NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: Poverty
Derrick looked opposite him and sincerely said, "Miss Magician, due to some unexpected circumstances on our return to the City of Silver, despite it having been resolved, we have slowed down. It will prevent us from returning to the City of Silver on time. Your Spirit Eater's stomach pouch will require another day or two. Yes, I believe I'm no longer under surveillance."
"No problem, I can wait. I've prepared enough gold," Fors said as she let out a sigh.
Looking diagonally across the table, Fors said, "Mr. Hanged Man, there's news of the Dragon-Eyed Sea Condor you require. 2,200 pounds."
'2,200 pounds…' Alger couldn't help but frown.
His financial situation wasn't looking good at the moment. Although he still had some secret savings, they were either of use elsewhere, or he hadn't been able to find a buyer for a long time.
He secretly let out a sigh and calmly said, "Very well, but I'll need some time to collect the funds. In addition, yours is too expensive, I have many channels to get cheaper ones. 1,900 pounds. That's the highest price I can accept."
"No, 2,000 pounds. That's the bottom line!" Fors replied without hesitation.
She was afraid that if she made too high an offer, then the other party would give up the deal.
Alger immediately nodded.
"Deal!"
'This…' Fors was somewhat stunned.
While the Fool calmly watched His only blessed getting swindled, Emlyn eagerly asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, does anyone know how a Sanguine can improve their strength without relying on the bestowment of their elders?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt numerous gazes land on him.
'A vampire hiding in the darkness, covered in pus, while moving like the wind?' Derrick couldn't help but look sideways to size up Emlyn.
Thus began the Sun and the Moon's bad relationship.
The moment he was being stared at, Emlyn was momentarily at a loss, vaguely aware that he had asked something he shouldn't have.
'Why are you looking at me like that. Can't I have a Sanguine friend? Should I try to explain… No, what's wrong with being a Sanguine? I'm a Sanguine; there's nothing wrong with admitting that! Us Sanguine have a long history, long lives, and rich heritage. It's a lofty race! None of you are especially amazing either. What was just traded was only a Sequence 6 item at best!' After a few thoughts, Emlyn White raised his chin and proudly added, "Yes, I am a pure Sanguine."
'No one asked him if he was… Mr. Moon is lacking some self-confidence, which resulted in him reacting a little excessively…' Audrey read Emlyn's performance.
'He's really a Sanguine…' Fors asked out of curiosity, "Mr. Moon, do you Sanguine mimic humans and give aristocratic titles like duke, viscount, earl, and baron to label different powerhouses of different standing?"
"No, it's you humans who mimicked us Sanguine!" Emlyn sat up straight.
After the Moon's long history explanation to support that claim, Derrick blurted out, "There are no such records in the history of our City of Silver."
Alger listened to the two bickering for a while before intervening.
"I know how to raise the strength of a Sanguine."
Emlyn's attention was diverted.
"Uh, Mr. Hanged Man, what payment do you need? I can use some of the lost history our Sanguine has in exchange."
Alger revealed a smile.
"No, we're all members of the Tarot Club. This kind of information exchange is free of charge."
Mr. Fool, Miss Justice and Miss Magician wondered what shady trick the Hanged Man had prepared again.
Fors thought there was no way that person out of all people would give free information—definitely not because she had been scammed by him not long ago.
'Mr. Hanged Man sure is a generous, noble man…' Emlyn inwardly made a preliminary assessment.
"Thank you for your goodwill."
Seeing the Hanged Man use that information as an opportunity to propose the trade of a Sanguine's baron Beyonder characteristic for 5,000 pounds, Miss Magician's suspicions were quickly confirmed.
"5,000 pounds?" Emlyn exclaimed.
Alger didn't rush him as he said indifferently with a smile, "I know this is a difficult decision. You can take your time and think about it."
"Alright." Emlyn breathed a sigh of relief.
'Mr. Hanged Man is really…' Audrey muttered to herself inwardly.
Mr. Star and Miss Temperance learned something about the Hanged Man that day. Lacking money, Sharron decided to be careful in any future transaction she would make with the Hanged Man in the future.
After another round of conversations, Derrick suddenly asked a question, "Honorable Mr. Fool, what kind of hand gesture should we use when we would like to thank you usually?"
'Hand gesture?' The Fool fell silent.
Feeling the Tarot Club members' gazes on Him, He finally shook His head and replied, "…Decide among yourselves."
Audrey sensed some lingering emotions in that sentence but didn't bring it up, deciding to propose a hand gesture instead.
Seeing that Mr. Fool had tacitly agreed on the creation of a hand gesture, Alger didn't stop them either.
After they finished deciding on a sign, the Fool cast His gaze towards the other members and said in a composed manner, "Let us end today's gathering here."
***
Above the endless gray fog, the majestic palace stood still.
Just as Emlyn White, who had arrived here once again, regained his vision, he saw Miss Justice opposite him looking at the end of the mottled long table before greeting cheerfully, "Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"
Audrey greeted everyone, one person at a time, by the order of the tarot cards.
Then, she looked at Emlyn White and immediately said, "Mr. Moon, do you have news of the fruit of the Tree of Elders and the blood of a Mirror Dragon?"
Emlyn nodded and said, "A total of 750 pounds. Just pay this amount and they'll be yours. And of course, there's my payment. 100 pounds."
Audrey didn't bother with the total price at all and happily responded, "Deal! I hope that the deal will be completed today or tomorrow."
"No problem." Emlyn, who was about to make 100 pounds, couldn't refuse Miss Justice's request.
'Awesome!' Audrey lowered her right hand, clenched it into a fist, and lightly pumped it twice.
At that moment, Alger turned his head to look at the Vampire.
"Do you still want the inheritance of that Sanguine baron? 4,500 pounds, that's the best price I managed to get for you."
In fact, the pirate was willing to give it up for 3,200 pounds.
Emlyn's expression twisted.
"I… I'll think about it again," Emlyn said with difficulty, suddenly feeling that he had to find some way to quickly save up money.
Fors watched with pity as the Hanged Man attempted to plunder the Sanguine, sympathizing with the feeling of poverty.
Meanwhile, Audrey, who could see more details with her Spectator ability and knew that the Hanged Man had most likely lied about the price, had to turn a blind eye to the situation.
"No problem." The Hanged Man didn't press further.
After a few more transactions, one of the new members finally made up her mind and resumed observing, raising her hand.
The others turned their attention toward the member of unknown origins, who had never talked until now. Even Mr. Star sat straighter to listen to what Miss Temperance had to say.
Feeling the others' gazes on her, Sharron spoke up.
"I'd like to give a long-term commission."
Since the other members seemed to be of low Sequences, it was more addressed to the Fool or the organizations behind them.
"If you obtain any clue about the location of a Sequence 2 Ancient Bane's body parts, I will buy it."
She didn't mention her teacher's name, but even if other Ancient Banes had lost their body parts, that could be useful to the angel.
'A Sequence 2?'
The members were surprised. Was Ancient Bane the name of a Sequence 2? From which pathway?
Audrey noticed that she seemed familiar with the Sequence 2 in question when she posed that question. Did she know a Sequence 2?
The evaluation of Sharron was raised in the other members' minds.
Alger, who knew more details, guessed that Miss Temperance should belong to the Rose School of Thought.
'Is it a struggle between deities?'
Mr. Fool: ?
Sharron glanced towards the Fool in case He knew anything about her teacher—unaware that the god was unfortunately not paying attention to the exchange—but the latter didn't show any reaction.
Mr. Hanged Man then brought up an important point. After all, pushing aside whether they had the ability to obtain clues about a Sequence 2's body parts' whereabouts, Miss Temperance having the ability to compensate them was another matter.
"If we manage to find clues, what can you offer in exchange?"
Sharron remained unfazed, her ethereal voice resounding throughout Sefirah Castle.
"We can discuss it when that time comes."
The topic was thus closed.