"What are your thoughts on my proposal?" Sucura inquired, delicately placing a bloodstained handkerchief on the desk. He gazed into Shalanta's eyes, his expression tranquil and composed.
[Lvl. 40]
Shalanta and Sucura locked eyes for several minutes, the tension between them palpable. Suddenly, Shalanta's aura expanded, only to dissipate in an instant.
With a sigh, Shalanta raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "What exactly are the conditions you propose?"
"First and foremost, I seek your blessing in the [Moonlight Arts]," Sucura replied calmly.
"Are you familiar with the [Moonlight Arts]?" Shalanta inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Only to a certain extent," Sucura replied thoughtfully. "It's known to enhance one's attributes during twilight, bestowing improved vision as well. For my purposes, a rudimentary understanding should suffice."
Shalanta's eyes darkened as she contemplated his request for a few moments before gesturing for Sucura to continue.
The Mythical Creature residing within Shalanta lay dormant, recovering from its battle with the Abyss Prince.
Pure Aether Crystals could be discovered in the treacherous Basilisk Lairs and the enigmatic Coatyl Dungeons. Hidden within caves, these crystals formed from teardrops of pure mana that fell to the ground. Over several months, the accumulated mana would coalesce into the precious Aether Crystals. Highly sought after by spirit users, these crystals were same rare as Chrysanthemum.
For those who possessed spirits, the crystals were indispensable for enhancing their spirit's abilities within the game. However, acquiring them was a daunting task, as it required facing formidable adversaries with the fearsome bloodline of dragons.
"Secondly, I need a Dimensional Space Ring," Sucura stated. Earlier, when he was on his way to the inn, he had inquired at a shop that sold legitimate dimensional space rings. The lowest price for a one-cubic-meter space ring was 2,000 gold coins.
Sucura thought to himself, 'I'm broke as fuck. If I buy a Dimensional Space Ring on the black market, there's a chance it could be a defective product. Placing important items inside might result in the ring consuming them. It's better to be safe than sorry.'
Shalanta pondered for a moment before asking, "What's the third condition?"
"Vyn's Information," Sucura replied calmly.
After pondering for a few moments, Shalanta finally spoke, "I will acquiesce to your request, but only if you agree to one condition: you must answer a series of my questions."
Sucura offered a discreet nod and replied, "I shall provide answers in the form of a simple yes, no, or a concise response. Will that be satisfactory for you?"
Shalanta consented, "That is indeed acceptable."
After meticulously drafting the Letter of Contracts, they pricked the edge of their finger with a dagger, allowing a droplet of blood to trickle out. Pressing their blood-stained finger to the parchment, the letter began to hover in midair, engulfed in black flames, before dissipating into nothingness. Sucura gestured to asked the question she inquired.
"Are you truly Sucura?" Shalanta asked, her gaze locked onto his eyes, searching for the truth.
"Perhaps," Sucura replied enigmatically. Shalanta's eyes narrowed, her expression growing more perplexed.
"Are you a demon or an evil spirit?" she inquired cautiously.
The corner of Sucura's lips twitched. 'Do I appear as a demon to you, woman?' he lampooned.
"No."
"Where did you vanish to earlier?" Shalanta pressed on.
"Black market." he revealed nonchalantly.
Shalanta's eyes widened in realization. 'So that's why there was a dangerous presence there,' she mused.
"The letter states that you will perish if you don't fulfill the bargain within six months. When do you plan on obtaining the Pure Aether Crystal?"
"After I venture into the Accursed Forest," Sucura replied motionlessly.
"Are you seeking your own demise? What possible reason could you have for venturing into that accursed location?" Shalanta inquired, her eyebrow raised in incredulity.
"For my family," Sucura responded solemnly. Shalanta's eyes wavered for an instant, and she muttered under her breath, 'Family, is it…'
Sucura spoke calmly, "Now, about our bargain."
Shalanta replied with a measured tone, her eyes remaining vigilant, "Take a seat in that chair." Without hesitation, Sucura complied.
As Shalanta approached him slowly, she delicately placed her hand on his forehead. Observing Sucura, she thought to herself, 'He's peculiar; he doesn't exude malevolent or lascivious intentions. The only emotion I can discern is a deep yearning for his loved ones.'
She instructed, "Close your eyes and be receptive to the mana I am about to transfer."
Sucura obeyed, and Shalanta's hands began to glow with a brilliant white light. She whispered an ancient elven incantation, and numerous runes appeared on her arms. An intangible flow of mana transferred from her to Sucura.
After several minutes, beads of sweat formed on Shalanta's temples. She stepped back from Sucura and tossed him a viridescent dimensional ring.
He caught it, examining the item closely before asking, "Do you have one in a darker color?"
Her eyebrow twitched unusually as she regarded him with a puzzled expression.
Sucura merely gazed back at her calmly and inquired, "What?" He mused to himself, 'I want an item that accentuates my features. I want to look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.'
"Give that back to me," Shalanta demanded, reaching into her pocket. She retrieved a darker ring and threw it to Sucura, who caught it deftly. In exchange, he returned the viridescent ring to her.
Sucura thought to himself, 'How rich.' and inquired "What size inside this space ring?"
Shalanta replied, "Two cubic meters."
Sucura give subtle nod and inquired, "Could you tell me about Vyn's past achievements and any relevant information?"
After several minutes of diligently extracting information from Shalanta, it seemed they had reached the end of the discussion.
"I believe that covers everything," Shalanta declared.
In response, Sucura offered a subtle nod before tossing her a meticulously crafted compass. He then proceeded to settle into his desk chair and began to pen something on a parchment.
Curious, Shalanta inquired, "What is the purpose of this compass?"
"It will aid you in locating the stones I cast earlier with greater ease," Sucura explained, his focus remaining on the parchment.
A sudden chill crept into Shalanta's voice as she asked, "Why do I get the impression that you've orchestrated all of this?" Her eyes narrowed, brimming with suspicion.
Sucura gazed at her with a serene expression and reassured her, "You are merely conjuring illusions in your mind."
He pondered privately, 'Orchestrated my ass!, if had you not delved into my superficial thoughts, this preposterous scheme would never have come to fruition. Yet, I must also accept some responsibility, for in this realm of sorcery, one must always remain vigilant.'
"I suggest you reveal your true self to Theresia. She is a trustworthy ally you can rely on. Of course, you're free to disregard my advice," Sucura said, returning his attention to the parchment. Shalanta studied him for a moment longer before taking her leave.
Sucura recalled that Shalanta had been hesitant to reveal her true identity to Theresia, an action that could potentially lead to disastrous consequences in the future.