BXBX NOVEL Chapter 164 Combat Exam (5)
"Information is expensive, you know?"
Katarina's response took me by surprise, causing a slight twitch in my eye.
I could see a slight grin adorning her face, and her emerald eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint.
For a moment, I really didn't know how to respond.
However, this didn't last long as I soon came up with an idea.
I could use her...
A small grin appeared on my lips, but I quickly hid it behind a thoughtful expression.
"What kind of payment do you want? Money or... something else?"
I scratched my chin, feigning deep contemplation. In my mind though, I almost couldn't contain my excitement.
If Katarina were to choose 'something else' I could use her to kill the Boss monster of this Dungeon and gain an insane amount of points.
This would surely boost both of our standings in the Rankings...
"Money."
However, she managed to surprise me once again.
Her response was swift and devoid of any hesitation.
"..."
For a second, I looked at her intensely, trying to connect my mental dots together.
Wasn't she the eldest daughter of an S+ Rank Awakener? Why would she even need any money?
I tried to hide my confusion, but a perplexed expression must have escaped me.
"Why are you surprised?"
She tilted her head to the side, but I merely shook my head nonchalantly.
"Nevermind, how many Arcons do you need?"
Sighing, I asked her, trying to focus on the task at hand. I really didn't want to bother following the blood trail on the ground, so I'd rather just pay for the information and move on with my day.
"Five thousand."
Her response didn't surprise me this time with its amount. I was prepared to hear 10,000 Arcons even though I was hoping for a smaller number.
Five thousand was manageable since I had gained a lot of wealth through investing my money on the internet and making wise stock market decisions, using my knowledge of the future.
"Deal."
This time it was Katarina's turn to lift an eyebrow inquisitively, clearly waiting for something more.
The amount she asked was by no means small, in fact, it was quite generous. For comparison, the monthly income of an average Awakener ranges from 25 to 50 thousand Arcons.
Since I was quick to accept the deal without any hesitation or negotiation, she was probably expecting some catch or hidden requirement.
However, I simply wanted to get the information and continue with my mission. I didn't feel the need to complicate things further with unnecessary negotiations.
"What is your account number?"
I quickly exchanged account numbers with Katarina, making sure to double-check the accuracy before proceeding.
"Okay, I've sent it... now tell me about the Yeti."
Throwing my phone back into the Spatial Ring, I leaned in closer to Katarina, awaiting her response.
"Oh yeah..."
Reluctantly, she tore her gaze away from her account balance and looked directly into my eyes.
"I've killed it myself."
The world fell silent for a moment as her words sank in.
For a second, I was like a fish out of the water as I processed the unexpected revelation.
So... she made me wait and pay for information about something she had already taken care of herself?
I leaned against the tree, processing the information and trying to keep my composure.
"Anyways, thank you for the Arcons and good luck~"
Katarina waved me off with a smile as she turned to walk away, leaving me standing there in disbelief.
"Hold on a second..."
I called after her, however, she suddenly disappeared into thin air, leaving me standing there dumbfounded.
Stupid SS Rank Stealth skill!
Cursing under my breath, I ruffled my hair in frustration.
She played me, completely robbed me of money and left me feeling utterly bamboozled.
"Smart..."
However, I couldn't be too upset about it. In fact, I was quite impressed by her performance.
'She'd be a good person to have on my side...'
Scratching my head, I chuckled to myself, realizing that Katarina had shown me just how cunning and resourceful she could be.
I was already aware that the war with the Demons couldn't be fought alone, and having competent allies would be essential for my survival.
I already have a few people in my mind who possess unique skills and abilities, and now Katarina has earned herself a spot on that list.
'It seems she has a thing for money...'
Recalling her gaze as she checked her account balance, I smirked.
I could make her work for me with enough financial incentives.
With a mischievous grin, I made a mental note to later approach Katarina with a business proposal that would benefit both of us.
Ahem...
Anyways, since the Yeti I've been searching for is no longer alive, I had to find some other creature to hunt.
Crunch... Crunch...
Walking through the snowy forest, I observed the serene beauty of the winter landscape around me.
It didn't take long for me to stumble upon a group of elusive Snow Owls gracefully perched on a tall, snow-covered branch.
They were neutral G Rank creatures that wouldn't attack unless provoked.
Hooo... Hooo...
Seeing a human, they turned their heads toward me, their bright blue eyes piercing through the cold air.
"Don't worry..."
Picking up a stone that was buried under a layer of snow, I placed my finger onto its smooth surface, drawing an Explosive Rune.
Within a minute, I managed to engrave the rune, which made me realize that my proficiency with 'Rune Enchantment' was improving.
Swish...
Without hesitation, I launched the rune-enchanted stone toward a tree branch where the Snow Owls were perched.
Hooo... Hooo...
The Owls followed the trajectory of the explosive rune stone, their heads turning in unison as it soared through the air.
However, they didn't expect that such a pebble would cause such a powerful explosion upon impact.
Thud... Boom...
The branch where the Snow Owls had been perched shattered into pieces, sending the startled birds into a frenzy of fluttering wings and alarmed hoots.
More than half of the monsters were instantly killed by the explosion, their bodies silently falling to the ground in a flurry of feathers and blood, however, the survivors quickly rose into the sky and began circling above me, screeching in anger and confusion.
"Good... Good..."
Looking at the Snow Owls above, I summoned my Authority and coated it with Mana, waiting for the monsters to swoop down and attack.
My eyes followed their erratic movements, calculating the perfect moment to strike.
Hoot... Hoot...
Amid their aerial chaos, one Snow Owl broke away from the group, diving toward me with talons outstretched.
However, I didn't panic and with a confident flick of my wrist, I swung my sword in a swift arc, the blade slicing through the air with a satisfying swoosh.
Pluck...
The creature's screech turned into a gurgled cry as it met its end, plummeting to the ground in a lifeless spiral.
"Gotcha..."
I murmured, wiping the blood off my sword into the snow-covered ground.
The remaining Snow Owls, sensing the danger, regrouped and launched coordinated attacks, swooping down with synchronized precision. I ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding their razor-sharp talons while keeping an eye on their patterns. The timing was crucial, and I needed to find the perfect opening.
Aha!
There it was-a split second when two Snow Owls crossed paths, momentarily vulnerable in their aggression. Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, my sword dancing through the air as I struck true. Feathers exploded in a flurry of white, and the two monsters let out a final cry before falling to the ground, lifeless.
Hooo... Hooo...
The remaining Snow Owls hesitated, their predatory instincts warring with caution. This was my chance. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance between us, slashing and parrying their desperate attacks.
Each movement was calculated, and each strike aimed to incapacitate. One by one, the Snow Owls fell, their once fierce demeanor reduced to mere echoes of their former glory.
After a few minutes, only a dozen Snow Owls remained and they scattered in different directions, disoriented and unsure of their next move.
All they wanted was to escape the wrath of my sword, to retreat to the safety of the skies.
"That was tough..."
Observing the white dots disappearing into the sky, I sighed, dismissing my sword and wiping the sweat from my brow.
"Let's see what I've accomplished here..."
I said to myself, taking stock of the fallen Snow Owls around me.
My eyes quickly scanned the snow-covered ground, counting the defeated Snow Owls.
"89... 90... 91!"
Whistling in amazement, I clapped my hands together in satisfaction.
I knew that during the Combat Exam, a G Rank creature was worth 1 point, F Rank one - 20 points, E Rank one - 100 points, and finally, D Rank one - 500 points.
With 91 Snow Owls defeated, I now had a total of 92 Points.
"Not bad, not bad..."
Closing my eyes, I tried to recall the average number of points the protagonists achieved during the Combat Exam.
As far as I could recall, the highest one was around 800 points, meaning I was still far off from reaching the top.
However, this didn't mean that I would give up.
I still had a chance to reach a high ranking, however, I had to take some risks...
Defeating a Boss monster alone was going to be a hassle...