Conquering The Game's World

"Did they really find the golden slate?" Professor Mori asked in surprise.

"Yes, Professor! Kress and his team found the golden slate but had to escape because of danger." The staff member in charge of monitoring replied affirmatively.

"Is that Professor Darrin's student? I didn't expect someone to find the location of Golden Slate so early. But why didn't he go find the other teams from his class instead of making a deal with Luis?"

Professor Mori expressed his incomprehension about Kress' choice. The other professors also glanced toward Professor Darrin, waiting to hear what he had to say about this. They all felt Kress' approach to Luis wasn't as simple as it appears to be.

Professor Darrin continued staring at the screen in silence and a moment later, he shook his head with a flat expression.

"I have told them before. Instead of playing tricks, they should focus on improving their strength. Even if they succeed once, can they be successful every time? There is bound to be a dead end."

As he said that, the others could feel the disappointment in his tone. However, none of them were surprised. They have been professors for many years and have taught all kinds of students. Someone like Kress, they have seen a lot.

People who only rely on deception without improving their strength don't have a high upper limit. In the end, they could only be mediocre and regarded as clowns in front of the true powerhouses.

"Luis agreed with their deal. Didn't he see through Kress' tricks?"

"No, he probably knows. But Kress at least didn't lie about the location of the golden slate. Maybe Luis is confident because of his strength and isn't worried about being conspired."

"What a proud guy! However, he should learn to be cautious too. Most of the time, overconfidence is the reason behind one's downfall."

Olivia and Hina listened to the professors talking amongst themselves. Both of them couldn't help twitching the corners of their mouths.

Restrain himself? Try to be cautious?

That guy is the most cautious person among all the people they have seen, okay?

Olivia, whose majesty as a teacher was deeply insulted and lost the chance to have such talented disciples, has the most say about this. To this day, she is still regretting and trying to redeem herself.

Hina and Olivia looked into each other eyes for a moment and nodded with a sigh. They both had similar thoughts in their minds.

'Calculate Luis? Someone is going to be miserable!'

***

Back inside the dungeon.

Luis' team and Kress' team finally came to an agreement. Kress' team will lead them towards the golden slate's location and Luis's team will help them harvest the points on the way.

Soon, they all started walking in a direction led by Kress and his team.

"So, now can you tell me where exactly is the Golden Slate?"

Luis asked, still maintaining the warm and friendly smile on his face.

Kress, who was happy that negotiating the deal with Luis was successful, nodded and answered.

"That's what we promised! It's in the territory of Veno Bats."

Of course, the answer he gave was equivalent to no answer at all. Veno Bats' territory is in the core area of the Poisonous Swamp Zone. It is also the densest and has a bigger area than the combined territory of Poison Moths and Sting Bees. Finding the golden slate in such a sizeable area will take a lot of time.

Besides, that area is also the most dangerous area in this zone, comparatively.

"Wow! So, you guys came back here from the core area? Amazing!"

Luis first praised them, then sighed in admiration.

His praise had a wonderful effect, even if Kress wasn't completely affected, but his team members became proud and their arrogance increased. Being praised by the currently ranked one student, their mentality became a little inflated, and they showed off one by one.

"It's nothing. I even killed a few Veno Bats with just a flick of my sword."

"Heh, if the commander hadn't stooped us. I would have shot down all the Veno Bats with my arrows."

"You don't know, I just sneezed and those Veno Bats were…"

"SHUT UP!"

Kress' loud scolding interrupted their boastings. His face was red in shame and anger, some veins were bulging on his forehead and he cursed his pig teammates for countless times in his heart.

"If you can only talk nonsense, then stop talking!"

Kress' teammates became embarrassed, but they still shut their mouths honestly. Although they were a little resentful because Kress' made them embarrassed, but they also felt that they had talked too much. If their plan fails because of them, there might be severe consequences once they are caught.

After stopping them, Kress, who was sweating, turned to look at Luis a little nervously. Worried that his team members' boasting may arouse suspicion.

However, to his surprise, when he turned back, Luis was still looking at them warmly and said with a slight smile.

"Your team members are interesting."

"Haha, they are talking nonsense. We barely escaped from that place. How could we be their match?"

Kress scratched the back of his head and laughed dryly. He didn't know why Luis was fooled so easily. Fortunately, Luis didn't doubt them and the plan could still move forward smoothly.

'I just hope that adult didn't lie to us. As long as I can succeed, I can gain that amazing power.'

When he thought of his previous encounter with that man, and the rewards promised to him. Kress couldn't help fantasizing about his unlimited future.

Cobert was staring at Kress with listless eyes, but underneath that lazy appearance, he was sneering.

'Who sent this idiot to us? Do they think me and Luis are blind?'

On the surface, Cobert didn't show any change. However, he was constantly sensing their surroundings and his body was always in a vigilant state.

'I wonder… are the people behind Kress, Luis' enemies, or mine?'

Curious, Cobert wanted to know what Luis was planning to do. So, he walked near Luis and yawned as a signal.

*Yawn*

Luis' smile solidified and his brows twitched.

"What's wrong Mr. Luis?"

"No, it's nothing. You were talking about that different-coloured Toxigator you met."

Finding nothing abnormal through Luis' expression, Kress calmed down his nervous heart and continued speaking about his experience to gain Luis' trust.

After yawning, Cobert slowed down a little and kept his pace five steps behind Luis and Kress.

He kept walking listlessly while waiting for something, and sure enough. Within a few seconds, he felt someone trying to invade his mind.

'I knew it! This guy must have a powerful mind technique! Yesterday, I wasn't mistaken."

He could feel that it wasn't a forceful invasion, but the one that needed his permission. This made him much more comfortable. Then, without much hesitation, he allowed Luis to enter his mind.

{What's up?}

Cobert's lips twitched when he heard Luis' words. He instinctively knew that since a mental link was formed between them, there should be no problem communicating with him through his mind.

{Can I… What kind of technique is this?}

He wanted to ask whether he could learn this technique too, but changed his words in the last second. Because he felt it was inappropriate to make such a request, without thinking about anything suitable as compensation.

While he was still thinking of what could be used as a price in exchange for this technique, Luis' next words poured cold water into his thoughts.

{Don't think about it. It's not a technique, just an S-Rank Skill called 'Telepathy'.}

When Cobert was disappointed that he couldn't learn it, Luis' latter words made him speechless.

{What do you mean by 'just an S-Rank skill'? Do you think everyone can get it as easily as you? It must be nice to be rich, huh!}

For Cobert's envious words, Luis was noncommittal and told the truth.

{Not really, it was free.}

{Free?!}

Cobert exclaimed in disbelief.

{Yeah…}

After that, Luis told Cobert a little about the battle arena. The consecutive wins and the reward system.

{Can I really get an S-Rank skill?!}

Cobert asked again for confirmation.

{Of course, both me and Alicia got one each.}

{Damn, I must try it later!}

Although, Cobert is usually lazy and didn't care about the battle arena before, but who doesn't like a free S-Rank skill book?

It's something that doesn't easily come by, even in the black market! Okay? As for Oracle Academy's treasury, having a few S-Rank skills doesn't sound abnormal.

{Anyway, did you just want to chat?}

****

Monster Information:

Veno Bats (E - C Rank)

Size: 0.5 meters (E and D-Rank), 0.25 meters (C-Rank)

Description: They shoot poisonous liquid from their mouth and they release poisonous mist by flapping their wings. By using ultrasonic waves, they can affect the sound frequency, deafening their opponent and destroying the brain nerves.

Appearance:

1) The bodies of E-Rank Veno Bats are blackish-purple, and their wings are velvet-shaded.

2) D-Rank Veno Bats look almost no different from E-Rank Veno Bats except for being pure black.

3) As for the C-Rank Veno Bats, they are grey in colour and have half the body size of a D-Rank Veno Bat.