Chapter 242: Obsidian Amber and the Seed of Malice

Obsidian Amber is only available in the second warehouse.

It was almost impossible for other apprentices to get their hands on it.

While it wasn’t one of those numbered items prohibited from unauthorized use, it was a byproduct of a numbered item.

Number 89, earth element: the Queen of Quicksand Termites.

And Obsidian Amber was an oil secreted by the Queen of Quicksand Termites.

The device used to store Number 89 both provided food to the queen and automatically collected her secreted oils.

Once the oil accumulated enough, it would be sealed into a small orb and rolled into the bottom drawer of the device. Over time, it oxidized and turned black.

Because of its pure black color and translucent, amber-like gel consistency, it was dubbed Obsidian Amber.

It was said to aid in limb regeneration and was also a crucial catalyst in the production of certain rare potions.

Thus, it was extremely expensive.

However, if it could be exchanged for ten units of Shadowfeathers, the trade would still be worthwhile.

Saul slowly suppressed the surprise on his face, even crossing his arms and leaning back into his chair.

A silent gesture of refusal.

After making his offer, Kujin kept his eyes locked firmly on Saul. Now, seeing that Saul had no intention of even rising to bid, his expression gradually darkened.

“I… can I trade for it with credits instead?” Huen, who had looked quite disappointed when Kujin only accepted Obsidian Amber, couldn’t help but speak up upon noticing that no one had responded for a long time.

However, Kujin wasn’t known for his patience.

He couldn’t lash out at Saul, but his simmering anxiety and frustration needed an outlet, and Huen made for a convenient target.

“Can’t you understand common tongue?”

Kujin glared at him, his towering frame imposing. Huen shrank back in fright and dared not say another word.

“Kujin’s really anxious, huh?” Saul thought to himself. “Looks like the real goal behind him and Ferguson trying to trap me back then… was the Obsidian Amber.”

Unfortunately, ten Shadowfeathers weren’t worth Saul putting aside his grudge. He wouldn’t mind turning Kujin’s lower half into a pair of charred matchsticks.

Kujin was still anxiously awaiting Saul’s decision, but the others couldn’t keep waiting for him forever.

Standing at the center as host, Lokai gave the group a few more minutes to think it over. Seeing that no one responded, he clapped his hands together.

“Looks like there’s no bidder for the final item. In that case—”

“Wait!” Kujin suddenly interrupted him.

He stepped around Lokai and walked straight up to Saul, looming over him. He looked like he was about to speak but forced himself to hold back for a moment before finally saying, “Huff… I’ll offer the Seed of Malice I’ve cultivated for three years in exchange for the Obsidian Amber… Deal?”

Lokai, who had just been interrupted mid-sentence, rolled his eyes openly. He turned toward Saul, waiting for the latter’s reply.

“What’s a Seed of Malice?” Saul asked directly, not bothering to hide his unfamiliarity with the item.

Kujin extended his hand, revealing a black seed the size of a pea in his palm.

Its surface was smooth and mirror-like, capable of reflecting one’s image.

But if you stared too long, you’d notice that the reflection wasn’t your own.

There was something unsettling about it.

“A Seed of Malice is formed through the infusion of various grudges and evil thoughts. The fruit it bears can be used as the base to create powerful Curses. I don’t need to explain what Curses are, do I?”

Despite trying to maintain composure, Kujin’s tone grew stiff at the end.

Probably feeling the sting of the loss.

As for Curses—Saul certainly knew what they were.

They were somewhat similar to magic, including protective magic, offensive magic, and the most common curses.

Unlike magic, the Curses had a degree of autonomy but lacked rationality. They were powerful but carried the risk of going out of control.

The entity behind Heywood’s head—Heidi—was a Curse. A particularly powerful offensive Curse, at that.

And Saul had encountered a Curse once before, during his freshman year. That was Sid’s ultimate move: a Triple Layer Cruse that sacrificed three lives in exchange for Saul’s.

But the final stage of that Curse, the entry of the curse worm into Saul’s body, had been discovered and destroyed in time—averting disaster.

So yes—Saul was definitely interested.

“What kind of Curse will this Seed of Malice yield?” he asked.

Kujin froze for a moment, unable to answer right away.

“Heh.”

It was Jero who chuckled first.

He chuckled as he raised his hands. “Just to be clear, I’m not trying to sabotage your deal. But isn’t trading something as risky as a Seed of Malice… a bit much?”

Had anyone else interrupted, Kujin might’ve lost it and thrown a punch.

But this was Jero—one of the strongest among the Third Rank apprentices and one of the most likely to become a True Wizard.

Kujin wouldn’t dare challenge him directly. used

Unlike Jero, Billy, or even Wright—who all designed their own personal locator devices tailored to their elemental affinities- Kujin’s locator followed the way that had been verified by predecessors.

Such methods had higher success rates and stability but were less compatible with the user.

Thus, though Kujin had managed to form a locator and advance to Third Rank using the tried-and-true method, but he no longer had the qualifications to compete with those who’d crafted personalized locators.

“Risky?” Saul lowered his eyes, seemingly displeased. “So it’s possible that the Seed of Malice might not produce a strong Curse?”

“That depends on your luck,” Jero offered. “If your luck’s truly abysmal, it might not even result in a Curse at all.”

Kujin immediately protested. “Would I have spent three years raising this Seed if it were low-quality?”

Jero simply smiled, saying nothing more.

At that moment, Saul spoke with certainty. “I’ll accept this trade. Let’s talk again after the exchange meeting ends.”

Kujin was overjoyed and nearly handed Saul the seed right then and there.

“You’re quite the risk-taker,” Jero said, stroking his chin, but he didn’t try to stop him.

After Kujin had walked away, Saul continued to stare ahead until the diary snapped shut and flew back to his left shoulder.

Yes.

The reason Saul had abruptly accepted the trade was because the diary had taken interest in that seed.

July 22, Year 316 of the Lunar Calendar, Clear Skies]

The Seed of Malice, uncertain in quality, but the one before you is clearly extraordinary.

It shall open the door to a new world for you.

As for whether or not you step through that door—

That, you must decide for yourself~

“Whether I walk through it or not doesn’t matter—what’s important is getting my hands on the door first.”

Saul had to admit—he’d been playing things too safe before.

The truth was, to become an apprentice—especially a Third Rank apprentice—meant you were no ordinary person.

Even if their talents varied, each had their own methods and fortuitous encounters.

“These high-level exchange meetings… I could attend a few now and then. I’ll just have to watch out for Lokai’s real intentions. But if he wants to test me, I can just as well test him in return.”

Once Kujin returned to his seat, Lokai finally got the chance to finish what he had been trying to say.

“Alright. Looks like today’s exchange meeting has wrapped up nicely. I’ll notify everyone three days before the next one. Let’s hope we’re all still alive by then.”

With Lokai’s incantation, the parchment on the ground gathered itself, and the array covering the entire room dissipated.

The door opened, and the attendees began to file out one after another.

However, those who had successfully made trades didn’t rush to leave.

They had plenty of follow-up matters to handle.

Especially those who had bought or sold a large number of items.

Although both Wright and Kujin had business to deal with, they made no exception—heading straight for Saul the moment the exchange ended.

(End of Chapter)

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