I Am Also An Extraordinary Creature-Chapter 1403 - 997: Value-Oriented Preferences
With the deal completed, Zheng Yichen returned home to see what good things another Dusk Mercenary Group had given him.
Opening the briefcase, the first things he saw were Dream Dust and an illusory hazy blossom. The amount of Dream Dust wasn’t much, approximately thirty grams.
The illusory hazy blossom had already been consumed considerably before, estimating that the Dusk Mercenary Group behind the bartender also didn’t have much in stock.
These were what they gave; the rest were what another Dusk Mercenary Group provided.
A very regular piece of metal, Zheng Yichen picked it up. There was information labeled on it, something called the Heart of the Machine.
As for its function, Zheng Yichen found it very familiar. Saying "Heart of the Machine" makes it a bit unclear, but calling it a spark source leaves no room for doubt!
Of course, this thing can be used as a spark source, however, it is a single-unit version, not able to ’activate’ machines or electronic devices just by radiation.
This requires implanting to be effective.
It’s akin to granting machines an ’extraordinary ability’ for activation, similar to the ability of the Evil Spirit knight to enchant vehicles.
There are plenty of such items, but this one is among the best in terms of effect.
According to the description, even the Firmament Wheel can be activated by this. The best use is to first cultivate a reliable artificial intelligence, and then use this on such an entity.
If directly used on a certain item, the activated mechanical creature might not necessarily follow the user’s commands.
Its value is chiefly in its level, as this kind of Heart of the Machine is capable of ’god-making’.
This Heart of the Machine is not the original version from that Dusk Mercenary Group; they have already used the original version, though where it’s used and to what extent the mechanical bio is exalted is not disclosed.
But this split version, devoid of a splitting effect, possesses a strength such that after Lilith’s analysis, the original Heart of the Machine could bring out something close to the primordial Dragon God.
This doesn’t require Dusk’s reinforcement for use, making it convene its function perfectly upon acquisition.
At normal prices, Lilith’s assessment is no less than 100 merit points, and even then, you might not be able to buy it as it’s a priceless market commodity; when something is a priceless commodity, the evaluation price only serves a reference purpose.
Setting a price based on the evaluation price’s lower limit is the ’normal price’.
A regular Dusk mercenary might not become a god with 100 merit points, but this thing can guarantee reaching that level directly.
And it’s not just confined to combat; it’s used for building bases. With enough Dusk mercenaries gathered, a Dusk Mercenary Group can be established promptly.
"This seems to be meant specifically for you," Zheng Yichen said to Lilith. During daily situations, Lilith doesn’t use a body molded from World Tree fruit, remaining in a projection form.
This projection state allows her to be agile and adaptable.
When assisting Zheng Yichen, she appears in her normal form. When not needed for assistance, she can revert to a chibi form, being a considerate accessory on Zheng Yichen.
In her normal state, she cannot hang onto Zheng Yichen like Tanshia Firlo can.
"Wishlist-based giving," Lilith remarked, "but I suggest bringing this to Dusk for evaluation before using it."
Zheng Yichen’s information wasn’t too hidden; even the Dusk Mercenary Group of the bartender knew he had a powerful car with a Simulated World core.
And since another Dusk Mercenary Group wanted to buy a coordinate and knew of a formidable Proxy Agent in the Misty City World, they naturally chose something more ’specific’ for the payment.
Providing other items of equivalent value, Zheng Yichen might not find them useful. While good things are good, if they can’t be used, they’re not good things, and the cost-performance ratio drops.
But this kind of item is different. The same outlay yields greater favorability, which means high cost-performance; it conveys sincerity, and the item can be put to use by Zheng Yichen, making everyone happy.
The second item was a crystal that appeared flawless, yet felt like a water balloon when touched.
This is also a ’heart,’ called the Heart of Willpower. This item can interfere with reality through sufficiently strong willpower, featuring a very high ceiling, theoretically capable of interfering with space and destiny and even ’time’, yet it is not a Destiny tool.
Thus, even with its use, it wouldn’t backlash like the use of Fate power.
It’s a kind of good stuff that can perfectly evade while interfering with fate power.
The issue here is that this upper limit is theoretical. Although it could technically reach such heights, how many entities could achieve this theoretical limit?
When it comes to the ceiling, the Heart of the Machine is not as high as this, but in terms of practicality, this doesn’t compare to the Heart of the Machine. Even the assessment price Lilith provided is only half of the Heart of the Machine, although this too can be used directly without Dusk’s reinforcement.
If it weren’t for this point, the price would be even lower.
The Heart of the Machine is something even ordinary people could use; get a T-800 robot, and using the Heart of the Machine, that robot could tear apart Skynet on the spot, whereas an ordinary person obtaining the Heart of Willpower...could at best run a bit faster, jump a bit higher.
Flying? The Heart of Willpower can allow the user to do that, but if the user’s will isn’t strong enough, fear of falling to death would absolutely prevent flight.
Unless the person is someone like Captain America, who can go toe-to-toe with any enemy through sheer willpower.
This thing is very person-dependent.
"This is for you, BOSS."
"Alright, it’s good stuff for me too," Zheng Yichen looked at the last item.
This was a hammer, occupying the largest part of the suitcase. The hammer lacked a handle and needed one to be attached, considered as a completed object.
Weapon equipment was not scarce for Zheng Yichen, but this item’s name was the Faith Hammer.
This can be used as raw material or directly as a regular forging hammer, whose function is to forge objects with faith-related power.
"This tailored gifting is incredibly targeted, isn’t it? The bartender and their side put quite some effort in," Zheng Yichen remarked, tossing the hammer in his hand before stowing it away.
Its effect seemed ordinary enough but remained useful for Zheng Yichen.
With this, accumulated faith power, along with faith components, could be utilized more efficiently. Piled-up things could be fashioned even to the extent that Zheng Yichen could make use of them.
"Is this a classic case of living off the land here?"
Without the special environment of the Misty City World, how could a coordinate be so valuable?
These Dusk Mercenary Groups aren’t fools; having given these items and assured regular exploitation of the phenomenon within Misty City World, Zheng Yichen found it hard to show favoritism even if he wanted to.
This item wasn’t used immediately; he planned to head to Dusk later for an appraisal before utilizing it.
Though the items can be used directly, Zheng Yichen preferred to spend some merit points to capitalize on better utilization.
Especially with this Faith Hammer, his intent was to use it as raw material. If original specifications were imprinted onto Lilith’s form alongside being linked to his weapons, any kind of hammered specification he desired could then be wielded.
The next day, Zheng Yichen arrived at the Dusk Cathedral early in the morning.
Through Tia’s evaluation, the Heart of Willpower was fine, the Heart of the Machine was fine, and using the Faith Hammer as raw material would require Zheng Yichen to pay 11 merit points.
The other two items could be used directly, witnessing no difference with Dusk’s reinforcement.
Yet, Dusk’s reinforcement carried a trait of difficulty in stripping, with no distinct enhancements beyond.
For such reinforcement, accumulating would cost 7 merit points, tying into Zheng Yichen’s substantial valuation.
