Chapter 46 - 46: The Abraham Attack

"..." A few people immediately glared at each other with hostility. Five minutes later, still, no one placed a bid. However, Edward felt reassured. As the Plump Apothecary had pointed out, these people weren't refusing because the traceless extension charm items were bad—it was because they were too poor. That made sense. This Beyonder gathering mainly consisted of low-sequence individuals. How could they casually take out several thousand pounds just like that? With that in mind, he scanned the room and said, "Alright, since I'll be attending future gatherings anyway, if anyone decides they want one, you can contact me then. But I can't guarantee they won't be sold by then." Pausing briefly, he continued, "Next, I have a batch of potions with various effects—healing, pain relief, blood clotting, mental clarity, emotional stability…and even hair growth." The Plump Apothecary immediately protested. "Hey, man, just because I asked a couple of extra questions, you're trying to steal my business? Is that really necessary?" Edward spread his hands helplessly. "I just happen to know how to make potions as well. Besides, mine probably aren't as effective as yours, so I'll be selling them at a lower price." "…%&%" the Plump Apothecary cursed under his breath. Soon, several people, after confirming the prices, bought a few bottles—mostly healing and blood-clotting potions. Surprisingly, the best-selling item turned out to be the hair growth potion. Edward quickly earned nearly two hundred pounds. After making sure no one else wanted to initiate a transaction, he spoke up one last time: "Lastly, I'm looking to purchase some Lavos Squid's Crystallized Blood, mandrake sap, and poison hemlock extract. Also, if anyone is selling Mystical items with defensive properties, feel free to contact me." Edward wasn't currently lacking offensive capabilities. Even if he couldn't win a fight, he could always use Apparition to escape. What worried him was being ambushed and taken out in a single strike. A woman whose face was completely hidden in the shadows of her hood spoke up, "I can ask around for you, but I don't have anything on hand right now." She then added, "I have two weapons for sale. One is a Ripping Great Axe—it produces wind blades with tearing effects when swung, making it effective in both close and ranged combat. It can still be used for two more years. 380 pounds, or I'll trade it for a Sequence 8 'Barbarian' formula with additional payment." A few strong-looking individuals showed clear interest, but no one spoke up first. "The other is a Corrosive Dagger. When it stabs a target, it applies a certain degree of corrosion. If it hits a vital organ, it can ensure a quick kill. It has three years of use left. 250 pounds." It didn't take long for the two weapons to be purchased—one by a burly man and the other by the sinister-looking Black Snake. As for Edward…he had already been forgotten. Helpless, he raised his hand again. "Ahem. If anyone has what I'm looking for, please feel free to contact me." Unfortunately, only the Plump Apothecary glanced at him a couple more times. The living room soon fell into silence again. Then, the sinister man called Black Snake chuckled and said, "Backlund has been getting more chaotic recently. Especially some lunatics—they seem to be desperately searching for something." The Plump Apothecary impatiently cut in, "If you're trying to sell something, just get to the point." "I got lucky," Black Snake continued. "A few days ago, I stumbled upon a pirate who had just returned from Bayam. He lost control during an attack from two madmen, and all three of them ended up dying together." As he spoke, he pulled a small, ugly doll—about the size of a palm—from a black cloth bag. "This is something I obtained from the scene. The Church refers to it as a 'Sealed Artifact,' but I call it the 'Taunt Doll'." "What does it do?" someone asked. "When thrown, it provokes everyone within a fifty-meter radius. Those at Sequence 7 and below will be forced to attack it, Sequence 6 individuals will have their attention forcibly drawn to it, and even Sequence 5s will be somewhat affected." The entire room was instantly shaken. For Beyonders of their level, this ability was incredibly powerful! Only the Plump Apothecary frowned and asked, "Wait, if I heard correctly…you said 'everyone.' That includes the user, doesn't it?" Black Snake shrugged. "That's right." The ever-calm Wisdom Eye elder finally spoke. "What are the negative effects?" "Each time you use it, the next time you activate the doll, the provocation effect will be even stronger. If you use it repeatedly, you'll eventually reach a point where your eyes will see nothing but the doll." "Hahaha! Then what's the point of buying it? To place it on your grave as a decoration when you die?" the Apothecary mocked without restraint. "But it could save your life in a crucial moment, right? Also, if your opponent is trying to flee, you can use this to force them to stay and fight," Black Snake countered, scanning the room. "3,500 pounds. Anyone interested? Once you reach Sequence 5, you can basically ignore its effects. Not tempted?" Sequence 5? Most of the people here probably wouldn't be able to advance to Sequence 5 in their lifetime! A few individuals had initially been interested, but upon hearing the price, they immediately lost enthusiasm. Edward stared at the ugly doll, his thoughts racing. The Taunt Doll's effect was essentially a powerful control ability. The only reason people dismissed it was because of its indiscriminate targeting and severe negative side effects. But…what if he could ignore its provocation effect? When he had advanced to Sequence 8, Trickmaster, he had gained the ability [Unfettered]: He could consume spirituality to remove any control effect affecting himself. The smaller the sequence gap, the higher the success rate. Would the Taunt Doll's forced provocation count as a control effect? If he could indeed nullify it, this mystical item would be absolutely perfect for him! Edward suppressed his excitement and considered a more practical issue—he didn't have enough money! "What's the lowest price you'd accept?" Black Snake, who had been about to put the doll away, looked at Edward in surprise. Then he let out a sinister laugh. "Oh? Seems like we have someone with good taste here. Hmm…let me think…How about 3,200 pounds? Or, you could trade one of your storage items for it." Not happening! Edward made a zipping motion over his mouth. "Forget I asked." Black Snake shrugged, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He grinned. "Or…perhaps you'd be interested in another item I found at that scene? It came from one of the madmen. It lets you hear the voice of a great being. If you're lucky, you might interpret valuable information and gain immense power. If you're unlucky and decipher a curse, well…tough luck." The Fat Pharmacist immediately sneered, "Black Snake, let this idiot live a little longer, will you?" Did this guy always have to talk like that? At that moment, Eye of Wisdom clapped his hands. "That's it for tonight. As usual, everyone will leave one by one, with a three-minute interval in between." Edward was the last one to leave. Just as he was about to step out, Eye of Wisdom spoke up. "Where did you learn the location for this place?" "What?" "Nearly every member here was personally invited by me, and you are clearly not one of them." Edward turned back to look at him and replied calmly, "I bought it from the black market. It cost me 20 gold pounds." Eye of Wisdom rubbed the emerald ring on his finger and smiled faintly. "I see. Well then, until next time." "Goodbye, sir." Edward nodded and walked into the darkness. Moving swiftly through several deserted alleys, he used Apparition to arrive at a small apartment. From there, he activated a Portkey to return to Tingen City. As expected, he landed flat on his back. Edward sighed helplessly. "Audrey would never accept using a Portkey." Slowly sitting up, he called out toward the bedroom, "Lilith, I'm back." At that moment, a cold voice suddenly echoed through the room. "I came, I saw, I recorded—Frenzy." Shit! Edward's body froze mid-step. His mind went completely blank as if he had lost the ability to think. "Restraint." Through his blurred vision, he saw a tall woman approaching rapidly—it was Christine! Her arms moved swiftly, unleashing a barrage of attacks—electric shocks, freezing spells, and other abilities rushed toward him. The last remnants of his rationality screamed at him to dodge, but his body refused to obey. "Unfettered!" In the next second, he was engulfed in electric light. His body went numb, but at the same time, his mind suddenly felt cool and clear—his Unfettered trait had activated. No time to think! Before the rest of her attacks could land, Edward vanished with a crack. Christine's expression darkened. Impossible! "I came, I saw, I recorded." A worn notebook appeared in her hand, its pages flipping rapidly. A Traveler's Door leading into the spirit world materialized before her. Edward reappeared behind her, staggering as he raised his wand. "Confundo!" A bright light burst forth. Christine's consciousness wavered, and the Traveler's Door she was constructing collapsed before it could stabilize. Forcing herself to focus, she flipped through the pages of her notebook again. "I came, I saw, I recorded." Christine's figure flickered and disappeared from the room. Edward immediately gave chase, only to see her reappear ten meters away. She teleported three more times, escaping the perimeter of Tulip Street. Another Traveler's Door began forming before her. She wobbled, nearly losing her footing. Biting her tongue hard, she forced herself to stay conscious and flashed forward again—rushing straight toward the Traveler's Door. "Vlapivitus!" Just as she was about to enter, Christine transformed into a tiny turtle. Her four stubby legs flailed uselessly in the air before she plummeted to the ground. A few seconds later, she reverted to her normal form. "Stupefy!" A beam of light struck her square in the head, sending her flying backward. She hit the ground hard and passed out. "Wingardium Leviosa! Vlapivitus!" A trash can floated toward her, transforming into chains that wrapped tightly around her body. Edward's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. "Phew…that was close." Even though spiritual magic was powerful, losing the initiative could still turn the tables instantly. "The noise just now must have drawn attention. I need to leave—fast." Ignoring his still-numb limbs, Edward scrambled to his feet, grabbed Christine and the notebook she had dropped, and apparated back to 5 Tulip Street. ——— The moment he got home, he collapsed onto the sofa. This was his first time experiencing an electric shock, and if possible, he never wanted to feel that again. At least…it seemed like she wasn't trying to kill him. Or maybe she wanted to, but didn't have or hadn't recorded a lethal attack. "!!!" Suddenly, his spirituality flared with an intense warning. Edward's body tensed, and he gripped his wand. "Who's there?!" A few seconds later, a small black cat emerged from the darkness. Lilith licked her tiny pink tongue, looking as if she had just finished drinking water. Her fur was damp, and she tilted her head in confusion. "Meow?" (ω`) "Lilith?" Edward let out a breath of relief and scooped her up. "Where were you hiding just now? Did that woman bully you?" "Meow~" (ω`) Lilith gave a soft cry and kneaded his chest with her paws. Edward finally relaxed and turned his attention to Christine. The woman looked to be twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a tall, well-proportioned figure. She had long, deep-brown hair and striking blue eyes. Her features weren't particularly breathtaking, but she had an undeniable strong, heroic charm. "Mmmh…" A few minutes later, her eyelashes fluttered as she regained consciousness. Her first instinct was to escape, but the chains bound her tightly. She struggled a few times before fixing Edward with a cold glare, remaining silent. Edward loomed over her, looking down. "Alright. Start talking—why did you attack me?" "…" "I get that you recognized me as a Beyonder. It's normal to be wary and try to avoid me. But why follow me? Why ambush me?" Edward pulled out a short dagger and pressed it against her slender neck. "If you don't say anything, I'll have to kill you for my own safety." Christine hesitated for a few seconds before gritting her teeth and speaking in a low voice. "I…I'm here to avenge my brother." "?" Edward blinked. "What?" "I've never killed anyone in my life," he stated flatly. (Well, except for Megose, but she didn't really count as 'human' anymore…) "Backlund, South of the Bridge, 32 Verdi Street." Christine spat out an address coldly. "You haven't forgotten, have you?" Edward's mind raced. After a moment, he finally remembered— That was where the unfortunate Abraham descendant had lost control. The same place where he had obtained both the Sequence 8 and Sequence 7 potion formulas. "You're from the Abraham family?" ——— [Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.