Having completed the task of identifying the artifacts, Aaron finally took a moment to enjoy his lunch, a well-deserved break he had put off since arriving at the facility. Hoping to share the meal with either Luo or Garry, he looked around but found none of them in sight.
After lunch, with time on his hands while waiting for the others to arrive and collect the identified artifacts, Aaron decided to tend to his daily tasks. As he prepared to begin, a notification from the Gacha app on his phone caught his attention.
[Enough tokens to upgrade the system. Upgrade the system?]
Intrigued, Aaron read the description of the notification, realizing that he had accumulated sufficient tokens for an upgrade.
"100 item tokens and 10 skills tokens to upgrade... So, I'll have just 9 tokens left afterward," he pondered, weighing the decision carefully.
The thought of parting with almost all his tokens gave him pause, but he knew that upgrading the system could bring valuable enhancements. With a deep breath, he finally made up his mind and pressed 'Yes.'
"Congratulations! You are one step closer to becoming the Artifact Master. By now, you have encountered fake artifacts and those genuine one crafted by the previous Artifact Master. You might wonder how and why these artifacts exist. Rest assured, such knowledge will be unveiled in due time. Keep upgrading the system, and the truth will reveal itself when the time is right. Continue growing, future Artifact Master."
Aaron was taken aback by the sudden message from the system. Though the revelation was still vague, he felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that he was on a path to become the Artifact Master, even if he didn't fully comprehend what that title meant.
"Well, let's explore any changes after upgrading the system," Aaron thought as he navigated the app.
Upon opening it, he noticed a new tab on the screen labeled "Artifact Forge!" Excitement bubbled inside him at the prospect of discovering this new function. But when he tapped the tab, his excitement turned into disappointment as the space before him remained empty, devoid of any messages or buttons. It seemed like he was left to figure everything out on his own.
"Guess I have to explore it blindly," Aaron sighed.
He spent a few minutes trying various actions within the app until he accidentally pressed the empty box on the new function. To his surprise, the app activated the camera function, allowing him to snap a picture of an object. As he tested the function by capturing a spoon on the table, the spoon vanished, replaced by a picture of the same spoon within the box.
Curiously, three boxes with numbers 1, 2, and 3 materialized. He tapped the first box, marked with number 1.
The box closed briefly, followed by a dramatic curtain-like animation, and when it reopened, the spoon appeared once again. This time, an artifact description appeared beneath the box.
"It's really an artifact forging machine... But how many tokens did it cost?" Aaron mumbled to himself.
Checking the tokens he had, he realized that the forging process consumed three of his item tokens.
"Well, that's not too bad... Let's see what kind of artifact I've just created!" he said with renewed excitement.
[Psychic Magic Prop (Common) - An artifact made by a newbie Artifact Master with no direction or objective whatsoever. Allows the user to employ a very basic telekinesis skill. The energy consumption will improve once the artifact is upgraded. Not bonded to anyone.]
Aaron found himself caught off guard by the artifact description. Though it seemed straightforward, he had just stumbled upon the revelation that he was the rightful Artifact Master.
The newfound responsibility left him feeling uncertain. Crafting artifacts was a completely foreign concept to him until the forging function appeared. With this new ability, he realized that he could now shape the kind of artifact he wanted to create, or at least decide its purpose and direction.
Yet, at this moment, he felt utterly clueless, lacking the expertise to wield this newfound power. Moreover, his token count was still less than 10, which limited his freedom to experiment with the new forging function until he collected more tokens.
He pondered for a while, realizing that there was so much to learn about the system, not to mention the lack of guidance. The system provided no instructions, he had to figure everything out on his own.
Taking a moment to contemplate his future, Aaron knew that he wanted to embrace the path of becoming the Artifact Master. While he didn't have a detailed plan in mind, one thing was clear.
He had to diligently complete all the daily tasks assigned by the system without missing a single one. This dedication would be the key to unlocking his potential and mastering the world of artifacts.
Garry trailed behind Marco, while Luo walked alongside him. The king had summoned Garry for a private meeting in an underground safe haven located within the Capital. The bunker, built by the royal families as a precaution against the ongoing threat of the Diabolic Dominion, served as a refuge where the royals could seek shelter until the Capital was deemed secure.
Despite being called a "bunker," the interior of the facility exuded opulence and comfort. Countless billions had been invested in its construction, and Garry had been involved as a contractor, giving him intimate knowledge of every detail within.
As the trio approached the main door of the bunker, the security personnel diligently checked and scanned each individual entering without any discrimination. While Garry found the security procedures somewhat irksome, he understood their necessity especially considering the significance of the meeting with the king.
Marco and Luo, who had served as Garry's protectors for decades, handled everything with utmost professionalism. They ensured Garry's safety and effortlessly managed all the mundane tasks, from completing the necessary documentation to gaining entry into the bunker.
As the trio stepped inside the bunker, they were immediately greeted by a group of Royal Army soldiers, their faces veiled to conceal their identities. These elite soldiers, distinct from the regular troops, were under direct command of the King himself.
Garry recognized them from his earlier days working closely with the King, even before he ascended the throne following the abdication of the previous monarch.
Half an hour later, they found themselves inside a meeting room with less than 10 people present, including Garry and his loyal butlers. On the opposite side of the table sat the current king of the country, accompanied only by his daughter, Clarissa.
The room was filled with a sense of formality, with Arthur, Garry and Clarissa seated while the others from their side stood dutifully behind them.
"It's been a while, Garry... You look healthier than ever," Arthur spoke softly, his gaze warm and sincere.
Garry couldn't help but appreciate the genuine concern in the king's words. The memory of his past struggles, plagued by the aftereffects of using his artifact, flashed before him. Back then, he had been pale and bedridden, his health deteriorating.
"Hoho, I suppose I've stumbled upon the miracle I had been searching for," Garry replied with a hint of humor. "Anyway, let's get to the point. There must be a reason you requested to meet me in person. It's the first time since you were crowned that you've sought a meeting with me."
They reminisced about the past, reconnecting as old friends, although it had been quite some time since they had seen each other. The revelation of their friendship surprised everyone present, as it had long been assumed that Garry and the king were rivals, given their apparent absence from each other's company.
The sight of Arthur and Garry engaging in a friendly conversation, without any formalities, left the room in awe, even catching Clarissa off guard as she witnessed her father's newfound warmth towards others.
Yet, the lighthearted atmosphere shifted as Arthur's tone grew serious, leading to the most critical question of the meeting.
"Is he truly worth it? Are you willing to divert all your forces from the mercenary association?" Arthur inquired calmly but with a hint of gravity, his gaze locked onto Garry.
The room fell silent, all attention focused on Garry and the king.
Garry nodded, his smile calm and unwavering as he looked at Arthur.
Amusement flickered across Arthur's face, intrigued by Garry's composed response. He wasted no time in delving into the question he was most eager to know personally.
"Did he surpass my scores with your artifact?" Arthur inquired earnestly.
Garry's answer came swiftly, a resolute "Yes."