Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 116: Seed Of Origin

When can I start?"

"Immediately." Lady Z moved to a secured cabinet in the room’s corner, withdrawing a crystalline cube similar to the spatial storage Rey had hidden away. She activated it, and a holographic display materialized above its surface.

"This contains detailed information on all five stores," she explained, manipulating the display to show different locations. "Addresses, current managers, inventory lists, revenue histories, supplier contacts—everything you need to begin operations."

Rey studied the display with apparent focus while his enhanced perception captured and memorized every detail. The stores were distributed across the Dark Commerce District in a pattern that suggested both strategic placement and historical accumulation.

"The Artifact also contains authentication tokens," Lady Z continued. "When you present these to the store managers, they’ll recognize you as having my authority. Some of them have been with the Red House for years and might initially resist taking orders from a newcomer, but the tokens override that resistance."

"And if they continue to resist?" Rey asked.

"Then you replace them. I’m giving you that authority explicitly—if a manager is incompetent, disloyal, or simply uncooperative, you can terminate their employment and hire someone new. Just document your reasoning so I can review it later."

That was ruthless, but also necessary.

Rey appreciated Lady Z’s resolution and her attitude in that regard.

If the Red House was not going through such a crisis, then perhaps more hesitance would have been shown, which was why he was grateful for the current situation.

It allowed him to manipulate his relevance more easily.

"Understood..." Rey accepted the crystalline cube, feeling its weight both physical and metaphorical. This single object represented more power and access than most criminals accumulated in their entire careers.

How ironic was it?

Rey had only just started, and yet he had been elevated to this level.

It was truly astounding!

"One more thing," Lady Z said. "The Dark Commerce District is dangerous, even for experienced operators. I’ll personally escort you to each store over the next few days—in disguise, of course—so you can learn the routes, understand the district’s layout, and meet the managers face-to-face with me vouching for your authority."

"That would be invaluable," Rey agreed. Having Lady Z personally introduce him would prevent countless complications and establish his legitimacy immediately.

"Good. We’ll begin tomorrow evening, after nightfall. Dress inconspicuously." She paused, then added with a slight smile, "Though I suppose you’re already experienced with disguises, given your current situation."

Rey returned the smile. "I’ve learned a few things about changing appearances, yes."

Lady Z deactivated the privacy ward, and Rey felt the pressure around them dissipate. The meeting was concluding, but his work was just beginning.

He stood to leave, then paused as if remembering something. "May I examine the inventory lists in more detail? I’d like to familiarize myself with what we’re currently selling before I visit the stores."

"Of course. The cube contains comprehensive data—feel free to review it at your leisure."

Rey bowed slightly, a gesture of respect that also concealed the satisfaction he knew would show in his eyes. Then he departed, leaving Lady Z alone in the meeting room.

Back in Elara’s safehouse—which had become Rey’s temporary residence by mutual agreement—he activated the crystalline cube and began methodically reviewing the information it contained.

Store locations, mapped with precision.

Manager profiles, complete with performance histories and personal details.

Revenue streams, itemized down to individual transactions.

Supplier networks, showing the complex web of connections that kept illegal goods flowing into the Red House’s inventory.

It was a treasure trove of information that would take weeks to fully digest and exploit.

But one item in the inventory lists caught Rey’s attention immediately, making him pause mid-review.

"T-this is—!"

Seed of Origin Category: Mystical Catalyst Rarity: Exceptional Current Location: Store #3 - Restricted Vault Status: Reserved for Noble client (payment pending) Value: Estimated 15,500,000 Nether currency

Rey read the description once, then again, his mind racing to confirm what he was seeing.

The Seed of Origin.

He’d encountered references to this item during his research in the Desgarron vaults, buried in ancient texts about mystical development and Art cultivation. It was legendary—a natural formation created under specific mystical conditions, capable of fundamentally altering a practitioner’s capabilities.

Most people awakened to a single or two Art affinities during their initial mystical development.

That affinity determined what Techniques they could learn, what paths of power were available to them, and what ceiling limited their ultimate potential.

Rey had awakened with Chaos Art affinity—powerful but limiting.

He could access devastating Techniques, but entire branches of mystical knowledge remained closed to him. Spirit Art, Soul Art, Curse Art, Null Art, Order Art—all of it beyond his natural reach except through single-use Scrolls.

But the Seed of Origin could change that.

According to the texts he’d read, consuming a Seed of Origin allowed even someone who had already awakened to develop a second Art affinity. It was the only known method of breaking past the single-affinity limitation that bound most practitioners.

With two affinities instead of one, Rey could learn Techniques from multiple Arts, could combine their effects in ways that single-affinity practitioners couldn’t match, and could access resources and training that were currently denied to him.

The strategic value was almost incalculable.

’And it’s sitting in one of the stores I now control,’ Rey thought, barely able to contain his excitement. ’Reserved for a Noble client who hasn’t paid yet, which means the transaction isn’t finalized, which means...’

Which meant he could potentially acquire it himself.

The listed value was substantial—15,500,000 Nether currency was more than most people earned in a decade. But Rey had resources, both from his remaining Desgarron treasures and from his new position’s profit share.

More importantly, he had authority over the store’s inventory and could potentially structure a transaction that benefited himself.

’There are risks,’ Rey acknowledged, forcing himself to think strategically rather than reactively. ’If I simply take it, Lady Z will notice during audits. If I buy it at fair price, I’ll deplete my liquid assets. If I manipulate the sale to the Noble client to fall through, I need a plausible justification.’

But those were solvable problems. Rey had proven himself adept at creating circumstances that appeared natural while serving his interests.

’The Noble client’s payment is pending—that’s my opening. I need to investigate who this client is, why the payment hasn’t been completed, and how I can either facilitate the sale at a markup that benefits me or create conditions where the sale legitimately falls through, and the Seed becomes available for internal purchase.’

Rey’s mind began sketching plans, calculating approaches, and identifying the information he’d need to gather.

’If I could add this to the scheme that is already in the works, then maybe I can exploit the commotion that I created and what is bound to come with it...’

The Seed of Origin was too important!

It represented a complete transformation, one that would reduce his great dependence on Scrolls and Artifacts.

With dual affinities, he could accelerate his development beyond what even his stolen Desgarron resources currently allowed. He could access methods that were impossible with Chaos Art alone.

’I’ve been operating with one hand tied behind my back,’ Rey thought. ’Limited to Chaos Art and single-use Scrolls for everything else. But with a second affinity...’

The possibilities were intoxicating.

He studied the Seed’s entry in the inventory again, memorizing every detail:

Store #3, Restricted Vault, Noble client, pending payment.

Tomorrow, when Lady Z took him to visit the stores, he would prioritize Store #3.

If he could, he would examine the Seed personally, assess its authenticity, and begin understanding the transaction dynamics around it.

’This changes everything,’ Rey thought, already feeling the familiar rush of a plan coming together.

He deactivated the crystalline cube, settling back to mentally review everything he’d learned.

Rey’s expression hardened with determination, his elderly features failing to conceal the intensity burning beneath.

’I must get this item no matter what!’