The Omnipresent Force

The air in the bustling hall of the Beyonder gathering was thick with anticipation. Elliot walked away from the auction floor, his mind still swirling with the mystery of the Sequence 9 potion formula and the unsettling name, Arcanist. The weight of the pen and crystal in his inventory only added to the sense that something bigger was unfolding around him—something he couldn't yet fully grasp.

Determined to make sense of the formula he'd obtained, Elliot immediately began searching for the ingredients. He reviewed the list over and over, trying to discern where he could acquire each rare item. It wasn't easy, not in a place as chaotic and deceptive as the Beyonder gathering, but his keen eyes caught every whisper, every mention of items that could be of use.

Hours passed as he sifted through the goods of various sellers. A mix of rarities, relics, and everyday commodities—most of which were overpriced for the average person, but for someone like Elliot, they might hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the potion formula. After thorough inspection, he managed to gather all the supplementary ingredients listed—herbs, crystals, and rare oils—all for the relatively low cost of 50 pounds.

Still, one crucial ingredient remained elusive: 30 grams of Manaweave Ore Dust.

He inquired about it at every stall, his heart sinking each time. The sellers either hadn't heard of it or dismissed it as a fairy tale. The material was nowhere to be found, and as the hours drew on, Elliot felt frustration creeping in.

It was then that a figure appeared at his side—a scruffy man with an unkempt appearance, his clothes ragged but his eyes sharp. The man's face was weathered, and he reeked of desperation, but his approach to Elliot was oddly deliberate.

"You looking for Manaweave Ore Dust?" the beggar asked, his voice hoarse yet confident.

Elliot regarded the man carefully, instinctively wary of the encounter. His eyes scanned the beggar, noting how he seemed to hover just outside the regular crowd—out of place, yet not quite invisible.

"Yes," Elliot replied, his voice cautious. "Do you have any?"

The beggar smiled slyly, his eyes glinting with a mixture of greed and curiosity. "I do. But it'll cost you. 500 pounds."

Elliot couldn't suppress a laugh. The price was absurd, more than any of the high-end items at the auction. But the beggar was serious, and Elliot's thoughts raced. There was no way he could afford that—especially not with the other purchases he'd made.

"500 pounds is a bit... steep," Elliot said, his mind working quickly. "Is there anything else you'd accept in trade?"

The beggar raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Anything else? What do you have?"

Elliot's mind worked in overdrive. He had little to offer, but one thing came to mind. The beggar's interest in information had caught his attention.

"Actually," Elliot began carefully, "I could give you information. But it's not something I can just hand over casually."

The beggar's eyes narrowed, suspicious yet interested. "Information on what? The only information of value to me is the whereabout of Ince Zangwill, but no one knows where he is."

Elliot took a deep breath. He knew the risk of what he was about to do. The sealed artifact Quill of Alzuhod also known as 0-08 was connected to Ince Zangwill—an incredibly dangerous figure, and the bearer of a secret power. If Elliot revealed Zangwill's whereabouts, the artifact would inevitably find him and try to control him. But, as a transmigrator, he knew where Zangwill was located—and he was certain the beggar was hunting him.

"I know where Ince Zangwill is," Elliot said, keeping his voice steady. "But I'll only tell you where he is if you're willing to make a trade. I'll write it down, but you'll only be able to open the note once I've left this place."

The beggar's face twisted into a mix of disbelief and skepticism. "Impossible. You think you know where Zangwill is?"

Elliot nodded slowly. "I do. But only if you're willing to accept it. I'll write it down, but you'll have to authenticate it yourself."

For a moment, the beggar said nothing, his eyes flickering with suspicion. Then, finally, he spoke.

"Alright, write it down. But I'll make sure it's authentic before we continue."

Elliot quickly wrote the location on a scrap of paper—the red chimney in Tingen. He folded the paper and then handed it to the beggar, who immediately began some form of verification. Elliot couldn't see the method, but after a tense moment, the beggar's face shifted to one of stunned disbelief.

"This... this is it," the beggar muttered, looking at the note with awe and trepidation. "I can't believe it."

Without further hesitation, he handed over the 30 grams of Manaweave Ore Dust. Elliot took the precious ingredient without a second thought, tucking it securely into his inventory along with the rest of his items.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Elliot said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his mind already racing with the implications of what had just transpired. He had what he needed, but there was no time to waste. He needed to leave the Beyonder gathering before things became more complicated.

As Elliot made his exit, the beggar stood frozen for a moment, watching him disappear into the crowd. Once he was sure Elliot was gone, the beggar turned and hurried toward a nearby telegram machine. His hands were quick, typing furiously as he relayed the information to his superiors at the Nighthawks.

The message was clear:

Ince Zangwill's location is confirmed. The Red Chimney in Tingen.

The beggar paused for a moment, his eyes lingering on the message as he reflected on the transaction. Elliot's identity still puzzled him. How had he known Zangwill's location? And who was he, really? No ordinary man could possess such knowledge and make such a trade without consequences.

He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Elliot than met the eye. He'd trade for dust, but what was the true cost of the information? The beggar's thoughts drifted to the sealed artifact, 0-08, and the danger it posed. If anyone had the audacity to know Zangwill's whereabouts and still walk freely, they would be dangerous, indeed.