[Vol. 5] Chapter 189: Girl, Is This What You Dropped…?
“Where did you get this information from, so random tabloid? I really feel like I wanted to punch that guy for so reason…”
“Tabloid?”
“Ahem, it’s just a rumor-monger or sothing like that~ Don’t worry about the details.”
Ayla, the girl from the Lightborn Tribe, slightly lifted her glowing bangs that concealed her dark circles, her mood faintly improving as she engaged in casual banter with Miss White Fox. A subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips, barely noticeable.
“So, you admit it?”
“Yep~ Yep~ I admit it. I really am that Dawn, you got it right.”
Violet hadn’t planned to hide it, anyway.
However, this Ayla Light was quite sharp. While the characteristics were quite distinct, being able to deduce soone’s identity through fragnted information and brief interactions required keen observation and decisive judgnt.
Even if it was just a guess, she did guess correctly, didn’t she?
“As a reward for answering correctly, here’s a little sothing for you.”
With that, Miss White Fox casually tossed a sealed bag, about the size of a human head, toward Ayla.
“What…?!”
Instinctively catching the bag, Ayla muttered in confusion as she loosened the seal, only to be nearly blinded by the dazzling golden light that surged out!
It was a bag filled with high-quality light-elent magic crystals!
As a scholar from the ?Hall of Theology?, Ayla often dealt with these precious stones, which were nurtured by the energy of the earth and contained abundant magical power. Magic crystals were frequently used in rcenary operations and academic research to exploit their unique properties for various purposes.
However, most of the crystals she encountered were first-tier, maybe second or third-tier at most, and their purity was often inconsistent, containing many impurities. Even so, a second or third-tier crystal with over 50% purity was considered high-quality and treated as a valuable treasure.
As for the even rarer fourth-tier magic crystals, she had only ever seen them presented by senior professors during large-scale seminars at the ?Hall of Theology?.
It was common knowledge that for every tier a magic crystal advanced, its value increased tenfold, even without considering purity. A single fourth-tier crystal could easily be worth the equivalent of ten high-purity third-tier crystals—roughly 100,000 Sacred Light Coins, which was about the annual budget for a large research organization.
But here…
With trembling fingers, Ayla gingerly picked up one of the several hundred glittering crystals from the pile. As she ran her hand over the crystal’s smooth, translucent surface, the shock in her heart nearly shattered the two centuries of poise and composure she had accumulated.
This color, the almost overwhelming light aura, and the purity, which showed no visible impurities to the naked eye—if this wasn’t a counterfeit made through so special forging technique, then there was only one possible explanation left.
“Top-tier… fifth-tier light-elent magic crystals? An entire bag of them!? Wait, could this be the legendary ?Radiant Source Crystals?, mined from the ?Forest of Calamity? in the far south lawless zone? But how can there be so many!?”
“Mm-hmm~”
Dismissing the light sword, Ayla clutched the seemingly weightless yet overwhelming bag of crystals to her chest, her sapphire-like eyes filled with confusion. The radiant glow of the crystals drew her gaze toward the mysterious White Fox girl standing before her.
“Miss Dawn, what is the aning of this?”
However, Miss White Fox seed sowhat puzzled in return, tilting her head as she t Ayla’s gaze.
“You were able to see through my identity so easily. Can’t you also guess the purpose of this bag of crystals?”
“…Please, just state it clearly.”
Seeing how cautious Ayla was being, the White Fox girl sighed and shook her head, sowhat exasperated.
“Alright then. Ayla Light, you’re interesting, and I quite like the research you’re doing… So, I want to invest in you. Like I said before, what you need most right now is financial support and the backing of powerful allies, right?”
Following the gaze that Miss White Fox subtly directed, Ayla looked around at the chaotic state of the lab, then turned back to her, still in disbelief.
“You want to support my research? Do you really understand what my work represents to the Holy Empire and the Church? To be frank, if it weren’t for my status as a mber of the Lightborn Tribe making certain people wary, I would have died in so ‘accident’ long ago. Faith-based magic… is the lifeblood of the Goddess Church.”
Glancing once again at the bag of radiant, high-quality magic crystals in her hands, Ayla, though clearly reluctant, seed to decide to speak the truth.
“Miss Dawn, I know you’re mysterious and possess extraordinary strength, but no matter how powerful an individual is, they can’t possibly stand against an entire nation or the Goddess Church, the world’s largest religion with followers in every corner. That would make it nearly impossible for you to move forward.”
“I’ve heard you have a good relationship with the Bright Light Saintess and that you’re highly respected among the people. But have you considered what might happen to you if the Saintess or the many devout followers were to find out that you were funding my investigation of faith-based magic?”
Ayla sighed, retying the magic crystal bag before reaching across the corroded lab table to hand it back.
“Thank you for wanting to help . Even if you have other motives, you’re still the first person to openly support and recognize my research, and I’m truly grateful… but… it’s precisely because of that, I can’t allow you to get hurt. Besides, the value of this bag of magic crystals is far too high. Even if it’s a donation, it’s beyond anything I can accept. Please, take it back.”
“…~”
However, Miss White Fox remained casually seated, not making any move to accept the precious treasure Ayla was trying to return. With the mask concealing her expression, Ayla couldn’t see her face.
Their gazes t in the air for a long mont, and just as the Lightborn Tribe girl furrowed her brow, preparing to say more, the mysterious White Fox girl suddenly began clapping to herself. Her tone, once again, carried a trace of amusent and delight.
“Well, well, well~ Even in this situation, you haven’t been blinded by wealth, and you’ve maintained your conscience and self-awareness, all while keeping a clear mind and logic. That’s truly admirable. I like you more and more, Miss Ayla.”
As Ayla felt the weight in her hand lighten, the bag filled with high-grade magic crystals vanished without warning, reappearing in Miss White Fox’s possession.
“Ah…”
Just as the girl was marveling at the other party’s mysterious and unpredictable thods, and feeling a bit of regret and helplessness due to her previous refusal…
Miss White Fox casually pulled another gleaming golden magic crystal from the bag and tossed it toward Ayla, just as effortlessly as before.
“?!”
Ayla hastily scrambled to catch it, feeling even more confused and bewildered.
But before Ayla could speak, Miss White Fox chuckled and said, “The value of a single top-tier 5th-grade magic crystal can pave the way for your research, but an entire bag of them would only bring disaster to you~ I’m glad you clearly understand this.”
“So from now on, I’ve decided to work with you and beco your secret backer and supporter. Go ahead, pursue your research. I’ll help you find the truth and the answers you’re looking for. Of course, you’ll have to share those with . That’s my only condition.”
“Huh? No, did you even listen to what I was saying? This could bring harm to you…”
But this ti, Miss White Fox interrupted Ayla’s warning with a smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll just be your secret backer. I’m not going to go out and announce it to the world. And even if soone finds out, so what?”
“A re Goddess Church is not enough to make hesitate. So-called reputation is completely irrelevant. Besides, what we are doing now, do you truly believe it’s a threat to this country?”
“I don’t think so~”
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