"I didn't expect you to co back so soon."
She smiled as she sat down across from him. She placed a strange plate on the table, and once it was injected with qi, a sound isolation formation was created around them.
'A formation disc, huh…'
They were unbelievably expensive items as they were the only way to turn formations into movable objects.
'A group that can afford to use formation discs so casually can also afford to make wildly unrealistic formations.'
"I am always in need of information, so of course I will co back frequently," Atlas replied, putting away his unnecessary thoughts.
Scarlet Fox rolled her eyes. Understandably, that was not what she ant.
Rather, it wasn't common for people to find them twice in a row in such quick succession.
'The entrance becos more difficult to find for every person individually. If soone who has found it once enters a floor, it will beco much more difficult to find for everyone.'
She had to say that Atlas was an interesting person. Shrugging helplessly, she continued the conversation.
"What would you like to know this ti, esteed custor?"
Atlas nodded, unaware of her thoughts.
"I am looking for soone. I presu you already know why."
"Why would you presu that I know anything? We are not only watching you, you know."
"Perhaps that is the case for others, but you…? I know that you specifically have been very interested in my actions."
Scarlet Fox narrowed her eyes. Though she didn't want to admit it outright, he was correct. She had indeed been focusing specifically on him as she perused these lower floors.
Her senses scread at her, telling her that there would be money if she followed him. The fact that he was back was enough to prove her suspicions, but how was he able to read her?
Atlas wasn't going to bother answering. Sighing, Scarlet Fox put her curiosity and focused on doing business.
"You want to find soone who can remove the Serpentseal Mark that Dusk placed on you, am I correct?"
'So it is called the Serpentseal Mark.' Atlas thought to himself as he nodded.
"Dusk's Serpentseal Mark is more similar to a miniature array than any other tracking thod. It would be best for you to find a decent formation master. The closest one to here…well, it is not quite an Ascender."
Scarlet Fox waved her hands, forcing a scroll to appear. Handing it over to Atlas, she continued.
"He is on the 30th Floor, a Replica inside its Cumulative Trial. This scroll has his description and a sketch of him, but that is the most I can give you. Information on Cumulative Trials… you cannot afford it yet."
"I have quite a sum of money."
"It is not enough."
The firm denial surprised Atlas, but he didn't pursue it. Scarlet Fox likely thought he had more money than he actually possessed, so if she was saying it was too much, it truly had to be too much.
Atlas took the scroll and put it away. The 30th Floor was a good place. It was as close as he could possibly wish for it to be.
Seeing Scarlet Fox's eyes glimr as she waited for him to ask the price, he shook his head.
"There is one more thing."
"More?" She replied with so anticipation.
"Yes, but it is more of a question than a request for now. Does your Heaven's Gate only provide information, or would it be possible for you to acquire materials I seek for a good price?"
Scarlet Fox frowned slightly.
"We only sell information, esteed custor. If you want, we can locate the things you seek, but we cannot acquire them for you."
Atlas' eyes narrowed.
"'We' as in your organization?"
"Yes. 'We' as in Heaven's Eye."
"Then…"
Leaning forward, he made his proposition.
"What about you as an individual?"
There were many ways to get materials in the Tower, but none of them were efficient. The best way was to find soone who could source materials and acquire them rapidly.
Scarlet Fox had the makings of such a person. She had an ambition in her eyes that Atlas noticed when they first t, and after this second interaction, he wanted to test if she was truly the kind of person he thought she was.
She stared at him for a mont as if to assess the veracity of his words, but she soon ca to the conclusion that he wasn't joking.
"What kind of materials are you looking for?"
"Everything. Alchemy materials, tals, treasures… as long as I need it, I want you to be able to get it for . And, of course, I will make sure that your ti is valued."
"How valued?"
"My pockets will only get deeper as I climb."
"Hmm…"
She had to admit that she couldn't ignore what he was saying.
'I am here because it's a good place to create a reputation, but I never wanted to beco a part of a large machine.'
No, she wanted to lead it. She wanted to create an influence with as much power and ability as Heaven's Eye.
This man, Atlas Vaun, was a dangerous man. He was an anomaly when it ca to people in the Tower. Could she trust his word?
'Do I take this risk?'
It was a real question that shouldn't have been easy to answer, but…
"What do you need?"
Atlas grinned.
She was hooked. He could tell.
"Dragonroot. Can you get it for ?"
"Tch. You have to give sothing difficult from the start."
"Otherwise, how can I verify your ability?"
Scarlet Fox rolled her eyes once more. Dragonroot definitely wasn't common, but it also wasn't an impossible material to find.
She understood what Atlas was trying to do. He was forthcoming with it, after all.
This was a test to see if their cooperation would be valuable.
Once she passed it, she would gain access to the wealth she could sense from him.
No opportunity ever ca free.
"Find again in one month. I will have it ready for you," she said in the end.
Nothing more needed to be discussed. In one month, Atlas' ridian problem could be solved.
The Dragonroot was a resource with strong yang energy that could balance out the yin aspects of the Caridian Flesh Tree Sap. As for the secondary ingredients, they could be found at any dicine market.
Only, the 25th Floor's environnt was not made for species that needed strong qi to grow. Rather than natural resources, only ordinary plants existed on this plane that reminisced on mortality.
'I might encounter that Cain person if I climb, but it also puts further away from my Dusk pursuers.'
It was a trade-off, and in the end, he would have what he was looking for.
Of course, the most pressing issue hadn't been ntioned yet.
'I have to find this place for a third ti.'
Atlas glanced at Scarlet Fox.
'Unless she has a thod to get here without the hassle.'
Seeing the sly look in his eyes, Scarlet Fox shivered.
"You… Haa, just what do you want from this ti?"
Atlas smiled. He was glad to have soone who understood him so well.
"Then…"
In order to finesse his way into benefits that he was not yet equipped to receive naturally, Atlas used the best forces of persuasion in his arsenal.
And the result…
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