Avena adjusted her glasses, deep in thought.
So this was Sherlon’s final trump card for completing his ritual…
If she handed this intelligence directly to the Redemption Society, it would earn her a significant favor.
If she sent Nia to recover the sealed artifact, its value alone was considerable, though difficult to sell.
Whether it was the “Source of Cholera” potion, the “Plaguebearer” materials, or the sealed artifact Ciel had mentioned, none of these were easy to offload—they were all blacklisted by certain churches.
If another transcendent acquired them, it would almost certainly lead to another disaster.
Selling them would require deep discounts—likely to Deton Manor.
After weighing her options, Avena looked at Ciel. “This information is incredibly valuable, especially to the Church of the Savior Goddess and the Redemption Society. It’s comparable to an entire set of second-tier potion rituals and materials.”
“You could use this intelligence to negotiate directly with the Redemption Society or the Church of the Savior Goddess for a second-tier potion…”
“Who do you want to give it to?”
Avena finished speaking and waited for Ciel’s answer.
The moment Avena mentioned exchanging the intelligence for a second-tier potion, Ciel had already made up her mind.
She wanted the next potion in the “Avenger” sequence.
“The Church of the Savior Goddess,” Ciel said.
“Missionary potion?” Avena was a little surprised but nodded. “I’ll help you negotiate.”
She had assumed Ciel would ask for the Redemption Society’s “Plague Doctor” potion. Paths like “Physician,” which could advance through accumulated experience, rarely faced bottlenecks before the third tier.
Naturally, these potions held more market value.
But the Church of the Savior Goddess potions were different. From “Ascetic” to “Missionary,” these paths generally required devotion to a deity—which made them popular among cultists.
Cults progressed through “Missionary” much faster than regular church transcendents.
Because forced conversions and brainwashing could count toward their Reconstitution Rituals.
“It’s not ‘Missionary,'” Ciel shook her head. “It’s the next potion and ritual in the ‘Avenger’ sequence.”
“‘Avenger’? The Inquisition?” Avena was visibly surprised.
The Inquisition was one of the most secretive branches within the Church of the Savior Goddess. Very little information about “Avenger” potions and rituals ever leaked, except when someone defected with them.
And whenever an “Avenger” potion or ritual surfaced on the market, the Inquisition would step in to investigate. Their control was exceptionally strict.
Even the gray-market Deton Manor avoided selling potions from this path to avoid angering the Church. Instead, they dealt in the materials for the path—but at significantly higher prices.
Even Avena herself had no idea what the second-tier potion and ritual for “Avenger” were called.
“That might be difficult,” Avena said, shaking her head. “You should be prepared for the fact that they might not give it to you. The church will want to test the sealed artifact first, and not all artifacts will be useful.”
“Avena, do you have paper and a pen?” Ciel asked.
Since her clothes had been changed and her satchel was elsewhere, she had no choice but to borrow materials from Avena.
“I do.” Avena had a strange premonition but handed Ciel her notebook and fountain pen.
She wasn’t about to…?
Ciel quickly wrote, detailing the properties of the sealed artifact.
All of it came from what she had seen in the system.
Just as she finished and was about to write down the artifact’s name—”Death Omen’s Gaze”—a system notification appeared before her.
「Friendly reminder: It’s best not to write down the artifact’s name… That thing’s not meant to be written down :D」
Even the name was considered classified?
Ciel stopped writing and handed the page to Avena.
Avena had already been skeptical, but when she took the paper, she couldn’t help but feel a sting of disbelief.
Glancing over it, she immediately raised her head to look at Ciel.
What kind of intelligence network is this?!
This was beyond anything Avena had ever known.
It made sense that Ciel could acquire the Radiance Bishop’s letter—connections could explain that. And getting a copy of Sherlon’s notes? Certain paths could make that possible.
But how had they tested the artifact this thoroughly in just a few days?
Had they been monitoring it from the moment Sherlon placed it there? All while he sat around thinking he was on the verge of ascension?
Avena’s mind raced, but she eventually composed herself.
“With this, I’m 80% sure I can get you the potion.” Avena tapped the paper lightly between her fingers. “But I have one condition.”
“Name it,” Ciel said.
She had already asked Avena for multiple favors. So far, Avena hadn’t demanded anything in return—perhaps because she had needed information for her own Reconstitution Ritual.
But now that Avena’s potion was fully digested, Ciel wasn’t about to keep stacking favors she couldn’t repay.
“The materials from the ‘Plaguebearer’ and the extracted ‘Source of Cholera’ potion—I want to buy your share of them,” Avena stated.
“You provided critical intelligence and saved my life. But without the ‘Crown Guard,’ we wouldn’t have been able to kill Sherlon. I propose a 70-30 split in your favor, and you sell me your portion.”
A 70-30 split, with her getting 70?
Ciel had expected to receive only part of the spoils, but she hadn’t anticipated walking away with the majority.
Avena, a noblewoman from a powerful family, clearly wasn’t short on money. Giving Ciel such a generous share was likely both a token of gratitude and an attempt to build a deeper connection.
“Deal.” Ciel didn’t hesitate and agreed immediately.
As for whether she might need these potions in the future, she wasn’t too concerned.
Buy them? No stock? Not an issue.
As long as time simulations could take her back to when Sherlon was alive, she could always “borrow” from him.
In the simulation, Sherlon’s only concern was how he would die. Ciel, on the other hand, had much more to consider.
“There’s something I wanted to ask, Ciel.” Avena broke the silence, as if she had been deliberating her question for a while.
“Once your dehydration syndrome is cured… where do you plan to work?”
“Where to work?” Ciel was puzzled.
“I’ve resigned from the police force. You won’t be able to work there as my assistant anymore.”
Avena lightly pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze slightly. “Would you consider working at my psychology clinic? Or at least as a consultant?”