Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 168: Chapter 78 Companion Beetle

Li Yelai’s heart trembled, and after a brief silence of a few seconds, he seemed to recover and asked, ”Mr. Black Umbrella, do you know the identity of the murderer?”

Black Umbrella smiled and nodded, ”I have cooperated with that guy before, and he has traded with me a few times. I am quite familiar with his abilities. He calls himself the Flying Gunman.”

”You’ve worked with him, yet you still want to kill him? Is it because of the Spirit Extinguisher?” Li Yelai inquired.

Black Umbrella responded indifferently, ”The Spirit Extinguisher is a miracle of humanity; leaving it in the hands of the Flying Gunman is too much of a waste.”

’Heh,’ Li Yelai scoffed internally, ’Is it not a waste if it’s in your hands?’

Black Umbrella seemed to offer two trading options, but his main purpose was simply to acquire the Soul Extinguishing Weapon.

Moreover, even if Li Yelai completed the mission and chose not to give the Absolute Spirit Weapon at the end, or even straightforwardly declared the mission a failure,

Black Umbrella would still believe that Li Yelai had obtained the Absolute Spirit Weapon.

Knowing that the ”Golden Armor” and ”Copper Face,” as electors of the ark, had the Absolute Spirit Weapons, he would have a channel for trade. In his view, nothing was untradeable—it was just a matter of cost.

The biggest cause of death for the murderer called the Flying Gunman wasn’t Black Umbrella’s hatred of evil but rather because the Flying Gunman wasn’t an elector of the ark and couldn’t trade with him—he couldn’t bring him any benefits!

But as ark electors, Golden Armor and his spokesperson Copper Face were tradeable subjects.

Black Umbrella’s tone suddenly changed, continuing, ”Moreover, that guy isn’t stupid. He naturally knows the importance of the Spirit Extinguishers. I believe that the Spirit Extinguisher might still be alive.”

Alive?

An idea struck Li Yelai, and he thoughtfully asked, ”But sir, didn’t you say the Spirit Extinguisher was already dead?”

”Everyone in the village is dead, and the body of the Spirit Extinguisher was taken away. What evidence is there to prove she’s really dead?”

”A dead Spirit Extinguisher and a living one aren’t priced the same! The difference is like heaven and earth!” Black Umbrella lightly chuckled and instructed, ”Copper Face, you’re still too naive. If you want to obtain something in the future, it’s best not to let the outside world understand its value, or fully devalue it. That way, you’ll have far fewer competitors.”

”Based on my understanding of the Flying Gunman, there’s a high probability that the Spirit Extinguisher is still alive.”

”I’ve learned a lot, Mr. Black Umbrella.” Li Yelai nodded slightly; as an antique shop clerk, he certainly understood these methods.

If the Spirit Extinguisher was alive, the Lava Mine City would not let it go easily.

They would certainly deploy a large number of Spiritual Ability Users and even legions to pursue the Flying Gunman. Other forces who heard the news would do the same; no force would give up on a living Spirit Extinguisher.

This was a miracle of humanity.

But if the Spirit Extinguisher was dead, it was different. It could only be made into a weapon... or a tool to suppress curses.

’So, the Flying Gunman actually staged the illusion that the Spirit Extinguisher was killed to deceive other forces? There’s a probability of that.’

’Black Umbrella, that Buttercup, is intending to use this to lure me into accepting this kind of mission, utilizing the organizational power of Golden Armor.’

’If lucky, one could obtain a Spirit Extinguisher, and at worst, get the Soul Extinguishing Weapon.’

As Li Yelai pondered, he said, ”Mr. Black Umbrella, if that’s the case, Mr. Golden Armor would probably be also willing to take on your mission. But, will the Flying Gunman risk returning to No.3 Border City?”

Even if it’s just a probability, no one would give up such a mission. A living Spirit Extinguisher was too important. The difficulty lay in how to locate the murderer.

”In the wilderness, a wild Third Awakening Spiritual Ability User indeed has enough to thrive. But once discovered by other organizations, it’s certain death! Only in a densely populated and officially controlled Giant City can he find the safest hiding spot.”

”How should I find him then?” Li Yelai asked the most critical point.

”I know he frequents the South City Old District, and having traded with him, I’ve also left some measures.” Black Umbrella chuckled, waved his hand, and a glass vial the size of a thumb appeared in front of Li Yelai. Inside the vial was a brown beetle with sharp mouthparts, like a specimen.

”This is an Extraordinary Creature, a specimen of a Companion Beetle. Don’t underestimate it just because it’s an insect; once their numbers increase, even high-level Spiritual Ability Users must retreat.

However, they do have characteristics. If the larvae and the queen are separated, the larvae will die immediately. But within a radius of a hundred meters, dead or alive, the larvae will flap their wings and make a sound.” Black Umbrella explained, ”And one of his Spiritual Ability Equipments contains material from the queen.”

How sinister, tagging everyone he traded with?

Li Yelai tensed up.

Damn it! There’s no sincerity at all. He wouldn’t put the queen in my Summoning Item as well, would he?

”I understand. I’ll do my best to find that guy and complete our trade.” Li Yelai nodded and took the beetle specimen, ”But it might take a long time. No.3 Border City is too big, and we can’t search for the Flying Gunman openly.”

”No worries. The offer always stands.” Black Umbrella nodded, ”Three days later, remember to come to the ark to collect the Summoning Item.”

”Yes, Mr. Black Umbrella.”

Soon, the space around him returned to normal. Li Yelai began to hear the other electors’ discussions and trades again.

With the final sharing of information ending,

this ark trip also came to a close.

The ark let out a shrill whistle.