madnovel Chapter 181 Gathering of High-Level Extraordinary Individuals
Chapter 181 Gathering of High-Level Extraordinary Individuals
Chapter 181 Gathering of High-Level Extraordinary Individuals
"We agree to cooperate with you, but there is still one problem, which is how to cultivate extraordinary individuals who are in charge on the surface. After all, Miss Sharon and I cannot be seen in the light and can only manipulate things behind the scenes."
And which types of subordinates should we cultivate? We can't exactly cultivate 'prisoners,' can we? That would be tantamount to publicly announcing that Miss Sharon and I are here!
Clearly, they had discussed this matter beforehand, and Marich pointed out the biggest problem directly.
Evan knew that it all came down to money, and Evan was not short of money now, nor was he short of the corresponding potion recipes and basic materials.
"After you're done, you can go to 'The Eye of Wisdom' through Kaspass Kanlinin. He's one of my men, and I've already spoken to him. We'll collect the corresponding potion recipes and materials through the gatherings he hosts."
You should also actively help him recruit people for his gathering, so that we can achieve a win-win situation.
The organizational structure can be discussed with Ian Wright. You should know him after meeting him so many times here. Some of his younger colleagues who are a little older than him can serve as key members.
These are some potion recipes I've collected, which can serve as capital for you to train your representatives. There's also an account with 5,000 gold pounds that can be used as initial activity funds for you.
Once you've secured the relevant territory, you shouldn't have to worry about funding anymore. After all, simply controlling the sales channels for alcoholic beverages will make you incredibly wealthy.
Evan was prepared for these things. He pulled out a few pages from his pocket, which contained recipes for low-sequence potions such as "Sailor," "Spectator," "Corpse Keeper," and "Hunter." He had copied these recipes from "Lord of Mysteries" or from within MI9.
Maric stepped forward, took the paper from Evan's hand, gave Evan a complicated look, and then put it away.
At first, Evan actually wanted to recruit Sharon and Marich, just like he did with Fors and Hugh.
However, it was later discovered that both Sharon and Marich were actually opposed to cooperating with the official forces of Rune.
If Evan hadn't expressed that MI9's interests didn't necessarily overlap entirely with his own, they wouldn't have sought cooperation with him last time.
The reason they resisted working closely with people with MI9 backgrounds was actually because their teacher's death was closely related to the official government of the Kingdom of Rune.
The official forces of Rune and the "Hedonistic Faction" within the Rose School joined forces to eliminate the "Temperance Faction," and the methods they used were quite aboveboard.
Sharon and her companions fled to Backlund only because after the Roon and the Rose School divided up the former territory of the Temperance School, their territories were adjacent and both sides regarded each other as a great enemy.
Since we can't subdue her, let's cooperate. As long as she can be used by me, the name doesn't matter. Anyway, Evan's goal is the "Exeggutor" behind Sharon and Marich, even though neither of them knows about her existence.
"By the way, how's that thing I asked you to inquire about? Has the other party replied?"
After finishing his business, Evan couldn't wait to ask Miss Sharon about his request.
"The organizers have agreed. There's a party in three days, and I can take you there."
Miss Sharon brought good news, which relieved Evan.
This was also one of Evan's purposes in contacting Miss Sharon; he wanted to join the party that included the "mysterious queen" Bernadette.
The participants in this gathering were of a very high caliber, and Miss Sharon was just an ordinary member of the group, without even the authority to make an introduction.
Evan even used the favor he owed Miss Sharon to ask her to inquire with the party organizers and apply to join.
In fact, Evan didn't expect to be able to join this high-level gathering on his first try. He just wanted to leave an impression on the organizer so that he could increase his chances of success when he applied to participate again after being promoted to Sequence 6 or Sequence 5. But he didn't expect to be successful on his first try.
Neither Mr. A's party nor Isinger Stanton's party really meant much to Evan anymore; they could only help Evan gather some information, but they couldn't provide him with any real help in terms of advancement.
Even for the long term, Evan needs to find new trading channels.
"Thank you for your help. Now you can call off the three favors you owe me."
Evan could actually consider this a favor, and use it to manipulate Sharon and Maritch twice more in the future.
However, as one's own strength grows, the number of ways they can help one will decrease. Constantly leaving the other party indebted is actually not conducive to the development of the relationship. It would be better to take this opportunity to waive the debt and bring the relationship closer.
Not to mention that Sharon's introduction to that high-level gathering was worth three favors.
As expected, both Miss Sharon and Maritch were somewhat surprised by Evan's decision. Evan even saw Sharon with a lively expression for the first time.
"Thank you!" Sharon said softly, and Evan waved his hand dismissively, saying:
"It's nothing, after all, we're partners now. I'll come back here at this time tomorrow."
After saying this, Evan left the private room after Sharon nodded.
Tingen, the town of Ramd.
During the day, Klein ran into Melissa's friend Elizabeth at the fortune teller's club and learned about her experience in Rams. He guessed that this might be related to what Evan had said, so he asked Leonard to cover for him and go to Rams.
Sure enough, a major discovery was made in the town. The vengeful spirit was secondary; the important thing was that he found a portrait of the first Baron Ramd, who looked exactly like his mentor, Mr. Azik.
This discovery thrilled Klein, as he believed it was the major discovery Evan had mentioned. Bringing Mr. Azik here might restore his memory and make him an asset in dealing with the mastermind behind it all.
After making this discovery, Klein returned to Tingen without delay and brought Mr. Azik to the town of Ramd overnight.
Once Azik arrived in the town, he seemed to know the location of the dilapidated castle without Klein's guidance.
Even when you're disoriented, you're still walking in the right direction.
Moreover, Azik's pace quickened and his expression grew increasingly agitated, so Klein could only speed up to keep up, but wisely remained silent.
Soon the two arrived at the abandoned castle. Azik stopped and stared at the castle for a long time without saying a word. His eyes were confused and deep, as if he were wandering between reality and dreams.
"what!"
Suddenly, Azik cried out in pain, bent over, pressed his forehead with his hand, and his facial muscles twitched together, looking extremely ferocious.
"Mr. Azik!"
Klein exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward to help him up, while using his spiritual vision to vigilantly check Azik's condition.
"I saw this castle in my dream. At that time, it was still intact, with sturdy outer walls and towering spires."
"I remember there was a training ground there. My child, a boy, only seven or eight years old, liked to run around with a broadsword taller than himself, saying he wanted to be a knight someday—"
"My wife always complains that the castle is too dark; she loves sunshine and warmth—"
Klein felt a chill run down his spine. Although he knew that Mr. Azik was a high-sequence powerhouse, the thought that the other party was someone who had lived for thousands of years still made him feel extremely fearful.
Just as Klein was about to say something to calm Mr. Azik down, Mr. Azik seemed to have discovered something, and in a fit of rage, he transformed into a black shadow and rushed toward the castle.
Klein thought of the vengeful spirit he had discovered during the day, and seemed to understand something. He also rushed towards the castle.
When Klein arrived at the basement inside the castle, he found the terrible vengeful spirit he had discovered during the day standing there like an obedient puppy, while Mr. Azik looked at him with tears in his eyes.
The vengeful spirit, clad in black armor and wielding a broadsword that no normal person could wield, was no longer as terrifying as Klein had seen before. It allowed Mr. Azik to walk up to it, remove its helmet, and its eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Beneath the visor was the face of a very handsome young man, quite similar to Mr. Azik, except that the angles of his features were softer, making him very pleasing to the eye.
Azik gently stroked the spirit of the black-armored knight, and the black-armored knight looked at the person in front of him without resistance.
But Klein suddenly felt that Mr. Azik had become unusually terrifying, terrifying yet Klein had an urge to run away.
Just as Klein was battling the spiritual madness's warnings, Azik's sinister voice came:
"Who killed you! Tell me! My child!"
Klein looked at the young face of the black-armored knight and realized that he had really been young when he was alive, and that he definitely hadn't died a natural death.
Then, turning their gaze to the coffin in the center of the basement, whose lid had been pushed open, they discovered a headless skeleton lying inside.
Klein examined the dark red iron nails on the coffin lid and their arrangement, confirming that this was a ritual to prevent the deceased from turning into a zombie.
If the Black-Armored Knight had died a natural death, his family would have buried him promptly. Hiding his body in the basement could only mean they were afraid of him being discovered.
The fact that rituals were arranged on the coffin to prevent the birth of vengeful spirits further indicates that the Black-Armored Knight was deliberately murdered.
At this moment, Mr. Azik placed his hand on the black-armored knight's forehead, as if trying to find out the truth in some way, and his expression grew increasingly grim.
After a long while, Azik lowered his hand and said in a low voice:
"Duncan Augustus!"
Upon hearing this, Klein was startled. Could it be that a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Rune killed Mr. Azik's child 1300 or 1400 years ago? Why?
Suddenly, a series of wailing cries erupted from the basement, prompting Klein to draw his revolver. He then discovered that invisible, distorted faces, shrouded in black mist, rose up and formed a large door.
As the illusory gate opened, countless transparent arms reached out eagerly, pulling the black-armored knight in front of Mr. Azik into the gate.
The Black Knight wanted to resist, but Mr. Azik comforted him:
"Go to the underworld to recuperate first, and we'll meet again!"
Hei Shenqi stopped resisting and let the transparent arms pull him through the door.
"The underworld?! The legendary final resting place for the dead, opened up by the Grim Reaper? Is this what high-sequence powerhouses are like?" Klein couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement upon hearing Mr. Azik's words.
After watching his child enter the underworld, Azik said to Klein in a completely emotionless tone:
"I remembered a lot of things, but it only accounts for a small part of all my memories, but it has made me certain that I should be a high-sequence extraordinary being."
Immediately afterwards, Azik looked around and said with a cold smile:
"I sensed a force here that disrupted your destiny! It was he who took my child's skull!"
"Huh?" Klein was taken aback at first, then asked with elation, "Can we track him down?"
Klein was so desperate to catch the mastermind that he was practically going crazy. If he could find him, Klein believed that with Mr. Azik's strength, he wouldn't let the mastermind off easily.
At the same time, he wondered what the mastermind behind all this wanted to do. Why did he take Mr. Azik's child's skull?
"It's been too long, but I still want to try!"
Azik's deep voice was filled with anger, which contained his self-loathing.
During his recent exploration of the Black Armor Knight's memories, it was discovered that his child chose to become a knight's squire and venture into Backlund in order to revive his family "after death," ultimately leading to his being envied and poisoned.
Therefore, Azik felt a great deal of responsibility for his child's death, and taking his child's skull only fueled his emotions. He wanted to avenge his child, as this was the only way he could alleviate his guilt towards his wife and child from back then.
Azik walked to the coffin, used his sharp right thumbnail to cut his index finger, and a drop of blood fell onto the bones inside the coffin.
The blood seeped in rapidly, almost instantly absorbed by the bones, turning them blood red. This reddened the entire basement and the faces of Azik and Klein, making outsiders think the two were performing some kind of evil god ritual.
The sound of a baby crying sent a chill down Klein's spine. He couldn't help but look around, only to find the place completely empty. The steps leading up from the basement were gone, and there was nothing there, as if he had entered a separate space.
A gate made up of countless distorted, hollow faces of the dead opened again. Through the crack in the gate, Klein saw a white skull rotting into powder beneath a dark brown tree.
The scene flashed by in an instant, and the Gate of the Dead slammed shut. All the strange phenomena vanished, and Klein heard Azik's sigh, a sigh that seemed to transcend time and history:
"I'm sorry, I couldn't find him. Perhaps I'll be able to find him after my memory recovers further—..." Azik said, closing the coffin lid again.
Klein also sighed, inwardly chuckling to himself that he had been too impatient.
If the mastermind were so easy to catch, why would Evan, who has a god-like perspective on Tingen, have gone through all that trouble? Why not just lead Mr. Azik directly to the town of Ramd?
Klein suppressed his disappointment and instead comforted Azik, saying, "It's normal not to find it; finding it is a surprise!"
Azik glanced at the coffin in front of him again, then turned to Klein and said:
"I will continue my investigation and hope to get your help!"
"No problem, that's exactly what I want to do!" Although Klein had expected it, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. With a high-ranking expert on his side, the pressure instantly decreased a lot.
Azik took one last look at the coffin, then led Klein out of the basement and resealed it.
On the way out of the town of Ramd, Klein and Azik shared their analysis of his situation, believing that he was constantly recreating memories and restarting his life, and that the "parents" he longed for were actually himself.
After pondering this for a moment, Azik had to admit that Klein's conjecture was quite convincing.
"Mr. Azik, besides helping each other find the culprit who took your child's skull, could I ask you for a small favor?"
Taking advantage of Mr. Azik's seemingly easygoing demeanor, Klein recalled another instruction from Evan and felt this was a good opportunity, so he cautiously asked.
Azik glanced at Klein, nodded, and chuckled softly:
"You are my student. You helped me find my child's spirit and remains, and you also helped me recover some of my memories. How could I possibly refuse your request? What do you need me to do?"
Klein organized his thoughts for a moment, then said:
"I hope that this week you can create some harmless paranormal events in towns within a two- to five-hour carriage ride around Tingen. Judging from what we just saw, you seem to be good at creating these things!"
"The best target is a follower of the goddess of night, so that the matter will be handed over to the night watchman."
?
"No problem!" Azik agreed immediately, without asking Klein why he wanted to do this.
This also implicitly acknowledged Klein's speculation about his abilities.
"I'll let you know the town's location and time in advance so you can prepare!"
Klein breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had a good relationship with Mr. Azik, the other party's status as a high-sequence powerhouse still put some pressure on him. He was unsure whether the other party would help him with this favor. Fortunately, Mr. Azik did not refuse or ask any further questions.
In the Rothschild Islands, in the city of generosity, Alger, dressed in a long robe and with messy blue hair, sat at the bar, drinking and listening to the bartender's announcements.
"You're saying that Admiral Zilingus's fleet, 'Hurricane,' has been anchored in ports around Bayam for a week now?"
The bartender wiped the glasses in his hands, occasionally exhaling a breath of air, glancing at the sunlight streaming in through the window but not saying a word.
Alger paused for a moment, then quickly pulled out two banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the bar. The bartender quickly accepted them before speaking:
"That's right. It's said that the fleet's ships docked at the resistance's private port and were hidden by the resistance, while Qilingus took an ordinary passenger ship to the Kingdom of Rune. I wonder what he's going to do there."
This news came from one of the hurricane general's men who was drinking here a couple of days ago. He said it after getting drunk, so it's quite credible!
Alger narrowed his eyes, sensing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Zilingus is difficult to kill not only because he possesses "Crawling Hunger," which allows him to graze extraordinary beings and gain diverse and formidable extraordinary abilities.
Another reason is that he has many subordinates, including some Sequence 7 members. To deal with Qilingus, they not only have to deal with several large pirate ships, dozens of mid-to-low Sequence Extraordinaries, and hundreds of pirates.
It would be difficult for an ordinary person to break through the obstruction of Qilingus's men, let alone kill him.
But now he has abandoned his fleet and gone ashore. A pirate is most vulnerable when he goes ashore, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get rid of Zilingus's entanglement.
Alger glanced at the bartender, then pulled out two more banknotes from his person and said:
"You should know where that Hurricane General's men are right now!"
Alger knew that the bartender had specifically told him this news because he had been paying attention to the Zilingus affair recently. With the bartender's shrewdness, he would definitely keep a close eye on that pirate to obtain more information and sell it for a good price. So Alger also directly used gold pounds to pave the way.
The bartender glanced at the banknotes on the bar again, and seeing that this time it was a gold medal, he couldn't help but smile. After taking the money, he didn't say anything more and pointed to a hotel outside the bar, saying:
"I drank all night last night, and then I called two girls to go there. Judging from the time, they should still be there!"
Alger downed his drink in one gulp and left the bar. He needed to find out as soon as possible whether Zilingus had really made it ashore, why he had gone ashore, and what his goals were.
Only with accurate intelligence could he mobilize the necessary resources to eliminate Zilingus.
In order to no longer be threatened by Zilingus and to exclusively possess the secrets of the island with its many extraordinary creatures, he was willing to use all the resources at his disposal, including the Church of Storms and the Tarot Society.
Backlund, Queens, Earl Hall's House.
Audrey was having breakfast with her parents. Looking at her father reading the newspaper, she hesitated for a moment before asking:
"Father, several days have passed. Have you found the person who assassinated Duke Negan?"
Earl Hall sighed and put down the newspaper in his hand. It contained reports about the terrorist organization "Aurora Society" and the reorganization of MI9.
Unlike the Night Watchers, Punishers, and the Mechanical Hearts squad, which belong to the church and remain hidden from public view, MI9 is a public organization with a formal budget that must be approved by Congress. It is a member of the government, but ordinary people do not know that MI9 has extraordinary individuals.
"Not yet. MI9 has practically scoured Backlund, but there's still no news of the assassin. His Majesty the King has already lost his temper several times."
Audrey recalled what she had witnessed a few days ago, and felt a pang of unease. It was the first time she had realized that even important figures were not entirely safe. If Duke Negan could be assassinated, then her own father could also be assassinated.
At this point, Audrey Puss's wish was no longer just curiosity about the extraordinary world, but also a desire to protect her family's safety through Puss.