"Of course, I'll give you a 50% discount for being a fellow countryman!"
Klein was taken aback by Lin Ruo's sudden display of shrewdness, but he didn't find it inappropriate. After all, Lin Ruo had no obligation to give him the potion formulas for free. The mysticism knowledge he had shared before was a favor, not a duty.
Moreover, Lin Ruo was willing to give him a discount, which was already beyond Klein's expectations.
So Klein asked, "How much in gold pounds or items would I need to pay to buy the Sequence 8 potion formula from you?" He didn't aim too high by asking about the prices of higher sequences, as he was still just a newly advanced Sequence 9 and didn't need to think that far ahead.
"Generally, the market price for a Sequence 8 potion formula is around 400 pounds. With the discount, it's 200 pounds!" Knowing Klein's financial situation, Lin Ruo deliberately quoted the price slowly. As expected, Klein's eyes glazed over, and his face practically screamed "That's expensive."
Lin Ruo couldn't help but chuckle and then said slowly, "But I think you don't need to rush to exchange for the Sequence 8 potion formula from me… Dunn is currently investigating the Secret Order, right? The Secret Order has plenty of Beyonders in the Diviner pathway. As long as your luck isn't too bad, the Nighthawks should be able to obtain the Sequence 8 potion formula for the Diviner pathway before you fully digest your potion."
"At that time, you can use your accumulated merits to apply for promotion directly from your captain, saving a lot of money."
Klein paused, then realized something and awkwardly scratched his nose, asking, "Isn't that taking advantage of the church?"
"Of course not! The potion you exchange for with your merits is a reasonable reward for your contributions!" Lin Ruo replied matter-of-factly. Seeing Klein's embarrassment, he couldn't help but think of the original work's Klein, who was an expert at taking advantage of the church, and laughed again. "Besides, hasn't anyone told you that one of the benefits of being in the church is the ability to reasonably reimburse and take advantage of resources?"
Klein was stunned.
Klein: ???
Something's not right!
Almost instinctively, he glanced at the sky to check for gathering thunderclouds, then looked at Lin Ruo and said, "Lin Ruo, saying things like that… Ahem, you're still a favored one of the Goddess."
In other words, as someone under the Goddess's watch, it wasn't appropriate to make such remarks.
Lin Ruo just smiled without saying anything and then changed the topic, "By the way, Klein, do you know what the Sequence 8 of the Diviner pathway is called? Want to know?"
"Yes!" Klein replied firmly, looking at Lin Ruo with anticipation.
"Clown!"
Under Klein's eager gaze, Lin Ruo uttered the word.
Klein was momentarily stunned, taking a few seconds to react, then hesitantly and surprisedly said, "The Sequence 8 of the Diviner pathway… is called Clown?"
"Yes!" Lin Ruo's smile grew more mischievous. "And here's another piece of information: the Sequence 7 of the Diviner pathway is called Magician."
Klein was left in a daze, his first thought being—what's with this pathway, taking all the top spots in a circus!
"This pathway seems like it could form a one-man circus!" Klein couldn't help but joke.
Lin Ruo burst out laughing, then, remembering something, showed a worried and concerned expression, his tone matching, "By the way, today is Monday… Are you going to participate in that Fool's gathering again?"
Hearing the concern in Lin Ruo's voice, Klein felt a pang of guilt for deceiving his friend. However, being someone who dared to pretend to be the Fool, he managed to keep his composure, nodded, and said, "Yes."
Lin Ruo could see through Klein's calm facade, his mind filled with mischievous thoughts that he suppressed one by one.
But outwardly, Lin Ruo's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "I can't offer much help with that… Just remember to listen more, observe more, and speak less. No matter what, don't anger the Fool. If you encounter anything you don't understand at the gathering, you can come back and ask me. Although I might not have all the answers, I know more about the Beyonder world than you do."
Klein felt even guiltier but also touched. He sincerely said, "I will… Thank you!"
Lin Ruo smiled and accepted the thanks without any pretense, then said, "Go back and rest. You need it, and I need to return to Backlund."
"Huh?" Klein nodded, then realized something and hesitantly asked, "Lin Ruo, can you control your comings and goings now?" He hadn't forgotten that Lin Ruo's previous appearances and disappearances were all passive.
"More or less. After you advanced to Beyonder, our connection seems more mysterious than I thought. But now, I can only stay here for up to two hours a day…" Lin Ruo paused and then said, "You should be able to feel our connection now, right?"
Klein nodded immediately.
He could indeed sense the faint connection between him and Lin Ruo.
"From what I can see, our connection might be related to your advancement… Maybe one day, when you reach a high enough level, we'll understand what this connection is all about." Lin Ruo smiled and, seeing Klein deep in thought, added, "But you don't need to feel pressured. For now, this connection doesn't seem to be a bad thing, right?"
"Yes." Klein nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Klein, have you thought about how to act as a Diviner?" Lin Ruo suddenly asked.
"Well, I have some ideas… I plan to try working part-time as a Diviner at Tingen's Diviner Club. This might help me better act as a Diviner." Knowing about the acting method earlier than in the original work, Klein had a clearer idea of how to act as a Diviner.
"That's a good idea!" Lin Ruo wasn't surprised by this and then smiled, "Although I've never acted as a Diviner, I have some general rules for acting as one and some insights from other Diviners that might be useful to you."
"Of course, just for reference!" Thinking of the original work, Lin Ruo's tone became stern, "Klein, remember, even for the same sequence, different people have different acting rules. Others' rules can only be a reference, never a complete copy."
As he said this, Lin Ruo thought of the hunters in the original work.
He knew this was a reminder for both Klein and himself.
"I understand." Klein nodded quickly.
Lin Ruo's tone softened again, smiling, "Then listen carefully, one of the general rules for acting as a Diviner."
"Don't rely too much on divination. Divination is not omnipotent."