Lucas unzipped the bag, revealing it was full of money. Without ting it, he tossed the bag into his open spatial backpack.

  He dowhe drink in one go and said to Billy, "Goodbye! I doubt you'll have much busionight. You should close up early a some rest."

  "Goodbye, Miss E."

  Lucas stood up and walked out.

  But as he exited the Assassin's Tavern, the lizardman Billy caught up with him from behind.

  "Miss E, my boss asked me to give you this." Billy handed over a silver dagger, adorned with golden patterraordinarily ornate aiful.

  Lucas didn't take the dagger right away. Instead, he asked Billy, "Is the Silver Bde of the Brotherhood of the Bde something that be given away so easily?"

  Billy replied, "The boss said: 'The assassination of Jumu was so spectacur that many people are asking about you. If you find it bothersome, you show them this dagger. While the Brotherhood of the Bde isn't as powerful as it once was, some people will still show respect.'"

  Lucas took the dagger, twirling it a few times before pg it in his spatial backpack.

  "Si's a gift, I'll accept it. Please thank your boss again for me, but I won't promise to do anything for him."

  Billy bowed and said, "The boss just wants to make friends with a powerful elf like you."

  "I'll sider him a friend then. Goodbye."

  Lucas jumped onto the rooftop, quickly disappearing into the night.

  The Brotherhood of the Bde was an early Argent Empire group formed by o resist royal power. They were once powerful enough to draw swords and argue with the emperor in the pace.

  However, with the rise of teology and the emergence of new industrialist nobility, the old nobles who resisted new culture rapidly deed.

  Later, extremist members of the Brotherhood of the Bde initiated persecution and massacres against cybs, prompting imperial suppression and further accelerating the dee of the old nobility.

  The Brotherhood of the Bde never regais flory, but because its members were mostly a hereditary nobles, it still held siderable influehin the empire.

  As a servative faong the empire's servatives, Lucas preferred to keep his distance from the Brotherhood of the Bde.

  Even though the Assassin's Tavern boss was an enlightened member of the Brotherhood, it was better to avoid trouble.

  However, the Brotherhood of the Bde's status was indeed useful. No reason not to use it.

  For instance, in the tral district, entering patrolling officers, showing the Silver Bde of the Brotherhood would immediately grant him a salute and passage.

  Walking the streets of the tral district, the trast with the Seawall District was stark.

  The roads were wide and , with streetlights at regur intervals that stayed on all night. Some main roads even had steam-powered trolley tracks.

  Everolling officers cked the roughness seen in Seawall District officers.

  The sense of security allowed some shops to stay opeo the night.

  It was a se of prosperity and vibrancy.

  With E at level 60, power ption was minimal, and Lucas strolled leisurely to his destination.

  Whisperer's Mystery Shop.

  In the Epoch game, this was where one could buy items reted to esoteric arts. Apart from high-level secret nguage materials, most on tools could be found here.

  He pushed the door open and walked in.

  Uhe soft purple lighting, the shop exuded an air of mystery.

  he entrance, a young girl was dozing off at the ter, her resting on her hands. The shop's hall was filled with a variety of items—bottles, jars, clocks, vintage armor, old books—resembling a general store.

  The door's movement caused a bell above the ter t. The young girl immediately woke up.

  "Wele, esteemed... elf dy. My name is Lisa. How I assist you? You are truly beautiful; I've never seen an elf as lovely as you."

  "Thank you for the pliment." Lucas, as E, had grown aced to the praise and stares that came with her appearance. "I need some tools and materials. you help me find them?"

  "Of course." Lisa walked out from behind the ter, boasting, "Our Whisperer's Mystery Shop has the most prehensive colle of mystical tools and materials in the tral district. Many wizards and alchemists e here to purchase mystical items. What do you need? I'll help you find them."

  Lucas read off his prepared list, "Four mps that burn long-beard whale oil, six sheets of 120cm×120cm clover paper, three pots of paint made from ntern flower ar and stone slip powder, ten ritual drawing pens.

  Fifty crystals, fifty bloodstoen kilograms of sulfur, one kilogram of resonant bronze, 300 grams of mithril, one adult male red bat corpse, fourteen mor wolf fangs..."

  As Lucas listed his required items, Lisa hurried back behind the ter to grab paper and pen.

  "Sorry, miss. I didn't expect you to buy so much. Could you please repeat your list more slowly so I write it all down?"

  "Sure..."

  Lucas slowly recited his list of mystical tools and materials. Lisa meticulously recorded everything, the off to gather the items.

  With many items to find, it would take some time. Lucas began browsing the shop, looking for anything else he might need.

  Soon, a wooden carving caught Lucas's attention.

  The carving was a drical piece, about the size of a water cup, pced on a shelf among other miseous items. Made of bck-veined oilwood, its surface featured a relief carving of a coiled snake.

  The snake's eyes and tongue were painted red, making them particurly striking.

  Lucas held up the carving and asked Lisa, "Is this item for sale?"

  Lisa came over and examihe carving. "Our mystery shop, besides having fixed suppliers, also accepts mystical items from walk-in ers. This carving was sold to us by a er.

  Judging by the material and carving style, it likely es from a snake-worshiping troll tribe in the Mandell Ju possesses strong mystical energy.

  It could probably be used for secret arts involving snakes, poison, or curses. Do you want it?"

  Lucas hahe carving to Lisa and said, "You're right. It is from the Mandell Ju's an ued find for me. Please pack it up."

  "Yes, beautiful elf dy."

  Lisa happily took the carving to package it. This elf er was an ued boon, buying so many mystical items that would earn her a generous ission.

  Lucas tio wahrough the shop, pig out iing mystical items and giving them to Lisa to pack.

  Soon, the ter was filled with packed boxes.

  As Lisa tallied the items and calcuted the total cost, an Imperial Secret Agent wearing a leather jacket and a bowler hat pushed open the door aered.

  ?? Unlock Exclusive Early Access on Patreon! ??

  Hello, beloved readers!

  Join my Patreon unity to enjoy:

  ?? Daily Updates: Never wait for neters—get your story fix every day!?? 20 Chapters Ahead: Access neters far in advance of Scribblehub/RoyalRoad/Webnovel releases.

  Support the creation of the stories you love and dive deeper into my world!

  Patreon./Alex_Cruise

  https://ko-fi./anish_44