"Cecilia, do you want to come with me?"
Holding the singing pea sprout in his hand, Silas asked his sister.
"I won't go. That person is a bit frightening. I don't want to see her."
She shook her head.
The Queen was frightening?
It seemed like last time was the same. His sister had waited for him outside the palace without going in.
Silas thought back briefly but didn't find that mysterious big shot particularly frightening.
However, since his sister was unwilling to go, he wouldn't force her.
"Alright then. I'll go by myself. I should be back in an hour at most."
He said goodbye to her, then focused his attention on the pea sprout.
"Walk the yellow brick road, walk the yellow brick road!"
The pea sprout sang cheerfully, and a path made of yellow bricks suddenly appeared on the floor of the hall.
This was much more convenient than publishing advertisements in newspapers.
Silas couldn't help but compare the Queen's methods with those of the Eye of Wisdom.
He then stepped forward, following the yellow bricks into the colorful mist.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, he emerged in the outskirts of Backlund.
Here there was no trace of the city's fog. The sunlight was bright and brilliant, making the surface of the Tussock River dance with golden sparkles, quite beautiful to behold.
And that tall castle standing in the sunlight appeared even more magnificent.
With such a grand display, wouldn't passersby in the outskirts notice?
Silas held the pea seed in his hand. Soon, a vine cable car grew out from within the castle, carrying him to that equally spectacular hall.
He saw the Queen seated on her throne.
Today she wore knight's trousers and riding boots suitable for movement, while the upper half of her pale yellow garment hung down like the back of a tailcoat, forming something resembling a skirt.
Silas had no knowledge of women's fashion and didn't know what this combination was called.
I wonder how her investigation went.
Silas thought to himself but didn't go over to ask.
After all, when it came to matters that concerned such an important figure, it was better for him not to get involved.
"Very well."
After enough people had arrived, the Queen said calmly.
Her voice echoed through the hall:
"Today, I've suddenly gathered you during the day because I have some commissions of my own."
"Some of these commissions are quite simple, while others may be more dangerous.
I will provide generous compensation that matches accordingly. Of course, you may choose to accept or decline."
"My only requirement is that if you accept a commission, you must complete it, unless there's a problem with the commission itself or you encounter something unexpected."
As she spoke these words, her voice became deep and authoritative, with an invisible aura of superiority spreading throughout the hall.
It was as if in this moment, she truly became a queen worthy of the name.
"We obey your will."
Everyone spoke in unison, their voices carrying involuntary reverence.
Was the Queen about to start making moves?
Silas thought to himself.
"Of course, besides this, you may still conduct trades at the gathering."
The Queen's tone softened slightly, then she said casually, "That's all. Begin."
The gathering officially started.
Invisible servants moved through the hall, and glowing text appeared on the walls of everyone's private booths.
The left column displayed the Queen's commissions, while the right column showed trading information from others.
Silas first looked at the commission content from the Queen.
"Create chaos at the third dock district of the Tussock River. No casualties required. Must show clear traces of Beyonder activity. 50 pounds."
"Harass the Sivellaus Company office on Valentine Street, prevent them from resting. 100 pounds."
"Attack 168 Travis Street in the West District. Many people inside, high danger level. One Beyonder item corresponding to Sequence 7."
"Steal several letters from the post office in Jorwood District..."
So many tasks...
Silas thought.
He saw many of the originally flickering texts rapidly dimming, indicating that the related tasks had already been accepted.
Moreover, these tasks seemed mainly designed to interfere and obstruct. This made sense too, because these tasks were relatively easy.
If this group of Beyonders were asked to do tasks that endangered their lives, probably not many would be willing to accept.
Was the Queen trying to use this method to disperse MI9's attention, then target key locations?
May she succeed.
Silas casually analyzed for a moment, then put the matter out of his mind.
He was going to investigate Lanevus at a noble's house in the near future and temporarily had no time to participate in these commissions.
So he shifted his gaze to the commission column on the other side and wrote down his own request.
"Seeking to purchase one singing tube from a Demonic Throat Honey."
This was auxiliary material for the "Instigator" potion.
As for the other materials, like blue mandragora poison juice and such, he'd already collected them from the plump pharmacist Darkwill's herb shop.
After posting his purchase request, he began browsing other people's trading requirements.
At minimum, they're all Sequence 7 materials. The Beyonders on the Queen's side really are higher ranked.
Silas looked through the information, thinking to himself.
Just then, he noticed a particularly unusual piece of information.
"Exploring a Fourth Epoch noble tomb. Seeking Beyonders of at least Sequence 5 or above."
A Fourth Epoch noble tomb?
Silas frowned slightly.
When it came to this world's history, he wasn't exactly an expert.
He only knew that the Fifth Epoch referred to the current era, also called the "Iron Age," which began over thirteen hundred years ago.
As for the Fourth Epoch, he wasn't too clear about it. He'd only heard from his colleague who was familiar with history (that is, Klein) that it was an age shrouded in mist, with only fragments remaining.
In that era, great nobles might also be Beyonders at the same time.
If that was the case, there might be unexpectedly good things in the tomb?
Hmm, and it required Beyonders of at least Sequence 5, which meant there must be considerable danger in the tomb.
That made sense. If there was no danger, there'd be no need to invite others to participate.
Silas thought for a moment, then reached out and tapped that piece of information. Soon, an invisible servant floated over from outside the booth.
"Tell the person who posted the commission that I want to know more detailed information."
He said to the servant.
The invisible servant immediately bowed. Before long, he felt his booth begin to move through the hall until it was adjacent to another booth.
The two viewing windows faced each other directly.
Through the half-covered window, Silas could see the situation inside the opposite booth.
A woman sat there, vines obscuring her face so he could only see that she wore a black court dress with her hands folded together and placed properly on her knees.
Sleeves decorated with elaborate black lace covered her wrists. Silas could only see her delicate, slender hands.
Those hands were as perfect as a doll's, and like a doll's, they were so pale they had no trace of color.
"Good afternoon."
Silas said.
The person stood up, lifted her skirt hem, and curtsied slightly without speaking.
She can move, so not a doll then.
A moment of silence followed. Neither spoke, as if testing each other's patience.
"You're looking for companions to explore a Fourth Epoch noble tomb?"
Seeing this, Silas could only take the initiative to ask.
"Yes."
The other party answered softly, her voice ethereal and pleasant.