After entering the chamber, Elias allowed the door to close behind him before quietly surveying the room.
The gathering hall was modest in size, its walls lined with candles placed at regular intervals. Their flames burned steadily, casting layers of overlapping shadows that obscured the features of everyone present. The long robes distributed at the entrance fulfilled their purpose well; beneath the lowered hoods, the identities of the attendees remained completely hidden.
Several figures were already seated in a wide circle surrounding a central table. No one spoke immediately. The only sounds were the faint crackle of candle wicks and the subtle rustle of cloth as participants adjusted their posture.
Elias chose an empty chair along the outer ring and sat down without attracting attention.
This was his first participation in such a gathering. Rushing to speak would only reveal inexperience. Instead, he decided to follow the rhythm established by the others and observe carefully before taking action.
After a brief pause, the calm and indistinct voice of the host sounded from the far side of the room.
"You may begin."
A hooded figure seated near the center shifted slightly and spoke in a deliberately altered tone.
"I require a stalk of Silver-Veined Moonleaf. In exchange, I can offer 150 pounds, or information regarding a smuggling route near the harbor."
No immediate response followed.
Another participant spoke shortly afterward.
"I seek the formula for Sequence 9 of the Hunter pathway. In exchange, I possess a piece of Brilliance Rock, and can compensate with money to equal the deal."
That statement drew more attention than the previous one. Several figures subtly turned their heads.
One of them accepted the offer and proceeded to the transaction area.
The gathering continued in this manner.
Participants stated their needs or presented the items they wished to trade. Some offered potion ingredients of varying rarity: preserved organs stored in wax-sealed containers, rare plants that had been dried and bundled carefully, and small crystal vials containing powders whose properties were not immediately obvious.
Others produced Beyonder items.
Most of them were minor artifacts—objects that offered limited but useful effects. One participant described a coin that could dull pain for several minutes when held in the palm. Another displayed a pair of thin gloves that revealed fingerprints and faint traces more clearly.
Whenever two participants reached an agreement, they were directed to pass through a side door for the exchange.
Elias remained silent throughout this process.
Every request and every offer revealed something about the hidden ecosystem of the Beyonder world. Some items hinted at particular pathways, while others suggested the existence of supply chains operating quietly beneath the city.
It was far more informative than he had expected.
Only after many of the participants had spoken did Elias finally lean forward slightly.
"I require an ingredient," he said.
His voice remained calm and measured.
"A Blood-Speckled Black Mosquito."
The request lingered in the air for several seconds.
None of the participants responded.
Elias waited patiently, but the silence that followed was not the silence of contemplation. It was the silence of absence.
He felt a faint sense of disappointment, though he had already considered this possibility. Some ingredients simply did not appear regularly in smaller gatherings.
He had already begun thinking of alternative methods to acquire it when the host spoke.
"I can provide that."
Elias lifted his gaze slightly beneath the hood.
"Proceed to the exchange room."
Without hesitation, he stood and walked toward the side door.
The room beyond was smaller and dimly lit.
Several candles had been placed along a long wooden table, their light just bright enough to illuminate the immediate area without revealing too much. The air carried a faint scent of wax and herbs.
A single figure stood behind the table.
The host.
Elias approached and inclined his head slightly.
"Good evening."
The host did not respond verbally.
Instead, he placed a small glass vial on the table and pushed it forward.
Inside the vial floated a small black mosquito preserved in a thin layer of clear liquid. Even through the glass, its appearance was unusual. Its body was darker than that of ordinary insects, and its wings bore tiny crimson speckles that resembled dried blood.
The Blood-Speckled Black Mosquito.
Elias examined it briefly to confirm its authenticity before asking the obvious question.
"The price?"
"Three hundred."
The answer was immediate.
Elias felt a faint tightening in his chest.
Three hundred pounds was not an insignificant amount of money, especially for a single ingredient. However, he also understood that attempting to search for such a creature on his own could take weeks or even months.
In the end, he reached into his coat and placed the required amount on the table.
Three hundred pounds.
The host gathered the money without comment and slid the vial toward him.
"Is that all you require?" the host asked.
Elias carefully stored the vial in an inner pocket.
"That will be all for now. Thank you."
The host gave no acknowledgment.
The transaction had concluded.
When Elias returned to the main chamber, the gathering was still ongoing.
He resumed his seat quietly and continued listening.
By this point, he had already obtained the most important ingredient he needed, so there was no reason to involve himself further in the negotiations. Instead, he paid attention to the remaining exchanges, committing useful information to memory.
Eventually, the host's voice sounded once more.
"The gathering concludes."
Chairs shifted as the participants began to stand.
However, no one rushed toward the exit.
Near the door stood the same man who had opened it earlier. He appeared to be organizing the departures, allowing the attendees to leave one at a time.
Elias observed the pattern carefully.
Each person exited after a short interval; perhaps ten or fifteen seconds.
At first glance, the arrangement seemed intended to prevent conflicts between participants after the gathering. But the intervals were too short for such a purpose.
If someone truly intended to rob another participant, waiting outside the building would be enough.
After considering it for a moment, Elias reached a simple conclusion.
The procedure was meant to reduce attention from outsiders.
If a dozen figures emerged from the same building at once, even the most inattentive passerby would find it suspicious.
Leaving gradually made the activity far less noticeable.
When Elias's turn finally arrived, he stepped forward and exited the chamber.
Outside the room, he removed the robe and handed it back to the bartender who had escorted him earlier.
The man accepted it without speaking and immediately turned away.
The transaction was finished.
The evening air felt cool after the warmth of the candlelit chamber.
Elias did not head home immediately.
Instead, he began walking through the surrounding streets, retracing the same route he had carefully mapped earlier that afternoon. He circled the nearby blocks, passed through several narrow alleys, and doubled back twice.
This was a habit he had developed deliberately.
Anyone attempting to follow him would eventually reveal themselves.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then he noticed it.
Footsteps behind him.
They were quiet, but they did not disappear when he changed direction.
Someone was following him.
Elias did not turn around immediately. Instead, he took a sharp turn into a narrow side street and suddenly broke into a sprint.
The reaction behind him was immediate.
The footsteps accelerated.
Elias ran through two more intersections, but the distance between them did not increase.
His pursuer was unusually fast.
Realizing that he would not be able to outrun them for long, Elias changed his approach.
After another turn, he entered a secluded courtyard hidden between two abandoned buildings.
He slowed his pace and finally stopped.
The area was dimly lit by the faint glow of moonlight.
Elias turned around calmly.
Moments later, a figure stepped out of the alley and into the courtyard.
His pursuer had caught up.
The man who had followed him stepped forward slowly, his figure emerging from the darkness of the alleyway and into the faint moonlight that reached the courtyard. He wore ordinary clothing that blended easily with the dim streets of Backlund.
Elias regarded him calmly.
"May I ask the reason for following me?" he said, his tone carrying a trace of mild curiosity rather than alarm. "If this is a misunderstanding, it would be better to clarify it now."
The man stopped a few steps away.
For a moment, he seemed to consider the question before letting out a short laugh.
"Well," he said casually, "I happened to come across a piece of prey by accident tonight. It would be a waste to simply let it get away."
His gaze drifted briefly toward Elias's coat.
"Hand over the money," he continued, "along with whatever items you have on you. If you cooperate, you might still walk away with your life."
The meaning was clear.
Elias studied him for a moment before replying.
"So you were one of the participants."
The man's smile widened slightly.
"Sharp."
Elias tilted his head faintly and allowed himself a small smile in return.
"In that case," he said calmly, "this situation could go either way."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
His expression shifted as he looked Elias up and down with more attention than before.
"Are you a Beyonder?" he asked.
Elias shook his head lightly.
"Not yet."
The answer caused the man to laugh again, this time with far less restraint.
"Then why bother resisting?" he said, spreading his hands slightly. "Just hand them over and live another day to try again. Opportunities like that gathering don't come often. It would be unfortunate if tonight turned out to be your last."
His voice had barely faded when he moved.
The distance between them vanished in an instant.
The speed was startling. To an ordinary person, the charge would have been impossible to react to.
But Elias had already been watching carefully.
He stepped aside at the last moment, his body twisting just enough for the rushing figure to pass close by without colliding with him.
Even so, the wind generated by the movement brushed harshly against his coat.
Elias pivoted immediately and attempted to retaliate with a kick aimed at the back of the man's head.
The reaction came just as quickly.
The attacker dropped into a crouch, the kick passing over him as though he had anticipated it. In the same motion, he twisted his body and drove a punch forward.
Elias had already begun retreating.
The fist did not strike him.
But the force behind it still carried through the air.
A sharp cracking sound echoed faintly as the blow cut through the empty space where his chest had been moments earlier.
Elias's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A Hunter," he said.
The man paused for a brief moment, clearly surprised that his pathway had been identified so quickly. Then his expression shifted into a grin filled with confidence.
"Looks like you know a thing or two," he admitted. "That just makes it more disappointing."
He straightened and rolled his shoulders slightly, as though loosening his muscles.
"Now give up while you still have the chance."
Elias remained where he stood, his breathing steady but his mind working rapidly.
A Hunter pathway Beyonder.
That explained the explosive bursts of speed and the frightening force behind his punches.
Facing such an opponent without any Beyonder abilities of his own placed Elias at a clear disadvantage.
"This will be troublesome," he thought.
The Hunter attacked again without waiting for a reply.
His movements were aggressive and direct, each strike carrying enough force to seriously injure an ordinary person.
Elias avoided the first blow by stepping backward, then sidestepped another sweeping strike that narrowly missed his shoulder. The difference in physical capability between them quickly became apparent.
The Hunter's attacks were both faster and stronger.
Elias focused almost entirely on evasion.
He retreated, shifted his footing, and forced himself to remain calm as the courtyard grew increasingly cramped around them. Several strikes passed dangerously close to his body, and more than once he had to twist sharply to avoid being caught.
Despite his efforts, the gap in ability could not be ignored forever.
The Hunter suddenly changed rhythm.
His leg swept forward in a powerful kick.
Elias attempted to move aside, but the attack came too quickly.
The impact struck his chest.
The force sent him backward several steps before he slammed against the wall beside an overturned trash container. The collision knocked the air from his lungs, leaving a dull ache spreading through his ribs.
The Hunter slowed his pace as he approached.
From his perspective, the outcome of the fight had already been decided.
Elias appeared exhausted. His breathing had grown heavier, and he remained half-leaning against the wall near the trash container.
"See?" the Hunter said, shaking his head slightly. "You should have listened earlier."
He stepped closer.
"Hand them over."
At that moment, Elias's arm moved.
His hand emerged from behind the trash container.
In it was a revolver.
The movement was so sudden that the Hunter barely had time to register it.
Elias did not hesitate.
He pulled the trigger.
The gunshot shattered the quiet of the courtyard.
At such close distance, the bullet struck the Hunter directly in the head.
The man's expression froze for an instant before his body collapsed to the ground.
Silence returned just as abruptly as it had been broken.
Elias remained still for a few seconds, the revolver still raised in his hand.
Then the tension left his shoulders.
His breathing became noticeably heavier as the strain of the fight caught up with him.
"That was closer than I would have liked," he muttered under his breath.
"But seriously, a Hunter just running behind his prey with no traps or preparations. Medici would be disappointed"
The kick to his chest still throbbed painfully, and his arms felt tense from the constant evasive movements.
But there was no time to linger.
Gunshots in a quiet district had a way of attracting attention; especially from the authorities.
Elias stepped forward quickly and crouched beside the fallen body.
The Hunter had been carrying a small pouch of money, which Elias took without hesitation. Beneath the coat, he also discovered a small, dull-colored stone sealed in a thin wrapping.
A piece of Brilliance Rock.
Elias allowed himself a brief look of satisfaction.
"That simplifies things," he murmured.
He took the stone, and reached for an empty glass veil in his pocket, and moved it to the wound in the hunter's head, collecting his blood.
The courtyard suddenly felt far less secluded than it had minutes earlier.
Without wasting another moment, Elias turned and disappeared into the maze of narrow streets, leaving the silent body behind before anyone could arrive to investigate the gunshot.