Chapter 259

After Ekoarichi explained the remaining ten items, their details were as follows:

A ten-centimeter green flute.

It attracts nearby monsters.

Mainly used as a decoy or to draw other monsters to collide with the one being fought.

A cardholder with about twenty cards.

These cards can absorb magic up to Level 10, storing it. The magic can be released between 10 to 60 seconds at a set time.

The cards can be reused if retrieved after use.

A pentagonal black glass plate inscribed with strange characters.

This is the [Flame Cascade Array], which, when activated, incinerates a 100-meter radius with powerful flames.

A timer can delay activation, allowing escape for those without fire resistance. However, if destroyed, it might detonate early, so caution is needed.

A Japanese-style sword with a one-and-a-half-meter blade.

Forged from rare ore found only in mines controlled by the oni species.

[Crimson Oni Stone] synergizes well with Ki generated by [Lion of Swordsmanship] and [Crocodile of Scythe Arts], multiplying its sharpness during use.

A two-meter-long staff.

Even non-Dispel Magic users can wield Level 1 Dispel Magic with it.

Its true value lies in boosting a Dispel Magic user's output by one skill level.

A thirty-centimeter silver rod with eagle-foot-shaped ends.

Once a day, it can summon a Level 12-equivalent powerful lightning strike.

However, it sends a small shock to the user's hand, so those without lightning resistance may be paralyzed briefly if unprepared.

A forty-centimeter square white stone tablet with overlapping circles, triangles, and squares.

Infusing it with magic or Ki makes it float.

It can carry up to 300 kilograms, rising from 30 centimeters to three meters based on energy input.

It can be moved easily by applying lateral force, allowing travel over impassable terrain.

A full-body armor made of Emerald Sacred Stone.

A full-armor version of Ai's Jewel Sword, with no other notable effects.

A slender, diamond-like, transparent staff for stick fighters.

Made from Celestial Demon Crystal, a mysterious crystal that grows where five or more Celestial Demon species live for years, making it rare in this country.

When infused with Ki, it glows white, gaining an advantage against evil beings (black-winged Celestial Demons, undead, ghosts, etc.). With magic, it glows black, gaining an edge against holy beings (white-winged Celestial Demons, fairies in sacred forests, etc.).

It has unlimited Ki capacity, safe for even the most Ki-heavy users.

A black metal gauntlet for the right arm.

A [Celestial Gear], it amplifies Ki-based punches from the equipped arm, launching them with massive enhancement.

Power can be adjusted for some restraint.

"All very appealing items."

"Right? I'd love for you to deal with us."

"I can't say until I hear the others, but it's true that it feels worth sharing the information."

"Got it. I'll be looking forward to it, then."

"Yes."

Pleased by Tatsuro's sincere words, Ekoarichi grinned and stored all the explained items.

"You know this, but don't talk about what you saw here elsewhere. I'd appreciate some discretion."

"Of course. We won't speak carelessly, so rest assured."

"Good. That's all from us. I'll fetch Narentnis's Sanjiv."

As Ekoarichi stood to leave, Tatsuro added a request.

"Could you ask him to come in ten minutes? We want to discuss what we saw while it's fresh."

"Hm? Fair point. I appreciate you thinking it through. I'll let Sanjiv know."

"Thank you."

Tatsuro bowed slightly, and Ekoarichi waved cheerfully before exiting.

After hearing another door close, Tatsuro turned to Leah, who was furiously scribbling notes from her [Item Box].

"—How was it?"

"Yes. Everything he said seems true. The [Celestial Gear] gauntlet and dungeon-limited items can't be fully copied. Others need technical know-how, but I studied their mechanisms thoroughly."

"Kinda feels sneaky, but we should take what info we can."

It felt like spying, but since just observing didn't achieve much, they justified it.

Prioritizing their future over being overly considerate to strangers was the way to go.

With that, Tatsuro called out to Jeanne, who was pretending to lounge behind the sofa.

"How about you?"

"Neigh."

"No issues, apparently."

"Good. Keep it up, Jeanne."

"Neigh!"

Unbeknownst to others, Tatsuro had given Jeanne a truth-and-lie-detecting mirror from the treasury via [Infinite Item Field].

Using Tree Magic discreetly from a blind spot, she monitored Ekoarichi for lies.

According to her, Ekoarichi spoke only the truth.

"They could have an item to bypass this, but it's a good indicator. Two or three minutes until the next one. Need more time for notes, Leah?"

"No, I'll finish the key points in under a minute--"

As Leah's hand moved at high speed, writing legibly, she finished seconds later.

Then, the sound of a distant door opening and heavy footsteps approached.

Stopping at their room, a knock came-- knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

"Hm."

Whether due to his face or personality, Sanjiv gave Jeanne a glance with a thoroughly sour expression before plopping onto the sofa across from Tatsuro's group.

"Shall we begin?"

"Alright. We're offering one thing: money. 50 billion. Others might try to distract you with items and petty cash, but we're different. Buy what you want with that money. Better than items, right?"

"…Is that so?"

"Indeed. That amount should cover most things."

Honestly, money alone held no appeal. In the treasury, they'd acquired heaps of coins.

Even split among them, it far exceeded what an average person could own.

They also had gold, silver, precious metals, golden crystals, and Geshmagmin they could replicate and sell, plus materials from Level 10 dungeon monsters.

Sanjiv couldn't know this, but Tatsuro's group mentally crossed him off at this point.

To make matters worse, Jeanne subtly signaled, pretending to shift, that he'd lied.

(A lie in that short talk? He doesn't intend to pay 50 billion? If he doesn't pay, we just keep quiet. Then could it be…)

Hoping it wasn't true, Tatsuro slightly shook the sofa to signal Jeanne to keep watching, then spoke.

"If we gave you all the information, you wouldn't haggle afterward, saying it's only worth a fraction, pocketing part of the payment… That wouldn't happen, right?"

"…Of course not."

The moment he said "of course" without changing expression, Jeanne shifted again, signaling another lie.

(Seriously? What a sly old man…)

Tatsuro hadn't expected such a scammer-like tactic, and his face twitched slightly.

They could refuse if he demanded a refund, but the old man's neurotic demeanor oozed a tenacious obsession that wouldn't let go until he won.

If they were to deal with Sanjiv, they'd need a contract or blood oath, but since he was already the runaway leader for elimination, it wasn't necessary.

So, Tatsuro wrapped it up with neutral words.

"Understood. We'll consider it positively."

"Heh, naturally. I'm leaving, but I offered the simplest and most valuable thing. No need to think twice. I'll call the next one right away, alright?"

"Yes, that's fine."

Tatsuro flashed a full sales smile, and Sanjiv left in high spirits, closing the door.

He genuinely seemed to believe he'd won.

The moment the door shut.

"Nope."

"No way."

"Peewee."

"Neigh."

"Indeed."

"Right."

"Totally."

No need for Cardina or Jeanne's words to be translated—Sanjiv was out without a second thought, as he'd said.

Immediately, the sound of a door opening and light female footsteps echoed toward their room.

Knock, knock, knock - though it felt odd to invite the host, Tatsuro called her in.

Without any particular formality, they reunited - months for Tatsuro's group, 36 years for Beverly.

"Time really barely moved inside, huh?"

"Yes. It feels like Urashima Ta, I mean, surreal, and I still can't fully believe it." (T/N: A Japanese folktale about a man who spends time in a timeless realm, returning to find decades have passed)

"Understandable. I'd feel the same. Oh, by the way, I've got elf blood, so I just 'look' like I haven't aged."

"I knew it. Shall we start? We're keeping the others waiting."

"Good point."

Beverly closed the door, smiled at Jeanne, and sat on the opposite sofa.

"Shall we begin?"

"Alright, let's do this."

Thus, they moved to the final discussion.