Chapter 186:Snake parts.
The line of returning contractor vehicles moved steadily forward. Since Dillian’s convoy was transporting the bodies of two fallen contractors, several Association officials were already waiting near the inspection area.
One of the guards stepped forward as Dillian lowered his window.
"Welcome ."
His expression quickly became solemn as he noticed the covered bodies in the rear transport vehicle.
"...Casualties?"
Dillian nodded.
"Two. A Tier Four mutant and a concealed Tier Three beast."
The guard’s expression hardened.
"I’ll notify the Association immediately."
Within moments, several medical personnel and Association staff hurried over. The bodies of James and the other fallen guard were carefully transferred onto stretchers. Everyone present instinctively lowered their voices.
One of the officials bowed slightly.
"We’ll make sure they’re returned to their families."
Dillian nodded.
"Thank you."
The official then turned toward the surviving contractors.
"We’ll also require written reports tomorrow."
"No problem," Dillian replied.
Once the formalities surrounding the mission had been completed, the guards continued the routine inspection.
When it was Silver’s turn, the guard recognized him almost immediately.
"Rank Two already?"
Silver smiled politely.
"I was fortunate."
The guard chuckled.
"I’d call that more than fortunate."
He scanned Silver’s contractor badge before waving him through.
"Welcome back."
Silver thanked him before slowly driving through the enormous gates. The familiar streets of Delta Four welcomed them once again. Compared to the silence of the abandoned laboratory, the city almost felt alive in an entirely different way.
The convoy eventually split apart near the Association headquarters. Dillian lowered his window and looked toward Silver.
"We’ll probably see each other again."
Silver nodded.
"I think so."
Dillian smiled.
"Travel safely."
"You too."
The two vehicles separated, each heading toward their own destination. As they drove away, Ravenna glanced back through the rear window.
"...He’s different from what I expected."
Silver nodded.
"He is; he notices more than he lets on."
Ravenna smiled.
"Probably why he survives; luck isn’t the only thing going for him."
"Probably."
A few minutes later, they arrived at their hotel. Silver parked the vehicle in the underground garage before the two of them carried their equipment upstairs.
The familiar receptionist greeted them with a smile.
"Welcome back. I see your trip went well."
Silver and Ravenna exchanged a brief look.
"It... had its moments."
The receptionist laughed softly.
"I’ll take that as a successful mission."
After confirming their room, they headed upstairs. The moment the door closed behind them, both let out relieved sighs.
Ravenna stretched lazily.
"I’ve missed proper showers and air conditioning."
Silver couldn’t disagree.
"I’ve missed the feeling of being lazy without consequences."
Neither wasted any time. They unpacked only what they needed before taking turns showering. Warm water washed away layers of dust, dried blood, and sweat collected throughout the expedition.
By the time Silver stepped out of the bathroom, the exhaustion from the mission seemed noticeably lighter. Ravenna was already sitting on the edge of the bed, drying her long white hair with a towel.
She looked toward him.
"So?"
Silver smiled knowingly.
"You want to go see that craftsman."
"I do."
"You’ve been thinking about those snake scales ever since we killed it."
Silver laughed.
"Am I that obvious?"
"A little."
An hour later, they left the hotel once more. Using directions provided by the Association, they made their way toward one of the contractor districts where numerous craftsmen specialized in processing beast materials.
The district bustled with activity despite the late afternoon. Weapon smiths hammered glowing metal inside open workshops. Leatherworkers stitched armor made from beast hides.
Several stores displayed unusual monster materials behind reinforced glass. Some contractors browsed the merchandise while others negotiated loudly over prices.
Silver found the entire district fascinating. Eventually they stopped before a modest workshop whose sign simply read:
Beast Material Processing.
A bell chimed softly as they entered. The workshop smelled faintly of leather, oil, and treated wood. Shelves displayed beast claws, horns, scales and hides collected from countless expeditions.
Behind a large wooden counter stood an elderly man with neatly combed gray hair and thick spectacles. He looked up from the armor he had been polishing.
"Welcome. What can I do for you two?"
Silver placed a reinforced container onto the counter before carefully removing the neatly folded green-blue snake skin.
The craftsman’s eyes widened.
"...Interesting."
He gently unfolded part of the hide. The scales shimmered between emerald green and sapphire blue depending on how the light struck them.
He slowly ran gloved fingers across the surface.
"Very unusual... I’ve never handled one exactly like this."
Silver became interested.
"What do you think it can be used for?"
The craftsman examined it carefully for several minutes.
"The scales themselves possess natural light-bending properties. They won’t make someone invisible, but..."
He tilted the skin beneath the light.
"They should greatly reduce visibility in forests and low-light environments."
Ravenna’s eyes lit up.
"So camouflage?"
"Exactly." The craftsman nodded. "I could make several things."
He counted on his fingers.
"A hooded cloak for reconnaissance, a lightweight jacket reinforced with beast leather, protective arm guards, or even integrate sections into contractor armor."
Silver listened attentively.
"What would you recommend?"
The old craftsman smiled.
"A cloak. It preserves the hide’s natural properties best. It won’t replace armor, but it’ll make remaining unnoticed much easier during exploration."
Silver immediately liked the idea.
"How long would it take?"
"A week, maybe slightly less."
"Can you finish it by ten tomorrow?"
The man was quiet for a moment.
"The cost will triple."
Silver nodded.
"Please, make it; money isn’t a problem. I’d rather preserve the natural scales than cut them into smaller pieces."
The craftsman smiled.
"A good choice."
He carefully rolled the hide back together before placing it behind the counter.
"I’ll treat it personally."
Silver thanked him before removing another reinforced container. This one held the serpent’s venom fangs.
The old man’s eyebrows rose even higher.
"You harvested these too?"
Silver nodded.
"They seemed valuable."
"They are."
The craftsman carefully inspected the long curved fangs without touching the venom sacs.
"The venom glands are still intact. Excellent work."
Silver smiled.
"I was hoping they weren’t useless."
The craftsman chuckled.
"Far from it."
He carefully placed them onto a padded cloth.
"This venom is far too dangerous for ordinary use, but once refined..." He raised a finger. "It becomes incredibly valuable."
"How?" Silver asked.