Chapter 142: Lunda

"I guess one. That person wanted something rich in energy. Even though that stone couldn't be refined or absorbed, it contained so much energy that it should be worth at least one!"

The young girl in blue, who had been fiddling with a slender sword, spoke up after hearing the silent man, voicing her own guess before looking at Finch.

"I guess half a pill. Lunda rarely speaks, but whenever he does, he's always right."

The composed youth glanced at Lunda, the silent man sitting with his head bowed, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes as he expressed his support for Lunda’s opinion.

"Hmph, you guys didn't see Brother Finch’s smug grin. He definitely knows we're all wrong. Brother Finch, stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us. Don't tell me you didn't even get half a pill?!"

Hearing the girl in red, Finch was speechless. He triumphantly held up a hand and wiggled his fingers before their eyes.

"Ah, only one-fifth?"
"One-fifth, that's a bit low!"
"Yeah!"

Except for Lunda, the other three chimed in, completely failing to notice that Finch’s face had turned dark.

"It's five! Five Seven-Star Pills!"

Finch, preventing himself from coughing up blood out of frustration, roared at them, leaving everyone stunned.

"Five? Brother Finch, are you running a fever?"

"Hmph!"

Giving the girl in red a disdainful look, Finch took out the pill bottle he kept close to his chest and poured out five round, smooth pills. Seven tiny stars on each pill were clearly visible—they were genuine Seven-Star Pills.

"Seven-Star Pills?"
"Are these really Seven-Star Pills?"

The four of them carefully and incredulously picked up a pill each, staring with obsession at the star-shaped patterns and whispering to themselves in disbelief.

"Brother Finch, what did you trade for these? It couldn't really have been that worthless rock, could it?" The composed youth withdrew his gaze, set the pill on the table, swallowed hard, and asked in disbelief.

"Hmph!"

With a proud, cold snort that conveyed his disdain, Finch remained silent.

"Brother Finch, you're amazing! You managed to trade for exactly five. Are you planning to give one to each of us? I'll take this one first and pay you back later!"

The girl in red giggled mischievously, making a move to stuff the pill into her bodice while keeping her eyes on Finch.

"No way!"

Finch rejected her request without hesitation, prying the Seven-Star Pill from the girl’s pathetic grasp. The other three reacted with varied expressions but said nothing.

"The first one isn't for you. It goes to Lunda first. Even though he doesn't like to talk, he’s always responsible for scouting, which is hard work. You don't have any objections to Lunda getting the first one, do you?"

"Whether it's first or last, it's all the same!" Muttering under her breath, the girl in red shot a look of contempt at Finch, though she truly had no objections to Lunda going first; everyone knew how much Lunda contributed.

Ignoring her, Finch handed the next two pills to the composed youth and the girl in blue, then nonchalantly prepared to put the remaining two Seven-Star Pills back into his robe.

"Brother Finch, we can't do this! It's so immoral! How can there not be one for me?!"

Pouncing forward and grabbing the pill bottle, the girl in red looked at Finch with a pitiable, teary-eyed expression.

"Hmph, and who was it that just said my rock was broken and worthless?"

Brushing off the girl’s claws, Finch looked at her with a strange, mischievous smile. His voice made her grit her teeth; she almost couldn't resist punching him.

"Brother Finch, it was my mistake! Your rock is so valuable! Won't you just give me one Seven-Star Pill?!"

Since pity didn't work, she switched to a charming, coy act, shaking his arm and acting bashful. The group shuddered, covered in goosebumps.

"Here, take it! You’re being so disgusting it’s killing me!"

Throwing a pill at her like he was dealing with a ghost, Finch immediately fled to Lunda’s side, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and using him as a human shield.

"Finch, what did you say? Do you really think I’m easy to bully? Today I’ll show you that my sword isn't just for show!"

After taking the pill, the girl’s expression shifted instantly. She drew her sword and lunged at Finch, the heat of her crimson battle energy causing the room's temperature to soar.

"Tch, do you think I'm stupid? I'm a mage, why would I play melee with you!"

Hiding behind Lunda, Finch showed no dignity for someone ranked fifth, shamelessly bickering with the girl. If those who secretly admired him saw this, who knows how many hearts would be shattered.

After bickering for a while, the noise finally ceased at a single word from Lunda. Everyone returned to their seats.

"Brother Finch, why was the person who posted the mission willing to trade five Seven-Star Pills for your rock?" The girl in blue asked the question everyone had been holding back. The others turned to Finch, waiting for his explanation.

"Since we returned from the Trial Forest, whose name have you heard the most?"

"Hanrode!"
"Chelsea!"
"Wang Luo!"

"Correct!" Lunda’s concise answer earned him a roll of the eyes from the girl in red. That guy was always right—except about that broken rock.

"The one who posted the mission was Wang Luo!"

"Wang Luo, another spoiled rich kid!" The composed youth sneered, then, as if remembering something, he glanced at the silent, black-clad Lunda, his eyes flashing with that same strange look again.

"Definitely a spoiled brat!" The two girls agreed. They despised people who relied on family wealth and backgrounds to pile up pills. Since Wang Luo had reached the incredible peak of the sixth level at such a young age, he was naturally categorized as one of them.

"Lunda, what do you think?" Seeing Finch ask him, the other three turned to Lunda as well, curious about his insight.

"Me?" Raising his head, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. Lunda looked at the four people staring at him, pondered for a moment, and spoke slowly.

"Brother Finch means that the rock isn't worth that price, and Wang Luo gave us the five Seven-Star Pills on purpose?"

"Mm." Seeing Finch nod, the other three looked at each other, confused as to why Wang Luo would give them pills when they didn't even know him.

The composed youth watched Lunda, who had bowed his head again. He had caught the subtle change in Lunda’s expression and that peculiar, fleeting look in his eyes when he mentioned Wang Luo. If he hadn't been watching Lunda closely, he never would have noticed.

"Hmph, Wang Luo, is it?"

Sneering in his heart, a glint of killing intent flashed in the composed youth’s eyes, completely unaware that at that very moment, a black light had flickered and vanished in Lunda’s hand.