Chapter 104: Heart Shopping (1/2)
While on his way to Trafford, Rakna was rapidly made aware that his muscles were turning back to how they were before he used Soul Drain on Evelyn. He pulled up his status and noted that his stamina was dangerously close to zero again.
'Even during meditation, without moving, my stamina goes down. What normally happens daily within the body takes less energy than how much is recovered, but in a crippled state, that's not the case, huh?' he said to himself.
”{Indeed. Not only that but your stamina, unfortunately, goes down faster as well,}” the lioness commented, now only able to hear Rakna's surface thinking and none of his more internalized thoughts.
'Uh, now that I think about it, I'm quite fortunate. I acquired a new bank of information in the form of a Dusk Lioness' soul.'
The lioness cackled. ”{That is true. However, I have to be frank, my knowledge doesn't extend too far, especially after all these years. At the end of the day, as a Dusk Lion, I lived very isolated.}”
'I'll keep that in mind,' Rakna replied and took out the mechanical syringe. He loaded another dose of Vegas' tonic and injected it into his neck. The bystanders looked at him with weird looks but he couldn't be bothered by what strangers thought of him.
After a few more minutes of walking, he arrived at his destination and entered Trafford's building where he immediately visited the service he was looking for. This time, he wasn't welcomed by Baires personally but the staff seemed to be aware of who he was and brought him to a VIP room.
”I see that you use similar procedures as the Quest Board,” he commented when he saw the large screens fixed to the walls. They were displaying three-dimensional models of monsters.
”Correct,” a personal assistant who had been assigned to him spoke from her seat in front of a computer-like device. ”Whatever you wish to buy or sell, please tell me. If you wish to browse our inventory, you can ask me.”
”Hm,” Rakna mused. ”In that case, show me the list of hearts of creatures above level 100 and filter out those that independently have a price higher than 100 000 Talys.”
”Right away,” she replied and inputted a few commands. The large screens promptly displayed an extensive list and he raised an eyebrow.
”Sort by price, descending. Also, if you can, prioritize creatures that had a balanced distribution of attributes while alive and only show the hundred strongest of them.” The assistant was a bit surprised by the specific demand but professionally went through with it and the list was updated within a few seconds.
Rakna hummed as he carefully read everything with Fabled Sight. Overall, if he wanted to stick to the budget he had set himself, he probably wouldn't be able to get hearts that belonged to a creature stronger than level 200.
”Raise the price limit to 200 000,” he said and the list was altered again. 'Barely level 250 after doubling it,' he clicked his tongue internally. ”I'll buy five hearts of level 200 drakes,” he said and she nodded, registering the order.
”Now, reset the parameters. Show me hearts between level 50 and 100,” he instructed and a far longer list was given to him. The screens slowly scrolled down and he read all of the information on them with inhuman speed.
'Hey, lioness… hm… true, a name would be a good idea…'
”{Haha, indeed. Did you want to ask me something?}”
'While you were alive, what was your favorite prey to hunt?'
”{Let me see… I would say cockatrices were my favorite snack.}”
'The oversized legendary chickens with petrifying abilities?'
”{Yes.}”
'Forget about it then. I saw it nowhere on that list.'
”{Naturally. Cockatrices are all at least level 400; from birth.}”
Rakna's eye twitched at the outrageous information. 'What about the cubs as you call them? Do you know what they like to eat?'
”{I believe nine-tailed wolves are particularly fond of high elks; animals with reign over nature and its whims. As for the Luquila, I've heard stories in the past. Supposedly, they loved hunting wyverns and dragons.}”
'…talk about an expensive diet,' Rakna uttered. 'But that would explain the compatibility I have with reptiles. Dragons are essentially overgrown lizards after all.'
”{I recommend you never say that to a Dragon's face if you want to live,}” the lioness provided.
'Dully noted,' he replied blankly then turned back toward the personal assistant who had been patiently waiting for his decision.
”To complete my order, get me a stock of hearts of level 75 reptiles. I don't mind their specific race but it would be appreciated if you can get those that have the closest possible relations to draconic species. Get me 100 000 Talys worth and their individual cost must not surpass 5 000. Oh, don't forget to take into account my discount for that.”
”Understood,” she said and typed a few things before pointing at a small elevated stand in the middle of the room. ”Please put your hand on there for the transaction. If you have the necessary space in your storage, everything will automatically be transferred to it. They will be preserved so you don't need to worry about their quality going down.”
Rakna nodded and did what he was told. ”I have enough space.”
”In that case, you only need to accept it,” she stated and a System window appeared.
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