Arthur watched as Ayesha slowly opened the wooden box. This was why he was here. Whatever it contained was apparently the key to saving his life, at least if Alyssia was to be believed. Ayesha's next words only confirmed that.

"This is something rare even on a tier-four planet and I cannot fathom why you'd need something so divine to save your life. That wasn't a question by the way. I'm just a little confused." Ayesha grumbled.

Her statement revealed two critical pieces of information. First and foremost, Ayesha's diviner also thought his life was in critical danger and as Alyssia had predicted, the object within the box should solve his problem. She'd also described the item as divine and Arthur was pretty certain she wasn't trying to make a biblical reference here.

That and the fact that she'd said it was rare even on tier-4 planets had him literally salivating at the thought. Nope, that's my half-breed title at work. I'm actually drooling, for Christ's sake. Is divine a rarity rating? I've never heard of it before and it wasn't mentioned in that introductory booklet that Liz gave me.

Thankfully, everyone in the room was too focused on the wooden box to notice his surreptitious drool wiping; a box Arthur noticed, that was opening far slower than it was supposed to. It was surrounded by a golden hallow and time almost seemed to flow sluggishly in its direct vicinity. No, time IS flowing slower there. It resulted in a very disconcerting sight and was difficult to look at, two distinct time flows that could be observed in one moment.

No one else seemed to have trouble observing it. Maybe it's my new perception attribute at work. I'm somehow seeing things differently from them. It's just her hand moving slowly compared to the rest of her body, but it's as if my brain's struggling to compute something I shouldn't be able to perceive.

Arthur knew what was going on in the literal sense but his head was trying to understand it conceptually. That was why he struggled to look at it whilst everyone else was fine. It's been eight seconds and it's only halfway open. Is it the magical wards at work or is the core inside time-related?

Arthur didn't know and frankly, he didn't care. Not when the most appetising, mouth-watering, otherworldy scent reached his nose. It hit him like a truck, his senses boosted by his 92 perceptions to an all-new high only enhanced his predatory instincts.

It took all his self-control to not reach over and just grab the thing. He waited and waited and waited, the temporal zone almost mocking him with its annoying delay. Finally, it was open.

Ayesha turned the box around so Arthur could take a look inside.

Resting on a velvet cushion, was a golden core that shone with the luminescence of the sun at its zenith. The ambient temperature of the room had already risen a few degrees in the few seconds it had taken to turn the box around, and it was only getting hotter.

"This," Ayesha began. "Is a core extracted from a stillborn Fire Dragon. It is the single greatest treasure in my possession, perhaps the greatest that I've ever owned."

Arthurs Identify only confirmed that.

Fragmented Fire Dragon Core [Mythic-pseudo Divine]- A monster core extracted from a stillborn Fire dragon. It is fragmented due to inherit problems that prevented the creature from fully forming, hence the monster core is a fraction of what it could have been.

Nonetheless, it makes for an incredible crafting component and has numerous alchemical usages the effects of which will be permanent.

Warning: Should a beast feast on this core, immediately warn your nearest system authority and engage evacuation protocols. It is highly unlikely that a creature can properly metabolise this potent energy source and thus the resultant monster will most likely fall into madness.

Threat level- Apocalyptic

Identify has reached max level...

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Identify level ten (MAX)- As a system-granted base skill, information that is given to the host is obtained via the system database in accordance with the host's clearance levels. To make this skill your own, you must specialise it with one of your affinities and build upon its base skill matrix.

Seek help from a high levelled classer for further details.

Arthur gulped. Just identifying the thing had maxed out his skill. The directive he'd been given was the last thing on his mind, though. He couldn't care less about the skill right now.

Ayesha closed the box before the room could get any hotter. In the time it had taken him to read through those notifications, her wooden desk had already started smoking. His clothes too felt incredibly hot, sticking to skin he'd only just noticed was damp with sweat.

The core wasn't really a source of heat. It just made the things in its surroundings get hotter. Okay, I guess it is a heat source. But still, the fabric on my back is just as hot as the side that was closest to the core. An advanced heat generator then. I'll go with that.

Ayesha smirked at him.

"I guess your constitution attribute truly is outstanding. Most people at your level would be far less comfortable after being exposed to a dragon core's radiation. Especially when it's exacerbated by its fractured state. You're only sweating."

Arthur didn't say anything, nodding his head in acquiescence.

"Naturally, you cannot expect me to hand this over without appropriate compensation," Ayesha said.

"In all honesty, no matter what you offer me, I'll be taking a loss. This core would win me the undying loyalty of a legion of soldiers far stronger than you and there's nothing on a tier-one planet of equal value."

"You wouldn't be here if you weren't willing to give it up. Just cut to the chase." Arthur responded curtly.

At any other time, he may have considered engaging in some wordplay with the noble but he was far too distracted right now. They wouldn't have shown me the core if they weren't willing to give it up. Ayesha frowned, displeased that Arthur wasn't rising to her bait.

"You would make for a terrible knight, you know that," Ayesha complained. "But your right, we don't have time to beat around the bush. As you've just been introduced into the wider universe, perhaps you don't quite grasp what's going on in your world."

"Tier-one planets make for excellent training grounds and are perfect staging grounds for one to rise to prominence. Add on the fact that everyone likes extra territory, and a newly initiated planet nearly always becomes a contested ground for neighbouring tier-two worlds."

"That's not to say I'm here to take over your planet," Ayesha quickly added when she felt a sharp spike in Arthur's aura.

"Like everything else in the universe, the system offers a degree of protection for newly integrated planets. A set of laws prevent a hostile takeover by a superior force, at least until that planet has established itself."

Ayesha paused for breath, noting how Arthur was taking this new piece of information. He didn't seem to care too much, which meant she hadn't properly grasped his personality traits. No matter. Everything still fell within her expected parameters.

"These laws, however, do not prevent tier-two planets from establishing themselves on your world, hence why I am here. And I'm not the only one. As far as my investigations go, there are at least thirteen other groups with designs on Earth, one of them from a rival noble faction from my homeworld."

Arthur nodded his head.

"So you want my help establishing yourself here because restrictions prevent you from bringing your full power to bear?" He questioned.

Ayesha smiled.

"You catch on quick. Whilst a dragon core, fragmented though it may be, far outways what I'm asking from you, my auxiliary skill is telling me that I'm not making a loss on this deal. With no personal use for the dragon core, and my inability to protect it, holding onto it is just an unnecessary liability. This box prevents it from being tracked but already its enchantments are falling apart. I have a week left at most before it paints a massive target on my back."

"I got too greedy. I should have left it at home. But my diviner told me to bring it to this world. Despite how vague their skills are, I trust her. She's led me to some of my greatest successes. And now she's brought me to you. So, what do you say Arthur Ward? Will I have your support?"

He took a moment to think over her words. It was obvious she was hiding things and this diviner was a big red flag, but all in all, she wasn't being exploitative. In all honesty, Arthur was ripping her off here.

"So you want me to support you, that's it? Nothing else, no extra strings?" Arthur probed.

"That's the gist of it," Ayesha replied. "I want to cultivate a friendly relationship with one of the future powerhouses of Earth. I'm sure Bryan told you of a great looming threat, right? I'll need your help with that too."

"But first we'll need to clean the trash. I have a bad feeling Bryan's task force won't cut it against Shade. Could you go with them? Not as a combatant but as a healer. A field medic of sorts to keep them safe."

Arthur frowned.

"This is a test, right? You want to see if I'm up to snuff."

Ayesha nodded.

"The core will be yours within twenty-four hours, irrespective of whether or not you're successful. And I'm sure you welcome the chance to see how strong you've become against a genuine threat. So how about it, Arthur?"

"We reconvene in twenty-four hours and you become the new owner of this dragon core. We'll discuss the future then."

She smiled at him and stretched out her hand in the symbolic sign of an agreement.

Arthur took it.