Ch.49 Amber Pendant
“Bandage-face… the intelligence you ntioned—wasn’t it about the ‘Nature’ followers organizing the assassination of Luo Nan von dillion?”
“How did you know…?”
Upon hearing Luo Nan’s words, Anya was instantly startled and inadvertently admitted to possessing that intelligence.
“So it really is true—I suppose I’ve wasted my trip after all.”
Thinking this, Luo Nan waved his hand. “Don’t ask how I found out—if your intelligence is just this, then I can only apologize—your information holds no value to .”
“Therefore, the deal is off.”
With that, Luo Nan stood up, having no intention to waste any more ti with this bandaged-faced figure—he still needed to return and handle the scales he held, craft the artifact to confront her, and speak with Mr. Tree about his unauthorized use of the divine material.
“Wait!”
Yet the bandaged-faced figure did not seem prepared to let him leave so easily.
“Even if the deal falls through, there should still be goodwill.”
“What… are you trying to force a purchase now?”
Luo Nan frowned, his right hand resting on the magic-handgun at his waist.
“Of course not,” Anya quickly waved her hands—she was not so immoral scoundrel—but she truly desperately needed the ‘scale from the corner of a rmaid’s eye’ for her breakthrough.
Therefore, she decided to make one final effort.
“Crow Mask, since you don’t need the intelligence… how about we trade sothing else instead?” Though the girl still used her voice modulator, the cautious, tentative tone in her words was unmistakable.
‘This person exposes their desperate need for the scale so thoroughly—don’t they fear I’ll take advantage and raise the price?’
Thinking this, Luo Nan’s interest stirred again. He stopped walking and turned back to ask: “Then, Mister bandaged-faced, what could you offer that would truly entice ?”
“Oh, forget Faras—I doubt the total amount of Gold Faras you have on you exceeds five coins. Even at the price I originally paid for the scale, to get
to sell it to you would cost at least five Faras.”
It wasn’t that Luo Nan looked down on the bandaged-faced figure—he had observed him at the Hulos Exchange reception desk and during the temporary auction—and from those observations alone, he concluded the man was financially destitute.
In short: broke.
And an obstinate, broke one at that.
True enough, upon hearing Luo Nan’s words, Anya clenched her fists tightly.
‘Damn… the scale’s price was never that high—it was only because you, this rich bastard who throws money around like dirt, drove the price up!’
Anya Sivans had always despised people who treated money as if it ant nothing—especially that Luo Nan von dillion!
This masked crow was now the second one!
But she couldn’t retort like that—after all, it was she who needed the Crow Mask.
Suppressing her anger for now, she replied: “Indeed… I’m currently strapped for cash, but you’ve seen my strength—I sense I’m on the verge of breaking through, and my power will rise another level. Why not… invest in ?”
“Of course, your investnt will certainly yield returns—I can do one thing within my ability for you, sothing worth at least five Faras.”
“Investnt?”
Luo Nan smiled faintly. The way she phrased it sounded appealing—a promise of future service once she reached second tier. But the hidden complexities behind such a promise were far from simple to untangle.
“Can it be anything?”
As if sensing the slightly playful gaze behind the golden crow-beak mask, Anya involuntarily shivered. She crossed her arms and replied:
“Of course… no, I won’t do anything that violates morality.”
“Everything else is acceptable?”
“Should… be.”
Upon receiving confirmation, Luo Nan began to think carefully.
‘To exchange a scale that ans nothing to
for the future loyalty of a second-tier warrior… seems like a profitable deal.’
‘Though the Duke’s mansion is full of powerful individuals, and one re second-tier isn’t scarce, there are certain tasks that cannot be entrusted to others—and must be completed by my own hands… This is acceptable.’
Thinking this, Luo Nan gave his response: “I agree to this deal, but I’d like to ask—how will your promise be fulfilled? After you take the scale and leave, how will I find you again?”
These two questions were Luo Nan’s greatest concerns—he didn’t want to be cheated.
Anya hesitated briefly, then reluctantly pulled from her person a circular amber pendant, its surface covered in scratches, rendering the substance trapped inside indistinct and blurred.
“This is an antique. I once asked about its value—according to current market rates, it’s worth at least seven Faras. I’ll put this up as collateral; after our transaction is complete, you return it to .”
Luo Nan took the pendant, turning it over in his hand. For so reason, he felt as though he’d seen this before—but he couldn’t quite recall where.
Still, with the dillion Young master’s discerning eye, he could clearly judge its worth: “It’s genuinely an antique. Acceptable as collateral. So how do I contact you?”
“You stir this pendant with a trace of arcane energy—I will have my own thod to sense your location.”
Luo Nan tested it—and confird it worked exactly as she said. He nodded. “Alright, the scale is yours.”
With that, he pulled from his coat a small crystal vial and tossed it toward the bandaged-faced figure. Inside, the faintly iridescent scale reflected a gentle glow under the private room’s lighting. Anya reached out and caught it, holding it up to examine closely.
“Finally… I’ve got it!”
After confirming the scale was genuine, the girl exhaled deeply and asked: “So… has the deal been completed?”
“Yes. The deal is finalized.”
…
The next day at noon, the late-sumr sun still blazed fiercely. Luo Nan awoke to the cicadas singing outside his window.
“Huh… that was a truly refreshing nap.”
Recalling his actions from last night, though so unexpected events occurred—including eting one of the female protagonists he shouldn’t have encountered, ‘Silver Moon Sky Wolf’—through his own handling and her reaction, he had successfully ended that karmic thread that shouldn’t have existed.
Luo Nan ntally planned his next steps: “First, those two ‘scales from the corner of a rmaid’s eye’—I can directly craft the artifact using thods rembered from my past life.”
“Next, the ‘Saint’s Blood’ that was supposed to be delivered to Mr. Tree yesterday—I’ll need to explain first why I used it prematurely. I hope he forgives .”
“Oh, and that free black skull—it’s a creation of a secondary priest of the Archdemon ‘Nature’. I must analyze it and see if I can uncover clues related to my assassination attempt…”
Having reviewed his upcoming tasks, Luo Nan stretched out on the bed and rang the servant bell beside his bedside.
“Coming, Master!”
No sooner had the bell rung than the young maid, Aina, already waiting outside the door, instantly pushed it open, carrying neatly folded clothes in her arms.
Her eyes sparkled sweetly, her mood evidently cheerful.
“Uh… Aina, how long have you been waiting outside my door? You didn’t need to stay there the whole ti…”
“I didn’t wait long, Master. I just happened to arrive at your door.”
“…”
Whatever. As long as she was happy.
“Master, shall I assist you with dressing?”
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