Chapter 76

"Wait…! You’re giving away diamonds like that…!"

The elder was being troublesome.

"What? Haven’t you thought about it? I’ve always thought you were impressive for immediately setting up a Tier 1 tree, but there’s no special benefit for you to give 3800 diamonds. It’s a trade of personal knowledge, so the Tower of Alchemy doesn’t grant any privileges. Besides, I’ll be the one taking the knowledge… Why are you giving away diamonds like that?"

"You said you can produce something better than these wasps. I need the wasps, and these are just a bit off for me. Try everything you can. I’ll support you."

Pila looked at me in amazement.

"Why… Why are you doing so much for me? So unconditionally… Could it be… Could it be…?"

"What?"

"Sometimes, there are despicable people among the sponsors who lure young researchers for bad purposes… Could it be that you saw my good-looking face…?"

I was flabbergasted. Despite looking like a trembling hamster, he was still making wild claims. From his tone and brazen actions, Pila clearly had high self-esteem.

It seemed he had lived a life where his seemingly weak appearance had worked in his favor, but my taste in beauty has always been for strikingly handsome men. I’ve also seen a lot of tall and well-built guys. Moreover, the guy who had set a thick concrete barrier at my standards was right next to me.

Without responding further, I cupped the elder’s face with both hands. Look closely, I see this face every day. Pila nodded silently, his eyes filled with trust. Then, he hurriedly ran out of the lab, saying he would bring the contract party.

A moment later, a woman with a gloomy aura was led in by Pila. Pila defended her, saying that her life was in a mess due to debt and that the elder should understand.

"What is it?"

"Be polite. This elder is my sponsor. They’ve agreed to pay for the transfer of your invention to me."

Her hollow eyes looked at Pila with disapproval.

"What, what are you talking about?"

"How much can you give?"

She shouted urgently. I suddenly wondered. She said she had a lot of debt, gambling debt. Gambling is something people should never touch, but if she gets a lot of money to pay off her debt, will she be able to resist the temptation to gamble again?

But am I in a position to worry about her life, a complete stranger?

"Just name your price."

"4000."

"You previously said 3000 to me! How can you just name any price? No one else is interested in that invention besides me?"

"That noble air of yours is shouting that you have a lot of money. I need my share too. Besides, there’s no one else who can make what you want, right?"

Pila and the woman began to argue, like two small Chihuahuas fighting.

"Are you going to gamble with the money you get?"

"If the Tower of Alchemy had bought my invention on time, I wouldn’t have any debt! I had to stretch my research funds and ended up in debt! If I can’t send money home, my family will be kicked out of the terrarium. I’m the head of the family!"

Could it be that the situation of the researchers in the Tower of Alchemy is similar? Pila is also struggling to bring his family to a higher-numbered terrarium.

"Still, what about gambling? You’re even doing students’ assignments to pay off your gambling debt, so you can’t focus on your research, right?"

"I’ll handle my own affairs! So… can you give 4000?"

"Will 4000 pay off all your debt?"

I asked innocently, and she fell silent, lost in thought. Pila, noticing my expression, lightly slapped her arm, as if telling her to be polite.

"The debt is 3000. The remaining 1000… If I have 1000 diamonds, I can bring my family to a 30th terrarium. My hometown is now under severe fire attacks, and even inside the terrarium, living on the outskirts is dangerous. I need to bring my family to a safe terrarium."

"But… the 3800 diamonds I mentioned earlier have increased by 200…."

Pila fidgeted like a restless puppy. Why is he so desperate for her? Could it be…? Oh… Oh?

"I can give it. 4000, no problem."

I said it, but I was surprised by my own words.

"Of course, I can give more."

"Sir! People spend extra money frivolously!"

Pila seemed worried that she might turn to gambling again for fun.

"But tell me a few things. If 30th terrarium is fine, would 20th terrarium be okay too?"

"30th terrarium is everyone’s dream…."

She looked at me as if I was asking something obvious.

"What do your family members do?"

Her face showed a slight suspicion.

"Are you a sponsor or an inspector trying to take away my rank because of my gambling addiction…?"

"I wouldn’t do that to you! But sir, why are you asking about Loop’s family?"

"Ah, don’t misunderstand. I have no bad intentions."

She continued hesitantly.

"…Both are jewelers, working as gemstone setters. But people in higher-numbered terrariums are too busy to make money from gemstones… They have no income, so they can’t even provide guarantees. They live in a house provided by the terrarium."

She seemed worried that I might demand some strange guarantee. I’m a complete novice in such matters, so there’s no need to worry.

"Jewelers? Why are such prestigious jobs so low? Aren’t the higher-numbered terrariums trying to snatch them away?"

Pila asked in a raised voice.

"Because we’ve been living in the 59th terrarium, cutting the Sapphire of Truth. Before the world tree lost its power due to fire, the 59th terrarium always had the power of the September sun on the branches of the world tree. Even before I was born. Our family’s job was to cut this into accessories. My grandfather said he even cut a special-grade sapphire ring when he was young."

Wow… Not just any gem, but the Dryad power-up gems like the ones on Elder’s and Daisy’s fingers!

"I’ll give you 4000 plus 1000 diamonds!"

"Sir…! Do diamonds grow out of the ground?"

Pila shouted in shock. Digging for diamonds is true, but it’s us dwarves. I held out my palm to Loop, who was gaping in surprise.

"I want your family to move to the 28th terrarium! This is my first condition. I’ll give you 1000 more."

I folded one thumb.

"28th? Why specifically…? To move to such a high terrarium, 1000 isn’t enough… 20th terrarium has high taxes, doesn’t it?"

"The 28th terrarium has no taxes for productive people."

"I’ve never heard of such a terrarium!"

Pila and Loop shouted simultaneously.

"Second, the 28th terrarium is currently half-destroyed, so there might not be any housing. Your family will have to start from scratch. But they can claim any spot they want, central or peripheral. I can provide any support for this."

"Half-destroyed…?"

"There was a fire attack, but the details are a secret. However, I can confidently say it’s safer from fire threats than any other terrarium. The more diamonds on the world tree’s branches, the stronger it is. The 28th terrarium will be the safest place."

It wasn’t just an attack; a massive fire swept through. But now, I can confidently say it’s safe. The world tree’s branches are constantly draining my diamonds, so I can’t afford to be outdone by single-digit terrariums. The 28th branch is more like a water-absorbing hippo.

"Third, the 28th terrarium is where the Immortal Diamonds were once produced. I want your family to revive these gems using their ancestral wisdom. You don’t need to worry about selling them. I’ll buy and handle all the gems produced. Of course, I can support all the costs involved."

As I folded my third finger, Loop started jumping on the spot.

"Is this possible? What’s your relationship with the 28th terrarium’s administrator? Reviving the gemstone work is my parents’ dream! The lack of housing isn’t a problem. Before I became a researcher, we all lived in a communal hall or on the streets when it was full…. But this offer is too good… It sounds like you’re trying to trick me…."

"Sir, did you lend diamonds to the 28th terrarium? Or did you threaten them…?"

You don’t know. At this point, shouldn’t you be suspicious about why I know so much about the terrarium’s internal affairs?

"Well… because I am the administrator of the 28th terrarium."

I’m officially the administrator, even with a temporary badge I just got today!

Both of them shrank back at my words, then fell silent.

"And the last condition. When I give you the diamonds, promise not to gamble again. I’ll give you 4000 immediately, but the additional 1000 diamonds will be held by my Dryad in the 28th terrarium. Your family can receive it after moving there."

"Immediately! I’ll stake my life on it! Anything!"

Loop shouted almost in a scream. I took a step back in surprise, and Mesquite steadied me with both hands on my shoulder.

"I’m sorry for my rudeness! I never dreamed you were the administrator of the 28th terrarium. Please forgive my rudeness! I’ll go tell my family to move there immediately! This is the perfect opportunity for me to quit my research and return to my family’s jewelry business. If it weren’t for my family, I wouldn’t need to continue this unsuitable research job! I only stayed because of my talent and the high pay."

"What? Quitting your research job?"

A dark cloud hung over Pila’s face. Did I just cut off a man’s love life before it even started?