Chapter 244: Information Reader, Sorry
"Master, the Golden Light Talismans you make are amazing, even if they’re passive."
Master Veridian said resignedly, "The Golden Light Talismans can actually be activated manually. You, you little rascal, used them like a passive Skill, and you have the gall to say that."
"Haha, is that so? If I wanted to activate it manually, how would an ordinary person like me do that?"
Master Veridian didn’t correct Faye Yardley’s claim that she was an ordinary person. Instead, he said, "I can teach you that later. Are you calling because you want to buy Golden Light Talismans?"
"Mhm, you’re as perceptive as ever, Master. That’s right. Are you selling?"
"If you want them, I can just give you two more."
Faye quickly thanked him, then added, "Master, with talismans this good, the more the better. If you were selling, what would the price be?"
Master Veridian didn’t speak, but Zephyr Sterling said, "Yardley, it’s not that we don’t want to sell. It’s that the Golden Light Talismans are extremely difficult to make, and the success rate isn’t high. Plus, that red tree sap is a finite resource; every drop we use is one drop less we have."
"Oh. I imagine you two want to continue drawing talismans to improve your success rate? I have another bottle of the sap here. I can spare half of it, but I’d want more Golden Light Talismans in return."
Master Veridian pulled Zephyr Sterling aside and said with a smile, "Then it’s a deal, little rascal. Why don’t you add me as a friend directly? You don’t have to go through Zephyr Sterling. What if he gets busy with something else?"
"Okay, Mr. Zephyr Sterling, please share the Master’s contact info with me."
Faye Yardley was quite happy to have that sorted out.
She opened the group chat, which once again showed 99+ new messages. She could never figure out how they had so much time to talk so much.
Faye Yardley: Hey everyone. For those who’ve reunited with family in the last couple of days, are you all settling in okay?
Bonnie Callahan: Oh, Faye is back! We’re settling in great. Being with my mom and dad... the company of those elf companions just can’t compare. It feels so wonderful now, having people to care about me and look after me.
Leo Sloan: Yeah, it’s true. Seeing my kids and parents safe and sound by my side has really put my mind at ease. Now I’m just waiting to reunite with my wife.
Kyle Lewis: With the raft propulsion accelerator, I’m moving a lot faster. I’m sure I’ll be able to reunite with my mom before long.
Wade Warren: That’s true, the accelerator is pretty useful. I only managed to buy one because Pierce in the group looked out for me. If I had to try and snatch one from the trading market myself, who knows how long I would’ve had to wait. Speaking of which, I should thank our group leader, too.
Faye Yardley: You don’t need to thank me. You’ve all managed to stay here because you’re good people. By the way, Kyle, did you sort things out with your father?
Kyle Lewis: Mhm. I gave him a batch of basic supplies, and I consider my filial duty fulfilled. Whatever happens to him in the future has nothing to do with me. After all, he didn’t really raise me.
Bonnie Callahan: Good for you! As long as your conscience is clear, that’s what matters. You can’t be a little fool and let someone leech off you.
Faye Yardley: Well done. Just focus on taking good care of your mom.
Kyle Lewis: I will. I’m an adult now.
Bonnie Callahan: Faye, my dad fished up something strange with a special fishing rod. I’m sending it to you in a targeted Red Envelope.
After opening the Red Envelope from Bonnie Callahan, she found a palm-sized information reader inside.
It didn’t come with an instruction manual. After turning it over and examining it carefully several times, she discovered a small cover on the information reader that opened to reveal a slot just the right size for a bead.
’Huh, I wonder if this thing can read those Information Pearls?’
With that thought, Faye took one from her storage and slotted it inside.
[Reading information... 1%... 45%...]
[Reading complete. Please select a playback screen.]
"Display it on the living room TV."
A moment later, after a few staticky buzzes from the large TV in the living room, the screen flickered from the public channel’s stream of messages to an actual video.
A handsome young man with long, blue-purple hair was seated imposingly on a high throne, one hand propping up his chin. His gaze drifted lazily over the group of people below, which included the person whose perspective this was.
He furtively raised his eyes to steal a glance at the youth on the high seat, then quickly lowered his gaze. You could even hear his nervous, thumping heartbeat.
"Master, Islander 98 will arrive at Port Serenia on either the 15th or 16th of June."
"Mm. Have things been arranged on the GHA’s end?"
"Rest assured, Master. We’ve already assigned people to delay the GHA’s arrival."
The blue-purple-haired youth slowly sat up straight, then suddenly snapped his fingers. "Clean up."
With that, his figure vanished from the high seat.
"The Master said a few little rats have snuck in among us. The best way to prove one’s innocence, he says, is to die for the cause. What do you all think?"
The sound of his heartbeat grew more frantic.
Then came a series of THUMPS, accompanied by a mist of blood drifting before his eyes.
"I’m not a mole, but I don’t want to die either!"
He didn’t get far before another THUMP rang out. His vision turned completely crimson, then gradually faded to black.
BZZT~
The screen switched back to the public channel.
’Seriously? Such a short video? What’s it supposed to mean? That the blue-purple-haired youth was the one who hurt Nora Nash?’
Faye couldn’t figure out the purpose of the Information Pearl storing such a short snippet of information.
’Over a month had passed in a flash, and now this pearl had fallen into my hands. Maybe I should put it away in my box of miscellaneous items and give this Information Pearl to Nora Nash the next time I see her?’
’It was my first time using it, so I had no idea what I was doing. When I took out the pearl, it seemed to have become a little more translucent. Does that mean it will disappear if it’s read too many times?’
’In that case, next time I read an Information Pearl, I should start recording. What if it gets used up in one go? If I save a video of it, it’s basically the same as still having the information.’
’I really am a rookie at this.’
"Sis, it’d be great if these Information Pearls could store more information. We could watch them like movies."
"Tell me about it. And it seems like you use a bit of it up every time you watch."
RING RING~
Faye Yardley saw who was calling and quickly picked up. "Sis, good evening! Have you eaten? I saw you missed my call."
"Good evening, Yvonne. I’ve already eaten. I’m so sorry, I had no idea using that totem would affect you."
Yvonne Lynch quickly shook her head. "No, no, it’s okay! It normally wouldn’t affect me. That was a special situation. It’s a good thing you used it, Sis. You might have been in danger otherwise."
Faye smiled faintly. "You’re as kind as ever, Yvonne. Thank you."
"You don’t have to thank me, Sis. If you hadn’t gotten me out of there, who knows how long I would’ve been trapped inside." Yvonne Lynch didn’t seem to mind at all, and she didn’t even mention the fact that she had fainted because of the red skull.
"Alright, we won’t talk about that, then. Are you able to leave your place? I can invite you over for an hour."
Yvonne Lynch scratched her head. "You can try sending an invitation. I’m not sure if it’ll work. Hang on, let me go downstairs and tell my mom."
This was followed by the sound of footsteps, THUMP-THUMP-THUMP, and an urgent yet happy voice calling, "Mom! Mom!"