Levi followed Ms.
B through the hidden door into a small, simply furnished room.
A stone table sat in the center of the room, and beside it stood a wooden cabinet filled with numerous small compartments.
No sunlight reached the interior; the only light came from three clusters of dim candles on the stone table.
A small pot sat on the table, surrounded by strange items like clear colorless liquid, various powders, bones, and leaves.
Ms.
B familiarly took several items from the cabinet’s compartments, muttering under her breath as she did so:
“100 milliliters of concentrated vinegar, three petals of the Shadow Poison Flower, 10 drops of Buttercup Essential Oil, one live spider…”
Then, she brought all the items to the stone table, ground them into powder with a mortar and pestle, added them to the small pot, and mixed in a beaker of colorless liquid.
After finishing this, she stepped back and snapped her fingers.
Black Flame eerily emerged from the bottom of the pot, roasting its contents.
After a moment, the Black Flame vanished, as if it were only for a ritual rather than to actually heat the liquid.
With a slight flick of Ms.
B’s finger, the liquid in the pot poured into a cup and floated over to Levi.
“There, your Assassin potion.”
She said with a smile.
Levi swallowed hard as he looked at the dark liquid in the cup.
If Ms.
B wanted to harm him, she wouldn’t need to go to such trouble; her strength was likely very formidable.
Without hesitation, Levi took the potion and drank it in one gulp.
The viscous liquid, with its fishy yet sweet taste, flowed down his throat, giving him a strange sensation.
A feverish heat spread through his body, like ants crawling through his veins, bringing a peculiar itch.
As this sensation permeated his entire being, Levi felt his physique slowly strengthening.
His body became flexible and powerful, his eyes grew bright and piercing, and his vision could penetrate deeper into the surrounding Darkness.
Finally, the heat flowing through his body converged at his lower abdomen, condensing and compressing into a small, searing mass before gradually settling down.
Levi took a deep breath.
He clearly sensed that he had become a Beyonder and had gained a certain understanding of his Beyonder abilities:
Compared to an ordinary person, his constitution was significantly enhanced, and he had become more rational and calm.
He could make his body as light as a feather for short periods and possessed eagle-like vision and Darkvision.
He excelled at hiding in shadows and possessed nimble footwork, agile movements, and the ability to burst all his strength into a single strike.
It really is an ability perfectly suited for assassination…
Levi couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.
This was the first time he had felt happiness since Jason’s death.
“Congratulations, you didn’t become one of the unlucky 30%.”
Ms.
B said with a smile, lightly clapping her hands.
“The unlucky 30%?
What do you mean?”
Ms.
B said casually:
“According to our data, when consuming a Sequence 9 potion, 30% of people experience a Loss of Control.”
“Loss of Control…”
Levi had learned the meaning of this term from Jason’s notes, and his face couldn’t help but turn cold: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Ms.
B gave a playful smile: “Even if I had told you, would you have stopped yourself from taking the potion?
For a strong young man like you, the probability of losing control is very low.”
She reached into her cleavage again, pulled out a tiny pocket-sized booklet, and tossed it to Levi: “This is intelligence on the Hyena Gang and other gangs on Iron Cross Street.
I’ll need some progress by next week’s gathering.
Alright, business is concluded.”
As she spoke, Ms.
B leaned against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest and accentuating her curves.
Her eyes took on a teasing look as she stared straight at Levi.
How can there be a female boss like this?
I hope Jason didn’t do anything to betray Emily…
Levi thought to himself, feeling a bit frustrated.
He usually had strong self-control and wouldn’t lose his composure just because a beautiful woman flirted with him, but now he was almost unable to restrain himself.
Desperately suppressing the impulse in his heart, Levi said coldly: “Fine, I’ll leave now.
Please lead the way.”
“What a man without any sense of romance,” Ms.
B said with some regret, leading Levi back to the gathering room.
“Alright, you are now a formal member of the Mutual Aid Society.
One last reminder: the Hyena Gang is not just a simple gang.
They have more than one Beyonder in their ranks.
Don’t act rashly, or you’ll likely lose your life.
Also, since your appearance and your family’s have been exposed, you’ll need a disguise to infiltrate the Hyena Gang.”
As Ms.
B spoke, she took out a pre-prepared box and handed it to Levi: “This is a new outfit.
I hope you like it.”
Levi took the box and opened it, saying in surprise: “Women’s clothes again?
I have to infiltrate the gang as a woman?
Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Ms.
B laughed: “The Hyena Gang has many women, and their leader is also female.
Otherwise, why do you think they’re called the Hyena Gang?”
Hyenas are matriarchal creatures, so that’s why…
Levi nodded, indicating he understood.
He packed the box and left the Flamingo Bar.
It was already past ten o’clock, and the public carriages had stopped running.
Levi hailed a rental carriage and spent 11 pence to get to the entrance of Windmill Street—any further in, and even the rental carriages refused to go.
After walking for over ten minutes, he reached the Goldfish Hotel.
Levi snuck into the back alley, climbed through the window into Room 109, changed his clothes, locked the door, went to the front desk to retrieve his dagger, and ordered a large portion of pea and lamb stew with two loaves of white bread.
Once the food was ready, he packed it up and took it back to Room 207.
“Thank goodness, you’re finally back.”
Emily breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Levi at the door and quickly ushered him in.
“Good news, I found a job, and I bought some food.”
Levi smiled relaxedly, placing the ceramic pot of pea and lamb stew and the white bread on the table.
Emily covered her mouth in surprise, looking at the feast before her in disbelief.
After a long moment, she snapped out of it and hurried to take two small bowls from the hotel cabinet.
She served the pea and lamb stew and carefully tore the two loaves of white bread into small pieces suitable for dipping.
Levi took off his coat and sat at the table, and the two of them began to eat heartily.
The milky flavor of the lamb and the wheaty aroma of the white bread melded in their mouths, washing away the hardships and suffering of the past few days.
As they ate, they felt a sense of primal happiness.
After the meal, Emily hesitated for a moment before asking carefully:
“So, what kind of job is it?”
A look of worry flickered in her pale blue eyes.