Lucien didn't rush in.
Standing before the dungeon's entrance, he knew better than to charge ahead unprepared. Especially now. If his suspicions were correct, there was more at stake than just monsters.
There had to be a traitor within their territory. How else could so many misfortunes have occurred in quick succession.
Without warning.
Without trace.
Yes, the mine was valuable. But the dungeon? It was priceless.
Monsters within were a constant source of mana cores. It was crucial for enhancing strength, powering artifacts and fueling magic tools.
The dungeon might've been the trigger, but Lucien felt this ran deeper. The timing was too perfect. It was as if someone had planned this long before the mine transformed into a dungeon.
He backed away from the dungeon's mouth and retrieved the massive boulder he had stored earlier, sealing the entrance again.
He returned to the manor just in time for lunch.
Their meal was modest.
With the territory under strain, luxuries were out of the question. Thanks to their loyal chef who remained despite the odds, it was at least savory.
At the dining table, Vivian appeared restless as she fidget in her seat. She excused herself early, heading off to prepare her luggage.
After lunch, Lucien turned to Sebas.
"Sebastian. Do you know where the beehive is?"
"It's Sebas, young master... And yes, there's one in the garden."
Lucien raised a brow. "Since when? I thought Father had all the flowers removed. Why are there still bees?"
"When the Baron ordered crops to be planted, the gardener kept a third of the garden for flower. He said honey could help fill empty stomachs."
"I see..." Lucien pondered quietly. Something didn't add up but he shelved the thought for now.
He headed to the garden.
He wasn't planning anything grand. Just a small parting gift for Vivian. Something simple before she left for the Academy.
After searching, he spotted the hive.
There were many ways to collect honey, most of which involved killing the bees. But Lucien didn't want to wipe them out. He wanted sustainability.
If he could keep the balance, the honey and money supply would be endless.
He decided to target the Forager Bees specifically, careful not to alarm the entire hive. Using a jar, he captured nine of them and slipped in a burning coal from the kitchen.
A puff of smoke.
The bees died.
"I'm sorry, little ones. The world isn't fair," he murmured, feeling a pang of guilt.
The familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind, and drops materialized.
Among the nine drops, eight emitted the usual dull gray glow. But one shone green.
***
INVENTORY
Assets:
• 1 silver coin (1 silver coin = 10 copper coins)
Inventory Slots (10):
• High-Quality Honey x9
• Nectar Crystal X1
***
Lucien's eyes widened. It seems that the same as games, his drops have rarity.
"Gray must be common. So green... is uncommon?"
If he had to guess, it seemed like there was a 10% drop rate for uncommon items... At least from bees.
But killing them one by one was inefficient.
'Time for a new plan.'
He whipped up some sugar water to lure more Forager Bees.
It worked.
After a short wait, hundreds swarmed.
He captured over 300 bees and... exterminated them all in one go.
Among the 300+ drops, Lucien noticed three distinct colors once again. Three of the cubes gleamed with a vivid blue glow unlike the usual gray or green ones. Based on its brilliance, he guessed it to be of Rare rarity.
***
INVENTORY
Assets:
• 3 gold coins (1 gold coin = 10 silver coins/100 copper coins)
• 0 silver coin (1 silver coin = 10 copper coins)
• 3 copper coin
Inventory Slots (10):
• High-Quality Honey x99
• High-Quality Honey x99
• High-Quality Honey x75
• Nectar Crystal X27
• Royal Jelly x3
***
Lucien grinned. Like a game, item stacks maxed at 99. The 100th started a new slot.
Only then did Lucien notice a glaring issue. His inventory had just 10 slots. Whether it could be expanded or not, he had no idea.
Until he found out, he'd have to manage every slot wisely. He decided to treat each one like precious real estate.
Oddly, even after killing hundreds of bees, he didn't level up.
"Was leveling up based on effort, not combat? Or was there something else to it?"
Regardless, he stopped there. There is no point in pushing his luck and over-killing bees.
Then the system chimed again and a panel appeared.
***
***
"What the hell?! That's not a title I want!"
He tapped the title to check its effect.
***
***
"Damn it!" he groaned "Couldn't you give a tile like... 'Efficient Harvester' or something?"
•••
That evening, Lucien knocked gently on Vivian's door.
"Sister? Are you inside?"
"Brother? Come in." Her voice was soft. "About earlier... I'm sorry for slapping you. I was just... surprised."
Lucien didn't come to talk about that.
He sat beside her on the bed. "Sister... We won't see each other for a while."
Vivian swallowed and looked at him, waiting.
"I want you to take these."
From his Item Box, he retrieved 175 bottles of honey, 20 Nectar Crystals, and 2 Royal Jellies.
One convenient feature of the drops was that the system automatically provided containers perfectly suited for each item.
The sight of the golden contents made Vivian gulp.
She barely registered where Lucien got those elegant containers. Her attention was completely stolen by something far more surprising.
"This!... Item Box!? Brother, have you unlocked the Item Box skill? And it seems like it's quite big!"
In this world, the origin of skills remained a mystery. Some claimed they acquired them by sheer luck and others through relentless effort. A few were passed down through bloodlines, while certain religious groups believed skills were divine blessings.
It's different from magic which followed a more structured path. Anyone with the right affinity could learn it through study and practice.
Among the known rare skills was Item Box. It was a coveted ability often linked to an affinity for Space Magic. No wonder Vivian was stunned.
If Lucien had revealed this when he entered the academy, he would have been treated with high regard.
"Yes, Sister. That's why you don't have to worry about me or the territory. Focus on your studies at the academy. I'll take care of everything here." He paused, then added with a reassuring smile, "And… this Item Box isn't the only skill I have. I'll tell you more next time. So make sure to come back safe, alright?"
This moment was one of the reasons Lucien had come to see her. To ease her heart before her departure.
"Mm-hmm!" Vivian nodded vigorously, tears welling in her eyes as she hugged him tightly. She didn't ask for more. She trusted Lucien completely.
Spotting the neatly arranged containers, she gasped. "This is… honey, right? No wonder Sebas said you were kil—playing with bees." She blinked, overwhelmed. "But this is way too much for me. We should share it with the people."
"You don't need to worry. I have plenty. Besides..." Lucien smirked. "I heard honey's great for your skin."
Before he could finish, Vivian was hugging the honey like treasure, her eyes sparkling.
Lucien silently chuckled. 'So even my sister's obsessed with beauty.'
As she packed, Lucien explained the items:
Type: Consumable
Rarity: Common
Description: Improves health and stamina (Continuous consumption will yield long-term benefits)
Type: Consumable
Rarity: Uncommon
Description: Boosts mana and energy recovery. (Can relieve strain caused by skill usage)
Type: Consumable
Rarity: Rare
Description: a delicacy known to slow aging and enhance mana control. (May awaken latent potential in females)
Lucien was especially intrigued by the effects of the Royal Jelly.
From what he knew, his sister didn't possess any skills. And just like how a normal bee transforms into a queen after consuming royal jelly, maybe… just maybe, this could help awaken something dormant within her.
He chose not to share the full descriptions, especially the ones in parentheses. If Vivian knew how valuable the items truly were, she might hesitate to consume them, possibly even sell them to help others instead.
Lucien didn't want that.
These were for her.
Once Vivian finished packing, she turned to him with a soft smile.
"Brother, it's been a while since we slept together. Why don't you stay with me tonight? I'll miss you so much…"
Lucien didn't even pause. "Of course, Sis."
This, too, was one of the reasons he'd come.
•••
He lay beside her, watching over her as she drifted off. Her face was peaceful but the world wasn't. Not for someone as kind as her.
Suddenly the system resounded in his mind then a panel appeared.
[CONDITIONS MET]
• Stare at someone intently for an hour without being noticed. ✓
• Don't blink for 5 minutes. ✓
• Correctly guess a person's mood three times in a row. ✓
[Skill: SCAN Obtained]
"What the f*ck, system?! Don't make it sound so damn creepy!"
Lucien blurted out then immediately clamped his mouth shut, remembering Vivian was still fast asleep beside him. He wasn't sure whether to be amused or disturbed by the achievement conditions… but a new skill was a new skill and he wasn't about to complain.
Curious, he activated SCAN and turned his attention to Vivian.
***
Name: Vivian Lootwell ♀
Age: 15 years old
Race: Human
Job: White Mage
Level: 3
Title:
• Lootwell's Angel
Skill:
Locked
Magic:
• Household Magic
Favouravility: 90
Status: hopeful/sleeping/fatigued
***
"Ninety?! That's dangerously high..." Lucien muttered. 'Nope. Gotta keep it that way. No higher.'
Once he was sure Vivian was sound asleep, Lucien quietly got up and walked over to her luggage.
From his inventory, he pulled out a small pouch containing 30 gold coins. It was all that remained in the family's treasury. He tucked it inside her luggage along with a folded letter he had written earlier.
He didn't hesitate.
He didn't need to.
With his cheat-like abilities, money was no longer something he had to worry about.
Just as he turned to sleep, a sharp strain shot through his eyes.
"Sh*t… Is this one of the side effects of using skills? It freaking stings!"
Lucien rubbed his eyes, feeling the sharp sting from using SCAN. Unlike magic that draws on mana, some skills have side effects.
Some put a strain on the body. Others drain stamina. There are also skills that leave a person bedridden for days and some cause intense pain.
There were also stories of people feeling nothing at all after using a skill for years. Perhaps their bodies had adapted over time.
In Lucien's case, this particular skill strained his vision.
Lucien figured that maybe as he grew stronger, the strain might lessen. He also realized his drops could help mitigate the effects.
Lucien quickly pulled out a Nectar Crystal and popped it into his mouth. A wave of relief washed over him almost instantly.
'Definitely need to stockpile more of these…' he thought.
Lucien couldn't help but wonder. Did his other skill: Drop rate: MAX have no side effects at all?
With a quiet exhale, he returned to the bed and lay down beside his sister, the weight of the day finally giving way to sleep.
•••
The next morning.
A carriage was waiting for Vivian by the manor gates. After a final tearful hug, she stepped inside.
Lucien watched without moving...
Only after the carriage disappeared from sight did he finally turn away.
But his expression had changed.
The warmth was gone. Replaced by cold resolve.
"It's time to find the mole... and fix this damned territory."
Even Sebas who standing behind him, flinched at the sharp edge in his voice.