A godlike reason... Hearing the Apothecary's answer, Klein, who was playing the role of "Clown," couldn't control the change in his expression. Fortunately, he was still wearing an iron mask.
The Apothecary didn't notice the reactions of Klein and the "Eye of Wisdom" elder, continuing to ramble on his own:
"That's why I really like Backlund. There are so many streetwalkers here. They haunt the entrances of music halls and theaters, waiting in the streets and alleys. Some are professionals, some are part-timers, originally working as female workers or maids. They all have a different flavor. I hear that in some parts of the West Borough, you can even occasionally find bankrupt noble ladies. How alluring!"
"..." Klein pushed up his iron mask, which covered the upper half of his face, and quickly changed the subject. "Does your teacher have any objections to your choice?"
The Apothecary shook his head slightly and said:
"No. After finishing teaching me about the field of herbs, he just kicked me out the door and told me to travel the continent and experience life. Damn it, he didn't even tell me where to find the subsequent potion ingredients!"
Having said that, the Apothecary looked at Klein and added:
"If you know where to find the medullary crystals of the 'Elf Spring', please be sure to tell me. I will pay you a reward. Of course, you can also buy it first and sell it to me at a markup. You are a lucky fellow; maybe you can help me fulfill my wish."
"Alright." Klein agreed casually, then asked thoughtfully, "Can I use it to exchange for the Apothecary's potion formula then?"
In his opinion, "Apothecary" was a very useful supplementary profession that could be used to cultivate helpers.
The Apothecary, who wasn't too fat but rather plump, quickly shook his head and said:
"No!" "I can only teach my own students."
Is that a rule of the School of Life? Perhaps he even made an oath with some hidden existence as a witness... Klein thought, not at all surprised.
Just then, the Apothecary gave a "heh":
"But I can tell you where to get the Apothecary's formula. It's right here in Backlund."
"Very good." Klein was pleasantly surprised by this.
Noticing that Mr. "Eye of Wisdom" was about to speak again to end the conversation, he quickly asked:
"Mr. Apothecary, do you have any potions to treat problems like spiritual madness?"
Klein was putting on this act for the Bodyguard lady to see, making her more certain that he had been slightly influenced by the "True Creator" and had become a potential lunatic, desperately seeking treatment.
"I do. Sedatives, 10 Soles a vial. I'll bring you four vials at the next gathering. Trust me, these are much more effective than the ones from the hospital. I added some spiritual materials," the Apothecary answered without hesitation.
So expensive... In Tingen's underground market, sedatives from the hospital cost 1 to 2 Soles a vial. The ones circulating from the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind teams cost 4 to 5 Soles a vial... As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Klein acted out the whole set and looked towards "Eye of Wisdom":
"Esteemed sir, may I attend the next gathering?"
"You may. Your behavior over these two sessions has proven your goodwill, young man. Pay attention to the daily *Backlund Morning Post*. When an advertisement for the Ernst Firm purchasing goods appears on the fifth page, it indicates there will be a gathering here at eight o'clock the next evening. The firmness and intervals of the knocks correspond to the price quote. The first number is the number of heavy knocks, the second is light knocks, the third is long intervals, the fourth is short intervals. The rest is meaningless," Mr. "Eye of Wisdom" nodded.
After relaying the information, he sighed and said:
"Beyonders who don't belong to any official organization don't have it as good as you might imagine. On one hand, they have to hide their secrets, evade the authorities, and stay alert and cautious at all times. On the other hand, they have to fight against losing control and fight against madness. Too many of our kind have died from these two things."
"Even if we successfully avoid the attention of the authorities and escape losing control and madness, we are always at risk of falling into the predicament of lacking materials, not finding the items we want, and being unable to acquire enough knowledge. I organize gatherings like this precisely to let everyone help each other."
"Unfortunately, we are now in an age of mystical scarcity. Many mystical materials rarely appear anymore."
*Indeed.* *But I have Mr. 'Hanged Man' who knows the coordinates of certain primitive islands, and Mr. 'Sun' from the City of Silver who constantly battles various monsters in the depths of darkness. I can rely on them for certain mystical materials...* Klein politely half-rose and bowed to Mr. "Eye of Wisdom": "Your character is admirable."
After sitting back down, Klein suddenly remembered something and asked after deliberating:
"Gentlemen, do you have any mystical items? Similar to the one 'Black Snake' sold me, but without such serious and negative problems. I'd like to have some ability to protect myself."
He planned to first find something he was interested in and figure out the price, and then determine his target based on that.
*Although I have no money now, that doesn't mean I won't have any in the future... Can I not ask for the price just because I'm broke?* Klein silently added in his heart.
The Apothecary spread his hands, indicating he either didn't have any or wouldn't sell them if he did. Mr. "Eye of Wisdom" chuckled and said:
"I do have some. What kind do you hope to buy? Give me a general range."
*He has some... He is most likely a Beyonder of the 'Savant' pathway, relying on external objects...* Klein didn't hide his envious expression as he said: "Something stronger than myself. Not something that enhances fighting skills. Preferably something with a fantastical ability."