Arknightcraft Modpack

“So, you’re the one who saved her?”

Although anger still burned in her eyes, it was evident that Skadi was no longer directing her fury at Steven but at those Seaborn. She glanced at Steven to confirm her thoughts.

Perhaps she should thank him. After all, given the current state of Gladiia, it was only thanks to Steven’s intervention that she was standing here alive and well.

“Yeah, not only that—she’s caused me no small amount of trouble, dragging a bunch of Church of the Deep folks to my door. A real headache, let me tell you.”

Steven scratched his head in feigned distress. What he said was nothing but the truth. Ever since he met Gladiia, he’d been swept up in a whirlwind of chaos. If not for her, who knows where he might’ve been? Maybe still wandering the wilderness, fighting for survival.

At least he wouldn’t have the Seaborn on his tail.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that she had indirectly helped him earn a considerable amount of World Acknowledgement Points, Steven might’ve considered leaving her here with this so-called Rhodes Island. After all, he’d saved her multiple times—surely that was enough to call it even?

“So, judging from your tone, you must be her companion, right? When are you going to settle the bill for taking care of her?”

Midway through speaking, Steven suddenly seemed to remember something and gave his forehead a light slap. He then made a familiar gesture that Gavial knew all too well: the universal sign for asking for money.

“Eh?”

Skadi hadn’t expected this sudden twist. She’d been listening intently to Steven’s account of his experiences and had even felt a twinge of gratitude toward him. But now, she was utterly dumbfounded, unsure how to respond.

“I took care of her for days, fed her, sheltered her, and even treated her severe injuries. Since she clearly doesn’t have the money to pay me, as her companion, it’s your responsibility.”

Steven explained earnestly, justifying why he deserved payment. He wasn’t one to do things for free—at least not in this world.

“Let’s do the math. Life is priceless, but I’m a practical person. Let’s say… ten thousand each time. I saved her from the sea once, then from those Church of the Deep members another time. That’s twenty thousand right there.”

He began calculating with his fingers, factoring in the exchange rate between Lungmen dollars and currencies he was more familiar with.

“Then there’s the cost of treating her injuries, which required some expensive medicine. That’s easily a hundred thousand at minimum. But I’m a kind-hearted guy, can’t bear to see someone die in front of me, so let’s call it seventy thousand total after discounts.”

“That’s the full breakdown. You can ask her yourself—I haven’t told a single lie. I’m not scamming you.”

After meticulously going through each item, Steven even pulled Gladiia closer as a witness, just to ensure the honest truth of his claims.

Gladiia, who had been silently observing like a confused little rabbit, nodded obediently. Her gaze lingered on Skadi.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that this person seemed strangely familiar. Had she met her before?

“But… I don’t have that much money.”

Skadi, still processing Steven’s detailed explanation and Gladiia’s corroboration, felt a wave of despair wash over her. Her vision darkened.

Skadi.EXE has stopped working.

Where was she supposed to find seventy thousand Lungmen dollars? Even as a part-time bounty hunter, all her earnings barely covered her daily expenses and Specter’s treatments.

Selling herself wouldn’t be enough to cover that amount.

Resources were precious in Terra. Human labor and slaves, however, were practically worthless commodities.

Looking at the Abyssal Hunter before him, who seemed on the verge of mental collapse, Steven couldn’t help but grin. She was actually considering paying him.

For someone with such a cold and stoic expression, why did she seem so… simple and honest?

Are all Abyssal Hunters like this?

Even Gavial, standing off to the side, couldn’t take it anymore. Steven’s audacity to extort her was one thing, but to target others indiscriminately? Was he that desperate for money?

What made it worse was Gavial could tell Steven didn’t actually need the money. He just seemed to enjoy watching others squirm when they couldn’t pay up.

What kind of messed-up hobby was that?

“Don’t worry, Miss Skadi. Even if what he says is true, this debt won’t fall on you. I’m sure Dr. Kal’tsit and Amiya won’t ignore this situation.”

Unable to stand Steven bullying someone so guileless, Gavial intervened to rescue Skadi, even glaring at Steven in the process.

For someone who generally did good deeds, why was he acting so shady now? It wasn’t outright evil, but it was far from noble.

“Well, someone has to take responsibility, right?”

Steven shrugged, his earlier anxiety over almost being caught by the victim’s companion completely dissipated.

If there was no entertainment, he’d create it himself. It was perfectly reasonable to demand fair compensation, and no one had the right to criticize him for it.

“Dada, are you planning to sell me?”

Just as Steven was about to continue teasing the overly honest Abyssal Hunter, Gladiia suddenly spoke up, shattering his mischievous plans.

Her tearful expression resembled a kitten about to be abandoned, instantly demolishing his mood for mischief.

Ah, he’d forgotten that while her mind had regressed to childhood, she wasn’t stupid. She’d heard every word he said.

“Uh, no, it’s not like that. I was just helping you find your companion. The money is just for your food, okay? Be good now—lie down, and I’ll treat you soon.”

Teasing a beautiful girl was fun, but messing with a child was a moral issue. With his plans disrupted by Gladiia’s words, Steven quickly changed his tone, shifting his focus to the green-haired crocodilian doctor nearby.

“So, did you figure anything out after all that examining? Is her amnesia treatable, or is this something I’ll have to handle myself?”

Without waiting for a response, Steven pulled out a half-human-sized iron barrel filled with a milky, fragrant liquid.

He couldn’t keep playing this daddy role forever. He needed to cure her and move on.