The Asra card in front of Asic was of a super-rare level.
If a human did not have a divine gift like an Ego, the only way to gain power was to acquire an Asra card from the market and install it via the system. It was the most straightforward and effective method to become stronger. The rarer the card, the more valuable and expensive it became, with some cards being priceless, their value incalculable.
The card currently in front of Asic was special—the Azure Dragon's Power card.
It wasn't a card that could be obtained by mining or defeating monsters like other Asra cards. It was born from the blood, sweat, and tears of the Azure Dragon Clan, symbolizing the trust and loyalty between the clan members and their leader. It wasn't something that could be bought or sold.
And the owner of this card was Ivy.
Ivy had placed this card in front of Asic, as if trying to convey two messages to him.
First, Ivy was demonstrating her influence in the Miner community and her connections to the Azure Dragon Clan, which wielded considerable power in the new world. Secondly, she was showing her sincerity, wanting Asic to join her, dedicating herself to bringing him on board to the point of using this precious card as leverage.
"I'm afraid I must decline," Asic said.
"Why?!"
"I'm not interested in becoming a Miner. At least, not right now."
"Why not?!"
"I still have some things left unresolved," Asic said to Ivy, though it seemed as if he was also reminding himself. Ivy understood that everyone had their own desires. Not everyone wanted to become a Miner. But giving up wasn't her job—her job was to persuade him.
"Based on my analysis, you don't have an Ego, nor do you have any installed Asra cards. To have reached this level with nothing but your own power is a testament to your worth. If you sign with us, I will dedicate every resource at my disposal to help you grow," Ivy said.
"We can even renegotiate the contract if you think my current offer isn't good enough. I will increase the benefits and privileges for you. With my track record, I'm confident your future in this field will be bright. And if you give me some time, I'm sure I can find even better cards for you."
"There's no need," Asic replied.
"W-what?"
"No Asra card can resonate with me. Searching for one is pointless," Asic said, his face devoid of any emotion. The train passed through a dark underground tunnel, enveloping the entire carriage in pitch blackness until they exited on the other side, and yet the atmosphere in the room remained silent.
"Thank you, Ivy. But this is my limit. I can't advance any further," Asic said.
"Asic..."
"You're a Miner, Ivy, so you know the difference between those with cards and those without, right? A person with a card is like someone holding a machine gun, while someone without a card is holding a flame gun. Sure, they can both shoot at targets, but there's no comparison in a fight."
'Of course, I know that,' Ivy thought, biting her lip.
"If you don't have an Ego, you need a card. But someone like me who can't use a single card won't get very far. And I have no interest in getting implants to enhance myself either."
"It's such a shame. You have so much talent, and you've refined your skills to the highest level. Yet you can't use the power from the system like others can. It's as if God is playing a cruel joke on you."
"Whenever people mocked me for being 'that loser who can't install cards,' I used to respond that 'God must be jealous of my talent, so He wouldn't let me use cards.' It's not a bad way to think, right?"
"You're really optimistic, you know that? If it were me, I'd shove my heel into their mouths."
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I usually said that after beating them up," Asic added, and both he and Ivy laughed. He might seem gentle, but he had a stubborn side that wouldn't yield to anyone. Ivy, seemingly fragile but always willing to fight back, saw a lot of similarities between them.
"Are you really not going to reconsider? Even if you can't use a card, you could still be a Miner," Ivy said, watching Asic push the Azure Dragon card back towards her. There wasn't a hint of regret or longing in his expression. Even if he had it, he couldn't use it anyway.
"Still not giving up, are you? I just quit my job. I want to enjoy being unemployed for a while," Asic said.
"That's a shame. But if you change your mind, I hope you'll contact me first," Ivy finally conceded, realizing she couldn't push any further for now. She guessed that Asic might be experiencing burnout after leaving his previous job. She understood that feeling well.
From what Ivy knew, [Agent] was the highest-risk department in the police force. The average lifespan of an agent was 30 years. If they didn't die on the job, they were left disabled or mentally broken. Dealing with high-level criminals all the time, it was nearly impossible to survive until age 40.
Asic was only around 27 or 28—an age at which most people were still climbing the career ladder, but his experiences were equivalent to those of someone who had worked 30 to 40 grueling years.
"If I change my mind, you'll be the first person I call," Asic promised.
Ivy was a smart woman. She knew when to press and when to step back. She knew how to ask questions without invading privacy. Talking with Ivy sharpened Asic's mind, and just looking at her beautiful face seemed to improve his appetite, leading him to order two more plates of food.
When persuasion failed, Ivy switched the conversation to more casual topics—like places to visit in Oceanstone, what the food was like there, and which restaurants and hotels were worth visiting. Since Asic was a native of Oceanstone, he was more than happy to answer her questions.
Talking about things the other person knew well was a way to foster a connection, and Ivy was trying to leave a lasting impression on Asic—because once they parted ways, she had no idea when they'd meet again. And when that time came, would she still have a chance?
As Ivy stood to leave, she looked back at Asic, something hopeful in her gaze. The young woman swallowed, realizing her thoughts were drifting. Ivy hurried out of the room like a startled rabbit. Her actions did not escape Asic's attention.
"This woman is really obsessed," Asic muttered to himself, thinking of the way Ivy had looked at him just before leaving—as if she wanted to devour him whole.
---
"Aargh!" Back in her room, Ivy almost threw a tantrum, venting her embarrassment by pounding her pillow flat with her strength. Her mind screamed at herself, questioning what she had been thinking earlier. Whether it was the alcohol she'd had or just the atmosphere, had she stayed a minute longer in Asic's room, she might have crossed the line.
Asic was more attractive than Ivy had anticipated.
The first time she met Asic, he had been at his lowest point. The second time had happened so quickly there wasn't even time to understand his personality. This third meeting wasn't just an attempt to recruit him but also to test what kind of person he was.
The result? Asic passed every test with flying colors.
"This is ridiculous. It's like I'm falling for a guy," Ivy muttered, her fist slamming into the pillow until it was flat. Once she was done, she lay back, panting. She genuinely meant every word she said to Asic. She couldn't believe he had such a glaring flaw—being unable to use Asra cards.
"What a cruel joke from the heavens. If he could use cards, how far could he go?" Ivy couldn't help but muse. She used to think she was the most pitiful person, but Asic was in an even worse position.
Ivy herself once had an Ego—a talent countless people dreamed of. Now, she had become powerless, abandoned by those around her and forgotten by the world. But Asic was different. He wasn't born with extraordinary gifts. He wasn't one of the chosen.
Asic must have known he had an anomaly that prevented him from installing Asra cards from a young age. Humans could start using the system's power at the age of five. Back then, Asic probably hadn't yet discovered that his eyes had special abilities or learned how to convert his affinity to lightning. He likely didn't have the elite sharpshooting skills he had now.
That boy must have tried so hard to turn effort into talent to become what he was today, unlike Ivy, who knew she was born with extraordinary talent. The more she thought about Asic, the more she found herself drawn to him.
"I want to keep fighting too. I don't want it to end like this," Ivy said to herself, thinking about Asic's relentless battle against his own limitations. The determination ignited a fire within her, and she got up from her bed, pacing her room as she planned.
"Black Rose Foundation is no longer my place. Besides, I no longer have an Ego and can't use my powers. All I have left are my experience and my network. Black Rose... there's no point staying there," Ivy muttered. Her position at Black Rose Foundation was awkward. She was still a shareholder and on the board, but she had no influence at the company she had founded.
"I need to build something new—a company that values my skills fully, and where the people will help me reclaim my powers. That's the only way I'll get to fight again." Ivy had made her decision—she would leave the company she had founded and set out into the world.
She spent the entire night lost in her work, planning her next steps, who she would need to talk to, and how much funding she would need. Her thoughts raced, and she worked for hours, all other thoughts, even the embarrassing ones, fading from her mind.
---
Meanwhile, Asic was browsing the internet through the Fluction system, researching Ivy's background. He found that her history was quite impressive.
Ivy Tesla Lake
- Rookie Miner Champion of 2066
- Youngest Martial Arts Grandmaster
- Winner of the 2072 Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Founder of the Black Rose Forest city-level project
Ivy had lived an illustrious life until 2074, just a year ago. She had entered the Miner industry at age 16, which was 11 years ago, and became the champion of the rookie Miner tournament held every five years in the new world. Just two years after her debut, Ivy led her company to propose a city-level project.
What was a city-level project?
It was a project to create an entire city from developed land. It meant that a new city in the new world would be privately owned by the company developing it. The owner of the project had the right to govern the city independently, outside of state laws. It was akin to creating a new country, with Black Rose Foundation as its ruler.
Ivy had been an incredible woman to achieve all of this. But seeing that Asic had never heard of a city called Black Rose Forest, it meant that the project had failed. The internet gave no clear reason, but it must have been related to Ivy's decline.
Because the current Ivy was just a fragile woman who could no longer use her powers. Whatever had happened, Ivy was indeed an interesting individual.
"Interesting. Very interesting," Asic said to himself as he opened his bag to find the business card Ivy had left for him at the hotel. He decided to keep it safe—he had a feeling he would need it sooner or later.