The Hanged Man's Reward

Chapter 55 The Hanged Man's Reward

Alger continued, "The downside of the white cane is that it makes you very prone to anger, and you might make some irrational choices when driven by anger. However, as long as you try to control yourself, you can basically avoid the downside."

Hobart guessed that the staff's extraordinary properties came from the "Sailor" pathway, specifically Sequence 8 "Wrathful People." The staff's abilities were what Hobart wanted, but the negative effects still left him somewhat dissatisfied.

It's important to understand that, in many situations, an irrational choice can be fatal.

Seeing that the emperor was still not satisfied, Alger spoke for the third time: "The third option is a silver ring. After wearing it, you will become an expert in combat."

"The downside is that the wearer will become overly cautious, even appearing somewhat paranoid. This downside can be avoided by ignoring the cautious thoughts triggered by the ring, but it takes time to distinguish between genuine caution and caution induced by the ring."

Hobert rubbed his forehead. To him, the negative effects of these three extraordinary items were quite significant, which also indicated that the "wild craftsmen" who collaborated with the Hanged Man were of mediocre skill.

Hobert had this feeling because he had seen the negative effects of the "psychic necklace". For other extraordinary individuals, these negative effects are acceptable. After all, there is always a price to pay for mastering a new ability.

After much deliberation, Hobart said, "I choose the ring; caution is always better than anger."

Alger nodded. "Okay, how should I get it to you?"

At this time, Clyde had not yet launched "Fool's Express," but Hobert had already come up with a solution: "You can send it to 388 Queen Street Backlund, and write 'Private' as the recipient."

This address belongs to the mercenary club. He will ask a waiter to receive the package, and then he will pick it up himself.

Based on yesterday's gathering, Hobert guessed that the Mercenary Club might have the involvement and support of the Royal Family of Rune. Even if the others in the "Tarot Club" found the address, they would have difficulty investigating their own identities due to the club's special nature.

Even if a thorough investigation were conducted within the club, it would still be assumed that the Emperor is a member of the military, since the club's core members are a mercenary team composed of retired officers.

Audrey sat up straight. She knew Queen's Road very well! The entire road was lined with properties owned by nobles of the Kingdom of Luen. Could the Emperor be a nobleman? She wondered if she had seen him at some banquet. But why did she have no recollection of the owner of number 388?

Upon hearing such a specific address, Alger was prepared to ask Backlund's friends to help him investigate the emperor's identity, but he felt that the emperor would not expose himself so easily.

"No problem," Alger said. "Fortunately, I heard that a military airship bound for Backlund is resupplying on my island today. If all goes well, it should be delivered to you in two to three days."

After the transaction was completed, the information exchange began.

Hobart spoke first: "I just met a merchant who sells extraordinary materials. If anyone needs extraordinary materials, I can act as an intermediary and only charge a basic intermediary fee."

"Furthermore, during my transactions with extraordinary materials merchants, I learned that there is an elderly official extraordinary in Tingen City who has been purchasing materials related to life transmutation."

"The businessman said he seemed to be a 'secret seeker' preparing for some kind of evil ritual, and that something seemed off about him."

"If anyone is in Tingen, please be careful. If anyone has relevant information, please also remind the local officials."

As Hobart said this, he tried to ignore Mr. Fool's reaction.

Because of the fog, no one could see Mr. Fool's current state, but Hobart knew that Mr. K was listening intently.

Finally, Hobart lamented, "Loss of control is the norm for extraordinary beings; even official extraordinary beings cannot avoid it."

Alger looked at the Emperor and said, "This is also what I don't understand. Logically speaking, the high-ranking members of the church cannot all be idiots. Besides, they have thousands of years of experience. The seven orthodox churches should all know about the 'playing method'. Why don't they make it public within the church? This would effectively prevent their own people from getting out of control."

Hobart smiled and said, "Mr. Hanged Man, you don't need to test me like this. Yes, just as you guessed, it's the law of conservation of extraordinary properties."

Alger immediately looked at Mr. Fool, as if seeking confirmation.

But even the "Great Fool" could only smile wryly: This is also a problem that puzzles me! However, what you call the "law of conservation of extraordinary characteristics" has given me some inspiration to think about the answer.

Seeing that Mr. Fool did not correct the Emperor's statement, Alger laughed and said, "Emperor, I was not testing you; I was just unsure of my own conjecture."

Audrey felt that since Mr. Emperor joined, the information exchange sessions of the "Tarot Club" had suddenly become much more sophisticated.

However, this exposed her ignorance of the occult, and she was eager to join the conversation: "Your Majesty, what is the law of conservation of extraordinary characteristics?"

Hobart smiled and said, "Miss Justice, it seems you still owe me some money from the last party."

"That's right," Audrey said. "The payment from last time, plus the answer this time, hmm, how about 600 pounds?"

Hobart nearly choked on his own saliva. "Girl, do you have money to burn? 600 pounds right off the bat! Have you forgotten? At Mr. A's party, I had to haggle with the giant bishop's men until I was only worth 150 pounds!"

He thought about how he had fought tooth and nail with Hugh and finally managed to amass a fortune of around 500 pounds, but then, because of Miss Justice's curiosity, his assets doubled!

However, Hobart then thought that while the "law of conservation of extraordinary characteristics" was common sense to him, it was indeed very valuable to a noble lady like Audrey who had no access to official extraordinary individuals or high-end extraordinary individuals.

"Overcoming your past self" is a skillful use of extraordinary abilities, while "the law of the indestructibility of extraordinary characteristics" is advanced extraordinary knowledge.

Seeing the emperor in a daze, Audrey quickly said, "If you think the price is too low, we can discuss it further."

"This price is just right," Hobart began to explain. "This knowledge has always been monopolized by the Church and mystical organizations, but it is a very important law in the extraordinary world. However, it is actually quite simple:

"Extraordinary characteristics are not destroyed or diminished; they are simply transferred from one carrier to another."

"For example, the ring that Mr. Hanged Man sent me has extraordinary abilities because it carries the extraordinary characteristics of a 'fighter' or 'fighting scholar.' After I wear it, I can use some of the corresponding extraordinary abilities."

Audrey seemed to suddenly understand something: "Then, so the Extraordinary is also a vessel?"

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(End of this chapter)