The moment Lordmoonlight stepped within Aron's range, he straightened his back in an exaggeratedly dignified pose, as if he hadn't been tiptoeing toward him just seconds ago.

With all the grace of a noble who definitely wasn't sneaking around, he lightly tapped the bangle on his wrist, dimming its glow as his figure appeared.

"He's trying to rip you off. Don't buy that awakener," Lordmoonlight said calmly, walking with the composed air of an expert, as though he hadn't been creeping around moments earlier.

Aron turned, surprise flashing across his face as though caught off guard.

"I'm Lordmoonlight," the man said, stretching out his hand for a handshake.

But the hat on his head trembled ever so slightly.

He froze for a moment, then quickly pulled his hand back.

Aron, who had also reached out, stopped midway.

He didn't find it strange.

Whatever that thing on Lordmoonlight's head was, it was clearly the reason for the man's sudden change.

"Ah... sorry. I forgot. My hand isn't good," Lordmoonlight said awkwardly, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.

Aron simply nodded and turned back toward the nearly dying man in the cage, acting as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, inside Lordmoonlight's mind, chaos broke out.

(You'd better have a good reason for that nonsense.)

(My lord, I sensed something off as you reached for his hand.)

(Wait, that's why you stopped me from shaking my idol's hand?)

(Forgive me, my lord. It was merely a suggestion.)

(Whatever.)

Though he complained inwardly, Lordmoonlight wasn't foolish enough to ignore the warning.

Knowing his summon's rank, if it claimed to have sensed something, it definitely wasn't bluffing.

As Aron was about to speak, Lordmoonlight interrupted again.

"Don't buy this awakener," he said firmly.

"His talent allows him to turn anything he touches, even a mere piece of paper, into something indestructible.

No matter the power scale, it can't be destroyed.

With that ability, he could fight using a paper sword and still break an Arati artifact blade.

"But…" Lordmoonlight's expression darkened.

"His talent is also his Achilles' heel. Everything he touches becomes indestructible, including food.

Which means nothing he eats can be digested.

The only reason he's still alive is because of his rank.

If you buy him, it's an investment with no return. He'll die sooner or later."

Aron's face remained neutral, but inside, he was dumbfounded.

(Talk about a shitty way to die.)

The merchant's expression twisted in anger.

"Lordmoonlight! If it weren't for D-One protecting you, would you dare step into my stall and mess with my business?!"

"How many times do I have to say I don't even know that guy?! Who the hell is he to protect me?!" Lordmoonlight shot back immediately.

"Yeah, yeah... just get lost so people with actual money can buy something!"

The moment the words left the merchant's mouth, Lordmoonlight's temper flared.

He started arguing with the man, their voices rising in volume.

Having obtained what he came for, Aron turned and left.

He had no intention of wasting more time.

Whatever punishment he'd planned for Kelvin before, well, nothing could be worse than the man's current fate anyway.

He walked on, scanning faces as he moved.

Truth be told, he didn't need any more talents.

He already had everything necessary to traverse Zone A.

The real reason he attended this event was to see if he might run into Demian.

But as he walked, Aron saw something unexpected that made his heart suddenly skip a beat.

He turned, thinking it was an illusion, but no. Others were stealing glances too.

In one of the stalls stood a woman bargaining for a delicate Arati fan artifact.

Every movement she made was ethereal, as if she existed in a different realm.

Her lips were a soft pink, her light-brown eyes shone gently, and her smile glimmered like sunlight on water.

Her twin tails framed her face perfectly, adding a touch of innocence that made any man's heart ache to protect her.

Her figure, neither too small nor too large, simply perfect, was wrapped in a simple gown that somehow made her beauty even more divine.

"That's Jergenmay," said a voice beside him. "Better known as the Queen of Peace."

Aron was surprised. He had been so captivated by the lady's charm that he hadn't noticed Lordmoonlight appearing beside him.

(What am I thinking?) he scolded himself, forcing his gaze away.

He couldn't believe someone could be so beautiful.

The two women accompanying her were stunning in their own right, but next to her, they seemed ordinary and plain.

"Stop looking at her like that," Lordmoonlight muttered, scratching his nose.

"Didn't you notice? Everyone's pretending not to stare.

They only sneak glances when they think she's not looking."

Aron extended his senses and confirmed it.

People walked by naturally, but their eyes flicked toward her whenever they thought she wasn't paying attention.

"She's known as both the weakest and the strongest person in the apocalypse," Lordmoonlight continued, lowering his voice.

"Her talent is healing, rumored to cure anything, no matter the condition. I even heard that as long as someone hasn't completely turned, she can heal a zombie scratch and stop the virus.

"Of course, plenty of idiots have tried to capture her. None survived past a day. Anyone who offends her ends up brutally slaughtered, their bodies dismembered and scattered across regions for zombies to feed on.

Some kill to gain her favor, some to make her smile, and some just to impress her.

But despite all that, she hates bloodshed and violence, which earned her the nickname 'the Queen of Peace.'"

Aron observed her quietly.

She was at the Transcendent Rank, and she definitely didn't seem as weak as Lordmoonlight implied.

"No, I insist on paying ten Ascender Cores for this," Jergenmay said at the stall.

"Please, I insist you take it for one core," the merchant pleaded. "Think of it as a gift from the store!"

Jergenmay frowned, clearly uncomfortable paying less than fair value.

Then, she suddenly stiffened. Her gaze drifted toward Aron, and their eyes met.

For a moment, confusion flashed across her face.

Then one of her attendants leaned in and whispered something into her ear.

Her cheerful mood vanished instantly.

Her expression hardened, lips pressing into a thin line.

She glared at Aron, fiercely, which somehow made her even more stunning.

Without another word, she turned and left.

"Wait! Fine, two Ascender Cores! Just take it!" the merchant cried after her, but she ignored him completely and walked off.

The stall owner turned, glaring daggers at Aron before retreating behind his counter in a huff.

(What just happened?) Aron wondered.

Using his senses, he easily caught the whisper that had ruined the moment: the attendant had told Jergenmay that Aron was the one known as the Saint.

Lordmoonlight gave a sheepish laugh. "Ah, right. I forgot to mention that, she absolutely hates your guts."

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