Chapter 35: The Third Party

“Tonight, a group of Traveling Merchants will be holding a banquet in the Lower City.” Elvira lowered her gaze as she flipped through the documents in her hand. “Our mission is simply to enter their banquet and conduct observations.”

There was only one set of documents, filled with a large amount of code, underground trading customs, and faction identifiers. Given its technical nature, Jiang Ming naturally left the interpretation to Elvira while he leaned against the side, playing with the newly acquired Silent Blade between his fingertips.

A thread of extremely fine wind swirled from between his fingers, wrapping around the ice-blue blade. The flying dagger trembled slightly before slowly lifting from his palm, hovering in the air. Following the lead of his intent, it silently traced a slow arc.

Jiang Ming felt the physical sensation of the wind flowing through his fingertips, as well as that strange sensation of extending his Psionic Power — as if he had gained an extra invisible arm.

‘It feels… very strange.’

As someone who grew up reading Xianxia stories, riding swords through the sky and having a blade’s light chill the world had once been his fantasy.

Although the world he had transmigrated to was not one of Xianxia and he didn’t have a longsword in his hand, being able to control objects with the wind and manipulate a sharp blade to hover and rotate was a different matter.

This sense of control that transcended common sense still caused a long-lost spark of youthful satisfaction to rise in his heart.

The flying dagger moved gracefully around him, drawing faint blue trajectories.

Elvira looked up from the documents, her gaze inadvertently falling on Jiang Ming.

He stood by the window, his silhouette outlined by the glimmer of the artificial night. His short black hair fell somewhat casually, and his gaze was focused yet relaxed as he watched the hovering dagger.

The blue light from the blade occasionally illuminated the depths of his eyes, while more daggers slowly circled around him.

Black hair, pale blades, and flowing wind.

For some reason, Elvira’s face suddenly turned red. Looking at him like this, Jiang Ming was actually unexpectedly handsome.

“Do we really need to keep an eye on Traveling Merchants just for selling things? The people of the Order Bureau shouldn’t be so bored that they manage sales, right?” Jiang Ming asked.

“Of course, we don’t care about what ordinary merchants sell.” Elvira looked up at him. “But they aren’t ‘ordinary merchants.’ They are believers of the Merchant.”

She placed a heavy emphasis on the word “Merchant.” In this world, names carried power, and there were some existences whose names could not be spoken directly. Here, “The Merchant” referred to the existence crowned with greed, Mammon.

“The Merchant’s believers are very special,” she continued, her voice steady and clear. “They almost never participate in any direct struggles or factional conflicts. They simply wander between the Empire and the Alliance, even traveling through more dangerous cracks, all just to do business. Collecting rare treasures, forbidden knowledge, lost Contracts… everything of value can become a bargaining chip for them to trade with ‘That One.'”

“In exchange for protection, power, fulfilling some unaccomplished wish, or… simply to accumulate more capital for trading.” She paused. “Their goals vary, but their methods are consistent — bartering and Equivalent Exchange.”

Jiang Ming fell silent. Elvira’s words had made the situation clear enough.

These merchants might not carry swords or participate in overt killing, but that by no means meant they were harmless. On the contrary, the goods they handled were often the “catalysts” that ignited wars, intensified conflicts, and caused a region’s struggle to rapidly heat up until blood was shed.

They didn’t participate in the fighting.

They simply smiled and provided sharper blades, more lethal poisons, and more tempting prices to all combatants.

Then, amid a pile of ruins, they harvested value.

“Then why not just wipe them all out in one go?” Jiang Ming asked. According to common logic, a group wandering on the edge of danger should be eliminated in advance.

Elvira shook her head.

“The Lower City has its own special… historical baggage. The reach of the Order Bureau does not extend very far there.” She paused for a moment before adding, “This involves some agreements made when Opeth City was first established. It’s very complicated.”

Jiang Ming signaled his understanding. The principle that even a powerful dragon cannot crush a local snake applied everywhere.

“Then why send us?” he followed up. “We are just two Glimmers. Shouldn’t this kind of mission be given to someone of a higher rank?”

“It is precisely because we are Glimmers that this mission is suitable for us,” Elvira said as she looked at him. “In Opeth, those who can advance to the Holy Spear or even higher ranks almost always have clear organizational affiliations — Beyonder families, gangs, or official institutions like the Order Bureau. Only these organizations can provide the corresponding advancement materials and ritual channels. These things cannot be bought with money alone.”

She picked up the banquet briefing on the table, her fingertip sliding across the paper.

“But Glimmers are different. We can be children of wealthy families who have just awakened their talents. With such a background, blending into a mixed-bag banquet won’t attract too much attention.”

She raised her eyes, her red pupils appearing exceptionally clear under the light.

“As for higher-ranking Beyonders, they have already been branded by the factions they belong to. Every move they make could be interpreted as some kind of signal.”

“We just need to wait a moment. Two invitations for our cover identities will be delivered soon,” Elvira said.

As soon as she finished speaking, the communicator at her waist suddenly vibrated, emitting a short and rhythmic buzzing.

She pulled out the device and lit up the screen. The moment her gaze swept over the information, she visibly froze.

Almost at the same time, a soft sound came from the door lock.

The door, which should have been locked from the inside, was pushed open.

Jiang Ming followed the sound toward the doorway and was also stunned.

Lillian, who had pushed the door open, clearly hadn’t expected the situation inside the room. Her gaze swept past Jiang Ming and finally landed on Elvira, who was only wearing a form-fitting tactical shirt, her long hair slightly messy, and still holding her communicator. Lillian was similarly frozen in place.

Three gazes silently crossed within and outside the doorframe.

The air fell silent for a beat.

Lillian stopped at the threshold, one hand still resting on the doorframe. She looked at Elvira, then glanced at Jiang Ming inside the room, her brow twitching ever so slightly.

The brief silence was broken first by Lillian. This kind of small scene was something she had encountered before. Her voice carried a hint of playfulness.

“It seems… I haven’t come at the right time?”