Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 188

Chapter 188: Rare Item [Meteoric Sword Amulet]!
As the fog dissipated, Ryan’s eyes flickered open to the dimly lit subterranean hall he knew so well. The perennial candle in the corner flickered quietly, its length seemingly unchanged, eternal.

Gently, he placed Yellow Sand and the others down, turning to face the puppet girl who sat serenely at the end of a long brass table. Her voice, both gentle and magnetically distinct, broke the silence. “You have completed the task brilliantly, Ryan. No one has breached the ninth floor of the underground labyrinth in a single day.”

The puppet, known as “Red Kite,” clasped her hands at her waist, her tone mixing praise with formality. “With this special mission concluded, you are exempt from further such duties for three years. You may choose to engage with future tasks or decline them. Additionally, Ryan, you may opt to claim the promised reward now, or you can wait for Yellow Sand and the rest to awaken and receive it together.”

She continued, the timbre of her voice implying the gravity of his choice. “Intermediate-level items are both precious and rare. Specify your need, and I will endeavor to accommodate it. However, should your request exceed my capabilities, I will be compelled to select a random mid-level item as your reward.”

Ryan nodded, his expression one of solemn understanding, appreciating the weight of his options and the decisions that lay ahead.

Mid-level rare items are artifacts of considerable prestige, crafted not merely from ordinary materials, but requiring at least fourth-tier extraordinary elements as their core, complemented by a variety of other valuable materials.

Such opulence in creation costs could easily stagger any Tier 3 hero, given the extravagant resources involved. Naturally, the availability of these treasures was severely limited.

Ryan had initially harbored doubts that “Red Kite” would honor their promise of a reward, especially considering the need to supply five mid-level artifacts to fulfill their pledge to him and his team.

To his surprise, however, “Red Kite” not only affirmed the commitment but did so with remarkable ease.

After a moment of consideration, Ryan expressed his preference. “Do you possess any mid-level amulet-type items? I’m particularly interested in those that offer damage reduction. If none are available, a mid-level ring would suffice.”

Ryan had already placed an order with Master Golden Hammer for a ring-type artifact. The intricacy of its crafting meant an uncertain completion time. He awaited word from the master smith but had a keen interest in amulets for their intrinsic value.

“You have a keen eye…” “Red Kite” responded with a smile. “You’ve earned the rewards of this mission, and I’ll certainly do my best to fulfill your request.”

“I have several mid-level amulets, though none specifically for damage reduction. Let me see… Ah, this one should suit your needs.” With that, “Red Kite” took out a uniquely shaped metal amulet.

It featured a pendant in the form of a one-handed white sword set against a spherical starry background.

“This amulet can temporarily enhance the sharpness, toughness, and weight of your weapon. You might want to test it out to see its effects.”

Ryan examined the amulet closely as the details appeared on his panel:

——

[Meteorite Sword Amulet]: A potent mid-level amulet crafted from meteorite fragments and various precious minerals. To activate, slide your finger along the amulet’s edge, then anoint your weapon with blood to grant it a targeted enhancement—choose from sharpness +30%, toughness +30%, or weight +30%. Each effect lasts five minutes and the amulet can be used up to three times a day.

An amulet with straightforward yet formidable effects.

Ryan’s expression was one of profound astonishment. The attributes of sharpness, toughness, and weight were critical to weapon performance, and each type of weapon had distinct requirements for these characteristics, making the amulet’s versatility especially valuable.

Weapons such as longswords and knight swords, known for their dexterity, prioritize sharpness to compensate for their relatively lower individual strike power. This attribute enhances their ability to inflict significant damage with each hit.

Toughness, on the other hand, is crucial for weapons that endure frequent use in battle, ensuring they can withstand the rigors of combat without failing.

Weight is particularly vital for heavier armaments. A weapon’s heft contributes directly to the force of its strikes; the heavier the weapon, the more devastating each swing becomes. For weapons like greatswords, the hierarchy of importance typically starts with weight, followed by toughness, and sharpness last.

“You can tailor the amulet’s blessings to suit various combat scenarios,” Ryan mused aloud, appreciating the strategic flexibility the amulet offered.

Noticing Ryan’s contemplative expression, Red Kite’s voice, rich and resonant, filled the space. “It seems you find the amulet to your liking. Thank you for your diligence on this special mission. If there are no further matters, I shall take my leave now.”

“I’ll return once Yellow Sand and the others have awakened,” she added.

“You’re free to go. The teleportation point is set just outside a small village a few kilometers north of Saint Tos City,” she instructed.

Ryan nodded in acknowledgment.

In an instant, Red Kite’s form was enveloped in a swirl of gray fog. As the mist cleared, her puppet figure vanished without a trace.

Ryan turned his attention away from where Red Kite had stood. With the mission concluded and Red Kite gone, there was no reason to linger.

He glanced at Yellow Sand and the others, still unconscious. Safe within the confines of the “Overthrow Hall,” where combat between allies was impossible, Ryan felt reassured about their security. With this in mind, he chose to exit the scene.

…

As the gray fog dissipated, Ryan found himself on the outskirts of a deserted village. He scanned the surroundings; finding no one within a hundred meters, he let out a relieved sigh.

Instead of departing hastily, Ryan paused to activate the “Dark Moon Magic Pattern,” a device designed for communication, to connect with Freni. During their recent foray into the underground maze, their interactions had been limited to brief exchanges and safety check-ins every three hours. Ryan was unaware of the specific details of Freni’s side of the mission.

Now, with a moment to himself, Ryan was eager to catch up with Freni, share his own updates, and seek her insights as a [scholar] her deep knowledge of the world of professionals far surpassed his own.

Soon after activating the pattern, Ryan connected with Freni.

“Mr. Ryan, we’ve just found a rare magical plant, vital as an auxiliary material for the third-level [Scholar Path] profession,” Freni reported excitedly, eager to share her discovery and its potential applications.

“We’ve managed to gather quite a collection of third-level potion auxiliary materials, especially for the Pirate Path and the Soldier Path,” Freni shared, her voice tinged with palpable excitement. However, her tone soon dipped into a sigh. “The main ingredients for the third-level magic potions are exceedingly rare. I’ve yet to find any on the third floor of the underground maze. I suspect they’re located even deeper.”

“Captain,” Ryan replied, his voice carrying a gravity that belied the potential good news from Freni. “This special mission in the ‘Overthrow Palace’ has led me to some critical findings.”

He paused, his tone deepening with concern. “The breaking of the seal in the dungeon labyrinth has stirred a disquieting unease within me. I strongly advise that you and Miss Cecilia make your way out of the Labyrinth as soon as possible.”

There was a brief silence on the line before Freni responded, her voice serious and resolute. “Okay! We’ll head back to the surface immediately.” Her trust in Ryan was evident; she didn’t question his judgment, choosing instead to act decisively.

Freni was well aware of the lure of the labyrinth’s deeper levels, greater risks promised greater rewards. Yet, she understood that no treasure was worth more than their lives. She knew the general scope of Ryan’s mission and the depths he and others had ventured to. Ryan’s cautionary advice was a clear signal: the situation was far from simple.

Ryan ended the call shortly thereafter, conscious of the “Dark Moon Magic Pattern’s” high energy consumption, a cost borne by Freni. Lingering on the line wasn’t just impractical, it was costly.

With Freni and Cecilia on their way to safety, Ryan felt a measure of relief. The underground maze, with its undefined depths and unknown dangers, held an ominous air, one that Ryan found increasingly oppressive.