Chapter 256: Index Information

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Index Information

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t delay. She swiftly drew ten runes, submitted the items, and finally had the Skill Book in her hands.

But in the time it took her to make the runes, the urgent private messages piled up even more frantically.

She didn’t even have time to check the detailed learning requirements for the Skill. With a quick glance to confirm it was the right item, she suppressed her joy and turned her gaze back to the private message interface, which was nearly blowing up.

The person who had previously pleaded for help, offering a [Damaged Alchemy Crucible], had sent several more messages, their tone growing more desperate.

"Master! Are you there? Please! It’s right outside, ramming the door! I’ll raise my offer! The crucible plus five Black Fog Crystals! No, ten! For two Purifying Flame Runes! Help me!"

Seraphina Sinclair’s expression remained calm as she quickly replied, "The crucible, plus all the Black Fog Crystals you have on hand, for two Purifying Flame Runes. If you agree, we trade immediately."

The moment her message was sent, a trade request popped up.

The other person was clearly desperate, having placed the [Damaged Alchemy Crucible] and a full fifteen Black Fog Crystals in the trade window.

Seraphina Sinclair confirmed the items and placed two of her freshly made Purifying Flame Runes into the trade slot.

[Trade Complete. Acquired: Damaged Alchemy Crucible (E+ Level), Black Fog Crystal x15]

At almost the same time, a tearful voice message from the ID "Hamsterhoard" popped up in the regional channel:

"I’m saved! Thank you, Master Blacktiger! The Purifying Flame Rune is so powerful! That monster was burned to a crisp! *Sob...*"

This voice message was undoubtedly another potent endorsement, causing the regional channel to erupt once more and the offers in Seraphina Sinclair’s private messages to become even more frantic.

"[Exquisite Beast Trap (E-level)]! It’s trigger-activated, can trap an E-level monster for at least ten seconds! It’s a one-time-use item, and I have another one. Can I trade this one with you, Master, for five Purifying Flame Runes?"

’Trap an E-level monster for ten seconds?’

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head and deleted the chat window outright.

’Do I even need a trap for E-level monsters?’

’Besides... even if I did need to trap a monster, isn’t an E-level Corpse Suppression Rune more effective? Why would I get my priorities backward and trade five Purifying Flame Runes for a single chance at control?’

’This person really doesn’t understand the person in the number one spot.’

Seraphina Sinclair checked the next message:

"[Compendium Entry: The Writhing Gla’aki (F-level)]. It’s an unlock item. Using it lights up the entry for The Writhing Gla’aki in the monster compendium! Master, if you want a complete compendium, you absolutely can’t miss this. It’s a rare monster, very hard to encounter. This thing is definitely valuable; trading it for 5 of your Purifying Flame Runes is totally fair!"

’Unlock a compendium entry?’

Seraphina Sinclair subconsciously frowned and carefully examined the item’s description.

It was, indeed, an item for unlocking a compendium entry—and for one she hadn’t completed yet!

Seraphina Sinclair did a quick count. She was only missing two F-level monsters, and this was one of them!

’Something this good just falling into my lap...’

Seraphina Sinclair really wanted it.

’But the price is too high, isn’t it?’

Five E-level runes were out of the question. Seraphina Sinclair decisively countered with a lowball offer: "One rune. It’s just a single compendium entry. Trading it for a chance to save your life is more than worth it."

As for whether the other person would agree...

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t wait around.

She had plenty of other trades waiting. If this person was willing, she’d make the deal; if not, she wouldn’t.

And the next one was:

"[Processed Powder (D-level)]. Master, I really don’t know what this stuff is for. The description doesn’t say anything about its use. But it’s D-level, at least. Please, show some mercy and trade me two Purifying Flame Runes for it!"

’D-level powder?’

Seraphina Sinclair paused, clicking to view the item’s description.

In this world, materials revealed different information to different survivors.

And the standard template was the line Seraphina Sinclair had seen before: "Oh, you are not yet qualified to know."

Even now, when Seraphina Sinclair checked the materials she had previously acquired, their descriptions were still followed by that same line.

The seller of this D-level material had seen that very line. But Seraphina Sinclair, as a Rune Master, was a person who could see the details!

[Processed Powder (D-level)]

[Description: A powder processed by a Rune Master. It can be used directly to draw runes! As for what it creates... Oh, dear, this Rune Master didn’t leave much information. If you want to know, you’ll just have to try it.]

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze lingered on that line of description for a moment.

’D-level powder that can be used directly to draw runes?’

This was a pleasant surprise.

Although its effect was unknown, its D-level quality alone meant it had value!

For someone like her, who needed to make a large quantity of runes and had a researcher’s curiosity about unknown effects, this item was far more appealing than many E-level pieces of equipment with transparent stats.

’No need to haggle. This is worth it.’

Seraphina Sinclair decisively placed two runes in the trade window, and the transaction was quickly completed!

She stored the jar of faintly shimmering silver powder in her Silver Moon Earrings, placing it with her other rune-making materials for easy access.

Seraphina Sinclair continued to browse her private messages. As expected, the person offering the compendium entry had caved, agreeing to trade it for a single Purifying Flame Rune.

Seraphina Sinclair completed the trade, lighting up another entry in her monster compendium.

With this, she was only one monster away from completing the F-level section.

As she thought this, she took a careful look at the description of the newly unlocked monster.

[The Writhing Gla’aki (F-level)]

[Description: A nonexistent monster. It is not an independent creature, but rather a failed growth occasionally secreted and shed from the body of The Old One, Gla’aki. Its appearance will not be described further here. This is a rare compendium entry and cannot be unlocked by killing the monster!]

The first sentence left Seraphina Sinclair a bit stunned, but after reading the entire description, she had a flash of insight.

’So that’s how it is,’ she realized. ’In other words, the compendium contains monsters that don’t even appear in the game!’

’These entries can’t be unlocked by killing monsters. They can only be completed by using these kinds of items—these compendium entries?!’

In that moment, Seraphina Sinclair finally understood why there hadn’t been a server-wide announcement for completing the monster compendium.

’To collect them all, it’s not enough to just travel far and wide and encounter enough monsters. You need both luck and wealth—neither can be lacking!’

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath, growing more certain that completing all the F-level monster entries would bring an unexpected reward.

’Whether it’s an entry into the Black Fog Lottery, or even a piece of Legendary Equipment...’

She reopened the person’s chat window:

[Blacktiger Ford]: Where did you get this? If you have more compendium entries like it, I would consider a long-term deal to purchase them with runes.

The other person replied quickly, but it wasn’t an answer or a counteroffer—it was a sarcastic retort.

"Oh? A moment ago, weren’t you calling it a useless F-level compendium entry? Suddenly it’s a treasure? You even want a long-term deal? Why didn’t you mention that when you were driving the price down? Well, I’ll tell you what—it’s too late!"