The interior of the limousine was silent, save for the soft hum of the engine and the sound of heavy breathing.
Kael sat stiffly on the Italian leather, acutely aware of the mud and monster blood staining the expensive upholstery. But the woman next to him didn't seem to care about the mess.
Seraphina was trembling again.
The adrenaline of the escape had worn off, and the "Mana Overflow" was returning with a vengeance. Her face was pale, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She clutched her chest, her knuckles turning white.
"It's... coming back," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Faster than before."
She turned to Kael, her eyes desperate. The arrogant Empress from the plaza was gone; in her place was an addict needing a fix.
"Do it," she commanded, extending her trembling hand. "Recycle it."
Kael looked at her hand, then at his own dirt-stained palm.
He didn't move immediately.
"Wait," Kael said.
Seraphina's eyes flashed with anger. "What? Do you want me to beg? I saved your life back there against Gareth!"
"And I saved yours in the dungeon," Kael countered, surprised by his own boldness. "We are even on that front."
He took a deep breath. He knew he was playing with fire, but he had to establish boundaries. He couldn't just be her human battery.
"If I do this... if I become your 'aide'... I need guarantees. I need resources. I'm an F-Rank. If people find out I'm the source of your power, they will kill me."
Seraphina stared at him. Then, a pained, crooked smile appeared on her lips.
"You are negotiating?" she let out a shaky laugh. "Fine. You want resources? I own the 'Frostfall Group'. I have more money than the national treasury. Name your price. Just... make the pain stop."
Kael nodded. That was enough for now.
He reached out and interlaced his fingers with hers.
The moment their skin touched, the System reacted violently.
[DING]
[Target Connected.]
[Initiating "Deep Recycling" Process.]
This time, it wasn't a quick burst like in the dungeon. It was a steady stream. Kael closed his eyes, visualizing the black sludge inside Seraphina's body being pulled into his own, filtered, and turned into pure golden energy.
"Ahh..."
Seraphina threw her head back, a soft, involuntary moan escaping her lips.
The driver, separated by a soundproof glass partition, kept his eyes strictly on the road, though his knuckles tightened on the steering wheel.
For Seraphina, the sensation was overwhelming. It wasn't just pain relief. It felt like a warm bath after freezing in the snow for a decade. It was intimate. Intrusive.
She squeezed Kael's hand so hard she nearly crushed his bones.
[Continuous Recycling...]
[Gained: +1 Strength]
[Gained: +1 Agility]
[Gained: +1 Mana Capacity]
The numbers ticked up every few seconds. Kael watched his stats rise in real-time. This... this was a cheat code. While other hunters trained for years to gain 1 stat point, he was gaining them just by holding hands with a girl in a car.
After five minutes, the flow slowed down. Seraphina slumped against him, exhausted but peaceful. Her breathing normalized.
She didn't let go of his hand.
"Better?" Kael asked, feeling a surge of energy making his own body feel hot.
"Yes," she whispered, her eyes closed. She looked younger now, without the mask of pain. "It feels... empty. In a good way."
She opened her eyes, the icy blue returning, though softened by a blush on her cheeks. She quickly pulled her hand away and straightened her posture, fixing her hair.
"We have a deal, Kael," she said, regaining her composure. "I will provide you with a salary of 5 million credits a month. You will live in my estate. You will have access to my private training grounds."
Kael's jaw dropped. 5 million? That was what a Cleaner made in ten lifetimes.
"However," she added, her gaze sharpening. "You belong to me. You do not treat anyone else. You do not touch anyone else. If I find out you are 'recycling' for another woman..."
She let the threat hang in the air. The temperature in the car dropped a few degrees.
"Understood," Kael gulped. "Exclusive property."
[DING]
[Quest Complete: "The Empress's Leash"]
[Objective Achieved: Contract Established.]
[Reward: System Shop Unlocked.]
Kael's heart skipped a beat. Finally.
System, open Shop, he commanded mentally.
A holographic marketplace replaced the view of the city passing by outside the window.
Kael expected to see weapons or potions. What he saw made him freeze.
[SYSTEM SHOP - LEVEL 1]
[Impurity Cleansing Pill] - Removes toxins from the body to increase potential. (Cost: 100 System Points)
[Skill Book: Shadow Step (Rank A)] - Instant teleportation within 5 meters. (Cost: 5000 System Points)
[Blueprint: Mana-Conducting Alloy] - Recipe to create metal that stores magic. (Cost: 500 System Points)
But it was the currency that confused him.
System Points? I only have Stats.
[System Notice: System Points (SP) are obtained by recycling items of value. The higher the quality of the "trash," the more points you receive.]
Kael looked at Seraphina. She was staring out the window, looking powerful and unreachable again.
He looked at his own clothes. He had nothing.
Wait.
He reached into his pocket. During the chaos in the dungeon, before saving Seraphina, he had grabbed a handful of "garbage" from the dead Chimera Boss. A broken horn and a shattered mana crystal.
He pulled out the shattered, black crystal. It was considered waste material, worth nothing on the market because the energy had leaked out.
Recycle, Kael thought, focusing on the crystal in his palm.
[Recycling "Shattered Chimera Core (Trash Grade)"]
[Success.]
[Received: 50 System Points.]
Kael grinned.
He didn't just have a sugar mommy who gave him stats.
He had a way to turn the world's garbage into god-tier items.
"Seraphina," Kael said, a new confidence in his voice.
She glanced at him. "What?"
"Does your mansion have a junkyard? Or a warehouse for broken equipment?"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "I suppose the guild has a disposal facility for damaged gear. Why?"
Kael leaned back in the luxurious seat, looking at the city lights.
"I think I'm going to need to do some shopping."