Seeing the final "Seer" entry, Angel couldn't help but smile wryly. She knew this formula too, having memorized it while watching Klein become a Beyonder.
Even so, the first two Sequence 8 formulas had a total value exceeding 800 pounds. For Beyonders urgently needing advancement, they might even sell for over 1,000 pounds.
As payment for rescuing Sonya, it was more than adequate.
She wasn't surprised that Dominic possessed so many formulas. As a Beyonder who'd served MI9 for a considerable time, encountering certain potion formulas during work was perfectly normal. The fact that they lacked Sequence 9 versions and jumped straight to Sequence 8 showed these formulas likely had "irregular origins."
What puzzled her was why Dominic hadn't written down his own "Hunter" and "Provoker" formulas, instead choosing formulas from other pathways as payment.
Could he be unable to reveal his own potion formulas for some reason, just as I can't tell others about the "acting method"? Or perhaps he wants fewer people following his pathway to reduce competition for subsequent potion ingredients...
After carefully memorizing the potion formulas, Angel tore the paper into finger-width strips, folded them and tore again into pieces the size of fingernails, burned them with black flames, and threw them into the nearby Tussock River.
The cursed black flames wouldn't actually burn objects without spirituality, but could prevent them from being divined. Paper scraps thrown into the river couldn't possibly be restored through conventional means.
Regardless of what Dominic thinks, anti-divination is still necessary...
Angel mused as she left the riverbank, planning to return to her East Borough safe house. As the experienced hunter had suggested, she'd clean up the residence to avoid being tracked through conventional means that bypassed divination.
Under the light of the full moon overhead, Angel returned home and went straight to the basement, placing two cloth-wrapped items deep in a hidden compartment before finally breathing a sigh of relief.
These were items she'd retrieved from her first safe house—the apartment she'd abandoned after divining about the "True Creator." One was the magic wand that had been contaminated in her place, the other the magic mirror with its shattered surface.
The former's surface was mottled, as if it had endured countless ages, yet emanated an evil aura that caused stabbing pain in the eyes of anyone who merely looked directly at it, with mysterious ravings echoing in their ears.
The latter's mirror surface had shattered and vanished, seemingly weathered away and disappeared within the room. The remaining copper frame had become variegated, covered in verdigris and spattered with some bloodstains. Like the wand, it was supremely evil.
Undoubtedly, both items had been contaminated by the True Creator's aura, becoming evil objects. Perhaps those "Aurora Order" members would pay a high price for items bearing the Creator's aura...
Angel recalled the Black Snake at the "Eye of Wisdom" gathering, selling items that "could hear the voice of a great existence." That thing might have been similarly contaminated by the "True Creator"—touching it bare-handed would let one hear endless roaring.
Unfortunately, she dared not use them herself, let alone peddle them at gatherings.
Closing the hidden compartment to isolate that thread of evil aura, Angel left the basement.
"Please believe me, madam. Your son really is in Dixie Bay with the girlfriend he met at Backlund University."
Wearing her hood and affecting a mystical air, Angel spoke to the woman before her.
The latter clearly didn't quite believe it, shaking her head and picking up the missing person notice from the table, about to leave the divination room.
Seeing her client about to flee, Angel hastily added:
"You needn't be too anxious. In less than half a month, he'll return to Backlund—because his girlfriend is pregnant."
The woman searching for her missing son stopped at the door, turned around, her face full of surprise.
"Boy or girl?"
Isn't that quite a conversational leap...
Angel opened her mouth, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Using the yellow crystal pendulum in her hand to quickly perform a divination and receiving an uncertain result, she could only produce a knowing smile and reply:
"When they return to Backlund, you can bring the young lady for a visit. At that time, I'll be able to give you the answer to that question."
After the woman left, having finally recovered her 2 soli fee, Angel rubbed her somewhat stiff face, once again evaluating the feasibility of burning down Backlund Bridge.
The divination for the woman searching for her son, along with her bold prophecy, did allow her to feel the potion within digesting—but only a tiny bit, incomparable to when she'd been mistaken for the culprit in the Tingen gas explosion... So the problem is still the number of people involved? Regardless of what type of acting I perform, gaining attention from many people is what maximally digests the potion.
Looks like I really will have to burn the bridge...
Sighing inwardly, Angel retrieved today's Backlund Morning Post from under the table, using the news to pass the time while waiting for the next customer.
"Last night in the East Borough's Red Brick Alley, intense gunfire broke out. Nearby residents heard violent explosions, suspected use of large-yield explosives. Multiple bodies were left at the scene. According to police, the gunfight involved a conflict between two gangs, one of which was the notorious Zmanger Gang of Backlund."
Gang conflict... So MI9 didn't act in an official capacity. They likely operated under the name of some gang they control.
I wonder if Intis and the Kingdom of Ruen have given up contending for the manuscript. Which side did that manuscript Mr. A bought ultimately fall into... Sonya and Dominic should have already left Pritz Harbor and boarded a ship for the Rorsted Archipelago. Will their journey be smooth? Where did that youth Ian hide? Will he be captured again?
Angel's mind wandered to many things as she stared at the headline until her eyes grew sore, then turned to the next page.
In a corner of the fifth page, Angel spotted an advertisement issued by Mr. "Eye of Wisdom": Ernst Trading Company purchasing goods.
This meant that the next evening—Friday at 8 PM—a gathering would be held at the usual location. The quoted price in this advertisement represented the weight and intervals of door knocks—the password for entry.
Memorizing tomorrow's password, her gaze moved downward to find the "Seeking Mr. A" missing person notice immediately below...
You people really know how to pick your gathering times—both on tomorrow evening?
Holding multiple potion formulas and desperate to convert them to cash, Angel looked at the two announcements scheduling gatherings, like someone suddenly rich after long poverty. Faced with simultaneous Beyonder gatherings, she momentarily didn't know how to choose.
Mr. A's gathering has safer transactions and a higher level, with members having stronger purchasing power. But I already decided to wait a week before going there to avoid being spotted by anyone from the "Witch Sect" staking it out...
The "Eye of Wisdom" gathering involves face-to-face trading—selling formulas could attract unwanted attention. But I remember someone there was buying the "Barbarian" formula. Gold pounds within easy reach...
Angel's gaze moved back and forth between the two announcements, her mind in turmoil.
Knock knock—
Someone rapped on the divination room door. Angel reluctantly set down the newspaper and invited the visitor in.
Pushing open the door and entering with elegant steps was none other than Ms. Laura, whom she'd met just days ago. The moment Angel saw those lake-blue eyes behind the black veil, she thought of Captain Stewart, of Baron Farnese, of the romantic histories of Backlund's people.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Laura."
Angel proactively greeted this returning customer.
"Hello, mysterious divination witch."
Removing her veiled hat and setting it aside, Laura revealed her elegantly contoured face and slightly curled black hair with a hint of playfulness, sitting across from Angel.
"I came specially to thank you." She spoke with a smile playing at her lips. "Your divination last time was incredibly accurate. It turns out Baron Farnese's factory has had quality problems with its tools for some time, which he'd been covering up until the newspapers exposed it the day before yesterday. The upcoming compensation and factory losses will soon crush him. A 'baron' with only a title who can't maintain a wealthy lifestyle truly isn't a suitable match for me."
The lady sighed.
If one didn't see her constantly smiling expression and only heard that slightly dejected and regretful statement, Angel might truly believe Laura felt sorry for her suitor.
"There's one more thing—I'd like another divination, concerning another of my suitors."
Having cast Baron Farnese from her mind, Ms. Laura folded her hands on the table and lowered her voice conspiratorially.
"Is it Captain Stewart?"
"No, no—another one. A new one."
Laura produced a sheet of paper and handed it to Angel, containing information about this "new suitor."
This is the romantic life of Backlund...
Her smile nearly slipping, Angel quickly accepted the information, taking out her crystal pendulum to prepare for divination.
"Using the pendulum method again?"
Covering her mouth exaggeratedly with slender fingers, Ms. Laura asked with feigned surprise.
"Why not try the magic mirror divination you're best at? Miss Witch?"
Angel's hand manipulating the pendulum stopped.