As the Dark Elves awaited their fate, tied and defeated, Orion addressed them firmly. "It's time to discuss compensation for this intrusion."
The Female Dark Elf, still maintaining a semblance of pride despite her situation, responded, "We understand. You have the right to claim what we carry."
Orion nodded. "I'll take your equipment and whatever is in those storage rings. It's only fair compensation for the trouble you've caused."
The Male Dark Elf smirked, a hint of arrogance in his voice. "Well, don't expect too much. We didn't bring our best gear. It's just standard equipment for the test."
Orion methodically began collecting their items, including their storage rings. The rings were impressive, each offering a storage capacity of 5 cubic meters. To Orion, these were significant, indicating the wealth and resources the Dark Elves had at their disposal.
After securing their gear, Orion inquired, "What happens to you now? You've failed your exam and lost your equipment."
The Dark Elves exchanged a glance before the Female Dark Elf answered with a laugh. "Oh, we'll just retake the exam. This equipment was expendable. Losing it is a minor setback, considering you spared our lives."
Orion completed the collection of their belongings, still surprised by the Elves' casual attitude towards their loss. "I hope your next exam attempt is less disruptive," he said. "And perhaps, if we meet again, it will be not as enemies, but as friends."
The Dark Elves, acknowledging his words, nodded in agreement. "Thank you for showing mercy, the Keeper," the Male Dark Elf replied. "And we share your hope. Next time, under different circumstances, we might indeed meet as friends."
With the Elves secured and their belongings confiscated, Orion escorted them out of the dungeon. The encounter had been enlightening, offering him a glimpse into the wider universe of awakeners and the varying degrees of power and resources among them.
Orion took a moment to thoroughly examine the compensation he had received from the Dark Elves. The first items that caught his attention were the five storage rings, each boasting a substantial 5 cubic meter storage capacity. These alone were a significant find, vastly superior to his current 1 cubic meter ring. In terms of market value, these rings could easily be worth a total of one million credits.
Next, he turned his attention to the standard equipment carried by the Dark Elves. While not as high-quality as his Moonshadow Armor Set, the gear was still of D rank power and could prove useful. He considered either selling these items or donating them to the clan, where they would certainly find some use.
The weapons, consisting of short swords and daggers, were also not up to par with his crystal daggers, but they were still valuable. Orion made a mental note of their potential worth on the market.
The contents of the Elves' storage rings were more intriguing. Inside, he found 5,242 Gold Coins, 2,312 Mana Stones, 715 Spirit Stones, and an assortment of 20 Mana Potions, 20 Health Potions, and 20 Anti-Poison Potions. These were substantial quantities, particularly the coins and stones, which were always in demand.
The most intriguing item, however, was a magic scroll. Upon using his Basic Inspection Skill, Orion learned that it was a Dungeon Relocation Scroll, designed for F rank dungeons. This scroll had the capability to seal and unseal a dungeon's core, enabling the relocation of dungeon entrances. It was a powerful tool, one that could have significant implications if used strategically.
Orion noted the absence of any other items in the storage rings, suggesting that the Elves had removed anything else before entering the test. Yet, even with this limited haul, the wealth they carried was remarkable, especially for level 10 awakeners. It made him wonder about their backgrounds – whether they hailed from affluent families or if their planet's economy was far richer than Earth's. The disparity in wealth and resources between Earth and these alien worlds was becoming increasingly apparent to Orion.
After this Orion's curiosity piqued as he focused on the Energy Accumulation Ring, a significant part of his reward for successfully defending the dungeon. He decided to test its capabilities, starting by channeling all his available Qi into the ring.
After transferring his Qi, he used his Basic Inspection Skill to check the ring's energy level: [ Energy: 40,000/100,000,000 ]. The conversion rate was evident – 1 unit of Qi translated into 5 units of energy in the ring, identical to the rate of using Qi directly to charge a dungeon core.
Next, Orion experimented with converting the stored energy back into Qi. To his satisfaction, the process was successful, albeit at a less favorable exchange rate of 10 to 1. Despite this, the ring's utility was undeniable. It could store the equivalent of 10 million units of Qi or Mana, far surpassing the capacity of any mana potion.
The realization of the ring's potential value dawned on Orion. If put on the market, it could fetch millions, but the thought of selling it never crossed his mind. As a Keeper, the ring was an invaluable asset. It provided a means to store excess Qi and Mana for future use, whether for personal endeavors or for upgrading dungeons.
Having assessed the ring and its potential, Orion decided it was time to leave the dungeon. His next course of action was to convert the equipment acquired from the Dark Elves into credits. Though he had a substantial amount of Clan Contribution Points, his credit balance was relatively low, and the sale of the equipment would bolster his financial resources.
Orion chose the Arcane Corp shop as his selling destination, a reputable place known for fair evaluations and transactions. Upon arrival, he presented the armor and weapons to the shop's staff. They meticulously inspected each item, assessing their quality and value.
After a thorough evaluation, the shop offered Orion 50,000 credits for the entire lot. He was pleasantly surprised by the amount; the gear, although not the Dark Elves' best, still held considerable value. Orion finalized the sale, feeling a sense of satisfaction as the credits were transferred to his account.
As he left the shop, a thought crossed his mind: if such invasions were this lucrative, perhaps more would be welcome. The idea of invaders becoming an unexpected source of income was amusing and somewhat ironic. Nonetheless, Orion knew that defending his dungeons was a serious responsibility, and such incidents could pose real threats.
With the issue of the dungeon invaders resolved and the unexpected financial gain in hand, Orion recognized it was an opportune moment to focus on bolstering his strength.
It was time to go shopping.