Chapter 1 Invitation

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Li Ou is sorting out the laboratory. He planned to move some less dangerous things to the attic, set up a tin table there, use alchemy to treat oak boards as walls, and open up the low and inclined attic into another laboratory. In this way, the laboratory with strict underground protection can be vacancies so that he can do some large-scale experiments. But this is undoubtedly a huge project.

"Liou." Lu Yuewu called him at the entrance of the basement, "Can you go out with me?" She invited.

Li Ou was quite surprised. Where are you going?" As he asked, he put down the wooden box in his arms and patted the dust on his body and walked out. Where's Rosie?"

"She is reading. Only then will she be very quiet. This is very similar to yours. Leo felt that her eyes seemed to have a different meaning. She paused and then said, "I ordered a dagger."

A dagger is more dangerous than a long sword, but more effective.

Li Ou climbed the stairs, grabbed Lu Yuewu's outstretched hand and jumped out.

"At Balode?" He is tidying up his clothes.

Lu Yuewu nodded, "He is skilled."

"Okay, that's it." Leo reminded, "Remember to bring wine to see him."

"Of course." She raised the corners of her mouth gently.

At this time, it was a few weeks after they escaped from the ruins, and everything seemed to be calm. Only the "clown" Alan Hurt disappeared, as if he had never appeared. However, the black morning is like the black clouds in the storm season, which always weighs on their hearts gloomyly. Soldiers on the street can be seen everywhere, patrolling in twos and threes. They are like mice, Li Ou thought, who didn't know when they would come out and make a scene and spread the plague.

They walked side by side. Lu Yuewu suddenly asked, "Li Ou, what is recorded on that scroll?"

A prophecy in just a few words. The summoning array of the alchemist. Li Ou lowered his voice and said, "Summon alien demons."

"The excitement on your face is exactly the same as when Rosie saw the gold coins."

"Real?" Li Ou touched his face, but still couldn't stop laughing, "Because the devil is the perfect experimental material." He paused and said, "It's also a strong enough opponent. Your sword will like them."

Lu Yuewu nodded. But there is one problem that must be solved.

"We have to repair the house and expand the laboratory." Li Ou shrugged his shoulders, "I'm doing it."

Lu Yuewu looked at him sideways and raised a realistic question that Leo had to face, "Do you have money?" Yes, he has no money, so he has to keep working hard. Maybe it's time to ask for another commission promised by the "clown"?

They passed through the gate of the tower shield and entered the working workshop in the ringing east of the city. If the alarm rings loud, will they hear it, then throw away the work in their hands and escape into the cellar full of scrap metal? Leo couldn't help thinking about it.

The sound of tapping on the street fits the ticking horse's hoofs under the body, and the sound of the wheeled axle is like a sleep-jerking note. The rickety carriage finally stopped, and Leo couldn't wait to jump out of the carriage and try his best to stretch his stiff and numb body. You need to exercise." Lu Yuewu cruelly told him, "You haven't done your swordsmanship practice for a long time."

Barrod's store still seems to be closed today. The chimney extending from the top of the square-shaped stone house to the sky only emitted a few sparse white smoke, and the shop door facing the street was half open, and the sound of hammer beating steel could not be heard.

Li Ou pushed the door to enter. Barrod sat at the table facing them, with a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table; the other man wore a rain-proof cloak and turned his back to them. The dwarf seemed to be talking about something with the man, but when he saw Li Ou and Luyuewu visiting together, he suddenly raised his voice.

He dropped the cup and said, "I won't agree!" The dwarf patted the table and stood up and shouted, "You are a group of blood-sucking mosquitoes."

"Barrod?"

"In addition to disturbing people's dreams, you are also insatiable." The dwarf did not flinch. "Your stomachs are full of steaming blood, but you are still not satisfied. This time? I'm sure you'll have another time, next time."

"What are you talking about?" The man raised the volume and interrupted him. The light from outside the door lengthen the shadow of the visitors and enveloped the wine pots and cups between them. The man turned around and saw them. Mr. Leo and Miss Moon Dance. Sinsak smiled exaggeratedly. That's definitely not the joy of meeting an old friend. Li Ou thought, it's more like a forced joy.

"I don't welcome you here. Get out of here!" Balod kicked Sinsak. "It's better to save your saliva and leave it to the dark-skinned human woman than to waste your mouth."

The dwarf's behavior made Leo doubt whether he was hiding something from him. But on second thought, everyone has secrets. Perhaps, the dwarf just doesn't want him to have any contact with the thousand-faced smugglers. Although Leo himself does not reject it.

"Those women like strong sailors with scars on their faces." Hinsak pulled his collar and tried to make himself look more gentlemanly. I can't satisfy them." This is the truth, Li Ou admitted. Only the lady of Jiandun District favors Xinshak, a kind of deceiver with a smile on her face and a honey-bellied sword.

"I guess no one likes you." The dwarf muttered.

"Then you don't have to worry about it." Sinsak didn't care. "There are enough women at sea. They are enthusiastic and open, and they will sing and dance when they stop at every port. They will pull you to drink and let you dance with them. They don't care about your origin, or whether you are tall, thin, poor or rich. Barrod, you should go sailing with me to test their enthusiasm.

He is talking about the waves - Li Ou's words - and the angry sea.

"You will never spit out good words from your mouth." Barrod turned around and cursed, "Get out!" He urged to drive away again. Then he ignored him again and turned around and groped for a wooden box from under the counter. Miss Dongfang, this is your sword.

There is a curved dagger with silver in the box covered with duck down cushions. It's not so much a dagger as a knife. The handle of the knife is shark bone, and the knife body is as narrow and thin as cicada wings, showing a dead grayish white.

"Terrible sharp blade." Hinsak commented, "People who can play with it must have flexible fingers and outstanding abilities." Lu Yuewu didn't seem to hear it. She took the dagger and stabbed it in the air and put it into the sheath close to the leather pants. Sinsak could only pull the corners of his mouth dryly.

"You haven't left yet?" Balode seemed to be tired of seeing him. "I thought you were the ghost in front of me."

"I have nothing to do." Sinsak explained.

Barrod's pupil suddenly contracted. This time, Li Ou saw it clearly. He raised his head, no longer cared about the height defect, and stared into the other party's eyes. What are you talking about? His voice suddenly became sharp, and it was not too harsh to describe it.

"Don't worry, Barrod." Sinsak smiled as a businessman, "I have my own proportion." What kind of riddle are they playing?" I know how to write the word 'secret'. Of course, I know what to say and what not to say.

Sasha repeatedly mentioned "secrets" in the dark. It is related to me. Leo read the information he revealed from his hints. But Balode must also know his deep meaning. Li Ou glanced at the dwarf quickly, but saw that he didn't seem to hear Xinshaq's implication. But Leo clearly understands that his heart is much more dull and cunning than the surface.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly, and fart!" Balrod said rudely.

"You have had your own experience of previous events," he refers to the underground temple. I only heard him say, "You should know that our manpower has suffered heavy losses."

"What does it have to do with me?"

"We are not short of money, but we lack leaders."

"Do you think I can?" Li Ou couldn't help laughing, "I have no qualifications and no capital. Why should I take the lead? Your words? Besides, I didn't join Qianmen.

"You obey Hurt, I know." I won't obey anyone." But this matter has nothing to do with the Nova Chamber of Commerce and Hutt. You see it as an opportunity to earn extra money. As far as I know, you are still short of money. Alan Hurt has disappeared, and the reward he promised you is like a castle in the air.

Li Ou couldn't help but be surprised by his well-informed information. So what?"

"This opportunity should not be missed."

Sinshaq continued to brag. Leo looked at Balode, but he still didn't say a word. From being wary of thousands of hands to sitting by and not being ignored. Have they discussed it? Lu Yuewu, who was beside him, looked at him. He made up his mind.

"What do you want me to do?" Li Ou smiled strangely, "Do you want me to dance with the wave fairy, or are you going to feed the hungry shark?"

"Never." Sinsak categorically denied it. You don't need to join thousands of hands, and you don't have to worry about coercion for us. Only this time, I asked you for help, just for me. His eyes do not hide his greed for power and wealth. It's not for thousands of hands, just for me." He stared into Leo's eyes and emphasized, "A friend."