The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Those demonic creatures are rare to begin with, and the "living metal" born from their existence is naturally even rarer.

　However, with the biological materials obtained from the "Demon King" of the past, as well as the relevant knowledge of demon breeding, Professor Harvey already possessed the prerequisites to cultivate that kind of demon creature.

　He has been conducting research in this area during this time, and I heard that the progress is encouraging and that he will be able to successfully cultivate it soon.

　By then, "living metal" might transform from a specialty of the demon race into a specialty of St. Marian Academy.

　And Dac, being in a prime position, naturally had the advantage of being able to get whatever he wanted.

Chapter 1391 Darkdemon's Hook of Fate [4k]

　After lunch.

　Dark Dimon returned to his dormitory alone.

　He sat at his desk, flipping through the newspaper he hadn't had time to read that morning, taking a short break.

　Then, continue researching the creation of the golem "Golden King? Alchemist of the Golden Kingdom".

　Although creating this golem on my own was an extremely difficult task, it was an essential step towards further breakthroughs in alchemy.

　He planned to spend about half a month making thorough preparations before starting production.

　By then, Professor Harvey's research on "living metal" should be nearing completion, and he might be able to use "living metal" to further optimize the "Golden Kingdom Alchemist".

　However, today is the last Sunday before Christmas. Around three o'clock, Dak temporarily finished his research for the day, put on his coat, and left his dormitory.

　He planned to make a long-awaited trip to Traveler's Street, to wander around and see if he could find any inspiration for "Christmas gifts".

　But after he arrived in Traveler's Street through the teleportation hub, the inspiration for "Christmas Gift" didn't come, but some other inspirations did.

　So he quickly arrived at the branch of the All-People Duel Club, called the maid Nana, and headed towards the Cat Grass Flower Shop.

　"Young Master, what brings you to Traveller's Street today?" Nana pressed her chest against the young master, looking innocent and adorable.

　Darke replied without changing his expression, "I originally came to buy some Christmas presents. By the way, is there anything you and Josie want?"

　"What Christmas present does Nana want?" Nana pointed to her lips with her finger, looking like she was thinking seriously.

　When they finally arrived at the cat grass flower shop, Nana's eyes suddenly lit up. Looking at the young master's face, she said, "Could you give Nana a one-day date pass?"

　“No way,” Dark refused without even thinking.

　"No, no, no!" Nana immediately pleaded, "Just one, not even one?"

　“No.” Dak walked into the cat grass flower shop and saw that Miss Cat was serving other customers, so he simply wandered around the shop.

　It's been so long since I last visited, and the variety of cat grass in the cat grass shop hasn't increased much. But the cat grass that remains in the shop are the best-selling and most popular types.

　This is beneficial for increasing sales and reducing costs. But it's not good news for Dac.

　Today, Dark is no longer satisfied with "waiting for the goods to arrive." He wants to buy the entire store, and more importantly, the research team behind it!

　This is similar to the process of going from "buying ready-made clothes" to "customizing clothes" and then to "designing your own".

　He needs that research team to develop the new products he wants, according to his own wishes.

　To this end, he can invest a lot of money and human resources, and even help the store to mass-produce cat grass, and then sell it at home and abroad, making it one of the world's iconic specialties.

　He called Nana over so that she could discuss this matter with Miss Cat.

　A few minutes later, as Miss Cat smiled and saw off a customer who had bought cat grass, Darke took the initiative to greet him.

　"Long time no see, little Dark," Miss Cat said with a sweet smile, just like a cat.

　"I've been quite busy lately," Dark said with a smile. "I happened to have some free time today, so I came here to take a look."

　Miss Cat winked mischievously and said, "I think it's not just a simple visit."

　Dark said, "Ha, we've been spotted. Let me introduce you, this is..."

　Miss Cat said, "I know, Nana, an employee of the All-People Duel Club, right? Are you here to discuss serious business today?"

　Dark said, "That's right. Can we go inside to talk?" Miss Cat replied, "Of course, no problem."

　After that, the meowing of Miss Cat could be heard continuously coming from inside the Cat Grass Flower Shop.

　About half an hour later, Dak walked out looking satisfied.

　There is no deal that cannot be made in this world. If a deal really cannot be made, it can only mean that the terms offered were not high enough.

　Since the Cat Grass Flower Shop opened a store on Traveler's Street, it is naturally because it has a need for profit, and also because of the so-called pursuit of "dreams".

　His "Dark Cat Society" can provide not only huge funding and human resources, but also technical support.

　He was able to meet all the requirements of the cat grass flower shop and its team. After reaching a preliminary agreement, he entrusted Nana with the discussion of specific details and the signing of the agreement.

　I believe that soon his company will have another business.

　After finalizing the deal with the cat grass flower shop, Dak headed towards another shop that he remembered.

　Today, the traveler's street was bustling with people, and every slightly popular shop was packed with customers. In particular, the various shops selling "Christmas gifts" were overflowing with people.

　Dak even saw a huge queue in front of a store with a billboard that read "Christmas Surprise".

　He couldn't understand what this store was selling that made it so popular. So he took a couple of steps toward the store entrance, and someone shoved a flyer into his hand.

　He opened the flyer and saw the words "Selling Surprises" written in artistic lettering.

　Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a "Christmas blind box".

　This store is actually selling "Christmas blind boxes".

　The students were lining up to buy Christmas gift boxes in various colors and packaging. However, the packaging had nothing to do with the contents, and the boxes even had "tamper-evident markings."

　The students who bought the "Christmas blind box" didn't even know what was inside.

　During Christmas, you can enjoy the surprise by opening this "Christmas blind box" with a friend of the opposite sex or your partner.

　This is a romance unique to adolescence.

　After reading the flyer, Dark thought about it very seriously. But after seeing the list of gifts presented as "examples" on the flyer, he decisively withdrew his idea of ​​buying the blind boxes.

　—How could anyone put lizards, toads, spiders, bats, and insects in Christmas gift boxes?

　Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?

　Although those lizards, toads, spiders, bats, and insects are most likely not actually alive, they're still enough to make you want to punch them.

　If it's a gift between friends, that's fine, but if a couple receives one, can they really expect to experience "surprise" and "romance"?

　Looking at the long queue, Dak immediately realized that there must be many people in it who wanted to give blind boxes to their "ex-girlfriend".

　"Let's go."

　He made a very wise choice by selecting a yo-yo.

　However, this "Christmas blind box" also sparked some inspiration in his mind.

　Perhaps, he could make his own blind boxes…

　Leaving the crowded area, we turned into a more secluded area... well, this area was quite lively today too.

　Dak looked up at the shop sign to make sure he hadn't gone to the wrong place, and then slowly walked over.

　This is an antique shop, and its name is simply "Antique Shop".

　Shop owners like these usually have special channels to acquire items that are old and of unclear significance, and these items are often a mix of genuine and fake, making them difficult to distinguish.

　Some people who like this kind of thing will try their luck if they want to try their luck.

　As far as Dak knows, Saraswati, who is in the same grade, has been a regular customer of this antique shop since first grade.

　In the past six months, it seems that Wen Jun has been here for a very long time, but he himself has not been here for a very long time.

　Even if I occasionally go in, I just wander around aimlessly and then leave.

　The only time I came with a specific purpose was when I first saw this antique shop in first grade.

　At that time, he took a fancy to a replica—"The Iron Hook for Carrying Goods":

　Legend has it that in extremely ancient times, gods would send fish down from the sky.

　The line, the fishing line with the hook of fate, is used for fishing.

　God is the angler, and man is the fish; those caught on the hook will be taken to heaven.

　—The soul was hooked away, so naturally it went to heaven.

　Although most of the legends are untrue, this "hook of fate," even if it's a replica, possesses the special ability to snatch away thought matter from the brain.

　It possesses similar, but significantly stronger, capabilities to the Magic Brain Dropper. However, the Magic Brain Dropper is used as an experimental tool precisely because its capabilities are just right, offering both high operability and safety.

　Dark uses the Mind Dropper to take only one drop of "Great Sin" each day, not because the Mind Dropper can only take one drop, but because this method carries the lowest risk.

　However, if it were replaced with "the iron hook of fate," it would be impossible to achieve the same level of precision as "the magic dropper." It would hook a large clump with just one stroke, and one careless move could turn you into an idiot.

　So he came here again not to find a replacement for the "Magic Brain Dropper", but because he felt that this "Hook of Fate" might be a core material for creating a magical spirit.

　For example, create another "Cosmic Brain Beast"!

　Of course, all of this is on the premise that he can buy it from the shop owner.

　……

　But the antique shop, which is usually very quiet, was unusually lively today. The "antiques" in this shop seemed to be unexpectedly popular as "Christmas gifts" for friends.

　Dak stood at the door for a while, looking at the "antiques" on the stall outside. He didn't find the "Hook of Fate," but an ancient coin caught his attention.

　As his alchemical abilities grew, his judgment of the value of items became increasingly accurate. Even without opening the "Eye of Truth," he seemed able to discern the value of some items he encountered for the first time.

　He picked up the ancient coin, examined it carefully for a while, and subconsciously wanted to open his "eye of truth".

　"Hey!"

　Suddenly a voice came from inside, and a girl with short hair and bangs squeezed out of the crowd, ran over, put her hands on her hips, and looked at him angrily.

　Seeing his expression, Dak asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

　The short-haired girl immediately pointed to the sign standing at the door and shouted, "See this sign that says 'No using the Eye of Truth'!"

　Dak turned his head and saw that there was indeed a sign that read, "Eye of Truth, Forbidden!"

　This piqued his curiosity, so he asked, "Why?" Although he hadn't been here for a long time, he didn't recall any rules prohibiting guests from using identification spells.

　"No reason why, it just can't be used!" The girl stared at him with wide eyes, then suddenly cried out, "Ouch!"

　But it was the owner of the antique shop who came over, spread his five fingers and pressed them down.

　Her head twisted.

　"Ouch—" Dark looked at it and it hurt.

　"I told you, don't yell at the guests," the wrinkled old man said kindly.

　"Let me go! Let me go!" the girl screamed, attracting many eyes.

　"Go, go greet the guests." The old man let go of her hand and waved it away with a look of disgust.

　The girl muttered something unintelligible and ran inside. The old man then chuckled and said, "My little granddaughter is so ignorant; she's made a fool of herself in front of you."

　“No, I didn’t read the store rules carefully,” Dark said. “She’s a first-year student.”

　“Yes, a first-year student at the Magic Academy,” the old man said. Dark said, “A very energetic child.”

　The old man said, "Yes, sometimes I'm just too energetic. You've taken a liking to this coin."

　Dark said, "No, just looking."

　Then he pointed to the sign and asked curiously, "Why?" The old man narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "I don't know why either. In a certain year and month, the academy suddenly had a group of students who could use the 'Eye of Truth.' There was no other way; to keep the shop afloat, we had to resort to this."

　Dark blinked, somewhat understanding: "I see." The so-called "quantitative change leads to qualitative change" applies here as well. Originally, although the "Eye of Truth" was different from ordinary appraisal skills, if only one or two people knew it, as long as they didn't frantically rummage through the items in the shop, it wouldn't have much of an impact.

　But because of Professor Kazel's alchemy class, a large number of students suddenly gained access to the "Eye of Truth," so if this is not prohibited, the antique shop might as well close down.

　Of course, as an "antiques shop," the fact that it forbids people from using appraisal-related spells must have put the shop under considerable public pressure.

　He expressed his understanding.

　But understanding is not the same as acceptance. But not accepting does not mean not going into the store.

　Dak put the ancient coin down for the moment and said, "Grandpa John, I've come to buy the Iron Hook of Destiny."

　Old John glanced at him, seemingly lost in thought. Darke nodded. "It probably wasn't sold."

　Old John then said, "I remember saying that you should come back after you're in fifth grade."