[Chapter 248. Superior Necklace]

Zibnak handed the silver-gold necklace to Searanox, who let it hang from his fingers. Taking in the small details, he saw that it was perfect in every way. There were no kinks, no scratches, not a single imperfection. Even the two metals remained pure until they swirled into each other on every link of the chain, creating a mesmerizing pattern that seemed to shift under the shop's lighting. The weight felt substantial in his palm—cool and reassuring, a contrast to the minor necklace he now replaced.

`A plus ten to mana regeneration. This will be useful.`

He calculated how much faster he could recover between intense battles.

"May it serve you well in your journey," Zibnak said in his squeaky yet rasping voice. His sharp teeth flashed in a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Searanox placed the necklace around his neck. The cool metal settled against his skin as the clasp clicked into place. He stored his old one in his ring, the simple silver chain vanishing into the blue light of his storage. "I hope so too. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"I can only say the same, Lord Searanox." Zibnak bowed, his posture reflecting practiced deference despite his obvious curiosity about Searanox and his world.

With nothing more to discuss, Searanox gave another nod toward Zibnak before leaving the shop and making his way toward the central tower of Androxis. The night air was crisp as he stepped outside, the city's eerie quiet punctuated by distant sounds of movement. On his way, he realized he had made a mistake: he had entered the dungeon, and in doing so, dispelled the recon drone following the group of raiders. The realization hit him with a jolt of annoyance, an oversight that could have consequences.

`I hope they didn't notice it disappearing.`

The thought formed as his steps quickened toward the tower, the black granite structure looming ahead.

Searanox passed through the massive open gates of the innermost wall, his steps echoing off the thick stone as he walked through the wide bulwark. The sound reverberated off the black granite in the night's stillness. It was a rarity for him to walk up to the tower, and every time he did, he noticed how imposing the structure truly was. The tower was not simply big, but massive; one might think it started at the arched entrance leading into the tower proper.

That was a common mistake. It started much further out; the base of the gigantic tower filled nearly the entire space within the inner walls. The smaller auxiliary towers stood further out, connected to the structure by flying buttresses. Their stonework was intricate yet functional, reaching out like skeletal fingers to support the main edifice.

He walked beneath the first freestanding arch, its dimensions making him feel momentarily insignificant. He passed under the next one, which connected to the smaller towers, the patterns of violet energy conduits pulsing rhythmically along its surface. Finally, he stepped through the arch leading into the atrium, the air shifting from the crisp night outside to the controlled atmosphere within.

His arrival in the atrium went as usual whenever he dismounted his drone and walked past the low-level Awakened queuing up or forming teams for the dungeon spire. Their faces showed a blend of fear and determination, their eyes tracking his movements with awe and apprehension.

Searanox reached the counter where one could get general information about the city. The clerk looked up, recognition dawning in his eyes.

"Good evening. I heard a rumor about the dungeon and just went out to verify it. It is true: you only have to slay the Grave Warden to get the full reward. I want you to put that in writing and place it with the other information about the spire's dungeons. And while we are on the topic... how is the pamphlet coming along?" His voice remained calm and authoritative, the news landing among the nearby citizens like a stone thrown into a still pond.

The younger man stared in confusion before registering exactly who stood before him. It took a moment for him to process the instructions. By then, Searanox was already on the next topic, his mind having moved past the trivial matter of dungeon information to more pressing concerns.

"O-of course we can put that in writing and add it to the information already provided." The clerk's voice trembled as he fumbled with the papers on his counter. "As for the pamphlet... it is coming along, but we still don't know how to produce multiple copies once the first one is done." He shuffled nervously, causing his uniform to rustle. He looked up at Searanox's face, expecting the usual sunglasses that shielded the Lord's eyes, but found only dark eyes that seemed to take on a deep red tint when the light of the conduits pulsed from the right angle.

In a heartbeat, the clerk pulled his gaze away, his heart pounding in his chest as he continued. "There is no printer. We have to create them all by hand. The process is extremely time-consuming."

Searanox leaned forward against the counter, his figure casting a shadow over the clerk. He spoke in a softer voice than the man had heard before—at least, directed at him. "I don't see the issue here. You have three hundred thousand people in this city, which means twice as many capable hands. Just draft as many as you need to create them. We won't need hundreds, only a dozen or so. They are just there so the Awakened can read and see pretty pictures as they talk to you."

His voice carried an unexpected practicality that calmed the clerk's nerves, though the red tint in his eyes remained unsettling.

The young man's head bobbed up and down, his eyes wide as he struggled to maintain composure under Searanox's intense gaze. The red tint created an eerie effect. "Yes, of course. Right away, my lord. We'll draft additional staff and begin work on the pamphlets."

A soft pressure pressed against Searanox's back as Iris appeared behind him, her presence a familiar warmth in the atrium. A moment later, a sharp sting flared between his neck and shoulder, right where his armor left his skin exposed.

<Are you frightening your staff again?>

Her telepathic voice carried a hint of amusement mixed with concern, flowing through the ruby earrings.

Searanox instinctively leaned back into her, the tension in his shoulders easing at her touch.

<I was merely providing instructions to my staff. It's not my fault if they find me intimidating. As long as they perform their duties, they have nothing to fear.>

A moment later, Searanox pulled away, his attention shifting back to the clerk. With a slight nod toward Iris, he addressed the young man again, his voice returning to its usual authoritative tone. "Continue with your work." He then turned fully to face Iris. "Let's take a walk."

The two of them strode out of the atrium through the towering arched entrance, emerging into the cool night air. The moon lit sky above Androxis was a tapestry of constellations, their cold light reflecting off the facets of the tower. Their footsteps echoed on the dark marble surrounding the base, the surface cool beneath their boots. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Iris shifted closer, pressing her body against his side and finding his hand.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" Her voice was soft, intimate in the relative privacy of the tower's grounds.

Searanox inhaled the crisp night air, the faint metallic tang of magitech energy lingering on his tongue.

<I believe I made contact with an Incursion.>

Iris stopped abruptly, her hand tightening around his. A beat of silence passed before she pulled herself back against him, her body a solid, reassuring presence.

"That didn't take long..." she murmured. She continued in his mind, her telepathic voice sharp with urgency.

<Have you killed them?>

<No. I haven't killed them.>

Searanox transmitted back, his mental voice calm despite the gravity of his revelation.

<They're too valuable to simply eliminate outright.>

They continued walking, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps the only noise between them. Halfway to the next entrance to the tower's interior, Iris paused again.

<That's why you asked about the contracts, and wanted us to prepare rooms.>

Searanox's fingers slid into her hair, the silken strands cool against his skin. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The faint red tint in his eyes seemed more pronounced in the dim light. "Don't worry, Iris. But that wasn't why I wanted to speak with you." He paused, his thumb stroking her jawline. "When you enter the dungeon spire again, clear it as fast as you can. Just run straight toward the boss and slay it. It will be tough, but I know you can do it."

A flush spread across Iris's cheeks as she looked into his eyes. The way he spoke to her, a mix of confidence and intimacy made her feel cherished and capable. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, the movement unconscious.

`You don't have to tell me that twice, my love.`

Her mental voice held a teasing lilt.

<More hidden rewards?>

She asked over the telepathic link, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.

Searanox nodded silently.