Translator: AnubisTL
"Heh heh heh... Kog, my old friend? What a rare sight! If I recall correctly, it's been several thousand years since I last heard your voice. What, finally decided to grace me with your presence?" The will chuckled, its voice carrying the effortless confidence of someone long accustomed to power.
Kog suppressed the pang of pain from the rapid depletion of his Thousand Souls Gold Crystals, forcing his spiritual fluctuations to remain steady. "Lightseeker, it's not that I didn't want to contact you. It's just that the price of trading with you... is too steep. My meager resources can't withstand many such transactions."
"Hahaha!" The Lightseeker's will roared with laughter. "The price is always proportional to the reward, my friend! You're just too cautious!"
"Take my advice: in this endless void, opportunity often comes hand-in-hand with risk. Go out more, take more chances! I'm here to help you get any information you need—enough to help you avoid most dangers and maximize your profits!"
"No, I think it's best to remain cautious in the endless void..."
"Oh, don't be afraid! I'm here to help!"
Kog sneered inwardly.
Easy for him to say. If he truly relied on the Lightseeker for information to take risks, most of the resources he'd painstakingly accumulated would end up in this guy's pockets.
So, in effect, I'd become nothing more than his puppet, working for him while bearing all the risks?
Kog, as a Lord of the World, was no fool who would rely on others like this.
Though these thoughts raced through his mind, Kog betrayed no emotion, remaining silent.
Seeing Kog's lack of reaction, the Lightseeker grew bored and cut to the chase: "Enough pleasantries. You've paid a steep price to contact me. What information do you seek?"
Kog immediately replied, "I need specific details about a world—an unknown civilization that suddenly appeared near my territory... What would be the cost?"
"Specific details about a world?" The Lightseeker's will seemed to ponder. "That depends on the world. While we possess records of many powerful worlds and ancient civilizations, the void is infinite, and there are always limits to our reach."
"If it's merely some insignificant, minor world, we might not have paid it any attention. State the name of the world you wish to inquire about, and I can assess its value and provide a quote."
It paused, then added, "Also, when providing the name of a world or civilization, it's best to use their 'self-proclaimed' name. This improves search accuracy and avoids confusion."
Kog watched the golden crystal at the center of the magical formation shrink at an visible rate, its color dimming, and his entire body trembled with anguish.
He dared not delay further, quickly transmitting the organized information: "They call themselves—'wizards'."
He bundled and sent along the data from the frontline records, including blurry images, energy spectrum signatures, and fragments of deciphered language.
"Wizards?"
The Lightseeker's will received the information and fell silent for a moment, as if searching its vast database. Then, it responded with a hint of uncertainty:
"This name... doesn't seem to match any known records of powerful civilizations. It sounds like a recently risen world, or a title adopted by an isolated indigenous civilization. There's no direct data in the database."
"This..." Kog's tone grew stiff, clearly dissatisfied with this outcome.
"However..." The Lightseeker shifted its approach. "Since you've expended a Thousand Souls Gold Crystal to activate this communication, we will naturally provide the service. I can use my authority to perform a targeted precognition and information gathering for you, but this will take time. Wait for me. Once I have results, I will contact you again and inform you of the final cost."
The moment the words were spoken, before Kog could ask another question, the grand, descending will receded like a tide.
The suffocating pressure in the secret chamber vanished abruptly, and the light of the magical formation dimmed rapidly.
Crack...
A faint cracking sound echoed.
At the center of the formation, the once-brilliant golden crystal had lost all its luster, its surface now covered in cracks.
Finally, it crumbled into a small pile of dull, lusterless gray powder, like the ashes of a completely burned-out fire.
Kog stared at the pile of powder, its massive body trembling weakly.
Ten billion high-level souls... gone just like that!
All it had gained was a promise to "await further notification."
Look on the bright side, even the Lightseeker has no specific information. This means the wizard civilization isn't well-known. It must be a weak one...
Though it tried to comfort itself, Kog still felt a pang of heartache.
I hope... your information is worth this price, it rasped in a low voice, filled with endless sorrow and a hint of unease, as it slowly withdrew from the secret chamber.
At the far end of the endless void, in a mysterious realm bathed in eternal radiance,
a being composed of pure energy and the light of order—the Lightseeker—withdrew the will it had projected.
It "observed" the remaining fragments of the Thousand Souls Gold Crystal floating before it, which, though depleted by more than half, still held immeasurable value. Ripples of satisfaction spread across the surface of its light-mass.
Such a lavish earth-tycoon... Just a simple communication and a bit of stalling, and I've secured such a substantial "deposit." Even small places have their advantages, it mused with satisfaction.
After all, in larger worlds, it would be far easier for them to detect its pilfering.
Now, how long should I wait before replying to that blob of slime?
It began to calculate precisely: Responding too quickly would make the information seem too easily obtained, making it harder to demand a higher price later... Responding too slowly might build anticipation, but it could also damage my reputation for efficient service... Hmm, I need to find the perfect timing.
While weighing the benefits, it almost instinctively activated its race's innate talent.
Using the name "wizard" provided by Kog, along with the images and energy signatures, its perception extended like invisible tendrils, quietly probing the vast torrent of information subtly linked to these details.
It sought to glean even the slightest clue beforehand, hoping to add leverage to its subsequent "offer."
However, the moment its perception brushed against the edge of a vague concept...
A calm, indifferent, yet seemingly weight-laden with the entire void's mass of information, abruptly and overbearingly branded itself onto the core of its mind:
"Oh? Interesting. You dare to probe us? Let me see..."
At these words, the Lightseeker's radiance froze.
(End of the Chapter)
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