Melting Gold - Labyrinth Day 79
Kang Geon made a quick stop at the desert village. The purpose of the visit was to express his gratitude to Solorb.
The Hedgehog Summoner God had mentioned that when it nearly died to SS-grade undead spirits in the Abyss, Solorb appeared and lent a hand.
For reference, he'd already properly thanked Melody Fox and Bastet, who had arrived first to help, showering them with ample praise.
"Solorb. I heard you descended into the Abyss and took down those SS-grades?"
"Hedgehog tells me everything it sees and hears, without missing a beat."
I politely thanked Solorb.
"Anyway, thanks for the help. That's what I came to say."
The guy was still as bashful as ever.
"Yeah?"
"Treatment? Nah, nothing like that. Why?"
I felt a piercing gaze. More precisely, the harsh sunlight was focusing intensely on my face. Solorb was apparently scrutinizing me closely.
I got it. Thanks to the Beauty Ticket I'd bought last time, my charm had increased ever so slightly. It must have noticed the subtle change from before and was puzzled.
Even so, staring like that was a bit much. It felt awkward.
"You're staring at my face way too openly. My face is gonna melt."
The heat on my face faded. It had hastily averted its gaze after hearing me.
After a short chat with Solorb, he returned to the oasis shelter.
"Pii, piii."
"I'm fine. No need for healing."
"Piii?"
"Removing the mechanical arm would drop my combat power. These mechanical lumps on my face help in battle too, so it'd be a waste to ditch them."
As the Medical Angel and Azeras were talking, Kang Geon called over the Black Magma Slime-003.
He handed it a small gold ingot and asked it to melt it down.
"Sruuung."
The gold ingot melted down. Then, Zapan, waiting nearby, eagerly absorbed the molten gold.
"Zapaiaan!"
"Why do you think? For this."
He lightly tapped Zapan's side. Zapan flailed its arms and spat out a thick golden liquid from its input port with a "Buweeeek!"
It was, of course, the exact same substance as the gold it'd just eaten. Even if not perfectly liquid, as long as it was in a liquid-like state, Zapan could recreate what it had consumed flawlessly—and infinitely.
Magma was one thing. Molten metal was no exception.
The golden liquid flowed from the input port onto the floor. Azeras transferred it into a square box made from Kinogine Arachne's threads.
Then, he immediately used a Reverse Support Ticket to send it to his Earth ally, Hwangmireu.
"Miru-ya. Reverse support arrived?"
"Check it right away then."
There was one thing he wanted to test: whether the gold sent via reverse support—the gold Zapan had produced—could be used to recharge coins.
Honestly, he doubted it would work. But if there was even a slim chance, it was worth trying. Reverse Support Tickets weren't in short supply yet, and he had some leeway.
"Figured. Yeah, no surprise."
He wasn't particularly disappointed. He'd half-expected it.
As anticipated, even gold with high value across worlds didn't count as currency without desire infused in it. It seemed the Ancient Labyrinth wouldn't accept it for coin recharge unless it circulated, got handled by beings, and absorbed ugly greed or desperate longing—emotions that gave it true worth.
Especially since Hwangmireu, holding the gold now, had no desire for it. No greed for the gold in her hands.
In other words, it was pure substance untouched by desire. The Labyrinth, which grew by feeding on desire, naturally rejected it.
When he explained this, Hwangmireu's chat popped up again.
"Could be. If you have time, give it a shot."
"And even if it gets desire-infused and rechargeable, if the value's lower than expected, just sell it to people. If recharging with the proceeds is way more profitable, do that."
For the record, he had no plans to farm coins this way. Reverse Support Tickets were limited.
This was just preemptive testing for a future with tons of tickets and easy vending machine access. Then he could use this method for coins and properly reward his dedicated allies materially.
Maybe even make them the world's richest.
Of course, no infinite gold flooding the market. Rarity was key to value.
Moderation was essential for reverse supports.
"Ah. That plan's on hold for now."
The Earth-sale prototypes were scrapped. Not by him—by Omega itself.
Omega deemed the tech too advanced. It worried about sudden superior tech flooding a primitive world or unbalanced growth leading to ruin.
Especially worlds it couldn't constantly oversee needed caution.
Tech leak risks too—even unique Omega tech could be reverse-engineered in theory.
Thus, Omega vowed new products: non-disruptive tech, perfectly secure, no leaks, tailored innovations.
By Omega's standards, Earth, Elemen西亚, and every world he knew were primitive.
He explained to Hwangmireu, then added:
"Omega's started new development, but it's busy with prior research and the undersea village construction. Sales items will be way later than planned. And even if done quick, Earth's getting chaotic, so we'll migrate sales to Elemen西亚 via reverse support. You'll still get sales rights then."
As mentioned before, no reverse supports for overly lethal weapons. Risk of massive casualties from misuse.
Focus on defensive items.
"I asked Omega the same, explained Earth and Elemen西亚 civ levels roughly, asked where it'd focus. Said it'd aim slightly above Earth's tech. No issue—both worlds similar, a bit higher still primitive."
Once all the gold was in the thread box.
"Duumba! My heart's all prepped yot!"
The Hedgehog Summoner God wiggled over, butt shaking. It had finally psyched itself up.
"Today I'm dispatching Hedgehog to another world. With a General Dispatch Ticket."
"Why worry about Hedgehog of all things? It's SSS-grade now."
The Hedgehog Summoner God was perfect for general dispatch. It could summon hordes of spirits, was the highest risk-tolerant, and its weak body meant no collateral damage.
Sure, like Melody Fox, it might grow huge outside... but that's why dispatch: to check.
General tickets were cheap for testing. Specific Dispatch Tickets were too precious for Lumina or Kendorra size checks.
Even if it manifested huge in a populated, civilized world, no issue. Just sit tight 24 hours.
No counterattacks if attacked by scared sapients—just evade, no Duumba Dance needed. It wore Abyss Lord's robe.
Only Azeras could pierce it, and even then barely with dark matter.
Hedgehog's safety was solid.
"Goin' on dispatch? I wanna go play too yang!"
"No, Merino. You can't."
"Yangyang?! Why yang?!"
"Why? ...You're not one of my tamed monsters."
"Then tame me yang!"
"Be serious."
Even tamed, no sending F-grade Merino. High death risk.
Anyway, Hedgehog was ready, so no delay—time for the General Dispatch Ticket.
"Hedgehog. Gonna use the dispatch ticket now."
"Duumba! Excited yot!"
"Iris, you too. Come here—you're going together."
"Just one..."
SSS-grade Hedgehog Summoner God.
S-grade Iris.
He used General Dispatch Tickets on these two.