Ugly Merchant

Congratulations, dear user, for discovering the way for leveling up, this will grant you more power in the game and out of it. By helping generously the Penniless sage you obtained a better reward, he did not only give you the formula he even rewarded you a detailed one with some other tips to consider.

"Nice! It was painful collecting 50g worth material and even more painful giving it up. but It's really worth it."

Without hesitation, Jasper opened his inventory seeing the shining scroll in front of him. clicking on it:

Core Purification Techniques

When a monster dies, its heart crystallizes into a core—the essence of its power. Upon extraction, the core begins to transform: lower-tier cores darken, while higher-tier ones lighten as the deep red hue fades. The strongest—Tier 1 cores—glow pale, like blood diluted in milk. As for the legendary Disastrous-tier core… well, you'd likely be dead before ever seeing one. But my research suggests it's pure white, the final stage of degradation.

Anyone who consumes a Monster's core called Predator.

Experienced Predators rarely wait for extraction. They gauge a monster's tier by sight: the higher the tier, the larger, stronger, and more cunning the beast. Some monsters don't grow much in size but gain lethal agility instead.

Core Names & Stages (Sub-Tiers)

Each of the ten core tiers has 10 stages, marked by a new line dividing the core into even segments.

Cores also have other names—beyond mere tier numbers—since some use them as decorative ornaments.

Tier 10 – Blackheart CoreTier 9 – Duskblood CoreTier 8 – Maroonvein CoreTier 7 – Emberstone CoreTier 6 – Scarlet Shard CoreTier 5 – Crimson Tear CoreTier 4 – Rubyflame CoreTier 3 – Roselight CoreTier 2 – Vermilion Dawn CoreTier 1 – Bloodstar CoreDisastrous-tier – ??????????

Two Methods to Consume a Monster Core:1. Raw Consumption I call it "Another Lunatic Eliminated":

Simply eat the crystallized core after crashing it. Rewards include:

Over 60% chance of deathIf you survive, paralysis for 1–2 months before claiming your reward.2. Purified Consumption

A far safer (and saner) method:

Soak the core in saltwater and clove oil for 1 hour.Boil it with Rand herbs, Blackroot, Silverthyme, Mummyshroom, and Ashvine for 15 minutes.The crystal dissolves, leaving only the softened heart.Cool the liquid, then consume everything.I called the liquid Neural-Chem Catalyst.

Critical Note!

Without training the gain will be minimal.

The martial art you practice determines your growth path. It's best to begin training before core consumption.

Known Paths:Path of the Assassin: What to focus first: agility → stamina → strength → vitality.Path of the Giant: What to focus first: strength → vitality → stamina → agility.Path of the Warrior: Equally focus: strength - vitality - agility - stamina.

Benefits:For Men: Enhances the body and the growth depends on the path taken.For Women: Enhances beauty and vitality even without training.If a woman practices martial arts, the benefits split evenly between power and beauty.

"Wow, such a scroll is really worth more than 50 gold."

If you gave the Penniless Sage a low-quality book, you would only receive the Four Steps to Purify the Core for Consumption.

"Hmm… why does he call it 'Neural-Chem Catalyst'? The name feels a bit weird."

That naming sense traces back to an advanced ancient civilization. In truth, the names you use now are the ones that sound strange.

"Huh? An advanced ancient civilization? What do you mean, ArmBrace?"

No comment, dear user. There's no need to dwell on what I just said.

"How weird…"

Jasper logged out hurriedly and rushed to Lysandra, eager to share his discovery. "I found the ingredients we need," he announced.

Lysandra frowned. "Are you sure these are the right ones?"

"Of course!" Jasper scoffed. "Do you think I'd bring back unverified information?"

"Are you absolutely sure?" she pressed, skepticism lacing her voice.

Jasper crossed his arms. "Why are you doubting me so much?"

"Because these ingredients aren't even that rare or expensive, still, they are not used much…" Lysandra pointed out, still unconvinced yet something wasn't quite right.

Jasper's expression darkened. "Isn't it obvious? They haven't discovered the purification method yet…" His voice trailed off as a realization struck him.

Lysandra studied him. "Master… are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Probably." Jasper's mind raced. "Breeze mentioned they forced him to drink some strange liquid in the colosseum when he was young. And Wolf's visit only confirmed our suspicions."

"Exactly," Lysandra agreed. "They've been searching for the right formula for years. Either they've found it and are keeping it hidden… or they're still missing something."

Jasper's thoughts flashed to the hooded figure he'd met in the game—how the royal alchemist had been buying up obscure herbs with no known use. 'If the game's world mirrors reality, then what happened there might be happening here too. Or… has it already happened?'

His expression kept on darkening "ArmBrace also told me that It was a huge scam. However, the herbs needed for the Core purification aren't of unknown use, they could be used for other things." He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud until Lysandra tilted her head in confusion.

"What are you talking about, Master?"

"Hmm?" He blinked, then forced a laugh. "Ah, never mind—just thinking out loud. Don't worry about it." With a dismissive wave, he stepped back and walked away.

His path took him in aimless circles through the hall until he spotted Lina tiptoeing with an armful of snacks, her movements suspiciously cautious.

"Hey, Lina," he called.

She jolted as if caught in a crime, whirling around to hide the treats behind her back. "H-Hello, Master! How can I help you?" Her voice quivered.

"What are you up to?" Jasper asked, more amused than suspicious.

"N-Nothing!"

"Really?" He arched a brow, no hair though, "Then what's behind your back?"

"Nothing!" she chirped, puffing her cheeks in what she clearly thought was a convincing act of innocence. Yet every twitch of her eyebrows, every nervous shuffle of her feet screamed guilty

Jasper chuckled. "You don't have to hide things from me, Lina. If you make a mistake, I'd rather you tell me openly. Hiding it would make me angrier."

Her shoulders slumped. "I… I just wanted to bring snacks to Falcon. He never eats with us—he's always guarding the gate." Her voice softened with sadness.

"And why hide that?" Jasper stepped closer.

"I thought you'd be angry," she whispered, lifting her gaze toward the darkness of his hood—hoping, as always, for just a glimpse of the face he kept hidden. But his hand settled firmly atop her head before she could see, fingers threading gently through her hair. The touch was kind, yet deliberate: a barrier against both her curiosity and the nightmares that would follow.

"You're a good girl, Lina. Falcon's like a father to you—I'd never punish kindness."

Just then, the medical room door creaked open—only to slam shut the moment Lisa spotted Jasper. "Eeek!"

He sighed. "I think I've traumatized that poor woman for life."

Turning back to Lina, he nodded toward the outside. "Let's go together. I need to talk with Falcon too."

Jasper stepped outside with Lina, the plate of snacks balanced carefully in her hands—a surprise for Falcon.

The guard stood at his post, stifling a yawn as his eyes tracked the occasional passerby. The monotony of his duty melted away the moment he heard Lina's voice. His face brightened, turning eagerly toward her—until Jasper's looming silhouette sharpened his focus, snapping him to attention.

"Falcon! These are for you!" Lina beamed, thrusting the plate toward him.

Falcon accepted it stiffly, his gaze flickering between the treats, Lina's expectant grin, and Jasper's unreadable presence.

"Relax," Jasper said, nodding toward a nearby bench. "Let's eat together." He hadn't planned to join at first, but Falcon's nervous tension prompted him—a small gesture to ease the man's unease.

Only after Lina had flitted off, satisfied by Falcon's quiet enjoyment, did Jasper speak again.

"She's a good girl."

Falcon ducked his head, a sheepish chuckle escaping him. "Heh… Thank you, Boss."

"Falcon... I have a mission for you," Jasper said, his voice low. "It might be risky—or maybe I'm just overthinking it. But my gut's screaming at me about this one."

Falcon studied Jasper's face for a moment before looking down at his own hands. He clenched them once, then met Jasper's gaze squarely.

"I'll do it, Boss." His voice carried quiet determination. "You took Lina in when I was still unsure how to provide for her—fed her, sheltered her, gave her what I only promised. However dangerous this mission is... consider it done."

Jasper listened in silence, his gaze fixed on Falcon as the man spoke. After a weighted pause, he looked away—not in dismissal, but as if measuring his next words carefully.

"Don't mistake my intent," he said at last. "I'm not asking you to take this risk yourself. But I need people I can trust—people with capability." His voice hardened slightly. "And never downplay what you've done. You traded Lina's current life with your own freedom. That sacrifice in itself is more than what I could ever provide for her, for freedom is priceless."

Falcon opened his mouth, but Jasper continued, "I won't be mistreating you Falcon, unless you betrayed my trust." Jasper paused for a second then continued, "So, do you know any capable members?"

Staring at the partially-repaired slums beyond them, Falcon said, "These streets are improving under your leadership, boss. But improvement isn't purity. For every man hustling to gather intel out of gratitude, there's another content to leech off your goodwill. The slums are still filled with scums. But I There is some trustworthy members, I'll call for them whenever you ask me, Boss"

Standing up Jasper put his hand on his loyal guard's shoulder, and said with a cold tone. "We'll need to separate the loyal from the parasites soon."

A thunder of hooves interrupted their conversation. A rider—cloak billowing, face streaked with dirt—galloped toward the gate, shouting, "Open up! Now!"

Falcon bolted up and rushed forward. "Who dares—? Oh, Fox! Weren't you with Ivar and the others?"

"Hurry, Falcon! I need to see the boss—now!" Fox's face was deathly pale, as if he'd barely escaped a horde of monsters.

Jasper strode toward the gate. "What's happened?"

"Boss! You have to help Ivar and the others!" Fox's voice cracked with urgency.

Jasper's muscles tensed, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Breathe. Tell me everything."

Fox swallowed hard. "We scouted for barbarians yesterday—found nothing. But today, we stumbled on fresh tracks. Too fresh. Barbarians don't leave traces like that unless they want to be followed. So I… I made an excuse, told them I needed to relieve myself. I hung back, watched from a distance. That's when I saw them—barbarians, swarming in. They knocked Ivar and the others out, and dragged them away. Boss, if we don't move fast, they'll—" His voice dropped to a whisper. "They'll be slaughtered. Or worse."

"Why didn't you warn the others to fall back?" Jasper growled, his voice laced with fury.

Fox flinched but held his ground. "Boss, if I'd acted suspicious—if I'd even raised my voice—the barbarians would've slaughtered us on the spot. But they didn't. They took them alive. For questioning." His jaw tightened. "After that... who knows? That's why I rode like my life depends on it to get you. You're stronger than them, right? You can bring them back."

Jasper's mind raced, but no clear plan formed. 'Stronger my ass.' … "Wait here."

He stormed into the guild, where Mina sat with Lysandra, Lina, and Lisa were peacefully sitting there. Jaw clenched, he called for Breeze.

"In my room!" came the muffled reply.

Jasper threw the door open to find Breeze mid-stretch. Without preamble, he said, "If I don't come back, you're in charge of the guild."

"what?" Breeze jerked upright. "Where are you—?"

"Ivar's been captured by barbarians. I'm going after them."

Breeze's face drained of color. "You'll get yourself killed! Barbarians don't take prisoners lightly—treaty or not. Let me come with you!"

"Keep your voice down," Jasper hissed. "Mina can't know. Not in her condition."

Breeze paled. "Right. Sorry."

"If worse comes to worst, I've got the phoenix. I'll be fine. This is just a precaution."

The memory of the phoenix's wrath flashed in Breeze's mind. He shuddered. "Fine. But don't take stupid risks."

"I'll be back before you know it."

With Fox at his side, Jasper charged into the wilderness, his thoughts a whirlwind. 'If it were anyone else… But Ivar? I can't leave him.'