Chapter 292: Absurd Wealth
Kai tilted his head slightly as he locked eyes with the men surrounding him.
Their hands gripped his shoulders, but the moment stretched into silence.
Then, it was at this moment that one of his titles was triggered.
[ Title: Strongest One ]
[ Effect: Increases all base attributes (Strength, Agility, Endurance, Perception) by +5%. ]
[ Passive Effect: Intimidation aura triggered against lower‑ranked human enemies. ]
He didn’t even budge when they grabbed him, thanks to his higher Physique Rating.
Now, he has even put imperceptible pressure on them!
The air suddenly turned colder for the group of men...
Apparently, a subtle pressure radiated from Kai. It was invisible yet undeniable.
The men’s bravado suddenly weakened as their grips weakened.
Their eyes widened in fear as they felt confused by the current situation.
It wasn’t just Kai’s suit that seemed amazing anymore... It was the weight of his presence, the aura of someone who had survived battles they couldn’t imagine.
One of them swallowed hard. "W‑what... what is this feeling? Yo... You should know that fighting is prohibited, right?"
Another stepped back instinctively, though he tried to mask it with a sneer. "You think you can scare us with tricks?" But his tone lacked conviction.
Kai’s voice remained calm as he looked at the group.
"I told you once. Take your hands off me."
The intimidation effect pressed harder...
This time, it was like a storm cloud approaching them. The men exchanged uneasy glances, their arrogance was immediately draining away.
Even the other customers in the store began to murmur, sensing the pressure in the air.
The shopkeeper, a thin man with large eyes, finally intervened.
He stepped forward and waved his hand. "Enough... enough. This is a neutral zone. You know the rules... no harassment, no fighting. Out."
The three men hesitated, but the shopkeeper gestured toward the door.
They didn’t notice at first, but there were already two guards wearing full-body armor waiting outside. It was as if they were hoping for a battle to happen so they could arrest someone.
Nonetheless, their presence was a reminder that disobedience here carried consequences. Reluctantly, the men left the store while muttering curses under their breath.
Kai exhaled quietly as he recalled the faces of these three men.
There really were people foolish enough to do it.
The shopkeeper bowed slightly. "Apologies, sir. Some survivors forget themselves when they see something rare. Please, don’t let this sour your impression of our store."
Kai nodded once... "I don’t hold it against you."
At that moment, another figure emerged from the back... It was a manager, dressed in a long coat with embroidered sigils. His presence was different as the shopkeeper stepped aside respectfully.
The manager inclined his head.
"Forgive the disturbance. We value customers like you. Allow me to show you something not displayed openly."
’Oh? Did I complete some kind of hidden quest or something?’ Kai mused as he looked at the manager.
However, the man just gestured, and a hidden panel slid open behind the counter. Inside were shelves lined with rarer vials, their glow more intense than the stimulants outside.
Kai quickly scanned them using his Appraisal Skill.
Advanced Gene Stimulants, stronger than the basic versions.
[ Advanced Gene Stimulant ]
[ Grade: High-Grade Consumable ]
[ Description: A refined stimulant injection designed to temporarily boost physical attributes. Increases Strength, Agility, and Endurance by 300% for a short duration. A small permanent attribute increase will occur after use. ]
[ Note: Overuse may cause Spirit depletion and long-term cellular strain. ]
There were also Spirit Core Infusions, designed to permanently expand Spirit reserves...
[ Spirit Core Infusion Vial ]
[ Grade: Rare Genetic Resource ]
[ Description: A vial infused with condensed Spirit Energy. When administered, it permanently expands the user’s Spirit reserves, allowing longer skill usage and faster recovery. ]
[ Note: Requires stable constitution. Improper use may destabilize Spirit channels and cause internal damage. ]
Then, there were top-quality Cellular Regeneration Serums, capable of repairing severe injuries in minutes, and Neural Gene Enhancers, said to improve synchronization with Gene Weapons.
[ Cellular Regeneration Serum ]
[ Grade: Top-Quality Medical Serum ]
[ Description: A potent serum capable of repairing severe injuries within minutes. Stimulates rapid cell growth and tissue recovery, restoring vitality even after near-fatal wounds. ]
[ Note: Excessive use may cause abnormal cell growth. Recommended only for critical survival situations. ]
[ Neural Gene Enhancer ]
[ Grade: Specialized Genetic Serum ]
[ Description: A rare enhancer designed to improve synchronization between the user and Gene Weapons. Strengthens neural pathways, increasing weapon responsiveness and unlocking hidden potential. ]
[ Note: May cause temporary disorientation during adaptation. Best results achieved with repeated training alongside Gene Weapons. ]
"Incredible..." Kai muttered as he knew that he needed all of these items.
However, they were indeed quite expensive.
Still, Kai smiled as he knew that he had the highest Survivor Medals for sure!
The stimulant was worth 17 Survivor Medals, while the infusion vial costs 13 medals. Even the two serums were worth 15 Survivor Medals.
The manager smiled as he looked at Kai’s unbothered face after looking at the prices.
"These are reserved for serious bidders. Prices are high, but so is the value. We don’t display them to avoid attracting troublemakers." The manager said.
Kai smiled.
These weren’t the overpriced basics he had seen earlier... these were items that could change the course of survival.
The manager continued, lowering his voice. "We also have prototype serums... They’re unstable, but powerful. They’re not for everyone. But someone with your... presence might handle them."
Kai smirked faintly beneath the visor. "I’ll keep that in mind."
"Alright... I’ll need fifty Spirit Core Infusion Vial."
The manager’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, his composure nearly breaking.
"Fifty... Spirit Core Infusion Vials?" he repeated, his voice remained low, but it was edged with disbelief. Even the shopkeeper beside him stiffened, his hands twitched as if he had misheard.
Around them, the other customers froze. Conversations halted, and heads turned swiftly toward the mysterious figure wearing a full black outfit!
"Did he just say fifty?" someone whispered.
"That’s... that’s six hundred and fifty Survivor Medals!" another stammered.
None of the Survivors in his shelter had even reached more than 50 Survivor Medals!
"This is absurd."
