Chapter 190:Results.
The morning air was crisp as Silver and Ravenna left the hotel’s training facilities. Although both of them had worked up a light sweat during their two-hour session, neither felt particularly tired. On the contrary, the exercise had left them refreshed.
After a quick shower back in their room, they changed into clean clothes before making their way toward the contractor district.
The streets of Delta Four were considerably busier than they had been the previous evening.
Ravenna quietly looked around as they walked.
"...We’ll probably miss this place."
Silver smiled.
"We’ve only been here a couple of days."
"I know, but..." She glanced toward the lively streets. "It feels comfortable."
"It does."
Delta Four had become a temporary home. They had slowly become familiar with everything and now... it was time to move on.
A little before ten o’clock, they arrived outside the craftsman’s workshop. The bell above the door chimed softly as they entered.
The elderly craftsman looked up from his workbench and immediately smiled.
"You two are punctual."
Silver returned the smile.
"You said it’d be ready by ten."
"I also said it’d take a week."
The old man chuckled.
"But..." He looked at Silver knowingly. "The payment is rather convincing."
Ravenna laughed quietly.
"This is why they say money can really buy anything. "
Silver shrugged.
"It worked."
"It certainly did."
The craftsman disappeared into the workshop before returning several moments later carrying a long wooden case. He carefully placed it on the counter before opening the polished lid.
Inside rested a folded cloak.
Silver’s eyes widened slightly. The green-blue serpent skin had been transformed into an elegant hooded cloak. Rather than appearing flashy, the scales reflected only subtle hints of emerald and sapphire beneath the workshop lights.
Most of the time, it simply looked dark green. The inside had been lined with a soft but durable fabric while the outer layer preserved every scale almost perfectly. The hood itself was slightly oversized, allowing it to shadow the wearer’s face.
"It’s beautiful..." Ravenna murmured.
The craftsman smiled proudly.
"I tried to preserve as much of the beast’s natural properties as possible."
Silver carefully lifted the cloak; it was surprisingly light- far lighter than ordinary leather. As he draped it over his shoulders, the craftsman walked around him.
"Now... Stand still."
Silver obeyed.
The old man adjusted the hood before stepping back. The moment Silver stood motionless... Ravenna blinked.
"...You’re blending into the room."
Silver looked down at himself. The cloak hadn’t turned him invisible; instead, the colors of the scales subtly shifted. Edges became less distinct, and his outline blurred just enough that the eye naturally struggled to focus on him.
The craftsman nodded with satisfaction.
"Exactly as expected."
Silver looked impressed.
"It actually works."
"It isn’t true invisibility." The craftsman folded his arms. "If someone looks directly at you, they’ll still see you, but... If you’re hiding among trees, bushes, or shadows... The cloak naturally disrupts your outline. It becomes much harder to notice you."
Ravenna slowly circled Silver.
"...That’s incredible."
The craftsman smiled.
"The beast’s natural camouflage remained in its scales; I merely enhanced what was already there."
Silver nodded appreciatively.
"This will be extremely useful."
The old man smiled.
"I thought a space contractor would appreciate it."
Silver blinked for the briefest moment before laughing.
"I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought."
The craftsman simply chuckled.
"I’ve worked with contractors for over thirty years; I’ve learned to notice things."
He carefully folded the cloak before placing it back into its storage case.
"It’ll become even more comfortable after a few weeks of use."
Silver happily accepted it.
"Thank you."
The craftsman then reached beneath the counter once more. This time he produced a much smaller reinforced metal case. Unlike before, this one was secured with several safety latches. He unlocked each one carefully before opening it.
Inside rested six small crystal vials. Each contained only a tiny amount of emerald-colored liquid. Beside them were two beautifully preserved serpent fangs, their translucent green tips still looked incredibly sharp.
The craftsman spoke much more seriously this time.
"This venom is not something to treat casually."
Silver’s expression became equally serious.
"I understand."
The old man picked up one vial.
"I refined it, removed unnecessary impurities, and stabilized its potency."
He carefully placed it back.
"Each vial is enough to coat a blade between eight and ten times."
Silver nodded.
"How long does the coating last?"
"Until blood is drawn."
The craftsman answered immediately.
"Once the weapon pierces flesh, the venom enters the wound, and the coating is consumed."
Silver considered that.
"So one successful strike."
"Correct."
Ravenna looked at the glowing liquid.
"What exactly does it do?"
The craftsman became thoughtful.
"Against humans, it attacks the nervous system first, then begins breaking down surrounding tissue. Without treatment, death is almost certain."
He paused before continuing.
"Against beasts, the effects vary but generally speaking... It slows movement, damages muscles, and weakens regeneration."
Silver nodded.
"A good finishing poison."
"Exactly."
The craftsman smiled.
"I wouldn’t waste it on ordinary beasts; reserve it for emergencies."
Silver closed the case carefully.
"I will."
The old man then handed him a second pouch.
"The remaining venom. I didn’t refine this portion; it can be sold to researchers; they’ll pay well."
Silver accepted it gratefully.
"And the fangs?"
The craftsman lifted one of them.
"These are naturally hollow so they can be mounted onto specialized daggers or..." He smiled. "Ground into powder, the powder is valuable for antidote production."
Silver thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I’ll keep them as they are."
"A wise choice."
"They’re difficult to replace."
Once everything had been packed away, Silver paid the remaining balance. The old craftsman accepted the payment before extending his hand.
"It was a pleasure working with materials this unusual."
Silver shook it firmly.
"The pleasure was ours."
Ravenna nodded.
"Thank you for rushing everything."
The craftsman smiled warmly.
"Travel safely, and if you ever return to Delta Four... My workshop will always be open."
"We’ll remember that."
The two of them stepped back outside. The morning sun had climbed high into the sky. Delta Four bustled with life around them.
Silver looked toward the massive Sanctuary walls visible in the distance.
"...One last stop. The hotel."
Ravenna nodded.
"Then... we’re really leaving."
Neither of them spoke much during the walk back; instead, they quietly admired the city around them. Everything they had become accustomed to over the past days.
Back at the hotel, they carried the newly crafted equipment upstairs. Silver immediately stored the venom safely inside one of his storage slots.
The cloak, however, he chose to wear over his traveling clothes. It fit surprisingly well.
Ravenna smiled approvingly.
"It suits you."
Silver adjusted the hood before looking into the mirror.
"...I have to admit... I like it."
She laughed.
"You’ve been smiling ever since we left the workshop."
"I have not."
"You absolutely have."
Silver gave up trying to deny it.
"Fine, I accept defeat. I have. I’m just too excited."
The two of them finished packing the last of their belongings. The room that had served as their home slowly returned to its original, empty appearance.
Silver checked every drawer, every cupboard, and every charging outlet; nothing remained. He picked up the final backpack before looking around one last time.
"...Ready?"
Ravenna nodded without hesitation.
"Ready."
Together, they switched off the lights, closed the hotel room door behind them, and headed downstairs. After checking out at the reception, they loaded the last of their luggage into the car.
The engine started with its familiar low rumble.
Silver rested both hands on the steering wheel while Ravenna fastened her seatbelt before looking ahead. Their destination lay hundreds of kilometers away.
Checkpoint Fifteen.
It was the final Green Zone checkpoint of Delta Four; beyond it, the Yellow Zones awaited, and after that... The long road toward Delta Two would truly begin.