After Ren left, the room became quiet again. Arin didn't move immediately. He sat for a while, letting his body settle. The strain from the fight was still there, but it had reduced to a manageable level. His breathing was steady now, and his thoughts had calmed.
Only after that did he begin going through the items he had brought back.
He divided everything into two groups: usable items and mixed items. The usable ones were simple—books, basic materials, and sealed vials. These were things he understood and could use without much effort. The mixed group was different. It included the metal bangle, an old device, and a few other items that didn't show any clear purpose at first glance.
He started with the usable items and checked them quickly. Nothing unexpected came up. Everything matched what he had seen while buying, and most of it would help him in the early stages.
Then he moved to the mixed items.
He picked up the old device first and inspected it briefly before scanning it using his terminal. The results showed it was an outdated energy dispenser, designed to release energy from crystals into the surrounding air. It could still be repaired and used, especially for assisting energy absorption, but in its current state, it wasn't worth much.
Arin placed it aside without thinking further.
The remaining items didn't return anything useful. Most of them were marked as damaged or outdated, with little to no practical value. After checking everything once, Arin leaned back slightly and let out a slow breath. It was clear that most of what he had picked from the mixed section had little value. Repairing the device would take effort and cost, and the rest didn't even have a defined use.
His attention then shifted to the metal bangle.
He picked it up again and held it in his hand. The surface still looked ordinary, but the weight didn't match its size, and the material felt denser than expected. He scanned it using his terminal, but the results were unclear, showing mostly similar-looking accessories without any useful information.
Instead of stopping there, he adjusted the scan settings and focused on structure rather than appearance.
This time, a few results changed. Some older designs appeared, along with items made from uncommon materials. One of them caught his attention. The match percentage wasn't high, but the structure was similar enough to keep him looking.
He opened the details and found references to old storage-type equipment. Arin didn't immediately look away. Something about it didn't match the rest. The structure wasn't just old—it looked deliberate, like it was made with a specific purpose beyond simple storage.
He didn't jump to conclusions. Instead, he placed the bangle on the table and took a cleaning solution, carefully wiping the surface. The dirt and residue cleared slowly, revealing more detail underneath.
As the surface became clean, the structure changed slightly. The rigid form softened and adjusted into a flexible bracelet that could fit naturally around the wrist. The metal had a dull silver tone, but faint patterns ran across it in thin lines, forming a subtle design that hadn't been visible before.
When light reflected on it, a soft blue hue appeared along parts of those lines. Small crystal nodes were embedded into the bracelet itself, fixed seamlessly into the metal. They didn't stand out at first glance, but once noticed, they gave the bracelet an unusual appearance.
It still looked old, but no longer like scrap.
Arin rotated it once in his hand, paying more attention this time. He scanned it again, and the results aligned slightly better than before. Old storage-type equipment. The information wasn't complete, but it was enough to change his understanding.
If this was really a storage item, then its value was far beyond what he had paid. Even an empty one would be worth a significant amount. If it still contained anything inside, the value would increase even further.
A faint smile appeared on his face as the thought settled in. Looks like I used up a lifetime of luck today…
He didn't rush.
He tried to activate it by directing energy into it, keeping the flow controlled and steady. Nothing happened. He adjusted the method and tried again, but the result didn't change. The bracelet remained unresponsive.
Arin continued testing a few variations, changing the intensity and flow, but there was still no reaction.
After several attempts, he stopped. The earlier expectation faded, replaced by a more grounded conclusion. It was possible that the item was damaged or required a method he didn't know yet. Either way, he couldn't use it now.
The brief rise in expectation dropped just as quickly as it had come.
He placed the bracelet back on the table and didn't try again. He had already spent enough time on it. For now, it wasn't something he could rely on, but it wasn't something he could ignore either.
Instead, he picked up one of the books from the usable items. If he wanted to move forward, he needed to improve his strength first.
The rest could wait.