Chapter 44 : Chapter 44
Chapter 44 : Theory
Leaving behind the whispers speculating on their relationship, Sal was inwardly relieved by the fact that he could head to another floor.
However, the delusion that he could avoid the congestion by going up just a few floors was soon shattered to pieces.
The entire Credit Floor was pandemonium.
Staff busily moving items, and attendants sweating while dealing with dissatisfied strangers.
Sal almost burst out laughing.
This scene was a familiar sight he had witnessed many times at the auction house back home.
Whenever a dungeon was cleared or a new floor of a tower opened, guilds would storm into the auction house to check if any valuable items had appeared.
It was the same now.
It seemed that even the attendants had been mobilized to organize the item lists.
Judging by their expressions, it seemed to be quite a grueling task.
A few attendants glanced at Sal’s arrival, but no one tried to hold him back.
Sal could not blame them either.
After all, this chaos would likely continue for several more hours.
When he did not see a familiar face, Sal took out his tablet and sent a brief message to Vanessa.
Just as he was waiting, dozens of boxes piled up on his right caught his eye.
The marked numbers were all in the 400s, matching the Appraisal requests that had poured in for him.
Before he could even blink, Vanessa appeared from across the room.
The sound of her heels rang out cheerfully against the marble floor.
Spotting Sal, Vanessa smiled genuinely brightly.
She approached Sal, tilting her head slightly with a feigned look of surprise.
“Who is this handsome gentleman?”
She circled Sal with a playful tone, scanning his appearance.
“May I touch for a moment?”
Sal nodded.
He only hoped she could not hear the sound of his heartbeat.
However, Vanessa reached for Sal’s chest, not his sleeve.
She traced the texture of the shirt with her fingertips, then gently smoothed his collar as she took a step closer.
Then, she spoke in a whisper.
“Truly outstanding craftsmanship... It makes me want you to make one for me, too.”
Sal could not be certain if she was truly seducing him or simply teasing him.
He was confident in negotiations, but Vanessa was indeed a formidable opponent.
Just as he was about to answer, she continued with a playful smile.
“If you were to take my measurements, would you be a little more willing to do it?”
As she said this, she took a step back and gestured to her form-fitting uniform.
When their eyes met again, the corners of her mouth were still turned up.
It was probably because his flustered state was showing.
Vanessa did not miss the opportunity and pushed a step further.
Thanks to his silver eyes, he was used to receiving attention from the opposite sex, but this kind of approach was truly a first.
“Once you are done with the sniper rifle, I will reserve a room. We could... share some ideas there and see what comes up. How does that sound?”
Vanessa’s voice was seductive, barely staying within the lines of propriety.
The image of her winking as she took a step back seemed like it would remain in Sal’s memory forever.
Then, suddenly, her professional demeanor returned.
Vanessa had reverted to the elegant attendant managing the Credit Floor.
Seeing this, Sal further solidified his suspicion that she was enjoying all of this like a game.
‘Calm down, Sal. She is only showing interest because of the Mythos Crafter ability.’
He was always swayed in conversations with her, but thinking about the Legend rank sniper rifle gave him the confidence that he could take the initiative in this negotiation.
“Crafting Epic rank items is quite difficult and takes a lot of time... But if we are talking about a hypothetical conference room or a hypothetical request...”
Sal chose his words carefully as he watched Vanessa’s reaction.
She was still as relaxed as a predator with prey before her.
Sal realized that she was quite enjoying this push-and-pull conversation.
If this was a game, he intended to play along.
As if to encourage his thoughts, Vanessa tilted her head slightly to one side.
“Go on...”
Sal laughed deliberately, pretending to come up with an absurd idea.
“What would happen if we imbued an Epic sniper rifle with an evolution-type attribute? What if we made it so that it could grow into a Legend rank over time?”
Vanessa’s eyes widened, and her mouth parted slightly.
It was visible that she was rapidly processing Sal’s words in her mind.
Before answering, Vanessa raised both hands and flashed a playful smile.
“There are two answers to that. But... I have a rough idea of which one you would prefer to hear.”
She raised her right index finger and spoke in a formal tone.
“One is that our Credit Floor can negotiate a brokerage deal with the Reavers Guild to ensure you receive fair compensation. We would likely apply VIP rates in the future to ensure you continue to cooperate with us.”
Then, she raised her left index finger and whispered in a soft, seductive voice.
“The other is... I personally tell you how I can satisfy you so that we can continue working together.”
Sal did not even pretend to hesitate and pointed straight at her left hand.
Vanessa slowly lowered her right hand, then brought her left hand to her face, placing her index finger lightly against her lips.
She looked as if she were contemplating something.
Then, the corners of her lips curled up softly.
“Since we are speaking hypothetically... I would likely force you onto the VIP track and become your exclusive broker.”
Her gaze met Sal’s squarely once again.
“That would advance my career plan by several years. And if that happens... I would be very happy.”
She bit her lip slightly and stepped closer to Sal again.
This time, she leaned over his shoulder, her lips coming so close to his ear they almost touched.
Her breath tickled Sal’s skin.
Sal could not move, as if frozen in place.
“If you fulfill my needs, I will satisfy yours. That is how I would make our handsome crafter feel good.”
Vanessa glanced around, but fortunately, no one was paying them any attention.
Turning back to look at Sal, she raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled.
“I hope you can pick up on what I am saying. It is a bit improper for me to say exactly what I want to do out loud.”
His composure shattered, he looked at Vanessa with his mouth practically hanging open.
Vanessa tried to suppress a laugh that was as cheerful as a song.
Shaking her head lightly, she looked at Sal with an apologetic expression.
“I seem to be teasing you too much, aren't I?”
Without a hint of hesitation, she raised her left hand again.
“Of course, this is all hypothetical... but let me speak seriously, Mythos. Do not ruin yourself trying to achieve the impossible. Just bringing that sniper rifle at the promised time will be a good start to our collaboration.”
Sal was genuinely surprised by her final remark.
Only then did he realize that Vanessa had not taken his proposal seriously.
The temptation to continue this provocative atmosphere briefly crossed his mind, but he had already read her hand and was confident he could soon shatter her bluff.
Sal found it interesting how Vanessa maintained an exquisite balance between her practical goals and her seductive attitude toward him.
From just that short conversation, Sal could tell that she valued her own ambition far more than her loyalty to the Credit Floor.
Upon reaching that thought, Sal made a decision with a level of confidence that surprised even himself.
“Vanessa, there is actually something I need to tell you.”
Sal spoke cautiously, and Vanessa raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Without explaining immediately, Sal took a Silver Token out of his pocket and handed it to her.
She took the token and examined it for a long while.
Then, she responded with a puzzled expression.
“Do you work with Salvatore? I already knew that. He sent me a message saying you were here.”
She handed the token back, still tilting her head, and Sal burst into laughter as he pointed at himself.
“I am Salvatore Argento. The name Mythos is an alias I created to negotiate better terms for my crafting and appraisal work separately. I lose out if I bundle them together.”
To confirm it, Sal took out his Q-Card and tablet and showed them to her.
Both were registered under the name Salvatore Argento.
Vanessa stared at them for a long time.
Then, looking at Sal with an incredulous expression, she burst into laughter.
The sound of her laughter drew the attention of several people nearby.
Vanessa looked back at Sal with sparkling eyes and a wide smile.
“Is it true? You mean to say that you are the Reavers Guild’s appraiser and the Mythos Crafter?!”
She kept her voice as low as possible, but excitement filled every word.
Shaking her head, she placed both hands on Sal’s shoulders and asked.
“So, first of all, may I call you Sal?”
When Sal nodded, Vanessa let out a deep breath and smiled playfully.
“I will keep your secret... But you have made a really big mistake.”
Anxiety welled up in Sal at those words, but Vanessa’s next remark reassured him.
“I was interested in you before, but now... well. Now I am seriously considering a long-term partnership with you.”
She was about to return the tablet when she paused, as if she had spotted something on the screen.
A meaningful smile crossed her face, and her paused hand extended the tablet once more.
“So you are not just innocent, are you?”
As Sal looked down at the tablet, he saw a few photos Hannah had sent.
He hurriedly closed the message and shoved the tablet into his pocket.
“I'm sorry!”
Vanessa waved her hand dismissively.
“No, it's fine. Now, Sal... are there any other secrets I should know about?”
She crossed her arms and feigned a stern expression.
Sal did not miss the opportunity to brag.
“The sniper rifle is complete. I added an evolution-type attribute to the Legend rank. The Appraisal is done, and its condition is perfect. I had help from a few people procuring parts, but the upgrade was completed successfully. Through an Essence Link, it will evolve into a Mythos rank weapon once it kills a certain number of enemies.”
Vanessa stood still for a few seconds.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Why do I keep feeling like I am the one being played?”
***
Upgrade sat up and took the cup of coffee Sal handed her.
“How long was I asleep?”
She blinked a few times, trying to wake herself up.
Sal glanced at the clock on the wall and made a rough calculation.
“About... five hours? The sound of boxes being moved must have been quite loud, but you slept right through it.”
Upgrade looked at the dozens of boxes stacked against the wall.
The Legend rank sniper rifle was still on the table, but it had been pushed to the side.
Sal handed her the official Appraisal document and took a sip of his coffee.
When Sal had processed about half of the Appraisal results list, Alex had declared that he was done for the day.
Fortunately, Sal managed to place an order before he closed up.
“I went back and forth to the Credit Floor a few times. A huge volume of goods came in from the Reavers Guild. Vanessa picked out the valuable items from the lot.”
“Of course she would.”
Upgrade muttered as she stared blankly at the blanket.
Then, she sat up on the sofa and lifted the document Sal had handed her.
Her eyes darting back and forth, she gaped in astonishment as she read the spec sheet.
Name: Maslow's Legacy Sniper Rifle
Origin: Crafted (Reworked)
Age: New (Reworked)
Rank: Legend
Dimensions: 62 inches | 27 lbs
Material: Refined Mythos Craft Essence | Premium Infused Gunmetal Alloy | Aether Crystal
Attributes:
-Link: Fired bullets absorb Essence over connection time with enemy
-Hunt: Certain probability of guidance function triggering on aimed enemy
-Headshot: Certain probability of critical hit on vital spot hit
-Purify: Use part of absorbed Essence to purify and repair self
-Charge: Use part of absorbed Essence to enhance damage of next attack
-Stabilization: Nullify distance penalty and greatly increase range
-Evolution: Collect Essence on enemy kill, evolves to Mythos rank over time
Abilities: Link | Hunt | Purify | Headshot | Charge | Stabilization
Power Source: External Essence
Evolution Potential: Yes | 0% to Mythos Rank currently
Quality: Perfect
Durability: 100%
Value Estimate: $215,000.00 - $750,000.00
“Is it really like this?!”
Upgrade looked back and forth between Sal and the document, her eyes gleaming with a fully awake expression.
Sal burst into laughter, feeling another surge of pride.
“Congratulations on crafting a perfect Legend rank item!”
He bowed playfully and pointed to the document.
“Isn't it amazing?”
Upgrade shook her head in disbelief and reread the report.
“This is truly incredible! But I absolutely must report this to the Headmaster. Otherwise, the guilds will go into a frenzy. The demand for a Mythos will skyrocket, so we need to prioritize protecting your identity.”
She laughed as if talking to herself and turned the page.
“I can't even imagine how high the price would soar if this went to public auction. The fact that it unconditionally evolves into a Mythos rank over time... What would that even look like? Is it even possible to make this better?”
Upgrade took a sip of coffee and let out a satisfied sigh as the caffeine kicked in.
Sal spoke with a slightly guilty expression.
“Actually... I told Vanessa that I am the Mythos.”
Upgrade chuckled.
“I hope you did it because you're a good judge of character, and not because you were mesmerized by her eyes.”
She shook her head slightly and added.
“We graduated at the same time, though our majors were different. She is a decent person, but I still don't understand why she acts the way she does.”
She said no more and pointed to the boxes against the wall, as if to change the subject.
“Was there anything interesting among the items you Appraised?”
Sal wanted to ask more about Vanessa, but decided to let it go.
He walked over to the wall and pointed at the boxes one by one.
“This is a Rare rank helmet. It looks like it originally had some sort of head ornament, but it is in terrible condition now. One side is damaged, and the rune carved on the inside is completely shattered. It was probably a defensive rune meant to block mental abilities. It is extremely light, though. The material itself feels like it is vibrating with Essence. It is too risky to use as is, so I recommended they request a Restoration. The rune is incomplete and the Core is unstable, so it could harm the wearer.”
Sal looked at Upgrade, and she nodded in agreement.
Before Sal could move on to the next box, Upgrade pointed to a different one, looking at him with expectant eyes.
“That is a curved sword with a guard around the handle. There is a Core embedded in the pommel, so it looks quite cool.”
Sal recalled the sword’s Appraisal information flashing through his mind.
“This is also a Rare rank, and it has a special ability that creates a projectile when swung. It is quite valuable since it can be used from a distance. I plan to recommend either undergoing Restoration or sending it straight to auction. However, the blade is chipped and cracked, so it likely won't survive close combat. The guard also needs some work, but the repairs shouldn't be difficult.”
When he looked up, Upgrade was pointing to yet another box, a beaming smile on her face.
“Hey, this is really fun. What's in that box?”
Sal sighed and shook his head.
He half-regretted waking her up, but honestly, he was inwardly happy as well.