n

n

nOne minute passed fast. The two keys kept emitting loud noises before the energy faded and the diamond key turned into white ash.

n

"It's… gone!!

" I heard the exclamation of shock from the spearhead mouth from behind. I didn't care about that diamond key anymore.

nI only moved fast and grabbed the two keys and examined them. There were still traces of the energy of the diamond key on them. I didn't hurry to wipe the energy out and stored them inside my inventory for now.

nIt seemed they would take quite some time to end their upgrade process. So stay inside boys, your time to shine would come soon without doubt!

n

"Oho, what did we get here?

" Just before I could return to them, I noticed something sparkling in the ground. It was at the spot where the diamond key was embedded.

nIt must be something nice! Just from the flash of bright red light coming from the hole left behind, I could tell it was a treasure.

nBut I never imagined my luck to be heaven defying to this extent!

n

"An ore vein? Damn! It's the lava heart ore, one of the top ores in the world!!

" I was shocked beyond belief when I saw what lay in the hole. It wasn't just a mere rock, but a large amount of rocks.

nThe hole seemed to be a hole in a ceiling, a covering layer raised a few metres away from the bottom of the vein. From this small hole I could clearly see a world bathed in scarlet red light.

nJust seeing this scene made my scalp numb! This ore was precious, so precious for any force at the apocalypse.

nWhen guests enter later stages, seventy stages and higher, the quests would change from deadly encounters to strengthening the remaining forces and help them secure their spots in this world.

nWhat else would help a force to establish themselves than a quest asking them to learn how to forge weapons out of the new ores?

nThe apocalypse wasn't just a calamity, but a blessing in disguise. The new world was filled with opportunities, waiting for the brave ones to get them.

nJust in front of me was one of those legendary and most precious ores in the new world. It was responsible for making the strongest offensive weapons in the apocalypse.

nAny force seizing up such ore would become mighty in the future. For a second I couldn't help but be envious of those angels and their traitors.

nThe angels had the ability to access unique intel, including this one. Places of such rare and valuable ores would be a piece of info worth fighting for.

n

"Come,

" I said to the spearhead with a wide smile on my face. For unknown reason, my smile seemed to make him less comfortable and more wary of me.

n

"Don't be afraid, I won't bite,

" I couldn't help but laugh,

"tell me, how many people do you have here? Are they all with systems? Have they added stat points yet?

"

nThe spearhead seemed to not understand my intentions. For a moment there his face went dark but he had no choice but to answer me.

n

"We have around a couple thousand one,

" he gave me such a pleasant answer,

"all have their systems, all have added a few stat points already. Even there are few of them who gained the blessing of the gods during the past event.

"

n

"Fantastic,

" I said in a happy tone yet again I seemed to frighten him. He took a step backward, looking at me in a gaze filled with doubt.

n

"See this?

" I pointed towards the hole in the ground,

"I want you from this moment on to safeguard this place. This ore must be excavated during the next forty hours. Don't leave a single rock behind, and send everything you get directly to my inventory.

"

n

"Are you going to stay here?

" he seemed for a reason slightly relieved.

n

"No, but I have a way to handle this,

" I instantly sent him an invitation to join my channel.

"I'll send a few invitations to your key people to make sure I can see what you do.

"

nI didn't intend on threatening him with my last words, but it seemed he got the wrong side of my meaning here. Without saying more, I sent a few invitations to dozens of his people after buying more reels from the market.

nAs for the problem of sharing our inventory, I would look for a solution later on in the entire market.

nAfter finishing all this, I finally said my last piece of advice.

n

"Don't trust anyone other than the ones I inform you about coming here. If anyone dares to appear here, trap him first and wait for me to send someone to interrogate him.

"

n

"Ok,

" he helplessly nodded. At this point he knew he was my lackey, not the old big boss of this place.

nYet when I went outside and left, I could see an honest expression of relief on his face even from far away.

n

"Is it okay to leave him behind like this?

" Alex on my side asked in doubt. She was still concerned about him and his evil nature.

n

"He is already bound to me with a rope around his neck,

" I didn't delve into any details. The contract was enough to secure my safety and interests. As for the channel contract, it was enough to make me monitor his actions at any given time.

nIf I could see and give him orders all the time, what possibly could go wrong? He was like a mighty lion trapped in a zoo cage, with no ability to revolt or even break free without dying.

n

"Where are we going now?

" she noticed the large number of my warriors whom I just gathered around in ten minutes walk.

"God! You still have more of those big guys?!!

"

nHer remark was really funny.

"They are my warriors,

" I simply introduced them to her,

"and we are going to do something important first. Also I have a matter that I want to ask you about.

"

nEven if I had to find a way to topple the angel's plans, I first needed to secure my backyard. If the city wasn't secured, then forget about that impossible task of that god.

n

"So we have two things to do?

" she asked, trying to make sure she understood me correctly.

n

"Yes,

" I nodded,

"the first one is easy. You'll just have to stay with me all the time and you'll be safe. Ah, contact Angelica. She is deeply worried about you.

"

n

"She is a b*tch!

" out of nowhere I heard this loud shout filled with deep anger,

"she is lucky we are far apart! If she was in front of me now... Humph! I would have taught her a proper lesson. Hump! She even dared to go around, telling people we are lovers!!

"

nFor some reason, I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows when I heard all these explosive words of anger coming out from her mouth. I initially thought both were lovers, or ex-lovers at the least. But it seemed things were more complicated than that.

n

"What?

" she noticed my weird reaction,

"did she also go around and tell you we were bed lovers?

"

nGod! I should keep myself away from such mess!

n

"We are not!

" she said it as if her life depended on it. I frankly didn't care but the next question came without warning.

"Do you have a girlfriend?

"

n

"What?!!

" I was surprised by her question and I didn't like the way this discussion was turning into. What brought me into the spotlight here? C'mon, it was a business between you and her!

n

"I mean a girl you love,

" she said,

"don't tell me you are still a virgin?!!

"

n

"Well, consider me a hermit,

" I wanted to stop this talk right away.

nBut it seemed she enjoyed this more than I thought.

n

"C'mon, in our time? Unbelievable! Where did you crawl out from? Under a dead rock in the desert or what?

"

nShe laughed as if this was something funny. What could I say? I came from the future and there was no hope for a guy like me back there?

n

"Ahem, let's focus on our tasks,

" I cleared my throat and was prepared to shift the topic back to something useful.

nBut the next moment her face changed and she put on such an innocent look that no one could resist. She held her hands in front of her and even swayed right and left as if she was a little shy girl.

n'Girl! You are literally killing me here! You aren't the innocent one here, I am!!'

n

"What about me?

" and the question I didn't want to hear came,

"do you like me?

"

n

"Ahem,

" I cleared my throat for the second time. For a second there I couldn't resist myself, but I had to not lose my focus here.

"I have no such luxury to think about this.

"

n

"This?

" she scoffed as if she heard something outrageous,

"Hye, there is nothing called wrong time for love, not to mention sex.

"

nYeah, she must be Angelica's lover! If not, how come the two shared the same shamelessness and be so daring?!

n

"Maybe after securing my life, but not for now at least,

" I honestly said. She was a piece of art, I had to admit that. Even that stance and expression on her face looked like seeing a perfect little doll coming out of the box for the first time.

nFor someone like me, someone who never felt any girl warmth in his entire life, I couldn't help but gulp while watching her acting like that.

nBut she wasn't able to move my heart... That was a fact! If we were together back in my dark days, then I wouldn't neglect such beauty at all.

nYet something changed... I could feel it. My own standards for girls changed alongside my own strength and vision in this world.

nI wasn't seeing myself as useless anymore. So what was weird about raising my own standards about the girl I should love?

nSuch a girl must be unique, not only in appearance. She must be hot, that was given. But when I thought back to the girls I had under my control right now, I couldn't help but feel strange.

nThinking about Isabella, Angelica, or even this sexy to hell Alex… I was surrounded by my little army of beauties. But I was never moved. That was strange, right?

nIn my eyes, the girl that could move me would be someone so special. If there was a female version of a jumper, then I would definitely consider her as my girl.

nJust thinking about that made me want to laugh and cry. I always looked at loving couples when I was weak and I envied them. And now? When such a beauty asked me to become her man in such a direct way, I simply turned her down without a moment of hesitation.

nDid I change all this much? Damn!

n

"Oh, so it's a promise then?

" this girl! Was she dumb or had something loose in her head? How did she see any promise in what I just said?

n

"Ahem,

" for a third time I had to clear my throat until it really started to hurt,

"let's speak about another thing. Tell me, did you ever hear about the hero calling a list of missions?

"

n

"What?

" she blinked with her eyes for a brief second,

"is this a place for wedding vows? Oh god! I never expected you to ask this on our first date! So cute!

"

n

"Cute my as*! Stop fooling around and just tell me if you know about it!

" as clearing my throat didn't work, I had to slap her on the back of the head, hopefully that loose screw would return to its place.

n

"Cute! Our first fight! That's lovely!!

"

nGosh! This girl…!

nFor a moment there I didn't know what to do. Yet a brilliant idea flashed in my mind. Without waiting, I instantly did it.

n

"What?!!! How did she know?!!!

"

n