Chapter 18: Talking Business
In the Kingdom of Bryston, only the ascetic Church of Discipline strictly forbade premarital intimacy. So doing what couples usually do in the woods was actually a pretty common thing.
The scene of the crime was just a little way into the grove, right next to a stone bench—a favorite spot for young couples.
The bodies had also been discovered by a pair of students out for morning exercise. By the time Zhou Ning arrived, the police were already on the scene—some officers were surveying the area, others were driving back students who had crossed the line, and the remaining few were cordoning off the area with white tape.
Huh? That's…
Zhou Ning narrowed his eyes and noticed a familiar figure standing next to the police. He had seen him just last night—one of the Sunwatchers following behind Kien. After they'd boarded the carriage, this guy hadn't come along.
It was a plain-looking, black-haired young man wearing a deerstalker hat. Zhou Ning remembered him vividly because his hairstyle and features were strikingly similar to Li Tie.
Seriously—uncannily similar.
At the moment, the young man was squatting down, frowning as he examined something on the ground. Zhou Ning had no intention of greeting him and instead rubbed his nose hard.
Even from a distance, the pungent stench of blood was overwhelming.
Freud was right—desire really can make people lose their minds. Who the hell goes out here for a morning rendezvous?! Wouldn't the dorm be more comfortable?
Since it had snowed just last night, Zhou Ning could clearly see a pool of congealed black blood in the snow from quite a distance. Half-buried in the snow was also a pile of colorful, indistinguishable items. The scene hadn't been cleared yet, and the grisly sight was stomach-churning.
Among the onlookers, Zhou Ning also spotted his own advisor—Senior Professor Wesley—and a few faculty members who'd stayed behind during the break. They stood together, all wearing dark, brooding expressions.
Compared to the staff, the students were much more animated. There wasn't much crying at the scene—instead, lively chatter filled the air. It was obvious the victim hadn't been very well-liked.
After eavesdropping on the conversations for a bit, Zhou Ning picked up several important pieces of information.
First, the victim's name was Sharon. She was a second-year student in the alchemy department at Vick University, technically Zhou Ning's junior. She was known for being sharp-tongued and vain, with poor social relations—even her dormmates didn't particularly like her. But academically, she was hardworking.
Second, the cause of death really was having her internal organs gouged out. The couple who'd found the body—and were now retching violently—could confirm that. And the colorful mess on the snow backed it up.
At that moment, the crowd began to part as two officers carried out the corpse, now covered with a white sheet, and loaded it onto a carriage.
Zhou Ning rubbed his chin, falling into thought.
A murder involving organ removal... This smelled a lot like the work of the lunatics from the Life Alchemy Society.
Despite the name sounding reputable, the Life Alchemy Society followed a path that was pure heresy. They believed life could be alchemically created, and that with the right formula, humans could act as gods, capable of evolving all things.
This philosophy was directly opposed to the foundational rule of conventional alchemy—equivalent exchange.
In the game Apocalypse, several tragic cases were their handiwork.
That black-haired Sunwatcher walked out of the woods alongside several police officers. Upon seeing Zhou Ning, his eyes lit up. He took out an ID, flashed it in front of Zhou Ning, and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Wayne. My name is Sherlock Moriarty. Lord Kien sent me to find you. If you don't mind, shall we talk over there?"
Sherlock Moriarty? Well damn—Holmes and Professor Moriarty rolled into one…
As Sherlock approached to talk, Zhou Ning immediately sensed a shift in attention. Many eyes turned toward him, likely pegging him as a suspect. He sighed inwardly and nodded. "Gladly. In fact, we met yesterday."
Sherlock nodded with a smile. "You have a sharp memory. I was the fourth from the left of Lord Kien."
It's not that my memory's good—you just really look like Li Tie… Zhou Ning grumbled silently.
They walked to the side together. Sherlock stopped and looked Zhou Ning in the eye. "Mr. Wayne, you seem to have some thoughts about the case?"
"Nope. Wasn't me," Zhou Ning replied blankly.
"I know it wasn't you. But my eyes tell me you definitely have some thoughts. Don't worry—I won't leak anything." Sherlock stared intently, his tone serious.
"Really don't. But if I had to say something…" Zhou Ning looked at Sherlock's expectant face, thought for a moment, and said uncertainly, "Maybe you could try a different hairstyle? That one really doesn't suit you."
The two stared at each other for a while. Sherlock eventually shrugged and gave up, smiling. "Useful feedback. Alright, let's get to business. Lord Kien asked me to deliver something to you as thanks—and to discuss a deal."
Sherlock took out a golden card with intricate patterns and handed it over. "This is a VIP card from the West family. With it, you'll receive VIP treatment at the Bryston Alchemy Guild and a 20% discount at all shops under the West family."
Zhou Ning didn't hesitate, taking the card. "I'll accept it. Thank Mr. Kien for me. So, what business are we discussing?"
What a coincidence—this reward was exactly the same as the one in his quest rewards.
Zhou Ning couldn't help but suspect this whole thing was orchestrated by the game system.
Sherlock smiled and leaned in close. "Mr. Wayne—or rather, the organization you represent—seems to have access to some high-quality firearms?"
As he spoke, Sherlock carefully observed Zhou Ning's expression. With his professional training, he was excellent at reading people. Even the slightest hesitation wouldn't escape him.
To his surprise, Zhou Ning nodded without hesitation. With a flick of his wrist, a revolver spun into his hand. "We do, but not many. Name your price."
Sherlock was caught off guard by Zhou Ning's straightforwardness.
"I do still have a few firearms, but really not many. If you want them, you'll have to buy them."
Sherlock hesitated. In the Bryston Kingdom, pistols typically cost around 10 Vecktas each. But Zhou Ning's revolvers boasted 30% more power and performance. While supernatural powers still dominated the mainstream, firearms definitely had a place.
"Fifteen Vecktas per pistol. Eighteen for long guns."
He quoted a price. He was ready to bleed a little—as long as it wasn't exorbitant, he was prepared to go through with the deal.
"Deal."
"…Firearms are just firearms. Our Sunwatcher budget isn't that great—we can't offer too much… wait, you agreed?"
Sherlock was stunned.
Zhou Ning pulled another gun from inside his coat and handed both to Sherlock, smiling slightly. "After all, I'm a citizen of the Bryston Kingdom too. I only have one long gun left, which I need to keep. I've got three revolvers—here are two for you."
Sherlock nodded. Whether or not the gesture was sincere, it had undeniably left him with a good impression.
Zhou Ning remained expressionless, but inside he was quite satisfied. To him, giving up two guns came at almost no cost. Each one was obtained through a one-coin draw from the dimensional lottery—three draws had yielded three weapons. The win rate seemed high. One coin cost just ten Vecktas if recharged directly, meaning each revolver netted him five Vecktas with no effort.
At this stage of the game, as supernatural power gradually awakened and firepower shortages worsened, Bryston would soon start producing similar firearms anyway. Might as well take the chance to do a few more deals and fatten up his thin wallet.
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