Chapter 109 Chapter 109-The Terrible Price
Hearing Tana's words, Howard nodded slightly in agreement.
Yet, Howard held an unwavering confidence that he could find overlooked treasures.
"Is this a joke?" he thought. "I've awakened the supreme talent; finding a hidden gem should be a trifle for me."
However, Howard refrained from voicing his disagreement with Tana.
Instead, he humored her and followed her deeper into the grand hall.
The further they ventured, the fewer stalls there were.
Many individuals were raising their glasses, engrossed in lively discussions.
Upon reaching the hall's innermost sanctum, Howard finally set his eyes on Wales.
At that moment, Wales was deep in conversation with a middle-aged lady of high stature, seemingly enjoying the exchange greatly.
Yet, upon Howard's entrance, a slight frown momentarily creased Wales' brow.
When the noblewoman departed, Tana promptly took her place, teasingly quipping, "Ravenous Wolf, why is it always women seeking you? Do you have some side business we're unaware of?"
Smiling lightly, Wales paid no heed to Tana's jest.
Instead, he turned to Howard, remarking gravely, "You shouldn't have brought him here."
"Why not?" Tana responded, unconcerned. "Geniuses require unconventional means of instruction. I don't believe following the beaten path will maximize his potential."
Wales, with his unchanging demeanor, countered, "What transpires here is not meant for him."
Visibly annoyed, Tana shot back, "If I recall correctly, nothing happening here goes against the Alliance's mandates!"
"True," Wales conceded, his tone still calm and untroubled, "but certain events here might embroil him in the power struggles of influential factions. You should leave, and soon."
"Mr. Wales!"
At that instant, Howard interjected, "If there's money to be made, I'm not afraid of risks. If possible, I'd like to have a private word with you."
A momentary silence settled before Wales nodded, "Very well."
Almost immediately upon his assent, an ethereal purple glow emanated from Wales, enveloping both him and Howard, separating them from the external ambiance.
Observing this, Tana's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of perplexity crossing her face. "What's this trickery? Have they now regarded me as an outsider?"
Within the confines of the luminescent purple barrier, Howard could see Tana's lips move, but her words failed to pierce through.
Astonished, he realized the sheer power Wales commanded -- to even isolate someone like Tana showcased his superiority in strength.
It made sense.
While Tana was merely a mentor, Wales held the prominence to preside over the affairs within the administrative office.
The chasm in their strengths was evident.
After a brief hesitation, Howard opted for directness, "Mr. Wales, I wish to inquire why you gifted me an SS-level skill book. And on top of that, why did you offer me such a potent piece of equipment without any evident reason?"
"Do you seek the reason behind my actions?"
To Howard's surprise, Wales didn't evade the question.
Instead, he candidly acknowledged it. This sudden affirmation left Howard momentarily off-balance.
He'd anticipated denial, expecting to have to press Wales for answers.
Regaining his composure, Howard responded, "Yes, I wish to understand the motive."
After a brief pause, his voice laced with earnestness, Howard continued, "I'm but an orphan. My innate talents aren't particularly exceptional. I shouldn't merit such generosity."
Wales smiled warmly, "True, but I took a liking to you. So, I decided to bestow upon you a small token of my esteem. As for other reasons, if you're truly curious, then first master the Soul Devouring to its pinnacle!"
Hearing those words, Howard's pupils sharply constricted.
With his keen intuition, the truth instantly dawned on him.
He had never disclosed his skill to Wales, yet the man had named Soul Devouring.
The implications were clear.
Fortunately, what Wales was unaware of was that Howard, utilizing his talent Supreme Synthesis, had already advanced Soul Devouring to Soul Theft.
If Wales knew even that, then Howard would genuinely fear whether Wales could peer into the entirety of his being.
Merely being aware of 'Soul Devouring' suggested, at most, that the skill had a lineage.
Perhaps Wales had trained in it too, and sensing Howard's practice of the same skill, had shown him favor.
"You are indeed... quite astute," Wales remarked, discerning from the look in Howard's eyes that he had pieced together the puzzle.
Of course, what Howard surmised wasn't the entire picture.
Wales had no intention of concealing himself. Otherwise, why would he be so overt in his actions?
What Howard remained unaware of was that his very presence here was part of a trap meticulously set by Wales.
Wales realized that if he came forward with everything, Howard might not trust him.
Instead, by allowing Howard to seek him out, he ensured a deeper faith in the whole scenario.
Wales said with a light chuckle, "There's a connection between us. I hesitated to bring you here because I feared you'd get entangled in the strife with the Church or other factions."
He paused before continuing, "You should know that before the Extraplanar descended, our world consisted of numerous nations. To fend off the Extraplanar monsters and demons, people from across the world united, forming the Alliance. However, as the crisis ebbed, citizens of these nations fragmented into various groups, engaging in both overt and covert power struggles."
"This organization, in its essence, is an intelligence agency. It's true that there's money to be made, but it's just as easy to earn enmity."
"Usually, it's safe. But when danger strikes... none of us can escape its grasp."
Upon hearing Wales's words, Howard's brows knitted in confusion, "Is there truly infighting within the Alliance? But we haven't even driven out the enemy yet!"
"Unless faced with the brink of extinction," Wales spoke calmly, "there will always be those who prioritize their own selfish desires over the greater good of humanity."
"I won't hold you back," Wales continued, "If you truly wish to join this organization, I will guide you in the future."
Howard sensed something amiss.
Alas, Wales's prior demeanor had fooled everyone, including Howard.
It became evident that Wales's true intention was for Howard to align himself with this organization.
After all, it was Howard who had inquired about Wales's whereabouts from Tana and mentioned his dire need for money.
Wales had even tried to dissuade him from joining.
For a moment, Howard was oblivious to Wales's underlying motives.
Fortunately, Howard wasn't naive.
He didn't commit to joining the organization immediately, but rather nodded thoughtfully, "I'll keep your words in mind, Mr. Wales. Once I've mastered the art of Soul Devouring, I shall seek you out again."
"Remember," Wales interjected suddenly, "Even if you slay monsters within the sacred realm, it would trigger the Soul Devouring. When you accumulate enough points, you might venture into the realm to hone your skills."
"This time around, your assessment results were commendable. The points you've garnered should be sufficient for entry into the mystical realm."
"Furthermore, in the vicinity of the weekly combat lessons, there will be dungeons. Discovering these dungeons not only earns you their inherent rewards but also special accolades from the academy."
With Wales's words of caution, Howard's guard against him noticeably lowered.
Although he was still uncertain about Wales's intentions behind his gifts, he felt a genuine kindness from the man.
Seeing Howard nod in agreement, without a moment's hesitation, Wales dispelled the violet barrier that surrounded them.
Meanwhile, a graceful silhouette approached from the distance and seated herself right beside Howard and his companions.
"Unexpectedly, to come across the renowned Ravenous Wolf and Agave at the same time," the maiden laughed. "I am Athena. I hope to request a favor from the both of you."
"Athena?"
At the sudden mention of this name, the pupils of Howard and his companions sharply constricted. Athena, within the pantheon of myths, was a formidable goddess of war.
Howard couldn't help but scrutinize the young woman.
Her face was devoid of makeup, and while not ethereally beautiful, she was far from ordinary.
Her figure, though not as striking as Tana's, was still impressive -- slim enough for a hand to encircle, yet supple and well-formed.
"What favor?" Wales inquired bluntly.
"I seek a pass to the Crimson Dragon City," Athena began, her laughter lilting. "Furthermore, I need your assistance in escorting a team. Bypassing main routes, we aim to traverse both the Mordun Wasteland and Medea Ruins. I've heard tales of Ravenous Wolf, the paramount assassin, who can find safe paths even in the treacherous Desolation Ground. Surely, this should be no challenge for you?"
Wales offered no response to Athena's flattery.
Howard, unfamiliar with these regions, still understood the immense distance between Adia City and Crimson Dragon City.
Even with teleportation arrays, the journey would take a minimum of a week, and by mere carriage, perhaps half a month. The inherent challenge was evident.
Detecting Wales's reluctance, Athena pressed on, "Should you succeed, I'll reward you with a thousand gold coins. And upon completion, I'll present you with a piece of Epic gear."
At her words, Howard's eyes widened dramatically.
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