Book 10: Chapter 71: Final Preparations

Most high-level bloodlines came with innate abilities, just like Qin Lun’s own Elf Bloodline which had several types of Elemental Affinity and Elf Whispers. The Demon Bloodline included Demon Transformation, Demon Will, Frost Aura, and so on.

The Telepathy ability that always came with the Illithid Brain not only had communication and reconnaissance uses, but could also increase spell power. It was equivalent to a mix of a Mage’s Precise Casting and Elemental Affinity. However, Elemental Affinity targeted elemental magic, while Telepathy targeted mental magic.

Furthermore, the other bloodline talent, “+2 Magic Resistance”, was also extremely versatile. For magic-based professions, this innate ability was no less effective than a physical profession putting on a full set of plate armor.

However, with just these two innate abilities, the Illithid Brain could only be considered an excellent high-level bloodline; it was not worth the price of 1.3 million Shattered Crystals.

What the few high-ranking Apostles competing with Qin Lun truly valued was the Illithid Brain’s Mind Blast skill. Mind Blast was a high-level mental magic spell. After merging with the bloodline, it initially had B- grade power and could eventually be upgraded to A grade. This meant it was a mental attack magic ranging from level eight to level nine.

The value of an A-grade Apostle Skill was self-evident. Compared to the A- grade illusion spell – Nine Hells, which Qin Lun had spent one million to obtain, the Illithid Brain’s price of 1.3 million seemed quite reasonable.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Illithid Brain only had a 30% chance of granting this spell, and its appearance was quite unattractive, there probably wouldn’t have been just two or three bidders left by now.

After the bid reached 1.3 million, the final competitor gave up. After consuming the full half-hour auction time, Qin Lun’s Storage Space finally contained a mass of somewhat sticky, golden brain matter housed in a transparent container.

After obtaining this thing, Qin Lun breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention back to the Yardorid Fragment. The auction for the Angel Bloodline had left him with 400,000 Shattered Crystals, but the latest bid for the Yardorid Fragment had already reached 420,000.

“What a huge loss. I’m really not cut out for business!” Qin Lun felt somewhat helpless. The auction for the Illithid Brain had actually caused him a hidden loss of 100,000 Shattered Crystals.

This was due to the auction for the Angel Bloodline. When he settled the auction for the Angel Bloodline, there were actually still several people bidding on the item. If he hadn’t needed to refresh the bid for the Illithid Brain within half an hour, he wouldn’t have had to settle so hastily. The Angel Bloodline might have ended up selling for around 600,000, not the current 500,000.

“Forget it, I’ll just put the lost Shattered Crystals on Hill’s tab!” Qin Lun gave a wicked smile and cast aside his minor worries.

This time, he wasn’t just buying things for himself, but also for the other Serial Killers. Consumables and Magic Scrolls worth 1.1 million were split equally among the three entering the Toril World. Adding the cost of the entry tickets and Qin Lun’s acquisition of “Nine Hells”, the amount of Shattered Crystals counted against him was probably around 1.4 million.

Qin Lun originally only had over 700,000 Shattered Crystals. Combined with the Angel Bloodline, he was actually in debt by about thirty or forty thousand Shattered Crystals. Based on the investments of the others, after deducting the Magic Scrolls, the Illithid Brain, and the Fire Element Core, Rand had to bear a debt of about 160,000 to 170,000. Although Hill invested 1.2 million, he still had to bear a debt of around 500,000.

Of course, this didn’t account for the 400,000 Shattered Crystals Qin Lun still had left.

Because Hansen and Grant did not participate in the adventure in the Toril World, their investments this time were the smallest; the two combined only had just over 1.1 million Shattered Crystals.

However, since he had seen the Yardorid Fragment, Qin Lun still hoped to use the remaining funds to buy it for Hansen. That way, they wouldn’t have to use future earnings from the Toril World to compensate The Disciple.

While Qin Lun was thinking, the auction price for the fragment had risen to 450,000. Only five competitors remained for now, and it was obvious this item would exceed 500,000 Shattered Crystals.

For an item with a base price of 350,000, the price set by the Shattered Starry Sky seemed to underestimate its value.

“It seems I must add this item to the auction!” Qin Lun took out a golden card from his Storage Space and muttered reluctantly.

This was the mission evaluation card Qin Lun obtained in the Divine Comedy World, the Mid-Magic World Universal Gold Card!

This card could be used in the Star Void shopping list as a prerequisite for any single Dark Gold item, of course limited to special treasures produced in Mid-Magic Worlds. This thing wasn’t currency, but its value was still significant. It allowed mid to high-rank Apostles to freely choose Dark Gold Quality equipment that suited them.

Qin Lun had once asked Kelly about the value of this Gold Card. Kelly said this thing had value but no market, because once people got it, they would immediately exchange it for a suitable Dark Gold equipment from the shopping list, provided their finances allowed.

But if one insisted on converting it into Shattered Crystals, its value would be suppressed, possibly selling for only around 150,000. After all, the top-tier Dark Gold equipment topped out at three or four hundred thousand Shattered Crystals at most, unable to compare with Legendary Equipment.

Moreover, it was only a prerequisite for exchanging for Dark Gold; it didn’t mean you didn’t have to pay Shattered Crystals.

Qin Lun quietly waited for the auction of the Yardorid Fragment. When only two competitors remained and the bid reached 550,000 Shattered Crystals, he finally made a move, placing a bid of 400,000 Shattered Crystals plus the Universal Gold Card.

The club’s auction board accepted barter bids. However, for bids involving Shattered Crystals plus additional items, the owner had to decide whether to accept the offer.

About ten minutes later, Qin Lun’s bid was indeed accepted by the owner selling the Yardorid Fragment, who subsequently refused a later bid of 600,000 Shattered Crystals.

Qin Lun sighed in relief. His judgment was correct. In the eyes of that high-ranking Apostle selling the Divine Artifact fragment, the value of the Universal Gold Card was greater than 200,000 Shattered Crystals. Or perhaps he didn’t care about one or two hundred thousand Shattered Crystals and preferred to obtain a suitable Dark Gold equipment.

After acquiring the Yardorid Fragment, Hansen’s investment was not only cleared, but he now owed Qin Lun a bit. Seriously speaking, the value of the items Qin Lun provided this time exceeded what he received by at least 150,000.

…

One day later, Hill and the others gathered again at Qin Lun’s Villa.

“So, any gains?” Grant asked curiously.

“Hmm, the existence of the Apostle Club is indeed necessary. If it were the Alliance’s Demiplane Trading Floor, it’s likely that not a single one of the items I obtained this time would have appeared on the market for the better part of a year.” Qin Lun smiled and displayed all his acquisitions to the group.

“Illithid Brain?!” After clearly reading the item description, Hill carefully picked up the glass container holding the golden brain matter. His face darkened slightly as he muttered, “Illithid… Mind Flayers. The image is just too unpleasant!”

“If you don’t want it, I can sell it and give you the Shattered Crystals back. Even though the 1.4 million price includes a 15% transaction tax, if put on the market, people would definitely fight over it,” Qin Lun said calmly, unhesitatingly attributing the 100,000 Shattered Crystal loss from underselling the Angel Bloodline to the Shepherd.

“Forget it. I am a servant of God. Bloodlines just need to be practical!” Hill’s face twitched slightly. Not dwelling on the heartache over the Shattered Crystals, he quickly stored the Illithid Brain in his Storage Space, earning him looks of disdain from everyone.

“Thank you, Qin Lun!” In contrast, Rand’s gratitude seemed much more sincere. That concentrated Fire Element Core indeed belonged to the Fire Worship Totem, and this thing was very useful to him.

“Seventy thousand Shattered Crystals have been transferred to you.” Hansen expressionlessly stored away the Yardorid Fragment and compensated Qin Lun with 70,000 Shattered Crystals.

Compared to the highest auction price of 600,000 Shattered Crystals, Hansen’s investment fell short by tens of thousands. Adding the cost of the entry tickets and the information fee paid to Kelly, he naturally had to come up with tens of thousands to compensate Qin Lun.

With Hansen’s compensation, Qin Lun managed to recover some of the extra amount he had spent in this auction. He didn’t plan to ask for the remaining portion, using it precisely to repay the favor of the Accompany Card Rand had given him earlier. As for Grant’s investment, only Hill would be responsible for repaying that.

The Gargoyle Statue and Construct Beetle were split equally among Qin Lun’s trio. As for the Magic Scrolls, Qin Lun took the two copies of Eye Tyrant’s Will. The ninth-tier spell Meteor Fall was given to Rand, who had the highest Fire Element affinity. Divine Light Healing, Earth Cage, and Death Ray were all given to Hill, whose offensive and defensive capabilities were relatively weaker.

Although the distribution of the Magic Scrolls was a bit uneven, the three were a team. As long as the skill’s power could be utilized, who used it wasn’t important.

“So I’m the only one who got nothing…” Watching everyone finish dividing the spoils, Grant felt rather resentful.

“Hehe, when Hill gets back, you can pick one item from his loot!” Rand comfortingly patted Grant’s thick shoulder, ignoring the Shepherd’s gloomy expression.

“Who told you that your current profession’s development is the most complete!” Qin Lun said cheerfully. Compared to Hill lacking a bloodline, Hansen lacking a Weapon Case, and himself lacking close-combat ability, the Joker’s current combat ability was indeed the most well-rounded.

In terms of MT capability, the Joker not only had the super regeneration from the Virus Bloodline, but also the super defense from the White Giant Bloodline. For attack, he had the Big Bang Impact learned from the Hunter World, used by the Phantom Troupe member Uvogin.

If he combined his Human Skin Mask with his exceptional combat talent, Grant could definitely hold his own against most high-ranking Apostles for a short time, with fewer weaknesses than even Qin Lun.

“In that case, our preparations for entering the Toril World are basically complete!” Hill concluded with a smile.

After the Serial Killers left, Qin Lun also relaxed. For the next few days, except for welcoming the two youngsters who returned from another Quest World, he basically didn’t go out, becoming a complete and utter homebody.

The first mission world led by Integra was very successful. Perhaps the queen’s aura was too powerful; the HELLSING head actually received a Gold mission evaluation in her first Otherworld Mission, not losing out to Qin Lun back in the day. Even Didi and Sif incidentally received Silver evaluations.

A few more days later, Qin Lun, Hill, and Rand gathered in the Teleportation Hall at Devil’s Horn. Their adventure journey was finally about to begin.