Mechanical Alchemist

Having acquired a batch of precise maps was already an unexpected gain.

After wandering around the flea market, Su Lun didn't find any other items to his liking, and he returned to Golden City Fortress.

He'd bought the materials; now, he needed to gather some intelligence.

For instance, news of the Cyclops, as well as the whereabouts of the sacred object of the Dalu tribe, "Fal's Chalice", and the last "Black Sam's Cursed Gold Coin"...

Since Oleg claimed the throne, the situation in the North Sea had changed drastically. Neutral organizations such as the "Adventurers' Guild", "Professionals' Guild", and "Alchemy Guild"... had also opened up here.

With many more information brokers around, it was much more convenient to inquire about news.

Things that could be done with money always saved a lot of effort.

Su Lun posted rewards in various guilds and then went to a tavern to wait for news.

....

"The Blacksmith Tavern" is a low-end pirate tavern in the city and also a pirate job market.

This place is often frequented by a bunch of sailors, cooks, gunners... old pros or newbies without a permanent captain.

Pirate captains often come here to pick crew members.

Su Lun sat by the window, slowly sipping a glass of rum.

"Strange, isn't it? Why isn't anyone interested in that gold coin?"

Su Lun had just received news that the last "Black Sam's Cursed Gold Coin" was in the possession of someone named "Gourling Tani".

He actually got wind of this before heading to the Mountain Hermit but, at that time, "Tani" seemed to have gone out to sea and wasn't in the fortress.

Now, it was said that he had returned and liked to frequent several pirate taverns.

So, Su Lun decided to try his luck.

But what made him even more curious was that this news didn't seem to be a secret; many information brokers in Pirate City were aware of it.

But if they knew that the gold coin was in "Tani's" hands, why had no one made a move?

The Pirate King's treasure, just like that, lacks appeal?

Information brokers simply said that the gold coin was cursed, and no one wanted to touch it.

Su Lun grew even more curious; what kind of curse could overcome human greed?

While thinking, he drank his rum and listened to the pirates in the tavern boasting and shooting the breeze.

These sailors, who traveled far and wide, were quite well-informed, mostly discussing recent changes in Pirate City.

And that marriage alliance.

"Gal the boss hit it big this time, wedding the thirteenth princess of Mafia, 'Princess Frostmoon' Skadi. She's true royalty."

"Oh, I had the fortune to catch a glimpse of the princess from afar at the wedding ceremony. My god, you have no idea, she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, her skin as smooth as moonlight, and her breasts as large as a cow's..."

"But I've heard from others that 'Princess Frostmoon's' reputation in the Mafia Empire isn't very good; they say her line of lovers could stretch from the royal palace all the way to the city gate..."

"Haha, I wonder what the princess tastes like. Her delicate frame probably can't handle the wildness of Gal the boss..."

"..."

The pirates were most enthusiastic about discussing the romantic escapades of high society, with the conversation mostly centered on the flirtatious beauty of the princess.

Although it was mainly hearsay, Su Lun felt some truth to it as he listened.

Being sent far away to the North Sea to marry, that princess probably wasn't a daughter dearly cherished by the emperor.

Or perhaps ambitiously aspiring?

Su Lun, however, was not interested, as it had nothing to do with him.

At that moment, a one-eyed pirate wearing a captain's attire entered.

The pirates in the tavern seemed to recognize him, and they greeted him one by one.

"Hey, Captain Hije, are you here to recruit sailors again?"

"Captain Hije, I heard your crew found Bartholomew's Treasure Map. Did you find the treasure on this hunt?"

"Don't even mention it. We found the treasure, but at a heavy loss of men. Not much money was brought back, and the ships sank in the storm."

"Hahaha... I knew you'd encounter a storm. Knowing that Tanni is the 'cursed by the sea', why on earth did you think of taking that kid along?"

"Even though that kid is jinxed, you have to admit, he's probably the best navigator in all of Pirate City. Without him, we couldn't have found that sea area, let alone the treasure. Anyway, stop talking about it. I want to recruit a group of people to salvage my ship, laden with treasures. You know, it's worth at least several hundred million. Are you interested?"

"Definitely in! Count me in!"

"..."

For a time, the atmosphere in the tavern heated up.

The topic of their conversation was rather ordinary, but Su Lun's ears perked up when he heard the name "Tanni."

Upon listening more carefully, he realized that this "Tanni" was not just someone with the same name, but probably the person who possessed the third "Black Sam's cursed Gold Coin."

It dawned on Su Lun that this guy had gone treasure hunting with this person?

Moreover, he caught several key phrases: the best navigator, cursed by the sea, storm...

"This is getting interesting... What's so magical about Tanni that he's bound to encounter storms every time he sets sail?"

As Su Lun listened to the captain's tale, he also found it fascinating.

...

Su Lun had stayed in the tavern for two or three hours, and he had had enough to drink.

He had planned to come back another day, but just as he was about to leave, a messenger came looking for him.

It was a person dressed in ragged sailor's clothes, with the brim of his hat pulled down low.

Without drawing any attention from others, the man saw the sign at Su Lun's table and came over, simply stating, "Sir, I see you're offering a reward for information on the 'Cyclops' and the 'Far's Holy Grail'?"

"Oh? You have some information?"

Su Lun's eyes flashed with intrigue as he listened.

Despite the disguise, he immediately recognized the soul fire of the person before him.

Wasn't this the same person who had sold him the map at the flea market?

What a coincidence, this fellow also knew about the information he wanted?

The mysterious informant said, "Your reward offer is 100,000 lira."

Su Lun, well-versed in these matters, immediately pulled out a stack of cash and said, "Here's the deposit. If the information is good, the money is yours."

Pirates have their own code of conduct when trading, and they understand each other, so there are rarely any problems. Conducting business in a tavern is also a form of security as making a scene is bad for everyone involved.

Su Lun wasn't worried about someone taking the money and not delivering.

The mysterious person took the money and revealed, "The 'Far's Holy Grail' was last seen thirty-five years ago, in the hands of 'Marquis Hays'. That cup is a sacred artifact of the Dalu tribe, believed to condense a cup of Holy Water at regular intervals, which can heal 'karma' and various diseases."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun's expression remained unchanged, but he was genuinely surprised inside.

After asking around for so long without any leads, he didn't expect someone to provide such precise information!

The details about the Holy Grail's powers and origin were entirely accurate, which meant that the rest was likely not fabricated either.

He asked, "Do you know where the Holy Grail is now?"

The mysterious informant replied, "You need to pay the remainder."

Su Lun offered another eighty thousand.

The man continued, "Wherever 'Marquis Hays' went, he always carried the goblet with him. However, during a voyage, his fleet encountered the Pirate King Sam Bellamy... So, in the end, the holy goblet fell into the hands of the Pirate King."

Listening to the story, Su Lun said, "You mean to say that the goblet ultimately sank into the sea along with Black Sam's fleet."

The mysterious man confirmed, "Yes."

"..."

Su Lun frowned upon hearing this.

Knowing the whereabouts of the goblet was good news; with that thing, both his mental and physical mutations could be

But... this whereabouts were somewhat troubling.

On the ship of the Pirate King, sunken into the sea?

Su Lun asked with a frown, "Can I know where you got this information from?"

The mysterious man replied, "Sorry, I have my sources. But I can swear on the 'God of the Sea' that the message is absolutely accurate."

For those who spend their years at sea, this was a "cursed oath."

Su Lun listened and pondered for a moment without asking further. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

It seemed plausible.

Besides, now that he also knew the whereabouts of the third Gold Coin, he could soon find the shipwreck's location; it wasn't entirely hopeless.

Su Lun then asked, "So, do you also know about the 'Cyclops'?"

He felt that this guy in front of him might bring him some surprises.

The mysterious man answered promptly, "I do!"

Looking at how efficiently Su Lun paid, he didn't beat around the bush and quoted directly, "The news about this has a bounty of fifty thousand, and it's worth that much usually. But if you need it, I can give you a detailed nautical chart! Just the price..."

"..."

Su Lun was truly astonished.

He had inquired before about "legends" of Cyclopses on the dangerous islands in the western seas, but nobody had ever been there, let alone having any sea charts.

This guy was saying he could provide a detailed nautical chart?

What was this guy's background?

Su Lun said gravely, "If there really is a detailed sea chart, I'll give a hundred thousand!"

Upon hearing this, the mysterious man fell silent for a moment as if hesitating.

After a thought, he said, "Fine!"

As he spoke, Su Lun watched as a rolled-up chart in a leather case was handed to him. His feelings at this moment... were indescribably complex.

This guy... actually carried it with him?

Su Lun opened the leather case and unfolded the sheepskin map to look at it, murmuring to himself, "Just as expected."

As soon as he saw the neat handwriting and the meticulously drawn patterns, wasn't it just like the one he had bought before?

Now he was almost certain that this map was created by this fellow before him, or someone around him.

The map was very detailed, marking a route to a certain island in the far west.

Currents, wind directions, sea creature distributions, temperature, reef areas... everything was included.

The detail on it was so astonishing that Su Lun couldn't look away.

Without having been there personally, it was impossible to draw such a detailed chart.

Seeing Su Lun fascinated with the map, the mysterious man reminded him, "Sir... you should pay up."

At this reminder, Su Lun raised his eyebrows, took out a bag of money, and tentatively said, "I am very satisfied with your information. I'm thinking that we could establish a long-term contact..."

The mysterious man counted the money but declined the offer, saying, "If you need it, you can put up a bounty. If I see it, I will contact you."

Just like when he had sold the map before, as soon as the transaction was complete, he quickly left the tavern.

Su Lun watched, his gaze sharp; this guy was like a "treasure," the more he engaged, the more surprises he found.

He wouldn't give up on such a source. Without getting up, the black crow outside followed suit.

...

But the black crow didn't follow him for long before Su Lun let out a light exclamation, "Huh... pretty cautious, huh."

Although he didn't know how the boy found out, after entering a narrow alley, the black crow was shattered by a beam of light.

"Quite an interesting magical device..."

Su Lun saw the last image shared by the black crow; the guy seemed to have used a strange device to emit a "laser" that killed the black crow.

Having inquired all the news he needed in one go, it was quite a fruitful endeavor.

Having lost the mood for drinking, Su Lun left the tavern.

He planned to stroll around the streets.

The "Tanni" market was mingling within the tavern district, but he wasn't sure which one it was.

Tea Beard Tavern, Windmill Tavern, Giant Tavern, Blue Whale Tavern...

The streets were full of drinkers, and flamboyant women were welcoming guests at the doors.

Su Lun wandered the streets, asking around without anyone having seen

Soon, he found himself in the higher-end tavern district without realizing it.

Golden City was large if it was said to be large.

And small if described as small.

The tavern district spanned just a few streets.

Suddenly, within Su Lun's Soul Perception, he recognized a familiar "soul fire."

A few half-grown lads were blocking a raggedly dressed, brown-haired youth, looking like they were bullying him.

"Unlucky Tanni, heard you went to sea again and sank five of the 'Rhino Group's' big vessels? Killed hundreds of people?"

"Jessica, don't get too close to that guy; he's a jinx."

"Exactly, don't let his bad luck rub off on us."

"Pah! Let's go, Jessica, Tuck, leave him. This guy is a monster, careful he bites your ears off..."

"Haha, spawn of a sea monster! Pah!"

"..."

After the youths spat insults, they scattered.

The brown-haired youth had been holding back and said nothing, but after they left, he silently turned around and went elsewhere.

Su Lun, witnessing this, didn't know how to describe his complex feelings.

He was "Tanni"?

In one day, three encounters with the same person, three different scenarios, three different disguises, three identities...

The key thing was that each one aroused Su Lun's intense interest.

This guy, what's his story?