"Mr. Sylvester. Don't you think these clothes are a bit too…"
Topaz's face showed some unease.
If she told others these ragged outfits had came from the Curio Trash Cans, absolutely no one would associate them with such a miraculous source.
Because when comparing their image and the fame of the trash cans'… to put it gently, matched each other perfectly.
With her own strength, getting burned by fire was nearly impossible. But if she had a ball of fire on her head and a flaming, tattered beggar's coat draped over her body—then fought alongside her colleagues—what would they think of her?
Whoever dared to wear that into battle would instantly become the biggest laughingstock, the shiniest one on the battlefield.
When Aventurine shouted 'Everything for the Amber Lord!' his clothes looked majestic, but if she wore these, she would look ridiculous.
And what would Diamond think of her? Should she say it's just the latest fashion trend among young Stonehearts?
Ridiculous. That would make her the shame of the Strategic Investment Department.
Feixiao smiled faintly as she studied the two outfits. She believed Sylvester's claim of a combat strength boost was true.
As a general who had seen death more times than she could count, she knew that in the heat of battle, if faced with an opponent too difficult to deal with, wearing such items wouldn't be unacceptable. After all, in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, only survival gave one the right to mock others.
But still…
Feixiao cast a sympathetic look at Sylvester.
Trash cans and ragged clothes. With such taste, he must have suffered plenty of ridicule in his life.
To hold onto his convictions to this age without ever wavering, even opening a trash-can-themed shop, showed a mind of incredible resilience. How could one not respect that?
Of course, she herself would never copy such taste.
Oh right, yesterday someone said Moze needed a psychiatrist. Maybe she could recommend they go together.
Jingliu glanced at the two outfits, then at the Bountiful Trash Can sitting at the top of the counter. She said nothing, only let out a quiet sigh of regret.
Like how even the straightest tree would eventually grow strange branches with age, flaws in people were only natural.
A jade flawless save for a tiny blemish—such things had always drawn sighs throughout history.
Sylvester noticed the way all three were looking at him and grew quite resentful inside.
No, what was with those doubtful looks?
Fine, trash cans, beggar's clothes…
Okay, maybe they really weren't all that elegant.
Sylvester couldn't help but complain inwardly: Grand Duke, why couldn't you just wear something decent? Or when Acheron swung at you, couldn't you have just stretched your neck out honestly and died cleanly? Why did you have to raise your hands?
Now the clothes are ruined, and I'm left with all this trouble.
That was the curse of being a trash can shopkeeper. The Grand Duke only had to die well—but Sylvester had to consider so much more.
"You mustn't hold any prejudice against these relics." Sylvester pinched his thumb and forefinger together. "Granted, these items… may differ slightly from what normal people would expect. Just a tiny bit. But the boost in combat strength is absolutely real."
"You're familiar with the Annihilation Gang, aren't you?"
Topaz nodded. "Of course. The Annihilation Gang respects no taboo. Our company's freighters are sometimes attacked by them. Though, naturally, the company never lets such things slide."
"Those fellows call themselves followers of the Aeon of Destruction, The Ruin Author, and they do have some strength, but they're nothing but scattered sand. No organization at all. If they ever ran into Yaoqing, we'd crush them with ease."
As the supreme commander of Yaoqing, the embodiment of Xianzhou military strategy, Feixiao naturally dismissed the Annihilation Gang. Their actions were banditry, not warfare. One-on-one, they might not lose easily, but in an army clash? In Feixiao's eyes, Yaoqing could defeat two such bands without breaking a sweat.
"Merely a few more corpses beneath my sword," Jingliu said coldly, her tone devoid of emotion, as if describing something trivial.
Alright, alright, each of you harsher than the last. Once I gain some strength, I want to be that arrogant too.
Sylvester gazed at the three before him with genuine envy.
He sneaked a look at Jingliu. Later, I'll need to find an opportunity to fight her.
"These two relics came from none other than the master of the Ever-Flame Mansion within the Annihilation Gang—Duke Inferno," Sylvester continued. "These were the ceremonial garments he prepared to present to Nanook, imbued with the fiery power of his lineage. After his death, they eventually fell into my hands. And now, they belong to Miss Topaz."
"Such a background? That is worth attention indeed." Topaz rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
A boost of at least double combat strength was no small temptation. There was no way she would dismiss it purely for appearances.
Perhaps… she could wear them underneath, then conceal them with something else on top?
Sylvester, meanwhile, wasn't pleased.
What's that supposed to mean? If I made them, they wouldn't be worth attention?
Still, at least his reputation was salvaged.
"Little brother, how exactly did you calculate this so-called doubling of combat strength?" Feixiao asked, watching Sylvester with keen interest. These so-called relics intrigued her greatly. Or rather, anything that enhanced fighting ability drew her curiosity.
And it was precisely that curiosity that led her to notice something the others hadn't.
"Did you estimate Miss Topaz's strength, then gauge the relics' power against hers? Or is it that these relics boost combat power by a fixed proportion?"
Her words struck like a stone into still water, rippling out in waves.
Only now did the other two realize the deeper implication of these curios.
Topaz and Jingliu turned to Sylvester, their eyes burning with expectation.
They hoped it was the latter.
Such a boost was enormous—and easy. No need for grueling training; just put them on and the effect was immediate. Across the entire cosmos, was almost unheard of.
What's more, they saw clearly these were only blue-grade curios. If Topaz could obtain them, so could others.
What if Diamond or Keane had a set? What if Feixiao, Jing Yuan, or even the Arbiter-Generals of the Seven Bows each wore them?
For both the company and the Xianzhou, it would be an unprecedented leap forward!
Sylvester only smiled at their questioning gazes. "Duke Inferno could never forge equipment capable of massively enhancing an Emanator."
"As expected," Feixiao murmured, lowering her head with regret and a self-mocking smile.
She had witnessed too many miracles here. That she had even entertained the thought of a free lunch… disgraceful. Fresh off the battlefield only days ago, and already she was slacking?
Topaz and Jingliu's reactions were much the same—regret, but acceptance.
Seeing their spirits sink, Sylvester's mischievous heart was satisfied.
Hmph. Doubting my taste isn't wise.
"But," he added, "this shop has performed special adaptive modifications on them. I can't speak for Aeons, but for Emanators, I guarantee the boost works by percentage."
"Hm?" Their heads lifted in unison, eyes fixed sharply on him.
Couldn't you just say that in one go?
Feixiao was irritated by his teasing, though she couldn't help but smile wryly.
That was just the way this man was.
"Mr. Sylvester certainly holds grudges," Topaz remarked, also realizing he had deliberately toyed with them. But compared to the benefit she gained, this bit of banter wasn't worth fussing over.
"Just a joke," Sylvester said lightly. "Besides, that's not the full power of the relics. Right now it's only a two-piece set. With hand and feet pieces added, the four-piece set would be the true form—and that brings yet another huge leap in strength."
"And beyond that, there are the link rope and planar sphere pieces, which can activate alongside the four-piece set. That's when you'd see the peak of its potential. Compared to someone without relics, the difference is beyond comparison!"
"There's more?"
A 100% increase of combat strength was terrifying enough, but Sylvester was telling them this was only the beginning?
Excitement began to stir in all three women's hearts.
Feixiao could hardly sit still. She exchanged a glance with Jingliu.
Jingliu nodded. She didn't need prompting—she was already itching to try.
She had come here precisely for such things. Now that she had seen them firsthand, hesitation was pointless.
But Topaz wasn't about to let them cut ahead. "Ladies, first come, first served. I still have five trash cans left to open."