Chapter 19: Old Neil Meets the Star Again

After a flurry of activity, Klein, who had just finished his divination, offered a suggestion to Mr. Glacis, the diviner: "The area between your brows is dark, which likely indicates an issue with your lungs. I suggest you see a doctor."

Glacis did not believe Klein. After Klein left, he performed a divination on his own state.

Hmm, the state is excellent. What an alarmist.

......

Klein returned to the security company and found that Rozanne at the front desk had been replaced by Leonard.

Tsk, what’s going on? The pretty girl has turned into a grown man.

Leonard gazed at Klein with passionate eyes, making Klein’s skin crawl and his muscles tense up in discomfort.

"Good afternoon. Where is Rozanne?" Klein asked nonchalantly, tipping his hat with one hand while discreetly shielding his backside with the other.

"She’s on duty at the armory tonight."

The armory was not the Chanis Gate; it did not require a Beyonder to guard it.

Without waiting for Klein to ask further, Leonard spoke as if pondering a question: "Klein, there is something that has always puzzled me."

"What is it?" Klein asked, looking blank.

Leonard stood up, smiling with a relaxed tone: "Why did Welch and Naya commit suicide on the spot, but you returned home?"

"It must be because that unknown existence wanted me to take the Antigonus family’s notebook away and hide it," Klein replied, citing the commonly accepted theory.

Leonard paced a few steps, then suddenly turned and leaned in close to Klein, staring straight into his eyes: "If the purpose of making you all commit suicide was to silence you and erase clues, then why didn't it just make you destroy the notebook on the spot?"

Meeting Leonard’s intense, fiery gaze, Klein shrank his neck back.

*So cute, keep your distance.*

*This Klein, he’s got some serious issues,* Leonard thought.

*This Leonard, could he actually be a homosexual?* Klein thought.

After a brief exchange, Klein pointed toward the armory: "I'm going to pick up some ammunition."

*I need to get away from this guy!*

"May the Goddess bless you." Leonard smiled and traced the Crimson Moon on his chest.

Watching Klein flee in a panic, Leonard muttered to himself: "Old man, he definitely has a problem."

An aged, raspy laugh echoed in Leonard’s ear: "Heh heh heh, he thinks you're a homosexual."

"What? I... ah?"

"Calling out so suggestively, what’s this? Did he guess right?"

"Hmph, old man, I didn't expect even this to escape your notice. It seems I can no longer keep you around."

"Heh."

......

Inside the Brave Hearts Bar, there was a "black market" where rogue Beyonders usually conducted their trades.

It was a room about the size of a lecture hall. Some people set up stalls piled with bottles and jars, while others walked among them, inspecting items, communicating, or haggling over prices.

This black market might not have been as mysterious or eerie as one might imagine. But in truth, this was normal; after all, one couldn't expect rogue Beyonders to rent out an entire street to trade contraband.

"Are you sure this is spring water from the Golden Spring on Sonia Island?" Old Neil examined the glass bottle in his hand. Inside was about 100 milliliters of pale golden water.

"Of course! We went through a lot of trouble to bring it back from the sea. Hey, old man, you aren't trying to welsh on the deal, are you?" Opposite him stood a middle-aged man in a sailor suit, his skin dark and weathered.

The man crossed his arms, glaring at Old Neil with a fierce expression.

Old Neil carefully held up the glass bottle and said, "No, but I need to have it appraised."

"Fine. But I'm coming with you." The man took a step forward.

"Of course." Old Neil didn't refuse, leading the man to a stall in the corner. The stall owner was also an elderly man, wearing a refined leather jacket over a shirt full of patches.

He wasn't sitting on the ground; instead, he had brought a set of table and chairs and was sitting there reading a book.

Old Neil tapped the table and set down five pounds: "Hey, Valent, business is here."

Old Valent put down his book, looked at Old Neil for a long time, and then, as if it had just dawned on him, pointed at Old Neil and laughed: "Neil, how long has it been since you came to see me?"

Old Neil scoffed: "I was here just last week, and you’ve forgotten me already?"

Old Valent frowned and tapped his head with his knuckles: "Forget it, that’s not important. Speak up, what do you need appraised?"

"This, see if it’s the Elf Spring from the Golden Spring on Sonia Island." Old Neil placed the glass bottle on the table with one hand while steadying the wobbly table with the other.

Old Valent leaned in to look, his eyes glowing with a white light.

A moment later, he deactivated his Beyonder ability: "The appraisal result is: Accurate. This is the Elf Spring you wanted."

Old Neil let out a long sigh, turned, and slapped a paper bag into the sailor's hand: "There’s 200 pounds inside, you can go now."

The man took the bag, counted the denominations, and without a word, turned and left.

Old Neil greeted Old Valent and prepared to leave, but Old Valent suddenly called him back: "Hey, Old Neil? How long has it been since you came to see me?"

Old Neil stared at Old Valent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Hey, I was here just last week, and you’ve forgotten me again?"

"Oh, a week, is it?" Old Valent nodded. "Well, it’s normal not to remember clearly. What do you need appraised?"

Something flashed across Old Neil's eyes. A Beyonder of the Savant pathway starting to become forgetful—the implications were self-evident.

"No," Old Neil patted Old Valent’s shoulder and said with a smile, "Just visiting an old friend, let's chat."

"Chat? What’s there to chat about?" Old Valent waved his hand.

"Just tell me about the adventures you had with your comrades when you were in the Machinery Hivemind."

"Hah, I must have told you that already."

"I don't remember."

"Ho, then I really must tell you all about it..."

......

Leaving the Brave Hearts Bar, Old Neil pondered what materials he was still missing.

"I have the phlogiston, I have the hematite, gold... that’s easy to buy, I can get that last. Then there’s star crystal... that’s still a bit short." He whispered the formula from his memory.

Old Neil’s spirituality suddenly stirred. He looked up and saw someone waving at him.

It was the young girl who had carried him up the stairs last time.

He wasn't angry about the previous incident and greeted Stelle with a chuckle: "It’s you, Ms. Stelle. Long time no see."

He paused, then added in a joking tone: "No need to carry me up the stairs this time."

Stelle nodded. If the other party didn't want to, she wouldn't force it.

Suddenly, Stelle blinked and tilted her head.

"Is something wrong?" Old Neil asked, his tone full of confusion.

Stelle shook her head to indicate it was nothing.

Old Neil was puzzled: "Why don't you talk?"

"Because I am a grey-haired little mute," Stelle said very seriously.

With a straight face.

Old Neil opened his mouth, wanting to say something. After a long while, he finally managed to say: "I see."