Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty-Three: Making a deal

Chapter Twenty-Three: Making a deal

System: [Decoding Successful.]

[Item: Beast-Binding Collar (Partially Damaged)]

[Details: An ancient tool crafted by an extinct civilisation, containing the languages of a myriad of beasts. When worn by monsters, it releases frequencies to calm them, allowing humans to communicate with them.

Note: Due to the damage sustained, the languages are no longer complete, and much of the data has been lost.]

[Do you wish to sell the item to the System for 100,000 system points and a 100-Slot Inventory Ring?]

Valen didn’t answer immediately, but fell into deep thought. He never thought the metallic collar he had picked up would be so useful.

He had to admit that he was tempted by the system’s offer. 100,000 system points! With that alone, he might be able to purchase a good C-rank or even a B-rank weapon.

There was also a 100-Slot Inventory Ring. With such a thing, he would be able to carry his Silver Power Suit with him anywhere he went.

He would also be capable of storing 100 items. That was like a dream come true for someone like him.

However, he couldn’t put the cart before the horse. He had to understand that the Beast-Binding Collar was also very precious.

While it was damaged right now, it still contained some fragmented languages. With it, he could probably tame a powerful monster so long as the language had been installed within the collar.

If he could do that, then forget 100,000 system points and a 100-Slot Inventory Ring. He would be capable of earning far more in the future. Beasts could also grow stronger like humans, and they also had a higher chance of reaching Level 100.

Even if the creature he bound couldn’t attain such a level, reaching Level 50 might not be impossible for it. Between a possible Level 50 monster and 100,000 system points alongside a 100-Slot Inventory Ring, which was more precious?

After coming to this conclusion, Valen opened his mouth with a slight reluctance in his heart. This was 100,000 system points they were talking about, but he couldn’t be too shortsighted. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"System, I’m sorry but I reject your offer," he stated calmly.

System: [Request acknowledged.]

The reply of the system was emotionless and instantaneous. It was just an AI with no feelings whatsoever. Whether its suggestion was accepted or not, it didn’t mind.

Valen’s gut twisted from the pain as he departed the airship. Glancing at the time, he realised it was 2:52 pm and his expression changed drastically.

He only had eight more minutes before he’d lose 50 HP. He hurriedly summoned his profile as he made his way into the checkpoint.

[Profile:

Name: Valen

Username: Night Star || HP: 169/200 (Until you eat a nutrient-rich delicacy, you’ll constantly lose 50 HP every 30 minutes)

Evolution Path: Twilight Gene

Evolution Branch: Beast Gene

Rank: 0 (Apprentice)

Level: 1.03% Energy Absorbed

Points: 8,097

Status: Normal]

He didn’t waste time glancing at his surroundings, nor did he tell the train station about his 50% discount. He had no proof after all.

’When I get back, I’ll take a token from that soldier,’ he thought as he boarded the train.

Valen glanced at his points and couldn’t help his lips twisting into a small smile. He had left with 799 points and returned with a little over 8,000 points.

If he told this to anyone, they might not believe him. When he remembered how he almost had 100,000 points, his eyes glowed as a thought surfaced in his mind.

He took out the Beast-Binding Collar from his pocket and whispered, "Hey, system. I have a proposal for you."

System: [User Night Star, how may I be of help?]

Valen’s eyes spun as he said: "You wanted this collar for the data stored within and also how you can mass produce it, right?"

System: [Affirmative.]

"How about you analyse the frequencies it releases once more and decode the Beast Language? I fully authorise the process and allow you to do so. Since you wouldn’t be able to take the collar for lab testing and remanufacturing attempts, I’ll lower the price. All you need to do is reward me with a 30-Slot Inventory Ring and 20,000 system points. What do you say?" Valen slowly asked, intentionally drawing his words towards the end.

The system remained silent for a while.

A minute passed...

Two minutes...

Valen was beginning to feel anxious. Was his asking price too high? Just as he was beginning to consider lowering it, the system’s voice sounded in his ears once more.

System: [Agreed. Rewarding 20,000 system points and a 30-Slot Inventory Ring.]

Valen’s eyes shone with joy and excitement. Just like that, he had earned himself a massive jackpot. Although he couldn’t get the 100,000 system points and a 100-Slot Inventory Ring, this was still good enough.

After all, he lost nothing. The data would still be within the collar. The system was only copying it. For only information on Beast Language, he had gotten such lucrative rewards.

He also wasn’t surprised that the system had rewarded him first instead of copying the data and rewarding him afterwards. This was because... who would dare scam the Humanity System? Even if there were such idiots, Valen definitely wasn’t going to be one of them.

What both Valen and the system didn’t know was that they had greatly underestimated the true value of Beast Language.

Someone who understood it thoroughly, however, was currently on the hunt for Valen back in the Underground Network of Tunnels.

Three minutes later, the train stopped within the Underground Town. As the airship had dropped them off at the nearest checkpoint to the city, they only needed five minutes to arrive.

Valen didn’t linger around the place. He immediately used his super speed to dash out of the train station. The time was already 2:57 pm and he needed to hurry.

His processing ability had greatly improved after his evolution, causing the reactions of people around him to appear a bit slow in his hunger-filled vision as he ran through the passage.

Realising that it would take too much time to return to the surface, he decided to search the system map and arrived before a relatively large restaurant.

Without hesitation, he walked in, searched for an empty table and sat down. A waiter soon approached him to note down his orders.

"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the Iron Hearth Restaurant. What would you like to have?" the waiter asked politely, tablet in hand.

Valen glanced through the floating holographic menu for a moment before speaking. "I want something filling. High protein. Also, make it quick."

The waiter nodded with a professional smile. "Our grilled herb chicken with saffron rice is one of the fastest meals available. We also have roasted river fish, vegetable stew, flatbread, and lentil soup."

Valen contemplated, leaning back slightly. He had already removed his mask and armour. Currently, he held the black case in hand.

He did so because he didn’t want to be tracked by anyone.

"Bring me the grilled herb chicken, extra rice, vegetable stew, and a bowl of lentil soup."

After a brief pause, he added: "And water."

"Certainly, sir. Would you like fruit juice as well? We have pomegranate, orange, and date juice."

"Pomegranate juice would do."

The waiter quickly noted everything down. "Understood. One grilled herb chicken with extra saffron rice, vegetable stew, lentil soup, cold water, and pomegranate juice. Your order will arrive shortly."

Valen gave a slight nod before the waiter turned and left towards the kitchen. He couldn’t help but smack his lips.

’A real pity.’

For a moment there, he wanted to act like those rich young masters and say "everything on the menu."

But after he glanced at it and saw dozens to over fifty dishes, he threw away those thoughts from his mind.

Although he was rich, he wasn’t stupid enough to waste money on food he couldn’t eat.

’Hmph! Those rich people probably only order everything on a menu to show off, as no one can possibly eat that much. If anyone thinks otherwise, I challenge them to come to the Iron Hearth Restaurant and order everything!’

---

While Valen was having a ’nutrient-rich delicacy’, over at the Grey Lands far beyond the Black Ruin Castle Beast Haven, a young man clad in a Purple Power Suit sat on the ground with a broken metallic collar in his hands.

Above him were several drones that scoured the area for threats.

Edgar was currently staring at the information displayed on the screen at the corner of his eyes with a furrowed brow.

[Item: Beast-Binding Collar (Completely Damaged)]

[Details: An ancient tool crafted by an extinct civilisation. It used to contain the languages of a myriad of beasts. When worn by monsters, it releases frequencies to calm them, enabling communication between humans and monsters.

Note: Due to the damage sustained, the Beast-Binding Collar can no longer be used, but a bit of the data has survived the erosion of time.]

[Do you wish to sell the item to the System for 5,000 system points and a 10-Slot Inventory Ring?]

Edgar stared at the collar in his hands and muttered: "Why would such a thing be in the hive of the centipedes? Could it be that they had once been test subjects of that extinct civilisation and somehow broke off the collar after leaving the abyss?"

Edgar soon shook his head. He had too little information to infer from. Even so, he wasn’t dumb. He knew the importance of this collar, especially that last bit of data. So he declined the system’s offer.

Furthermore, he didn’t care for 5,000 points as he could earn them whenever he wanted. And for an Inventory Ring? He already had one, making the system’s offer meaningless to him.

"If I could use my Power Suit to hack the data left within this collar, then I wouldn’t even need it, as I would be able to create my own catalogue of beast language. I might also be able to track other collars such as these," Edgar mumbled as his Power Suit’s reactor glowed.

*******

Author’s Note: This story will most likely go premium soon, possibly by tomorrow or before the end of the month. Make sure to enjoy it while it’s still free!

And if you’re enjoying the story so far, I’d truly appreciate your support so we can aim for Tier 1—or even beyond—during Win-Win!