Free Web NovelChapter 50: _System Shop
Within thirty minutes, Viktor drove Ambrose to the Aurelia city port.
The Guide squinted at the sun rays and the huge ships docked already. Most belonged to a few other top Guilds in the city. But the Glacier Talon ship stood out like a diamond among rocks.
"How many people were called from your Guild?" Ambrose grew curious as he and Viktor walked toward the ship.
The Esper angled his head to him. "Twenty-one... your presence will make it twenty-two."
Ambrose couldn’t hide his surprise. "Twenty-one?"
"Yes." Viktor nodded. "Ten A Rank Espers. Five S-Ranks which include me. Four A-Rank Guides. And one S-rank Guide."
Other than the casual mention of an S-Rank Guide, something else caught Ambrose’s attention. There were only twenty people listed.
"Who’s the other person?"
No sooner had he said that than a voice cracked from the ship, sharp and curious. "Viktor darling. Who’s that Guide wearing the Phoenix Flight uniform?"
Viktor sighed as he and Ambrose’s heads turned to the ship’s boarding ramp. At the top of it stood a woman who didn’t seem a day over forty.
Lush icy blue hair. Donned in a full-body white suit with a fur coat of the same colour draped over her. She had this... aura. Ambrose couldn’t explain it but he knew instantly that this woman wasn’t someone normal.
Almost reminded him of how he felt around Valentine.
"Mother," Viktor forced a smile, wrapping an arm around Ambrose’s shoulders—much to the latter’s shock. "You should remember the man I danced with at the gala last night."
The woman’s head tilted. "Should I?"
Viktor sighed. "Yes, mama. He was also part of the S-Rank dungeon raid." He paused, finding another way she could use to recall him. "The only C-Rank Guide at Phoenix Flight..."
Like magic, Irina’s face lit up. "Oh, right." Her sharp eyes focused on Ambrose. "Young man, what’s the matter? I doubt the Federation pinged you for this mission."
Ambrose’s stomach churned but before he could find words, Viktor’s grip on his shoulders tightened. A not-so-subtle signal to let him do the talking.
"You’re right, mama." He responded in Ambrose’s stead. "He’s not here officially for the mission. He’s with me."
The woman arched a brow. After looking between them for a few seconds, realisation glinted in her eyes. "Don’t tell me he’s one of your latest lovers."
Ambrose nearly evaporated on the spot.
God, when will this humiliation ritual end?
"Mother," Viktor grunted, already leading Ambrose up the ramp. "Please don’t start."
"Young man, I can do whatever I want." Irina harrumphed, arms crossing her chest. Once Viktor and Ambrose got on the ship, she added. "When you first came out, I imagined you’d bring me a nice man you’d show interest in settling down with."
"Mama—"
"But instead it’s one ’conquest’ to the other," she eyed Ambrose suspiciously. "How long is he going to last? Two weeks?"
Ambrose’s cheeks burned but he didn’t dare make eye contact with the woman.
Now that he was close enough, the system was able to scan her and show him her stats.
[Rank: SS-Rank Esper.]
[Main Power Type: Frost Seraph/Absolute Zero dominion.]
Just those two scans were enough to make Ambrose’s heart stutter.
"You’re being too critical, mama." Viktor laughed off his mother’s words. "I’m taking him to my quarters. He’ll only be here to watch."
Irina wasn’t convinced. "A Cataclysm Level Rift is no place for sightseeing... but I also know you’re as stubborn as your mother and won’t listen. So okay." She shrugged, eyes following them as they left.
Once Viktor descended into the lower compartments and arrived in front of the his room door, Ambrose heaved.
"Your mother is intense."
Viktor chuckled, unlocking the metal door. "She’s always that way at first. Trust me, she gets on my nerves too many times to count," when the door creaked open, he got curious. "What? Your mother was never like that with you?"
Ambrose froze.
Because when Viktor mentioned his ’mother’ he didn’t think about the one he had in this world. No—his mind trailed to the woman he grew up knowing.
Benji Foster’s mother.
Just remembering that he won’t be able to meet her again flooded his chest with despair he hasn’t felt in a while. But he swallowed it, giving Viktor a practised smile.
"My parents abandoned me when I was only three," that was the truth. At least for Ambrose Hale. "So yeah... I guess you can call them intense."
Viktor’s teasing expression fell, a hint of guilt flickering in his eyes. "I–I didn’t know—"
"It’s fine," Ambrose shrugged. "It’s just surprising you didn’t know. I thought a certain someone had been running a background check on me."
His eyes locked with Viktor’s. Unwavering. "I guess you don’t know much about me after all."
Without another word, he strode into the spacious living quarters, not sparing Viktor a glance.
Not out of malice—he couldn’t care less about that right now.
But his mind dove straight into plotting how to get close to Devon once they arrive in Norfolk. Without getting caught. And of course, without getting turned into Leviathan food.
’As usual, you’ve got nothing to help me, huh?’ he questioned Aura with a mental scoff. ’So much for—’
[Actually, in this case, I do.]
He halted in his tracks. At this point, Viktor left the room to him, too embarrassed at his lack of tact earlier.
’You do?’
[Introducing: System Shop.]
[Here you can buy a wide range of items directly from the system’s infinite storage space. And also sell items you have in exchange for anything of equal value.]
A holographic screen appeared before him. A shopping cart icon glowed at the centre. Without hesitating, Ambrose clicked on it, mouth parting at the items displayed.
"Now this is what I’m talking about..."
From weapons of different ranks to potions and even monster parts.
’Take me to an item that’ll be most helpful for my mission.’
The system surprisingly did just that, scrolling automatically into the potions section. There he saw a potion that made him bubble with excitement.
[Stealth Potion.]
[This potion will give the host complete invisibility, even going as far as masking the host’s scent... for five minutes.]
[Host needs 1500 Seduction coins to obtain the item.]
Seduction coins.
That must be the system’s main trading currency.
’What do I have on me right now that can be sold for that amount?’
[The Host’s B-rank blade is worth 2000 Seduction coins.]
Ou, là, là !
He’d have five hundred coins to spare after buying the potion. Now wasn’t today shaping up to be quite lucky?
Pulling out his blade, he spoke mentally. ’Make exchange.’
The blade disappeared with a flash of blue light instantly. Two seconds later, a glass potion bottle with a white liquid in it appeared in his palm.
Stealth potion...
Ambrose smiled faintly.
Five minutes of invisibility.
That was more than enough time to reach Devon. Even if it meant standing directly beneath the Leviathan.
