Chapter 105: Core Crystal Stone

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Core Crystal Stone

’An unexpected gain, I suppose.’

Seraphina Sinclair chatted a bit more with ’Not Trying Today’, then closed the dialog box.

She lifted a hand to dry her hair with a towel, frowning as she considered what to do next.

’The cabin is ready for an upgrade. I’ll need to submit the Expansion Crystals in a bit, and also...’

’My hair has gotten a little long.’

When she first arrived in this world, her hair didn’t even touch her shoulders. Now it did.

Seraphina Sinclair raised a hand to gauge the length. It wasn’t getting in her way yet, but if it grew much longer, she’d have to tie it up.

The Complete Tool Box came with a pair of scissors. When the time came... Seraphina could cut it herself!

It didn’t matter what it looked like. After all, there was no one else in this godforsaken place. As long as Seraphina didn’t care, nobody cared.

Seraphina Sinclair opened the cabin’s upgrade panel and hauled the required materials out from the bathroom. In total, she needed...

Wood x80, Stone x20, Metal Fragments x20, Expansion Crystal x30.

It was quite a lot of stuff, and it had taken her some effort to gather.

Seraphina Sinclair dusted off her hands, checked the panel one more time to confirm everything was there, and then decisively hit "Upgrade"!

The familiar notification popped up. The results would be ready for inspection tomorrow morning.

This time, Seraphina Sinclair didn’t rush to close the panel. Instead, she went straight to checking the materials required for the next upgrade.

[Current Mobile Cabin Level: Level 3 (Upgrading) (Current Tier Max Level is Level 3!)]

[Current Mobile Cabin Quality: Bronze]

[Number of Black Fog Incursions per Hundred Sunshine Distance: Three! (Next Level’s Number of Black Fog Incursions per Hundred Sunshine Distance: Three!)]

’Still no change, huh? But the next one is a tier-up. That’s bound to have a nice surprise for me.’

Seraphina Sinclair was full of anticipation for it. She continued scrolling down.

[Current Cabin Configuration: 15 square meters, 2-meter solid wood bed x1, double-paned glass window x1, wall-mounted storage rack x1, small fireplace x1, basic floor x1 (Next Level Cabin Configuration: 20 square meters, simple stove x1, stone floor x1)]

’Oh?’

’A stove... and the floor will be stone.’

’It’ll feel even more like a home then.’

Seraphina Sinclair was pleased with this and went to check the required materials with a smile.

[Mobile Cabin Upgrade Conditions Not Met!]

[Materials Required for Next Mobile Cabin Upgrade: Wood x120, Stone x80, Expansion Crystal x40, Black Fog Crystal x10, Sunshine Crystal x10, Blood Moon Crystal x10, Core Crystal Stone x1]

Her smile froze on her face.

’It needs this many things for the next upgrade?!’

’It must be because it’s a tier-up next time, right?’

Seraphina Sinclair frowned, her gaze falling on the last material on the list.

’Core Crystal Stone...?’

’What’s that?’

Seraphina Sinclair opened the regional channel and tentatively searched for it. To her surprise, she actually found someone selling one.

The person had posted the item details directly. Seraphina Sinclair clicked to take a look, and it was indeed the same item.

[Core Crystal Stone (E-level)]

[Description: A very rare material! You have unlocked the detailed use of this material; it can be used for the Mobile Cabin’s tier-up!]

Seeing that familiar opening, Seraphina Sinclair knew. The other person definitely couldn’t see the item’s detailed use, which was why they were willing to trade it away.

Of course, Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t miss an opportunity to snag a bargain like this!

She clicked on the person’s private message and sent a message.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Is the Core Crystal Stone still available?

Seraphina Sinclair waited patiently for a while before receiving a reply.

[Goferfiend]: Master Blacktiger? You want it?

The question was odd. ’Not good,’ Seraphina Sinclair thought, already predicting the other party would make an outrageous demand.

’This is the downside of being too famous.’

People who initiated contact always thought they could get something good from a "master."

To be honest, Seraphina Sinclair occasionally had such dreams herself and would be more than happy for them to come true—as long as she wasn’t the "master" in question, of course.

Seraphina Sinclair sighed. When she looked up, she noticed the other person had sent another message.

[Goferfiend]: You can have it. It’s an E-level material, so how about you trade ten E-level materials for it? Or two Black Mist Catfish? A master like you is so rich, you can’t possibly not have that much, right? Besides, you’re the famous Blacktiger Ford. You definitely wouldn’t haggle with a small fry like me, would you? If you did, I’d have to look down on you, Master.

Actually, both of those options were reasonable trades, but...

Seraphina Sinclair silently clenched her fists. Why was this guy so infuriating to talk to?

She stared at the message, her brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

Goferfiend’s tone was seeped in an unpleasant, calculating manner, as if he was certain she would compromise for the Core Crystal Stone.

The logic of ’you’re a master, so you should bleed a little more’ really got on her nerves.

She did need the Core Crystal Stone, but that absolutely did not mean she was willing to be a sucker.

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath, her fingertips tapping rapidly on the virtual keyboard.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Ten E-level materials? Or two Black Mist Catfish? What’s the basis for your valuation? Just the line "a master wouldn’t haggle"?

The question was extremely direct. It might as well have been, "Do I look like an idiot to you?"

The other person, however, seemed completely oblivious, replying quickly with the same unpleasantly slick tone.

[Goferfiend]: Whoa, Master, don’t say that. This thing is super rare! You’re a master, you’ve got a good eye, so you know it’s worth this price. Two Black Mist Catfish should be a piece of cake for you, right?

Seraphina Sinclair sneered. ’Super rare? Isn’t that just because the description has the words "rare material" in it?’

’What in this godforsaken place doesn’t have that phrase in its description?’

’Using that to raise his asking price...’

Seraphina Sinclair gave a helpless smile and rejected the trade decisively.

[Blacktiger Ford]: It seems this item and I aren’t fated to be. You should wait for other buyers.

The other party panicked instantly. "Don’t do that, Master! The price is negotiable! If ten E-level materials is too much, how about eight? Or one and a half Black Mist Catfish! You’ve definitely got them, there’s no need to be so decisive!"

’Insatiable greed...’

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head and didn’t reply.

There were a hundred ways she could get this item. She was willing to give a good deal to anyone, just not this guy!

Seraphina Sinclair thought for a moment, then opened her chat with Miller. After briefly explaining what happened and promising half a Black Mist Catfish as a reward, he readily agreed to handle the negotiation.

[Miller’s Hardware]: An E-level material, right? Don’t worry, Master! I’ll go haggle with him. I’ll get it for you for one E-level material! Just have my half-a-fish ready. Oh, and do we need to sign a contract?