Mr. Hood's news was referring to the Kren Treasure incident that Jenkins had encountered during his travels. Of the two who escaped, a Mr. Alexander had the misfortune of getting caught up with a Cursed Item and dying, while Mr. Dagger's whereabouts remained unknown. No one expected him to return to Nolan.
Neither Mr. White Cat nor Silver Flute Miss knew who this was, but they understood he was soone to be avoided. Mr. Hood didn't tell everyone how he had found Mr. Dagger, only that the man carried a very strong stench of death, a sll that hadn't been there during the sumr.
"Perhaps he found a job as a cetery watchman, or maybe he's studying necromantic rituals. Who knows?"
Next was the trading session, and Jenkins imdiately offered a high price for a thousand-year-old wood heart. The Hidden One of Fate must have glanced his way at that mont, because the newcor, Silver Flute Miss, actually claid to have one.
The two stepped aside to discuss the details. The fifth-level Enchanter got straight to the point:
"The price is very steep. I hope you're prepared for that."
"I understand. I've researched the price of thousand-year-old wood hearts. It would be best if you could accept a trade. I can offer materials and gold pounds in exchange for your wood heart."
"I was hoping for an Extraordinary item."
"That's impossible. You should know the status of Extraordinary items. While a thousand-year-old wood heart is rare, I don't believe its value compares to a numbered item."
Most of the items Jenkins possessed were useful, and the most useless one, Mr. Hunt's Fruit Platter, was of too little value. Besides, if it disappeared, Chocolate would surely be displeased.
"Then what can you offer in trade?"
Silver Flute Miss asked.
"No more than 1,000 gold pounds in cash, plus so materials. I have access to smuggling channels in Ruen, so if you need any specialty materials from the Hamparvo Kingdom, I can get my hands on so."
"Alright, please wait a mont."
She considered it for a mont and, surprisingly, agreed. She took a small five-pence banknote from her pocket and hastily scribbled a few lines on it. The hand that erged from her robe was clearly a woman's.
Because she was writing on the banknote pressed against her palm, the handwriting was ssy, and the first two letters nearly tore through the paper. Jenkins could only barely make out what she had written.
She must be very familiar with the materials market of the northern kingdom, as everything she listed could only be obtained there. This woman had very likely lived there for a long ti.
"No problem, but I'll need so ti. You must understand that smuggling in the winter is no easy task."
"I understand. But if you can get these things quickly, especially the last three, I can reduce the remaining price in gold pounds."
"Is that so..."
Jenkins nodded, a little troubled. "We can discuss that."
If he weren't worried about exposing his secrets, Jenkins could have gotten her the items within half an hour. In the end, they agreed to make the trade next Tuesday. As compensation for Jenkins's ability to procure the materials so quickly, he would only have to pay the remaining 130 gold pounds, which was very reasonable.
As the gathering was about to end, Magic Miss signaled for Jenkins to stay behind for a mont. So, after everyone had settled the details for the next eting, Jenkins took a long, roundabout path through the nearby blocks before returning to the riverbank.
Magic Miss was already there. She was standing in the exact spot Mr. Hood had occupied earlier, gazing at the streetscape across the river with her hands clasped behind her back in the sa manner.
Jenkins's footsteps were light; it was the sound of Chocolate yawning that caught the woman's attention.
"What did you want to see about? In this damnable weather, I think we'd best make this quick."
he grumbled under his breath.
"My apologies, but I do have a matter to discuss—one that our other friends cannot overhear."
She beckoned Jenkins closer. Only when he was near enough to hear the sound of her breathing beneath the hood did she ask in a near-whisper:
"If I recall correctly, you're a follower of the New God."
She had deduced this from the Undying Man incident.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"No, Mr. Candle, I an no harm. But I believe you must know the one called Twin Demons."
She asked the question with great caution.
"Yes."
"That's wonderful. You see, I happen to need the hair of a powerful exotic creature for a ritual—a unicorn, for instance. But obtaining such a thing isn't easy. I can offer you a very generous reward."
"I'm sorry."
Jenkins shook his head and took a step back. He was unwilling to harm his companion again. The last ti he'd cut its hair for an elven potion, he'd never forgotten the hurt in its eyes.
"Though he and I believe in the sa great deity, we aren't on the best of terms. He adores his mount, just like..."
He glanced at the cat on his shoulder.
"...just like I couldn't bear to harm my own cat."
Chocolate opened its half-closed eyes, clearly displeased, but now was not the right ti to act out.
"I'll pass your request along to him, but please don't get your hopes up. The chances of success are very low."
"If that's the case, it's a real pity."
She understood the refusal implied in his words:
"No matter. If you two co across the hair of any other exotic creatures, you can trade it to as well."
"Hmm... would that of a pure-blood vampire do?"
To be on the safe side, he hadn't used up the entire lock of hair during the last curse. He still had five strands in a vial, and he ended up selling two of them to Magic Miss for 24 gold pounds, which helped to replenish his depleted wallet.
Holding the sphere of starlight in one hand, he watched Magic Miss leave. Just as her figure vanished at the entrance to the Byute pedestrian street by the riverbank, Jenkins turned, intending to gaze thoughtfully across the river as the others had. But unexpectedly, the sphere of light in his hand suddenly shattered, only to re-form and begin vibrating violently.
"That mirror has appeared again?"
He was startled. According to the Church's intelligence, the injured vampire was supposed to be hiding in the city's eastern district, a great distance from here.
"What is it trying to do?"
He blinked, quickly scanning his surroundings, and it wasn't until he looked up that he saw soone moving on the bridge. It wasn't even an Enchanter, just a human infected by a vampire, their whole body glowing with a blue spiritual light.
There was no one else nearby, and the only Extraordinary item the person was carrying was the All-knowing Treasure Mirror.
"Fate has finally smiled upon !"
He was too excited to properly express his feelings. He patted Chocolate, urging the cat to slip from his collar into his coat, then broke into a run. Activating [Cat's Grace], he leaped high into the air. As he fell, the unicorn caught him steadily and charged into the empty night sky.
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