Chapter 40. Globe of Existence

The globe felt almost weightless in my hand, yet the gravity of the situation was becoming impossible to ignore.

Brandi's words echoed in my mind: "There are people here who'd do anything to get their hands on it."

I turned the Globe of Existence over in my palm, watching the light from the surrounding chandeliers play across its surface.

The shifting colors pulsed with a strange rhythm, almost as if the orb itself was alive.

Somewhere inside, I could feel the subtle warmth of an entire world, teeming with life yet bound in a fragile, miniature sphere.

I was barely aware of the crowd dispersing around us, the end of the auction marking the beginning of a new phase.

Yin Xie stood silently beside me, her eyes narrowed in thought.

"So, what's next?" I muttered, more to myself than to her.

"Now, we wait," Yin Xie replied. "It won't be long before someone comes for the globe. People don't just let things like this slip away."

Before I could respond, the auctioneer stepped up to my booth, her expression polite but with a glimmer of something more calculating beneath her serene exterior.

"Congratulations on your acquisition, sir. The Globe of Existence is a most coveted artifact," she said smoothly. "But you may want to be cautious. There are... other interested parties. Especially one in particular, who's known for paying any price to possess it."

"Who's that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Although I thought why he didn't bid for it instead.

"Lord Valtor," she replied, her voice lowering just enough to hint at the danger. "A powerful dragon with ambitions beyond the ordinary. He's already made offers to some of the other bidders here. If you find yourself targeted, I would recommend getting ahead of him. Valtor doesn't take kindly to having his targets escape."

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Lord Valtor?

I'd heard rumors of the dragon with obsidian scales who controlled much of the underworld's movements.

His influence was vast, and his obsession with rare and powerful artifacts was legendary.

If he wanted the globe, it would only be a matter of time before he came for me.

"Thank you for the warning," I said, my voice tinged with urgency.

The auctioneer gave me a polite nod and walked away, leaving me with a feeling that I was in far deeper than I had originally intended.

---

Back at my private chambers, I set the globe down carefully on a velvet cushion, trying to assess the situation. Yin Xie sat across from me, her eyes calculating as always.

"You realize that you've just poked a hornet's nest, right?" she said, breaking the silence.

"I know. I'm already thinking of ways to deal with it." I glanced at the globe again, but my mind was far away, imagining the possible confrontations with Lord Valtor.

"You're going to need allies," Yin Xie continued. "Valtor has more than just power. He has connections—his reach extends into several factions, and they'll likely come for you as well. Some will be more subtle, others… less so."

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "I have a few connections of my own. But that won't be enough if it comes to a war."

Yin Xie smirked. "I think it's time you meet some more influential dragons. Brandi and Yu Zhong are already onboard, but you're going to need real power to withstand Valtor. Some dragons like you, others think you're just another human to be used. Let's see which ones you can bring into your fold."

Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door. Milim stepped in, her usual mischievous grin lighting up her face.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything too serious," she said, her tone teasing. "But I think you might want to take a look at this."

She placed a parchment on the table, and I immediately recognized the seal—Lord Valtor's personal emblem.

"What's this?" I asked, wary of what was coming.

"An invitation," Milim said, her voice full of amusement. "It seems that Valtor has extended an offer of his own. A meeting. To discuss 'terms.'"

"Terms?" I scoffed. "What's he going to do? Try to buy the globe off me?"

"Or kill you to take it," Yin Xie added bluntly.

"Well, that's encouraging," I muttered, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me. "Do I even have a choice in the matter?"

Milim leaned back, her grin widening. "I wouldn't say so. But don't worry—you have some options. You could refuse the meeting, but I have a feeling Valtor doesn't take kindly to being ignored."

I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension mounting. "Fine. Let's do it. I'll play along for now. But this isn't going to end well."

---

The meeting was arranged for the following day in Lord Valtor's private stronghold, a massive citadel carved from black stone and guarded by dragons who exuded an air of menace. As we approached, I could feel the weight of their gaze on me, each step forward making my muscles tense.

We were escorted into a lavish throne room, where Valtor himself sat on a raised platform, his obsidian scales gleaming in the low light. His golden eyes fixed on me, calculating.

The tension in Lord Valtor's throne room was palpable, a stillness that seemed to magnify every word, every breath. As I stood there, facing the dragon whose reputation alone could shake even the bravest, I had to remind myself to stay grounded. This was a negotiation, and I wasn't about to let the weight of his presence make me crumble.

"So, you are the one who purchased the Globe of Existence," Valtor's voice rumbled, deep and smooth. His golden eyes never left me, piercing through the air like daggers, sizing me up.

I squared my shoulders. "I suppose I'm full of surprises."

A thin smile flickered across his lips, and for a moment, I thought I saw something almost… amused in his gaze. "Indeed," he mused. "But the question is, what will you do with it?"

I held the globe up, the colors inside it shifting in rhythm with the tension in the room. "I have plans," I said cautiously. "But I'm open to negotiation if you can wait a week."

Valtor's expression remained unreadable, but I could sense the shifting of energy in the air around us. The dragons in the room, silent as shadows, seemed to tighten their stances, as if preparing for something. Valtor's golden eyes gleamed even brighter as he leaned forward slightly.

"Seven days is a long time," he said, his voice like ice. "I am not known for patience."

I steeled myself. "I need the time to complete certain… arrangements."

The dragons in the room shifted. I could feel their predatory eyes on me, but Valtor made no move to intervene. Instead, he crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving me.

"You misunderstand," he said, his voice now cold and commanding. "It's not about time. It's about your compliance. The globe is mine, whether you like it or not. You'll send it to me within two days, or I'll take it by force."

A deathly silence filled the room as his words hung in the air. I could practically feel the killing intent radiating from him and his dragons. My instincts screamed to fight back, but I knew that any attempt to oppose him head-on would be suicide.

As if on cue, Yin Xie, who had remained eerily silent the entire time, finally spoke.

Her voice, low and deliberate, cut through the tension like a blade. "Titan core, you'll give him your titan core when he delivers in the next two days."

I glanced at her, surprised by the shift in her demeanor.

She was calm, collected, but the steel in her voice was unmistakable.

It was the kind of voice that could make anyone second-guess their next move.

Valtor raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her sudden interjection. "And who might you be?" His tone was still venomous, but there was a flicker of curiosity.

Yin Xie turned her gaze on him, her eyes unwavering. "I'm simply someone who understands the importance of keeping things peaceful."

Her words were smooth, but I could feel the dangerous edge beneath them. "You don't want to make a mistake here, Lord Valtor."

For a moment, the two of them locked eyes, a silent battle of wills.

Then, as if coming to some unspoken agreement, Valtor slowly leaned back in his throne. His golden eyes flickered toward me, then back to Yin Xie.

"Two days it is, and the titan core is yours," he said, his voice carrying the weight of finality. "But understand this, Ace. If you try to deceive me—if you delay or fail to comply—I will make you regret it."

The words were clear, final, and unforgiving. I could feel the weight of them in my chest, but I also knew that my bargaining had come to an end. Two days. That was the deal.

---

Later, as we walked back to my chambers, I couldn't shake the feeling of the ground shifting beneath me. Yin Xie had brokered the peace, forced as it was. But even in the silence that followed, I knew that this wasn't over. Valtor wasn't the kind to let go of things that easily.

I turned to Yin Xie. "Why did you do that? Wasn't it dangerous, you could have gotten into a fight."

Her lips curled slightly, but she didn't offer any explanation. "Let's just say I can't bear to watch my husband being pushed too far."

I nodded, though I was far from convinced. Lord Valtor had given in, but the threat remained. Two days. I had only two days to figure out how to deal with this situation, and I couldn't afford any missteps.

---

Back in my private chambers, I set the Globe of Existence down on a velvet cushion, the colors inside still shifting and pulsating. The weightlessness of the orb felt almost symbolic. I could already feel my Boundless Wealth talent working in the background, calculating the potential profit I could make from this.

Talent: Boundless Wealth

1. Gain 50% daily turnover from any one specified item, capped at 500,000. Max profit you can get a day is 250,000.

2. Gain 100% daily turnover from any one specified item, capped at 10.

The globe had already started to show potential, its value increasing every day. But I knew it wasn't enough to just keep it for myself. The world inside it, the power it could provide, was too valuable to pass up. I wasn't just going to sell it off—I was going to replicate it. And with my talent, I could turn this into an empire of my own.

There was no way I was going to give up on the chance to replicate the globe's power.

Replacing the advanced storage ring authority the globe, I thought to myself.

"There's no way I'm passing up on the chance to replicate this stuff with my talent."

***

Dragon heart: 1,019,655 units.

Advanced storage ring: 4 units.

Phoenix feather: 4 units.

Boundless Wealth:

Slot 1: Phoenix blood vials

(544 unit. ) | [+272 unit the next day. ]

Slot 2: Globe of Existence

(1 unit. ) [+1 unit the next day. ]