James didn't answer right away.
Instead, his gaze lingered on the nervous boy in front of him—Karria Gally.
Quietly, without drawing attention, he activated his skill.
"...Eye of Scale."
A faint, almost invisible flicker passed through his vision.
Then—
A system window appeared.
[Player Name: Karria Gally]
[Background: Orphaned at birth. Adopted by a couple. Grew up as a reclusive and intelligent individual. Avid reader of isekai novels and speculative fiction.]
[Alignment: Naturally Good]
James read it carefully.
No deception. No hidden malice.
Just… a harmless, awkward nerd thrown into the wrong world.
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
He's safe.
Without moving his lips, James spoke through telepathy.
"He's clean. No bad intent."
Sampon hummed in response.
"Told you. Smells like anxiety, not danger."
Martis didn't reply immediately—but his posture eased just a little.
Then Martis stepped forward, voice calm but sharp.
"…If you approached us, then you already have something."
His eyes locked onto Karria.
"Information."
Karria flinched slightly under the pressure.
"Y-yes… we do—"
Before he could continue—
A woman stepped forward, placing a hand gently in front of him.
"Wait."
Her voice was steady.
Confident.
Unlike Karria, she didn't hesitate under Martis' gaze.
"We don't give information for free."
Martis' brow lifted slightly.
"…Negotiation?"
The woman nodded.
"Of course."
There was a brief pause—
Then suddenly—
"Ah, negotiations? My favorite kind."
Sampon appeared out of nowhere between them.
And before anyone could react—
He casually pulled out a single rose and offered it to the woman with a charming smile.
"For someone as beautiful as you, I'd offer more than information."
Silence.
James blinked.
Karria froze.
The entire Perspicientia group looked stunned.
Martis slowly turned his head.
"…Where did you even get that?"
Sampon didn't miss a beat.
"The power of love."
Martis' expression went flat.
"…I'm going to kill you."
Without warning, he shoved Sampon aside, sending him stumbling a few steps away.
"Focus."
Sampon sighed dramatically. "You have no romance in your soul."
Ignoring him completely, Martis turned back to the woman.
"State your terms."
The woman met his gaze without backing down.
Then she spoke—
"My name is Anagon Gally."
She gestured slightly toward Karria.
"…I'm his sister."
Karria awkwardly raised his hand a little.
"A-adopted…" he added quietly.
Anagon continued as if nothing happened.
"We're willing to share what we know."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward James.
"But in exchange… we want something of equal value."
The air grew tense again.
Not hostile—
But careful.
Measured.
James stepped forward this time, finally speaking.
"…Depends on what you're asking."
Anagon smiled faintly.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Just… calculating.
"That depends," she said softly.
"…on what the Ashura Clan can offer."
Behind her, Karria nervously adjusted his glasses again.
Behind James, Sampon leaned closer and whispered—
"…I like her."
Martis immediately replied—
"…Don't."
Anagon Gally didn't waste time.
"We want runes," she said plainly. "Preferably skill runes."
A small murmur passed through her group. Even Karria Gally glanced at her, a bit surprised by how direct she was.
James was about to respond—
But someone moved first.
Martis.
Without a word, Martis lifted his hand—
And then—
Dozens of runes spilled into existence.
They hovered briefly in the air before dropping into his palm, glowing faintly in different colors.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
James' jaw slowly dropped.
"…Where did you even get all that?"
Beside him, Sampon leaned forward, eyes wide.
"…You've been hiding this?!"
Martis didn't even look at them.
"I got them after my ascension," he said casually. "They're useless to me."
James blinked.
Useless…?
Meanwhile—
Anagon didn't hesitate even for a second.
"Deal."
She stepped forward immediately and extended her hand.
Martis looked at it for a brief moment—
Then took it.
Their handshake was firm.
Equal.
Like two leaders finalizing an agreement.
Even though technically… neither of them were the clan leaders.
Sampon leaned toward James again.
"…Did we just get represented without permission?"
James stared blankly.
"…Apparently."
Karria, on the other hand, looked like he was about to short-circuit.
"W-Wait—Anagon, shouldn't we—discuss—"
"Too late," she replied calmly. "We already have what we need."
Martis released her hand and casually handed over a portion of the runes.
"Now talk."
Anagon nodded once.
Then stepped aside slightly.
"…Karria."
Karria froze for a second.
Then, realizing all eyes were now on him, he adjusted his glasses nervously.
"R-Right…"
He took a deep breath.
"…What we've gathered so far… they're still mostly rumors…"
He glanced at James, then at Martis.
"But… they're consistent."
James crossed his arms.
"…Go on."
Karria nodded.
"I-It's said that this new planet…"
"…isn't entirely new."
That line alone made the atmosphere shift.
"What do you mean?" James asked.
Karria swallowed.
"…Some players believe this world contains fragments of Earth's myths and legends."
A pause.
"…Like El Dorado."
"…Atlantis."
James' eyes narrowed slightly.
Karria continued, gaining a bit of confidence as he spoke.
"And there's more…"
"…A rumor about a group called the Illuminati Clan."
At that, Martis' gaze sharpened.
Karria noticed—but continued anyway.
"They supposedly… know more than everyone else."
"…About this world."
Sampon let out a low whistle.
"…That already sounds annoying."
Karria nodded quickly.
"T-That's not all…"
He hesitated again—
Then said it.
"…The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World…"
James' attention locked in.
"…are said to exist here."
Now even Sampon straightened slightly.
"…All of them?"
Karria nodded.
"…Fully restored."
He began listing them, one by one.
"The Great Pyramid of Giza…"
"The Hanging Gardens of Babylon…"
"The Statue of Zeus at Olympia…"
"The Temple of Artemis…"
"The Colossus of Rhodes…"
"The Lighthouse of Alexandria…"
"…and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus."
Each name landed heavier than the last.
"…Not ruins," Karria added quietly. "Not broken…"
"…But complete."
Silence followed.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
James slowly processed everything.
Myths.
Ancient wonders.
Secret clans.
A world built from legends.
"…This isn't just a survival game anymore," he muttered.
Sampon grinned faintly.
"…It never was."
Martis said nothing—
But his eyes, for the briefest moment—
Carried something deeper.
Like he already knew.
And far away—
Beyond their sight—
Something in this world was already waiting for them.