Chapter 138: Rumors

The Book of Keys?
What kind of book is that? A book used to pick locks?
Chen Qi looked at the text.

【You reveal a look of curiosity and ask the other party what the Book of Keys is.】
【The frail treasure hunter, Kano, slowly sits up, eats a bite of dried meat, and gazes at you with hollow eyes.】
【He slowly explains the origin of the Book of Keys to you.
In the New Capital, occult arts are tiered, and some grimoires record powers of destruction.
In the New Capital, any such destructive books that have existed are sealed by the power of "Forbidden Script."
These books are sealed with forbidden words, and the more powerful the forbidden book, the more difficult it is to translate.
To translate these books, one must rely on the power of an Aspect of the Book or some terrifying calamity.
The treasure hunter says that his Book of Keys is a book capable of deciphering parts of these forbidden scripts.
He obtained it by chance under the guidance of the Aspect of the Lantern, entering a secret library realm filled with books; it was the most miraculous realm he had ever experienced in his life.
He traded something of great importance to obtain the Book of Keys from that library realm.
As for what important thing he traded for the Book of Keys, Kano has already forgotten.】

The Book of Keys is a book for deciphering other books...
There are such good things!
His current Book of the Black Prison contains some Void-aspect arts that require high aspect values, which he cannot learn for the time being!
And according to the previous book displays, both the advanced moves for the Burial of Black Fire and the Domain of Black Fire require translating the subsequent pages.
Furthermore, the later books also involve "Opening the Door."
He is now in urgent need of learning advanced Black Prison techniques.
Chen Qi takes a deep breath, looking at the text below with excitement.

【The treasure hunter Kano continues, telling you that the Book of Keys can not only decipher books but also possesses the ability to translate certain ciphers and ancient texts.
This is one of the rarest items he has obtained in his life, and therefore, he specifically chose not to bring this item onto the Loom Train, fearing he might lose it here.】
【The treasure hunter Kano swears to you that while the Book of Keys might look unremarkable, in terms of value, based on his many years of experience, it is an absolute treasure of the world!
At this, he thanks you once again; you broke the runes on the cocoon, the runes set by the Witch of the Cocoon that had made it impossible for him to utter a single sound.】

Chen Qi rests his chin on his hand. To be precise, the runes outside the cocoon had nothing to do with him; that was the work of the detective with the right eye.
I wonder if that detective with the right eye is still alive?

【The treasure hunter Kano sighs, saying that if he could have joined the Balance Society under the Inquisition, or had just a little more luck, finding a forbidden book would have been only a matter of time!
But now, he no longer has the heart or strength for it; his body has been drained, and everything must start from scratch, let alone studying forbidden books.】
【The treasure hunter’s lips are parched, and from beneath his tattered clothes, he slowly hands you a map.】

A highly highlighted line of text jumps out.
【You have obtained the treasure hunter Kano’s treasure map and a key!】
【Treasure hunter Kano’s map:】
Checking the panel.
【Treasure hunter Kano’s map:
Description: A treasure hunter’s map. Ever since Kano became a treasure hunter, he has kept this map with him.
On it are marked many treasure locations, as well as the location of his secret small base.】

Chen Qi examines the map.
It records many "Aspect of the Lantern encounter points" as well as the locations of several small bases. It can be said to be a super map!

【The treasure hunter Kano eats the dried meat, his condition improving quite a bit.
He tells you that he hid the Book of Keys and some money in his small base, which is a very safe place.】
This secret small base is located in the area of the Seeker Headquarters; it is indeed a very safe place.

【Kano slowly stands up and begs you for some food and a vial of spirit potion.
This train has become the shadow of his life; he never wants to undergo surgery again in this lifetime.】
Chen Qi looks at his item panel. He is not short on food.
Although many places in the New Capital fall into famine due to the dangerous terrain, he is not short of food.
Food from the New Capital on the player forums sells cheaper than most merchant traders.
It is said that in the Hundred Herb Garden organization, some players have combined modern agricultural technology with the peculiar herbs of the New Capital, completing preliminary cultivation and preparing for mass production.
Chen Qi opens his inventory and gives him the food and a vial of spirit potion.
【You hand some travel food and a vial of spirit potion to the other party.】
【"Thank you! Herb Gatherer, you are my benefactor!"
Kano excitedly accepts the food and, seeing your Herb Gatherer badge, looks a bit surprised.
Although he suspects your identity, he does not say it out loud; after all, people who hide their identities usually have secrets.
Kano lets out a long sigh, and a long-lost smile appears on his parched face.
Before coming to the train, he was a reputable treasure hunter; relying on his name, some people should be willing to help him.】

Chen Qi rests his chin on his hand. When they discover this treasure hunter's identity, they will definitely be shocked and then barrage him with all sorts of questions.

【You slowly tell him about the rumors that his puppet passed the Inquisition’s assessment.】
【"My puppet passed the Inquisition’s examination! Why is my puppet better than me!"
Kano lets out a long sigh; this is simply too absurd. He shakes his head, guessing that there must be an element of rumor involved! Or perhaps someone even fabricated the rumor on purpose!】
Rumors...
After all, most people in District 8 of the New Capital came because of this treasure hunter, Kano.
Chen Qi thinks about it; there is indeed an element of exaggeration here.

After dealing with the treasure hunter, Chen Qi clicks on the train map to go to the forging carriage.
He needs to find a merchant to buy an Aspect of the Lantern stone and then find a highly skilled blacksmith to repair the Bow of Lamp-Fire.

【You bid farewell to the treasure hunter Kano and walk toward the forging carriage.】
【Advancing...】
【You see that on the train, some bold people are approaching you one after another.】
【A portion of them are sizing you up and asking for information.】
【They have heard that you and a curly-haired detective from District 2 of the New Capital were the first to discover that the Witch of the Cocoon was making puppets! It was precisely because you warned the train conductor about this matter that this raving Witch of the Cocoon could be eliminated so quickly.】
【You prick up your ears, listening to their discussion.
Some of them actually guess that you are an undercover agent sent by District 2 to District 8, or a disaster messenger under the Witch of the Crow, given that the Witch of the Crow and the Witch of the Cocoon had a great battle back then.】
【You feel some absurd rumors forming around you; some people have developed admiration for you, while others have thoughts of recruiting you.】
【Game Reminder: Your reputation has increased significantly!
You have now become a part of the stories discussed by people in the tavern; you have become somewhat famous in District 8 of the New Capital!】
Reputation...
Under normal circumstances, an increase in reputation would not trigger a text pop-up.
It seems that due to the large number of people on the train, the number of people who know about this event is too high, causing his fame to soar, which is why this text popped up.

Chen Qi finds a trading merchant; they specialize in exchanging aspect items.
With his reputation, plus the matter of the Lantern Artisan, most merchants dare not cheat or slack off and deal with him honestly.
Chen Qi uses the tree core of the Red Ant Moss to exchange for an Aspect of the Lantern item: 【Torch Feather】.
This is an item containing powerful Aspect of the Lantern energy, just right for repairing the aspect weapon.
Immediately after, Chen Qi goes to find a craftsman to repair his Bow of Lamp-Fire.

【You find an old craftsman from District 6 of the New Capital; he is most skilled at forging Aspect of the Lantern weapons!】
【After discussing, you hand 3 Daylight Coins and the Torch Feather to the other party.】