(The temptation of one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins was like a red-hot iron, searing Kuchiba Hiro's nerves. He stared fixedly at the line of text on the screen, subconsciously holding his breath.
Keep the "Reapers Eye"? It did have unique functions and could provide an information advantage at critical moments. But... the remaining two weapons combined were only worth eighteen thousand gold coins, far from the sixty thousand needed to purchase intelligence on Yota Yukinoshita. What was he now? A wanted criminal who couldn't guarantee his survival! He was like someone walking a tightrope over a cliff, liable to fall and be shattered to pieces at any moment.
"Better a dead friend than a dead me..." A cold voice echoed in his heart.
The most painful thing isn't dying; it's dying with unspent money!
As long as he could have his revenge, as long as he could drag Yota Yukinoshita to hell with him, everything else—including this seemingly precious sniper rifle—could be discarded! Power? Survival? These were all tools to serve his revenge, not the goals themselves.
His gaze became sharp and determined once more. He no longer hesitated, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen: "Confirm transaction. Three weapons, sold as a bundle."
The message was sent, and it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, yet also like he had just made a massive gamble. He immediately followed up: "What weapons do you sell? I need to purchase a weapon."
The customer service quickly sent a link with a note: "[WASHU Clan Armory] Please browse and filter for yourself. Confirming once more, the transaction has been accepted. A specialist is expected to contact you within two hours to complete the goods handover and payment."
Kuchiba Hiro clicked the link, and a well-designed but cold, hard interface unfolded. The items listed inside were not ordinary firearms; they were all extraordinary weapons called "quinque." They came in various shapes with bizarre functions, ranging from long staves that could release high-voltage electricity to bracers that could spray corrosive liquid. It was a dazzling array, with prices ranging from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of gold coins.
He didn't look at the most expensive or powerful ones. Instead, he filtered quickly, searching for the weapon best suited to his current situation and combat style. His gaze finally settled on a quinque labeled "Arata," priced at 80,000 gold coins.
(Product Name: Latest Combat Suit (Codename: Arata))
(Description: A highly adaptable individual combat system woven from a composite of special bio-active metal and memory fibers. It possesses both excellent defensive power and morphological variability, allowing it to switch between clothing mode and full-coverage armor mode according to the user's needs. It can also perform basic optical camouflage by locally mimicking the surrounding environment. It has a built-in energy core that can drive weapon units to generate various melee cold weapons. Focuses on flexibility, survivability, and tactical surprise.)
(Price: 79,800 Gold Coins)
"This is the one." Kuchiba Hiro calculated mentally. Selling the three weapons would net him one hundred and fifty thousand. Subtracting the eighty thousand for this "Arata," he would have seventy-two thousand gold coins left —enough to pay the sixty thousand for the intelligence with a slight surplus.
He decisively placed the order and confirmed payment.
The following time was spent in slightly anxious waiting. Kuchiba Hiro ate some food provided in the room to replenish his strength while repeatedly browsing the documentation for "Arata" to familiarize himself with its operation.
About two hours later, there was a gentle knock on the room door, the rhythm steady and restrained.
Kuchiba Hiro instantly became alert. He walked behind the door and looked out through the peephole. He saw two people wearing pure white jumpsuits, full-coverage masks, and goggles—their faces completely obscured —standing outside. They were carrying a silver-gray metal box.
"Hello, WASHU Clan Logistics Department. Delivering your ordered items and collecting the agreed-upon goods," one of them said in a flat, electronic voice.
Kuchiba Hiro opened the door, remaining on guard. The other party seemed completely indifferent to his attitude, respectfully handing over the silver-gray box. Kuchiba Hiro took it; it felt heavy. Simultaneously, he pushed out the suitcase containing the three weapons that had been sitting by the door.
The other party confirmed the count was correct. One of them then pulled out another, larger suitcase: "This is the remaining balance from the transaction. Please check it. It was a pleasure doing business with you." With that, the two of them wasted no time, picked up the three cases, turned around, and left. Their footsteps quickly faded at the end of the hallway.
Closing and locking the door, Kuchiba Hiro took a deep breath and opened the silver-gray box on the bed.
Inside, a set of clothes was neatly folded: a black undershirt that felt soft yet strangely tough; a matching black jacket with a subtle metallic luster, styled like a long trench coat; and matching trousers.
He didn't hesitate to strip off his dirty clothes and put on this "Arata." The clothing fit his frame perfectly, as if custom-made, without hindering his movement in the slightest. The trench coat design didn't make him look out of place; instead, it added a touch of cold sternness to his temperament. Matte black armor plates were embedded in key areas like the chest, shoulders, and elbows, serving as both decoration and preliminary protection.
Following the manual's instructions, he found a tiny sensor area on the inside of the collar at the back of his neck. He pressed it lightly with his fingertip.
Buzz—
A faint electrical sensation instantly spread through his entire body! Immediately after, he clearly saw fine red energy lines, like blood vessels, appear on the surface of the black clothing! The entire outfit seemed to come alive, beginning to rapidly deform, extend, and harden!
Countless tiny metal units slid and clicked into place with faint "clack" sounds. Within just two or three seconds, a set of black full-body armor with sleek lines and a menacing design had replaced the previous clothing! A helmet generated automatically, the faceplate dropped, and his vision remained clear while his breathing was smooth. The armor joints were incredibly flexible, not affecting his movements at all, and the weight was distributed evenly, as if it were a natural extension of his body.
With a thought, three cold, glinting claw blades instantly popped out from his right bracer. With another thought, the claws retracted, and a liquid-like black substance rapidly gathered and shaped itself in his hand, condensing into a tactical long sword with a simple design and a dark blade!
He swung it a few times; the long sword cut through the air with a faint hiss. The feel was perfect, the weight moderate. As he canceled the command, the long sword turned back into flowing black matter, retracting into the bracer as if it were alive, and the surface of the armor returned to its smooth state.
"Perfect." Under the faceplate, the corners of Kuchiba Hiro's mouth finally curled into a genuine smile.
This "Arata" perfectly compensated for the shortcomings of his abilities. Hardening provided ultimate defense, Animal Control provided scouting and support, and "Arata" provided mid-range defense, tactical variability, and—most importantly —camouflage capability. It would allow him to blend into his environment better, avoid unnecessary trouble, or launch a deadly surprise attack at a critical moment.
His chances of survival had indeed increased significantly.
But he didn't forget that all these improvements were ultimately for that one goal. He deactivated the armor form, letting it return to the appearance of an inconspicuous black trench coat, then picked up his phone and opened the information service shop.
It was time to pay for the intelligence. Yota Yukinoshita, your good days are about to end.)
Upto 15 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Vristikk