After today's lesson, many stayed in the class to discuss the results of the training. Harry was able to interact with all of his classmates, but in most cases he was around the quieter students. Tsuyu was a real blessing after the endless flow of energy from Mina Ashido.
Harry left school and pulled a burner phone from his pocket. Only one number was recorded inside - Giran's. He contacted the broker every couple of months to get old books or information he needed about Black Market deals. Harry could even tell that he was one of the villain's loyal clients.
[Books on Alchemy, Philosopher's Stone and Ouroboros. Price?] He sent a message and did not wait for an answer, instead he immediately went to the Orphanage.
On the train, he felt a vibration in his pocket and frowned. If Giran responded so quickly, it would be very expensive. Shit.
[Dude, your tastes are getting weirder every month. I have one business meeting soon, so if you help me, all the books I find go to your hands. Meet me on Saturday at 8 pm at our usual place, I'll even pay.]
Harry swore softly, he didn't like working with Giran, but now the information was much more important. And to be honest, orphans always needed money.
[How much?]
[If things go smoothly, then you will get at least five hundred thousand yen, if not, then only a hundred.]
[I'll take that in dollars. You know me.]
[Nerd. Put on mask number 3, we need to instill confidence in the client.]
Harry worked with Giran using only Envy, so the broker was unaware of his ability to manipulate shadows. He had nine permanent masks, the third was the mask of a serious middle-aged businessman with horns and a tail like the devil... Giran had a strange sense of humor. Harry turned off the phone and leaned back against the train wall. Why is he even trying to find out about the Stone? It will definitely kill him sooner or later... again.
---
The rest of the week passed pretty quickly, UA had a good emphasis not only on Heroic activities, but also on regular education, so Harry could not get bored. Except for English lessons... In the Orphanage, everyone calmed down after his admission and stopped throwing daily questions. Of course, Karin was not one of these children.
And so, Harry stood in his demon guise and strict suit next to an abandoned warehouse in northern Tokyo. Giran, as usual, was already standing there, occasionally glancing at his watch.
"Lau, what took you so long?"
The broker said as soon as he noticed Harry. The teen changed his name after each meeting, so Giran gave up and started calling him Lau.
"You said to come at eight." Harry replied with a calm deep voice "What will the business meeting be about?"
"I was commissioned to find information on a rather interesting politician. Typical blackmail. But the customer... Overhaul is a big shot, so I need you."
"What exactly do I need to do?"
"You're here as support for my ass, if the deal goes awry then you have to get me out of there alive."
"I'll get the books anyway, right?"
"There will be books for you, do not worry, they are already in my car, I even found a book about Homunculi, you will definitely like it"
Giran waved his hand and went inside the warehouse. Harry silently followed the broker. He hid throwing knives in his sleeves for extra protection. The teenager strengthened his body and muscles to the limit. Tomorrow he will have a marathon of pain.
Giran entered a dusty room with perfectly clean furniture. Overhaul was sitting at the table, and two people were standing behind him. On the table itself lay a closed case that sent chills down the Harry's spine.
"Good evening gentlemen, are we ready for a deal?"
"If you have all the information, then we won't have any problems. Now the documents."
The yakuza said in a cold voice. Giran just smiled and took out a heavy folder from his inner pocket. He tossed it on the table and a skinny man in a white plague doctor mask picked it up and looked at the contents.
"Everything's right, there is even a place here-"
"I understand. It's a pleasure doing business with you, Giran."
Overhaul pulled out a second case from under the table and pushed it towards Harry. The teenager didn't even blink and automatically picked it up. False cases with weapons or even bombs are classic in such deals.
"If you need anything else, you know where to find me."
The broker turned and walked away, Harry following him. Only on the street did the teenager allow himself to breathe and relax a little, he went to Giran's car and threw the case on the front seet.
"What's in the case?"
Harry asked without much interest.
"This is a professional secret Lau, you know. Take your order and call more often, I get so lonely sometimes."
Harry chuckled and took the heavy box from Broker's hands. He did not open it in front of Giran, so as not to show distrust and simply left.
---
After a few blocks, a change in appearance and clothing, the teenager finally got to his room and asked not to be disturbed by anyone. He carefully opened the box and looked at the contents.
Inside was the promised money in dollars, which Harry immediately put into his secret layer. Under them lay the books he needed so much, there were five of them.
{The History of Alchemy.}
{Transformations and alchemical circles.}
{Homunculi and man's sin.}
{Philosopher's Stones: Myth or Reality?}
{Ouroboros, the serpent who devoured the world.}
The teen smiled and spread all five books on the table in front of him. He quickly skimmed through the contents and was very pleased, out of five books, three were very useful. Unfortunately, {The History of Alchemy} and {Ouroboros, the Serpent Who Ate the World} turned out to be only old fantasy, but the remaining three...
{Transformations and alchemical circles.}provided the reader with an introduction to the use of the ancient art of alchemy.
{Homunculi and man's sin.} was a legend, but it was a book from Giran himself, so Harry decided to read it as well.
{Philosopher's Stones: Myth or Reality?} described the possible Philosopher's Stones and how they were used. It was especially surprising that this book referred to {Homunculi and man's sin.} Apparently this is how Giran was able to find it. Harry opened the first book and plunged into deep reading.
By morning, Harry's body, head, and absolutely everything ached. Even Envy couldn't hide the bags under his eyes. During that night he was able to read a lot and understand a few things. The teen took out a black tome and opened it again to a page with a picture of two Philosopher's Stones. He drew six empty squares around the Stone of Pride and one around the Stone of Envy. He signed each square according to their Sins.
Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Wrath and Gluttony. The last square remained unsigned, because the book did not give a name for the mythical eighth sin. After a little thought, Harry signed it {The Source.}
{The Philosopher's Stones are a virtually endless battery powered by the human soul. Combining two or more Stones is possible, but knowledge of the process has been lost in time. The process of creating the Philosopher's Stone is lost in time, but it definitely uses alchemy.
Alchemy itself warrants further research, given the changes in Magic over the centuries, this science is unlikely to work.
Homunculus. An artificial human created through alchemy. The exact way of creation is lost in time, usually depicted with an Ouroboros tattoo on his body.} Harry stopped and just stared at the last sentence he wrote.
"I am not a Homunculus, I lack their typical regeneration and 'red lightning' when using the Philosopher's Stone. At least I hope so..." he muttered to himself, "A special body... damn if Jasmine was talking about that... Fuck."
There was a knock on the door and Harry hid absolutely all the books and notes on the shelves in a couple of seconds. He turned around in his chair just as the door was opened, Izumi Curtis stood outside and looked with interest at the interior of the room.
"Yes?"
"Harry, you missed breakfast, Azumi sent me to check on how you are here. Is everything okay? Did you sleep today at all?"
"Don't worry Miss Curtis, I'm okay." Harry lied with a smile, "I'm just a little tired, that's all."
"Okay... you still have to eat."
Izumi left the room and closed the door behind her. The smile immediately disappeared from Harry's face and he fell on his bed, face down in the pillow. He shouldn't have strained his muscles with Envy, but his paranoia took over. And what was that strange feeling when he looked at Overhaul? Hunger? Harry winced and almost groaned in pain.
After changing and strengthening the muscles, Harry's body seemed to be filled with acid and was in it that state for too long. The recoil could last from a couple of hours to a week, given the duration of using Envy, today he will not leave the room voluntarily.
The teenager took 'The History of Alchemy.' and opened it to a random page. Each new chapter told about an important event in an incomprehensible science, Harry had to concentrate to understand even a part of what was written. Just as he was about to throw the book out the window, he noticed a slight oddity. His sleepy brain began to compose codes from various sentences and words and try to find the hidden truth where it had never been.
It was at this moment that Harry put the book on the shelf, slowly lay down on the bed and fell asleep, promising himself to sort out this madness later.
---
This time, the teenager was awakened not by a knock on the door, but by someone's hand that pulled him by the hair. Harry groaned softly and opened his left eye, only to see Karin sleeping on his bed. He turned his head a little and noticed that he had only slept for twelve hours.
"Not enough..." with these words, he fell asleep again. After the second session of twelve hours of sleep, Harry was able to find the strength to get out of the warm bed. Karin was no longer in her place, so most likely she was already awake.
Harry changed into a white T-shirt and black sweatpants and walked briskly into the kitchen. If Pride gave him nosebleeds and a headache, then Envy gave first pain in the whole body and then a hellish appetite. Energy has to come from somewhere, right?
"Ho, look who came out of the gloom! Great Harry Potter!"
Kars annoying voice was heard. Harry didn't even try to hide his irritation and just growled something back.
Kars Majoro was a guy two years older than Harry and had long considered himself untouchable. Of course, that was exactly until the moment when he 'accidentally' broke both his arms after a minor incident. He was a tall, skinny guy with short yellow hair sticking out in all directions. All Orphanages have their bullies and Kars was in charge here.
"Заткни ебальник, свинья, у меня итак была сложная ночь, а теперь мне приходится смотреть ещё и на твою рожу? Нет, спасибо." (Shut the fuck up, pig, I had a rough night, and now I have to look at your face? No thanks.) Harry spoke in pure Russian.
After his 'rebirth', the teenager discovered a talent for languages and various ciphers. He suspected that was one of the new characteristics of his body, but could not be sure of anything.
"Гарри! Что я говорила про использование такого языка?!" (Harry! What did I tell you about the use of such language?!)
Azumi's voice was heard and Harry flinched. So that was Kars's plan... it was effective, he'll give him that.
"If I hear this speech from you again, then I swear to God, you will not go out for the rest of your life!"
"I'm sorry, Miss Sato."
"That's good, now go eat, I know you're hungry like a shark right now."
Harry just nodded and went into the kitchen, making a mental note about Kars. He will spend the next week awake.