"...Why are you so surprised? Don’t you know the golden rule about equivalent exchange?" the voice asked confusedly. "Information is the most expensive asset in existence, you know. Giving it away for free is a total waste."

Soren shifted his weight, his eyes moving back to the empty space where the voice originated. He hadn’t expected to negotiate with a ghost, but it made sense. In any world, things were rarely free.

"What is the price then, Senior?"

"Hmm... Actually, I haven’t thought about it yet..."

The voice trailed off, and a heavy silence settled over the hall.

Soren then felt an invisible pressure sweep over him, like a cold, prying gaze that scrutinized every fiber of his being. It was as if he were being placed on a scale and found wanting.

"What can you even offer anyway?" the voice muttered, sounding unimpressed.

Soren’s lips twitched. It was irritating to be appraised like a piece of low-quality junk, but he kept his expression controlled. He didn’t want to give the old man any more leverage than he already had.

"Although you have great potential, you seem a bit too weak, especially for your age," the voice continued. "Do you lack resources or something? Or did you just slack off?"

"I do lack resources," Soren answered. "But it is because I awakened recently."

"Awakened?" The voice repeated the word as if tasting it. "Is that what you call it when you gain your powers?"

"Yes."

"I see. That explains it then. But it does not change the fact that you are weak. Then... are you rich?"

"...No."

"Hmm... This is a bit troublesome then." The voice sounded genuinely disappointed now. "You aren’t strong or rich, then what use can you be to him?"

Soren caught the word immediately amidst the insults.

’Him?’

His gaze shifted toward Ryan, who was still unconscious on the polished floor.

’It must be talking about him, right? Then... What if I do this?’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Senior, how about we make a deal?"

Soren adjusted his stance, his eyes fixed on the point where the voice last echoed.

"I think I have an idea about what is happening here. I will tell you my guess and offer what I can do. In exchange, you will answer my questions and fulfill your part of the trade. Does that sound fair?"

"Ho?" The voice sounded genuinely intrigued, the disappointment from before replaced by a sharp, predatory curiosity. "A guess? You have quite the nerve to gamble with me using nothing but your own assumptions. Fine. Speak, little one. Let us see if your mind is sharper than your spear."

Soren took a deep breath, his mind working at full speed. He needed to frame his knowledge carefully, blending his own deductions with the facts he had just glimpsed on the interface without revealing the source.

"It seems like you... are not from our world," Soren began, his voice echoing steadily through the golden expanse. "You mentioned choosing Ryan, which suggests you have selected him as your successor or something similar. Given the staggering scale of this architecture, you must be a figure of immense power—a king, an emperor, or a powerhouse of your world. And... you aren’t truly alive, are you? This is likely a fragment of your consciousness left behind to ensure your legacy isn’t lost. You are leaving your inheritance to Ryan because, for some reason or because of fate, as you said, he is the only one who fits."

Silence followed. The air seemed to grow still, as if the very pillars were holding their breath.

"Continue," the voice finally commanded, its tone unreadable.

"However," Soren added, shifting his stance to look toward the empty air, "it is precisely because you originate from a different world that you might not fully grasp the complexities of how things work here. Ryan has the potential, but-"

"Actually, I know a little about your world," the voice interrupted, cutting him off before he could finish. "I have glimpsed the boy’s memories, so don’t try to trick me there. Besides, I know you are just a supervisor to him, and quite frankly, the actual reason I spared you is that you were decent to him and came here to save him."

"O-oh, I see. I didn’t think of that," Soren replied awkwardly.

’Right, that’s possible,’ he thought, his mind pivoting. ’But if so, I need to change the plan...’

’Think.... Ah, right, I know what to do.’ He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Then, since you’ve seen his memories, you must have seen exactly how he ended up in this situation, right?"

"Yes," the voice replied.

"Then you should know what awaits him if that kid tries something lethal again. Ryan might have your inheritance, but he is still a student in a world governed by rules and influence."

Soren paused, locking his gaze onto the empty air.

"Actually, I have already taken care of that kid." Soren continued, his tone turning colder. "And I also have evidence of his actions. So, my offer is this: I will help Ryan get revenge on that kid in the correct way, and I will do my best to help him grow. Just like you are investing in him, I will invest in him as well."

"You mean to say... You will protect the boy?" The voice asked, intrigued.

"...Yes," Soren replied.

The silence in the hall deepened as the voice seemed to weigh Soren’s words.

Soren stood his ground, though his mind continued to race.

Actually, he couldn’t think of a better offer right now. He had already risked everything to come this far; connecting himself to the boy wasn’t just a choice, it was a necessity. Ryan was a Supreme-grade target, and with this inheritance, his rise was a mathematical certainty. More importantly, Soren had a lingering feeling that the boy would be a crucial piece in solving Ethea’s curse.

"I know I might be weak right now," Soren continued, breaking the silence. "But I am going to grow strong, and I am going to do it fast. And I think I understand how the real world works. I know how dangerous and cruel this world is to those who are unprepared. That’s why I will do my best to help him navigate it."