the rights of the people or striving for further progress."

The tone seemed somewhat familiar, yet it also sounded like a judgment based on facts.

Never mind, it doesn't matter. She didn't come here today to retract the arrow that was already drawn.

Knowing that information about the next sequence was not readily available, Charlotte's idea was to convert the gold pounds she had into immediate power, thereby shifting the balance of power between her and Bathory.

"Actually, Mr. Zhenzhi, I have another request to make of you."

"Do you need my help but find it inconvenient to say so at the party? Since it concerns your true identity, I'm afraid the help I can offer you is quite limited."

As if he had prepared his speech in advance, the old man first told her about his shortcomings, then lowered his gaze and waited for the girl to finish her statement.

"No, it was precisely because of our previous conversation that I thought of you. You once mentioned that you have a penchant for collecting extraordinary items or things that have passed through your hands. Compared to the extraordinary individuals present, if I were to request an extraordinary item that I could imbue with my own essence, your profound knowledge should offer me more possibilities."

It was a subtle and understated compliment.

"Hehe, I like to hear that. I do have quite a collection of items, but I don't know what kind you're looking to buy. Give me a general range."

Quite a few? They're really rich people.

Charlotte made no attempt to hide her envy; from the jade that could be used to judge authenticity, she could tell that Mr. Truth was very wealthy.

"I hope it will be stronger than Sequence 8, not just in terms of improving combat skills, but preferably with magical abilities that can enhance the power it possesses."

She didn't go into too much detail in order to maintain her established image.

The old gentleman smiled and said generously.

“I have an item that perfectly fits your requirements; its original code name was ‘3-017’.”

"3-017?"

Upon hearing the string of numbers, Charlotte immediately made a guess.

This is a code for a certain pattern; there is a clear pause between the numbers at the beginning and the numbers at the end, perhaps symbolizing a distinction between importance and ability.

Not ignoring the girl's words, 'True Knowledge' offered a detailed explanation:

"Many extraordinary objects have obvious hidden dangers that can cause harm to users or people around them. Therefore, the Church of the True God often collects and seals them, calling them 'sealed objects' and distinguishing them by numerical codes."

"After a long period of debate and exchange, the churches have formed a unified naming system, using '0', '1', '2', and '3' to indicate different levels of danger. Among them, level '0' is the most dangerous, and it is said to contain items that can destroy countries and even civilizations, with extremely terrifying side effects, and can even affect the course of the world."

"Orthodox churches will subtly inform each other about their '0' and '1' level seals, telling each other which ones they possess. Therefore, the codes for '0' and '1' levels will not be the same, while '2' and '3' levels will each have their own order. Different churches may have similar codes."

Sealed artifact...

Feeling the weight of this word, I have seen various interpretations in many literary works of the past. These interpretations are useful to people, but once they get out of control, they symbolize the arrival of danger.

However, is the exchange of information between different churches regarding the sealed objects based on the current relatively good atmosphere within the Church of Orthodox God, or is it a means of strategic deterrence to avoid escalating the conflict?

Considering possible reasons and seeing Charlotte's hesitation, the old man slowly resumed his story.

"Actually, this is an agreement that has been running parallel since the year of the Holy Arrival. Although I don't understand it yet, it has indeed happened."

He took out a black and red bracelet from the locked cabinet behind him, and with a hint of pride, he went on to explain in detail.

"The 3-017 I mentioned comes from the Church of the God of Truth and Wisdom. Of course, its influence in the Hadings Empire is extremely weak, with only a few cities near the Inner Sea having corresponding churches and jurisdictions. This extraordinary object can, according to the holder's spirituality, absorb the master's desires, obey expectations, and act on itself as much as possible, highlighting the abilities in every aspect, just like the fulfillment of prayers."

It sounds like a panacea, but such broad conditions often mean very serious side effects.

So Charlotte opened her throat slightly and asked the man in front of her.

"So, what should I give up to get it, or what are its flaws and shortcomings?"

There was a moment of silence, no reply. After a moment of consideration, the old man lowered his eyes and replied somewhat heavily.

"Like the fangs of a wild beast, this bracelet pierces flesh and blood, constantly devouring the wearer's spirit and body to analyze their extraordinary abilities and fulfill their requests as much as possible, but—"

"The loss of spirit and flesh means the extinction of human life. All those who have possessed it throughout the ages have had their internal organs and spirituality devoured from the inside out, turning them into eternally sleeping puppets."