Inside a store filled with mist-like smoke and bloodied bodies scattered across the floor, a white-haired boy and a black-haired girl could be seen together ransacking the entire place.
After killing San and his men, Ryker thought it would be foolish not to search for any valuables. The fact that San could pull out 120,000 credits to purchase someone so easily meant he was clearly a wealthy man. But after thoroughly searching the store, Ryker couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
Other than acquiring a massive amount of 300,000 credits from San's hidden safe behind a false wall, there really weren't many things of real worth in the store. The shelves were filled with cheap accessories, fake jewelry, and overpriced trinkets that he didn't need. Still, he commanded Stella to gather everything valuable so he could sell them later when he needed quick money.
Stella moved like a ghost through the store, her movements mechanical and lifeless. She carefully placed items into bags without speaking, her dead eyes never meeting his. The transformation was complete - the chatty, annoying girl from this morning was gone, replaced by an obedient shell.
"Haa... Another day wasted," Ryker sighed as he stepped out of the blood-soaked shop. He noticed that afternoon had already arrived, and the sun was starting to move toward the horizon. Heading to Wryn Forest in his current state wasn't the best idea, especially if he ended up there at night when the monsters became extremely dangerous.
Nobody knew why, but in some forests that held magical beasts, nighttime was one of the most dangerous periods to enter. Even experienced adventurers at level 4 had to be extremely careful about night hunting because the danger levels were just too high. The creatures became more aggressive, their senses sharper, and some nocturnal beasts only came out after dark.
"Well, since there's nothing urgent to do, it'd be better if I take a walk around town," Ryker mumbled to himself as he turned toward Stella, who was no longer the talkative girl from before. She now had a completely dead look in her eyes, like a puppet waiting for commands.
'She's actually a lot better like this. I really did a good job,' Ryker thought, nodding his head with satisfaction as he looked at Stella. She walked forward staring straight ahead, not caring about the curious gazes from people around her like she had earlier.
"Well, I plan to have a survey around town to get an idea for a business. Any suggestions?" Ryker asked casually.
Stella, who seemed to be in a whole different world, suddenly snapped back to reality. Her lost eyes focused on him with visible effort.
"I-it depends on what type of business," she stammered, her voice shaky. When she looked at Ryker, her gaze held a specific mixture of fear and forced respect.
Ryker placed his fingers on his jaw as he gazed into the distance. Their walking pace slowed as he thought deeply about his plans.
Originally, Ryker had come to Wryn Town to accomplish only one thing - to obtain the [Infinite Seed], which was located deep in the forest. According to the novel, this treasure was first discovered by the protagonist during his early adventures.
The [Infinite Seed] was a legendary fruit that existed in the Wryn Forest, born from a single ancient tree. This tree was special because it only bore this one fruit in its entire lifetime. According to the novel, if someone took a quick glance at the tree, it would appear to be nothing more than a normal wilting tree, completely unlike the healthy, vibrant trees surrounding it.
This strange appearance was because the fruit absorbed the essence of this divine tree and all other living creatures in the surrounding area, including the very nature itself. The tree sacrificed its own life force to create this single, perfect fruit.
The fruit was said to bring the user's body to its absolute peak performance. It would dramatically boost the growth of the user's breakthrough potential and enhance their bloodline powers, making them far more powerful than normal bloodline users. The control over their abilities would also become much more refined and precise.
For the main character in the novel, he had eaten the [Infinite Seed] and quickly evolved his bloodline, becoming one of the youngest people in the academy to awaken a class. This made him stand far above his peers and perform outstandingly in every challenge.
He was also one of the youngest people to achieve Transcendence, an evolution far above normal class awakening. These beings were feared across the world for their unique powers and god-like abilities. They were meant to be only myths and legends until the main character proved it was possible.
If Ryker could get his hands on this fruit, he would not only have a future with limitless potential, but he would probably become one of the strongest beings in this world. He might even surpass the main character despite his plot armor and destiny.
But the fruit was incredibly dangerous to obtain. The tree was guarded by powerful beasts who had been drawn to its life force over the centuries. Many adventurers had tried to claim it, but none had succeeded. The protagonist only managed to get it through a combination of luck, timing, and help from his future companions.
Ryker would have to be much more careful and strategic in his approach.
"Well, maybe like a mercenary group that completes dangerous tasks for high pay," Ryker responded after a long time pondering the question. This would give him the perfect cover story for why he needed to venture into dangerous areas like the Wryn Forest.
Stella stared at him for a few moments, looking stunned by his suggestion, before she replied in a much different tone than before.
"We can head to the guild to get our information registered. With the amount of money we have, the process should be smooth..." Stella spoke like an experienced person, which was totally different from her former character. She was serious and knowledgeable, making Ryker realize just how deep into the criminal underworld she had been involved. The thought made him feel a little irritated.
"But?" Ryker questioned, noticing the pause in her speech and the hesitation in her gaze.
"Well, it's just that a mercenary group with only two members wouldn't be accepted by the guild. The legal minimum number of members is six," she explained carefully.
When Ryker heard this, his face tightened with anger, but he held it in. This was an unexpected complication he hadn't considered.
"So we'll just have to gather a group then. Find people to recruit and let me select from them," Ryker said with a sigh, already thinking about the time this would waste.
Stella paused for a moment before nodding her head, seeing this as a chance to prove her worth to Ryker and maybe earn some small measure of his approval.
"This trip seems to be more of a hassle than I thought," Ryker muttered under his breath, frustration clear in his voice.
The sun was getting lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the streets of Wryn Town. Soon it would be evening, and then night would fall. Time was running out, and Ryker's plans were becoming more complicated by the hour.
But he wouldn't give up. The [Infinite Seed] was too valuable to leave for the protagonist to find. Even if it meant dealing with more people and more complications, he would find a way to claim it for himself.
*****
Sorry for not posting in a whilleee I've been taking a health break for the two days but I promise next time I'll prepare chapters in advance.
Enjoy!