Chapter 123: Second Commission

For the remaining hours of the day, Terrence thoroughly studied the new features.

The Sanctuary Spatial Anchor Array was truly not built from any existing technology in the world. When Terrence answered ’Yes’ despite the system’s explicit warning, a glowing holographic blue frame materialized right in front of him, taking the precise shape of the array.

It looked remarkably like a picture frame, but constructed entirely out of vertical lines of light detailing its functional features.

As Terrence tested moving it around the room, the glowing frame turned bright red whenever it passed through solid objects, allowing him to quickly realize it could only be mounted flat against open walls. Just as his theory predicted, the array turned a vibrant green once placed in a suitable spot.

He decided to position it where it could be easily seen by anyone entering the store, mounting it securely behind the glass counter.

He hadn’t decided yet what specific beasts or biomes to display inside the glass counter displays, but that wasn’t an urgent problem at the moment.

Next, he turned his attention and stared at the Automatic Customer Registration and the Direct Core Exchange Terminal, which operated as separate features of the System interface.

He didn’t immediately know what to do with them. As he opened their sub-menus, they simply presented blank, unconfigured slots.

[Automatic Customer Registration]

[Empty | Empty | Empty]

The system didn’t give any detailed description, but assuming what it was based purely on its name, it served to help him identify real registered customers, manage transactions, or track returning clients.

With the Direct Core Exchange Terminal on the other hand, its primary layout wasn’t overly complex, but he assumed he could safely store high-rank beast cores taken directly from customers there. Its other advanced features remained alien to him, and he couldn’t do anything to configure them just yet.

Soon, Terrence wrapped up his evening inspection by pulling up his 3x Gold Gacha Pulls reward. It would cost an insane amount of money if he had to purchase those pulls directly with his own credits, so he decided to pause and think carefully before using them, saving them for an absolute critical moment.

His logic was simple: the System often reacted dynamically to whatever fate threw at him. Hoping that saving his pulls would yield better results when he needed them most, he locked the gacha menu with that wise idea in mind.

Soon, Terrence had rested for the day, deeply hopeful for what the next day would bring, as it would mark the official start of his slow-burn attack against his enemies.

A man with a groggy, irritated expression walked down a quiet hallway without a care for the world.

With how little light the hallway provided, his face couldn’t be easily seen at first. But as he passed beneath a narrow high window that slipped the cool moonlight through, his features briefly flashed into view.

Irad Lee walked down to the headquarters of the Kinetic Alloy Beast Armory in his newly appointed role as the Manager of the auction house.

He had kept his sharp eyes on the armory ever since getting a second chance at putting Terrence down and seizing his mysterious beast stock.

But Irad wasn’t just another reckless fool who would jump in blind and blindly try to take what he wanted. He knew he needed the right high-grade equipment and the perfect tactical window.

So, with the help of a few influential people around him, he had closely observed Terrence for weeks, trying to read his daily patterns and calculate how he could be easily distracted.

Despite early reports stating that Terrence would often casually stare into empty space at nothingness, Irad still didn’t lower his guard or rush to attack. He knew how critical this single opportunity was.

Terrence had opened up a physical beast shop—a newly formed industry where he was absurd enough to stand as the sole startup pioneer.

They didn’t fully know what his ultimate plans were, but they knew for a fact that his presence would greatly affect the Lee Family and its massive chain of business associates.

Hence, closely observing Terrence was an absolute top priority for their cause.

Now, after entering a private executive room, Irad soon met a person who sat comfortably across the space, right in front of his main desk.

The young man, who roughly looked just past eighteen years old, possessed an undeniable, striking charm.

As soon as Irad arrived, the young man stood up smoothly, radiating an immediate, overwhelming presence that commanded the room. The dim light caught the vibrant, golden-blond sheen of his hair, contrasting sharply with the intense, piercing blue of his eyes.

He was dressed impeccably, wearing a sharp, custom-tailored suit without a single crease or flaw in sight.

"So, you were saying, Mister Klein Mort, that you know how to put down Terrence," Irad began, his voice cold as he adjusted his cuffs. "You claim you have viable methods on hand?"

The young man smiled softly, his sharp blue eyes glinting with absolute confidence.

"Greetings, Sir Irad." he replied smoothly, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of refined respect. "And just as you asked—indeed, I have."

"Amusing. For you to approach me in this manner just to put down one person who was just rising," Irad replied as he pulled out his dark executive swivel chair and sat down heavily.

Klein smiled with a warm, practiced expression, subtly trying to woo Irad’s favor and put the older man at absolute ease.

"Tell me, how exactly will you do it?" Irad asked, leaning back while lacing his fingers together over his stomach. "But before that, I must know why you want to put down Terrence so badly. Is there something personal I should know?"

Klein moved closer to Irad, leaning forward slightly toward the wide executive desk where Irad sat. With the suspicious, guarded look of someone who desperately wanted to hide a dark secret, he lowered his voice to whisper his reply.

"I just think that he is a huge thorn in my future plans. I want to enter the Lee Family, but with how influential he is starting to become, I don’t think I can ever secure my place inside your family while he exists."

Irad’s eyes twinkled with immediate interest. Seeing how capable and composed Klein appeared, he thought for a brief second about personally recommending the young man to the family ranks.

But then again, he didn’t know Klein Mort that well yet, except for the single fact that he ran a private mercenary organization affiliated with the Kinetic Alloy Beast Armory—the very place where Irad had taken over the manager position just a short while ago.

"Hm... I see. So it was pure ambition and interest," Irad mused, a cruel glint flashing in his gaze. "Explain it more."

Klein nodded politely before returning to a more relaxed posture, leaning back comfortably into the soft fabric of the guest couch before beginning his explanation.

"You know well that I manage a small, specialized mercenary group, right? You have actually commissioned us before."

Irad nodded slowly as the memory clicked.

"Indeed. The very group that successfully destroyed the Lovely Potion Merchant Group," Irad admitted, a satisfied smirk touching his lips. "That thick thorn of a business was a massive problem for my initial startup. I have to properly thank you for handling that so cleanly. But I believe this is our very first time meeting face-to-face, right?"

Klein nodded smoothly, his blue eyes calm and calculating.

"We have only ever communicated digitally before, Sir Irad. But seeing you in person now gives me even more reason why I should place my complete trust in your authority."

Irad smirked, his eyes narrowing as he scanned Klein from head to toe, studying him as if trying to read every hidden layer beneath his handsome face.

’Just where on earth did this kid come from?’ Irad noted silently to himself. ’He just popped up out of nowhere within the span of a single month, then slowly built a terrifying name for his mercenary squad. I can’t believe he possesses this kind of talent at such a young age... A true genius, I must say.’

Satisfied with his internal evaluation, Irad leaned forward over the desk, resting his elbows on the polished wood as he locked eyes with the young man.

"Alright then. Let’s talk about this second commission."