Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 570: Isn't That Only Natural?
The moment Steven said those words, Kal'tsit understood.
At the very least, for now… she didn't need to worry about that massive ticking time bomb suddenly going off.
His meaning was clear—he already had a solution. The only question left was how much they were willing to offer in exchange for his help.
And that made all the difference.
Having a way to solve the problem… and having no solution at all… were two completely different situations.
At the very least, Kal'tsit herself had no confidence in dealing with something like Zorah Magdaros. In fact, she doubted anyone standing here could honestly claim they could handle it.
If the problem could be solved by paying a price—no matter how steep—that was infinitely better than being forced to watch helplessly as disaster unfolded.
And Kal'tsit had no doubt about one thing:
Steven might be unreliable in personality, and his words might be questionable at times, but when it came to his ability, there was no reason for him to lie.
If he said he could solve it, then he could.
The only uncertainty was how much it would cost.
"Do you already have a way to resolve this disaster?" Kal'tsit asked, her tone steady. "Can you share some details? I'll need something concrete if I'm going to negotiate for better terms on your behalf."
Her trust alone wasn't enough.
What mattered was whether the ones who would be paying could be convinced.
"Simple," Steven replied casually.
"It's going to explode because it's dying, right? So if I just heal it… then it won't explode. Problem solved."
Kal'tsit stared at him.
—And then gave him a flat, unamused look.
That logic? Anyone could understand it.
The problem was, how exactly were they supposed to heal something the size of an island?
Even setting aside whether he knew the root cause of its condition, the sheer amount of resources required to restore something like that would be astronomical.
This kind of "solution" sounded no different from saying nothing at all.
Kal'tsit almost voiced that thought, but just as the words reached her lips, she caught sight of Steven's calm expression.
Right.
For anyone else, it would be impossible.
But for him? Maybe not.
"Let me be clear," Kal'tsit said after a brief pause, forcing herself to stay rational. "I may know quite a few people, but if you expect them to provide the resources needed to heal a beast of that scale… that's pure fantasy."
"You can't seriously expect that just by saying a few words, you'll convince those people to hand over everything they have."
"The cost of treating something like this…" She shook her head slightly. "I don't believe anyone could afford it."
She wasn't exaggerating.
Some things couldn't be solved just by talking people into cooperation.
Everyone had their own interests.
If selflessness were so easy, there would be no wars in this world.
If those people only needed to pay a manageable price, they might be willing to treat it as a disaster expense.
But the moment the cost exceeded their limits?
They would rather gamble on destruction itself, even if it meant wiping everything out and starting over.
Steven waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm not counting on you for the materials. There's no way anyone here could come up with that kind of resource anyway," he said casually. "And that's not what I need."
What he did need, however, was something else entirely.
"What I want is for you to help me contact the rulers of every nation on land," he continued, his tone light but firm. "If we're saving the world, then every country should at least contribute something. At the very least, they should know what's happening—and who's stepping up to save it."
Steven had never been the low-profile type.
The whole "do good deeds without leaving a name" thing? He'd seen enough of that.
Now that he was about to do something on the level of saving the world, there was no way he'd let all those rulers sit comfortably at home and reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Everyone had to show some sincerity.
It didn't matter how much they gave—but the attitude had to be there.
Steven wasn't a selfless hero.
If they wanted his help to save this world on the brink of destruction, then rewards and recognition were only fair. He had no intention of becoming some silent, saintly figure people would praise endlessly while taking everything for granted.
As for whether this might affect his life later?
Simple.
He'd just use a disguise.
Didn't he already have the perfect identity lying around? That "Void Knight" persona he'd left behind in Kazimierz…
"Masked Rider Evol saves the world"—honestly, that sounded pretty awesome.
"…Since when did you start caring about fame?" Kal'tsit asked, slightly surprised.
Of all things, she hadn't expected this to be Steven's first demand.
It wasn't exactly easy to accomplish—but it wasn't impossible either.
With Nian here, along with the Emperor—a Fragment of Sui and a Beast Lord—and the recorded evidence of Zorah Magdaros that Nian had captured earlier, negotiating with the leaders of various nations was entirely feasible.
Still, this meant Steven would be stepping into the spotlight himself, exposing just how unusual he truly was.
And that didn't quite match the image Kal'tsit had of him.
He wasn't exactly low-key, sure—but he also didn't seem like someone who would so easily reveal his full capabilities.
"Hey, this isn't just empty fame," Steven replied with a shrug. "What era are we in? And you're still talking about nameless heroes?"
"If I'm doing something that'll go down in history, shouldn't everyone know about it? Shouldn't it serve as an example?"
"Or are you saying that someone who saves the world shouldn't get that kind of recognition?"
He paused briefly, then added with a grin:
"Besides, I never said that alone would be enough. As for the real conditions… I'll think about those later."
Steven already had a rough idea of the reward that he want in mind.
But that could wait.
Once he truly accomplished the feat of stopping Zorah Magdaros from exploding, he would have effectively demonstrated his power to the entire world.
And at that point, when he asked for something in return, no one would dare refuse.
Kal'tsit quickly grasped his meaning.
After a slight nod of acknowledgment, she lifted her gaze and met Steven's eyes again, her expression turning serious.
"Then which identity are you planning to use to take on this responsibility?" she asked. "Let me be clear—Rhodes Island, as it stands, doesn't have the strength to stand on this stage. Your consortium might barely qualify, but even that wouldn't be stable enough."
Steven simply smiled, patting her shoulder lightly.
"I've got plenty of aliases," he said casually. "And the most convincing one… I think you already know which it is."
"That identity just so happens to avoid exposing anything you'd rather keep hidden."
He left the rest to her.
Handling things like this had never been his strong suit.
Kal'tsit, on the other hand, understood immediately. She gave a small nod, silently agreeing.
If he used that "Void Knight" persona, then yes—its credibility would be overwhelming. The kind of presence that rivaled gods themselves… that was what someone capable of resolving a world-ending disaster should look like.
If he walked out there as he was now? No one would believe him, they'd just think he was some lunatic who showed up out of nowhere.
"So basically," Nian cut in from the side, frowning slightly, "you dragged me and this fat penguin here just to act as witnesses, didn't you?"
From her perspective, the conversation between Steven and Kal'tsit sounded like riddles layered on riddles.
All she really understood was this:
The world was about to end.
Steven had a way to fix it.
But for some reason, people needed to know he was the one doing it.
Everything else was beyond her.
"Well, what else?" Steven turned to her with a grin. "Did you think I invited you out here for a relaxing sea voyage? Maybe to enjoy some special 'hospitality' from the Seaborn, and help you find inspiration for a Waterworld-style film?"
"I wish that were the case," Nian sighed, giving a helpless smile. "But clearly, the kind lady next to you wouldn't agree to something like that."
"Once you're dragged into this kind of mess… there's no getting out of it."
She glanced at Kal'tsit, then back at the vast ocean.
The reality was already set in stone.
There was no longer any choice to be made.
But then again, If she thought about it differently…
Being part of something like saving the world?
That actually sounded kind of interesting.
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Note:
I'm changing Steven Black Hole Knight title into Void Knight, since I'm pretty sure only a very select few in Terra know what a Black Hole is, so calling him that doesn't make sense.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 617: A Bold Guess[1]
Link: https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628[2]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628