Chapter 2: Relaxing the Mind and Body
Karl left behind a Tarot card and some information about the Phantom Troupe before departing.
Su Xiao didn't touch the Tarot card, only picking up the Phantom Troupe's information.
The Phantom Troupe had no strict rules; basically, after joining, members enjoyed the adventure team's skill bonuses and a number designation.
The information-sharing aspect made Su Xiao wary. Within the troupe, obtaining intelligence required contributing intelligence in return.
"What a great team. Too bad."
Su Xiao set down the information. He had no plans to join the troupe for now. The reason was simple: he was a Hunter, and Karl, who had just left, was no weakling. If he faced Karl now, the best outcome would be a sixty-forty split in his favor—him at sixty, Karl at forty.
He had keenly sensed the surging magic within the other party. Dealing with mages was his specialty.
A mage as powerful as Karl was ranked eleventh in the troupe. This showed just how strong the others must be.
An ordinary contractor would be thrilled to join the troupe, but he needed to be cautious.
At least until his own strength reached a certain level, he wouldn't join.
To join an organization like the troupe—one that didn't restrict freedom, had no leader giving random orders, and boasted a high team rank—one's personal strength had to be solid.
Su Xiao planned to consider joining only after his strength ranked among the troupe's top seven. That would be safer.
It wasn't that he was timid. In a place as perilous as Reincarnation Paradise, where people's hearts were hidden behind masks, only personal strength was the hard truth.
Moreover, Su Xiao firmly believed there was no such thing as a free lunch, especially in the dog-eat-dog world of Reincarnation Paradise. He needed to find an opportunity to investigate what kind of organization the troupe really was.
Su Xiao picked up the Tarot card on the table and left a message for Karl. The message was simple:
'I'm used to being alone. I won't join for now. Thanks for the invitation.'
Leaning back in his seat, Su Xiao let out a long breath.
A Hunter was destined to be solitary. This identity brought convenience but also demanded a corresponding price.
When he first entered Reincarnation Paradise, Su Xiao had read the Paradise's regulations. The second rule stated:
[To gain something, you must give something in return.]
He drew Dragon-Slaying Flash and studied its blade. Perhaps only this sword would accompany him forever, until he reached the end of his life or shattered the shackles of fate.
"What are you thinking about?"
Xia set down a glass of orange juice, blinking her big eyes as she looked at Su Xiao.
"Nothing. Just pondering life."
"Pfft~."
Xia let out a light laugh.
"You haven't even lived a life, and you're pondering it? But generous good people like you are rare."
Su Xiao was stunned, looking at Xia with surprise.
"Me? A good person?"
Su Xiao pointed at himself.
"That's right. You always come to my place for business, so of course you're a good person."
Xia gently brushed the hair from her forehead, tucking a strand behind her ear.
"Have you killed many people in the derivative worlds?"
"Many."
Su Xiao exhaled a puff of blue smoke, tapping the ash into the ashtray Xia handed him.
"How many?"
Xia's curiosity was piqued.
"About—"
Su Xiao held up two fingers.
"Twenty?"
Su Xiao said nothing.
"Hey, hey, you didn't kill over two hundred people, did you?"
Xia studied Su Xiao, as if looking at some strange creature.
"Maybe more."
Xia stared blankly at Su Xiao.
"Don't... don't tell me it's two thousand."
"About that much."
Su Xiao's expression remained calm, while Xia was stunned.
"Then... don't you feel any guilt?"
"I do. But one day, I might die too. I'll leave good and evil to the gods and Buddhas to judge. Before I meet them, I have a goal to accomplish."
Su Xiao's face was still calm, but prolonged killing had left him weary. He rarely showed much emotion, as that would give enemies an opening.
"Although I'm not as strong as you, I seem to live much more easily than you. Take it... no need to thank me."
Xia handed him a tablet the size of a palm, which displayed a puzzle game.
"Give it a try. It can relieve stress."
Su Xiao picked up the tablet. It was a puzzle survival game with graphics so exquisite they would crush any game on Earth.
He played for a while and raised an eyebrow. This thing was quite interesting. The general premise was a person surviving in a primeval forest, overcoming obstacles, searching for food, and so on.
"Thanks."
Su Xiao stood up to leave, pausing at the door.
"If we ever end up in the same derivative world, I'll keep you alive."
Xia looked at Su Xiao in surprise.
"The derivative worlds I enter are pretty high in difficulty. I've recently leveled up to Lv.5, so I might drag you down."
Worlds above Lv.3 would feature beings far stronger than humans, so Xia's Lv.5 was not low among workers.
"Is that so? Then the chances of us meeting are slim. If we do, I'll keep you alive."
Su Xiao left the restaurant.
He hadn't chatted with anyone in a long time. Usually, after leaving a derivative world, he would dive straight into getting stronger, and his life in the real world was equally monotonous.
In the derivative worlds, he had to scheme against others, and in the real world, he had to avoid being discovered by the state apparatus.
Su Xiao felt this couldn't go on. If he continued like this, he might have problems. Humans weren't machines; if he kept his nerves taut, one of them might snap, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Relaxing in Reincarnation Paradise was impossible, so he needed to find a way to unwind in the real world.
Su Xiao thought of a method, but for now, the priority was dealing with the gains from the derivative world.
First, he would strengthen his attributes, then handle other matters.
Ten minutes later, Su Xiao arrived at the Attribute Enhancement Hall. After entering the Attribute Enhancement Pod, a prompt appeared.
[Welcome to the Attribute Enhancement Pod. Please pay 100 Paradise Coins to activate.]
Su Xiao's current attributes appeared before him.
Strength: 20 (Originally 21, minus equipment bonus)
Agility: 17
Stamina: 10 (Originally 12, minus equipment bonus)
Intelligence: 17
Charm: 3
[Hunter can freely allocate attribute points: 12 points]
[Ding, detected that the Hunter's main attributes are Strength, Agility, and Intelligence. Please prioritize enhancing these three attributes.]
Su Xiao pondered how to allocate the attribute points. He planned to balance the three main attributes somewhat. Previously, he had focused on Strength to obtain the reward after reaching 20 points.
His final allocation was: Strength +2, Agility +5, Intelligence +5.
[Attribute allocation complete. Enhancement begins. Enhancement will be accompanied by severe pain. Use anesthesia function? This function is free.]
As usual, he declined the anesthesia function. After confirming the allocation, the Attribute Enhancement Pod began to operate.
Intense pain spread throughout his body. Su Xiao's muscles and bones began to strengthen continuously.
Although he had experienced this twice before, cold sweat still seeped from his temples.
Ten minutes later, Su Xiao leaned back in the Attribute Enhancement Pod, somewhat exhausted. The enhancement wasn't over yet. He had also obtained a potion in the Titan world.
He took out the potion, and a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[Giant Refined Extract (Semi-Finished Product). Pay 13,000 Paradise Coins to complete? Yes/No]
Su Xiao checked his current Paradise Coins. He had a total of 21,247 Paradise Coins, his earnings from the Titan world, with over a thousand left over from before.
He chose to repair. The [Giant Refined Extract (Semi-Finished Product)] in his hand floated up.
Over a dozen precision mechanical arms extended from the inner wall of the Attribute Enhancement Pod, beginning to perfect the potion.
The mechanical arms moved quickly and precisely, occasionally adding some components to the potion. Half an hour later, the perfection was complete, and a metal syringe appeared in Su Xiao's hand.
[Giant Refined Extract]
Quality: Blue
Type: Enhancement Drug
Effect: After injection, permanently increases Strength +2, Agility +2, Stamina +2, Intelligence +2.
Rating: 67 (Note: Blue item ratings range from 31 to 70.)
Introduction: A refined secret medicine. Takes effect after injection. Tested by Reincarnation Paradise and found to have no side effects. Requires intramuscular injection.
Selling Price: 13,400 Paradise Coins.
...
After perfection, the [Giant Refined Extract]'s rating had increased significantly. As for the selling price, Su Xiao ignored it entirely.
He inserted the syringe into his arm and pushed the light red liquid into the muscle. Compared to the last time he used an enhancement drug, this one took effect faster.
Su Xiao's muscles gradually tensed, and an indescribable sensation appeared. In short, he was getting stronger.
The feeling of getting stronger quickly faded. It was an intoxicating sensation. Su Xiao opened his personal information, and his attributes had undergone considerable changes.