Chapter 115: Investing the Red Scroll to Sonya
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"No wonder she looked at me like that."
Cain chuckled.
"Apparently, both of you opened each other’s equipment."
Elara took the staff back from him and examined it once more.
Unlike Evelyne, there was nothing particularly difficult about the decision for her.
The staff was Mythical-rank, but she could barely use its real abilities.
Giving it to Evelyne would strengthen one of the most important members of their group far more than keeping it for herself simply because of the additional Stats.
Especially after what Cain had just given Evelyne.
"I’ll give this to her myself."
"Then just exchange them." Cain nodded toward the direction of the intersection as he continued, "You take the crown and she takes the staff. Problem solved."
"That does sound fair." Elara nodded with a faint smile before turning around.
Cain suddenly remembered something.
"Wait!"
Elara looked back at him.
"Call Sonya over for me."
A meaningful look immediately appeared in her eyes.
"You have something for her too?"
"Maybe." Cain shrugged.
Elara studied him for a second before shaking her head.
"You really are going to spoil everyone."
"I’m making the group stronger."
"Of course you are."
Cain ignored the implication behind her tone.
Elara began walking toward the alley entrance.
Unlike Evelyne, she did not hum to herself or hop across the damaged pavement, but the small smile that remained on her face made her happiness obvious enough.
Frozen World Severance alone had greatly increased her combat power.
Soon, she would also receive a Mythical-rank item that suited her abilities perfectly.
Cain watched until her silver hair disappeared beyond the corner.
Only then did the familiar System notifications finally arrive.
[Ding! You have invested an Orange Scroll in Elara.]
[Ding! Elara has obtained Frozen World Severance, a powerful Ice Sword Skill capable of greatly increasing the destructive power of a decisive attack.]
[Ding! Investment Return obtained: Orange Scroll.]
Cain’s eyes brightened.
The notifications continued immediately afterward.
[Ding! You have invested an Orange Orb in Elara.]
[Ding! Elara has obtained the Staff of the Sacred Lifespring, a Mythical-rank item.]
[Ding! Investment Return obtained: Orange Orb.]
[Ding! Elara is overjoyed after obtaining Frozen World Severance, significantly increasing her ability to defeat powerful enemies through a decisive attack.]
[Ding! Exceptional Investment Evaluation achieved.]
[Ding! One Reward Ascension Authority has been obtained.]
[Choose one reward obtained from this investment and increase its rank.]
Cain raised an eyebrow.
Once again, the System had returned exactly what he invested.
An Orange Scroll and an Orange Orb.
He did not mind in the slightest. In fact, Cain preferred this kind of return.
Most of his previous Investment Returns had been based on whatever the person he invested in obtained. Those rewards were certainly useful, but there was always the possibility that the Talent, Skill, or item simply would not suit him.
Receiving the original Scroll and Orb back was different.
He could use them on himself and obtain something compatible with his own abilities, or invest them again later if another opportunity appeared.
More importantly, he had received another Reward Ascension Authority.
Cain barely needed to consider which reward to upgrade.
"Upgrade the Orange Scroll."
[Ding! Orange Scroll has been selected.]
[Ding! Reward Ascension Authority activated.]
The Scroll inside his Inventory immediately began changing as its bright orange color gradually deepened into crimson.
[Ding! Orange Scroll has evolved into Red Scroll.]
Cain’s mood improved instantly.
With the Red Scroll produced from Evelyne’s investment and this newly evolved one, he now possessed two more opportunities to obtain abilities beyond what an Orange Scroll could normally provide.
That was in addition to the Red Scroll he had received from the Universal Announcement.
Cain stared at them inside his inventory.
"Perfect."
For a moment, he was extremely tempted to open one right there.
However, before he could act on that impulse, footsteps came from the alley entrance.
Cain raised his head.
Sonya appeared from around the corner.
She walked toward him with a meaningful smile on her face, clearly having already noticed that Evelyne and Elara had both been called away before her.
Cain looked at her expression.
Sonya looked back at him.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Then her smile widened slightly.
"So..."
She continued the moment she stopped in front of him.
"It’s my turn now?"
"Naturally."
Cain smiled faintly as his gaze moved over Sonya for a moment before he opened his inventory.
A crimson Scroll appeared in his hand.
The moment Sonya recognized its color, the playful expression on her face disappeared.
She had been present when the Universal Announcement spread throughout the Universe.
Everyone in Cain’s group or even in the whole universe knew that the reward for becoming the first Unranked Awakener to kill a 2nd Echelon being had been a Red Scroll.
And now Cain was holding that exact Scroll out toward her.
Sonya stared at it for several seconds.
"You’re giving this to me?"
"Yeah."
Cain currently possessed two other Red Scrolls that had evolved through Reward Ascension, but those were Investment Returns.
Investing rewards obtained from the System would not produce another return, so there was little reason to give either of them away.
This Red Scroll was different.
It had come directly from the Universal Announcement, making it a genuine investment.
As for why he had chosen Sonya instead of Elara or Evelyne, part of the reason was simply fairness.
He had already invested heavily in both of them. Elara had received several powerful Talents and valuable equipment, while Evelyne had just obtained Sacred Life Body along with a Mythical-rank item.
Sonya, on the other hand, had received far less from him.
Cain had helped upgrade her Flame Compression and Fireball, but compared to what he had given the other two women, he had yet to give Sonya anything truly precious.
There was also another advantage.
If anyone questioned why Sonya suddenly possessed an absurdly powerful Talent, Cain could simply say that she had already awakened an exceptional Fire-related Talent and he had helped improve it.
As for why someone with such potential had been hiding inside her house before he found her, that was even easier to explain.
Having a powerful talent did not mean she suddenly stopped being afraid of the apocalypse.
"Take it," Cain said.
Sonya did not reach for the Scroll and looked at him seriously instead.
"You almost died getting that."
"Aren’t I here in front of you alive and kicking?"
"That’s not the point." She shook her head, then stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.
Cain felt her body press firmly against his chest.
"I’m already satisfied," Sonya murmured. "You already made my Fire abilities much stronger. I don’t need to take something this valuable from you too."
Cain remained still for a moment before placing both hands on her shoulders and pushing her slightly away.
Sonya looked up at him.
Cain coughed once awkwardly.
"Don’t suddenly hug me like that."
"Why?"
Cain glanced down briefly before returning his gaze to her face.
"Doing something like that with such a lewd body is dangerous."
Sonya’s lips curved slightly.
"I wouldn’t mind if something happened again."
Cain rolled his eyes and raised the Scroll once more.
"Just use it."
"No."
His eyebrow twitched.
Sonya remained surprisingly firm despite how casually she had answered.