Two minutes later, with a solemn expression, Kaier placed a box with claws and sharp teeth at the opening in the center of the round table.
As soon as the box was placed, the two pairs of scarlet eyes hidden behind the claws immediately opened.
Cold and eerie eyes, scanning the surroundings.
Kaier was stared at for a moment, instantly shivering and breaking into a cold sweat from his spine.
While Angel and Dox seemed unaffected, their expressions were rather serious.
"Is this... the Skinner magic box?" Dox muttered under his breath.
Kaier nodded while trembling: "Yes, it’s my mentor’s Skinner magic box."
Dox stared at the scarlet eyes of the Skinner magic box for a moment and suddenly pondered: "Maybe I should step aside for a bit."
The Skinner magic box is a special spiritual space storage tool, with its internal space size dependent on the strength of the Skinner spirit.
Since Skinner is a spirit that recognizes its owner, the box it guards will fight relentlessly against anyone other than its owner who tries to touch it. Even if it can’t win, it can destroy the box and exile the items inside to a void in its unique spiritual stomach. Only its owner knows the coordinates of this void.
Therefore, many wizards prefer to use the Skinner magic box to store valuable items, as Skinner will protect these items with its life, even its own spirituality.
When Dox saw the Skinner magic box, he immediately realized that it must contain something valuable.
If it were just ordinary events, watching from the sidelines wouldn’t hurt. But the appearance of the Skinner magic box means that the matter is not simple and may involve secrets. If he were chased by Esos later, it would be troublesome.
That’s why Dox suggested stepping aside for a bit.
Kaier clearly understood Dox’s intention and said, "It’s okay, the reason my mentor used the Skinner magic box to store the alchemy blueprint is that it might be dangerous to leave it outside, so he put it in the magic box."
After saying this, Kaier added, "That blueprint itself isn’t anything valuable."
Dox: "..." Do you think I’m a fool?
Just leaving it outside would cause danger, such a bizarre item must hide some secrets.
Angel’s thoughts were similar to Dox’s, but still, he chose to reserve judgment until he saw the alchemy blueprint.
Ultimately, Dox decided to stay.
It wasn’t Kaier’s persuasion that worked, Angel estimated that it was his spiritual sensing telling him there was no danger, so he felt assured to stay.
"Since this is your mentor’s Skinner magic box, how do you open it?" Dox asked curiously.
Kaier replied with a relaxed face: "It recognizes me."
As he spoke, Kaier reached out to touch the Skinner magic box, but the box bit onto his hand without a word.
Everyone watched silently at the bleeding wrist.
Kaier maintained his relaxed expression: "It’s okay, this is a symbol of friendship. Isn’t that right, little Skinner?"
Crack—
This was the sound of bones breaking.
Everyone: "..."
Kaier finally couldn’t hold it any longer, pulled back his blood-soaked hand, and rolled on the ground in pain, screaming repeatedly.
"Poor thing, I feel this is somewhat unreliable. Are all Academy Faction people this naive?" Dox shook his head and sighed.
Angel was also seeing for the first time, someone who dared to touch the Skinner magic box without being its owner. Dox’s point was valid; it was truly naive.
After all, since Kaier was Angel’s task target, he sighed and threw a Healing Technique at him.
Once the pain was temporarily halted, Angel took out an empty bowl for Witch’s Soup, poured in some faintly glowing Glowing Fluff Potion, then added some diluted Regeneration Potion, and placed it in front of Kaier.
Kaier drank it gratefully.
Glowing Fluff Potion can prevent the wound from worsening, and the Regeneration Potion can regenerate broken bones. Almost instantly, Kaier returned to normal.
After Kaier finished drinking, Angel said: "That will be 53 Magic Crystals. 50 Magic Crystals for the potions, 3 Magic Crystals for the black market entrance fee."
Kaier looked at Angel, bewildered.
"What? You don’t think it’s worth the price?"
Under Angel’s evidently calm yet surprisingly pressuring gaze, Kaier quickly shook his head: "It’s worth it, worth the price. Although the black market entrance fee seems..."
Angel raised his eyebrows, about to say something. Kaier seemed to realize something and hurriedly changed his tune: "I mean, the black market entrance fee is also worth the price, yes, it’s 53 Magic Crystals. I’ll pay you right now."
Kaier stumbled as he pulled out a small pouch.
Angel took 3 Magic Crystals from it and tossed them to Dangross, as a reward for its commendable performance lately, and the rest he returned to his bracelet.
After doing all this, Angel returned to the main topic: "If you can’t open the Skinner magic box, then I’ll have to head back to Barbarian Cave. Or, you can come with me, Lord Esos is likely visiting Barbarian Cave without incident."
Kaier waved his hand: "No need, no need, it was just an accident earlier, I truly know little Skinner."
Dox said faintly: "Since you’re so acquainted, why don’t you try touching it again?"
Kaier awkwardly smiled: "...Let’s leave it for today, but I have other ways to prove I know it."
After his words, Kaier started rummaging through boxes and cabinets, seemingly searching for something.
His actions were quite rough, as he tossed out all sorts of strange items.
"Most of these are things from his store, who knew they’d just be piled up like this, treated like trash." Dox sighed, once not thinking much of Kaier, now feeling increasingly unreliable.