Having a good time with the alcohol and food, Ben finally asked a few things that had been bugging him.

< "So, how did you find me?" >

Seeing the man changing his language, the two people, who didn't understand, focused on their food and drink.

< "We just looked for anyone who might fit, trying not to miss even one that might fit the bill. A friend noticed something suspicious about you, but nothing specific. And I came to confirm it. Once I saw you, I felt sure about it. Just a strong hunch." >

< "That's a lot of work." >

< "We hoped to meet you..." >

< "Another thing. You seem reasonably surprised, so I can only assume you never found anyone else from Earth?" >

< "I haven't. Have you found others?" > Gin asked, curious.

< "I did find three.

One was a knight, but I only took a look from afar, unable to confirm it, not daring to handle the consequences of talking directly. This guy was a character from the north, involved with the church, and considered a holy figure. He was famous for his wicked personality.

I also found a woman. She was an intriguing person but was excessively crazy, too crazy for me. She insisted on talking about how I should serve her and how we were to conquer the world. Despite her weird and obsessive behavior, she was indeed a genius. Unfortunately, she didn't break it.

At last, he couldn't even talk and had a short life. He was pitiful." >

< "Break what?" > Ginn gestured, confused.

< "Expectations. My friend might have lived within the boundaries of a genius, but that couldn't fulfill her ambitions." >

< "Are they gone?" >

< "Unfortunately, they're all dead. Those lived between two and one thousand years ago, but I can give you their information if you want to search for historical records. However, keep in mind that while I located a few, I probably haven't found more because I didn't look hard enough. Not like I can waste my whole life searching for people I don't know. And finally, consider that this world might have an objective. We may haven't come here randomly, at least this is my guess, but I don't have any details or concrete proof." >

Ben then wrote their detail on a piece of paper. Once he gave Ginn the information, Ben began to drink again, his posture telling others he had talked all he wanted.

< "I'll probably see what's happening once I arrive at the top." >

< "Probably." >

< "Is this all?" >

Ben didn't speak and only moved his head in agreement.

"Now, with that out of the way, we should discuss: why you came here? Isn't this sufficient warming up?" Ben's patience was running low.

"Alright, you truly want to get to the point! I'll still say we should work together, as that'll benefit both."

Ginn took a deep breath and explained why he appeared there.

"We were searching for you because of your ability to cure that poison. Someone close to me is suffering from it, and we didn't find any way to extract it. And for now, we can only stabilize her condition. I sent people here and was willing to come here, hoping we could make a deal, as I believed someone with such ability wouldn't die so easily. Please name your price and conditions. But, as you know, such poison is very potent, so we can't move her. So the deal must include you going somewhere."

"Did you rein it?" Ben asked, puzzled. 'That's so much harder.'

"We couldn't administer any timely optimal treatment, so we could only gain time. Unfortunately, even after searching for months, we didn't find someone to deal with the poison after its incubation period. And while things only keep getting complicated, we can hold on for now."

Ben began to ponder the case. His face grew cold as he began to weigh his situation. In addition to being surrounded, the one in front of him was strange. Even between the ones he met so far from Earth.

'My guts tell me he'll break it. Strength, followers, close friends, and genetic privilege. Confident, daring, and seems to be wealthy. However, this could be a play.' Ben looked at the alcohol bottle.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

'I can only try to play my own game with my rhythm since I can't avoid the hot potato right now.'

Ben became the focus of everyone. But they could only see an unreadable and expressionless person.

Having decided how he wanted to play, Ben started listing his condition.

"Is she your lover or family?" He asked Ginn.

"Yes, she's my wife. We married last year."

'I see.' Having the last piece of information he was sure to get reliably, Ben started mentioning his condition.

"One: A one-time use spatial treasure as a fallback. The issue if I can use it promptly or not is on me. Don't worry about such detail, but don't get a trash one either."

"Two: I'll give you a list. Those will be all average or slightly above-average stuff. Those are what I would like you to buy in a substantial amount. The storage is on you, as I don't bother walking around with one since it's an invitation for disaster."

"Three: I want one item at the level of a VIP auction. The item can be your choice."

"And four: Money. Enough money to buy this town. Ah! But keep it on some untraceable and easy-to-trade currency since I'm not an idiot. I think saying this much should be sufficient."

A sly smile appeared on Ben's face. Ben added a fourth point on a whim after recalling how casually they talked about such values.

"I shall not accept any treasure others may call heaven's defying. Don't give me something I can't buy, as I still want to keep this poor little life." 'I don't value them as much as others anyway.'

"Alright," Ginn responded with a big smile since this was easier than he expected. He believed having the exact origin helped in making this deal.

"Should I get Mirana to make the contract?" Yukk asked as Matt tried to stay silent.

Before Ginn could agree to the proposal, Ben interrupted them.

"Don't bother. This deal will rely on my shallow trust in you. We aren't equal anyway." 'An empty contract helps no one. It only creates a false sense of security.'

With such development, even Yukk began to frown, not fully comprehending why.

Ginn was the one to sigh this time, awed by how full of worries and doubt his peer was.

'Someone who lived this long must've constructed a new mindset. The one from Earth is only a shadow of the past. Sad.'

"Be it the way you want. This deal will rely on my promise alone." 'Hopefully, this ends well since my love depends on this. And the other options involve me becoming stronger even faster than planned. But that may backfire. Powerlessness is indeed the worst.'

"I must ask, is the source of the attack the same?" Ben began to fish for details, already starting to plan the treatment. 'Please be the same. If I get there and can't cure it, that'll be a disaster.'

"Probably. The confusion about the identity of the attackers is very similar. So I can only assume they were from the same group."

Surprised, Ben thought: 'they still couldn't pinpoint who the enemy was.'

"Hey, what the fuck was metal poison about?" after completing the deal, Matt finally felt free to ask something which was bugging him since the day he read the report his friend shared with him. The few words Ben said before 'dying' were too confusing.

"Ah, you mean Blue sky metal poison?" 'Did they miss the connection between the tips I worked so hard on giving them?' Ben was amused. 'It should've been enough.'

"That isn't what we call the poison. So can you cure it if you're even getting the name wrong?"

"Your assumption is wrong. Who said I was talking about the wild and rapid-acting poison? I don't know its name since it has some secret origin. How could I know anyway? It shouldn't have one, at least not within the classics. That I'm sure of."

"Then, can you tell us what you meant? People assumed you got the name wrong. This conclusion was even on the Sect's public report about the event." Yukk intervened.

Ben looked at Ginn. He saw the young man deep in thought and waited for his guess.

Playing the game, Ginn said: "Are the attackers the ones suffering from such poison?"

< "Bingo!" > "Delusion, kids, delusion!" Ben confirmed.

Blue sky metal poison was a particular substance that caused intense pain and fast internal deterioration. However, it caused other effects. Those suffering from such poison could also have their aura disturbed and cultivation slightly destabilized. Cultivators could even suffer from deviation due to it. In extremes case resulting in an explosion.

Those guys attacking back then were all surprisingly showing signs of this poison, and such conditions should be aiming to achieve two things: one, they were a suicide squad that, two, had hard-to-read auras.

Ben noticed it since he had experienced it before. He saw those guys in the past once. And when he played dead on the fort back then, he felt those people searching for clues around him.

Enlightened, Ginn looked at his friend with an expression of satisfaction. "I'll certainly get you something nice next!" 'His random question this time around was on point!'

"Was the third step your guess at their cultivation?" Yukk asked.

Ben confirmed with his head.

Matt was left speechless. 'We were the ones getting it all wrong!'

"So dangerous... For that elder." Yukk whispered his thought out loud.

"They're professionals. So, please don't involve me with such an issue." Ben said with a solemn expression.

"Coward..." Matt whispered.

"So be it."

"This should at least put us on some good track. If you think of anything else, you can tell me directly, and I'll ensure to keep it confidential." Ginn agreed to all of Ben's conditions.

"I'll begin to prepare the first payment for our deal. You can wait in our temporary home in this town. They can show you the way and ensure your existence is hidden." Ginn said as he pointed to his people.

---

Ben parted away from Ginn as the latter went on to prepare the treatment's payment.

'My sense of self has been breaking down as I feel less and less like a potential hack in the system and more and more like a deformed piece hacked into an unsightly state. I can still apply the term hack, but the impression feels different. Ah, life is rough, and even if I have found a destined piece, it's now too late. I can't take the risk of adventuring, as I'm not that free anymore. However, we probably wouldn't have met if I was from this generation, so I can't blame my age.'

[...]

'Why did I keep my memories? How did I keep my memories? Will I lose myself, eventually? I don't want to become someone's else example of what not to do. I don't want to be manure for someone's field. I've been oblivious, but I don't want to die like a worthless piece. Or some fruitless tinkle. Once conscious of the secrets of this reality, how could I not confront such an existential crisis. Will I ever regret my choices? I wonder when I began hating genetic privilege, the so-called talent and stopped craving it. I've changed. I'm not Philip anymore. The one from Earth died with time. What's left?'