Phlia's Bargain

"You…… Do you even know what you're saying right now?"

"Of course."

I answered her trembling question in a calm voice.

I nodded in satisfaction as I watched the quest alert windows cascade down.

'As expected, the quest content isn't fixed—it's organically changeable. But altering it in the right way changes the rewards too, so it's no easy feat.'

The moment I checked the updated rewards, I knew my gamble had paid off with her.

'Hitting rock-solid reputation in Obela with just one quest? Nothing could be more perfect.'

And there were two unknown rewards that varied by outcome.

'Personally, I'd love one to max out affinity with Red Cat Mercenaries or snag their leader, Red Sickle……'

What I truly needed wasn't just the auction house treasures—it was the raw power of Red Cat Mercenaries, a player-led assassin force that rivaled even Yukhap.

'Well, priority one is devouring the Kal Duchy anyway.'

No need for pipe dreams about the unattainable. Tackle what was right in front of me, one step at a time.

"The Duchy? You?"

Unlike the quest alerts, Phlia's reaction was icy. She was still testing me.

"Not something I can pull off right now, of course. Toppling the duchy requires a ton of prep first."

"If you had a plan, you'd have mentioned it to me, right? To earn Red Cat Mercenaries' trust, I need to peek inside that head of yours first."

"Lucky for you."

"……What?"

She furrowed her brow slightly at my reply. I smirked, lifting one corner of my mouth, and scanned the surroundings once more.

'Got Bidam's Scale already…… One more thing from the auction house.'

Like I was leisurely shopping, I took slow steps, inspecting the warehouse.

As time ticked by with my unhurried pace, Phlia's expression grew more anxious.

"H-Hey."

After minutes of silence, she finally broke first, unable to wait.

"Here it is."

At that moment, I pulled an item from the jumble in the warehouse.

"No need to check it, right? You know what it is, even if you don't know what it's for. Value lies in the eyes of those who recognize it."

I spoke boldly, though it was all about swaying her emotions from the start. The initiative had shifted to me, and my words were shocking enough to make the warehouse relics seem trivial.

"……You talk a good game."

Phlia's lips twitched, but she sneaked a sideways glance at what I held.

'Malpgana's Flint.'

I lightly tossed and caught the two black stones in their box.

It was literally just a Rare-rank item—nothing special. Phlia nodded indifferently upon seeing the flint.

'Malpgana's Flint is mostly a smokescreen for Bidam's Scale…… but it's not worthless. It's the key to connecting with sculptor Peil.'

The warehouse brimmed with Heroic-rank items. But higher grade didn't always mean better. An archer couldn't fight wielding a mage's staff, after all. Right now, I needed the flint.

'Snagging this ring was the goal from the start anyway.'

The stat boost was underwhelming for Heroic rank. And substituting stamina for mana meant little to typical swordsmen, who didn't learn mana unless they were mages.

'It's really only for dual-classers who learn mana at the magic tower and go combat in their second job change.'

Magic swordsmen had to pick mage lines in first job change, leaving their base stats low, so they favored stat-boosting accessories.

'A magic swordsman's fight should prioritize swordsmanship over magic.'

In that sense, Bidam's Scale—with its quick recovery and extra mana—was a mixed bag. Of course, what was worthless to others held entirely different value for me.

'Supreme ice battle mage spells guzzle mana, so even in Dimension World 1, I had to use them strategically.'

But with stamina arts, mana veins, and Bidam's Scale, I could break free from mana limits.

'Though all three need growth investment.'

Not an issue. I knew better than anyone how to grow fast.

'Hell, getting this ring so easily is the real win.'

"Mind sharing that plan?"

Phlia asked, eyeing me.

"Toppling the duchy means slow, covert prep. The duchy rests on three duke houses. Smaller scale than the Eltia Iron Kingdom, but their magitech makes their forces evenly matched."

"And?"

"Drake Duke house with wyvern knights, Zahal with the Black Fleet, and Leoric with sword demon troops. Each has an edge, but individually, they're weaker than even the Deus Union, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rated lowest of the continent's three ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠powers."

"Hm……."

"So how does a duchy half the size of Deus Union stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a military giant like the Iron Kingdom?"

She nodded at my words.

"Think about it. What makes a tiny duchy so strong? The real pillar holding it up?"

"The dwarf artisans backing the three dukes, obviously. Their engineered weapons are brutal—even the duke houses eye each other warily."

"Exactly."

"So the artisans supply identical weapons to all three dukes. Tip to one side, and balance shatters."

"Spot on. Sharp ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠analysis—you live in the shadows, after all. So, what do you think I'll do next?"

"No way……."

I flashed a faint smile at her expression.

"To seize the duchy, don't destroy the duke houses—claim the dwarves first. They're the core. The dukes will crumble on their own."

"But how……?"

I pressed a finger to my lips, silencing her as I met her gaze.

"I know what the duchy's dwarf artisans crave. The treasure they've chased their whole lives."

"What is it?"

"The Earth Dragon Scripture, culmination of Guljiwang Norpa's techniques."

"My god……!! You know where it is?!"

Phlia couldn't hide her shock.

"Well, precisely, I know the material of the Torong tribe safeguarding it."

"They vanished ages ago…… Even continent-spanning info guilds couldn't find them."

"Makes sense. Norpa—a dwarf—passed his techniques not to another dwarf, but a human. One of Gullak's young heroes."

"……What?"

"That's all I can tell you. The rest is your call. Bet on me and make the duchy your new stage, or bail and scrape scraps from it while licking boots."

"……What do you need from me?"

I watched her shift with amusement. Amid an NPC more human than humans, these emotion alerts were the one reminder they were programmed.

"Before meeting the Torong tribe, I need to clear Spider Lord's Tomb. Need the Spider Queen's Tomb Heaven Demonic Radiance when we meet."

"Ha…… You wanna hunt the Spider Queen? One of the desert's three great labyrinths?"

"That's why I'm here."

"……What?"

"Hamma said Obela folk could navigate Spider Lord's Tomb blindfolded. Salvaging gear from clueless adventurers eaten by spiders."

"That's just the first floor. Spider Queen lurks at the deepest level. Getting there ain't about brute strength alone."

"That's why I'm telling you."

I raised my hand, pointing behind her.

"Lend me Red Sickle."

"What?!"

Phlia's face hardened.

She couldn't hide her bewilderment at my words, while Black Eye brimmed with questions.

'Sure, but I want more than just Obela. If the duchy's pillars are three dwarf artisans, Obela moves via Shadow Market. Red Cat Mercenaries under Phlia.'

Allure varies. Some fall for strength, others wisdom.

'Phlia leads Red Cat Mercenaries, but differently. Red Sickle might've been drawn to her cunning, but the mercenaries follow his strength, not her.'

Thus, they obey Phlia—but she couldn't fill one gap.

That, I'd provide.

'And claim Red Cat Mercenaries for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself.'

Phlia's wisdom and Red Cat's might. Securing both was my ultimate goal in Obela.