The bartender looked up at Levi, busied himself for a moment, then handed him a glass of Lelongqi while whispering:
“Second floor, left side, the third room facing the stairs.
The code is three long and one short.”
Levi nodded slightly but didn’t take the glass of Lelongqi—he didn’t have enough money on him.
Under the bartender’s disdainful gaze, he walked toward the stairs to the second floor and arrived at the third room on the left facing the stairs.
Levi took another deep breath to steady his voice, then quite ungracefully reached his hand through his lantern sleeve into his chest, confirming the position of the revolver between the two soft clumps of cotton.
Having done all this, he knocked on the door according to the code:
“Knock—knock—knock—, knock.”
The door opened a small crack.
Inside the room was a round table with several people already seated around it.
They all had feminine figures and wore various masks.
As Levi entered, they looked up at him but quickly looked away.
Levi took a deep breath.
Not knowing if the gathering members had fixed seats, he slowly moved to a spot near the window.
After standing for a short while and seeing that no one cast any strange looks his way, he cautiously gathered his skirts and sat down.
Someone was already sitting near the door; this spot was the most suitable for an escape otherwise.
After sitting down and seeing that no one was observing him anymore, Levi let out a soft sigh:
“Good, I didn’t attract too much attention.”
After a while, several more members entered the room one after another.
The round table was now full, but no one spoke, creating a solemn and quiet atmosphere.
Finally, when the clock on the wall pointed to eight, a tall woman dressed in a black hooded robe and wearing the same mask as Levi walked in and took the seat at the head of the round table.
“The gathering begins.”
The woman spoke calmly, her soft voice carrying a hint of charm that secretly tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
“One of the committee members of the Mutual Aid Society—Ms.
B.”
Levi guessed her identity based on Jason’s notes.
The Mutual Aid Society had three committee members.
Ms.
A managed all affairs and did not participate in hosting gatherings; Ms.
C was shorter, only about 1.6 meters tall; and this tall woman, standing over 1.7 meters, was clearly Ms.
B.
After Ms.
B announced the start, people soon began to state their needs:
“30 pounds, looking to buy one portion of Shadow Poison Flower roots.”
“Selling an Apprentice Sequence 9 Potion Formula, 200 pounds.”
“Looking to buy items capable of purifying wraiths or undead creatures, preferably charms or the like.”
“20 pounds, selling a bottle of a magical potion.
Just one drop will make a woman’s body go soft and leave her wanting more…”
Hearing the last request, Levi was stunned.
He scanned the room with a subtle movement and found that no one had a strange reaction, making him secretly ponder:
“Could it be that most of these beautiful ‘ladies’ attending the gathering are actually men?
Or are they women who don’t care about such wicked things?”
As the gathering progressed, Levi sadly discovered that a Sequence 9 Potion Formula cost about 200 pounds.
Adding in various materials, it would be another huge expense.
Even if he received the reward from the Mutual Aid Society, it would only be enough to buy one Potion Formula.
“Beyonders are just too expensive.
No wonder Jason could earn so much money from one mission, yet we still lived so frugally…”
After the gathering ended, Ms.
B arranged for the members to leave in groups.
Levi quietly waited for everyone else to leave the room.
Ms.
B seemed to have a certain understanding as well, leaving Levi for last.
When only the two of them remained in the room, Ms.
B rested her fair, slender hands on the table, propping up her pointed chin.
Her eyes beneath the mask shimmered like rippling water, observing Levi with a smile without saying a word.
Levi, who had intended to wait for Ms.
B to speak first, felt a bit nervous.
After waiting a little longer, in order not to show weakness, he had to speak first:
“That item, I’ve already obtained it.”
Ms.
B nodded, a charming smile playing beneath her mask:
“Well done.
Hand it over to me.”
Levi took out the small Female Statue but only held it in his hand, not handing it to Ms.
B.
Ms.
B didn’t say much either.
She reached into her chest and pulled out a small stack of green bills, handing them to Levi:
“This is your reward.”
Levi did a quick count.
Twenty 10-pound bills carried a mixed scent of ink and sweetness, which was quite pleasant and made him feel somewhat intoxicated.
“Money, 200 pounds, so much money!”
Forcing himself to suppress the urge to cheer, Levi handed the Female Statue to Ms.
B.
Ms.
B took the figurine and carefully placed it into a delicate box that had been prepared beforehand.
Having received the money, Levi didn’t linger and stood up to leave.
“Leaving in such a hurry?
Won’t you stay for a drink?”
Ms.
B called out to Levi, speaking with a smile.
Levi’s heart, which had just relaxed slightly, tensed up again.
He said perfunctorily:
“No, I have some things to take care of.”
Ms.
B’s eyes still held a smile as she said meaningfully:
“What could be so urgent that it must be handled now?
This is our first meeting, shouldn’t we get to know each other more deeply?”
Levi was stunned, and a frantic panic surged within him.
“She knows I’m not Jason!”
Levi reached his hand into his sleeve, wanting to grip the revolver, but Ms.
B let out a silver-bell-like laugh and said:
“Don’t be nervous.
I won’t make a move against you, because my divination tells me you have no ill intent.
Right, Jason’s younger brother?”
Dammit, I’ve been completely seen through…
A strong sense of defeat surged in Levi’s heart, but then he felt relieved.
Since he had been seen through, he was no longer nervous and began to seriously consider the current situation:
Ms.
B didn’t seem to have any ill intent, and she should be quite familiar with Jason.
Perhaps they could talk; he would see what she had to say before making a decision…
Thinking this, Levi simply sat down quite openly in a masculine posture, staring straight at Ms.
B to see what she would say.
Ms.
B didn’t beat around the bush this time and said slowly:
“I’ve already learned of Jason’s death through divination.
It’s a pity; he was an important member of our organization.”
“I imagine that as his brother, you must really want to avenge him?”
Although a strong desire for revenge surged within him, Levi remained silent to avoid revealing his thoughts and losing leverage in the negotiation.
Ms.
B continued on her own:
“I can give you a chance for revenge: join the Hyena Gang as a spy for the Mutual Aid Society and investigate the truth of the matter.”
She smiled and continued with a hint of playfulness:
“Will you accept such an arrangement?”