Arknightcraft Modpack

“Kal’tsit? I thought you’d spend more time with Amiya. While you were gone, she bothered me quite a bit.”

When she saw that the visitor was Kal’tsit, Warfarin seemed to lose interest in Steven. She quickly hid the curiosity and desire in her eyes.

Some things, even her colleague Kal’tsit, couldn’t share.

Quickly changing the topic, Warfarin brought up Amiya to steer the conversation. After all, when it came to Amiya, this old lynx tended to lose her sharpness. Warfarin knew that much.

“Compared to reporting past work to Amiya, receiving this guest is clearly more important,” Kal’tsit said, casting a glance at Warfarin. Although she noticed Warfarin’s unusual reaction, she hesitated only briefly before turning her attention back to Steven.

“I just overheard you outside. You said you have a way to cure Oripathy?”

Unlike Warfarin, who treated Steven’s words as a joke, Kal’tsit took the matter seriously. Knowing this mysterious young man might be even more enigmatic than the Abyssal Hunters, she was certain that if Steven showed interest in something, he likely had a concrete plan.

Based on her brief acquaintance with him, she concluded that Steven wouldn’t casually raise such a question unless he had the means to address the issue.

“And if I said no, would you believe me?”

Steven grinned, flashing a mysterious smile at the green-haired woman.

Two can play at the riddle game. Since she liked to make him decipher her words, he decided it was her turn to try.

“This matter is significant not just to Rhodes Island but to this entire land. Please don’t make light of it,” Kal’tsit said, her voice carrying a note of determination.

The weight of a certain girl’s dying wish and dream compelled her to take this seriously. She dropped her usual cryptic demeanor because she knew Steven would likely walk away if she continued in that vein.

“And what does that have to do with me? Can’t I just ask questions out of curiosity?”

Steven’s relaxed tone and casual expression revealed nothing, neither affirming nor denying his ability to treat the disease.

To be honest, he really didn’t know. He had never contracted the disease nor seen what Oripathy entailed. Claiming he could cure it would be premature.

What if the cure required something like the golden apples? Would he have to feed them to patients directly, mouth-to-mouth, like before?

If all the patients were beauties like Gladiia, he might not mind, but this world still had men and some old being who looked young like the girl in front of him.

The thought of kissing someone like Kal’tsit was just… weird.

“…”

Kal’tsit found herself speechless. Steven had no reason to help her, nor any obligation. In fact, his presence on Rhodes Island was purely at her invitation.

“Didn’t Steve mention earlier that this was about earning money? Perhaps we can allocate part of our funds as compensation. Would that work for you?”

At this critical moment, it was the bunny-eared girl accompanying Kal’tsit who kept a clear head. She voiced her opinion decisively.

From the moment she entered the room, she’d been observing Steven. Realizing that he might truly know something, she quickly reached a conclusion: in any negotiation, you need to put your cards on the table.

“See? Look at you. How can you let a youngster outshine you? If you’d mentioned payment earlier, this could’ve been a simple transaction,” Steven said, glancing at the small, bunny-eared girl.

This thoughtful, sensible approach was exactly how questions should be raised—by presenting sincerity up front.

Honestly, she might be more suitable as a “daughter” figure than Gladiia. It wasn’t that Gladiia was bad; it’s just…

She’s a bit too big, in several areas—like her stature, legs, and… other features.

The cute and petite type was more in line with the daughter image Steven had in mind.

“That’s all you need?”

Kal’tsit couldn’t fathom Steven’s thoughts at the moment. She was still reeling from the fact that he had accepted Amiya’s proposal so easily.

Who would have guessed that such an unpredictable person would agree to help for money?

“Of course, that’s not all. But at least she showed some sincerity, right? So, I can share a bit too. As long as Oripathy is truly a disease, I might have a way to deal with it.”

Steven made a tiny gesture with his thumb and forefinger to emphasize his uncertainty, but even this small hint was enough to shock Kal’tsit.

Could he actually have a solution?

When she invited him to Rhodes Island, she had a gut feeling he might bring surprises. But this kind of surprise was beyond her imagination.

“Wait, wait, wait! Kal’tsit, are you seriously entertaining the idea that this guy—who doesn’t even know what Originium or Oripathy is—has a cure? Are you crazy, or am I?”

Warfarin, who had been quietly watching the exchange, couldn’t stay silent anymore. No matter how mysterious Steven was, she knew for a fact that he had previously asked her about what Originium even was.

And now Kal’tsit thought this completely clueless person might have a cure?

Feeling like her worldview had been shaken, Warfarin rubbed her forehead, unsure if she was dreaming. Otherwise, how could such absurdity unfold?

“Hey, I only said if. I never claimed I had no way. How about this: since I’ve got time, why don’t you bring me a patient with Oripathy? Let me take a look, and I’ll decide if I can do anything.”

Challenged on his abilities, Steven felt compelled to respond. Why wouldn’t he have a way? Even the rudimentary methods from his Minecraft world were still methods.

Whether they’d work or not… that was something to test.

Proposing the simplest solution, Steven waited for the two old hands to reply.

Honestly, he wanted to test how much of the game’s logic and mechanics could apply to this world. Starting with milk seemed like a good place.

Thanks to the Equivalent Exchange mod, at least he wasn’t short on supplies for now.