After a few seconds of comprehension, "Sun" Derrick immediately became excited and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. 'Tower'? Do you really have a mystical technique that can purge madness and toxins?
"And you're willing to teach it to us?"
Although Silver City had discovered Black-Faced Grass and now had relatively safer food, they still had to hunt some monsters, collect their flesh and blood, and pick the fruits of mutated plants as supplementary food.
This was especially true during missions outside the city—since they couldn't carry too much flour ground from Black-Faced Grass, they had no choice but to hunt nearby monsters and, after identifying their characteristics, roast and eat them.
But this led to a certain accumulation of toxins and pollution, which caused both mental and physical problems. It couldn't be consumed continuously and required sufficient intervals.
Still, on every mission, there were people who lost their lives due to such mental and physical issues...
If there truly was a mystical technique that could remove the pollution and restore the body and mind to their original states, then the survival rate of Silver City's exploration teams would surely rise significantly!
Derrick couldn't help but feel thrilled.
"Don't get too excited—this is an exchange... and also just the first step in demonstrating value," Ebner said with a smile to calm him.
Upon hearing this, "Sun" Derrick took a few deep breaths to steady his emotions. Then he solemnly said, "Once I return, I'll speak to the Chief about this. I believe he'll be willing to trade that book for this mystical technique."
"The Hanged Man" Alger sighed inwardly before speaking up. "If you bring it up so directly, it'll be too abrupt. If I were the Chief, I'd definitely suspect your motives.
"You need to take it slow."
Derrick thought for a moment, then nodded, realizing that his approach might indeed seem too hasty. He earnestly asked, "Then what should I do?"
"Maintain tacit understanding, but don't lay it out too bluntly." "The Hanged Man" Alger first established the principle, then hesitated briefly before saying, "You can deliberately consume some polluted monster meat, then use Mr. 'Tower's' mystical technique to 'heal' yourself.
"That way, you'll draw the attention of your Chief or other high-ranking members. Let that be the starting point for 'contact.'"
Ebner followed up at this point, "I'll craft a charm containing that mystical technique or a one-time-use mystical item. When it's convenient, you can ask Mr. 'Fool' to pass it to you."
"Sun" Derrick nodded repeatedly, then asked, "And after that?"
"After that, it'll depend on how your Silver City leadership reacts... different reactions will require different strategies. For now, just make sure that within this week, you manage to draw their attention and display our intention to 'make contact.'
"At next week's Tarot Gathering, you can tell me and 'Tower' about their actions, and we'll guide you on what to do next."
At this point, Alger subconsciously glanced at "Tower" beside him. The reason he cooperated with the other party in advising "Sun" was to help him break free from suspicion and surveillance as soon as possible, restoring the material channel from the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
But originally, I hadn't intended to act so aggressively. I wanted to understand the Silver City leadership's attitude first before letting "Sun" display value. After all, the risks here aren't small... But "Tower" seems quite certain about the upper ranks of Silver City... Did he make a "prophecy"? Or did he confirm it by some other means?
As for the possibility that "Tower" was merely sending "Sun" into danger, Alger didn't even consider it—after all, Mr. "Fool" was present, and He likely wouldn't allow any deliberate harm against a fellow member.
Ebner had indeed "prophesied" Chief Colin Iliad's attitude based on his knowledge of the original storyline, confirming that Derrick wouldn't be in danger before presenting this plan.
At this moment, seeing "Sun" accept "The Hanged Man's" suggestion without much hesitation, Ebner added, "For this 'demonstration,' it's best to wait until you're sure that Elder Lovia has regained her freedom before taking action."
Upon hearing this, although Derrick didn't quite understand why, he still agreed earnestly. After all, in his heart, Mr. "Tower" and Mr. "Hanged Man" were both good people, and everything they said was for his own good.
That way, it wouldn't come off as abrupt, and it would also strengthen the upper echelon's confidence in their "checks and balances" strategy. Watching silently all this time, Mr. "Fool" sighed inwardly, feeling that both "Tower" and "Hanged Man" were indeed masters at manipulating hearts.
It was just that one relied on experience, and the other relied on a kind of "omniscience"… Of course, as for the difference between the two, Mr. "Fool" himself was still unaware for the time being.
"Justice" Audrey and "Magician" Fors were both left stunned as they listened, deeply feeling they had just taken another enlightening lesson.
"Judgment" Xio recalled the time she first met Ebner. How pure and sincere he had been back then… never hesitating to share any knowledge…
Yet now, after just a little over half a year, he was becoming more and more calculating!
And I'm the same… The only ones I can trust without reservation are Fors and Ebner… Xio mocked herself inwardly.
Meanwhile, "Moon" Emlyn remained completely bewildered—polluted monsters? Silver City? Chief? He understood none of it. He could only vaguely guess that the "Sun's" living environment must be very different from his own.
At this moment, "Temperance" Sharon saw that the discussion between "Sun," "Tower," and "Hanged Man" had concluded. She spoke concisely:
"I need information on high-Sequence mummies."
She didn't mention a price—after all, when it comes to information, the value depends on the specifics, so compensation should be negotiated accordingly.
Mummies? The term Emperor Roselle used to name the corpses of "pharaohs"? Hmm… "Pharaoh" was also a proper noun he coined. Also, "mummy powder" seems to be quite popular among nobles and gentlemen, though I don't know why… "Justice" Audrey recalled related knowledge she had come across, while glancing at Miss "Temperance," who looked like a doll.
Since joining the Tarot Club, this lady had always been very low-key. Other than knowing she had a good relationship with "World," Audrey knew almost nothing else about her.
"High-Sequence mummies? Ones with Beyonder characteristics?" "Hanged Man" Alger hesitated a moment, then probed.
He was quite curious about this member of the "Temperance" faction, suspected to be from the Rose School of Thought.
"No need," "Temperance" Sharon shook her head lightly.
"I'll keep an eye out for you, but there likely won't be any results in the short term," Alger replied after a bit of thought.
Demigod-level mummies generally only exist in tombs of Beyonders in the Southern Continent, and he had no plans to go there anytime soon—he could only inquire through his colleagues.
"All right." Sharon's reply remained concise, and she soon returned to her doll-like state, causing "Moon" to sigh inwardly: If only she could stay in that later state all the time.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ebner was thinking that once he finished his trip to Trier, he would head south to Siburn. Perhaps he'd have a chance to gather some mummy-related intel there.
But that would be at least a month or two from now… While thinking this, Ebner looked around and said with a smile:
"I have a batch of Beyonder characteristics I want to sell…
"Here's the list."
(End of this chapter)