Chapter 157: Chapter 155 — A Dangerous Deal

"Of course... I want that."

I whispered.

Lord Frost raised his hand.

He extended two fingers from his palm and said:

"You need three things... to determine whether you can possess a Core Armor or not."

He left one finger hanging in the air.

Then whispered:

"First... one hundred kilograms of Dolphin Belly Fat + an Ancient Weapon + the Lord’s total accumulation."

My eyes widened in surprise.

"One hundred?"

I whispered.

Lord Frost continued:

"Second... a Third-Rank Path Examination Stone."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Third Rank?"

I muttered.

"It’s already difficult enough obtaining Third-Rank materials."

"Of course."

Lord Frost replied.

Then added:

"Third... a Path Storage Stone."

He paused briefly.

Then continued:

"It’s similar to the cube."

"It stores the weapon, traits, and the fat..."

"To send them to the Lord who forges the armor."

"Then how do I obtain the Examination Stone?"

I asked.

"With the right price, you can obtain it."

Lord Frost replied.

Then sighed.

"But let me tell you something unfortunate."

"What?"

Lord Frost’s smile vanished.

"The armor-smith Lord..."

He whispered.

"Cannot forge anything beyond Unique Rank at the moment."

Disappointment flashed through my eyes.

"Why?"

"Let’s just say..."

He paused briefly.

"He isn’t at full strength."

"I see."

I whispered.

So my plans had failed.

"But..."

Lord Frost muttered.

I raised my head.

"If someone possessed a Fourth-Rank Healing Flower..."

He said calmly.

"Then he could be healed... and your armor could be forged."

I didn’t answer.

I simply smiled.

"I understand."

I muttered inwardly.

How had such an obvious idea escaped me?

They told me they knew an armor-smith Lord.

But—

"It seems the Lord who forges the armor..."

I said.

My gaze sharpened toward Lord Frost.

"Is actually someone from your city, isn’t he?"

Lord Frost laughed.

But—

For just a moment...

A sharp look crossed his face.

A look that answered the question without words.

"And what if he is?"

Lord Frost asked.

I smiled beneath my mask.

"Nothing."

I whispered.

"I’ve simply begun understanding a few things."

I fell silent briefly.

Then added:

"A small city like this."

"Hosts a massive tournament."

"Lords from various guilds."

"A rare auction."

"And an armor-smith capable of creating Core Armors."

My smile widened slightly.

"It seems Sunset City hides more than it shows."

Lord Frost remained silent.

But his eyes...

Were watching me cautiously this time.

"You think too much."

He finally said.

I laughed quietly.

"That’s why I’m still alive."

I answered.

"The Lords who don’t think..."

"Die quickly."

Silence lingered between us.

Cold wind drifted gently through the balcony.

Then—

"A Fourth-Rank Healing Flower..."

I said.

"Its value is immeasurable."

"Of course."

Lord Frost whispered.

"That’s why it’s extremely important to that Lord."

"Fine... let’s meet another time."

I said.

Lord Frost neither stopped me nor spoke further.

I left quickly.

.

.

Soft music echoed gently.

Lord Frost raised his hand.

He pulled out a small conch shell.

Pressed it.

Magical circles began forming into a portal.

Lord Frost stepped toward it.

Then vanished.

Darkness dominated the room...

Until white light erupted from the portal.

Its glow reflected across the walls of a medium-sized chamber.

A table.

Several chairs.

And a massive bookshelf stretching across the walls.

Filled with books and boxes.

Lord Frost stepped forward.

The portal vanished behind him.

Then multiple lights suddenly ignited.

"I’m here."

Lord Frost whispered.

Behind one of the chairs...

A person stood wearing loose white robes and long hair.

Lord Frost bowed.

"My Lord."

He whispered.

"What compels you to summon me here?"

The man’s voice sounded tired.

"I apologize, my Lord."

Lord Frost whispered.

"But this matter must remain secret."

"Speak."

The man said.

"It seems that Lord... the Ivory Mask Lord."

"He truly possesses a Fourth-Rank Healing Flower."

The man narrowed his eyes.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Then asked:

"Are you certain?"

"No."

Lord Frost answered honestly.

"But I’m certain he wasn’t surprised when I mentioned healing you."

"In fact... he looked as though he understood something he had previously missed."

Silence filled the room for several moments.

The man slowly moved.

Then sat in the chair.

White light finally illuminated his face.

A pale face.

Tired eyes.

But—

The most noticeable thing...

Was his right arm.

Completely wrapped in black metallic pieces.

As though they were preventing something from escaping.

"That young man..."

The man whispered.

"Is troublesome."

Lord Frost smiled lightly.

"But talented."

"Talented?"

The man laughed with faint mockery.

Then raised his eyes.

"A young man who possesses that many Unique Armors."

"Hides his face."

"And behaves as though he doesn’t fear the guilds."

"That isn’t mere talent."

His eyes lifted toward the ceiling.

"It’s a problem."

Lord Frost remained silent.

Meanwhile, the man continued calmly:

"Did he ask you about Core Armors?"

"Yes."

"And did you tell him?"

"Only part of it."

The man closed his eyes briefly.

Then sighed.

"Good."

Silence filled the room once more.

Before Lord Frost suddenly spoke:

"My Lord."

"Do you think he’s truly capable of forming a Path?"

This time—

The man opened his eyes immediately.

And for the first time...

Something resembling genuine interest appeared within them.

"I don’t know."

He answered calmly.

"But..."

His gaze shifted toward one of the shelves.

Resting upon it...

Was a cracked black armor.

Ancient.

Terrifying.

"The people who ask about Core Armors while still Fourth Rank..."

The man whispered.

"Are either geniuses."

"Or lunatics."

Lord Frost smiled lightly.

"And which do you think he is?"

The man finally laughed.

A rough, exhausted laugh.

Then whispered:

"I fear..."

"He is both."

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then the man whispered:

"Meeting here was a wise decision."

"No one must hear these matters."

"Our mission is finally close to success."

"Spies are everywhere."

"As you command."

Lord Frost lowered his head.

"That Ivory Mask Lord..."

The man whispered.

"If he truly possesses the flower..."

"Obtain it."

"At any cost."

.

.

I returned to the cave.

The information I obtained...

Demanded long contemplation.

Of course, I wouldn’t recklessly tell Lord Frost I possessed the flower.

News like that...

Could move people I had no desire attracting.

I had to remain within the boundaries of a Fourth-Rank Lord.

If I revealed possession of resources...

That even Fifth-Rank Lords rarely heard about...

They would descend upon me and devour flesh and bone alike.

I exhaled slowly.

Then lay down on the bed.

My eyes fixed upon the cave’s stone ceiling.

"The Fourth Rank..."

I whispered.

"Is still protecting me."

In this world...

People didn’t merely fear strength.

They feared the unknown.

To them...

I was merely a talented Lord.

A little eccentric.

Someone with a few secrets.

But—

Still within the realm of comprehension.

But if they learned the truth?

I closed my eyes.

The accelerated training dimension.

The flowers.

The beasts.

The armors.

And the resources I possessed.

"They wouldn’t treat me as a Lord."

I whispered.

"They’d treat me as a walking treasure."

I opened my eyes once more.

Then laughed quietly.

"Or a catastrophe that must be killed before it grows."

Silence filled the cave.

"But..."

I whispered.

"If I hide possession of the flower..."

"I’ll lose the armor."

I closed my eyes again.

My thoughts began clashing once more.

From my understanding...

The Core Armor was the solution to the Full Equipment Mission.

Perhaps...

It was even the beginning of the True Path of Equipment itself.

I didn’t know the answer.

Should I take the risk?

Or wait?

Any movement from me...

Could become an enormous gamble.

I could lose the tournament.

And lose my chance to enter the private auction.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Damn it...

Even the auction itself had become important now.

Before...

I viewed it as nothing more than a chance to obtain rare tools.

But now?

The higher my rank climbed...

The more I understood.

Resources...

Were everything.

Without resources...

Even a genius would remain trapped.

I sighed.

Then sat at the edge of the bed.

"Think calmly."

I whispered to myself.

If I presented the flower directly...

They would connect it to me immediately.

Especially after Lord Frost’s words.

That was dangerous.

But—

Did I truly need to reveal myself?

My thoughts suddenly halted.

Then I raised my head.

"Wait."

I whispered.

"Who said the flower had to come from me?"

My eyes slowly widened.

Ideas rapidly began taking shape.

In this world...

Black market deals existed.

Brokers existed.

Artifacts constantly passed between countless hands.

So...

If the flower appeared through an intermediary?

Or an anonymous auction?

Or even an indirect exchange?

Then...

No one would be able to prove anything.

A slow smile spread across my face.

"Good."

I whispered.

"It seems I’m finally learning."

In this world...

Strength alone wasn’t enough.

You also had to know...

How to hide your fangs.

I stood up.

Then walked toward one of the stone drawers.

I pulled out the communication conch.

Stared at it for several moments.

Then smiled faintly.

"Lord Frost."

"Let’s meet... I have good news for you."

I whispered, then added:

"Let’s make the meeting... secret."