Mystery: A Spark

"Hehe, during this sea adventure, I accidentally obtained a recipe called Master of Tricks, and the previous sequence of this recipe is called Apprentice." Arthur didn't care about Fors's feigned ignorance and directly laid his cards on the table.

Upon hearing his words, Fors' eyes widened in surprise, clearly caught off guard.

Hugh was also somewhat surprised. She turned her head to look at her side, wondering what her friend would do.

After a brief moment of surprise and excitement, Fors calmed down and asked:

"So, you've come here to make a deal with me using this magician's formula? What are your conditions? And how will you prove that the formula you have is authentic and effective?"

Arthur smiled slightly; he wasn't surprised by Fors's reaction.

Although Xianyu is usually a bit lazy, she is much calmer and smarter than Xiu when things happen.

“The price of the Magician’s recipe is four hundred pounds, which is a reasonable price. In addition, quite coincidentally, I also have two of the main ingredients for this recipe.” Arthur looked at Fors with a calm expression, waiting for her response.

"Oh no, I'm going to get ripped off..." Fors thought to herself as she heard the price in Arthur's hand.

Arthur has the recipe for her next series of potions, along with the two corresponding main ingredients.

In other words, as long as Fors completes this transaction, she will be able to advance to Sequence Eight as quickly as possible.

In this situation, as long as Arthur's offer isn't too outrageous, Fors has no choice but to accept being taken advantage of.

She couldn't refuse this deal; if she missed it, she didn't know when she would be able to become a master magician.

Thinking of this, Fors sighed and said:

“Tell me your requirements.”

As a writer of some renown, Fors had some savings.

At least, she still has enough money if she just buys that recipe.

However, if you want to buy the recipe and the two main ingredients as a package, then it's a bit risky.

Fors was well aware of her own financial situation, and she also knew that Arthur was well aware of hers.

So she knew that since Arthur had offered her these prices despite knowing her own precarious financial situation, he must want her help with something.

Arthur smiled and said:

"The two main materials together cost six hundred pounds, which you know is a reasonable price. You'd be hard-pressed to find a lower price at any of the extraordinary gatherings you attend."

Fors nodded and did not object.

Although she has been able to remain at Sequence Nine for many years due to a lack of formulas, she has participated in quite a few extraordinary gatherings and has naturally gained some experience.

So she knew that the main material for Sequence 8 was basically priced at this level, and Arthur didn't take the opportunity to rip her off.

“However, while the price is reasonable, I can’t afford it if you add the recipe,” Fors said to Arthur.

"So, how much can you offer?" Arthur had a general understanding of Fors's financial situation, but not the specifics.

"Six hundred pounds, that's almost all the savings I have." Fors didn't haggle and directly stated his bottom line.

The recipe plus two materials cost a total of one thousand pounds, which was a little lower than she had expected.

Because this kind of packaged sales of the formula and ingredients would definitely command a premium if sold elsewhere.

Even with a reasonable price, Fors still couldn't afford it.

Even if she took out all her savings, plus all the money Hugh had, it still wouldn't be enough.

Moreover, if they used up all their savings, their financial situation would be in dire straits, leaving them with no ability to withstand risks, which would not be acceptable.

Moreover, Hugh had been saving money for the sheriff's recipe he was selling at the extraordinary party Mr. A was hosting.

Earning money is no easier than writing novels for her. Her friend has to get up early and work late every day, risking her life as a bounty hunter in the East District to earn some commission fees.

Therefore, Fors left some room for maneuver. She knew that Arthur must have come here to ask her to do something, otherwise it would be impossible for him to have both the recipe and the materials by such coincidence.

Fors was prepared to listen to Arthur's request; if possible, reducing some of the costs through the quest would be acceptable.

“In that case, I can lower the price to eight hundred pounds, and I can even prepay you for the recipe and materials,” Arthur said sincerely, as if he were having a fire sale.

"And what's the price?" Fors asked.

Although she and Arthur were friends, their relationship wasn't deep enough for her to offer him a 200-pound discount, let alone prepay for the recipe and ingredients.

Such favorable conditions made Fors a little uneasy. She was afraid that Arthur's conditions were too dangerous and difficult. In that case, she would probably have to buy the formula first, then refuse the mission, and wait until she had earned enough money.

“The price is that you need to do two things for me. One will take a while but is very safe, and the other will be a bit risky,” Arthur stated his conditions.

“I’d like to hear the specifics first,” Fors said after a moment’s thought.

“Okay, let me start with the risky one. I want you to help me find someone named Lanius. He should be in Backlund right now. He’s a conman. You might have seen him on a wanted poster.” Arthur didn’t mention Arthas first.

After all, Fors hasn't become a magic master yet, and she doesn't know anything about magic tricks at this time.

"A fraudster?" Fors looked at Hugh with a questioning gaze.

Hugh nodded and said:

“There is such a person on the wanted poster, and his bounty is one hundred pounds.”

"A fraudster shouldn't be at risk, right? Is there something wrong with him?" Fors asked with some doubt.

"Yes, he carries something very dangerous, and he is also an extraordinary being. So I don't need you to find his exact location, but only to determine the general area where he is located."

"Furthermore, if you successfully deal with this person, the hundred pounds bounty on him will also be yours."

Arthur knew that Hugh would be primarily responsible for this task, which added to its appeal.

Because he knew that Hugh was currently very short of money.

For Arthur, this unstable element, Lanius, must be eliminated.

One reason was to prevent the true creation from descending and causing him trouble, since he had previously swallowed this guy's child.

This ability to truly produce offspring is also quite useful.

Moreover, this guy is an evil god, and his mind isn't clear. Arthur definitely wouldn't allow him to successfully descend upon Backlund.

In the original story, Klein sought revenge by killing Lanluus, who indirectly caused Captain America's death, as a way to collect some interest and also thwart the plot to bring about the arrival of the true creation.

But right now, even Little K probably doesn't know who this person is, so naturally Arthur has to handle this matter.

On the other hand, if Arthur disrupts Lanius's plan, he should be able to digest some of the arsonist potion within his body.

In short, you definitely won't lose money.

Fors did not immediately accept the task, but first looked at Hugh beside her.

After Hugh nodded, Fors then said:

"Okay, we'll take this task. Now, tell us your second request."

"We'll discuss the second request after you become a master magician," Arthur said with a smile.

"I want to hear the general outline first, otherwise I won't feel confident." Fors didn't want to keep things hanging in her mind, otherwise she wouldn't be able to eat or sleep well.

This was an incredibly painful experience for someone as lazy as her.

"Okay, so basically, I just need you to look after my pet. How about that? Isn't that easy?" Arthur said with a light laugh.

"A pet? It's not some strange creature, is it?" Fors looked a little nervous.

She remembered that Arthur had just returned from the sea and feared that his pet might be something strange.

For example, sea snakes and octopuses, just thinking about them gives me a headache.

"Of course not, it's a very cute little dog, and it's very sensible and intelligent."

It's just a tiny bit cheeky... Arthur silently added in his mind.

"Then I'm relieved." Fors breathed a sigh of relief.

“Okay, then we can start signing the contract. I can give you the recipe now, and I will send the materials over later.” Arthur took out a contract and wrote down the terms they had just agreed on.

Then he took out the magician's recipe that he had prepared beforehand from his pocket and placed it on the contract paper.

"Is this an item with notarization capabilities?" Fors asked curiously.

“Yes, the only difference between it and other magical items with notarization capabilities is that it is a one-time use item.” Arthur placed his hand on the contract paper.

He had gotten this for free from Bernadette. He originally wanted to buy a magical item with notarization capabilities, but Huang Beibei gave him a few of these contract papers instead.

After Fors reviewed the contract and found no problems, he placed his hand on it.

Instantly, a brilliant gold, like the gold of sunlight, bloomed on the contract paper.

These golden rays grew increasingly pure, eventually evolving into a projection resembling a seal.

This signifies that the contract has been established.

After completing the contract with Fors, Arthur turned his gaze to Hugh beside him.

Seeing this, Xiu quickly said:

“I’ve found the recipe I need and I’m saving up money. Even if you had the materials I need, I still couldn’t afford them.”

"How could that be? Of course I don't have the materials you need."

Arthur smiled, then mysteriously extended his thumb and forefinger, making a gesture that would infuriate Koreans, and said:

"However, I may know a little bit about your father's affairs."

Fors & Hugh: !!!

Upon hearing this, Hugh was first shocked, then excitedly asked:

"Really? Do you know the real cause of my father's death? He wasn't killed for participating in the rebellion, was he?"

She has been dedicated to investigating the truth behind her father's death and trying to find a way to restore his reputation.

However, a shadow always lingered in her heart.

That was her fear—fear that her father had truly been killed for participating in the rebellion, that he had died without any honor.

“Yes, your father wasn’t killed for participating in the rebellion. There were other reasons for his death. This is information I’m giving you as a friendly gift,” Arthur said calmly.

"Then..." Xiu was eager to get to the bottom of it, but she forced herself to calm down and asked:

"I would like to ask, what do I need to do to get the truth about my father's death from you?"

Arthur smiled and said:

"Work for me."