Chapter 15: The Girl and the Secret Gathering
In the dim room, candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
l could clearly see the filth entwined around each person, lingering like a black mist.
A peculiar fragrance perated the air, like a mixture of so unknown spice and old books.
As Mr. Deer spoke, l's gaze naturally fell upon him.
Mr. Deer also had a considerable amount of filth on him, but compared to the others, he was the cleanest one.
She nodded, then sat down in the last empty seat.
The people around her simultaneously turned their gazes to l, filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
“Well then, since everyone is here, let's begin.”
Mr. Deer began.
“Starting from my left, each person will introduce what they want and what they have to trade in turn.”
The first to speak was a man wearing a full-face mask.
His mask was not special, just a plain white base.
But the filth on his body was like viscous ink, almost seeping out from the cracks of the mask, forming a stark contrast with the pure white.
“I need so special materials.”
He said in a hoarse voice.
“Mainly for a purification ritual. In exchange, I can offer so runes from the north.”
As his voice fell, the room fell into silence.
After a while, a man wearing a golden mask spoke up: “I have so Glowstones here, do you want them?”
“Glowstones....”
White Mask pondered for a mont, then shook his head.
“I have no use for them, never mind, do you have anything else?”
The golden mask shook his head, and so the atmosphere fell into silence once again.
l noticed that although the filth on the golden mask was not as thick as that on the white mask, it was by no ans comparable to that of an ordinary person.
After about ten seconds, the second person spoke.
It was a woman in a long red dress wearing a butterfly-shaped mask.
Her voice was as smooth as silk, but l could hear a hidden sharpness within it.
“I have so spices from the East here, said to be able to purify the mind, I wonder if they et your requirents?”
Hearing this, White Mask seed to beco interested.
He leaned forward slightly, “What kind of spices?”
The woman took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and gently opened it.
Instantly, a fresh and mysterious fragrance filled the air.
Just slling it gave a relaxing feeling to the body and mind.
“This is concocted from seven rare herbs,” the butterfly-masked woman explained, each one has been specially processed.
White Mask thought for a mont, then nodded.
“Alright, I'll trade three northern runes for your bottle of spices.”
After their transaction was completed, it was the woman's turn to make a request.
She elegantly straightened her skirt. The filth on her body showed a peculiar, petal-like pattern.
“I need so.... colorful butterfly wings.”
She said, “I can trade spices for them, or money.”
As her voice fell, the room fell into silence.
Obviously, no one present had colorful butterfly wings.
Seeing this, the woman gently clicked her tongue, then shook her head.
Next, it was the turn of the wolf-masked man.
His voice carried a trace of urgency.
He looked around, seeming to be searching for sothing, but found nothing.
“I need healing potions,” he said, “I'll take as many as you have, two pounds a bottle. If the effect is good, I can add more.”
l's heart suddenly began to beat faster.
She looked around, and seeing no one raise their hand, she quickly spoke up: “I have three bottles.”
Her voice was much steadier than she had expected.
Everyone's gaze imdiately turned to l.
“I'll take them all!”
The wolf-masked man said excitedly, “But I have to test the effect first.”
Hearing this, l did not answer directly, but looked at Mr. Deer.
“Just do as he says, madam.”
Mr. Deer said calmly, “Don't worry, under my witness, no one will violate the rules.”
“Okay.”
With Mr. Deer's endorsent, l was relieved, and then handed the three bottles of potion to Mr. Deer.
After being inspected by Mr. Deer, one of the bottles was handed to the man with the wolf mask.
The man took it impatiently, then opened the bottle, turned around, and drank it down.
After about a minute, he turned back around and took out a five-pound note and a one-pound coin from his pocket.
“Six pounds, not a penny less.”
He handed the money to l and added: “If you have more, I will buy them anyti, the price remains the sa.”
“I only brought three bottles this ti.”
l said, “But I will consider making more.”
The wolf mask nodded and said no more, and then it was l's turn to speak.
l wanted to skip her turn, but after hesitating for a mont, she still spoke up: “I need a weapon for self-defense, preferably a dagger type, not too conspicuous.”
She had no intention of buying, but wanted to take this opportunity to find out if there were any special items other than Mystical Arts.
“I have a ring here,” the first speaker, the white-masked man, spoke up, “As long as you inject Quintessence, it can turn into a dagger. This is one I've retired from use. If you want it, twenty pounds, or an item of equivalent value.”
Hearing his description, l was suddenly tempted, but she only had six pounds in total, which the man with the wolf mask had just given her.
“I don't have that much money.”
l shook her head in disappointnt, “Can it be next ti?”
“I might not be here next ti.”
White Mask said.
“Then forget it.”
l shook her head.
Although she was tempted by his ring, l wanted (Void Walk) more than the ring.
Seeing l give up the trade, White Mask said nothing, and the conversation naturally moved to the man with the golden mask.
“I need so special materials for making runes. In exchange, I can offer so Glowstones. Glowstones can be made into amulets or jewelry. Wearing them has a calming and exorcising effect. After injecting Quintessence, they can be made to glow briefly.”
“I have fifty milliliters of Morning Mist Dew, I wonder if it ets your requirents?”
The woman with the butterfly mask spoke up again.
“Morning Mist Dew....”
The golden mask pondered for a mont, then shook his head gently, “I'm afraid that won't work, what I need are materials that can enhance the effectiveness of runes.”
“Then I don't have anything.”
The woman shrugged gently, and the others also remained silent.
l listened quietly from the side, committing all this information to mory.
(So runes need special materials to enhance their effects... but what are runes?)
As the golden mask finished his request, Mr. Deer stood up and gently tapped the table.
“Since none of you have anything more to trade, then, I declare, this gathering is now over.”
After a pause, he turned to look at l.
“Let's start with you, madam.”
“?”
l was a little confused.
“Mm, starting with you, please leave first.”
Mr. Deer nodded, then looked at the others, “The rest of you, please wait. One person will leave every five minutes.”
Hearing this, l slowly stood up.
The sound of her footsteps was exceptionally clear in the silent room, each step seeming to fall on the beat of ti.
“Click, clack——”
l could feel the probing gazes from behind her, but she didn't look back.
When she reached the door, Mr. Deer said softly:
“The next gathering will be at the sa ti next week.”
l nodded and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
“Wait a mont.”
Just then, the man with the wolf mask spoke up, stopping l.
Then, he took out a piece of paper and ten pounds in cash from his pocket.
“I'm afraid I can't wait that long. This is a deposit, and my address.”
He handed the note and the ten pounds in cash to l.
“I need you to deliver the potions as soon as they're made——you don't need to co in person, is that okay?”
Hearing this, l hesitated for a mont, then looked at Mr. Deer.
“Matters outside the gathering have nothing to do with , I will not be responsible for them.”
Mr. Deer said.
Seeing him say this, l instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she saw the ten pounds in cash in his hand, l was tempted again.
With these ten pounds, she could go to Oliver to exchange for (Void Walk).
After much thought, l finally nodded and reached out to take it.
But just then, the other party suddenly pulled his hand back.
Under the young girl's puzzled gaze, the man with the wolf mask spoke: “I want you to swear on the god you believe in.”
Seeing this, l was taken aback, and subconsciously glanced at the Red Moon outside the window.
After a brief hesitation, l took a deep breath, then drew a moon wheel on her chest.
“In the na of the Red Moon, Your believer hereby swears——”
Reviews
All reviews (0)