Allen looked up. The middle-aged Wizard standing before him was thin and spoke with a gentle voice.
"Please, have a seat," Allen said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him and leaning back slightly. "Mr. Ortus, my list makes it very clear: Geocentric Flame Marrow is prioritized for cultivation materials. It seems there are no such items among your goods."
"I know."
Ortus sat down, speaking rapidly. "I am not a pioneer. I am a direct academic researcher for the Ring City Alliance, residing long-term in the fortress, specializing in high-energy elemental fusion theory. These seven pieces of Geocentric Flame Marrow are urgently needed for my current project."
With a flick of his wrist, he took a bizarre object out of his Storage Ring and gently placed it on the table.
It was a palm-sized conch shell, entirely translucent and deep blue, its surface covered in natural silver veins.
