Chapter 682: Preparing Materials

Mina had just left the Council building after returning from another mission. Her body felt heavy with exhaustion. Her arms were still painful from the prolonged battle she fought alongside another team.

Although the mission was supposed to be a joint effort, things quickly became difficult once they encountered stronger monsters than expected.

Mina ended up carrying most of the fighting, stepping in whenever her teammates struggled to hold their ground.

By the time they completed the assignment, she was nearly drained.

But she didn’t complain. The mission was exhausting but it also gave her another opportunity to test her abilities.

She could feel the difference in her body compared to a few weeks ago now. She no longer hesitated as much when facing danger.

She was getting stronger, and that was what was important to her.

Mina headed toward her living quarters. All she wanted was a hot bath and a few hours of rest before her next training session.

However, as she approached the entrance, she noticed someone waiting outside.

Clyde stood beside the doorway with his usual relaxed expression. When he saw her approaching, he straightened slightly and offered her a small smile.

"Jack?" Mina slowed her steps, surprise crossing her face. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, obviously."

She blinked, then gave him a tired look. "I can see that. But why?"

"There’s something I want to talk to you about."

Mina studied him for a moment. Clyde rarely waited for her without a reason, so she wondered what he needed.

Maybe he wanted her help with something related to training, or maybe he was preparing for another mission and needed an extra pair of hands.

Whatever it was, she didn’t mind.

"All right. Come inside. We can talk there."

Clyde followed her into the building.

Mina’s quarters were modest but comfortable, with a small table, several chairs, and the basic furniture provided to the fortress’s residents.

She gestured for Clyde to sit while she settled into the chair opposite him, suppressing a tired sigh as her aching muscles finally relaxed.

"So," she said, looking at him expectantly. "What’s this about?"

Clyde rested his hands on the table.

"I’m planning to perform an ancient ritual. I need someone I can trust to watch over me while I do it."

Mina’s expression changed immediately. She leaned forward, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "A ritual? What kind of ritual?"

"Something related to my own investigation. I can’t explain much yet because I’m still uncertain about some details."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Of course there’s a possibility of it," Clyde said with a small smile.

Mina frowned. That answer wasn’t reassuring. Knowing Clyde, however, she suspected he wouldn’t reveal anything more until he was confident about what he was dealing with.

He always kept certain things to himself, and she had learned not to push him when he clearly wasn’t ready to talk.

Still, the fact that he came to her for help meant something.

"When are you planning to do it?" she asked.

"Not yet. I still need to gather the necessary materials and find a suitable location. Once everything is ready, I’ll tell you what I can and ask you to accompany me."

Mina considered his words before giving a small nod. "All right. I’m in."

Clyde looked at her, perhaps expecting another question. Instead, Mina met his gaze with a serious expression.

"You can trust me. You saved my life. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t helped me, and I haven’t forgotten that. If you need someone to watch your back, I’ll do it."

For a moment, Clyde remained silent. Then his expression softened into a genuine smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Their conversation continued briefly as Clyde explained that he would contact her once he finished preparing. Afterward, he stood and made his way toward the door.

"Get some rest," he told her. "You look exhausted."

Mina let out a weary laugh. "That’s because I am. Some of us actually go on missions, you know."

Clyde chuckled. "Alright. I’ll leave you to it."

With a final nod, Clyde stepped outside and disappeared down the corridor.

Mina remained seated for a while, staring at the closed door.

An ancient ritual. A dangerous one, apparently. And something Clyde wasn’t ready to explain.

Her curiosity grew as she wondered what he was planning and why he needed someone to guard him.

She knew he was always pursuing something beyond the ordinary missions assigned by the Council, but she couldn’t figure out what this particular ritual involved.

Perhaps it had something to do with the secrets he carried.

She considered asking him for more details, but eventually dismissed the thought. If he asked her to guard him, she would stand beside him and do her job. That was all there was to it.

With that decision made, Mina rose from her chair and headed toward the bathroom. The exhaustion from her mission was finally catching up with her, and she desperately needed some rest.

—

Over the following weeks, Clyde focused on gathering everything required for the ritual.

Some of the materials were relatively easy to obtain. He retrieved several of them from the Ruins, searching through abandoned structures and monsters for the specific components Seff described.

Others proved more troublesome, requiring him to consult Maethion, who helped him locate obscure materials and identify suitable substitutes for items that were no longer commonly available.

The more unusual components demanded even greater effort. Several required rare minerals or specially prepared substances, and Clyde couldn’t afford to use the wrong materials when the ritual itself remained uncertain.

For the ores and other mineral components, he turned to Hammer.

The dwarf craftsman listened to Clyde’s requests with a puzzled expression, occasionally picking up a sample or examining one of the materials he brought along.

"You’re asking for some strange things this time," Hammer remarked at that time. "What exactly are you making?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Clyde said with a meaningful smile.

Hammer raised an eyebrow, snorted, but didn’t press the matter further. He was accustomed to dealing with Clyde who preferred to keep their projects secret.

After examining the requirements, Hammer helped him obtain the necessary ores and prepare the components that required a craftsman’s touch.

Clyde made several trips between the fortress, the Ruins, and the people who could help him acquire the remaining materials. He checked every component carefully, comparing them against Seff’s instructions to make sure nothing was missing or unsuitable.

He refused to rush the process. One incorrect ingredient could ruin the ritual before it even began. He wasn’t willing to take that risk.

Finally, after weeks of searching, negotiating, and collecting, he obtained everything he needed.

At last, he was ready to move on to the next step.

—