Chapter 2682 – 2682. God’S Atlantis

「Helm of Famine
 Wearing the helm causes extreme hunger.
 In exchange for extreme hunger, all stats increase by 30%.
 If the hunger limit is exceeded, the wearer will starve to death.
 Rank: S」

「Winter Sword
 The power of winter resides in the sword.
 Those who wield the sword cannot escape winter.
 Rank: S」

「Scales of Famine
 Can only be used once.
 By offering a price on the scales, one can obtain something of equal value.
 Rank: S」

We looked through the items.

A-Plan Legion usually distributes items to its members, unless they are particularly special. Usually, it’s based on contribution, but more importantly, whether the person needs it.

Lilsne stepped back after seeing the items.

“There’s nothing here I can use. I’ll pass this time. Instead, I’d like to be compensated with AP.”

Kang Myungjin nodded.

“Understood. I’ll take care of it separately when we get back. The sword would be best used by Joo Seo-hyun.”

I also use swords, but the Winter Sword wasn’t very appealing. And it’s a kind of cursed sword. Without special skills, it’s hard to handle, and you might even get hurt.

However, Joo Seo-hyun has the unique trait of being a Sword Saint. Whether it’s a holy sword or a cursed sword, if it’s a sword, she can handle it without any restrictions.

“A chilling sword… I like it.”

Joo Seo-hyun’s eyes sparkled as she fiddled with the sword. She seemed happy to have obtained an S-rank masterpiece. Even while doing that, she had a chastity belt dildo inside her.

“Sung Yoojin, you played a big role in this battle. Take either the helm or the scales. If you don’t need either, I’ll compensate you in another way.”

“What if I want the sword?”

Kang Myungjin looked at Joo Seo-hyun. Joo Seo-hyun frowned. With trembling hands, she handed me the sword.

“…You contributed the most in this battle. If you want it, take it.”

“I was just saying. The best thing here is the scales. Myungjin, you think so too, right?”

“Yeah. The Scales of Famine can do anything by offering a price. You can curse an opponent, or permanently or temporarily increase your stats. If the Knight of Famine had used these scales… it would have been a very difficult battle.”

“I’ll take these scales. But is the price only limited to items?”

“It doesn’t have to be items. What matters is the value.”

“The system will judge the value, then.”

I picked up the scales. The most basic condition for using the scales is to balance them. As I held the scales straight, a system notification popped up.

「What price will you offer to the Scales of Famine?」

‘Can I get stats by offering my life?’

「You can acquire 3 bonus stats.」

The value of my life was less than I thought.

‘It’s because the system knows about my complete recovery. Thinking about it that way, 3 bonus stats are a lot, aren’t they?’

I hesitated for a moment and then asked Kang Myungjin.

“About the helm. Can I try it on?”

“It doesn’t matter. But it won’t be a pleasant experience.”

I put the Helm of Famine on my head.

Surprisingly, nothing happened. There was only one reason.

‘Absolute Spirit. The hunger this helm manifests is a mental curse. Since I don’t feel hunger, my stats won’t increase.’

The Helm of Famine is of no help to me.

“The scales are better after all.”

• • •

We returned to the A-Plan Legion. Before the celebration party for the successful raid, I took out the scales.

‘There’s no need to save them.’

「What price will you offer to the Scales of Famine?」

From what I’ve learned, you can offer more than one price. There’s only one chance to offer, but there’s no limit to what you can offer.

I took out items from my inventory. Things I had but didn’t really need.

‘First, Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask.’

Wearing Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask turns you into the dead and allows you to control the undead, but… is it really necessary? It’s not like you can control all the undead without any conditions.

Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask (SSS), Tutankhamun’s Golden Bracelet (S), Man-Killer (A), Undertaker’s Secretary (B), Moses’ Staff (S), Cursed Skull Necklace (A), Valkyrie’s Wings (A), Valkyrie’s Shield (S), Backbone Rope (S)

“By offering these items, I’ll raise the rank of my Lightning skill. If there’s any price left, can I convert it into stats?”

「It cannot be converted into stats. Instead, the rank of Heavenly Demon Body will increase additionally.」

“Can’t I raise the rank of Lightning to EX?”

「The price is far from sufficient.」

“…I guess not.”

「Will you use the Scales of Famine?」

“It seems like a bit of a loss for me… but I’ll use it.”

「The Scales of Famine are being used.」
「The rank of Lightning has increased to SSS.」
「The rank of Heavenly Demon Body has increased to SS.」

「Lightning (雷電)
 You can control lightning more precisely.
 The effects of lightning are enhanced.
 You gain resistance to lightning.
 Type: Trait
 Rank: SSS」

「Heavenly Demon Body (天魔之體)
 The superior body of a Heavenly Demon.
 You can quickly learn Heavenly Demon Martial Arts.
 Physical abilities increase, and the efficiency of Heavenly Demon Martial Arts improves.
 Type: Class Trait
 Rank: SS」

The reason I chose Lightning was to properly use Astrape (EX). Because the rank of Lightning wasn’t EX, I couldn’t fully unleash the power of Astrape (EX).

‘The way to raise Lightning to EX… I can’t think of anything right now.’

The higher the rank of Heavenly Demon Body, the more powerful Heavenly Demon Martial Arts become.

‘I’ve gained permanent benefits by offering useless items as a price.’

The Scales of Famine and the items offered as a price disappeared without a trace.

• • •

It didn’t take long for the news that the A-Plan Legion and the Empire’s Illusion Duke had raided the Winter Castle area to spread throughout Atlantis.

The A-Plan Legion and the Illusion Duke were said to have been praised separately by the Emperor. There were also rumors that the Emperor had bestowed massive gifts. The mainlanders and exiles of Atlantis took it for granted.

The curse of the Winter Castle had lowered the overall temperature of Atlantis, and endless snow was falling. They were no different from those who had saved Atlantis. Heroes who had achieved such great feats deserved to be praised.

Of course, not everyone praised the A-Plan Legion and the Illusion Duke. The Duke of Beasts, Ailmus, was a prime example.

‘I can’t believe the Illusion Duke would step in himself. Will this improve his relationship with the Emperor?’

As the Duke of Beasts, it was not a welcome situation.

‘Following the Three Extremes Duke, now the Illusion Duke. The Baldert family keeps producing geniuses. It’s sickening.’

The Three Extremes Duke was dead.

It was the Duke of Beasts’ scheme. He had corrupted and manipulated the Three Extremes Duke’s wife, Erica, to poison him. The Illusion Duke had killed his own mother and covered up the affair with illusion magic, so the ending was a bit off, but he was satisfied. The Three Extremes Duke was dead, and the power of the Baldert family had weakened.

But now, the Baldert family was flaunting its power.

‘They were dying, but they came back from hell and are now flying high. It’s annoying. Very annoying.’

He couldn’t use the same methods as with the Three Extremes Duke.

The Three Extremes Duke had great martial prowess, but his weaknesses were clear. His weakness was his family, and he lacked political power.

Thanks to that, his political maneuvering and the scheme to corrupt his wife worked. Later, the Illusion Duke took over the family head position, but by then, the hunting dog had already been cooked. The young Illusion Duke was inexperienced, so erasing the traces was very easy.

‘It’s different now. He has more political power than his father. If I carelessly touch him, I’ll be the one who gets hurt. Unlike his father, he doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses. The only weakness I can think of is… his soon-to-be-married spouse.’

The Illusion Duke’s spouse.

Of course, he had investigated her. Sung Yoojin, the sub-master of the A-Plan Legion. An exile and a formidable force.

The Three Extremes Duke’s wife, Erica, was a flower in a greenhouse, a woman who didn’t know the ways of the world, so she could be corrupted by pleasure.

‘…I can’t corrupt her in the same way. Things went too well back then.’

Is there another way to damage the current Illusion Duke and the Baldert family?

The Duke of Beasts pondered for a long time.

‘Unlike back then, it’s impossible to plant spies in the Baldert family. The Illusion Duke can manipulate people’s minds and easily extract information.’

To check them without leaving any traces, he had to quietly infiltrate from the outside and attack the Baldert family’s territory. The most effective way would be to shake the economy.

‘I’ve prepared tools that don’t seem to be related to me for times like this. Even if those tools are captured by the Illusion Duke, my name won’t come up. They seem to be putting a lot of effort into the wedding… Should I ruin the wedding? If the Baldert family is disgraced, their momentum will be broken.’

Just then.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Your Excellency. I have an urgent report.”

“Come in.”

The Duke of Beasts’ subordinate reported cautiously.

“Information agents from the Baldert family are openly snooping around our territory, gathering information about Your Excellency and the cult.”

“…Suddenly? Did we make a mistake with the Baldert family?”

“We haven’t made any mistakes.”

“……”

Information agents from the Baldert family are openly snooping around? This was no different from openly picking a fight. It was a matter that the Duke of Beasts should directly protest to the Illusion Duke.

‘The Illusion Duke met with the Emperor recently. What if some kind of agreement was made then? If the purpose is to check the cult by joining hands with the Emperor?’

His mind became complicated.

The Duke of Beasts’ greatest strength and weakness was the cult. As this world became Atlantis, the influence and notoriety of the cult had plummeted, but the perception of the cult was still not good.

Normally, he would have asked the Emperor for mediation. But the Illusion Duke had recently gained merit by raiding the Winter Castle. The current Emperor was more likely to side with the Illusion Duke.

“…First, we need to figure out the Illusion Duke’s intentions. It’s the Illusion Duke. Even if I send a direct letter of protest, he won’t reveal his intentions. I need to shake the Illusion Duke first. Move the tools to shake the economy of the Baldert territory. When humans are in a tight spot, their true intentions are revealed. Even the Illusion Duke won’t be an exception. We can figure out his intentions by observing the Illusion Duke’s actions when he’s in a tight spot.”

“I will carry out Your Excellency’s orders.”