"Kid, let me examine that. I might even reward you a little."
Yan leaned close to Karl as she spoke, her tone playful. At the same time, she slowly pulled down the collar of her shirt from one shoulder as if she were about to tempt him further.
Karl immediately went speechless.
He didn't believe she would actually go that far, but the way she acted was still enough to make him feel helpless.
"Alright, alright," Karl said, quickly pulling her clothes back up.
"I'll let you study it later. Stop messing around."
Tony had already turned around by this point.
Now he was completely convinced that Yan was Karl's woman. However, he hadn't expected Karl to like… this kind of personality.
After that brief interruption, Karl ignored Yan and continued examining the antiques floating in midair one by one.
Although he had previously discovered the Celestial Divine Tablet, none of the remaining artifacts seemed particularly valuable.
That was until he picked up a strange scepter.
[Pharaoh's Scepter]
A ceremonial scepter once wielded by an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh.
Lost during the War of the Gods.
Later sealed by mortal priests to prevent its power from resurfacing.
It can be unsealed using the power of natural laws.
Once restored, the scepter allows the user to summon Mummy Golems and draw stellar energy through ancient pyramids to strengthen itself.
Karl smiled faintly when he read the system's annotation.
He hadn't expected to discover another artifact so soon.
Compared to the Divine Tablet, this scepter might actually be even more practical.
The ability to channel stellar energy through pyramidal structures could potentially increase his own strength.
After all, if the artifact enhanced itself by absorbing stellar energy, then the user should logically gain the same benefit.
As for the mummy golems…
Karl wasn't particularly interested.
He already possessed the Shadow Ninja Army, which was far more useful than simple undead constructs.
"Tony," Karl said calmly.
"Make a note of this one."
"This artifact is worth 150 years of lifespan."
Tony nodded immediately and had Jarvis record the information.
Meanwhile, Yan stood beside them watching curiously.
She still couldn't understand why Karl seemed able to detect these artifacts so easily while her Angel Eye had failed to detect anything unusual earlier.
Karl continued scanning the remaining antiques.
However, none of the other items contained divine power or any traces of ancient divine usage.
With a casual wave of his hand, Karl used his telekinesis to send all the antiques back into the trucks.
Then he retrieved a section of dragon bone.
Activating the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, he carefully refined the essence contained within the bone.
The purified essence was divided into two separate test tubes:
One corresponding to 100 years of lifespan
One corresponding to 150 years of lifespan
Karl placed both test tubes inside a silver box taken from his system space before handing it to Tony.
Tony then drove the trucks back to his villa with several bodyguards.
At the same time, he informed the various financial groups and wealthy families that they could come retrieve their antiques.
Meanwhile, Karl returned inside the manor.
He took out the Mind Stone.
Using the immense psychic energy contained within the Infinity Stone, he slowly began removing the seals on the Divine Tablet and the Pharaoh's Scepter.
Golden-yellow light flowed across the surface of the two artifacts.
Moments later, the light penetrated deep into their cores.
Gradually, both artifacts began returning to their original forms.
The Divine Tablet transformed into a piece of pure white jade engraved with ancient characters that were impossible to decipher.
The Pharaoh's Scepter, meanwhile, appeared as a black-and-gold staff decorated with eerie runes and intricate carvings.
Karl could now clearly feel the energy fluctuations emanating from both artifacts.
The Pharaoh's Scepter even seemed to contain a small internal dimensional space.
According to the system's description, that space likely served as the storage chamber for the mummy constructs.
Yan walked over curiously.
She had watched Karl use the Mind Stone to restore the artifacts.
When she scanned them again with her Angel Eye, she immediately detected powerful energy signatures.
She also discovered the hidden spatial compartment inside the scepter.
Her gaze toward Karl changed slightly.
There was clear amazement in her expression.
Karl casually handed the Divine Tablet of the Heavenly Court Commander to Yan.
"Here."
"Take it and study it."
"Just remember to build my warship when you're done."
Yan accepted the tablet silently and nodded.
Her Angel Eye immediately activated again.
She began carefully examining the artifact.
Inside the tablet, she detected a strange form of energy that seemed to be sustaining its existence.
However, the energy structure appeared damaged, as if it might collapse at any time.
Seeing that Yan had become completely absorbed in her research, Karl also picked up the Mind Stone and began studying it more carefully.
Previously, Karl lacked any real mental abilities, so he had never been able to fully utilize the Mind Stone.
Now that he possessed strong psychic power, he finally had the ability to analyze and understand it.
So the two of them simply sat in the living room:
Karl studying the Mind Stone
Yan studying the Divine Tablet of the Heavenly Court Commander
Meanwhile, back at Tony's villa—
The heads of several powerful financial families had already gathered with their bodyguards.
Tony didn't immediately announce which families had received the lifespan rewards.
Instead, he instructed his bodyguards to unload all the antiques first.
However, everyone quickly noticed the silver-white box Tony was carrying.
That box was almost certainly the item Karl had given him.
Once the unloading process finished, Tony finally spoke.
"The Gerald family and the Tissot family each had one artifact selected by Karl."
"One item has been exchanged for 100 years of lifespan."
"The other has been exchanged for 150 years of lifespan."
Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd.
Tony opened the silver-white box.
Inside were the two test tubes containing the dragon bone essence.
"This test tube contains the 100-year lifespan essence for the Gerald family."
"And this one contains the 150-year lifespan essence for the Tissot family."
The two families quickly stepped forward and carefully placed the test tubes into their own protective containers.
Tony then gave the crowd a calm piece of advice.
"If you want Karl to take interest in your items…"
"It's best to bring the oldest artifacts you can find."
"Alright."
"You can all leave now."
"And let me give you one warning."
"Do not attempt anything inside my property."
"Otherwise…"
Before Tony even finished speaking, dozens of vibranium combat armors suddenly appeared around the villa.
They stood silently, watching everyone present.
It was obvious what Tony meant.
Everyone here understood that someone might attempt to steal the lifespan essence.
After all—
Who wouldn't want 250 years of lifespan?
Although many of the tycoons were clearly dissatisfied, none of them dared act rashly.
Even though they possessed enormous power in their own countries, offending Karl would likely cause the entire world to turn against them.
Eventually, the wealthy families silently left the villa one after another.
They entered their luxury cars and drove away.
However, as soon as they left—
Many of them immediately pulled out their phones and began making calls.
After all…
That was two hundred and fifty years of lifespan.
Even stealing just one hundred years would be worth any risk.
As for the power and influence of the other families?
Compared to longevity, such things meant nothing.
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL for more chapters.