Negotiations being made

"Really?!" — Drayan's murderous intent diminished in an instant.

Drayan seemed interested in the proposal.

"I guarantee I'll give her to you! But to introduce you to her, I need to stay alive. You need to take me home..."

Even though Drayan was interested, he didn't know if Tone was telling the truth.

"How do I know you really have a sister? Don't you think you might be tricking me?"

"I'm serious!"

"If you're lying, know that you'll be on my list of dead men."

"List?"

Tone stumbled backward upon hearing those words. Drayan was so terrifying, he had a list of how many people he had killed.

But Tone was mistaken. The only one on his list of dead men was Fluo.

However, Tone was about to join the list too.

"Now tell me, the second reason not to kill you."

"Wait! I'm giving my sister to you! My sister is worth two, you know?!"

"Really, your sister must be a good person, unlike you. After all, what kind of brother bets his own sister? But whatever. I'll take you home, and be prepared to speak very well of me to your sister."

"Yes... For sure..." — Tone shrugged his shoulders and accepted Drayan's conditions.

Even though Drayan acted coldly, he still had a soft heart sometimes.

Drayan then began eating the evolved monkey meat.

"Damn it! Are you really not going to give me any meat?!"

"Business is business, give me something valuable, and I'll give you some food. That's how the world works."

Tone's blood boiled, but he couldn't do anything. There was no way Tone could kill Drayan and take the monkey meat.

Tone had seen Drayan fight and recognized how strong he was. Tone just had to find a way to take advantage of the situation somehow.

I need to find a quick way to get home... — Tone thought.

"How about this? I have some valuable belongings at home; I can give you some if you take me home now."

"I can't take you home, I still need to eat the monkey meat."

...

Drayan had his mouth full, so he paused for a moment to swallow the food.

"And also, since when do you give orders around here? I'll take you home when I feel like it." — Said Drayan, using his dagger to cut a piece of monkey meat.

What's with this guy? He's tougher than iron! Now that it's come to this, I have no choice!

"Alright! Alright, man! I'll give you one of my most precious genes!"

Drayan looked at Tone and could see the truth in his words. It didn't seem like Tone was lying this time.

"Tell me more about this ability."

"Give me two monkey bodies, and I'll tell you everything about my ability, that's how the world works, right?" — Tone smiled.

"You're quite funny. But I'll play your game. Go fetch, doggy." — Drayan smiled and threw two monkey bodies in the air, which landed a few meters away.

Even though he was angry, Tone went to get the meat.

That bastard, treating me like a dog!

Tone sat next to Drayan and started eating monkey meat while talking more about his genes.

Drayan listened attentively and also tried to see if at any point Tone would slip up and tell a lie.

But Tone's ability was indeed good.

"Shield-type body genes?"

"I know, it's just a high-level evolved turtle shell! But seriously! This shield is really good! It can withstand at least three attacks from a modified creature before starting to crack. I assure you, the shell is almost at the modified level!"

Common turtle shells are already quite resistant, so an evolved one has greater durability.

It might be an evolved shell, but Drayan could evolve the genes so that the shell could become modified or mutant level one day. Besides, it wasn't easy to find sea turtles. Of course, Drayan could still find low-level evolved turtles, but at the moment, it wasn't worth it for Drayan to keep low-level evolved creatures.

Although withstanding three attacks from a creature might seem little, Drayan knew that a high-level evolved weapon would break the moment it hit a low-level modified creature.

But this shield could withstand more.

So a high-level shield, withstanding three hits before breaking, showed how powerful the shield could be in the future if Drayan evolved the shell.

"Deal. I accept the shield. But you also have the turtle, right?"

"No way! I can't give you my turtle, it was the first creature I got! It's my favorite pet! I have a very strong bond with her... You understand?!"

"Calm down, boy. I got it."

Tone seemed to like the turtle a lot, but he was being hasty; Drayan wasn't interested in taking Tone's turtle.

Drayan understood very well the relationship between an owner and a creature. After all, Drayan felt very bad when Grassh died.

Drayan also saw little advantage in having a turtle, especially for fighting. He already had a marine creature, the sawfish shark. The shark was fast and strong.

Turtles are slow. If it were at least a high-level modified turtle, Drayan might want it. But a high-level evolved slow creature didn't catch Drayan's attention.

"I don't want the turtle. I just want to see what it looks like."

"Just that? Alright. I'll show you; it's very pretty, you'll see."

Tone stretched out his hand, and a dark blue slime emerged from his palm. The slime descended to the ground and stretched, forming a circle.

The slime then began to take shape, turning into a geometric figure like a pyramid. Soon after, the slime shrank, forming a spherical ball. The next scene was almost like a turtle being born. First, small legs took shape, then an oval form on its back.

The slime melted away, revealing a blue-skinned turtle with a black shell. Its appearance was magnificent.

It would be worth keeping it just for its appearance. But Drayan had already told Tone he wouldn't take his turtle, plus Drayan was more interested in the power level of a creature rather than its appearance.

"Is this the turtle you like so much? It's really pretty. Where did you get it?"

"In the sea to the south, but I can't say exactly where. I found the turtle while traveling with my sister. She's the only one who knows the place."

"Your sister... Is she an experienced hunter?"

"Yes, she's been hunting for years and has a very strong body. She easily defeats high-level modified creatures. So if you hurt me, you can be sure my sister will take revenge!"

Got it. It's quite likely that his sister at least has a mid-level modified body and strong enough abilities to fight high-level modified creatures. She's strong, but I can still face her if Tone wants to take revenge on me using his sister.

"She's strong enough to defeat two creatures, three, actually four modified-level creatures."

"Be quiet, boy. I've heard enough." — Drayan slapped Tone on the head.

"Ouch! I'm sorry... B-but I won't let you take my turtle, okay? If she were ugly, I would've given her."

Drayan just ignored Tone and observed the turtle.

The turtle was somewhat large, about the size of a boar.

The turtle began to move, taking short and slow steps.

Drayan and Tone watched the turtle move slowly.

...

It took a minute for the turtle to cover 2 meters and reach the bushes to eat the leaves.

Drayan didn't know if the blue turtle was very heavy or just extremely slow.

But watching the turtle move like that, he confirmed how useless the turtle would be in a fight.

"Now hand over the turtle's shield mutation growth genes."

"Alright... But I want the five pieces of meat first."

Drayan gave Tone a cold look, which made the boy freeze.

"No need to look at me like that, I'll give you the genes right away."