Chapter 79: Chapter 79 - Major Ava (1/2)
CHAPTER 79
MAJOR AVA
Lino had a rather impressed expression on his face as he slowly climbed the tall tower. Though it lacked proper floors, ever so often there would be platforms which led to smaller rooms, or even open s.p.a.ces stacked to roof with books.
The tower was of a strange make, and after inspecting it closely, Lino realized that the black stone used in its construction was actually [Dried Blood Stone], a Level 60 stone that is made when an ordinary stone undergoes a baptism of blood over the course of dozens of years, making it rather rare.
His idea to join hands with the Major now seemed even more appropriate; one could only guess the depths of the influence and purchasing power one would have to have in order to buy so many of these stones.
As per instructions, he went straight to the top floor, where a single, simple door awaited him. He paused for a moment, though, his heart skipping a beat; beyond that door, he felt an overwhelming aura, akin to an ocean whereas he was but a small fish in it. Strong! He exclaimed inwardly, taking in a deep breath.
The person beyond the doors was definitely the strongest one Lino had ever met in person, by a large margin at that. He approached slowly and knocked, whereupon a melodic voice quickly replied ”Come in.” Huh? A woman? Lino was slightly shocked, but entered slowly nonetheless.
The room was rather simple, only having a table and a chair pair with a bookshelf beyond, and a window on each side, looking down on the entire city. At the table sat a thirty-something woman, one Lino immediately categorized as beautiful beyond words. Her gentle and sharp features intermingled in a perfect symphony, one that seemingly shouldn't be possible.
Nonetheless, he quickly recovered and immediately checked her out with the Blood Spirit, only to be left sighing bitterly.
[Name: Ava ???]
[Level: 201 - Peak Early Illumine Realm]
Besides the name and her realm, he was unable to perceive anything else. However, even that little was enough to let him know the rumors were actually true. She was well above everyone else in this city, and that was even when nearly eighty percent of aura was drawn back into her soul, probably as to not terrify everyone else. She smiled faintly, seemingly unaware that her realm was seen through.
”This mirror,” she was the first one to break the silence, picking up the mirror from the table. ”Is quite interesting. You said you were the one who crafted it?” aside from Lino, even Major was rather startled inside her heart; not only was the boy in front of her seemingly not even eighteen yet, she was unable to see through him, as though he was just a normal mortal. Just a ma.s.sive blur, without a single speck of information to be gleamed. Aside from that, if he truly crafted the mirror at a such young age, it would make him even more talented than those freaks with Inborn Flames from Sacred and Immortal Grounds.
”Aye, aye,” Lino said. ”Though, now I wish I had put in a bit more effort. It surely looks rueful when compared to your beauty.” regardless of the fact that the woman could kill him with a single finger, Lino still couldn't help but flirt. He immediately cursed at himself inwardly, promising he'd kill the habit lest it killed him in the future.
”Ha ha, quite charming. But, you are too young for me,” the woman seemed to not have taken it to heart, merely laughing. ”Perhaps if I was fifty years younger, you'd stand a chance.”
”Eh, never say never,” seeing that she was rather easy-going, Lino still pressed on. ”You must have liked my mirror, seeing as you invited me in.”
”Indeed I did,” the woman nodded, smiling faintly. ”Here, you can have it back.” she suddenly offered the mirror back, surprising Lino.
”Eh? Why? Didn't you say you liked it? Even if you don't, it's a gift. Just throw it out if you don't like it that much.” Lino's words startled the woman, causing her eyebrows to twitch. Throw it out? Did this kid really craft this? Does he not know he could put this on the market and literally every Sect in the valley would start an outright war over it?
”You don't seem to realize the value of this mirror.” she said.
”Eh, I do,” Lino said. ”It's worthless to individuals, and could be Sect's artifact if used well enough. Doesn't mean it's still not a gift.” in reality, Lino always had a general idea of how much worth were the items he crafted. However, crafting the mirror really didn't take much effort on his part, which was why he wasn't that hurt over gifting it over. ”Don't worry about it. You can count it as both the gift and me reaching out a hand of partners.h.i.+p.”
”Partners.h.i.+p?” the woman arched her brows, seeming interested.
”Indeed,” Lino got tired of standing and took out a chair from the void world, settling on the other side of the table. The woman nearly burst out in laughter; who the h.e.l.l carries a chair with them? ”To be humble, I'm probably the most talented blacksmith you'll ever meet in your life.”
”That's not being humble.” the woman smiled, seeming more and more interested in the strange boy in front of her.
”Oh, did I say humble? I meant honest.”
”... pfft.” she couldn't hold it back any longer and burst out in a short bout of laughter before calming down. ”Alright, I'll bite. What do you want?”
”The world!” Lino exclaimed. ”But, that's for the future. For the time being, I want to open up a shop in the city and sell my crafts.”
”Oh?” the woman immediately gleamed through most of Lino's plan, and found herself rather impressed with the boy's thinking ability. ”What did you have in mind?”
”It's rather simple, actually,” Lino said. ”You'll provide me a shop, protection and someone to sell my wares. I'll provide you with 10% of all profits, and you'll have priority on all items I craft.”
”My side seems to be losing a bit too much, don't you think?”