Chapter 491 - Stumped

"Be quiet. I'll decide that myself." Initiating the process of his contemplation, Virus began considering the various dilemmas.

His first dilemma was whether to buy or rent a shop. However, considering his capital, it was clear he could not afford even renting the cheapest store right now, not talking about buying a shop from a crowded market district. 

Thus, Virus was more inclined toward raising his capital before renting a shop somewhere.

As for whether he should rent it in a remote or busy area, that was a decision for another time.

For now, turning toward Luca, while throwing a single Qi Ingot at him, he ordered, "Bring me a pen and a few notebooks."

"Yes, sir." Exiting the room, Luca was gone for around half an hour. When he returned, he had procured a pen and several empty notebooks.

"Here you go, boss."

Nodding in contentment, Virus opened a page of the notebook as he started writing and scribbling on it.

When he was finished, he casually closed the notebook before adding some words on its cover.

「Twisting Tempest Thrust」:<Class: Mid-Human>

Then opening the first page which he had initially left blank, he added a brief description.

[Description: Twist like tempest a hole in your enemy! The first form requires one pathway as it focuses on the word 'Thrust', the second form requires two liberated pathways as it concentrates the 'Tempest', the third form…]

When he was done, after a brief deliberation, he also skipped to the later pages and added another section called 'Cultivation Trust's Insights'.

In that segment, Virus described his own experience with the technique using the simplest terms he could express. Now, anyone who tried this particular technique would only require around twenty percent of their original efforts in order to learn it.

Then, going back to the cover he jotted down 'Source: Cultivation Trust'. Since the technique originated from the future itself, there wasn't really anyone to claim copyright or ownership over it, not that there was copyright in the cultivation multiverse, to begin with.

The reason why no one dared infringe the techniques of other organizations was mostly that it was considered taboo other than the possibility of such actions incurring the wrath of the said organization if found out.

Throwing the notebook at Archibald next, Virus declared, "Alright, that's it. Let's go auction it off."

"Huh? What's this, boss?" Out of curiosity, Archibald inquired.

"Can't you read? It's a mid-human class longsword technique, we're going to auction that off and then use its money to rent a place."

To be frank, the reason why Virus was willing to sell off this technique of his was that it was no longer of any use to him.

Other than the fact that his current weapon of choice was a sword and not a longsword, Virus was confident even in case he had a longsword, he would've long abandoned this weak mid-class technique.

"Ah, I see! Let's go then, I know an auction house that is held on this very day every month." Even though Archibald and the other three had several questions, assuming Virus may not appreciate their inquisitive questions, they remained silent.

…

"Halt!" When the five reached the entrance of a rather large building with a big signboard stating Esteemed Luxury auction house, a guard stopped them in their tracks.

"The Auction has already started, leave." The guard mouthed arrogantly.

"Hmm, your supervisor probably wouldn't like that." Keeping his cool, Archibald replied. At the same time, taking out the notebook, he waved it in front of the guard's profile, nearly rubbing it on his face.

「Twisting Tempest Thrust」:<Class: Mid-Human>

"We're here to do business, so go call your boss if you don't wish to be blamed for losing such a valuable item." Caressing his beard, Archibald advised. Although he was utterly bald in the head, he had a long beard on his face.

"Ah, please follow me." Reading the name and class of the technique briefly, the guard knew he had probably made a mistake by attempting to send them away without even checking why they were here.

Therefore, changing his behavior a one hundred eighty percent, he respectfully told them to go after him.

Subsequently, while the other guard remained at the entrance, that guard guided them to the doorstep of a particular room before pointing out, "Please wait a moment."

Afterward, he knocked and entered the room.

"You guys can go inside. Branch chief is expecting you." A few minutes later, returning, the guard urged them to enter before scurrying away. 

When the five ambled into the room, they spotted the frame of a plump woman probably in her early thirties sitting behind a desk.

The instant she caught them entering, she stood up and greeted them with a warm smile, "Welcome to Esteemed Luxury, dear clients. I'm Ports, the branch chief of this place, please come and sit." Pointing at the comfortable chairs in front of her desk, she humbly invited them.

After that, when the five sat down, without further ado, she jumped to the main question, "how may I be of service today?"

"Ah…" Examining this plump woman that was full in all the good areas and slim in the unnecessary areas like the waist, Archibald was dazed. He had expected a man to be the chief of this place and not such a stunning woman.

"Yes?" Awaiting his response patiently, Ports simply exhibited a professional smile. In the meantime, she was also inspecting the countenance of each and every one of these five unknown people at her presence.

After her gaze briefly remained on the profiles of Luca, Luna, Archibald, and Augustus, her next target was Virus. Alas, the second she took a glimpse of Virus' features, she felt a little bit stumped.

'Damn, this has got to be the most devilishly handsome face I've witnessed my whole life. Though what's even more peculiar is the fact that I can't read his expressions..' Of course, she still maintained her bearings and did not forget about her professionalism.