Chapter 247:Buying.
Antony talked constantly. He told stories about previous expeditions. Most of them were probably exaggerated. At least Silver suspected they were.
Ravenna occasionally challenged him when his stories became too ridiculous. Antony simply defended himself with an increasingly absurd explanation.
Silver found himself laughing several times. Eventually, the conversation shifted toward their current expedition. Antony looked toward the darkness beyond the rocks.
"So how far tomorrow?"
Silver looked at him.
"Quite a bit."
Antony nodded.
"I’ve heard stories of the place."
"Good ones?"
"Depends on what you consider good."
Silver smiled. Antony continued.
"People disappear there alot, I’ve see alot of missing posters with the names of those people. They rarely send subjugation teams to look for them unless tgeir is something beneficial in the last... they might be helpful but those mother fuckers are corrupt."
Ravenna stopped eating for a moment. Antony noticed.
"Don’t worry." He smiled. "Most of those stories are exaggerated."
Silver looked at him.
"Most?"
Antony laughed.
"I said most."
Ravenna shook her head.
"You’re terrible at reassuring people."
"I wasn’t trying to reassure her."
Silver sighed.
"That’s obvious."
Their conversation continued for several minutes. Eventually, Silver noticed Ravenna’s expression becoming brighter.
She had been quiet at first but now she was smiling more often. She seemed genuinely relaxed.
Silver felt something warm in his chest, then the familiar notification appeared before his eyes.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Target Emotional State Detected.]
[Ravenna’s happiness has increased.]
[Positive Relationship Interaction detected.]
[Reward Granted.]
[Affection Points +25.]
Silver’s eyes briefly widened. Another notification followed.
[Advanced Field Cooking Lv.1 proficiency increased.]
Silver almost smiled.
He had expected something like that. Still, seeing the reward was satisfying. He didn’t care only about the Affection Points.
Seeing Ravenna genuinely happy was already enough, but the points were certainly useful.
He glanced at her. She was eating another piece of meat.
She noticed his stare.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were looking at me a little bit to intensely for comfort."
"I was."
"Why?"
Silver smiled.
"Because you’re pretty."
Ravenna paused.
Her cheeks gained a faint flush.
Antony immediately made a noise.
"Oh."
Silver looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Antony continued eating.
"I didn’t say anything."
Ravenna glared at him.
"Then don’t."
Antony grinned.
"Yes, ma’am."
Silver laughed quietly.
The rest of dinner passed peacefully. Eventually, the plates were cleaned.
Silver packed away the remaining food while Antony returned to the other contractors. Surprisingly, several of the Rank Fours were now talking with him.
Silver watched from a distance. Antony seemed completely comfortable among them. One of the men even laughed at something he said.
Ravenna noticed.
"He really is good at that."
"At what?"
"Making people comfortable."
Silver nodded.
"Yeah."
"Despite being annoying."
"Especially because he’s annoying."
Ravenna laughed.
The camp slowly became quieter. One by one, the contractors finished their meals and returned to their vehicles or tents.
The watch rotation was arranged.
Two contractors would remain awake at a time while the others slept. Silver didn’t object. They were experienced and there was no reason to interfere.
Antony eventually returned to his tent.
"Goodnight."
Silver nodded.
"Goodnight."
Antony looked at Ravenna.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
He disappeared into his tent.
Silver and Ravenna entered theirs. The sounds of the camp gradually faded. Silver sat down and checked his System.
He had accumulated enough Affection Points to make some worthwhile purchases. He looked at the shop.
There were many things he wanted.
Weapons.
Equipment.
Skills.
Items.
But one purchase kept returning to his mind.
A high-grade sword.
He had been saving for one for a long time. His current sword was useful but it wasn’t exceptional. A better weapon would significantly increase his combat ability.
Yet after everything they had experienced, Silver had begun to reconsider his priorities. Weapons could help them kill enemies but medicine could help them survive wounds.
He turned toward Ravenna.
"I want to buy something."
She looked at him.
"What?"
"Medicine."
Ravenna frowned.
"You told me you were saving for a sword."
"I was."
"Then why medicine?"
Silver looked down at the System interface.
"Because we’re getting closer to dangerous areas." He opened the shop. "And I’d rather have something that can save us if we’re badly injured."
Ravenna didn’t argue.
Silver began searching. The prices were very painful but the items were worth it. Eventually, he purchased several emergency medicines.
Three doses of an instant blood-clotting medicine, three doses of a vital recovery medicine, three doses designed to alleviate severe mental strain, three doses for serious bone injuries, and three for severe flesh damage.
The Affection Points dropped dramatically.
[Remaining affection points: 1245.]
Silver stared at the remaining balance.
"That hurt, I’m down to less than half of what I had."
Ravenna smiled.
"I’ll help you earn more."
"Hopefully, you’ve got to smile more then."
She leaned against his shoulder.
"I think you made the right choice, you’ll get more some day. And I’ll smile more then."
Silver nodded.
"Me too, I’ll make sure you don’t become sad."
They sat quietly. There was no need to say much. Outside, the Yellow Zone remained silent.
Silver eventually lay down. Ravenna settled beside him. She rested her head against his chest.
"You know," she murmured, "today wasn’t bad at all, I enjoyed it which kind of suprised me."
Silver smiled.
"No."
"It was actually really nice."
"Even with those people looking down on us?"
"Yes."
Silver wrapped an arm around her.
"Why?"
"Because we were together."
Silver looked down at her.
"That’s enough?"
"For me."
He smiled.
"Then I’m satisfied."
They remained like that for several minutes. Their conversation became softer as they teased one another.
Ravenna told him he was becoming too confident and more confident. Silver told her she secretly liked it. She denied it but he didn’t believe her.
Eventually, their voices faded and sleep came naturally. For several hours, nothing happened. The camp remained quiet and te patrol continued their watch.
Then, sometime after midnight, a roar shattered the silence. It was deep, powerful and cose.
Silver’s eyes opened instantly. Ravenna sat upright at the same time.
"What was that?"
Before Silver could answer, another roar echoed across the rocks, then came the sound of movement; dozens of feet, grass tearing and something heavy crashing through the darkness.
Silver immediately reached for his weapon. Outside, voices were already shouting.
"BEASTS!"
"WAKE UP!"
"GET READY!"
Silver grabbed his sword. Ravenna was already armed. They rushed outside.
The peaceful night was gone. Shapes were moving through the darkness. A small beast tide was coming directly toward the camp.
Silver tightened his grip.
"Stay close."
Ravenna nodded. The battle was about to begin.