“Intelligence core?” Ethan asked, heart racing at the thought of completing his Bronze transformation.

“We have two intelligence cores,” she replied, tapping her crystal panel. “They’re more expensive due to the nature of hunting beasts with high intelligence.”

Ethan nodded. Everyone knew intelligent-attribute beasts were rare, dangerous, smarter and more strategic, making them harder to spot hunt.

“How much?”

“Six Peak-Iron cores and one High-Iron core.”

Ethan ran the mental calculations instantly. Twenty-seven Low-Iron equivalent. Steep, but worth it.

‘I have no Peak-Iron, just three High-Iron, eight Mid-Iron, and twenty Low-Iron,’ he thought, weighing his options.

“I don’t have any Peak cores,” he admitted. “Would three High-Iron, eight Mid-Iron, and some Low-Iron work instead?”

The saleswoman’s eyes narrowed slightly, running her own calculations.

“In that case,” she finally decided, “your High cores and Mid cores, plus eight Low-Iron.”

‘Five extra Low-Iron cores. The exchange penalty,’ Ethan noted. Price gouging, but he needed that core.

“Deal.” He produced the pouch, counting out the cores carefully.

“Excellent choice,” she said, retrieving the Intelligence core from a locked drawer.

The two cores nearly took his entire savings.

‘Damn i thought i was finally rich, but I’m back to being broke,’ Ethan though with a wry smile, as he sensed his 12 low iron cores, his only savings.

But if they helped him survive what was coming, they’d be worth every bit.

“Anything else today?” she asked, wrapping his purchases.

“That’s all,” Ethan replied, already imagining the power these cores would unlock. Full Bronze status across all attributes.

After leaving the building, Ethan couldn’t help but grin at his purchases.

‘Full Bronze rank…’ he thought, already imagining the power boost.

The voice cut through Ethan’s thoughts, interrupting his moment of happiness.

“Come on Tiana, I’m sure you’ve got some time to spare.”

He turned to see a well-dressed man with slicked-back hair, clutching flowers while blocking Tiana’s path. The guy’s clothes screamed money, premium fabric, custom tailoring, the kind of outfit that cost more than a fodder’s salary in a decade or perhaps longer.

Tiana’s uncomfortable expression said everything. She kept trying to step around him, but he smoothly countered each move.

“Supervisor Han, I really need to get back to the lab. Those migration patterns—”

“Work, work, work. All you do is work,” the man complained, leaning closer. “One dinner won’t kill you.”

Ethan’s status vision activated automatically.

<Human: Han Wei>

<Rank: Low-Bronze>

<Mental Enhancement Talent: E- >

<Skills: Basic Footwork (Novice – 2%), Basic Breathing Technique (Novice – 5%), Basic Swordsman Stance (Novice – 2%)>

Ethan nearly snorted at the pathetic skill mastery.

Three basic skills, none above 5% mastery.

Classic rich kid syndrome—access to the best training resources money could buy, but zero dedication to master any of them.

‘No way he reached Low-Bronze by himself,’ Ethan thought, scoffing internally. ‘Probably been fed cores to the limit by a rich daddy. All that privilege wasted on someone who won’t put in the work.’

Han Wei was exactly the type Ethan despised—born with every advantage and still mediocre. Meanwhile, scouts died in the forest because they couldn’t afford a single core to boost their strength.

“Hey, you,” Ethan called out, his voice cutting through the one-sided flirtation.

Both Tiana and Han turned, surprise written across their faces.

Tiana’s head snapped up, eyes widening. “Ethan?”

Han Wei turned, annoyance flashing across his face. “Who’s this?”

“None of your business,” Ethan replied, stepping closer.

Han looked him up and down, sneering at his clothes. “District Three? Really?”

Tiana immediately got closer to Ethan and whispered, “Stop it, he’s the general’s son.”

A week ago, Ethan might have backed down from a general’s son. Not anymore.

“I don’t care if he’s the emperor’s son,” Ethan replied, loud enough for Han to hear. “He doesn’t get to harass you.”

Han’s face flushed red. “Who the hell do you think you are? Some District Three trash talking to me like that?”

“Ethan, please—” Tiana tugged at his sleeve.

Passersby slowed, sensing drama. They rarely saw such encounters, and they were entertained by public confrontation.

Ethan shot back. “What are you doing besides bothering researchers who might save your life?”

Han stepped forward, puffing up his chest. “You filthy—”

Tiana moved between them, panic flashing across her face. “Wait! I have time to meet up. Where did you want to go?”

Han’s rage cooled slightly, a smug smile replacing his snarl. “Nice to see someone with proper respect. I was thinking Golden Leaf Restaurant. My treat, of course.”

“Perfect,” Tiana nodded, relief evident in her voice. She glanced back at Ethan with pleading eyes. “Sorry, we’ll catch up another time.”

Han shot Ethan a triumphant look. “I’ll let this peasant live today. Just for you. Otherwise…” He made a crushing motion with his hand.

Tiana took a hesitant step toward Han, but before she could move further, Ethan grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Ethan said, his voice deadly calm. “And you’re nothing but a spoiled brat living off daddy’s name.”

The crowd that had gathered audibly gasped.

No one, absolutely no one, dared to speak to a general’s son like that.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep