Chapter 028
After the events at the bar, Alvin went back to the inn, and rejoined Naomi and Cheryl. They then went back to the carnival grounds for the daytime attractions. While they were incomparable to the daytime attractions, they were still fun. In the afternoon, the three of them walked out, with Naomi and Cheryl holding all sorts of stuffed animals.
Alvin had sneakily attended a few other Beyonder gatherings and meeting points in the carnival, and managed to collect the many materials he was missing, like the elder stalk, for the Planter potion, and a stalk of a human-face rose for the Clown potion. Since he did not have the Provocator potion formula, and none of the gatherings here was trustworthy enough to buy it, he had not made any progress for his own pathway.
On another note, Vincent frequently 'ran into' Cheryl and Naomi when he was not present. But the effects of the instigation were less than ideal when people were expecting it. But a show was put on to keep Vincent happy nevertheless. The hunt was planned for the night, and tipping off the prey before then would be unwise.
Alvin broke off again from the two and went back to the tavern he visited last night, to ask Sinsest about the developments.
"News" he asked sipping a beer.
"You have successfully provoked Heldium. He not concealed his wishes to kill you and abuse your corpse. And like you said, a woman came asking for information on Heldium. I gave it to her" said Sinsest.
"Excellent. Everything is going according to plan. I need some information now" asked Alvin.
"Go on" replied Sinsest.
"What is the best neutral place where I can appear, and let Heldium and any other interested party know that I appeared, yet be able to remain unattacked and leave?" asked Alvin.
"There is a tent called Sorona Exclusive. They have some connection to the guy who is running this place. No one is allowed to attack or be attacked there. But no Beyonder gatherings or trade either. But people still sneakily use it to exchange information and news. So guys from basically every party will be there. Their show lasts one hour, during which you won't be disturbed" said Sinsest.
"That's a good place for the bait then. So did you prepare the other stuff I asked for?" asked Alvin.
"Yeah. All those barrels and crates of that stuff dropped off at that spot you requested. But you should be warned, all that stuff can raze a small town to the ground, and the Nighthawks in no way endorse that" said Sinsest.
"Thanks. I got it. This is the rest of your payment, for the sword and the stuff" said Alvin as he passed a few hundred pounds over to Sinsent. He took it, and turned away. Alvin left soon after.
Alvin then rejoined the two girls who were about to return back to the inn.
"So what next?" asked Naomi.
"We return to the inn and take some rest. Vincent seems to be busy instigating elsewhere, and he would likely set us as the last target for the final instigation. He has terrible awareness, so I will follow him for a while to be sure" said Alvin.
"No going to the carnival in the evening?" asked Naomi.
"I'm afraid not. In fact, you should leave the inn after Vincent does his thing. I have another room booked in a different inn a little further away. You should stay there for the night" said Alvin.
"Are you sure that I can't help you?" asked Cheryl worriedly.
"Nah. My plan is very feasible I think. Also, before you reach at least Sequence 7, your pathway has extremely limited combat prowess" said Alvin.
"Also, I found the elder stalk. Coupled with the other ingredient we already have, you can become a Beyonder of the Planter Pathway soon" said Alvin to Naomi.
Then, ignoring the now over ecstatic Naomi, Alvin went out of the inn, again through the window, now wearing the Null Mask. He then went towards the delivery location that Sinsest said the goods he ordered were at.
Inside the Sorona Exclusive circus show, one of the main attractions of the Seven Rings Carnival, another show had started for a while now. The stands at the back were packed to the brim, with excited spectators looking at the various acts on stage.
In the front row, in a mostly empty seat, a burly man looked at the show calmy. He had no excitement of the spectators, nor the seriousness of the security personnel. He just sat by himself, sipping a huge mug of beer, with a shiny silver board sword by his side.
People left the seat next to him empty due to his initimidating figure and the sharp looking sword.
Suddenly, a heavy person sat down next to him with an audible rhud. That person then stroked the sword at the side with an intoxicated expression.
"Nice sword" he said. He then looked up at the man watching the show and said, "Too bad it is owned by a spinless coward"
The other man totally ignored him and kept sipping his mug.
"Hey coward. Can you hear me?" asked the man with irritation on his face.
The other man turned around, looked at the face of the yelling man, then shook his head and turned back to the stage.
"LISTEN HERE YOU PUNK! WHEN I SPEAK, YOU LISTEN AND ANSWER!" bellowed the man now visibly upset.
At this time, a gentle coughing sound came out of nowhere in particular. The man who just yelled looked around to see that the audience and the performance were disrupted by his loud yelling. Hence, he muttered under his breath and sat down. But then he turned back at the other man and glared at him, only to be ignored further.
Throughout the whole performance for the next odd hour, one burly man kept trying to incite the other, only to be completely ignored.
In the end, the dissatisfied burly man simply snorted and left.
Alvin looked at the leaving back of the still shaking with rage Heldium with a smile.