Mae moved straight to the bookshelf without wasting any time. Her hand skimmed over rows of thick, dust-covered titles until it landed on a single volume bound in dull green leather.

Tropical Venom Bestiary.

She opened it roughly, the pages creaking, then stopped at the index. Her fingers traced quickly.

"Viperpink… Viperpink…"

Found it.

Mae flipped to the page and narrowed her eyes at the first line.

Viperpink: a venomous snake species endemic to the Southern Continent.

Her gaze moved down, reading fast.

Viperpink venom was recorded as one of the rarest neurotoxins in the central world. It was difficult to extract, had to be fresh, and its price was absurd. It usually circulated only among high-ranking nobles as a high-risk stimulant—used for dangerous pleasure, not cheap assassination.

Mae half-closed the book and let out a small snort.

"This isn't something you buy in some back alley."

She reconsidered the information.

Lina.

How did she get her hands on something… like this?

Her head throbbed as possibilities surfaced.

Liria?

Mae shook her head immediately. Impossible. Liria had connections, sure—but something from the Southern Continent? The distribution chain was long, and every link required expensive contacts. Liria wasn't someone who could reach that far.

And yet… doubt lingered.

Mae flipped to another section, searching for smuggling routes. The notes grew darker: southern ports, intercontinental brokers, syndicates she only knew as rumors.

She exhaled.

"If not Liria… then who?"

A bitter possibility emerged.

The brothel.

"Did someone give it to Liria there…?" she wondered. What she had once assumed to be just another business tool now turned out to be a toxin she had only ever seen when she trained under her Master in the past.

----

The night air was cold and damp with dew when Aldric arrived at the tomato field. He and the merchant dismounted.

Shadows crept between the rows of plants, and there—at the edge—stood the black-market dealer, lighting a small pipe with trembling hands.

"You know," the man said, exhaling thin smoke, "it's strange. You haven't called my name since we arrived."

Aldric snorted. "I'm not here to socialize."

"Ah, but business etiquette—"

"Shut up."

The merchant chuckled, as if reprimanded by an old friend. "We've come this far. A little courtesy—"

Aldric stopped. "Fine. Boran. Satisfied?"

The man froze briefly, then his smile returned. "Sounds nice."

"Now," Aldric said coldly, "let's take a look at that ridiculous Stone of Staboyonaz."

They walked to where Aldric had buried it.

He drew his sword and began digging where Boran pointed. Each strike cut into the damp soil with a dull sound.

Clink.

Metal hit stone.

Aldric felt the vibration up to his wrist.

"That's it," he muttered.

He reached in, pulled something free, and raised it toward the moonlight.

The stone—no patterns, no darkness—was crystal clear.

Aldric frowned. "Look at this," he said cynically. "Fake, right?"

Boran didn't laugh this time. His pipe slipped from his lips as his eyes widened. "N-no… it's not fake."

Aldric turned sharply. "Then what?"

Boran swallowed. "It's… neutralized."

"Don't joke!" Aldric thrust his sword forward, the tip stopping at Boran's throat.

"Wait!" Boran raised his hands and exhaled. "I know it sounds impossible… but this is real." He gestured for Aldric to hand over the stone.

Aldric did, lowering his sword slightly. "Explain yourself, you fraud. I want triple compensation!"

The man who had been relaxed the entire trip now looked tense. He swallowed hard, staring at the stone.

"D-does this land… have exceptionally high mana concentration?"

"High mana concentration?"

Aldric scoffed. "So now you're blaming the dirt?"

Boran shook his head quickly. "No. Just listen. It's not temperature. Not the air. If the Stone of Staboyonaz was neutralized… then the most likely cause is the soil itself."

Aldric narrowed his eyes. "The soil?"

"Yes." Boran pointed at the ground. "There are certain minerals that can disrupt an artifact's energy structure. Extremely rare. If the stone was buried at the right spot… its energy would be drained over time. Like something drying out."

Aldric clicked his tongue. "You think I'm that stupid?"

Boran inhaled sharply, his voice picking up speed.

"But if I'm right… this land is not ordinary."

"And?"

"And," Boran said with a thin smile, "if this is a natural artifact-neutralizing zone… we could become rich. People would pay anything to destroy or disable their enemies' artifacts."

Aldric laughed shortly, full of scorn. "Or you're just lying again."

"One question," Boran cut in. "In this field… have you ever seen anything strange?"

Aldric was about to snap back—but stopped.

He looked around.

Rows of tomatoes.

Sprouts he had seen only yesterday were now suddenly almost fully grown.

His eyes widened.

"…The tomatoes."

Boran frowned. "What about them?"

Aldric pointed at the plants. "They're growing too fast. The tomatoes were only planted a few days ago. Yesterday they were barely sprouts."

Boran froze.

Then… he smiled slowly.

"Exactly."

Aldric snapped his head toward him. "What?"

"Accelerated biological reaction. Abnormal growth. That's a sign the soil contains reactive energy." Boran knelt, touching the earth with two fingers. "If the artifact was neutralized here… then this land is absorbing energy on a massive scale."

"So what's your plan?" Aldric asked coldly.

Boran stood, eyes gleaming. "We dig."

Aldric immediately shook his head. "We can't. This field belongs to the Young Master."

"So?"

"If I start digging, it'll be considered property damage to a noble. That's serious trouble."

Boran let out a heavy breath. "What a shame…"

Aldric grinned.

"But… I can take the land easily."

Boran turned, eyes wide.

Aldric chuckled arrogantly. "The father and son who own this place are both idiots."

He shrugged lightly. "A little pressure… and they'll give in."

Boran laughed quietly. "Then we won't dig as thieves."

"Right," Aldric replied, staring at the field.

"We dig as the owners."

Greed did the thinking for them. They accepted it without question—never seeing that the tomatoes were the only thing actually special there.

---

Lucas stretched both arms above his head until his joints let out a soft pop.

"Crack…"

He exhaled lightly. Strangely, his body felt… light. No soreness. No muscle pain like yesterday.

Even though just yesterday he had nearly collapsed after being worked to death in the fields.

Lucas rolled his shoulders once more.

"…That was fast."

He clenched his hands, opening and closing his fingers. His muscles felt more responsive. More "ready."

"Normally, after exhaustion like that, I'd be down for two or three days," he muttered.

Silence fell for a moment.

Then—

[DING!]

(￣▽￣)ノ Host detected usual self-awareness!

--

Lucas snorted. "Drop the stupid emojis and answer properly."

[DING!]

( ಠ_ಠ) Rude.

---

Lucas flopped onto the bed, one arm tucked behind his head.

"Seriously. Why is my body recovering so fast?"

The System went quiet for a split second.

Then—

[DING!]

(＾▽＾) Because—

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