Chapter 513: A Scammer's Disposition, Hidden Trauma

Omni-Mastery

Was the System finally interfering to pull everyone in together?

'It did a pretty good job as an outline before, but this is new…'

Despite passing through two Domains so far, I was the one who had to reach out to other Players. The System kept our identities hidden and never tried to push us to form any connections.

However, it looked like the System had informed Xin Yu of my arrival before I even got there. It wasn't surprising that it knew that since I always announced my intent to leave the Nature Domain loud and clear, but…

'To relay it to another person, even if it's to help…'

Things were slowly starting to get more and more complicated. Still, I had a pretty good idea why this sudden change of attitude had occurred.

An easy guess would be that the Demons' threat was just too much to let everyone do as they want. For some reason, however, I was convinced of a completely different reason.

'Is it because the Demons had become aware of my identity?'

It was only that their welcome wasn't that hospitable…

'Since my identity is already compromised… Then it's fair to use?'

I had always used an alias in preparation for something like that, but the way the Demons recognized me had nothing to do with my name, my existence as a variable was what they focused on.

'That's strangely reasonable. If I can't hide it anymore, it might be better to weaponize it.'

"So, this 'Prophecy' was all you?"

"Kind of. The System provided me with the missing information that I needed to blend a special Quest that is perfectly suited to you… Well, I thought so at least. It forgot to tell me about your high level and stats, I basically had to use all of the EPs that I collected over the last few months."

'Forget about me being nerfed, he was sucked dry…'

I had plenty to complain about in the Fire Domain. However, Xin Yu's story of suffering seemed equally terrible if not more so.

At the very least, I came out with a boon from every single trial that I had to suffer, but Xin Yu…

'No. He hasn't necessarily revealed everything. He might have received an even bigger reward.'

Although he pretended to be naive enough to recount his whole experience, what he exhibited told a different story.

His expressions had a fake feel to them, and his mental fluctuations were contradictory even more so.

Sure, survival was a pretty good motive, but was he really the kind of pushover that would just give away all of his capital to another person just to live and suffer some more?

Despite it being likely a half-truth half-lies tale, the Xin Yu in his background story wasn't that easy of a mark.

Sowing the ground for many months only to hand the harvest to the passing noble wasn't something that he would do at no cost. He was likely receiving a reward on his end as well.

'Since it's all about helping people… Does he get to level up his Innate Ability?'

I couldn't exactly pinpoint what he got just by looking at Xin Yu's nonchalant smile, one thing stood out the most.

Considering how more and more of a cheat his ability became as leveled up, its evolved ability was likely at the borderline of the impossible.

"Ah… Sorry for that. I thought it was a simple System Quest so I went ahead and sipped up all I could get my hands on."

I replied with a similar fake smile in response. Unlike the innocent Jean, or the twins who were blunt and honest, Xin Yu truly embodied the role of a scammer.

'None of my business. It was a fair trade.'

I would likely have struggled a little bit at the start if I wasn't immediately received by the two Lizardmen guides as soon as I landed in the Domain, so it was undeniable that he did help.

"Don't mention it. At this point, just doing nothing would have been much worse. It's not like I could properly use my increased stats."

The more he seemed like he didn't care, the more I confirmed my guess. That being said, I was more intrigued by the concept of essence transfer.

'Blood Companion' also had a similar characteristic, but it was limited to my pets. The fact that Xin Yu could just send his EP wherever as long as the other side finished a Quest was worth pondering over.

"In that case, you had a few typos, but you did mention that there would be precious treasures if I came to meet the 'Guest', is that still on the table?"

I no longer felt the need to tiptoe around Xin Yu any further, now that I have figured out the core of his personality, I had no problem testing his limits.

"Of course! You received part of it already. Information, that's the most precious treasure you could buy in this foreign place."

'I guess you can't scam the scammer…'

I wondered if I could swindle something more out of Xin Yu in place of the two levels that I had been denied. However, it didn't seem like an option.

"As for the rest of it… Isn't friendship a spiritual treasure of its own? Since our meeting wasn't a coincidence, what do you say we properly make each other's acquaintance?"

All of a sudden, the group next to my legs started shaking before a very familiar face protruded out of it.

'This…'

I was the one who did that to myself but I wondered if I had developed PTSD due to my very recent 'control grind'.

"A mole?"

For a moment, I couldn't help wondering if I was being attacked mentally…