I’m Really Scared
Chapter 196: The Second Forging and Venom's Whereabouts

【Current Experience Points: 95550/100000】

Guan Shan stared at his rapidly increasing experience points, now just 5,000 away from the next breakthrough, and fell into a peculiar silence.

"You're already a mature item; you should learn to level up on your own," he thought, accompanied by an imaginary 'jpg' image.

Facing such an overly diligent item, what else could Guan Shan say?

He could only accept the upgraded [Hunter's Authority], then dutifully clean up the scene to avoid leaving any evidence behind.

"Thankfully, the Night Demon acted cleanly, leaving no traces of corpses... and the landlord was lazy enough not to check again; otherwise, it wouldn't have been this easy."

Guan Shan found a random spot, using [Gravity Control] to sweep away the dust.

With increasing usage, [Gravity Control] had become more proficient in Guan Shan's hands. Not only could he manipulate large objects, but he could also affect finer particles like dust and even air.

However, for now, he could only manage to finely control dust, while his influence on air was still minimal.

"It feels like this skill's potential goes beyond this..."

Guan Shan observed the dust being pushed away by an invisible force and sat down casually, thinking, "Rather than gravity... it feels like this skill controls attraction. If one day I can freely manipulate particles and combine them, wouldn't that mean I could create anything?"

This bold idea startled even himself.

But Guan Shan quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. "It's too difficult. To reconstruct matter, simple disassembly and reassembly aren't enough; it requires more microscopic intervention. With the current performance of this skill, it's impossible."

Guan Shan could clearly feel that [Gravity Control] had a bottleneck.

Although the skill description said it could manipulate all objects, when he tried to control them deeply, he felt increasing resistance.

In practice, he couldn't focus his mind to interfere with a fixed target.

Maybe his current level wasn't high enough...

As he used gravity to clean the entire warehouse, Guan Shan once again activated the [Furnace Core].

The skeletal ghost blacksmith's tableau gradually unfolded beside the furnace, projected in mid-air.

Guan Shan placed the [Mechanical Heart] and [Damaged Air Cannon] into it.

【Forging begins】

【Materials: [Mechanical Heart x1] [Damaged Air Cannon x1]】

【Prediction: Armed Automata】

【Completion countdown: 47:59:59】

"Armed Automata? Could it be a combat android?"

Guan Shan rubbed his chin. "Two days... shorter than last time forging the [Yellow Springs Demon Blade]. Does that mean the [Yellow Springs Demon Blade] is of higher quality than the robot? Technically and practically, this should be higher."

Guan Shan's long-range capabilities were still a weakness, with only a twice-modified Glock. If he could have a robot equipped with an air cannon as support, it would be a significant boost.

"But the Demon Blade is a weapon that can grow... it should indeed be more powerful."

The Demon Blade's attack power had already increased from 1200 to 2000. A casual slash could easily take out monsters below level 10, equivalent to typical D-rank Espers.

The more monsters it killed, the stronger it became. As long as Guan Shan continued dungeon crawling, it would keep getting stronger. Since it grew by percentage, its attack power would become even more terrifying later on.

"I'll stay here for these two days, waiting for those unlucky ones' backers to show up... A C-rank Esper and so many D-ranks. Since the Special Security Group didn't detect their deaths, they must belong to some civilian organization."

This was actually a conservative estimate. Guan Shan was certain it was a criminal organization.

Guan Shan squinted his eyes, storing all the items in the warehouse into his backpack.

[Sage's Pocket Watch], [Locked Box], [Key to Some Box], [Hunter's Authority], these items occupied all 18 of his backpack slots.

Of course, because of the Obsidian Polyhedron's mutation, the box and key were now useless.

Guan Shan tried selling them to the simulator's shop for recycling, but together they only fetched 50 game coins, less than selling them directly.

At least the box and key were encrusted with gems, and the body seemed to be made of gold. Dismantling them could probably fetch a good price.

For finding a buyer, Guan Shan didn't want to get ripped off, so he decided to contact White Night.

This guy had broad connections as a detective and was familiar with the black market Esper handlers. Giving it to him would be no problem.

After making up his mind, Guan Shan immediately called White Night.

When the call connected, White Night sounded particularly excited. "Guan Shan? What a coincidence, I was just about to call you!"

Guan Shan was taken aback. "Hmm?"

White Night said, "There's news about 'Venom's' whereabouts!"

Guan Shan's heart leaped with joy. The other half of the Ksitigarbha Statue, which White Night had been investigating, was in the hands of the B-rank Esper 'Venom'. But he was an Esper operating in the gray areas.

Though registered and not marked as red, the Special Security Group had always suspected his involvement in some gray industries, just lacking evidence.

There were many Espers like him, such as those in the black market where high-risk Panspirit Objects were traded. Yet, the Special Security Group tacitly allowed such organizations to exist, likely due to interests involved.

Guan Shan asked, "Where is he? Is there a way to get the Ksitigarbha Statue?"

White Night replied, "Next month, he'll auction that half of the Ksitigarbha Statue in the Jiangbei black market. As long as you can offer a suitable price, you can get it."

"With the black market ensuring security, he wouldn't dare play tricks during the transaction."

Auction?

That made sense... The damaged Ksitigarbha Statue had some calming and healing effects for ordinary people, but it was useless to Espers.

However, it couldn't be ruled out that he might be fishing, using the Ksitigarbha Statue's news to lure out the other half...

Guan Shan looked at the Ksitigarbha Statue in his backpack, muttering to himself that even if it was a trap, he had to try.

Then White Night added, "But... there's a problem. We don't have entry qualifications for the auction. The auction only accepts bartering, so we need to bring something the black market hosts deem valuable."

Guan Shan pondered for a moment, glancing at the box and key in his backpack. "Does it have to be a Panspirit Object? What about something that once held a Panspirit Object?"

White Night was taken aback, then answered, "Not necessarily, but its value must be high enough..."

Guan Shan took out the box, snapped a photo, and sent it to White Night.

White Night was silent for a long time, staring at the gold box encrusted with various gems and the key, then asked, "Bro, be honest, did you rob some chieftain..."

Even for Espers, who were generally wealthy, the value of this item was enough to tempt anyone. Moreover, the craftsmanship was exceptional.

Some female Espers would be particularly attracted to it.

Guan Shan chuckled, "Is it enough?"

"More than enough!"

White Night decisively replied, then asked, "What Panspirit Object did it hold? It might need appraisal."

Guan Shan thought for a moment. "A bead that could summon a demon-like Panspirit creature, but the bead is gone now. It shouldn't affect the box."

Indeed, it was gone, having transformed into another item...

White Night nodded. "Got it. I'll contact you in a few days to meet with the black market guide. Just pretend you're my first-time client."

Guan Shan agreed. After hanging up, he mused, "A B-rank Esper... Getting that Ksitigarbha Statue won't be easy."