Ron squinted his eyes slightly and did not respond to this, instead directly stating his purpose while reinforcing his spirit barrier to prevent the other party from excessive intrusion:
"Kasso said you might have it."
Direct... honest... not bad... Energy Crystals... have many... but exchange... requires equivalents...
The vortex split again, this time into dozens of energy tendrils, each holding a crystal at its end.
These crystals were presented before the three of them, hovering in mid-air for their examination.
Ron was instantly struck by the quality of these crystals.
Each emitted a strong and pure energy fluctuation, far surpassing any Energy Crystal he had seen before.
Various shapes, rich in color, but all shared a flowing, almost living energy pulse within.
"This is indeed a product of the fourth layer."
Reynolds whispered, his eyes glowing with the light of a professional appraiser:
"From the energy density and purity, I’m afraid it’s the top tier batch."
Ron carefully examined each crystal, using "Extraordinary Recognition" to assess their quality and potential uses.
One, in particular, caught his attention—a pale purple crystal in an olive shape.
Its internal energy flow formed a peculiar spiral pattern, like a miniature galaxy.
"This one is interesting." Ron pointed to the crystal: "The energy density is unusually high and possesses self-circulating traits."
Aize’s vortex emitted a wave, and Ron could sense a similar emotion of surprise:
Keen eyesight... rare... that is the "Breath of Chaos"... fourth layer... special cave... energy self-circulation... extremely rare...
"Price?" Ron asked straightforwardly.
No Magic Stone... need to exchange... equivalent... a piece of your bone...
Ron frowned, "Bone?"
Reynolds and Kasso exchanged a tense glance.
Kasso softly explained:
"Sometimes Aize proposes... unconventional exchange terms. Usually not literal, but rather symbolic or metaphorical."
Memory... bone... framework supporting the soul... I can sense you’ve had a link with beings of higher dimensions... I want that bone
Ron pondered this peculiar demand, trying to decipher its true meaning.
In the vortex, thoughts continued to transmit to him, fragmented:
Just to share with me... not seize... you won’t lose anything...
"You want to share that piece of memory with me in exchange?" Ron finally understood the other party’s intention.
The center of the vortex flickered, as if nodding in confirmation.
It seemed his link during the "Star Eater’s Ravings" meditation with those living stars and even the "Devourer" attracted the other party.
This relieved him somewhat.
"How do I ensure you only take the memory I permit?" he cautiously asked.
The energy vortex fluctuated again, this time forming a complex symbol, hovering in front of Ron:
Contract... ancient rules... fair trade... breach means mutual defeat...
Reynolds gently reminded:
"This appears to be a symbol of an Elemental Contract. Once signed, neither party can defy it, or they both face severe repercussions."
Ron weighed the risks and benefits.
If he could obtain this crystal, it would be a huge leap for the Stand-In Puppet’s charging.
And the cost of exchange—a non-core memory—seemed acceptable in the long run and within his control.
"I agree, but I reserve the right to control the content of the shared memory throughout," Ron finally decided.
The vortex emitted a wave of pleasure:
Wise... fair... mutual choice... equilibrium reached...
Aize’s energy body began to reorganize, the central part condensing into a more complex shape.
In Ron’s special vision, that shape vaguely revealed a blurry human face.
Both human-like and carrying traits of elemental life, yet twisted beyond recognition of its original form.
Extend your hand... touch the contract...
After confirming through Extraordinary Recognition that the contract was harmless, Ron took a deep breath and slowly extended his right hand, fingertips touching the floating symbol.
Instantly, a surge of powerful energy coursed through his body, forming a gleaming golden pattern on his skin’s surface.
It quickly vanished, as if merging into his bloodstream.
Meanwhile, his thoughts were lightly tugged, and memories surged like a tide.
That piece of memory was about his recent connection with the "Hermit Star," containing complex information about this ancient fragment.
The other party seemed unwilling to provoke the big boss "Devourer," which matched his thinking.
Choice completed... exchange begins...
In a moment, Ron felt a slight tingling in his head, followed by a brief blankness.
Meanwhile, the "Breath of Chaos" crystal drifted toward him, settling steadily into his palm.
The moment the crystal made contact with his skin, Ron felt an invigorating energy surging through his body.
Like a shot of adrenaline, it refreshed his spirit.
Exchange complete... fair... satisfied...
Aize’s vortex gradually restored its calm, and the floating crystals retreated to their original position.
Ron carefully stored the acquired crystal into his spatial bag and quickly checked his spirit state to ensure no other mental damage.
"This was indeed... a very rare successful transaction."
Kasso said softly, with a touch of amazement in his tone:
"Aize rarely shows such ’generosity’ to someone on their first meeting."
Reynolds’s expression also showed disbelief:
"I’ve seen many wizards seeking trade, most leaving empty-handed, and the few successful ones often paid a heavier price. It seems Aize is truly interested in you."
You... can leave now... but welcome back... especially you... holder of the ancient fragment...
Aize’s last thought echoed in Ron’s mind.
It seemed eager for the three to leave promptly.
The oval opening reappeared on the building’s surface, signaling the three to exit.
Stepping out of the "Ripple Dome," Ron felt a subtle sense of relief.
Though Aize didn’t show overt hostility, the direct method of mental communication was indeed exhausting and discomforting.
After they left, the special building immediately activated its isolation barrier.
The fluid inside flowed and twitched repeatedly, as if reveling in extreme joy.
"Thank you for the introduction." On the other side, Ron nodded to Kasso in gratitude.
"No need to be polite," Kasso smiled, his metallic right arm shimmering in the sunlight:
"If you have subsequent trade needs, feel free to contact me. The outpost hosts similar material exchanges quarterly, if interested next time, let me know in advance, and I can reserve some good stuff for you."
After bidding farewell to Kasso, Reynolds led Ron towards another more important area.
"Since you have acquired the basic materials you need, why not take a look inside our observatory?"
Reynolds said mysteriously:
"Some things might provide unexpected help to your research."