Chapter 311 The Suffering of Paris, Sorting the Post-War Gains

Chapter 311: Chapter 278: The Suffering of Paris, Sorting the Post-War Gains

"Sir Oudra, what a coincidence. Are you also here to inform Lord Paris of our master’s impending visit?"

The subtle tension in the air seemed to solidify.

Oudra grew even more embarrassed at having been called out so directly. The muscles on his face—once smooth and flawless but now weathered and rough from days of battle in the snowstorms of the Northern Territory—twitched slightly. He hesitated for a moment before forcing himself to nod.

"That is correct. Could it be that you are also—"

"Just as you suspect."

Evelyn admitted it freely, her elegant composure flawless.

She took a step forward and made a fluid, inviting gesture toward the side hall.

"Lord Paris must be busy coordinating information from all sides right now. Why don’t we enter together to see him?"

"It would also save his lordship the trouble of hearing a similar report twice."

Oudra watched Evelyn, her confident and composed demeanor suggesting she had everything under control, and an inexplicable frustration welled up inside him.

Compared to her nonchalance, he, as a failure who had just lost face upon arriving, felt extremely uncomfortable in this situation.

But in the end, he couldn’t refuse such a proper suggestion. He could only suppress his unease, bow slightly, and display the gentlemanly conduct befitting a Knight.

"Of course. After you."

The heavy walnut door was pushed open again, and Paris immediately straightened his back.

His gaze swept over the two of them. Even before they spoke, he had already guessed the purpose of their visit.

’It seems... this storm is far from over...’

He took a deep breath inwardly and gestured with his hand.

"Lady Evelyn, Sir Oudra, please have a seat—"

---

Moonlight, like shattered silver foil, slanted through the high windows into the small meeting room on the second floor of Grent Manor’s main house.

From outside the window drifted the last boisterous clamor of apprentices and Knights, flushed with drink and carrying the aftertaste of ale, roast meat, and victory.

Jon, meanwhile, leaned back in a large armchair, his ice-blue eyes holding the profound depth of a dark sea in the dim light.

A long-awaited moment of peace finally arrived, and he slowly raised his left hand.

In the moonlight, a massive signet ring inlaid with a deep blue sapphire rested on his knuckle. Its face gleamed with a cold metallic luster, and its band was engraved with complex magical patterns—it was none other than the [Red Eagle Seal Ring], redeemed from the Contribution Points Store for the [Comprehensive Counterattack III] event.

---

[Red Eagle Seal Ring (Perfect Level - Ring)]

[Durability: 200/200]

[Attribute 1: Constitution +10]

[Attribute 2: Magic Resistance +10]

[Storage Space: Contains a 10m x 10m x 10m cubic storage space. Magic Power can be used to store and retrieve items with a volume not exceeding the storage limit.]

[Note: If this item is destroyed, all items within the space will be lost.]

---

It was an exceptionally precious spatial item!

Normally, this precious ring should have been obliterated along with its original owner, Nerva Heta, under the bombardment of cannonballs, each infused with two points of Divine Power.

But the system was just that unreasonable, somehow managing to fish this treasure out from who knows where.

But for Jon, it held an even greater significance.

He caressed the face of the ring, and a thought crossed his mind.

"Open backpack."

A subtle sensation spread through his body, and a vast "sense of space" so immense it nearly made his soul tremble, boomed open in his consciousness!

This was a truly stable, orderly, and vast "space," far larger than that of the Red Eagle Seal Ring.

---

[Backpack: (3/500)]

---

"It’s back..."

Jon whispered almost inaudibly, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

This was the max-level, large backpack he had possessed as a player, and just as he’d expected, it had been unlocked upon obtaining the [Red Eagle Seal Ring].

With but a thought, the vast, orderly 500-slot backpack space appeared clearly within his Spirit.

But just as he’d anticipated, the rare potions, backup weapons, and various materials that once filled it to the brim... had all vanished without a trace. All that remained was an empty, faintly glowing grid of squares, holding the other item he had redeemed and two pieces of junk he had casually picked up.

As for feeling a sense of loss, there wasn’t much of that.

He never had the habit of storing precious items in his backpack; his most valuable treasures were never kept here. They were all in the warehouse of the "player home" he had personally built.

It was just that... the so-called "home" had probably been lost to some unknown corner of spacetime when he transmigrated.

After all, it was just a string of data.

’Oh well, what’s gone is gone. I’m starting over anyway, so this isn’t a big deal. With the power I have now, won’t it be easy to get some equipment?’

Jon optimistically moved past the issue.

’Having something to use is better than nothing!’

’Compared to the [Red Eagle Seal Ring]’s cramped space and the risk of losing everything if it gets destroyed, the player backpack’s stacking mechanic for identical items in a single slot is so much better!’

He had already tested it. Small materials like medicinal herbs could be stacked up to 9,999 times. Even a large Mechanical Body like the [Gun Cavalry] only took up 8 slots, just like in the game, and could be stacked up to 5 units!

This carrying capacity should have completely surpassed the imaginative limits of the natives of the Yino Continent regarding spatial items.

This would undoubtedly bring him great convenience and advantage in his future actions and strategies.

Of course, besides the [Red Eagle Seal Ring], the item that had cost Jon the most Contribution Points this time was actually something else.

It was the item currently placed in the very first slot of his backpack.

---

[Unknown Relic (Special - Item)]

[A relic of unknown function. It is engraved with pictures and text that you cannot understand.]

---

This was the item that appeared in the Contribution Points Store alongside the [Red Eagle Seal Ring] after the defeat of "Red Crying Castle." It was shaped like an iPad, gray all over, and engraved with all sorts of complex lines. Its price was a full three times that of the Red Eagle Seal Ring.

Driven by curiosity about the unknown item and his trust in the system’s value assessment, Jon, after much hesitation, finally decided to redeem it.

’I can always earn more experience later, but if I miss a special item like this, it’s gone for good!’

But now, it seemed the secrets of this thing were clearly beyond his imagination. Either he hadn’t met the conditions to decipher it, or the time simply wasn’t right.

He planned to study this thing with Sutton and Claudio tonight.

Three heads are better than one, after all. Between his own knowledge from traveling the continent and two well-informed elders, he refused to believe they couldn’t figure out at least some key information!

As for now...

’Teacher Claudio isn’t back yet...’

Jon’s gaze fell on the system panel that only he could see, and he pondered for a moment.

The rewards from the [The Prey’s Fangs] quest, completed after repelling that Advanced Level Mage who wielded Evil Magic, and the even earlier [Comprehensive Counterattack II] quest were still waiting to be claimed!

This was a chance to draw three Inscriptions of at least Excellent Level, and two Inscriptions of at least Perfect Level!

’Why not take this chance to draw the quest rewards?’

Once the thought appeared, it became irrepressible, as if some feeling was urging him on.

This brought a thoughtful glint to Jon’s eyes. His fingertip, hovering in the void and about to press the button, paused slightly.

’This feeling... a sudden inspiration?’

He recalled the scene of his first Inscription draw; the plea for help from the Yino Goddess that had traveled across an infinite distance during his advancement, and the unique Legendary Level quest, [Luck and Misfortune], now sitting at the top of his quest log.

’Goddess of Luck... Phoebe... The Yino Goddess said you were in peril...’

’But you can clearly still respond to prayers... Why is that?’

Jon took several uncut Silver Crystals from his waist pouch and placed them one by one on the dark velvet cloth of the conference table, arranging them into the rough shape of a cat’s paw.

This was the Divine Emblem of the Goddess of Luck.

Moonlight now flowed over them, the sharp edges of the crystals reflecting a faint, cold light. It was like some silent, ambiguous signal, making Jon’s expression even more subtle.

"Could this be a coincidence? If not—"

His voice dropped even lower, as if he were holding a secret conversation with some incorporeal existence.

"Then please, give me a hint..."

With a light touch of his will, he clicked to draw.

[Random Inscription (Minimum Rarity: Excellent) Draw in Progress...]