My Supernatural Girlfriends Spoils Me Rotten

Chapter 363 363: Journey to the Center 3

Asher paused to check the weapon's details. Some of the terms didn't make sense to him, but luckily, Pantheon was there to explain.

(Brat, that's an (SS-) rank weapon. A billion units is too cheap. Ask her why.)

Asher turned to the elven woman. "Why is it so cheap? "

She let out a long sigh, brushing a strand of air behind her ear.

"Because it has too much bloodlust," she said. "Anyone who use it lost control. They went berserk and started killing everyone around them."

"Wait—why are you even selling this? Shouldn't it be destroyed?"

She shook her head. "I don't know either. Headquarters wants it on display, and I don't have the authority to question their decision. Though… there are rumors that an (SSS-) rank once used it without any trouble. She didn't keep it, though. It was too weak for someone like her."

Asher nodded in understanding and swipe to the left. If only an SSS-rank could use it, then buying it would be a waste.

Besides, he was a magician who fought with his brain, not some brutal maniac hacking and slashing his enemies to pieces.

Though he uses weapons from time to time, it was only when facing weak opponents, just to stretch his legs.

As Asher swipe through the collection, his eyes landed on some items that caught his attention.

One was a staff, with a silver pole. The tip was capped with a long, red diamond.

It was simple in design, nothing flashy. But he wasn't interested in its looks—he was focused on its effect.

He pulled up the information, his fingers brushing over the screen.

An S-rank item that cost 500 million unit. Perfect.

This was exactly what he needed. The staff could store powerful spells, drastically lowering his casting time. It could even hold one supercharged spell, the kind that would normally take him thirty seconds to cast.

With this, he'd be able to unleash it in an instant.

Not just that—every spell stored in the staff would receive a 30% boost in power.

Whoever crafted this weapon was a genius, their mastery far surpassing his own.

'I could make something close to this, but it wouldn't be able to store my strongest spell,' he muttered to himself.

"I'll buy this one. Staff of Zera,"

The elven woman smiled, her tone polite. "You have great taste, sir. The Staff of Zera was crafted by one of the best artificers in the universe when he was still an S-rank. Though he's since made even stronger creations, most of them are worth tens and hundreds of billions."

"Thanks for the information. I'll take this, and also this…" He picked up more S Rank items he thought would be useful, and just like that, 800 million units were gone.

'Talk about inflation,' he sighed.

"I have some items here; can you appraise them?"

The elven woman smiled, recognizing another business opportunity.

"If it's anything other than a material, we have a machine that can scan nearly any item—whether weapons, medicine, or something else—and evaluate its value."

"However, since we are a business, we only purchase items for 70% of the appraised price, and we reserve the right to decline any purchase if we deem it unworthy. Additionally, there's a fee for each appraisal, depending on the rank of the item. Here's the list."

[F Rank = 1,000 units]

[E Rank = 5,000 units]

[D Rank = 10,000 units]

[C Rank = 20,000 units]

[B Rank = 50,000 units]

[A Rank = 100,000 units]

[S Rank = 1,000,000 units]

[SS Rank= 10,000,000 units]

[SSS Rank = 100,000,000 units]

'This is daylight robbery'

Just the appraisal costs alone were massive. No wonder this trading company is the richest in the universe.

Seeing his expression, she decided to explain.

"Sir, the cost is actually due to the fact that the rarer and more powerful the item, the more computing power our servers require. So, this pricing is actually very fair. Our system follows the Galactic Hub standards, which means you'll receive the same price no matter where you are in the universe."

Asher was still unconvinced, but he had no other options and couldn't be bothered to go elsewhere.

"Appraise these for me." He handed over several platinum-ranked items from Eryx, along with some he had gotten from Index. He wanted to know how they would fare in this so called "Galactic Hub " Standard.

"Right away, sir," she began placing the items into a rectangular capsule, mostly made of glass, like an oversized aquarium.

A green laser scanner moved up and down across it. On the monitor, it showed that the data was being transmitted to the main server, and after ten seconds, the results came back.

[Item: Magic Sword]

[Rank: C+]

[Price: 4,000,000 units]

The price he received was far lower than expected, especially since the sword he'd given was likely the strongest in the Sorcerer King's treasure trove. It was the one he used to summon that purple lightning back on his home planet.

"I'll check the rest," she said, beginning to scan the remaining items. One by one, the results appeared. All of them were C+ rank or lower, and their prices were pitifully low.

Next was a pendant from Index. It was designed to protect him in case of danger, though he hadn't bothered to use it since his robe already adapted to his needs and has its own defense spell.

[Item: Accessories]

[Rank: S+]

[Price: 1,800,000,000 units]

"Oh my god! Where did you get this?" she exclaimed in shock. It was only one level below SS-.

"Is it powerful?" he was confused.

"Yes! According to this, it contains a spell that could even block an attack from SS Rankers! Whoever made this is certainly a powerhouse."

Asher paused for a moment. If this was true, then Index was far more powerful and talented than he had expected.

He realized he didn't know much about her from their time in the Void—she had only shown what she wanted him to see.

(See, brat? I told you your wife isn't normal.) Pantheon scoffed. (You'd better be more prepared, because if I'm right, you're the one who'll need rescuing, not her.)

Asher did not bother to argue and took the pendant and wore it for extra protections.

"Sir, we can buy this at 100% of the appraised price. What do you think?"

He shook his head. "No, this holds sentimental value to me."

The elven woman looked disappointed, but she didn't press the matter.

Instead, she helped him reassess more items. Asher, feeling burdened by the excess, started declaring them.

While the items from Eryx were of low value, their sheer quantity was enough to earn him another 500,000,000 units, minus the ones that couldn't be sold due to having little value or demand.

When the transaction was done, the machine beeped and printed out a sleek black card. Asher took it and slipped it into his pocket.

"Can I ask a question," he said, pausing before heading out. "Where can I buy a passage to the next Neutral Planet? One that has a super long-distance Teleporter."

The elven woman tilted her head, slightly surprised. "You mean a Hyperion Gate? Planning to head somewhere close to the center?"

Hyperion Teleporters were the most powerful in the universe but rarely used due to the extreme cost of operating them.

Only those heading toward the center—or traveling in an emergency—chose to use them, mainly to avoid severe time dilation during long-distance travel.

He gave a brief nod. "Yeah. I've got business there."

She sighed, the polite smile fading just a bit. "It's not a simple trip. From here, you'll have to pass through at least fourteen Hyperion Teleporters. Each jump costs more the closer you get."

Asher let out a small chuckle. "I don't mind. I can earn more money along the way."

She continued, "The next Neutral Planet with a functioning Hyperion Gate is Vilion Prime. You'll need a certified pass, and the price depends on your ship class and cargo. But that's the least of your problems. First, you'll need to head to Agath's capital and get approval."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Approval?"

She nodded. "After the war with the Truth Seekers, Hyperion Teleporters became heavily regulated. They use too much energy and carry too much risk. Now, only recognized travelers with valid reasons are allowed to use them." she paused for some air.

"The approval process checks your identity, travel intent, and destination. Without it, you won't even be able to approach it."

Asher frowned. "Sounds like a headache. How long does that approval usually take?"

She gave a slight shrug. "Depends on who you are. For most people, a few days—maybe a week. If your name throws up crimes, it could take longer. Or get denied."

He crossed his arms. "And what if I don't want to wait that long?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Then you'll have to find... alternative routes. But those aren't exactly legal. Or safe. We're talking about wormholes."

Asher shook his head. Since he came to this place, he didn't feel like a powerful mage anymore—just another regular citizen tangled in bureaucracy.

It was a harsh reminder of the old saying: there's always a higher mountain. And right now, it felt painfully literal.

'Once I save Index, I'll find a peaceful planet, and we'll stay there forever with the others. I can't be bothered with all this crap.'

He imagined picking up a hobby—maybe farming—and staying there until he grew bored with his life.

(Brat, now do you understand why I kept all that information about the universe from you? The complexity of it all is hard to grasp, isn't it?)

' I hate to admit it, but you're right. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.'