Clement steadied his mind and then began asking Ash Scar about other details. Although many saw him as nothing but a nouveau riche, in a place like Gormouth... mere luck was not enough to prosper.
Beyond that, it required a nose for business, judgment of assets, and a touch of ruthless methods unfit for polite company...
"Mr. Ash Scar, what exactly are the symptoms of 'Arborization' you mentioned?"
"Literal meaning."
Ash Scar responded succinctly.
"After ingesting the Evergreen Twig a second time, the user's body will develop wood-like grain patterns. This change actually starts from the internal organs and is therefore irreversible. In such a state, the user can be buried in soil and 'thrive.'"
He had no intention of hiding the dangers of the Evergreen Twig; on the contrary, he explained them in considerable detail. The reason was simple... if those present here were truly afraid of such things, they would never have become cult disciples in the first place.
Of course, Ash Scar also wouldn't deliberately describe the more horrifying practical details.
For instance, when their cult was testing the relic properties of the Evergreen Twig, there was a test subject who ingested powdered Evergreen Twig three times in a row.
Massive white banyan root filaments erupted from his ears, nose, and eye sockets. The process of growth and spread was swift and violent, the wildly proliferating root tendrils even squeezing his eyeballs out.
Moreover, upon dissecting his corpse, his internal organs had completely turned to wood. Sawing through his spine, one could even see faint, blurry tree rings...
"Having said that, we have conducted stability tests. None of the aforementioned situations will occur before the second use."
"If a first-time user experiences excessively severe adverse reactions, the Six-Eyed Crows cult will provide refunds and medical treatment."
After emphasizing this point, Ash Scar announced the starting price.
"The starting price is 18 Moldway 'Crescent Moon Coins.' Each bid increment must be no less than one coin. We accept discounted exchange with Gormouth Silver, but at an exchange rate of 87 to 1."
Gormouth's standard silver coins are mostly thin, pressed pieces with purity issues. While they can indeed be called silver coins, their actual purchasing power isn't very high... Therefore, in large transactions, most hidden cults prefer to accept ancient coins containing spiritual materials.
"19 coins!"
Upon hearing Ash Scar's assurance, Clement promptly began bidding.
He was a regular at the Third Perch and had a general understanding of the financial situations of most attendees. Although there were a few other wealthy patrons, most had familial constraints and couldn't easily produce large sums of money at once like he could.
As long as those old folks didn't collude, his chances of ultimately obtaining the Evergreen Twig were quite high.
Besides, he had to pray that lady wouldn't develop an interest in this relic; otherwise, his meager assets would be utterly useless...
Thinking of this, Clement glanced somewhat anxiously at Fran's location.
"Ah~"
Fran lightly stroked the gray gauze gloves that came with this dress robe, then raised a hand to cover her mouth as she yawned, seeming rather uninterested.
The lifespan limitation caused by genetic constraints was a problem already solved for this doctor; she had conceived more than one set of backup plans.
For example, Primarch transformation experiments, the psychic traits of "Perpetuals" from the 40k worldview, the Haemonculi's special arts... Or stepping into the Seventh Step, symbolizing the "Prototype," could also grant unending life.
Of course, there were also more primitive methods.
Like the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish, reverting from adult back to polyp through asexual reproduction, resetting lifespan by cycling this process. But that was a strange ability of ancient cnidarians; replicating it in chordates would require extremely complex technological optimization.
"Detreka, can one leave your cult's 'Full Moon Auction' early?"
Not planning to participate in the auction for this final relic, Fran asked Detreka about the Third Perch's relevant regulations.
The thief lady detected the laziness in her tone and couldn't help but speculate.
Ms. Vivian didn't seem interested in the Evergreen Twig. Does she possess a similar relic?
"You can leave early, but you have to wait a bit in the reception room in the courtyard. You can only leave after the auction concludes."
Detreka explained, then added the reason for this rule.
"Hmm... This measure is mainly to prevent guests who leave midway from bringing law enforcement here. I heard something like that happened a long time ago."
"Then let's wait a bit longer."
For Fran, waiting anywhere was the same. Rather than waiting idly in the reception room, staying in the courtyard to watch this final auction was fine. Consider it an after-show entertainment.
Oh, come to think of it, if it's just about extending life by five years, she could actually achieve that with an extract from the Time-Aphid's honeydew. The side effects might even be smaller... However, Time-Aphids possess worm-like traits; excessive intake of their secretions can cause spiritual energy instability.
After a series of bidding and psychological games, Clement ultimately became the owner of this Evergreen Twig for the price of 33 Crescent Moon Coins.
Only when Ash Scar announced the final ownership rights did he finally let out a long sigh of relief. His tightly wound nerves immediately relaxed.
Thank goodness, that lady didn't make a last-minute move like before. Moreover, her presence seemed to form an invisible deterrent, making those who always liked to bid against him much more restrained.
According to what the attendant said earlier, the "Hermit" lady was most likely a High Priest who worshipped the Night-Moth, perhaps even a Hierophant of the Veiled Assembly. Luckily, the reminder came in time; he hadn't had the chance to offend her yet...
If he provoked those strange fraudsters, his future would probably be anything but peaceful.
...
With the transaction of the final auction item completed, the Full Moon Auction officially came to an end.
Just as Fran was preparing to leave, the attendant from earlier approached her respectfully.
"Hermit Lady, Mr. Ash Scar wishes to speak with you. Also, since this is your first time participating in a Third Perch gathering, we have prepared a gift for you."
"Oh? Are you sure it's a 'gift'?"
Fran didn't move, instead asking a rather cold, rhetorical question.
"Ah, please don't misunderstand! Mr. Ash Scar merely wishes to express goodwill for your generosity... Our cult has always enjoyed a good reputation regarding transactions."
"If that's the case, then let's go."
In truth, Fran also wanted to know Ash Scar's specific intentions, so she didn't refuse.
Following the attendant, she and Detreka soon arrived at the door of a secret meeting room within the ancient courtyard.
Detreka understood she probably wasn't qualified to eavesdrop on their conversation, so she waited quietly outside the door without entering.
Seeing Fran enter the meeting room, Ash Scar suppressed a flicker of excitement within him and offered a greeting first.
"Welcome, Hermit Lady. Please, have a seat."
"Mmm."
Fran gave a slight nod and then took a seat on the sofa in the meeting room, still maintaining her usual calm and composed demeanor.
She glanced at the tea prepared for her on the square table, catching the unique, crisp scent of "Winter Bud." This level of treatment indicated she was indeed considered a distinguished guest in the eyes of the Six-Eyed Crows cult at present.
Seeing the Hermit Lady wasn't inclined toward small talk, Ash Scar didn't continue with pleasantries either and promptly stated his reason for inviting her.
"Lady, the volume The Deep Forest Where Crows Perch you provided holds inestimable value for our cult... Repaying you with merely a Crow's Eye Stone makes us seem far too stingy and petty."
"Therefore, I have prepared some complimentary gifts for you."
As he spoke, he took out a sealed case. Inside lay a fresh green sapling branch. It was precisely the Evergreen Twig that had been the finale item in the Full Moon Auction.
Looking at this expensive anima-containing material, a somewhat intriguing smile appeared in Fran's amber gaze.
"To quickly grasp the true value of that text, Mr. Ash Scar indeed possesses considerable expertise in the occult."
Upon hearing this, Ash Scar merely chuckled softly and modestly waved his hand.
"Quite ashamed. As a Raven-Feather High Priest, when I read the first half, I initially thought it was no different from those absurd ancient books..."
Oh, of course.
Because The Deep Forest Where Crows Perch was itself an unverifiable collection of ancient anecdotes, holding little value beyond broadening one's knowledge. The secret rite materials in the latter half were excerpted by Fran herself from Night Ballad of the Mist Raven and The Black Feather Secret.
However, she had omitted some content, preventing the Six-Eyed Crows cult from being able to put the secret rite documents into immediate use.
"Besides the Evergreen Twig, I have also prepared a token credential for the 'First Perch' for you. If you have similar transaction ideas in the future, you can follow the token's guidance to the First Perch during the full moon."
Saying this, Ash Scar took out an exquisite feather-shaped brooch and handed it over to Fran along with the sealed case.
"I have sensed your esteemed cult's sincerity."
Fran accepted these two items, then picked up the cup of "Winter Bud" and took a small sip.
"However, my coming to Gormouth isn't solely to sell this text to your cult. Beyond that, I need to inquire about some other information from you."
"Please speak, Hermit Lady."
The value of The Deep Forest Where Crows Perch to the Six-Eyed Crows cult was inestimable; even adding an Evergreen Twig couldn't possibly be equivalent. Ash Scar understood this clearly, so he wasn't surprised by this person's additional request.
In fact, he had already vaguely guessed the other party's purpose for coming here and her possible identity...
"Early this January, a wanted criminal appeared in Norlington. He used some kind of raven-feather secret art to attack my cult's Priestess Dorothy, and her attendant, Dawn.. In this process, Dorothy had one of her eyes taken, and Dawn suffered spiritual displacement."
Fran briefly recounted the case that occurred at the Mirror of Enlightenment Club, then posed her question.
"The Secrets-Hunters gave him the codename 'Nightmare Guest.' Mr. Ash Scar, do you have any knowledge about him?"
After listening to her description, Ash Scar's gaze beneath his mask sharpened, revealing a look of confirmation.
An Ahanta silk-woven Lamp-Moth robe, an identity that made Inchworm show a humble attitude, and possession of extremely valuable secret rite documents... Clearly, the Hermit Lady was a high-ranking Priestess of the Veiled Assembly.
That being the case, her true purpose for coming to the Third Perch was probably to investigate that attack... Although information on that heretic had a certain level of confidentiality, the value of the text provided by the Hermit Lady was already sufficient to exchange for that information.
However, for the eccentric Hierophants of the Veiled Assembly to be willing to pay such a price for this matter... Perhaps the victim was related to her by blood?
Dispelling strange stray thoughts, Ash Scar carefully chose his words as he began to explain what he knew.
"We do have some understanding of that individual."
"That so-called 'Nightmare Guest' is actually a fanatical believer from our own sect. Lyons Horton. Several years ago, he participated in one of our exploration activities in Norlington and became increasingly bizarre ever since."
As a High Priest, the information Ash Scar possessed differed from that of ordinary disciples by an insurmountable hierarchical gap. Therefore, when explaining related content to Fran, he was detailed and precise, almost as if reciting a household inventory.
"Such as?"
Fran pressed for specifics about the abnormalities in Lyons' condition.
"He mastered the lost second-category, upper-tier secret art [Raven's Beak Kiss] in nearly a year. It allows him to sever others' limbs and organs through touch, even including spiritual bodies."
"The effect of this art is powerful, but it requires many preconditions. For example, the spiritual energy gap between the caster and the target cannot be too large, it cannot work through clothing or armor, and it cannot take flesh and blood of too large a volume."
When he reached this point, a trace of anger unconsciously entered Ash Scar's tone.
"In order to study this art, Lyons murdered several comrades over that year. Just to extract spiritual energy from their flesh, blood, and marrow. A few days before the incident was exposed, he had already gone into hiding, constantly fleeing."
"I see."
Fran nodded to indicate her understanding, then gestured for Ash Scar to continue.
"Lyons had several dangerous clashes with pursuers during his escape; he sustained significant injuries. But after that, there was no further news... It was only a few months ago that we learned this guy had actually fled to Norlington."
No matter how widespread the Six-Eyed Crows' network was, it was difficult to extend into that city of hunters. In a way, it was a case of "hiding in plain sight."
"As a result, that guy committed two consecutive incidents in Norlington, directly provoking the Secrets-Hunters, and is now on the Burial Court's wanted list... So he had to flee back to Gormouth again."
Ash Scar felt a bit of schadenfreude about this, but remembering one of the victims was likely this person's subordinate, he quickly reined in his emotions.
"So, you don't know his specific whereabouts either?"
Fran rested her cheek on one hand, a hint of disappointment faintly visible in her amber gaze.
Although this Raven-Feather High Priest provided quite a bit of useful information, he hadn't mentioned the most crucial part.
"One could say so. However... we already have a lead."
Ash Scar paused slightly after saying this, then began to share the latest intelligence he possessed.
"It seems to be a side effect of studying the lost secret art. Lyons' spiritual energy is disordered and prone to loss of control; each time he uses the art, he faces a significant risk of losing control. And now that he has obtained the eye of a Lamp-cult Priestess, he will inevitably try to set up a promotion rite to ascend to the Fourth Step."
"Recently, our scouts found some traces of him... Ultimately, those traces were cut off at the outskirts of the fallen city 'Morien'."
---
Foy Port, Sands of Slumber Bell Tower.
In Gormouth, the Stellar Abyss Society establishes at least one such Bell Tower in every city. Although they never explain the purpose of these buildings, most residents believe it is these bell towers that hold back the Abyssal Sea's curse, bringing over a century of relative stability amidst the chaos of the Abyssal Sea nations.
Consequently, some strange rumors related to the hotels... don't receive much attention.
Compared to the precious stability of life, who cares about baseless gossip?
Haida was now wearing a Gormouth-style leather travel cloak. The garment's texture was rough, thick, and quite roomy, effectively concealing the nearly person-tall power sword "Nirvana" on her back, as well as her Burial Attendant features.
"This is the bell tower..."
Gazing at the distant, towering, ancient and austere building, Haida slightly narrowed her eyes, her gray-hazel gaze becoming somewhat focused.
Viewed with the naked eye alone, the distant hotel didn't look much different from ordinary architecture, perhaps only inducing a slight sense of oppression due to its Lost Age style. Since there was no spiritual energy leakage, even invoking spiritual sight wouldn't reveal anything abnormal.
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(For Lamp/Moth Cult/Veiled Assembly Hierophant and Priest(ess) are used interchangeably. The title Hierophant is only exclusive to their cult.)
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[email protected]/PeakTL