Chapter 56: The Sky Shakes

After listening to Hunter's adventures in the Giant's Corpse Feng Biao thought about what he would have done if he had been sent there.

'Magic sounds like a headache to deal with. Not sure I really have any tools to deal with besides the Vajra, but I wouldn't have gotten the Vajra if I had gone to the Giant's Corpse.'

"Hey Hunter, I need some help."

"No problem, what is it?"

"Do you know anybody trustworthy who can decipher a hidden message on this," Feng Biao said as he handed Hunter a flashcard.

"You think there's a hidden message on this flashcard," Hunter said with a raised eyebrow towards Feng Biao.

"Yeah, so do you know anybody we can ask? The stuff written on it is impossible for me to understand."

"Biao," Hunter said looking at Feng Biao as if he had found out Feng Biao had lost a loved one, "it's like basic σ-algebra..."

"Bro, can you count?" Hunter said worriedly.

"Of course, I can count! It's just I had to drop out of school when they started teaching us about those letters that represent numbers."

"Biao, I don't know whether to pity you or punch you..."

"You understand that stuff?"

"Of course I understand it. I think they made me learn this stuff when I was like...10?"

"The study schedule when you're in the academy," Hunter visibly shivered, "I don't ever wanna go back to that again!"

Seeing Feng Biao didn't quite understand what he meant Hunter went on.

"See when you're in the Academy you're there cause you're either gonna get a Mark or you have a good chance of getting one."

"But remember, not all Marked are combat capable, so just in case we get a Mark that is more suited for the sciences we're expected to prepare."

"Which ends up meaning we have to learn as much math and engineering as they can possibly cram into our brain. The only way to skip out on the real brain-melting stuff is you manifest a Mark suited for combat."

"But," Hunter said with tears welling in his eyes, "I didn't get my Mark until I was 15. The things they made me learn..."

"Sorry, Hunter," Feng Biao said patting his friend on the back.

"Anyways, I'll see what message is hidden here, shouldn't be too difficult. Nothing will ever be as difficult as topology," Hunter said rubbing his temple.

Sitting down Feng Biao saw Hunter rapidly write down math at a rapid pace. Filling up the pages of a notebook with funny symbols that were impossible for him to follow.

Interrupting both their thoughts was a buzzing from Hunter's bag. Zipping it open Feng Biao found his PDS was the culprit.

"I gotta take this," Feng Biao said waving to Hunter.

"No problem."

'A message from Chen Lan.'

"Feng Biao, the amount made on your end from the Marble is going to be sent soon. Please make sure to send me what you made."

"The total cost for the Ambrosia I gave you is 2 Mythological Crystals at the current market rate."

'2 Mythological Crystals?'

'How expensive is that exactly?'

Searching on his PDS Feng Biao found something that confused him.

"It can't be bought with Merits?"

"What can't be bought with Merits?" Hunter said looking up at Feng Biao.

"M-Crystals."

"Oh yeah. It's basically a higher form of currency in and of itself."

"Wait a minute," Hunter said his eyes squinting," why do you care?"

"To be honest I owe somebody two M-Crystals."

"Biao you got tricked! Just because you can count to two doesn't mean M-Crystals are worth so little!"

"I mean how long is it gonna take to pay it off?"

"2 years? Maybe 3."

"Come on tell me what's going on Biao, you definitely got tricked cause there's no way you owe that much."

"Somebody saved my life by feeding me something called Ambrosia."

Hunter looked stupefied while he processed what Feng Biao just said. When he had heard Biao was in the hospital after his exam he hadn't been concerned.

Marbles were dangerous and it was common to suffer if one entered them. However, Marked were incredibly resilient. If a Marked was able to make it to the hospital the chances of him dying were incredibly slim.

In fact, Marked typically only died from two things. Old age and lethal wounds left untreated.

To hear Feng Biao drank Ambrosia made Hunter groan. There were few things capable of saving a life in a Marble, but Feng Biao's had been saved by one of the most expensive.

"Biao, what exactly happened when you took your exam?"

"Brandon, it said we'll arrive soon."

The young man named Brandon Steele tore his view away from the window and replied, "Neat."

"I don't understand why we didn't just take a taxi."

"I like the view outside," Brandon said as he began to slide out of his seat.

"And, I'm happy to spend more time alone with you."

A hand with 1 star and three tally marks batted away a hand with 3 stars.

"Brandon, you do realize you weren't sent here to go sightseeing, right? You're here to meet Song Zhilan and make her position clear."

"Ahh yeah, my wife, what are you jealous? Cause I'm pretty sure polygamy is legal back home."

"Very funny."

Watching the only other inhabitant of the automatically piloted vehicle storm away Brandon sighed.

"A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted."

Brandon slumped in his seat and went back to watching the world pass him by.

"Oh hey, I think I just saw a dog!"

"Biao you fucking rock!"

"Is it that impressive?"

"You killed a Black Oni yes that's impressive. Honestly, it sounds like you did 10x as much as I did in my exam."

"I guess," Feng Biao said shrugging his shoulders, "anyways how do you think I can pay back 2 M-Crystals?"

"That's tough. I wasn't joking when I said it could take a few years at your level."

"But from what you've described so far you should be getting a decent cut from the dead Oni on the mountain. Some of them are bound to have M-Shards and M-Fragments on them."

"I can help write out a plan for you to repay the debt. First, we'll look at the average level of return cost-time ratio of certain missions within Marbles. Next, I'll calculate the average deaths that occur within those Marbles based on the Rank of the Marked. And then I'll have something outlined for you, but first, let me solve this math puzzle."

"Ok..."

Feng Biao laid down on his bed and watched Hunter continue to assault the problem looking for an answer.

'Should I learn math too?'