"You're indeed beautiful, but I'll never like or love you just because of that."
"..."
An awkward silence engulfed the room when I said that.
The receptionist I ca with whispered sothing to Ruby.
Then, she smiled and opened her mouth—
"So basically, you easily lost interest in because I'm not yours?"
Her words made my eye twitch.
I glanced at the receptionist for a mont...
'What a snitch.'
Then I brought my gaze back to Ruby.
"When I told him that, I was talking about things, not humans."
"Though, it's pretty much true. Instead of liking soone one-sidedly, I'll just pour my love into those who love as well."
I declared.
Strangely enough, Keara entered my mind when I said that, making a small smile break out on my face.
Anyway, I sent a mischievous smile to Ruby.
"You see, I like it more when I'm the one doing the seducing."
Then I followed with that.
Ruby stared at for a while, then, with a curious but charming smile—
"You're weird~"
She mumbled that.
Ruby squinted her eyes and her voice was playful.
'Well... She's really hot...'
Shaking such thoughts out of my head, I rebutted.
"You're weirder. You're a famous hero and the head of [Paradise], yet you're openly revealing your face to ."
Seemingly uninterested and unfazed by the fact that I know her identity and could expose it to the public, Ruby replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"[Paradise] is only a black market in na. This place is legally approved by the [Heroes Federation]."
She said.
"We're an organization that exists to maintain the balance. The federation keeps the heroes on watch..."
"While we, the black market also known as [Paradise]—control the underworld businesses. We also collect information about majins and sell it to the federation."
Ruby added and explained.
I knew so of that information from the novel, but now everything beca clearer to regarding the relationship between the [Paradise] and the [Heroes Federation].
'In short, they have so sort of partnership or peace treaty.'
Tilting my head slightly and resting my right cheek on my right hand that was placed on the armrest, I then crossed my legs and yawned before replying.
My activity with Keara while taking a bath earlier made quite sleepy...
"That's good and all, but aren't you too trusting?"
Not minding my rudeness, Ruby replied.
"Well, trust is a must between business partners."
"Also, if you happen to be an enemy..."
Her tone beca threatening as my sleepy expression turned to annoyance.
FWOOSH~
A heavy pressure pressed on my body afterward and my frown only deepened. I started sweating bullets and my heartbeat sped up.
Though—I looked calm and normal on the outside thanks to , which helps put up a poker face.
"Haaaaa..."
After letting out a sigh, my eyes turned cold, I fixed my sitting posture... And looked at Ruby directly.
Then with a single thought—
'[Monarch's Presence]'
I activated my skill.
SWOOSH—
My majestic and elegant presence made the pressure Ruby was emitting bearable. Then my skill clashed against Ruby's aura.
Though I may be losing, everything a few centiters around was void of her pressure...
I knew Ruby wouldn't hurt , so I wasn't really intimidated, and that mindset of mine made it easier for to resist her pressure.
"Do high-ranking people enjoy intimidating others?"
I asked with an annoyed tone.
Seeing not fearing Ruby—everyone in the room displayed shocked expressions on their faces.
And at my casual actions... Ruby just smiled.
She then withdrew the pressure pressing .
And I deactivated my skill in response.
"You're really interesting."
Ruby mumbled as she seductively bit her rosy lower lip.
Her actions made the others in the room flustered—though not .
I frowned at the weird feeling inside , but soon, I smiled slyly and leaned my back against the seat.
I'm feeling a bit of uncomfort whenever a woman is hitting on ...
"Does that an you're interested in ?"
So I did the seducing to flip the situation around.
Seeing my approach, Ruby smiled similarly to .
"Yes, I'm very interested in you~"
Her voice was beautiful—it was alluring.
But I'm not here to flirt!
So I stood up and extended my hand to Ruby.
"It may be a late introduction, but my na is Raven Obadiah."
I used my real na to gain Ruby's trust.
She then also stood up and grabbed my hand.
"My na is Ruby Skye."
Once we sat back down again, I placed an envelope on the table between us.
Then, with a sly tone—I started to move to the business part.
"Well, if you're really interested in , maybe you'll find these interesting too."
Ruby grabbed the envelope as I said that, then she opened it.
Inside were docunts I prepared beforehand.
Ruby started reading through their contents.
"An rank cave-type dungeon."
"Full of traps and rank goblins, the boss monster is an rank gnoll..."
Ruby mumbled the important parts written on them.
"You already saw the boss... Does that an you already raided it?"
She asked that.
"Yes, I already did."
I briefly replied.
"How long did it take you to raid it?"
"I was lucky and picked all the short paths. I reached the boss monster in under 48 hours."
'Also, I had a rough idea of the dungeon's layout, so I got to the boss fast. The dungeon is fairly big—it might've taken about a week wandering around if I got lost because of its maze-like structures.'
At first, there were only a few paths to take, but as you reach further inside... [The Stygian Lair]'s paths increase.
So lead you to a dead end, and so lead you to death.
"Do you have a map of it?"
Ruby asked after reading through the docunts.
I smiled and took sothing out of my spatial storage.
Fwish~
"I'll sell you guys a copy if you accept my proposal."
I said while casually waving the map in my hand. Then I put it back in my spatial storage afterward.
Ruby frowned after hearing what I said, but then she smiled mischievously.
That smile sent chills down my spine...
"I'll throw your words earlier back at you—you're too trusting~"
Ruby's music-like voice was heard as she continued to talk. Though her tone was soft... her deanor wasn't!
"We can just take the dungeon forcefully."
"You're not the owner of it anyway."
The room's temperature seed to have dropped by a lot. I almost shivered.
'Almost.'
With a calm voice—
"Well, I bought the land where the entrance of the dungeon is and everything around it. The papers arrived this morning, so the dungeon is officially mine."
I casually threw a certification that proved my ownership of the land. And the location of that land... is where the dungeon is.
There's a law that if a dungeon appears on your land, it becos your property.
Though usually, when that happens, it's imdiately sold to the federation.
Anyway, this is the reason why I bought the land instead of imdiately making a deal with [Paradise].
I used that certain law and bought the land, so technically, the dungeon is my property.
They can't co near it without my word. And even if I die, the dungeon would be transferred to the federation—not them.
"So if you guys enter the dungeon without my permission, it can be considered trespassing."
I declared with a sly smile.
"Though, if we beca business partners, you'd be able to use it privately with my permission. The federation can't just barge into private lands, so it would really be exclusive use for us."
[Paradise]'s main source of inco is the dungeons they control. They charge entrance fees and let people enter them. But because of the [Heroes Federation], that business of theirs is declining.
They may have a peace treaty, but dungeons are so precious that they could break the harmony between the two organizations.
"You really ca prepared, huh."
Ruby's defeated voice entered my ears.
"Well, I don't like troubleso and annoying things, so I always prepare the things I think I'll need."
I said and shrugged.
"So what's your condition?"
Ruby asked.
I leaned my body forward—
"Let's do fifty-fifty."
Then I answered with that in a serious tone.
After hearing my words, Ruby frowned.
"Hmm... That's a bit..."
She seed hesitant.
I know that this condition is quite unfair to them, as I only provide the dungeon while they will run and handle it. And that's not an easy task.
"Fifty-five to forty-five."
Ruby bargained.
I pretended to think about it for a while. But I was smiling inwardly.
I already expected this much, but I planned to take more and make the opposite party think they that won the bargain.
'[Paradise] is currently low in possession of dungeons. Let's use that to our advantage.'
"Running a dungeon is harder than you think."
Ruby said with a frown, seeing not answering.
'Well, I really haven't thought about running a dungeon so I don't care.'
After a few more seconds... I looked at Ruby and spoke.
"Fine, but I'll add another condition."
"What condition?"
Ruby asked.
And with a big smile on my face—
"Give the strongest gun you have here."
I asked for that.
Ruby was confused, which is why I decided that this was the right ti to convince her to agree.
"Guns are known to be the weakest weapons in this era, so giving your strongest one won't really affect you guys that much."
I mumbled casually.
Ruby then started to think about it after my words...
'I just need a little more push...!'
"If you accept this, our relationship will improve—by a lot."
"Just so you know, I'll make a lot of money in the future."
I declared while giving Ruby a confident smile.
Glancing at briefly... Ruby shook her head and spoke.
"You're really weird."
"Yeah, I'm weird."
I really do think I'm weird.
Anyway, Ruby just laughed at ...
"Hey."
Then she called out to .
"What?"
"You're also weirdly attractive, you know that?"
Ruby said. I didn't know what to do with that information.
So I cald myself, smiled, and spoke as politely as I could.
"I will not lessen my share any longer."
And with a sly and seductive smile—
"But it'll be different if you beco mine."
I teased her back.
Ruby just smiled at my words.
"You're unexpectedly flirty."
"I already said earlier... I like it more when I do the seducing."
"Hmph, fine."
After our short exchange of words, Ruby pouted and took out a mana contract from her spatial storage.
"You're unexpectedly cute sotis."
I unconsciously said. I was ashad after realizing what I just said.
Though—my poker face prevailed!
"You're really honest, aren't you?"
Ruby told .
"Well, yeah... Isn't that one of my good points?"
I replied.
"Whatever."
Ruby then handed the mana contract.
And after putting the conditions we agreed on into the it, we both signed it.
Though... I forgot that there were other people in the room besides and Ruby.
And one of them... was glaring daggers at !
*****
Ruby and I are currently waiting in the sa room after coming to an agreent with our deal.
It's just us here.
Normally, I would've been nervous.
But I'm so tired that I can't even give a fuck.
On the other hand... Ruby is reading a mail on her phone.
'She's probably reading information about .'
I noticed her sending so weird signals to her subordinates that were in the room earlier before they left us alone.
So I'm assuming that she's currently investigating . Well, we'll be business partners, so it's understandable.
Anyway, the reason I'm waiting here is because of the gun.
Ruby said that I can have it today as it is stored nearby.
And the earlier I get my hands on it, the better it is for .
'The strongest gun in the world...'
I closed my eyes, rembering so details of it from the novel.
'Even though it's the strongest gun, it's still a gun, the weakest weapon in this era.'
I mumbled in my head.
"Interesting."
Then breaking out of my thought was Ruby's amused voice.
Opening one of my eyes—
"What is?"
I asked her that.
Ruby pointed at using her long and slim index finger...
"You."
Then she said that.
"?"
? Interesting? Why?
"You're younger than I expected."
'Ah...'
I suddenly frowned when I heard that. She had already finished her investigation about .
That was fast.
"So you're my student."
"You aren't my professor in any of the classes I take."
I rebutted. Ruby only teaches sophomores.
"So what? You're still my student... Are you going to blackmail now and make do lewd things for you to not reveal any information about ?"
I heard Ruby's seductively beautiful voice as she whispered in my ear. The enticing and pleasant fragrance coming from her almost made want to jump at her. Almost.
It's getting harder to keep my composure now that she's near !
'When did she even get near ?'
Ruby just appeared beside like she teleported. But her being an rank hero is already the answer for that.
Opening my other eye as well and looking at her, I spoke.
"Why would I do that?"
"If I do that, I'll lose your trust. Seducing you will be harder for ."
I added, whispering back into Ruby's ear.
She smiled and went back to her seat.
And after sitting, Ruby started talking again.
"Your past and background are as weird as you."
Her words piqued my interest as I perked my ears and waited for her next words.
"What do you an weird?"
I asked.
Ruby pointed at her phone and looked at .
"There's not much information about you, your parents' origins are not clear, and your grandparents on your mother's side are also a mystery... As if they don't exist."
"Oh, sorry for digging into your past. I have to be careful when making new connections for my safety. No offense."
She apologized.
"None taken."
I replied, as her digging into my life actually helped a little.
Seeing no dirt in my life, our relationship will be stronger. I also got a clue from my past in this life.
"Anyway, is there anything else you discovered about ?"
I asked. Ruby smiled and opened her mouth.
"You have no strong backing, you have no history of doing sothing great until you got admitted to Lunar. Oh, and I know this is bullshit based on what I saw from you today, but it is said you're a victim of attempted murder by soone your age months ago."
Hearing the last part of Ruby's words made frown. Why would soone my age attempt to murder ? What did I do?
Because I know I wouldn't get any answers about that topic... I asked a different question to Ruby.
"Why did I get admitted to Lunar?"
Before, I thought I got admitted because of money... But I think there's sothing more than that.
When I entered this body, I was rank, the lowest rank. I also have a limited talent cap, so I assud my parents used a lot of their saved money just to get admitted to [Lunar]. But why am I in the highest section?
"It says here that you got admitted using money... But you entered the highest section because of your talent."
Ruby said with a shrug.
My talent?
"What talent?"
"I don't know. Only your horoom professor, Kendy Nasah, knows. He's the one who picked you."
I started racking my brain to find my talent, but to no avail... So I stopped thinking about it.
Must've been just a mistake.
Moving on, turning my attention back to Ruby—
"Is that all you got?"
I asked her that.
And she seed to misunderstand my question as a provocation. She raised her chin and proudly opened her mouth.
"Well, based on what I got, you seem to be a new rising novel author."
I nodded.
"And you like older won."
But my face twitched at Ruby's words just now.
"You have a lover who is over half a decade older than you."
'She's talking about Keara?!'
Just how good is Ruby's information team?
"It also seems that you seduced her in under a day. You must be good."
Ruby continued, smiling playfully. She's trying to annoy , and it's super effective.
Losing one-sidedly isn't my taste, so my pettiness unconsciously activated.
So with a sly smile...
"Oh, shut up. If you're that curious—try yourself."
I declared that.
But sha attacked after hearing how cringe I am. Why am I so cheesy sotis?!
Anyway, I decided to correct Ruby's information.
"And it's not like I like older won. I just like her... There's no other reason behind it."
I said, talking about Keara.
Ruby sent another beautiful smile as she spoke.
"You just made more interested in you."
"Hmm...? You're pretty interesting as well for ."
I said.
'You're the leader of the black market after all, even though you're only 27 years old.'
So I'll be naturally interested in her.
"The feeling is mutual then."
Ruby said with a seductive voice.
Tok- tok- tok—
I was about to reply when a knock was heard from the door.
"Co in."
Ruby calmly said.
Following her words, a handso man in a suit entered holding a black heavy-duty briefcase. He seed to be soone who was in the room with us earlier.
"Here's the item."
The man said, then placed the case in front of .
And without replying, I opened the case imdiately.
Click—
A subtle clicking sound was heard.
Then looking inside of it—
"..."
I saw a beautiful obsidian-black pistol.
I was speechless.
And without further ado, I made the system appraise it.
[You flirt here and there since yesterday like a horny dog and just order around like a slave. What a bitch.]
I had no ti to argue with the system, so I just let it nag at as I looked at the description of the gun in front of .
=====
[Nyx]
-The last product of the greatest unnad gunsmith that ever lived.
-Has a passive skill
-Lessens the sound and spark the gun produces when shooting.
=====
A satisfied smile appeared on my face.
[Nyx]'s firepower is strong enough to pierce through the skins of rankers—monsters or humans, etc.
[Nyx] would just rot in Aoi's long-ranged weapon collection in the novel.
This gun was just briefly ntioned in one Chapter, in a filler one... It was used as a rembrance of a certain event.
Aoi was supposed to get [Nyx] as a reward from Ruby after saving Zreles City with Alec and the others, from what I ntioned yesterday about the dungeon overflow. Though, in the novel—Ruby got [The Stygian Lair] for free.
Well, anyway... My point is taking [Nyx] will not affect the story. Most probably.
"Tsk."
While I was holding the gun, I heard a tongue clicking.
"...?"
And out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man who brought the gun... He was glaring at .
I looked at Ruby in front of . She was smiling at as if asking for my understanding.
I planned to do just that and ignore the man.
But—
"Arrogant leech-like shit."
I heard him mutter that beside .
Ruby was about to talk, but I snapped first.
Shifting my gaze to the man, I spoke.
"Hey, what's your problem?"
This man is angry at for no reason, so I'm annoyed.
"What?... I just hate your guts."
The man then said, not hiding his hatred toward .
Appraising his stats, he's rank.
It's pretty low for his age.
I crossed my legs and looked at him like he was a disgusting bug.
"Why do you have to be a bitch about it? Are you ntally handicapped?"
I provoked him.
"... You...!"
And it worked, seeing him about to explode in anger.
While looking at him, I suddenly asked myself.
'Why would he hate ?'
Is it because I demanded the [Nyx]?
Well, maybe that's part of it, but most likely... It's because of the way I interact with Ruby.
I ca up with that conclusion after thinking for a second. I looked at the man again—he seems to be in his mid-20s.
"Gosh, why are you throwing a tantrum when you're older than ? Aren't you embarrassed?"
I spat out harsh truths as a provocation.
And when his veins were about to explode—
I smiled.
Ruby is looking at the whole situation as if she's amused.
But I wasn't focusing my attention on either of them at the mont.
Because as soon as I provoked the man—
The system appeared with a ssage.
[The Transcend Beings said they will give you 1000 CP if you fight and win against that man.]
I smirked and opened my mouth.
"Say... If you really hate even though I didn't do anything wrong, what about having a duel against ?"
I need to test so equipnt anyway.
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