【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

"Hey, don't go, kid." He stopped me with a smile, "Why don't you come and see our latest 'trophy'? The new team we went on a mission with before."

He led me to a dilapidated courtyard, another of their "temporary bases." It was a row of low houses, and on the square table in the center was a pile of plant debris and a few green energy balls.

It seems they went to provoke the fighting plants.

I stared at the remains of the combat plants on the table, especially the green energy, and a ripple of emotion arose in my heart.

"These newbies are quite courageous," I casually commented, reaching out to pick up a broken leaf and inhale the lingering plant scent. Although the scent was already faint, I could still sense the pressure of a combat plant—it seemed no ordinary creature.

"You have the courage, but you lack the brains." Nightingale leaned slowly against the door frame, a hint of sarcasm on her lips. "We were almost wiped out. But we did gain something."

"Total annihilation?" I raised an eyebrow, looking at these "trophies" and a few guesses emerged in my mind. "It seems that the target plant is a mature one? They are fighting so hard, are you the leader?"

"Don't blame me," he said with a relaxed smile, raising a finger. "These are the missions the newbies applied for themselves, saying they wanted to practice. Tsk, I'm not a babysitter, I just saved their lives."

I narrowed my eyes and turned the energy ball over to examine it. Its emerald green sheen made me greedy. It was undoubtedly the core of the battle plant.

"Are you interested?" Nightingale clearly caught my momentary change of mood. "I know you probably need these things, right? Of course, they're not free. It depends on what you're willing to exchange for them."

I put down the energy ball in my hand and looked at him steadily: "What will you give me in exchange? My life?"

Nightingale chuckled, her tone light but undeniable. "It's not that serious. Just like last time, go on a few more missions with us, accumulate some merit, and you'll naturally get a share of the energy."

I paused, mentally weighing the truth in his words. Battle plant core energy—that kind of thing, sold on the open market, would cause a bloodbath, and it's extremely scarce on the black market. Yet he casually laid it out there, seemingly unconcerned.

"Not everyone can handle the core of a battle plant," I said calmly. "What on earth did you provoke? Don't expect me to clean up the mess next time."

"Don't worry, with you joining us next time, there won't be any unfinished business." Nightingale said with a smile and a meaningful tone.

I casually pulled out a palm-sized piece of plant essence nuclear energy from my space button and played with it. "I don't think I need this thing."

Nightingale's smile froze, but he quickly regained his cynical expression. He narrowed his eyes at the plant energy in my hand, his tone tinged with undisguised curiosity, "Boy, you're really well-hidden. This level of energy isn't something you can easily come across."

I gently toyed with the Essence Nuclear Energy, my fingertips gliding over the smooth surface, seemingly unintentionally, yet also as if showing off. "Who knows? Maybe I'm just lucky." I raised my head and looked directly at Nightingale. "But I really don't care about your little 'trophy'."

Nightingale raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking back and forth between me and the energy source. He clearly understood that the fact that I could produce something like this meant that I wasn't just an ordinary "little devil."

"Interesting," he said, slowly straightening up, his tone becoming more serious. "So what are you trying to tell me by showing this? You don't need our mission, nor do you need our small favors?"

I waved the energy in my hand and said nonchalantly, "You're right, I really don't need it right now." I paused, my eyes sweeping over the remains of the battle plants on the table. "However, if you have something more valuable, I would consider collaborating with you."

Nightingale's eyes grew meaningful, as if he were weighing my worth. He took a step closer and said in a low voice, "Something more valuable...like what?"

I casually tossed the Essence Nuclear Energy and caught it firmly, a smile playing on my lips. "For example, a complete combat plant, or the seeds of a mature plant. If you can get those, come talk to me."

Nightingale didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied me carefully, as if assessing the deeper meaning behind my words. Finally, he smiled faintly and said cheerfully, "Lingzhi, you have quite an appetite."

I shrugged, put away the energy, and turned to leave: "It's not a big deal, you can try it yourself and you will know."

Nightingale's voice, slightly amused, came from behind: "Alright, kid. When we find something 'valuable' enough, don't say you don't need it anymore."

I left the mouse on the table for him and left the yard. My thinking was simple: if those newbies could get such a mission, then I, a "senior mercenary," would certainly have a chance too. I planned to try my luck at the mission hall.