Chapter 155: Puppet Design Blueprint

[You have accepted the item from the Candle Witch.]

A line of highlighted text appeared.

[You have obtained the “Black Candle.”]

[Black Candle:
Nature: Void, Blade
Description: A candle stained with the blood of sinners, created by a humble cremator.
Effect: When lit with a special flame, its light launches a psychic assault against calamity creatures of void and blade nature, causing their movements to stiffen. It also enhances your mental resistance against attacks from blade and void entities.
Additionally, if you are afflicted by curses from void or blade types, this item can dispel them.
Usage Requirement: This item can only be ignited with a special flame.]

You sense a connection between this item and your magic technique.

The special flame must refer to black fire.

Chen Qi swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The mere ability to launch a rare psychic attack against void and blade calamity monsters already made this a remarkable artifact.

Curses were a special form of attack, requiring many conditions to cast and thus extremely rare.

Yet this also granted a unique defense, since once a curse was unleashed, it was difficult to resist.

Chen Qi had to admit, he was somewhat tempted.

[The Candle Witch coughed twice. By accepting this gift, you have metaphorically placed half your foot under her command, and half your foot away from the Flower Witch.]

“???”

Chen Qi was momentarily stunned.

[The Candle Witch continued: In District 8 of New City, due to the danger of the Black Prison technique, it is ranked as the top forbidden knowledge. That you have mastered it and remained sane is very rare.
Within the Black Prison dwell many blade and void creatures; this will be useful to you.]

Chen Qi pursed his lips; there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

[The Candle Witch asked again: Are you willing to become a free treasure hunter?]

[Option One: Accept the Candle Witch’s invitation and go to the Treasure Hunter Association in two days to undergo some tests.
Option Two: Decline and continue as a gatherer for the Tower of Herbs.]

It was time to make a choice...

All the Candle Witch’s earlier words had been leading to this moment.

Chen Qi opened the forum and searched for posts about treasure hunters.

From the forum’s perspective, in District 8 of New City, this was the profession best suited for those aligned with the Light aspect, second only to the Plague Messenger.

Of course, the danger was considerable; even powerful hunters like Kano often stumbled.

Moreover, joining meant access to detailed maps and information.

Chen Qi thought it over and chose to accept.

[You nodded silently, agreeing to take the treasure hunter’s assessment.]

[“Great!”
Hearing your answer, the flames in the Candle Witch’s hair brightened.]

[But soon her expression grew serious:
“I must leave now, but there is one last very important thing you must remember.”]

One last important thing...

Chen Qi was startled. What could be so important?

[The Candle Witch pricked up her ears, ensuring no one could overhear, then whispered to you:
Before you leave the Tower of Herbs, be sure to declare it is your own will to leave. She has not given you any real items!
Otherwise, her act of recruiting you may be poisoned by the Flower Witch’s schemes.
This is not baseless rumor.
She once went to the Plague Messenger’s Tower, claiming to be of royal blood, seeking to find the royal treasure alongside two Plague Messengers.
She was then chased by the Crow Witch’s flock of ravens for a full fifty kilometers! Fifty kilometers!]

[Although the Flower Witch usually seems easygoing, she is still New City’s strongest poison master, and most potions are purchased from her.
If the Flower Witch discovers this, her potions might be laced with terrifying substances.
Just to be safe, you must tell others that your joining the treasure hunters is by your own choice, unrelated to her, and you have received no bribes.]

[“Remember, I haven’t given you anything...”
The Candle Witch said earnestly. She holds you in high regard. The detective was right—you not only have the potential to become a candle lighter, but may even inherit her position as witch.]

[“You must remember this.”
She then gently blew out the candle, and as the flame died, so did her figure.]

“...”

Everything had seemed normal until this final message.

Chen Qi was speechless. This Candle Witch seemed rather eccentric—perhaps even more so than the Flower Witch.

Her meaning was clear: before quitting, inform your superior you are leaving of your own accord and that your new employer gave you no gifts.

But judging from previous texts, the Flower Witch surely understood the Candle Witch’s intentions.

Is the Flower Witch truly the sort to poison others?

Chen Qi pondered.

Though he had to admit, the Floral Spirit potions the Flower Witch made were hardly pleasant in taste.

Chen Qi rubbed his head, then had his game character return to study the “Form of the Light Feather.”

He glanced at the time and marked down the assessment at the Treasure Hunter Association two days hence.

Chen Qi shook his head. Since becoming a gatherer, he had spent most days wandering outside rather than gathering herbs.

The treasure hunter profession seemed more specialized than gathering herbs, and most importantly, he might obtain some valuable blade and void items from the Candle Witch.

After all, she herself appeared aligned with both light and blade aspects.

After the conversation, Chen Qi opened the Artisan Guild forum homepage, preparing to buy tools for crafting a black box.

The Artisan Guild was a forum gathering hammer aspect artisans, with many master crafters.

Because magic stones in New City contained immense power, crafting feats impossible on old Earth were now achievable.

Chen Qi glanced at the trending posts:

“On the technical realization of Gundam.”
“Anyone know the White Puppeteer’s contact? I’m a bit shy but want to study doll maids.”
“Flying Castle limited-time sale! Only one White Day coin!”
“On combining automotive tech with magic stone tech.”
...

Chen Qi found the Artisan Guild’s shop; he needed some tools to channel spiritual energy within stones.

Making a simple black box was not difficult and required no advanced expertise, just skillful hands.

At that moment, he noticed a post selling a “Hammer of Burning Desire.”

Chen Qi checked the item.

[Hammer of Burning Desire:
Nature: Hammer
Description: The strongest tool forged in flames.
Effect: A powerful forging tool capable of channeling the power within materials!
Seller’s note: Even novices can use it.]

Price: 3 White Day coins.

Chen Qi hesitated; it was a bit pricey.

Beneath the seller’s post, some text was highlighted in red:

“Will trade for one intermediate or higher-level doll internal design blueprint!”

Doll design blueprints?

Chen Qi scrolled through the posts. Doll crafting had become the second hottest topic on the Artisan Guild forum!

He thought for a moment—he actually possessed such an item.

On the Textile Train, he had acquired calamity data on dolls, including photographs of their internal structures.

The Artisan Guild players’ passion for doll maids was no small matter.

Some had design blueprints but none as good as his.

Thus many begged the White Puppeteer to sell them a blueprint.

Yet the White Puppeteer remained aloof, ignoring their pleas.

“This might be a money-making opportunity.”

Chen Qi multitasked, noting the posts of players seeking blueprints; the market demand was huge.

Not only did Artisan Guild players yearn to craft better dolls, many regular players wanted to buy one.

Chen Qi’s Shadow Soul was superior to dolls in all respects except appearance.

“Shadow Soul, fetch me a bottle of water.”

Chen Qi controlled Shadow Soul to pour water, then carefully scanned the forum.

The Artisan Guild’s forum rules stipulated that one design blueprint could not be sold multiple times.

The highest bidder was the seller of the Hammer of Burning Desire, a player named Firesmith, who was also one of the Artisan Guild’s moderators and brother to the top-tier player Inksmith.

Chen Qi entered the chat.

Firesmith: “How can I help? Lately it’s been busy with many big shots requesting gear crafting, so replies might be slow.”

During the open beta, many Artisan Guild players were extremely busy.

Chen Qi sent a portion of his data to Firesmith, the top-tier player.

He drank some water and waited.

Suddenly, the chat window vibrated.

Firesmith: “Sorry for the slow reply, big shot! A high-level doll blueprint! A rare male model, too! Got more, big shot?”

He sent ten consecutive messages: “Big shot, are you there?”

Firesmith: “Big shot, you still here!?”

Stop spamming...

Chen Qi took another sip, looked over the doll data in his hands, and as expected, it would fetch a high price.

(The chapter ends here.)