Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

Vincent had been giving his orders to Lizno for quite some time, ensuring every instruction was clear and precise.

"I understand, Young Master," Lizno respectfully replied, his tone steady and filled with determination after carefully listening to the commands.

Vincent acknowledged Lizno's response with a small nod. Initially, he had contemplated being addressed as 'Master' or perhaps something more formal like 'My Lord,' but neither felt quite right to him.

His sharp gaze met Lizno's eyes, making the latter instinctively avert his gaze and lower his head.

"You may use all the assets of the Hyena Gang as your funds," Vincent stated firmly, his voice carrying the authority of someone in control.

Although he had granted Lizno temporary approval, Vincent wasn't the kind to trust someone fully without ample proof of their reliability. Lizno would need to demonstrate his worth through actions.

Lizno, however, was unaware of the extent of Vincent's reservations. To him, this mission was clearly a test—a test of both his behavior and his capabilities. He needed to succeed and prove his value.

With that in mind, he responded confidently, "I won't let you down, Young Master."

"Good," Vincent replied, his tone calm but deliberate.

Vincent turned his attention to the window of the manor, noticing the golden hues of the setting sun spreading across the sky. The day in the Origin World was drawing to a close, and it was almost time for him to resume his training with Special Instructor Arthur Avyss.

His gaze shifted back to Lizno, and he took a moment to assess the man's appearance. Lizno's equipment was entirely composed of common-grade items. The sight made Vincent wonder—was Lizno simply poor, or had his understanding of equipment quality been skewed by his own possession of an 'SSS Rank Talent'?

"What weapon do you specialize in?" Vincent asked, breaking the silence.

Lizno hesitated for only a moment before answering, "I can handle most weapons, but I'm most proficient in the 'Way of Spears,' Young Master."

Vincent acknowledged this with a subtle nod, closing his eyes briefly as he reached into his storage ring. A moment later, he pulled out several items.

Lizno's eyes widened in shock as three glowing blue orbs materialized in Vincent's hands. He instantly recognized them as rare-grade items—something he had never even dreamed of owning.

Three rare-grade items at once!

Lizno had spent years battling Primals, yet he had never managed to obtain anything beyond uncommon-grade gear. His most prized weapon was a mere uncommon-grade spear. The sight of these rare items left him utterly dumbfounded.

Before he could speak, Vincent's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Take off your items."

"What?!" Lizno exclaimed in disbelief.

"Huh?!" Even Mochi, who had been peacefully dozing on Vincent's shoulder, jolted awake, startled by the command.

"S-Sorry, Young Master," Lizno stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I-I am willing to serve you, but not in that way…"

Vincent felt his head throbbed, feeling a surge of annoyance.

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm telling you to replace your items with these!"

He tossed the three blue light orbs toward Lizno, who scrambled to catch them. Afraid the items might shatter upon impact, Lizno's movements were swift and careful. However, he quickly realized his fears were unfounded—items in light orb form were nearly indestructible.

"Keep in mind," Vincent continued, his tone colder now, "I'm only lending these to you. If you want to keep them, you'll have to prove your worth to me."

Lizno's hands trembled slightly as he inspected the items. His astonishment grew as he realized just how powerful they were.

The orbs contained a Rare-Grade Spear Armament, a Rare-Grade Armor-Type Armament, and a Rare-Grade Accessory—all designed to enhance his abilities significantly. With these, Lizno would gain the strength to challenge far more formidable opponents.

Overcome with gratitude, Lizno knelt before Vincent and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Young Master! I swear I will not let you down!"

'Haha! My future is finally looking bright!' Lizno thought gleefully. 'My master is not just powerful—he's unbelievably generous!'

Unable to contain his excitement, he even pressed a kiss to the glowing orbs.

Vincent, however, couldn't stand the overly dramatic display and quickly dismissed him.

"Go. Do your work. And don't bother looking for me—I'll be in the real world."

Lizno bowed one last time before leaving, the rare items clutched tightly in his hands.

With the room now empty, Vincent turned his attention to Mochi, who was watching him curiously. He picked her up and placed her gently on the table.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone serious.

"What about?" Mochi asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

"Tell me more about yourself," Vincent replied.

"Tell me everything you can remember. And most importantly, explain how you're able to absorb Chaos and Primal Energy."

Mochi fell silent, her expression thoughtful. The plump rabbit paced back and forth across the table, her round chin resting on one paw as she tried to gather her thoughts.

After a long pause, she stopped and looked up at Vincent. Her golden eyes glistened with tears, and it became clear she was on the verge of crying again.

Vincent groaned inwardly.

Every time he tried to get personal information from her, it ended the same way—with her acting pitiful and bursting into tears.

"I-I don't remember…" Mochi stammered, her voice trembling.

"I really can't remember anything about myself. All I know are random bits of information…"

Waaah!

Mochi broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Vincent let out a weary sigh and reached out to comfort her.

"All right, all right. Calm down. It's okay. You don't have to force yourself to remember. My bad."

Mochi sniffled and looked up at him, her expression filled with vulnerability.

"Really? You're not going to throw me away?" she asked in a voice so pitiful it made Vincent pause.

'Throw her away?' he thought. What made her think that? But he chose not to press the issue, fearing it might lead to yet another crying fit.

"No," he said firmly. "I won't throw you away. So stop crying now."

Mochi wiped her eyes and nodded.

"I'll be heading back to my world," Vincent said. "Do you want to stay here or come with me?"

Mochi's ears perked up at the question. "Can I come with you?"

"Yes," Vincent replied. "But you'll have to stay inside the capture ball for a little while. Are you okay with that?"

Mochi hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

"Fine," she said, though her tone suggested reluctance.

"But you have to let me out as soon as we arrive!" Read latest stories on empire

Shortly afterward, Vincent returned to the real world, appearing in the same spot where he trained with Special Instructor Arthur Avyss.

The sky was bright, the warm sunlight spilling across the landscape. A gentle breeze rustled his hair, and he removed his mask, letting the fresh air touch his face.

Vincent immediately scanned his surroundings. Being outside the district's walls, caution was essential. To his relief, no Primals were nearby, but there was also no sign of his instructor.

"Did he just leave me out here alone?" Vincent muttered.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ringing of his phone. The caller ID was unfamiliar, but he answered anyway.

A hologram screen projected from the device, revealing a pink-haired woman in a kimono decorated with sakura blossoms. Her appearance was striking—elegant yet undeniably familiar.

Then, she spoke.

"Hello~ How's my little brother doing? Did you miss your Big Sis?"

Vincent's eyes widened slightly.

"Big Sis Valyn…"