Cassandra Kane, a Rank A Reincarnated. In the real world, she had achieved the title of Sergeant after joining the United States Army, where she served her country with honor.
But in the Reincarnation Space, she was known differently: the Princess of Death. She occupied the second spot on the World Ranking List, just behind Shiva.
What was someone like her doing here? That question kept running through my mind.
Besides being one of the most powerful Reincarnated, Cassandra was also famous in the Reincarnation Space forums for her dazzling beauty.
"I'll be direct, I have no intention of selling the strategy for the Minecraft dungeon," I said, immediately cutting off any idea she might have in mind.
Cassandra let out a heavy sigh. "Can we talk in private anyway? There are too many people here," she replied, glancing quickly at the crowd surrounding us.
Although I wasn't entirely convinced, I nodded and started to follow her. We headed towards a large building nearby.
This place was known for allowing the rental of rooms by the hour, where Reincarnated could talk without being overheard. The private rooms were usually used to negotiate alliances or plot strategies for the dangerous floors of the Tower of Trials.
Although, let's be honest, many also used them to throw parties...
Once inside the private room, Cassandra and I sat facing each other, with a low table between us.
Cassandra observed me attentively before breaking the silence. "Even though I already received your answer, I have to ask the question again," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I want to buy the strategy you used to complete the impossible dungeon in the Safe Zone."
"It is not for sale," I replied for the second time, with the same firmness as before, without changing my answer.
Cassandra frowned, visibly frustrated. "Do you understand the significance of what you've done?" she asked, her tone more intense. "You have completed a dungeon that has been unsuccessfully attempted for ten years. And you did it with a rating that wasn't even considered possible until now..."
It wasn't just the rarity of my achievement that troubled her, but the fact that I had broken the unwritten rules of the Reincarnation Space.
No one thought something like this could happen, and now everyone wanted to know how I did it.
"All governments are trying to approach you right now," Cassandra revealed, with a serious look. "Each one of them with the intention of buying your strategy to strengthen the Reincarnated under their command."
"Think about what it means," she continued, leaning slightly forward, her tone lower, as if she didn't want even the walls to hear her. "You have achieved something that can change the balance of power within the Reincarnation Space... and outside of it."
"But it's still not for sale," I repeated, maintaining my stance.
The frustration on her face was palpable.
Cassandra pursed her lips, clearly annoyed. "At least let me make my offer before you reject it, damn it!" she exclaimed, her tone sharper than it had been until now.
I made a gesture with my hand, indicating for her to continue, although I knew it would be useless.
Cassandra nodded and began to speak. "This offer comes directly from my superiors. We invite you to the United States... as a citizen," she said, concluding with a slight smile, awaiting my reaction.
I looked at her, incredulous. And that's it? That's the offer? Am I not already a United States citizen? My confusion must have been evident because she smiled again, with a cunning glint in her eyes.
"Or are you already a United States citizen?" she insinuated, tossing her question with the clear intention of obtaining information.
Was it a trap? An attempt to discover where I'm from...
But it really didn't matter if she knew.
In a world full of Reincarnated, finding out my true identity would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
I got up, not deigning to answer her question. "If you're done with your crappy offer, I'm leaving. I have to raid Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials."
"Wait!" Cassandra raised her voice, something she hadn't done until now. "Is there really nothing you want in exchange for the strategy?"
I didn't answer, but the silence was enough. Sometimes, the absence of words is the best response.
Cassandra let out another sigh. How many has it been now? Four, five times since she approached me? I'm not keeping count, but it's clear her patience is wearing thin.
Although I don't care in the slightest...
"I heard rumors that you were selling an enchanted bow with infinity and mending," she continued. "I've heard of enchanted tools accidentally found in the Minecraft dungeon, but those two enchantments... I had never heard of them. Can I see it?"
The enchanted bow appeared in my hand almost without thinking, and I handed it to Cassandra without any fear.
The system does not allow the exchange of special items in this way, so I knew she couldn't steal it, even if she tried.
If she ran off with it right this instant, the bow would disappear from her hands and return directly to my personal warehouse.
Cassandra pulled the bowstring curiously, and an arrow materialized in the air, ready to be shot.
I raised an eyebrow at that.
What was the chance that she had an arrow in her personal warehouse?
"Interested?" I asked, trying my luck with a quick sale. If it saved me a visit to the auction house, all the better.
"I would be lying if I said no," she replied, still examining the bow. "It wouldn't serve me, but my protégé needs a weapon. She started climbing the Tower of Trials recently..."
Did I ask you about your life? I thought, holding back the impulse to say it out loud. I couldn't care less who uses the weapon as long as they buy it.
I might be acting somewhat aggressively, but her patience had almost vanished since her stupid proposal.
"Are you willing to make me a good offer this time?" I said, changing the subject.
Cassandra looked at me with a slight smile. "I offer you 10 thousand reincarnation points."
I stared at her for a few seconds, unable to stop rolling my eyes. "Princess of Death or Princess of Bad Offers?" I blurted out, not disguising my frustration.
Cassandra laughed at my comment, something I hadn't expected. "It's been a long time since anyone talked to me like that," she admitted, with a smile that seemed sincere. "I missed it. Nowadays, everyone treats me too formally."
Again she thinks I care about her life... I thought, hiding my lack of interest behind a neutral expression.
Without warning, Cassandra took something out of her personal space, a small, worn book, with a strange glow that made it clear it was not an ordinary object.
"This here is a skill book," she said, holding it visible between us. "It allows you to instantly learn the Archery skill at a Competent level."
Before I could answer, she pulled out a small green card that glowed with a soft light.
"And this here," she continued, "is a Search Card. You just have to use it, say the name of what you are looking for, and it will guide you directly to its location. It has a total of 3 uses. It recharges on the first day of each month."
A smile spread across my face, showing that we were finally on the same page. "Now you're speaking my language," I said, feeling that the negotiation had taken a much more favorable turn. "We can proceed with the exchange whenever you want."
Learning the Archery skill at a Competent level would be perfect for facing the White Spikes on Floor 1.
As for the Search Card, I already had plans for how to use it.
Cassandra had greatly facilitated my path to completing the 'The Tomorrow War' dungeon on Floor 1.
"I wasn't warming up to you, but now I could kiss you."
"Please don't," she smiled, amused.
I laughed at her response, not taking it seriously.
I was joking from the start.
Although being instantly rejected hurts, you know?