CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: FAVORS AND FORTUNES

His tone made it clear he was repeating information rather than demonstrating knowledge, and Mira’s eyes widened further at the implication that someone could possess such a legendary artifact without even knowing what it was.

The reception area had gone completely quiet. Other adventurers, drawn by the strange energy emanating from the materials, had gathered at a respectful distance. Their expressions ranged from awe to naked envy, while a few of the more experienced ones wore looks of genuine fear.

These weren’t materials from common monsters. These were trophies from dungeon bosses, creatures so powerful that entire expeditions of A-class adventurers sometimes failed to defeat them.

"I... I need to call the Assistant Head," Mira stammered, her professional composure finally cracking completely. "Materials like these... they’re beyond my authority to evaluate."

She practically fled toward the back offices, leaving Yomi alone with his impossible treasures and a reception hall full of stunned onlookers.

Helena Voss arrived within minutes, her sharp eyes immediately fixing on the materials spread across the counter. Her professional mask remained in place, but Yomi caught the slight widening of her pupils, the barely perceptible intake of breath that spoke of genuine shock.

"Mira wasn’t exaggerating," she said quietly, approaching the counter with the caution of someone who recognized dangerous forces when she encountered them. "These are... extraordinary."

She examined each item with the expertise of someone who had spent decades in the monster hunting business. The Leviathan scales alone would be worth a fortune to the right alchemist, while the heart crystal represented power that most mages could only dream of accessing.

But it was the Abyssal Claw that truly commanded her attention. Dark energy continued to wisp around it like living shadow, and Helena found herself fighting the urge to step back from its malevolent presence.

"Where exactly did you acquire these?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

"Recent dungeon exploration," Yomi replied, maintaining the same casual demeanor he had shown throughout the entire encounter. "Group effort."

Helena’s eyes flicked to his companions, Lirien looked as stunned as everyone else, while Aeloria wore an expression of dawning comprehension that suggested she was beginning to understand just what kind of person she had been traveling with.

"A group effort," Helena repeated slowly. "What kind of dungeon?"

Yomi hesitated, genuinely unsure how to answer. He had no knowledge of dungeon classification systems or what the colors might signify.

[Red classification dungeon,] the System provided. [Highest tier of difficulty in this world’s categorization system.]

"Red classification, I believe?" Yomi said uncertainly, clearly repeating unfamiliar information. "Though I’m... still learning your system of categorization."

His admission of ignorance about basic adventuring knowledge only made Helena’s expression more intrigued. Someone powerful enough to conquer what he claimed was a red dungeon, yet unfamiliar with the most fundamental aspects of the guild system.

The admission hit the reception hall like a physical blow. Red dungeons were legendary, most adventurers never even saw one, let alone successfully conquered one. They were the kind of challenges that required teams of S-class adventurers working in perfect coordination, assuming such teams could even be assembled.

Helena stared at the small group before her, reassessing everything she thought she knew about them. A Dra’kesh with no official credentials, a warrior and mage of apparent C-class ability, and somehow they had materials from creatures that should have been far beyond their reach.

"Perhaps," she said carefully, "we should continue this conversation in my office."

****

The private office was a study in controlled luxury, expensive but not ostentatious, designed to impress without overwhelming. Helena gestured for them to sit while she moved to examine the materials under better lighting.

"This Leviathan crystal alone," she said, her voice carrying the authority of absolute expertise, "is worth more than most adventurers see in their entire careers. The scales, properly harvested and preserved, could fund a small expedition. And this claw..." She gestured toward the Abyssal artifact without quite touching it. "I’m not even sure how to properly evaluate something like this."

She turned to face Yomi directly, her expression mixing professional interest with genuine curiosity. "I have to ask, how did a group with no official guild credentials manage to acquire materials of this quality?"

"We found the dungeon," Yomi replied with the same maddening calm. "We cleared it. We took what seemed valuable."

It was technically the truth, if lacking in certain crucial details. Helena clearly sensed there was more to the story, but equally clearly recognized that pressing for information might drive away what could be an enormously valuable connection.

"Well," she said finally, "regardless of the specifics, these materials represent significant value. The guild would be happy to purchase them at full market rates, which would provide you with... substantial resources."

The final tally was staggering. Enough gold to purchase property in the noble district, fund years of comfortable living, or establish a merchant enterprise. Helena counted out the payment with practiced efficiency, her mind already calculating the guild’s profit margins on such rare materials.

"The academy," Yomi said suddenly, remembering the towering spires they had seen upon entering the capital. "Would these funds cover the cost of enrollment?"

Helena paused in her counting, studying his face with renewed interest. "Astralux Academy?" At his nod, she continued thoughtfully. "The tuition is... substantial. But yes, this amount would actually cover your enrollment costs and leave you with enough funds to remain comfortable for quite some time."

She noticed how his eyes sharpened at the confirmation, the way his posture shifted subtly toward something more predatory. This Dra’kesh wasn’t just curious about the academy, he was focused on it with an intensity that spoke of specific purpose.

"Of course," Helena said carefully, "enrollment isn’t simply a matter of payment. The academy is... selective about its student body. Political connections, proper introductions, the right recommendations..." She let the words hang in the air, watching his reaction.

"You could provide such an introduction," Yomi said. It wasn’t a question.

Helena’s smile became more calculating. "I could. I have... connections within the academy administration. But such a favor would come with the understanding that you would owe me in return."