Abyssal Awakening

"The capital is prepared to offer you a numbered equipment if you become our ally."

Blinking her eyes in surprise, Alice didn't think they would go that far. However, there was one key detail in what he said.

"As tempting as it is, I did say I'm just helping out this once. I'm not entirely sure if I want to become an ally of the Verona Queendom just yet. I'm a freedom loving gal after all~

"Plus, I already have weapons and armour that are satisfactory for me. I have no use for numbered equipment. Even if it is made by the Lord of the Forge." Alice shrugged.

With Void Fang and Ruinous Void as her main weapons, she had no use for numbered equipment. If anything, she'd prefer a good beast to hunt instead.

Meanwhile, Torgeir was shocked that Alice rejected the offer for numbered equipment.

People in the north would do anything to get their hands on such treasures but she rejected it? What kind of equipment does she have for her to reject the offer so readily?

"If not a numbered equipment then perhaps we can give you something of equal value?" Torgeir asked but Alice shook her head.

"No, you're not getting what I'm trying to say. I don't want to become an ally of the Verona Queendom. I'm helping you out because the circumstances call for it. If it wasn't for this, I would be roaming around freely rather than working under a nation." Alice clarified.

The main thing was still that this was just a simple exchange. She wasn't giving them her assistance because she wanted to become an ally of the Verona Queendom. That was not on her mind at all.

"This is a trade. You pay me for my services and I lend you my power. There are no mentions of becoming allies and the whatnot."

Hearing this, Torgeir finally nodded his head.

"I… Understand. What do you require for your services then?"

Since she wasn't keen on allying herself with Verona right now, he could only wait. And it wasn't that he didn't understand her either. Everything she's seen so far hasn't put Verona in a good light when compared to the Extalia Kingdom.

Little did he know, his guess was completely wrong as there was no way Alice was going to ally herself with the Extalia Kingdom.

The Zenias have practically taken it over after all. Allying herself with them would just be putting herself in the jaws of death.

"What do you think is worth my services? The lives of your soldiers?" Alice asked, throwing the question back at him.

All she really needs is information on beasts and a catalogue. Other than that, her requirements are pretty much nothing.

Though money would be something good to have since she doesn't have much on her and she was running out.

###

The girl in front of me was mysterious in many ways.

She was littered with wounds across her entire body, signs of side effects from having used Abyss Blood and even the stench of curses.

However, despite all of these wounds and shortcomings, she says she was the one who killed the grandmaster.

Bo simply said none of the captains could kill him and they were forced to retreat but someone appeared later and dealt with him. He didn't say who but Alice confirmed that it was her.

If that was indeed true then her full power is most definitely above mine.

But the most surprising thing of all was her rejection of the numbered equipment. What can I even offer her for her to assist once? Money? Far from it. The thing that people like this need the most isn't money but equipment and rare materials. Materials that money can't buy.

She wouldn't be poor to the point of needing money from me.

What would someone like her possibly need?

"I believe the lives of my soldiers are not something money can buy. But without knowing what you require, I can't exactly offer you a fitting price." I shook my head.

Not even numbered equipment could sway her so the best I can do is to simply let her state what she wants.

"Is that so…"

She doesn't seem to be very pleased with my answer. Most would want to see what the other party could offer before accepting or making suggestions. But everything I've stated so far has been brushed off by her so what else could I do except ask her to suggest a fitting price?

"Tell you what, I got a perfect price in mind." She leaned forward with a grin.

"I want a meeting with the Lord of the Forge. Rather than getting a numbered equipment, I want him to take a look at my current weapon and make some adjustments. If you can do that for me, I will help you save your soldiers."

It wasn't necessarily a high price as the Lord of the Forge takes requests several times in the day. Though that's normally anything he has an interest in.

"I… Can't say for sure but I can submit a request. Anything else I can do for you in the meantime?" After all, it was uncertain whether the capital would even approve of this request for just one instance of help.

"Two things. One, a catalogue of beasts or spirits and their abilities. I'm not sure how you do it in the north but I'm looking to get my fifth Sigil. Two, I want a Void Hawk to help me send a message to the Abyss."

###

'This should be alright.' Alice thought to herself.

If he agreed to this, she'd have achieved her initial goal while also getting an Abyss Lord to take a look at her personal equipment. If she could somehow resolve the link and the issue of it trying to forcefully adjust her body, it would be more beneficial to her rather than numbered equipment.

She could ask Old Man Ragnar since she thinks he's a Lord, but that was off the table.

There's probably a reason why he's acting like a normal old man so she didn't want to change that fact.

If he wishes to tell her, he would. If he doesn't, she can't force him. He might be a Lord after all.

"Is that all?" Torgeir raised an eyebrow hearing the second half of her request.

"Too much?"

"No not at all. That can be arranged. In terms of getting your fifth Spirit, would it be possible to wait till after the rescue on the frontlines?" He clarified as Alice folded her arms before nodding her head.

"Sure, I can wait that long." It wasn't like she'd have time to hunt down the beast while they were busy saving people in the first place.

Hearing this, Torgeir let out a sigh of relief.

"As for the message, can you let me know where you wish to send it? I'll make the arrangements immediately."

Giving him the details and letting him know to send it to the underground, Alice explained that it was to let her friends know that she's safe.

Even if it's dangerous for the Hawk to traverse to the Abyss, it is a small price to pay for Alice's help.

With the agreement sorted, Alice took her leave as it had been quite a busy morning.

Giving her body a stretch, she made her way back to her accommodation as it was about time for Selen to wake up.

###

"YOU DID WHAT?!?!" Selen cried out in anger after Alice told her of what happened.

The first thing that she heard in the morning was that Alice agreed to put herself in danger once more before her body healed.

Not only that, but she also planned to forcefully bring out her power to do so.

"Do you know how much I had to work to stop you from dying on the way back?? And the first thing you do is to put yourself in danger again?! Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Selen shouted while Alice wanted to pacify her but it didn't work.

"I wasn't planning to do so okay? But Torgeir wanted to save his soldiers and seemed honest about it. Plus, it's not like it's for free right?"

"Great, what are you going to do with the reward when you're dead? It doesn't matter what he promised you if you f*cking die while trying to help people. What's to say they don't go back on their word once they're done with you?

"What if you go and meet this so called Lord of the Forge and instead, they imprison you? You know his goal is to get you because you have a double S in spirituality. What if they wanted to experiment on you and see how you reached that level? To replicate and mass produce warriors who can do the same?

"Zenia's aren't the only ones capable of doing what they've done! With enough of an incentive, anyone would go down the same path!" Selen gritted her teeth in anger.

She's seen the ugliness within the human heart far too many times now. Yet despite being subjected to the same, Alice wanted to put herself in harm's way again.

"I told you once and I'll tell you again. I don't like you. I don't like the fact that your blood is what turned me into what I currently am. I don't like that your blood is the reason why all these experiments happen. And most of all, I don't like that you don't seem to care about your actions. You don't take into consideration the risks and consequences.

The people you implicate with your stunts." Selen grabbed Alice by the collar.

Gritting her teeth, she let go of Alice before slamming the door and walking away without saying anything.

Sitting on her bed, Alice scratched her hair and let out a sigh.