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Sharron had just turned the page when a dark golden light suddenly burst forth before her eyes.
The light was like flowing water, instantly engulfing Sharron.
When Sharron initially regained consciousness, she found herself standing in a magnificent Temple supported by colossal stone pillars. At the deepest part of the Temple was a throne with mysterious patterns carved into it, situated atop nine stone steps. Upon the throne sat a blurred figure shrouded in a dense, dark golden mist.
Below the stone steps, on either side of the Temple, stood nine high-backed stone chairs, each surrounded by a dark golden mist. Below these high-backed chairs, forty-nine peculiar stone chairs were strangely arranged, collectively exuding a feeling of majesty, mystery, order, and chaos intermingled.
Beyond this, the surroundings were void, ethereal, and empty, while the bottom was permeated by boundless dark golden mist and numerous unreal crimson light spots.
Sharron's pupils contracted. Remembering the scene she had witnessed during her previous prayer, she gazed at the figure seated high on the throne with some speculation:
"Could this be the hidden existence indicated by that honorific name?"
Sharron suddenly recalled the records about hidden existences in the "Book of Secrets" and her teacher's instructions, and quickly lowered her head.
Aaron watched Sharron, who had lowered her head, with a relaxed and leisurely posture, and asked indifferently:
"Why do you pray to me?"
Sharron suppressed her emotions and slowly spoke:
"I am from the Temperance Faction of the Rose School of Thought. I hope you can save my teacher, Reinette Tinekerr."
Aaron maintained his persona, and his majestic voice resounded again:
"Why should I help you?"
Sharron was silent for a long time. After repeated deliberation and consideration, she crossed her arms over her chest, bowed slightly, and said:
"What can I do for you?"
Aaron chuckled softly, and said in an unconcerned tone:
"I like equal exchange. You can get what you want from me, and from others similar to you, with everything you can acquire. Note, the value must be equivalent…"
"As you wish." After Sharron bowed again, she asked cautiously, "Does the honorific name provided by Sid Watson belong to you?"
She then repeated the honorific name "Lord of Order."
After receiving an affirmative reply, Sharron felt slightly relieved. She glanced at the other empty seats and asked tentatively:
"Respected Lord of Order, are there other people here?"
Aaron smiled and said:
"Some people similar to you.
"I have established a regular gathering for them, and I am the witness."
Sharron was silent for a full ten seconds before saying:
"Then can I participate?"
"Yes, but without my permission, it must not be revealed, including to Bernadette."
"Good!" Sharron was momentarily stunned, then responded without hesitation.
Aaron nodded in satisfaction, extended his hand, and with great self-control, broke off the connection. Then, watching the dark golden light retract, the Sharron opposite him turned into a phantom and slowly dissipated.
"Phew, I've conned another member, no, developed another member…"
Aaron peeled off the black emperor card and muttered to himself.
-----------------
In the dimly lit room, Sharron suddenly opened her eyes, and what met her gaze was the open "Book of Secrets."
A majestic voice faintly echoed in her ears:
"Reinette Tinekerr has not completely fallen; she can recover within a year or two..."
Sharron slowly closed the "Book of Secrets," sitting there in a daze like a delicate doll.
Suddenly, Sharron's spiritual perception stirred. She looked to the side of the table and found that a letter had appeared there at some unknown time; it was a letter from Bernadette....
-----------------
After returning to the real world, Aaron handed the revised "Proposal for the Establishment of the Kingdom Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee" to the butler, who had already returned, asking him to deliver it to Earl Hall.
He then returned to his bedroom and meditated to rein in the spiritual energy that had dispersed after his recent advancement to "Judge" until late into the night.
Feeling that enough time had passed, Aaron once again came above the dark golden mist, returning to the position where Mr. Blessed should be. With a raise of his right hand, five figures instantly appeared on the stone chairs below.
Aside from Sid Watson, whom they had already expected, the other individuals looked at Sharron with great interest, each with their own conjectures.
Sharron silently observed the few people at the gathering. Even through layers of mist, Sharron still recognized Sid Watson's familiar figure, secretly recalling the gathering procedures Sid Watson had introduced earlier.
Aaron ignored the mutual glances between the gathering members. He lightly cleared his throat to attract everyone's attention, then slowly began:
"I need a Mystical Item that can enhance spirituality. I don't care about the price, as long as the effect is good. I can pay with an equivalent amount of gold pounds, or with a Beyonder weapon or Beyonder characteristic of the same level."
"And as a reward for facilitating the transaction, you can receive an additional 10% of the transaction value."
Louise Sears, who was very short on money, immediately brightened up. She stopped paying attention to the new member and began to ponder.
As a Sanguine who wielded the Moon Pathway, Louise believed that the clan's treasury definitely contained Mystical Items that would meet Mr. Blessed's needs.
Fearing that someone else would get ahead of her, Louise immediately stood up and accepted the commission, making Ferran Eddas secretly regretful that he was a step too late.
Ferran had originally wanted to ask if the captain's collection contained any suitable items, which would be a good way to earn some money.
Witnessing a commissioned transaction, Sharron thought for a moment and said:
"I have a Sequence 5 Beyonder characteristic, but for some reason, I have turned it into a Sealed Artifact with extremely terrifying negative effects."
"I wonder what kind of price I would have to pay to ask someone to help me shatter this Sealed Artifact?"
"A Sequence 5 Beyonder characteristic? But why shatter it?"
Aside from Louise, who was backed by the Sanguine, the other members of the gathering, after being surprised by the new member's strength, were somewhat perplexed by her request.
Sharron, who had expected the hidden existence to answer personally, suddenly heard Mr. Blessed's voice:
"1000 pounds. Transfer that Sealed Artifact to me through my Lord's Sacrifice and Grant Door. Within a week, I will return a Sequence 5 Beyonder characteristic to you."
Sharron paused, somewhat surprised, but still nodded, bowed, and quietly thanked him.
She then realized that her and Maric's savings were not enough to pay the 1000 pounds. However, sensing the considerable doubt in the eyes of the surrounding gathering members, Sharron's heart stirred, and she spoke again:
"I possess a great deal of knowledge in mysticism, such as Klarman the Shaman King's "Book of Secrets." You can borrow it for a week for 200 pounds."
To help the members understand, Sharron added:
"Shaman King can refer to a high-Sequence profession, or it can represent an outstanding individual who controls powers in domains such as Darkness, Moon, or strangeness—a strong person who surpasses their peers. Klarman is both the latter and the former."
This idea of selling knowledge immediately enlightened Louise, who was short on money, making her wonder why she hadn't thought of it before.
At the same time, being more sensitive to the term Shaman King, she was also greatly interested in it, but unfortunately, she didn't have much extra money.
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