The empty-handed white wolf scheme was proceeding smoothly. Everything went just as Lynch had anticipated; not only was the harvest bountiful, but he had also successfully linked up with the Archaeological Association, ensuring that future cooperation would be seamless and intimate. Normally, information regarding manifestation grade mystery relics would be classified with a high level of secrecy, but President Olei had waved his hand and approved Lynch’s investigation request on the spot.
It seemed that the seemingly mundane business tactics from the dramas of his past life were actually nothing less than decades of experience accumulated in the era of information explosion, and they were still quite effective on people of the Victorian era.
The people from the Archaeological Association acted as if they had gained a massive advantage. No sooner had the two of them left the President’s office than excited cheers erupted from within, so intense that Lynch couldn’t help but worry about the health of the two little old men’s hearts.
Miss Valente could finally hold it in no longer. As soon as they were out of the office and the coast was clear, she pulled Lynch into a corner to ask, “Elder Nikolai only knows that the ancient city is beneath Bester Mountain; he has no idea of the specific location. So, we are essentially providing them with nothing.”
Lynch said with great certainty, “Don’t worry. The specific location of Zur-Baha-Sahr doesn’t actually need us to know it. Grant and the tribal leader of the Bru have already provided it; it will inevitably appear during the course of the tunnel project. Otherwise, the sewer ghouls wouldn’t have used the tunnel project as a method to force the ancient city to reveal itself.”
“So we are actually bringing nothing to the table? By just making a round between these parties, you’ve secured over ten thousand Lande pounds in compensation for the hillmen, along with a stack of promises from the Archaeological Association? Many of their items are extremely ancient mystery relics, very powerful ones. How could they possibly accept this? Mr. Lynch, you must be careful.”
This had already exceeded her understanding. Miss Valente looked at Lynch with a face full of worry.
Lynch smiled, feeling a bit touched. He knew this was just the limitation of the era; no one in this time had yet conceived of such a method. “But in fact, they accepted it all, and they even want to thank us.”
Miss Valente let out a sigh. Indeed, the two little old men had just been full of gratitude, even more cordial than if they had met Saint Nightingale, as if they had seen immortality and the supreme descending into the world. But she still felt uneasy for Lynch and pressed, “Why is it like this? I’m sorry, if I’m asking too much, I’ll take back my question.”
Lynch did not hide anything and patiently explained, “No need to take it back. It’s not some profound technique; it’s just a simple information gap. Each of them has what they want and possesses what others do not. As long as we guess their holdings and needs, then move between them in the name of the other parties, satisfying their requirements without the costs exceeding their psychological price points, we can achieve a result that everyone is happy with. For the vast majority of people, they will accept it quite gladly.”
“And as long as we keep all sides satisfied, we can mix in our own interests and gain sufficient benefits without paying any price. As long as we control their total expenditure so it doesn’t exceed their psychological threshold, not only will they not object, but they will happily chase after us to say thank you. Oh, some might not be very willing to express gratitude—after all, some paid too much—but who told them to be so greedy and try to hog the food all to themselves? Avoiding bankruptcy and still being able to earn a little extra is already their greatest stroke of luck.”
Miss Valente covered her mouth, looking thoughtful, her large eyes fixed on Lynch without blinking, though there was no telling what she was thinking. Lynch didn’t mind and continued:
“Actually, all of that was just an appetizer, a small goal at most. We haven’t gone to the Governor’s Mansion yet; the main course is there.”
Miss Valente asked in surprise, “There’s a part for the Governor’s Mansion too?”
“Of course. Grant has to pay a large sum of money, the sewer ghouls gave up the location of Zur-Baha-Sahr, and the Archaeological Association has to shoulder the specific excavation work and academic support. There will be many troublesome matters later, but what about the Governor’s Mansion?”
“They get the reputation for compensating the victims of the Square Massacre, they get a giant ancient city ruin on the edge of the city out of thin air, and the future development and operation will bring in a very considerable income. It can also bring tremendous prestige to the Vane family. And all their expenditure is just handling things officially and not setting up obstacles for the other parties? Is that reasonable? There is no such thing as a good deal with only benefits and no costs.”
Miss Valente pointed at herself and Lynch with a subtle expression.
“We also did the coordination work, and we paid with our moral standards, right? Ahem, anyway, to ensure fairness to the other parties we represent, we also have to make the Governor’s Mansion pay a little more.”
Seeing Miss Valente take a step back and look at him with terrified eyes, as if viewing a mysterious anomaly, Lynch glared at her and explained:
“In reality, the main benefits are still with the Governor’s Mansion, but what those specifically are is something you need to consider yourself.”
Miss Valente was stunned: “Me? The Valente family also has a share? Why?”
“You don’t know? Oh, by my Red Moon.” Lynch exclaimed in an affected, dramatic tone.
【I am here.】
‘...Don’t mess around.’ Lynch almost choked on his own breath. After a few dry coughs, he regained his composure and said to Miss Valente, “The most important point of this kind of cooperation is that everyone can get sufficient benefits; it is equal for everyone. Of course, it might be ‘more equal’ for some parties. Therefore, it is impossible to leave out the interests of the Valente family. Don’t forget the mountains the tunnel passes through; a large portion belongs to the Valente family’s territory. This is a direct interest of the Valente family. If operated properly, you might be able to exchange the territory for a portion of the revenue from the entire railway. The steam engine has already brought Lande into the railway era; this is also a very good line of thinking, though it depends on your own ideas.”
Miss Valente frowned slightly; Lynch’s forward-thinking suggestion plunged her into deep contemplation. She realized that what Lynch said was unprecedented, but upon careful thought, it was consistent with human nature and common sense. The Valente family might truly be able to carve out a large piece of the benefits from this. However, one had to act cautiously and not let the family get dragged into trouble.
“There is no rush regarding the Governor’s Mansion; you can think about it slowly. Let’s go meet that crazy Ocean Currents in a Dream.”
Amidst their scheming, the two had already taken President Olei’s authorization and wound their way into a hall on the second basement floor of the museum.
Upon entering, a cold and decaying aura rushed toward them, as if they were standing in an ancient tomb.
There were quite a few display cabinets around, filled with various filthy fragments, and in the corners were piled old statues and totems. The flickering light of the gas lamps shone upon these ancient artifacts, causing shadows to shift and twist, making the eerie items look as if they were alive.
Professor Green, a white-haired little old man with a bulbous, wine-red nose, was leading a group of people standing in the center of the hall, with a large skeleton set up in front of them.
The skeleton appeared to be some kind of large beast, with a body like a horse, a head like a bird, hooves for hind legs, sharp claws for forelimbs, and a pair of leathery bat wings on its back.
Although it was just a skeletal specimen, Lynch felt a wave of instinctive revulsion and nausea upon seeing it, as if it were some strange and evil mysterious anomaly.
Professor Green was staring at the skeleton with unwavering focus. A few seconds later, he suddenly took a notebook handed to him by others, placed his right hand on the opened page, and slowly swept his palm across the surface of the paper.
With his movements, a lifelike drawing of the skeleton emerged from beneath his hand, clearer and more realistic than a black and white photograph.
【Authority, Painting, Ability, Copying.】
After comparing his work with the skeleton for a moment, Professor Green nodded in satisfaction and glared impatiently at Lynch and Miss Valente.
“Aren’t you two fine? Why have you come looking for us again? Don’t disturb our research. The things buried in the dirt are much cuter than you. I don’t want to waste time looking at your faces. When you look as bare-boned as this, I might be a little interested.”
Truly bare-boned.
Lynch sighed at the skeleton and handed over President Olei’s authorization.
“Cooperate with your investigation? You’ve got to be kidding.” Professor Green’s bulbous nose grew even redder, and he flew into a rage on the spot. “How precious is my time? This complete skeleton of a Byakhee is waiting for me. This is a rare opportunity that could earn me the Lande Archaeological Medal. Why should I waste my precious time on you?”
“Hmm... probably because I am an investor?” Lynch mimicked Professor Green’s tone and gestures from earlier, scratched his head, and asked in return. “Or perhaps because I’ve brought a large amount of funding, and your research could get a share?”
The old professor fell silent. Just as Lynch was worried that he couldn’t take a joke and was about to get angry, he suddenly threw down the notebook in his hand, grabbed Lynch’s hand, and the smile on his face made his nose glow with a rosy light. He excitedly pulled him toward an office to the side.
“You should have said so earlier! Come in and sit. You lot, hurry up and bring out my best coffee to treat these two guests. Please, sit inside. Here, investors are as great as the twelve major gods. Whatever you two want to investigate, just say the word; I will definitely cooperate fully.”
Hiss. Lynch finally realized that the people in the Archaeological Association were indeed all quite ill. Seeing Miss Valente already covering her mouth and unable to stand straight, he knew he couldn’t count on this girl and had to answer with a dry laugh: “The Gate of Falsehood and Reality. The President said you know more about it.”
The smile stiffened abruptly. A sharp gaze struck Lynch’s face. Lynch didn’t speak, just smiled unhurriedly and stared back at him calmly.
Looking at Lynch, then at the authorization in his hand, Professor Green hesitated for a moment before frowning and saying, “That is a very disgusting mystery relic. Manifestation grade. Its image is...”
Upon hearing this, Lynch quickly took out his detective notebook and fountain pen, preparing to record the information. However, the moment the pen tip touched the paper, it automatically cracked, as if he had used too much force himself.
What was going on?
Looking up again, he found that Professor Green and Miss Valente were both looking at him with an extremely bizarre and deeply worshipful gaze.
“I have been studying archaeology for forty years, and this is the first time I have seen someone dare to attempt to record information about a manifestation grade mystery relic directly.” Professor Green rubbed his nose and said with a look of horror, “Are you planning to produce a manifestation grade mystery document directly? That level of mystery document is impossible to complete without sacrificing hundreds of lives, or are you intending to drain your own soul to give it a try?”
???
Only then did Lynch realize what a dangerous, stupid thing he had inadvertently done. Sure enough, the world of mystery was filled with counterintuitive, grotesque occurrences. From now on, he must use his brain more before acting.
With an awkward smile, Lynch put away his notebook and said, “My mistake, my mistake. It was just an instinct. What did you say its image was?”
“A mirror, tainted with the authority of replication, which can turn the false into the real, or to put it more figuratively, turn the image reflected in the mirror into a physical entity.”
Rate on N.U.
