Leo blinked his eyes open, waiting a few moments for his vision to adjust to the dim, misty surroundings. He scanned the area, but there were no new faces among the gathered members. With a silent sigh, he settled in, anticipating Mr. Sage's familiar introduction.

“Welcome, my friends, to another conclave of our order. As is our custom, let us commence with the fulfillment of promises made at our last gathering,” Mr. Sage intoned, his voice carrying the same solemn authority it always did.

The ritual exchange began. Mr. King produced a small, velvet bag, passing it to Mr. Crow with a slight nod. Meanwhile, Mr. Crow unveiled a large shield, its metallic surface dull and muted in the foggy gloom. Everything here was cloaked in shades of gray, but Leo's sharp eyes took in every detail. The shield floated for a few seconds, giving him time to study it. Its top was a half-circle, tapering down to a nearly triangular point at the bottom. In the center was a grotesque face, its mouth agape as if caught in a perpetual scream. Despite the eerie visage, the shield itself appeared unremarkable.

With the exchanges completed, Mr. Sage resumed his role as the meeting’s conductor. “Now, let us proceed to the heart of our agenda.”

A brief silence hung in the air before Mr. Immortal finally spoke, his voice tinged with impatience.

“There’s been a transportation of a legendary item in the Kingdom of Light. Does anyone have any news about this?” He asked, his gaze sweeping over the group before locking onto Leo.

“Are you still in that kingdom, Mr. Clone? Do you know something about this?”

Leo had anticipated the question. He had weighed his options carefully. ‘The harp is already secure in Niver’s church. Sharing this information shouldn't pose any risk. Besides, it could be an opportunity for profit.’

Clearing his throat, Leo replied, “Yes, I was there, and I know what that item is. It’s a legendary item, and the information is valuable.”

He let his words hang in the air, waiting for Mr. Immortal’s response.

“Of course, I’ll pay,” Mr. Immortal responded, his tone signaling readiness to negotiate.

Leo paused, considering his next move. “The item is the Harp of the Archangel, an A-rank legendary item.”

A ripple of surprise passed through the gathered members, their reactions subtle but telling. Only Mr. Sage remained unmoved, his posture as rigid and still as a statue.

“So were you the ones who sent those bandits?” Mr. Immortal remarked with a touch of humor in his voice.

“No,” Leo corrected, his tone firm and unyielding. “The bandits interfered and ruined my plan to acquire the harp. They were hired by someone from the North.” He let his gaze rest on Mr. King for a moment, his words heavy with unspoken accusation.

Mr. Immortal’s curiosity was piqued, the air thickening with tension.

Feeling the weight of Leo’s stare, Mr. King shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His usual composed demeanor faltered slightly, a subtle movement betraying his unease. The moment was brief, but it was enough for those paying close attention to notice.

“So, how would you like to be paid, Mr. Clone?”

“I’m not in need of any items at the moment,” Leo replied, calculating his next move.

“Then how about 50 magisterial gold coins?” Mr. Immortal offered.

Leo wasn’t entirely sure what a magisterial gold coin was, but the offer sounded substantial. Just as he was about to agree, Ms. Shadow interjected, her voice cutting through the discussion.

“Mr. Immortal, you’ve just been given the name of a legendary item,” she said, her tone serious.

Mr. Immortal sighed, clearly not wanting to argue. “Fine, 100 gold it is,” he conceded, nodding to Leo as he sealed the deal.

Leo didn’t fully understand the value of 100 magisterial gold coins, but he knew one thing—it was a significant amount. He worked hard to suppress the joy bubbling up inside him, managing only a slight nod in acknowledgment to Mr. Immortal, keeping his expression neutral.

The silence that followed their exchange was broken by Mr. Crow, who spoke in a thoughtful tone. “It seems the relocation of the harp and the skirmish that took place a while ago in Flesa might be connected.”

Mr. Immortal smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “It looks like you have a lot of disruptors to deal with, Mr. Clone.”

Leo remained silent, merely meeting Mr. Immortal’s gaze with a subtle smile. His expression conveyed a silent message: this game was far from over.

Annoyance flickered across Mr. Immortal’s face as he leaned back in his chair, clearly displeased with Leo’s silent defiance.

Sensing the tension, Ms. Eye quickly shifted the conversation. “Putting that aside, I’ve heard that an archmage in the Magic Kingdom has successfully negotiated with the Northern Kingdom to form and dispatch a group near the Shadow Wall at the land of darkness border to investigate some anomalies.”

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“That was expected,” Ms. Shadow interjected, her voice cool and measured.

Ms. Eye frowned slightly, confused by the certainty in Ms. Shadow’s response. “Why?”

“In recent months, the number of creatures emerging from the Shadow Land has increased significantly. Not only that, but they’re also becoming stronger,” Ms. Shadow explained.

Mr. Crow leaned forward, intrigued. “How strong are we talking about?”

Ms. Shadow’s expression turned grim. “Previously, we might see a single B-rank creature emerge once a month. But now, we’re seeing two to three per month, and occasionally, one of them is A-rank.”

Mr. Immortal waved off the concern, his tone dismissive. “A-rank? We still have time.”

Ms. Shadow didn’t let his dismissiveness pass unchallenged. “This escalation has happened in just a few months, Mr. Immortal. What if it’s a sign that the dragon is waking up?” she pointed out, her words hanging heavily in the air.

Mr. Crow nodded in agreement. “And that’s precisely why they’re investigating,” he added, a hint of worry in his voice.

Leo’s mind raced as he tried to piece together the implications of what they were discussing. ‘Dragon? What the hell is going on in that Shadow Land?’ he wondered, feeling a rising tide of confusion. It was clear that everyone else in the room was already familiar with these developments, so Leo chose to remain silent, not wanting to reveal his ignorance. He already knew about the dragons from the books, but he doubted that this dragon was the same as the others.

Ms. Eye shifted the conversation once more, her curiosity steering them to another topic. “By the way, have the Light Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom negotiated? Is there going to be a war?”

“They’re in negotiations as we speak, but I don’t have any information on the outcome,” Mr. King responded, his tone guarded.

Before anyone could delve further into the topic, a new voice cut through the conversation. “I have a few items available, if anyone’s interested,” came the unexpected offer.

All eyes turned toward the speaker. They had expected Mr. Crow to be the one offering goods, but to their surprise, it was Mr. Light who had spoken.

When Mr. Light had everyone’s attention, he continued with his offer, his tone smooth and businesslike.

“Two days ago, my expedition discovered a new island teeming with morlocks. I’ve brought back several items related to them. Among these, I have the heart and brain of a high morlock, which I’m offering for sale. Additionally, I have a staff—its name is unknown to me—but it possesses the ability to control water and summon a small rainstorm. However, a peculiar side effect is that you’re perpetually wet while using it. I’m selling it for thirty gold coins.”

“Wet? What kind of negative effect is that?” Mr. Crow, typically the one selling items, was puzzled by the staff’s quirk.

Without giving Mr. Crow’s confusion much thought, Ms. Eye spoke up decisively. “I’ll take it.”

“I’ll take the heart and the brain,” Mr. Immortal quickly added, as if he’d been anticipating this opportunity. “And I also want about thirty of the smaller morlocks—their hearts, livers, and lungs.”

Mr. Light nodded, acknowledging their purchases, and then continued with his pitch. “We also came across an ancient cave with a mural depicting an old god named Osara. I’ve never seen this information in any book I’ve read, so I compiled a small book about it. I’m offering it for ten gold coins.”

“Osara? Who is that?” Mr. Immortal asked, intrigued despite his vast knowledge.

“I’ll take that book,” Mr. Crow said, not missing a beat.

“Me too,” added Ms. Eye.

Almost everyone expressed interest, with the exception of Mr. Sage and Ms. Shadow, who remained silent and still. Even Leo, who had recently come into some wealth, found himself intrigued by the mysterious god. Now that he had the means, he also decided to purchase a copy.

The room buzzed with the quiet exchanges, the anticipation of acquiring new knowledge and items palpable in the air. Leo felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he had made a smart investment, while the others seemed just as eager to get their hands on the rare finds Mr. Light had brought to the table.

As the conversation began to wind down, nearing the end of the meeting, Mr. Immortal cleared his throat, the subtle sound enough to command the attention of everyone present. The room seemed to still, and even the ever-present fog appeared to settle around him as he prepared to speak. His voice, though calm, was tinged with a gravity that made each word resonate.

“I have a request," he began, his tone deliberate. "There is a book known as ‘The Book of the Dead’ that I need. This is no ordinary tome; it’s a legendary item, and its pages are scattered across the world. Each page comes with its own curse, its own negative effect—some as harmless as inducing a deep sleep through an illusion, others as dangerous as death itself. I strongly advise against looking at these pages directly.”

Ms. Eye, who had been leaning back in her chair, suddenly straightened with newfound interest. Her voice, usually playful, now carried an edge of enthusiasm. “How can we find these pages?”

Mr. Immortal let out a slow breath before answering. “No one truly knows their locations," he explained, his gaze sweeping over the room. "Over the last three hundred years, only two pages have surfaced that I am aware of. So, if you find yourselves in an ancient ruin, a forgotten vault, or the underbelly of a major city, keep these pages in mind. They are not easy to come by, but I am prepared to pay handsomely for each one.”

Mr. Crow, who had been quietly absorbing the information, leaned forward, steepling his fingers. His reputation as the foremost expert on rare and valuable items meant his interest was piqued by the mention of such a legendary artifact. “I always thought the book you’re talking about was a myth,” he said, his voice thoughtful. "But knowing that you possess two pages yourself... That changes things. Even if one of us were to find a page, its value couldn’t simply be measured in gold coins.”

Mr. Immortal nodded, acknowledging the truth in Mr. Crow’s words. “Of course. I have far more than gold to offer in exchange. Power, knowledge—whatever it takes to secure these pages.”

The air grew thick with anticipation as silence settled over the room. It was clear that Mr. Immortal’s request had heightened the stakes of their dealings. Eyes darted from one member to another, weighing the gravity of the legendary item against their own ambitions. When no one spoke up, attention slowly turned toward Mr. Crow, who typically had something to offer in these meetings.

Mr. Crow blinked, momentarily surprised by the expectation in their gazes. Then, with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he broke the tension. “I don’t have anything to offer this time.”

A ripple of surprise washed over the gathering. Mr. Crow, who was notorious for always having a trove of items to trade, was empty-handed. It was rare for him to admit as much, adding to the sense that this meeting had been anything but ordinary.

With nothing more to add, the room fell into a final, anticipatory silence. The fog swirled gently around them, thick and unyielding. Then, Mr. Sage, who had remained a silent sentinel throughout, finally spoke in his calm, authoritative voice. “This meeting is over, see you all next Sunday.”

Leo felt the world around him shift, the weight of the conclave lifting as reality slowly reasserted itself. He blinked, finding himself back in his room, still leaning against his bed. The shadows of the meeting lingered in his mind, each detail replaying itself as he considered the revelations and the powerful artifacts now occupying the thoughts of the order’s members.