Chapter 525: with translation of chapter title

This provocation tactic seemed to work on Lady Jade; she turned her head, the smile on her face somewhat stiff: 'A harsh accusation, it's normal if you don't understand. But it's fine, I'll help you see clearly.'

Lady Jade then handed Liuying a list, asking her to personally see whether their wishes had been fulfilled, then return to her; she would help Liuying understand what collateral means, and also make Liuying realize what she still lacks.

Liuying, following her understanding, sequentially found those who had received Lady Ciyu's collateral—among them were gamblers, lovers, and even police who had unsuccessfully pursued the culprit… but in the end, without exception, all their wishes were fulfilled.

Although she didn't quite understand how Lady Ciyu managed it, this successfully piqued Liuying's interest, and she returned to her residence.

"You're back, Miss Samuel."

"Well, I found the people you mentioned. After patronizing Lady Ciyu's collateral, their wishes indeed all came true." Liuying said somewhat confusedly, "But I still don't know what you want me to see clearly. They seem so… complete."

Next, Lady Jade explained their prices one by one; whether lover, gambler, or detective, each had paid an unimaginably huge price to obtain what they wanted from Lady Jade, and though they did achieve their wishes, they were consumed until only that wish remained.

"What an interesting phenomenon, isn't it? I satisfy some people's desires, bestowing favors upon them. And this favor soon returns to me, accompanied by even greater desires."

"When people see others' desires fulfilled, they themselves develop equal desires, endless and boundless. In the end, I can fish out what I want from this vortex."

——

Dungeon Meal.

"Eek——!! Actually, actually fulfilling wishes is great…… but the price for this kind of fulfillment is too high, right? It feels like being banned from using magic forever just to cast a super‑powerful spell!" Marluce instinctively clenched her staff tightly, the elf's pointed ears twitching in fear.

"Hmm…… feels not worth it, but if I had to say what wish I want to fulfill, it would probably be rescuing Falin. But if I had to say what price I must pay…… I don't seem to have anything I can offer." Leos thought for a moment, considering if he were to pledge to Lady Ciyu, the only valuable thing he likely has is this armor and sword.

"No, Leos, you still have desire." Zirqak said lightly from the side, "The desire to eat the monsters in the dungeon."

Although Leos rarely says it outright, anyone can see that this guy has a strong desire to eat the dungeon's monsters; someone like him might someday actually manage to eat every monster in the dungeon.

"Huh? You're saying this kind of thing can also be used as collateral?"

"I also don't know how this would be collateral, but if Lady Ciyu truly wants to fulfill your wish, the collateral would surely be your desire to eat the dungeon's monsters. If you reach a deal with Lady Ciyu, that desire of yours would probably disappear then."

Marluce curled her lips at the side: "……Sounds like a good thing for the monsters."

——

"What I'm best at happens to be waiting. So now, do you understand what you must give up, Miss Samuel? Or should I call you……the sole survivor of the Gleamer Iron Knights—【AR-26710】?"

"... Not surprising at all." Liuying openly admitted.

"You're far calmer than I imagined. The entropy sickness… truly a disaster out of the blue, isn't it?" Lady Jade turned to look out the window at the night sky, "The Gleamer people, in order to prevent the republic's most powerful weapon from falling into others' hands, set up such a safeguard in the soldiers' gene editing."

"As for the price…… since these iron knights have never been regarded as independent 【people】, naturally there is no price to speak of."

"But you're different; now you are a Star Core Hunter, 【Liuying】, a living being. You certainly want to survive, but the former Azure Sky Front has already collapsed, and those who knew this secret and could heal it are no longer around."

Liuying caught the implied meaning in the other's words: "You mean, the company has a way to do this?"

"It's not that there's no hope; I can only say this much."

——

Is it a mistake to seek encounters in the dungeon?

"Oh? Even the entropy sickness might be curable? Then wouldn't it mean that Liuying could adventure together with Star in the future?"

Hestia's blue eyes lit up instantly; she grabbed Bel's arm beside her and shook it vigorously: "Although the company is usually cold‑blooded, I have to admit their technology is truly impressive—I thought only Ms. Ruan Mei could fix the entropy sickness, but looking at it this way, the company is still somewhat reliable, right, Bel?"

"Hmm… Your Divinity, I feel Miss Liuying probably won't cooperate with Lady Jade." Bel's voice carried a hint of hesitation, yet was unusually serious: "Even if Lady Jade proposes a possibility to solve the entropy sickness, the price…… would likely be unbearable for her. Moreover, Lady Jade is someone from the company, and the one standing opposite her is the galaxy's top wanted criminal."

"But Lord Bel, if Lady Jade really regarded Miss Liuying as a wanted criminal, the scene would probably have already spiraled out of control." Lily keenly sensed the slightly subtle atmosphere between the two of them; Lady Jade did not emit hostility, on the contrary…… she seemed very interested in Miss Liuying.

"My guess is that Lady Jade would be willing to help Liuying, but what Liuying has to pay is not herself, but the information of the Star Core Hunters…… possibly even related to Ailiou."

Compared to Liuying, who has already easily grasped that information, it's obvious that the other members of the Star Core Hunters, especially Cafu and Ailiou, are far more appealing than this Gleamer Iron Knight before us.

——

Liuying lowered her eyes: "Now I understand. No wonder you said I couldn't produce equivalent collateral, because 【everything about myself】 is meaningless…… what you want is for me, in order to survive, to personally put shackles on my own companions."

Lady Jade shook her head: "What a pity, that's not it either."

"Companions… not a bad way to put it; this makes me even more curious about the Star Core Hunters. Each of you has a unique identity, and the connections between you are quite fascinating—so close and strong, yet each individual remains independent."