Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

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"Father, are you alright?"

Arrogance noticed that Link Star's expression had shifted slightly. Link shook his head and replied, "It's nothing. I just feel... a strange sense of unease."

He turned his gaze toward the nearby sea, where the shimmering waves mixed with oily reflections, creating a murky, polluted expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly.

What exactly were the basic necessities of life in a cyberpunk world?

Link Star pondered this deeply, recalling the stories and biographies he had read in his past life about the League of Legends universe.

Among the tales of the Project universe, he had only read one: Cat, Mouse, and Neon Rat. It briefly mentioned the dietary habits of the people there.

They relied on something called—nutrient packs.

Were they similar to the nutrient solutions he had created?

Link pulled out a sheet of parchment and retrieved a row of nutrient vials from it. These were his own creations, packed with proteins, water, vitamins, and essential minerals.

A single vial contained only ten milliliters, yet it provided enough energy to sustain a grown man for an entire day without the need for food or water.

During his experiments and inventions, Link often drank one to save time on meals.

However, these nutrient solutions came with a downside. While they fulfilled the body's nutritional needs, they also disrupted normal bodily functions.

Excretion wasn't just about eliminating food waste and excess water—it was also about expelling metabolic byproducts.

Thus, consuming these nutrient solutions required drinking plenty of water to compensate.

Could these vials serve as the basic survival supplies for Irelia in the Project universe?

Lost in thought, Link stored the row of twelve nutrient vials into an attachment and began drafting a reply.

Dear Irelia,

After hearing about your plight, I am deeply moved.

Even as a merchant, I find your situation heartbreaking.

I had no idea that your society was so harsh, lacking even the most basic guarantees for survival.

Out of a sense of empathy as a fellow social being, I am willing to offer what assistance I can. Please see the attached for details.

With a few simple lines, Link sent the message.

He had said what needed to be said. While his words weren't overly direct, he hoped the underlying message was clear: he could provide aid, but only in exchange for resources from the Project universe.

Their technology was incredibly advanced, ranking among the top in the multiverse of skin universes.

The wait for a reply felt tedious, but for Link, it was a rare pleasure.

The unknown—

He had no idea how the recipient would react to his message or what might be sent in the attachment.

This sense of curiosity and anticipation brewed within him, creating an indescribable feeling.

Then, the reply arrived.

Link opened the message, first checking the attachment.

It flickered slightly, indicating that something had been sent along with the letter.

Assured that there was a return gift, he began reading the contents.

Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Star.

As the discarded, we have endured countless sneers, spits, and scorn.

Society has no place for us; the cities offer no refuge.

Branded as failures, we are left to scavenge in the acid rain of the wastelands beyond the city walls.

Yet, even in these conditions, we must survive.

Not just out of instinct, but because within our cybernetic bodies, traces of our humanity remain.

We are deeply grateful for your aid, which has alleviated our most urgent needs.

However, we understand that charity cannot last forever and may breed resentment.

Thus, we humbly ask for the opportunity to engage in fair trade.

I have included a list of tradable items in the attachment, along with an upgrade module. I hope you find it to your liking.

"Hmm, as expected of Irelia, leading the discarded to survive in the wastelands," Link murmured, nodding in approval as he opened the attachment.

Inside, he found a slightly worn upgrade module and a cylindrical device about twenty centimeters long.

It seemed that Irelia's story always followed the same pattern: persecution, followed by a fierce struggle to rise above it.

The cylindrical device had a unique button. When pressed, a holographic screen extended from it.

Link blinked as he examined the items and text displayed on the screen.

The writing system of the Project universe was completely different from his own. How was he supposed to read this?

Fortunately, the device was intelligent enough. With a light tap, it began to audibly describe the items.

"Let's see—" Link scanned through the list.

Nekko, curious as a cat spotting a mouse, crept closer, sniffing at the device and reaching out to touch it.

"Carbon fiber plastic formula, synthetic fleece formula, light-blocking lenses, magnetic generator blueprint, pneumatic valve strut, servo motor blueprint, anodized steel formula..."

The list was diverse, but based on the intelligence Link had gathered, resources in the wastelands were far scarcer than in the neon-lit cities.

Most of the materials and parts had to be scavenged or obtained through combat.

In other words, Irelia and her people relied on two methods: scavenging and fighting.

To put it simply, they survived by picking through trash and looting enemies.

Scavenging was straightforward—the cities discarded their waste into the wastelands. As for looting, that came from Irelia's clashes with the Project corporation.

Even if these were just scraps and blueprints, they held immense value for Link.

Exploring a technological system entirely different from his own was of monumental significance.

Not only could it lead to new breakthroughs, but it could also help him overcome current technological bottlenecks.

And what did he have to offer in return?

For now, it was just the nutrient solutions he had concocted.

Even if he didn't use the nutrient solutions, he could trade food and water instead.

"Heh, they've even set specific prices. How interesting!"

Link examined the items that caught his eye, each marked with a price set by Irelia.

The currency for this trade was the nutrient vials he had sent.

The most expensive item required three thousand vials, while the cheapest was only fifty.

As for whether Link was profiting or losing in this exchange?

You might think you're getting a good deal, but I'll never lose!

"Looks like I'll need to produce a large batch of nutrient solutions. I wonder if Irelia's people need food and water as well."

Lost in thought, Link stood up from his chair, storing the item list and picking up the upgrade module, which was no larger than a child's fist.

At first glance, it appeared to be a triangular metal block with a data port at the bottom, likely used to upgrade equipment.

But—

"This thing is completely useless to me right now!"

Link fiddled with the module, tracing the scratches and marks on its surface.

"Well, it's better than nothing. I'll keep it as a memento."

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 156 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 310 power stones I will publish the next chapter.