Chapter 545

"One hundred thousand yen really doesn't mean much to me... Just think of it as, um... a very ordinary exchange of gifts between friends!"

As she said this, she insisted on shoving the magazine into Natsume Chikage's hands.

Natsume Chikage held the magazine and remained silent for a moment.

He looked up at Akita Sana, his tone earnest:

"I am very grateful for your kindness... and I truly do need this magazine. Thank you very much, I will accept it."

Upon hearing this, a glow of undisguised joy immediately bloomed on Akita Sana's face, and her eyes lit up:

"Mm-hmm! I'm so glad you like it!"

"However—" Natsume Chikage shifted his tone, looking at her even more seriously, "this one hundred thousand yen might not mean much to you, but to me, this gift is far too valuable."

"Regarding the return gift for the dessert, you really didn't need to go to such expense."

"Even if you had just returned with some ordinary snacks, I would have been very happy to accept them; there was really no need to spend so much money to buy this for me."

He paused, then said clearly and firmly.

"But since you have already spent the money... I will definitely pay you back once I have enough savings."

Akita Sana's expression stiffened, and she waved her hands hurriedly:

"No need! You really don't have to pay me back! I, I really don't lack this bit of money; one hundred thousand yen is about the same as pocket money to me..."

Natsume Chikage shook his head gently, his tone mild but refusing to be denied:

"If you truly consider me a friend, please do not refuse. This is a matter of principle."

Akita Sana was instantly plunged into distress.

She didn't just want to be "friends" at all!

Her whole heart was set on becoming his girlfriend, being able to stick together every day, being intimate, and sharing all their joys and sorrows.

But she knew very well that if she spoke of these feelings now, she would absolutely ruin everything!

No matter how you looked at it, she would be rejected outright.

Just as she was panicking, not knowing what to do, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck her.

Akita Sana immediately followed Natsume Chikage's lead, putting on an expression of "realizing the problem," and muttered in a low voice:

"Mm... I didn't consider your feelings beforehand; it was indeed inconsiderate of me."

She looked up at Natsume Chikage, as if she had made a compromise.

"Since you insist so much, Natsume-kun... then alright."

Seeing her agree, Natsume Chikage finally breathed a sigh of relief:

"I'm glad you understand."

Just then, Akita Sana quickly took out her phone, opened the LINE QR code friend interface, and with a touch of shyness and the decisiveness of "acting first and reporting later," handed it to Natsume Chikage:

"I understand your current financial situation, Natsume-kun... and I understand that by doing this, I might have actually added to your pressure."

"So, I'm really not in a hurry about the money! You don't have to feel burdened at all; just pay me back whenever you feel it's convenient."

She cleverly shifted her tone, appearing slightly troubled.

"But... I'm often running around, and you might not be able to find me... how about we add each other as contacts first?"

She blinked, her tone becoming light and "reasonable."

"That way, when you have some spare money, you can just transfer it to me via phone; wouldn't that be much more convenient?"

Natsume Chikage thought for a moment and felt the suggestion was indeed reasonable.

After all, the two didn't have much interaction, and having a way to contact each other would make handling this matter easier.

He nodded:

"Mm, that works."

He immediately took out his phone, scanned Akita Sana's QR code, and sent a friend request.

"Ding."

Seeing the "Natsume Chikage" friend request pop up on her phone, Akita Sana almost cheered with excitement!

No matter what, as long as she successfully added him as a friend, the "operation" that followed would have its most basic platform!

Anything was possible!

At the same time, within Natsume Chikage's field of vision, the "Collector-Grade Combat Magazine" revealed information only he could see.

【Collector-Grade Combat Magazine】

【Quality: Green】

【Effect: After equipping, you have a probability of discovering the weaknesses on an opponent's body!】

【Introduction: I... have already burned out, turning into snow-white ash.】

【Synthesis Condition: Requires at least three pieces of equipment of the same type!】

Natsume Chikage stroked the magazine in his hand with a somewhat strange expression.

He had never expected that this green-quality equipment would come into his hands in such a way.

【You have obtained ownership of this special equipment; would you like to register it?】

【Yes/No】

Seeing this prompt, Natsume Chikage couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

Green-quality equipment had never disappointed him so far.

He chose "Yes" without hesitation.

【Registration successful; would you like to equip the 'Collector-Grade Combat Magazine' immediately?】

【Yes/No】

"Yes!"

The moment he equipped it.

Natsume Chikage didn't see anything at first.

But as time passed.

He suddenly spotted several strange red dots appearing on Akita Sana's body.

But the locations of these red dots were truly quite awkward... as if they were weaknesses that would only appear in some strange game.

Natsume Chikage's pupils dilated; he truly hadn't expected Akita Sana's weaknesses to be...

No!

This wasn't the kind of weakness he wanted to see!

What he wanted were the practical combat weaknesses, like those described in wuxia novels, where one could clearly see through an opponent's hard-gong defensive points like the "Golden Bell Shield" or "Iron Cloth Shirt"!

Not this kind of weakness!

Natsume Chikage shook his head hurriedly, feeling that he must have been using it incorrectly somewhere.

The moment he strongly desired to change this "method of use" in his mind, the red light spots on Akita Sana's body suddenly changed!

The original markers vanished instantly, replaced by markers on the side of her neck, her temples, the gaps between her ribs, and the back of her head—vulnerable vital points that were truly fragile for an ordinary person!

Seeing the weakness markers return to normal, Natsume Chikage finally felt at ease.

But at the same time, his expression became even stranger, and he muttered to himself: This equipment... can actually switch the display of "weaknesses" on different levels based on the user's subconscious intent and cognition?

It truly lives up to being green-quality equipment... the functionality is actually this "comprehensive" and "flexible," it's really... makes one's mood complicated.

【Distance to obtaining the next attribute point: two more special pieces of equipment needed.】

Seeing this prompt, Natsume Chikage felt even more joy.

Harvesting a key piece of green equipment early in the morning was undoubtedly a happy event.

Two more to go... It seems the pace of searching for and acquiring special equipment must continue to accelerate.