As the transmitter landed in his hand, Leo activated its interface and selected the only person on the list. He really needed to add more contacts sometime in the future because this was just sad. Hopefully, the survivors back in Wolford were making progress with communication devices.

"Leo, my favorite customer on Earth!" Naz'Tor's cheerful voice came out of the transmitter. "I'm glad you called. There is some stuff I wanted to talk with you about. Of course, it can wait if you are in a hurry."

He frowned, knowing well where this was going. "I have time. What is it?"

"Excellent," the merchant chirped. "A few days back, I got some very concerning readings from Earth's core. This didn't last long, but I obviously investigated and found the source in London, particularly the Supercluster. You wouldn't know anything about that, right?"

Leo grimaced but kept his calm. "Say I do… Can you guarantee me that what I tell you will remain a secret? If not, I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"Oh… So that's how it is. I should have expected that," Naz'Tor murmured. "Very well! Give me a moment, and I will send you a system contract that will make it impossible for me to speak about what I hear during this conversation. Is that enough for you?"

"It should be," he agreed before adding in his head. The System is on my side, after all. If it can't keep your mouth shut, nothing can.

"Good, good. I'm sending it right… now!"

Just like the merchant said, a System notification appeared before Leo. He extended it and read through the simple contract that should do exactly what the alien promised. To him, it looked legitimate, but he was far from an expert on stuff like that. If there were any loopholes, he just couldn't see them.

Well, it's not like I'm planning to tell him everything. He shrugged and let the contract fade away after accepting it. "It's done."

"There you have it, full confidentiality!" Naz'Tor exclaimed. "You can speak freely, my friend. Tell me why Earth's core came close to imploding."

Another proof that the System wasn't lying. He clicked his tongue. "From what I learned, the ancient god you mentioned is responsible. He took over the leader of the group in London and tried to use the combined power of Void Gates to jumpstart another Cataclysm."

"Cataclysm… Yes, yes… that would explain the readings," the merchant muttered to himself. "But why? Why involve yourself in matters of such an insignificant planet? I can easily name a few worlds that the people of Ger would love to see destroyed, but this isn't it… So why?"

Leo took a deep breath and then let it out. "I can't tell you that."

"Can't or won't?"

He didn't reply, choosing to stay silent. There was no good way of answering Naz'Tor's question. No matter what he said, he would reveal something he didn't want to. He couldn't have that, not even with the contract in place.

"I understand. Some things are just better left unsaid," the merchant spoke after a moment. "I can only hope you will come to trust me in time… But enough about that. If you don't want to discuss that, how about explaining how Earth is still alive."

Dodged a bullet there. Leo snorted. "That's the result of combined effort. Mine and the System's."

"The System?" The surprise in the merchant's voice was obvious. "Now that I need to hear. Come on, don't leave me hanging. If I were human, I could count on one hand the number of times the System has interfered and still have fingers left."

Good to know that. He saved that information for later and proceeded to present his heavily modified story. It was far from perfect—or believable if he had to be honest—but that was all he could give for now.

"...There is a lot you aren't telling me, but I get the gist of it," Naz'Tor summed up once Leo had finished. "Still for the System to offer you a chance like that… You're either very lucky or unlucky. I can't tell which one it is yet."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

He shrugged. "I'm alive, and the Earth still has a chance; that's all that matters to me."

The merchant chuckled. "That's one way of perceiving this mess. At least now I understand why you've called… A rift full of D- Nightmares…" He tsked. "What do you need? Don't hold back. Anything you need, it's yours. Well, within reason of course."

Leo blinked, his eyes widening a bit. "You sure about that? I pretty much gave you like twenty percent of what really happened while skipping over the rest."

Naz'Tor laughed again. "Oh please, like you are the first one to do that. Everyone has secrets they don't want to share. I won't lie, I am curious, but in the end, I only want you to survive. You can't earn me more money if you're dead, kid! So give it to me. What do you want?"

I will never understand this guy. He chuckled, shaking his head. I lie straight to his face, and he wants to help me.

"I definitely need something to quickly patch me up. More Bellatoure is fine. Aside from that, I could use something that can help me find the Supercluster's core. Well, that and a communication device I can give to my sister."

"That's all?" Naz'Tor asked, sounding almost insulted. "You can choose anything, and that's all you ask for? Ah, fine! I see I need to take this into my own hands. Give me a minute."

Leo wanted to say something to stop the merchant from giving him stuff he might not need. However, a nudge from Nyx's tail stopped him before he could even open his mouth.

He furrowed his brow. Weren't you supposed to be asleep?

The feline rolled her eyes. 'I was, but I got curious. Now stop being an idiot and take what the man is giving. I doubt he will be so generous ever again.'

I guess… I just don't want to owe him any more than I already do.

'You don't owe him anything. Remember, for him, it's an investment in the future. Besides, you can always pay him back one day.'

He threw his hands in the air. All right, all right, I won't say a thing.

'Good.' With that, Nyx closed her eyes and lay down again. A moment later, Naz'Tor returned, his voice coming out of the transmitter once more.

"There we go. I have everything ready. Sending the offer now!"

Displaying contracted trade offer.

Offered: Ownership of healing item "Enhanced Bellatoure" x5, TEK Transmitter V4.5, Install-type item: Phantom's Whisper, and Core Shard. (System Verified)

Price: 10000 Ether

Do you accept this trade?

"That's a lot of stuff," Leo muttered. "What even are those things?"

Naz'Tor chuckled again. "The Bellatoure you already know. This is just a slightly stronger variant. The transmitter is a much older version of what you have. It works, but just barely. Now for the other two… The latter will help you find the core, while the former will make the trip toward it much easier. Go on. Accept it."

He hesitated for a moment but did as was told in the end. "Just how much are you losing on this?"

Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.

"A lot, but that's not something you need to worry about. I won't have my most promising client die just because an Old One decided to mess with everyone on Earth."

"I will pay you back one day."

Naz'Tor let out a short laugh. "I'm sure you will. I know your type. Though, for now, focus on staying alive."

"I will." Leo smiled. "Thanks for everything. I will call you once I finish the job."

"You better, kid… And one more thing before you end the call. I can't tell you who exactly it is, but I had someone powerful and influential ask about you. They didn't seem hostile and only wanted to know about your new evolution and power level. Oh, and they used your name."

Leo stiffened as his mind jumped into a higher gear. Someone powerful meant someone from the Void. Another minion of Geron would be the obvious answer, but he didn't believe this was the case here. They wouldn't contact Naz'Tor for information when the Old One already knew everything about him.

No… this is someo— His eyes widened as the answer hit him with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "Tarak."

"Huh… and here I thought he was screwing with me. You two really know each other."

Leo furrowed his brow. "Wait, what?"

"I always warn my contracted clients when someone asks about them," Naz'Tor explained. "Tarak knows that, yet he still asked me not to tell you who he was. Quoting him, 'The kid will figure it out, don't worry.' Now I see what he meant. How curious…"

Yeah. Curious indeed… Another bloody Old One I have to worry about. However, he remembered the System's words about Tarak, about how the man could become an ally. Leo wasn’t too sure about that, but maybe he should at least test the waters.

"Say… Can you provide me with a way to contact Tarak?"