The woman stepped through the doorway, gave the room a quick sweep, and asked evenly:
"Where's Shura?"
"Box Seven," someone answered at once.
"Thanks."
She headed that way. Only after she disappeared behind the partition did the bar explode.
"Fuck, that's Aurora Morwyn—really her!"
"Second on the Global Master List! Strongest A‑rank Samsara!"
"Her aura's insane. She swept past me and I forgot how to breathe!"
"Compared to One Leaf Knows Autumn just now? He's nothing next to her."
"Of course—Aurora Morwyn is Jadeveil's War Goddess."
"Heard she's that Elder Morwyn's granddaughter. True?"
"Yeah. She represented us at the last Global Supervisor Exchange and took the championship."
"Earned her current rank in the armed forces—major general, all by merit. Never coasted on family."
"Rumor says her real face is seventy percent like her avatar."
"Is that true!? So she's a stone‑cold beauty?"
"Even if she is, you gonna chase that aura?"
"Nope. I value living."
In the Box
Fenric looked up as the woman entered—and, for the first time in a while, was genuinely struck. That pressure… she carried herself like a born dragon.
"Hello. You're Shura. I'm Aurora Morwyn."
His pupils tightened. The name hit like a bell.
Aurora Morwyn—#2 on the Global Master List. Top A‑rank. Just below S‑class.
"Didn't expect to alarm someone at your level," he said, gesturing. "Please."
She sat. No small talk.
"Shura, you know who I am—and what stands behind me. I'm here to purchase your 'Zombie World War' strategy. State your terms."
Straight to business. That suited him.
He'd half expected persuasion, duty speeches, maybe an appeal to national sentiment. Instead: clean negotiation. Better.
"Miss Morwyn," Fenric said, "the Cindralock Dominion already sent someone. I refused. My preference is to keep this in Jadeveil—fertilizer shouldn't flow to outsiders' fields."
Aurora inclined her head. "Noted. Thank you. I'll report that."
"I haven't fixed a number," he continued. "What's your opening?"
She considered, then drew two items from her personal warehouse and set them on the low table: a scroll, and a slim vial of blue liquid.
"This," she said, tapping the vial, "is Super Soldier Serum from the Marvel dungeon world. After injection, all four base attributes rise—roughly +20 to +30 each, depending on your natural physique."
She touched the scroll. "Entry‑level Armament Haki. Origin: One Piece. Once learned, your strikes hit harder. With enough points to level it further, offense becomes brutal—and defense can approach iron‑body. At high mastery? Swords won't mark you."
Fenric's eyes lit. Both were premium growth items—and he knew exactly how rare they were.
"Does that show enough sincerity?" she asked.
He shook his head. "They're excellent—but they still don't match the value of a full SSS 'Zombie World War' clear path."
"..."
Her brows drew in slightly. "We're compatriots," she said. "Let's not circle. Name what you want. If it's within reach, I won't haggle."
He smiled. Pointed to the two items. "My floor price: these plus one more—from the Private Consignment Center. Then we have a deal."
Her expression tightened at that—points burned fast in consignment, and she knew it.
Still, she ground her teeth and asked, "Which item?"
"The Heart of the Brave."
Fenric said it with a pleasant smile.