Old John observed Xia De's expression:
"This is truly a good thing. If you weren't introduced by Louisa and her friends, I wouldn't even propose this trade."
Xia De was very tempted internally, but outwardly, he remained calm:
"So what's the price? Or rather, what are the side effects? It can't be just that the Ashes water is hard to drink, can it?"
"Side effects? Oh, actually, there's nothing much."
Old John said casually:
"It's nothing more than strong mental pollution. The stronger the imprinted transcendent ability, the more intense the pollution encountered when drinking the water. But if you endure it at that moment, there won't be any major problems. Detective, what do you say? Do you want to trade?"
What Xia De feared least was mental pollution. In his Divine Radiance state, he could even face a saint directly. The pollution characteristic of a relic certainly couldn't compare to a true god.
"Although the witch's copy paper is very good, mine is obviously more valuable. An immortal body with a price is still an immortal body."
Xia De tapped on the counter.
"Of course, it's not a one-for-one exchange. Two sheets of copy paper for one of your finger bones."
A smile played on the old man's face; he believed Xia De wouldn't refuse.
"Alright, I'll consider it again."
"Consider what? Do you want to add money? Oh, young man, I'm really not making a profit from you this time."
"No, no, no."
Xia De shook his head:
"This thing isn't mine. If I choose to exchange it, but the other party doesn't want the witch's copy paper, where would I go to compensate for four-figure pounds?"
He took out his wallet from his pocket, paid for the time key first, and put the delicate small wooden box back into his pocket.
"Then get back to me as soon as possible. My business here is very good, and I can't hold it for you for too long."
"I'll be back in an hour."
Xia De said. Old John waved his hand at him and picked up a newspaper beside him, bored:
"Then hurry. If you want a commission, you can introduce your friends to me here. Old John's Pawnshop has everything!"
He still didn't forget to promote his business.
"Do you also do business with the Orthodox Church?"
"No, I don't do any business related to the Orthodox Church."
"That's a pity."
Xia De's original plan was to report directly to MI6 after leaving the pawnshop. However, it was still early, and there was no specific reporting time in the morning, so he spent money again to take a carriage to the address Miss Bei Ya Si had left last night.
Then, as expected, on Monday morning, Miss Bei Ya Si, who had a regular job, was not at home. After Xia De knocked on the door, the landlady who opened it looked at him with suspicion, as if he were a thief, and refused to reveal where Miss Bei Ya Si had gone.
But it was easy to guess that if she wasn't on a mission, Miss Bei Ya Si would definitely be at the Black Stone Security Company's stronghold. Xia De knew the address of the security company; his concern was whether it was appropriate for him, as a Letter-based Ring術士, to directly intrude into an Orthodox Church stronghold.
"But since I'm bound to have a deeper relationship with Miss Bei Ya Si in the future, it's impossible not to get close to that security company. Anyway, it's just a matter of time..."
He checked the items he was carrying, hiding the gun of kindness, the dice of destiny, and the Ashes in places on his body that couldn't be directly seen. Only then did he walk towards the Black Stone Security Company... It was only a half-hour walk from Miss Bei Ya Si's rented apartment, so Xia De wouldn't spend money on a carriage again.
The Black Stone Security Company's location was in the area between Tobesk's North District and West District. The security company occupied an entire three-story building with a sign hanging outside.
The business conducted here overlapped with Xia De's Detective agency, but the security company was merely a cover for the Ring術士 team, so they generally didn't accept commissions from ordinary people unless they had no other tasks at the time.
Xia De walked to this street, named Swan Castle Street, and looked at the towering buildings and hurrying pedestrians, knowing that this street was a famous business street in Tobesk West District, where offices of large factories and merchants engaged in international trade gathered.
The Black Stone Security Company's building was not conspicuous on this busy street because on one side was the Tobesk City Tax Bureau, and on the other was the Coldwater Port "Good Taste Aquatic Products Joint Company's" Tobesk office.
Both of these buildings were grand, and the small building between them seemed somewhat unremarkable.
After confirming the house number was correct, Xia De walked into the slightly narrow ground-floor entrance.
On the first floor, directly opposite the entrance, was the reception area. A middle-aged woman in uniform was knitting while looking at a magazine, with a white cat lying beside her yarn basket. At least at first glance, it seemed like a very ordinary security company.
Seeing someone arrive, the white cat lying down curiously observed Xia De, while the middle-aged woman quickly put down her work:
"Sir, may I help you? Do you need to make a commission?"
"Ring術士?"
He asked in his mind.
"Yes, but not strong."
"No, I'm looking for Miss Iluna Bayas."
He said simply, not nervous at all, but his footsteps stopped at the entrance, not intending to go further inside:
"I am a Detective from Saint Delan Square. Last week, she came to my place to investigate some matters, and before she left, she said that if there were any additional details needed, I could come here to find her."
The middle-aged woman looked him up and down:
"Alright, sir, please wait a moment."
Then she hurried into the building, the sound indicating she went upstairs. The white cat, which had been 'glaring' at the yarn ball, stood up and darted to Xia De's feet, circling around his feet and rubbing against his trouser leg with its body.
"Hmm? It seems ever since I came to this world, I've always been so popular with cats. Why is that?"
Thinking this, he squatted down and patted the white cat's back. The latter let out a contented "meow."
"It's very rare. The cats we keep here are usually very fierce towards strangers."
Hearing Miss Bei Ya Si's voice, Xia De stood up. Unexpectedly, the white cat suddenly stood on its hind legs, as if it wanted Xia De to pick it up.
Miss Bei Ya Si and the middle-aged female receptionist both laughed, and Xia De could only pick up the cat, which was at least twice the size of Mia. It seemed to like Xia De very much too.
Perhaps because Xia De was welcomed by the security company's "house cat," coupled with Miss Bei Ya Si's familiar attitude, the middle-aged female receptionist did not suspect Xia De's identity.
Xia De hinted that he had something to discuss, and understanding, Miss Bei Ya Si led him to an unoccupied lounge on the first floor. This was where the security company's Ring術士 rested; the regular office area was on the second floor.
"Detective, why did you suddenly come to find me? We just parted ten hours ago. Do you need help with something?"