Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 96 Living Treasure

"I need money."

After Green finished speaking, Clarice did not respond immediately.

She looked at Green in front of her, his back straight, but his brows were etched with visible fatigue and a calm that seemed almost desperate.

This kind of calm often appears in people who are forced into a corner by reality and have no choice but to make the most pragmatic options.

Somewhat puzzled, Clarice began, "You... should be a full-time employee of the Port Authority now, right?" She continued slowly, "I've heard Alvin mention that the position and environment there are quite high starting points for ordinary people."

"It was arranged by Henry, the port authority's director," Green said calmly. "My uncle, Victor Hayes, died last night at Fairfax Manor."

He paused, looking directly at Clarice. "Right now, the Hayes family needs someone to hold it together. My sister Sura is still in school, my aunt Sylvia has always been a full-time housewife... and she's almost mentally broken now. You know about my cousin Emily's situation."

He listed them off, saying each name, "Their lives, future expenses, possible treatments... all require money. A lot of money."

"...all of these require money."

His last words were spoken calmly, without anger or pleading, but rather as a statement of a very cold and hard fact.

Dignity is a bargaining chip that can be temporarily set aside in the face of survival and responsibility.

He came here not only seeking a strange identity to fight against, but also hoping for more security to stabilize his real life.

Clarisse remained silent for a few seconds.

She has seen many cases of families being torn apart and destroyed after being caught up in extraordinary events, and she has also seen how survivors struggled on the ruins.

Green's choice, though straightforward, precisely demonstrates that he is keenly aware of his most pressing needs.

First, survive and establish yourself; only then can you talk about anything else.

"I see"

She nodded, thought for a moment, and then said calmly:

"I can turn a blind eye to things at the port authority, as long as it doesn't affect our work here. I can also help you screen some high-paying tasks, but... you need to understand that this money is tied to the risks you'll face."

"clear."

Green opened the folder, which contained several pages of documents written in elegant font, listing all responsibilities and benefits in a very clear manner.

He looked up at Clarisse: "How much is the allowance?"

Clarice seemed surprised that his first specific question was this, and paused for a moment before answering:

"During the probationary period, the weekly wage is £4. After becoming a full-fledged employee, the weekly wage ranges from £6 to £10, depending on the rank and position, with additional allowances for assignments. It's enough to support your family and cover some... extra expenses."

She added meaningfully, "Of course, that's assuming you're alive and not out of control."

Weekly wage is £4, and it may reach £6-10 after probation!

This far exceeds the port authority's revenue.

Green quickly calculated in his mind that this would greatly alleviate the family's financial burden, and he could find better psychologists for Emily and her aunt.

Money isn't everything, but without it, especially when supporting a family, is absolutely impossible in Oberhafen.

Green took a deep breath and picked up the pen that was prepared on the table.

"I have one more question," he said before putting pen to paper.

"explain."

"What's the name of Sequence 8 on the Apprentice Path? Is there a clue in the Night's Watch files?"

Clarisse glanced at him, her expression turning somewhat strange. She picked up her teacup and took another sip, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

"Sequence 8 is called 'The Master of Tricks'."

She said slowly, "I don't know where you got the apprentice potion from, or who gave it to you. But it's clear this isn't a... good ending."

Green noticed Clarice's final words and asked in a low voice, "Not a good ending?"

"To put it another way, Green, within the Night's Watch, and even among the higher-ups of the seven orthodox churches and some clandestine organizations, the 'Apprentice' path... especially the lower and middle ranks, is less of an extraordinary path and more of a walking, living 'treasure clue' or... 'rare material supplier'."

Green's heart sank slightly: "What do you mean?"

"It means..."

Clarice put down her teacup. "The extraordinary individuals on the 'Apprentice' path are often more valuable in themselves than as combatants or researchers. Especially after their deaths."

Clarice, seeing Green's pupils suddenly contract, continued:

"You should have already had a basic understanding of the 'Apprentice's' abilities... opening doors, and the perception and influence of space and the spirit world. These abilities are very useful, but their offensive and defensive capabilities are not particularly prominent in the lower sequences."

"However, the characteristics of the extraordinary individuals on the 'Apprentice' path, their spirituality, their bones, and even the spiritual material that dissipated at the time of their death... are excellent mediums or core materials for crafting certain types of magical items, especially seals related to 'space,' 'travel,' and 'isolation.'"

"A magical item that can reliably open short-range teleportation portals, or a portable safe house that can block spiritual detection... Do you know what price it can fetch on the black market, or even in the secret transactions of major organizations? That's enough to make any low-to-mid-sequence Beyonder without sufficient background a target for hunting."

A chill ran through Green.

Olivier had warned him of the dangers of the black market, but at the time he was unaware that he had been promoted to apprentice; now it seems his warning was correct.

The danger comes not only from the black market, but also from the "value" inherent in this path itself. How is that any different from "Tang Monk's flesh"?

"I knew it! Lillian was up to no good. She'd been eyeing my body all along!" Green cursed inwardly.

"So, there are very few extraordinary individuals through the 'Apprentice' pathway?" Green's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Very few.

"Those who actively choose this path are either like you, forced to consume the potion without their knowledge, or members of certain ancient families or secret organizations who have enough power and background to protect themselves and whose goals are clearly aimed at higher sequences."

"Rumor has it that the higher sequences of the 'Apprentice' path possess terrifying abilities such as manipulating space, establishing stable channels, and even wielding authority over the 'Gate.' But those who can reach that level are extremely rare."

Clarice paused, "Many more low-sequence 'apprentices,' like children carrying a great treasure walking in the dark forest, often disappear before they can advance to the middle sequence."

She suddenly smiled maliciously. "So you need to protect yourself when you're out and about. Even if you're a man."

"Uh..." Green was momentarily speechless after Clarice's words.

"However, you don't need to worry too much. A living apprentice is an extremely important resource for every faction, and once they reach the middle sequence, they can be considered a strategic resource. Otherwise, why do you think the Church would give you any special treatment?"

Green thought about what the other person said and realized it made sense. If going down this path meant certain death, then it would have been extinct long ago, just like rare and protected animals, which must be protected when their numbers dwindle to a certain extent.

"Then... is there a path to promotion within the Night's Watch?" he asked.

"Yes, but not entirely."

Clarice's answer was somewhat vague: "Throughout the church's long history, it has been exposed to the 'apprentice' route, and has collected some related knowledge, symbolic records, and may even have sealed away related items or incomplete recipes."

"However, as I just said, the extraordinary individuals who follow this path are so 'precious' that the circulation of related knowledge and materials is strictly controlled, and even deliberately erased."

"There might be a few words in the ancient records of the Sanctuary, such as the Sequence 8 name 'Master of Tricks' that you just asked about, and some code names for higher sequences... But the specific potion recipes, the complete ritual requirements, and the methods for obtaining the core materials? These are all classified as highly confidential, or they are simply incomplete."

"What we lack is not clues about the 'Apprentice' path; those ancient, vague records probably fill the Night's Watch archives with more than you can imagine. What we lack are living 'Apprentices' who can safely grow to the point where they can provide more information, and... 'Mentors' who are willing and able to provide sufficient protection and resources for the extraordinary ones on this path."

"The church...is unwilling to commit?" Green keenly grasped the key point.

Clarice paused for a moment, seemingly weighing what she could and could not say.

"The input and output are disproportionate, and the risk is too high. The resources and protection required to train an 'apprentice' to the middle sequence may far exceed those required to train a 'sleepless' at the same sequence or through other means."

"In this process, the 'apprentice' may perish at any time due to the 'attraction' of his own path, or... be targeted and abducted by other evil forces."

"For the church, this is more like a high-risk investment, and currently it seems that investing in other avenues offers higher 'returns' and 'stability'."

Clarice sighed: "So, Green, do you understand now? The path you chose, or rather, were forced to take, is one that is almost a 'rare and extinct species'."

"The Night Watch may provide you with some basic protection and fragments of knowledge, but the real path to advancement requires you to risk your life, earn merit, and even... seek opportunities in more dangerous places."

"In this process, you will not only have to face the strangeness of the mission, but also be wary of other extraordinary individuals, and even the covetousness of some seemingly 'comrades'. After all, no one would refuse a stable 'door' related sealing artifact."

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled patterns on the carpet, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in Green's heart.

Being an "apprentice" not only signifies special abilities, but also means that from the moment one takes the potion, one becomes a walking "potion," a potential "treasure."

The Night Watch may provide temporary shelter, but it is not an absolutely safe haven.

He looked down at the document he had just signed. This contract was a shackle, a form of supervision, but perhaps also the only relatively reliable protection he could currently grasp.

"I see."

Green's voice returned to calm, even calmer than before. It was a calmness born from recognizing reality and discarding any remaining hope or hesitation.

"So, within the Night's Watch, what's the highest level of clues or knowledge about the 'Apprentice' path that can be obtained using merit points? And how many merit points are required?"

A hint of approval flashed in Clarice's eyes.

The other party was not intimidated by her words, but immediately began to look for feasible paths, a trait that is very important in the world of extraordinary individuals.

"As an intern, you currently only have access to the most basic occult knowledge and some low-class files. After you become a full-fledged employee, your access will be increased, and you will be able to apply to access higher-level files."

"Regarding the specific information on the 'Apprentice' pathway... I need to check the merit list. But I can tell you that the incomplete information or clues for Sequences 9 to 7 might be within your reach. Sequence 6 and above..."

She shook her head. "The amount of merit required would be astronomical, or it would require completing some extremely dangerous special missions as a reward."

"As for the 'Master Trickster' potion recipe,"

She looked at Green, "The Night's Watch may not have a complete record, but they will most likely have clues to the main material, or know which places and events might be related. This also requires merit and authority."

Green nodded.

"Having a direction is better than wandering around like a headless fly," Green thought to himself.

"So, what is my first task? Or rather, when will my 'apprenticeship' begin?"

Clarice stood up. "Irwin will first show you around, as well as the principles of the Night Watch and the doctrines of the Church of the Night."

Green stood up and pushed the signed document back to her.

"I've given you favorable terms, and now I have a... personal condition," Clarice said suddenly, looking at Green.

"you say."

"I want to see that brooch; I'm very curious."

Yes, of course you're curious, because you're a cat...

While thinking to himself, Green readily agreed, saying, "Of course."

After saying that, he took the brooch out of his inner pocket and handed it over.

Clarice didn't take it, but leaned slightly to examine it.

"The Fool?" she exclaimed instinctively, somewhat astonished.

Clearly, Clarice also recognized the pattern.

"Do you recognize this symbol?" Green asked, without withdrawing his hand, allowing Clarice to examine it.

Clarice nodded, her gaze fixed on the brooch lying quietly in Green's palm. Her eyes held a complex mix of awe, wariness, and curiosity.

"The Church of Fools..."

She spoke slowly, "During the height of the Fifth Age, its influence was almost on par with the Church of the Goddess. Its name resounded throughout the continent, and its believers were found everywhere."

"But at some point, some speculate it was at the end of the Fifth Age, while others believe it was earlier, and divine pronouncements and miracles about Him became increasingly rare, until they almost disappeared."

Clarice raised her eyes and looked at Green. "The higher-ups of the Church of the Goddess of Night, as well as some secretive scholars, have suspected that this is related to a 'hidden history' that has been completely buried and cannot be verified."