Chapter 245: with translation of chapter title

No. 7: Then I have to think about how I screwed up.

Fire is universally recognized as the source of civilization.

The culture that extends from fire is rich and vivid.

Like the smelting of metal, or the sublimation of food.

In the Hesya region, there is an ancient sacrificial tradition: they slaughter a cow, use its entrails for divination, then roast the beef.

The fragrant smoke produced from roasting is the offering to the gods.

Frankly speaking, barbecue is the bridge of communication between humans and gods.

"To be precise, it should be spirit."

Aumore corrected the words of the elf man across from him.

"In this Eastern land, there is also a tradition of communicating with gods and ancestors by burning incense and paper offerings in fire."

"At the same time, those ancestors sometimes become gods, and the core theory of such rituals is the same."

"Oh?" the man said, somewhat surprised, "Is that so?"

"You don't need to specially seek a spirit; just grab a student of spirit‑summoning from any academy and they can prove this." Aumore leaned back in his chair and said calmly.

"That's rare." The merchant picked up a skewer of grilled meat, took a big bite, his eating style was bold, his choice of ingredients showed courage, and Aumore had already seen several skewers on the plate whose meat type was indistinguishable—a mixed meat and vegetable skewer.

It could be meat from alien beasts, or maybe some newly approved cultured meat beast… Considering this is a bustling grill stall in a remote exotic district, the possibility of illegal meat being mixed in cannot be dismissed.

But the merchant was completely indifferent, even inviting him to have a bite.

Naturally, Aumore raised his hand to politely decline.

"What do you mean?"

Rather than staying here to skewer meat with a carnivorous elf, I'd rather go back and get some normal snacks, or look for a new fuzzy spot.

Her room definitely has snacks, and besides snacks there are many variously shaped monster figurines.

When they were first placed, I felt nothing, but after visiting last night and knocking on the door, I felt those figurines seemed to have come alive, and standing among them I felt as if countless eyes were watching me.

It's better not to worry too much about the employee's little secret, especially since he came to the door just to ask for overtime for the other party.

The monster cards, secret keys, and such, as well as Jin Gu Bridge and the energy‑deficient Grozam, are still with her, and she didn't rush to get them back the next day.

Aumore currently has the Ice King + Ice Assassin, with just an additional option of Ghalatron.

Actually, Aumore also likes the Ghalatron card the most, rather than the fused beast Ghalatron King.

The difference in appearance is only part of the reason; the main reason is that Ghalatron itself has a versatile and fairly strong ability set, and although becoming Ghalatron King greatly boosts output, it severely cuts down its abilities.

The straightforward presentation is:

Ghalatron skill set: Ghalatron's Axis (a long whip like a tail behind the head), Ghalatron's Sword (an armed light sword), Ghalatron Spark (AoE chain explosion), Ghalatron Floating Cannon (right arm detaches to strike or fire a light beam), Ghalatron's Sound (interferes with spirit to dispel anger or induce frenzy), Chest Scan (using the chest core to scan and fully analyze the target), Defensive Magic Disc.

Then……

Ghalatron King skill set: Pedaninum High‑Shot Cannon, Pedaninum Punch, kg Barrier (Defensive Magic Disc), Ghalatron Death Ray.

That's it.

Jin Gu Bridge, you've just spit out all those Ghalatron skills! (half annoyed)

Although the doctrine of firepower supremacy is indeed attractive, for someone like Aumore who always pays extra attention to practical magic, the Ghalatron card truly is his favorite for its high versatility, so he placed the mechanical dragon on top of the card box.

Ice Assassin and Ghalatron, two cold and killing intents lacking vitality, press down on the Ice King below, making him suffer terribly (x).

Although I did indeed hear the Ice King's cry, please remember that monster cards have no intelligence; they are merely a condensation of pure power.

Aumore paid no heed.

Meanwhile, the elf across from him who was skewering meat didn't seem to notice either, and the topics he brought up were still answering Aumore's earlier counter‑question.

"I thought you had spent over a decade in the Eastern lands, mixing with that group of girls, so you should be full of energy, outgoing and talkative, yet you still retain the traits of a Bard person."

It's hard to tell whether that statement is descriptive or mocking, causing Aumore to fall silent for a moment.

"I believe that fixing impressions based on region is unwise; it's the narrow view of someone with limited experience."

"Indeed, many people question my ethnicity, thinking I merely stuck on pointy ears." The merchant continued to chew loudly, his food tasting great, not hindering his speech; in fact, the sound even seemed to come from his belly, showing how deeply he studies talking while eating.

This also made Aumore pause, then he said: "So, Mr. Pointy‑Ears, when will we get to the main topic?"

"Or are you busy trying to figure out how to get those few cards back from me?"

He gazed at the other's deep green eyes, which openly showed a cold light of greed, yet the man possessing that gaze behaved with remarkable restraint.

"How could it be? Such matters naturally require long‑term planning; they can't be rushed," the shameless merchant admitted, raising his hand and placing on the table a card box as splendid as a diagram, "Before I mention the Hall of Return to Origin, I guess you'd like to see this."

Gazing at the card box, sensing its rising aura, Aumore did not rush to reach for it.

"If the customer stays this steady, it will actually dampen the merchant's enthusiasm," the merchant said, extending his hand not to open the box lid but to slip it back into his pocket.

"I guess you're not generous enough to use it as a greeting gift."

Indeed, he sensed that it had a cold aura similar to Ice Assassin and Ghalatron yet distinctly different; his heart should have felt a hint of desire, but beforehand an inexplicable sense of familiarity made him frown.

"Do you have a special sense of familiarity? Don't doubt it—it's not an illusion, but it's not my trick," the merchant laughed, "Since you can use the Beta Igniter, even if you aren't a Mefilas factor, you're still connected to his 'status'."

"Status?" Aumore blinked; the last time he heard that term was in religious studies, for example the life levels in Kabbalah theory.

"Actually, more accurately, it's 'position'." The merchant pulled out a napkin, wiped his mouth, then pushed the parchment on the table toward Aumore.

"By joining the Hall of Return to Origin, you'll come to understand this concept; it's basic among basics, yet it also touches the world's core rules."

"Also, you guessed right—Mefilas's monster cards naturally won't be given to you so easily."

Having said that, he called for the bill, then turned back and smiled at Aumore:

"After all, this is to guard against your Breaking Steel Sword."

Aumore had been looking down at the contract on the parchment; hearing this, he lifted his head, stared at him, and after a few seconds of silence said: "……You've been this frank; you might as well be more direct."

"This shouldn't be hard for you to understand, right?"

The merchant showed some impatience: "Although you're just a nineteen‑year‑old demon, your eyes are really too similar to that annoying old man."

"That annoying old man?"

Aomo tentatively noted down this subtle label; as for the understanding the other party spoke of, that indeed has a lead.

Although some merchants advocate honesty as the foundation, this 'merchant' is truly overly frank, directly laying out their defenses in the open—doesn't that just lay bare everyone's attempt to use each other?

Thinking again about the legend of the 'Breaking Steel Sword', the other party likely isn't aiming to become the King Arthur of Hongying District's legends.

A treasure sword that cuts off steel……

Aomo looked again at the elf who pulled out a phone to scan and pay:

You actually have preparations to counter yourself?

"How can one be embarrassed to do business without a record?" The merchant who had finished paying turned to look at him.

Beside the phone clenched in their hand, a fleeting black data stream flashed by, like a certain power's special Digital Monster.

This Breaking Steel Sword is precisely used to sever the backbone of steel.