Upon hearing Odis's words, Max paused for a moment before replying, "That's easy, at least 1600 pounds!"
The price he quoted was the "market price," which is generally the price of a Tier 6 main material. However, at this level, there will definitely be a premium.
Odis had no intention of considering the premium: "Alright, I'll help you load it onto the carriage."
"Wait a moment." Max seemed to suddenly come to his senses and quickly went out.
At that moment, a faint figure appeared on a glass bottle not far from Odis, and a melodious voice rang out: "I can offer 1900 pounds!"
"I'm sorry, but I still intend to sell it to 'Mechanical Heart'," Odis smiled. "Or rather, I hope to sell it to 'Mechanical Heart' in front of you, so that you can have an explanation."
The voice on the glass bottle said, "They can't protect you forever."
"No, you can't imagine how important I am to them," Odis said calmly.
At that moment, Max returned, and Iconsel came in with him. The figure on the glass bottle immediately disappeared.
After Captain Ikonser entered, he first raised his hand, glanced at the window, and then looked at the glass bottle next to Odis: "A witch has been here."
"Yes," Odis said. "It seems they've come looking for us too."
He smiled and said, "You've come at just the right time. If you had come any later, I would have had to fight with them."
Iconsel didn't say anything more, looked at the mirror, and finally offered £2,000, because this was the first time "Mechanical Heart" had received a living "Enchanted Banshee", which was of great research value.
Moreover, the hair and blood of the "Enchanting Banshee" are high-grade spiritual materials, so the price is reasonable.
After covering the mirror with a black cloth again, Max carried the huge full-length mirror away. As for the gold pound, it would be delivered the next morning.
Icons asked Odis from behind, "Is this your new base? And your new identity?"
"Yes," Odis smiled. "Because it's only used occasionally, I didn't report it to the 'Mechanical Heart'."
Ikonser nodded: "If any 'witches' come knocking, notify us as soon as possible, and we will come to your aid immediately."
Odis smiled and said, "Thank you."
After seeing off the person from "Mechanical Heart," Odis locked the door, then took the spiritual materials and continued to draw the "composite magic circle" in the house.
While drawing the magic circle, he always felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him.
Odis knew that it was the witch who had been in the mirror earlier.
However, he wasn't worried that the witch would attack him, because he was more worried that if he showed up, the people of "Mechanical Heart" would immediately turn back to deal with him.
After all, the person who just came was a high-ranking deacon from Backlund, and he had already discovered her whereabouts. It's very likely that he was just pretending to retreat in order to lure her out.
Odis spent more than two hours drawing, and the "composite magic circle" here was finally completed.
He yawned, went back to his bedroom to rest, and completely ignored the gaze hidden behind the glass.
...
Wednesday morning at the Daily Observer office.
As reporter Mike stepped down from the carriage with his briefcase and was about to enter the newspaper office, someone suddenly shouted, "Mike Joseph!"
Mike was slightly taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound. It was a carriage with the "Storm Emblem". The door opened and two men in police uniforms got out.
He glanced at their shoulder insignia; their ranks were Chief Inspector and Inspector, respectively.
The chief inspector strode over and said, "I need to ask you about something."
Mike nodded; he knew what the other person wanted to know: "Want to sit in the newspaper office?"
The chief inspector said, "Let's go up to our carriage and talk."
"Okay." Mike followed them into the carriage.
Many of Mike's colleagues stopped to observe the meeting.
Inside the carriage, Senior Deacon Connor, dressed in the uniform of a chief inspector, looked out the window and smiled, saying, "If I take you back to the police station for questioning, will there be some reports attacking us in tomorrow's newspapers?"
Mike smiled but did not answer directly: "They are journalists and will report the facts, and I have not committed any crime."
"But I suspect you're an accomplice of Lelouch," Connor said. "We've received information that you recommended Lelouch's manuscript to a publishing house."
"Yes, I had someone review it, and the manuscript is quite professional," Mike said. "It will be a very good reference book."
"But Lelouch is a fugitive."
"I also had someone check the relevant laws, and there is no law that explicitly states that fugitives cannot publish books," Mike said calmly.
Because at that time, most of the prisoners were illiterate or semi-literate, and they had difficulty even reading newspapers, let alone writing books.
Therefore, the right to publish is not yet among the rights that prisoners are deprived of in this era.
Connor looked at the reporter who showed no sign of panic and said, "You should know that your actions are highly suspicious, and I can even apply for an arrest warrant based on this."
"The manuscript was sent by mail," Mike said. "The three journalists who had access to that email are all willing to testify."
"Besides, you have no evidence that I have met Lelouch. Torture won't work because I have never actually met him."
"In the end, you'll have no choice but to release me again."
Connor looked at his subordinate, who nodded slightly, indicating that the reporter was telling the truth.
Connor sighed softly: "Mr. Reporter, please tell me, why are you willing to take such a big risk for someone you've never met?"
"Because I feel it's worth it." Mike smiled. "Our social system is not perfect, and not everyone has the courage to admit it, nor does everyone have the courage to fight against the injustices of this society."
"Lelouch is a role model of this era. I am willing to help him publish his manuscript free of charge. Many people are willing to take the risk to help him."
Connor scratched his head, feeling like he'd never catch Lelouch in his lifetime.
...
Meanwhile, in a narrow alleyway in the bridge area, which is well-connected but has few pedestrians.
Hugh Deercha met with the man in the gold mask again. Upon meeting, the man said, "MI9 is planning to withdraw the people protecting you. Their new plan is to use you to lure out the enemies who escaped earlier."
Hugh paused for a moment before saying, "MI9 had agreed before..."
"Don't expect a secret service agency to keep its promises," the masked man said. "MI9 has received accurate intelligence that the other side will launch a retaliatory operation, so they have devised a new plan."
"However, in this new plan, they will no longer be responsible for protecting you."
Moreover, they would deliberately withdraw their guards to expose the enemy as quickly as possible.
If Hugh can hold out until MI9 encircles him, that would be ideal. If he can't hold out until then, he will be posthumously awarded a martyr's medal after the battle, and his family will receive some compensation.
From the perspective of MI9, compared to espionage organizations that target foreign powers, the life of an informant is utterly insignificant.
Hugh was somewhat angry because she had gotten into this trouble while investigating the mission issued by MI9.
But her anger quickly vanished, and she instantly began to think about what to do.
The opponent has at least one Sequence 7, and Hugh knows that he and Fors combined are no match for them.
Just as she decided to temporarily move out of the rented apartment and face the enemy alone, the masked man said again, "Go to the 'leader' for help, he will definitely help you again."
"But based on my observation of the 'leader,' he will definitely put forward some conditions this time. As long as they are not too unreasonable, we can agree to them first."
Hugh looked at the masked man in front of her with some surprise. She could sense that he wanted to help her, but was powerless to do so.
She took a deep breath and said, "I'll think about it when I get back."
"Your time is running out," the masked man added. "The enemy is likely to launch an attack within the next two days."
Hugh nodded, indicating that he understood.
Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!
...
No. 66, Rose Street.
Odis woke up very early today, not because he was particularly diligent, but because he was awakened by the ramblings of the "Hidden Sage".
The feeling was awful, accompanied by severe tinnitus and a headache. After enduring those few seconds, Odis couldn't fall asleep.
Once he had recovered, Odis "recalled" the knowledge he had just heard, and some of it was indeed decipherable, including the description of the "demon curse."
Many extraordinary beings possess the ability to "curse," with the most professional "curse" coming from the "Prisoner" pathway. Additionally, "Witch" and "Demon" pathways also have their own unique curses.
The curse of the "demon" is particularly vicious, but such "curses" are rarely seen in daily life, so they are not taken seriously by people.
Odis sighed helplessly, because he already knew this knowledge.
He had previously studied in detail the capabilities and characteristics of the 22 pathways, and the vast amount of knowledge in the "wilderness of knowledge" amazed him.
It was through his research at the time that he learned a lot of obscure knowledge from various sources, such as the information he already knew about the "Enchanting Spells" companions.
Few people know about these things, not even among the official extraordinary individuals.
While having breakfast, Odis noticed that the "witch" who had been watching him yesterday had left, and he guessed that they probably wouldn't bother him.
Because they are at a crucial time cooperating with the royal family, they will not easily provoke the "Mechanical Heart".
Around nine o'clock in the morning, Max delivered the gold pounds for the acquisition of "Enchanted Banshee".
The two chatted for a while, then Max said goodbye, jokingly remarking as he left that Odis looked quite handsome with a beard.
Back on the second floor, Odis had just put 2,000 pounds into the "Wilderness of Knowledge" when his pocket watch lit up in red—a signal from the meeting place of the Mystic Research Society.
Oss was slightly taken aback. Someone was asking for help?
He locked the door from the inside, went to the basement, returned to 77 Helin Avenue, and became Odysseus, the herbalist shop owner, again.
Then they took a horse-drawn carriage to 77 Hilton Avenue and changed into the "leader's" attire.
Odis is now richer than ever before, so he now habitually rides in a horse-drawn carriage.
Once again, through the "teleportation array" in the basement, Odis arrived at No. 199 Hairun Avenue.
After coming out of the basement, Odis saw Hugh again, who was not very tall and had a chubby face.
Upon seeing the "leader's" mask and cloak, Hugh felt much more at ease: "'Leader' sir, I've encountered a new problem and would like to ask for your help."
Odis nodded: "Sit down and talk."
The two sat facing each other on the chairs, and Hugh began to describe her experience. She stated frankly that the masked man had told her to seek help from the "leader".
After thinking it over, Hugh also felt that perhaps only the "leader" was willing to help him.
Odis pondered for a moment before saying, "'Military Intelligence Nine' has been tricked."
"Huh?" Hugh didn't quite understand what "leader" meant.
"Of course, it's also possible that this is part of their trap," Odis smiled. "If I were the head of a foreign intelligence organization, I would almost certainly not launch any retaliatory actions."
"Even if there is a retaliatory action, it must at least be coordinated with the political actions of the country. It cannot be just to kill a person. Otherwise, the chances of success of a retaliatory action carried out in another country are very small, and a large number of subordinates will be killed or injured."
"And it's strange that MI9 also received intelligence that foreign spy organizations were planning retaliatory actions."
"Therefore, it is almost certain that the retaliatory actions of foreign intelligence organizations are merely a cover for their true purpose."
This left Hugh stunned. He hadn't expected that the "leader" could make such an analysis based on just a few snippets of information, and that it seemed quite reasonable.
"MI9's response either means they were tricked, or they were pretending to be tricked," Odis said, taking a deep breath. "But either way, you are in danger."
He thought for a moment before saying, "I can continue to provide you with protection, but I have one condition."
Hearing this, Xiu breathed a sigh of relief: "Please go ahead."
Hugh was somewhat uneasy if the "leader" didn't set any conditions.
"Become my subordinate," Odis said. "Of course, it will be a secret. In the outside world, you will still be a bounty hunter, just like before and after."
"But you will have to carry out some of my orders at specific times."
"Of course, you won't work for nothing. Except for the first task, which you won't get anything out of it, you'll get some rewards for the subsequent tasks."
He paused and said, "Well, as we discussed before, you have to help me complete a task for free."
Previously, when Odis escorted Hugh to MI9, Odis's request was that she complete a mission without pay.
After thinking for a moment, Xiu asked, "Do I have the right to refuse a mission?"
"Most of the time," Odis said. "There are tasks that are only your responsibility, and you cannot refuse them."
"Very well then." Hugh stood up and said, "Honorable 'leader,' please accept my allegiance."
As she said this, she knelt down on one knee before the "leader." To her, the "leader" was an extraordinary person whom she respected and admired, so she did not object to expressing her loyalty to the "leader."