SCP Corporation: Contain Bonfire

"It's just a golden artifact, is it really worth all this fuss? No one is seriously answering my question anymore..."

Colin shook his head, as for that crazy person @ing him, asking if he was selling...

He had no intention of selling it anyway.

To tell the truth, if someone offered him several million, he might consider what he could do with all that cash in hand, but when the offer reached a billion, for some reason, it just didn't feel real to him.

The price seemed too far out of reach.

However, no matter what, selling was out of the question. He still had a "Descent Type" quest ahead, and selling would mean giving away his trump card and lifeline.

"By the way, while there are a lot of people around, I might as well ask if anyone knows anything about 'Descent Type'," thought Colin and he decided to pose the question under his own post.

"Just took on a 'Descent Type' quest, finished the first ring, any advice or tips would be appreciated."

Soon, there were replies.

The first one, of course, was from that "Unnamed 114514" wanting to meet in private.

It was clear it was doing its best to lure someone in.

But Colin just ignored it.

"Anonymous135": Honey, I suggest you @ Utan City's Xiao Yan, he's a great partner for over-level slaying...

"Lifecoach Kawaii-many": Advice for a 'Descent Type' quest? I suggest you find a good grave, Brother Shunzi, what were you thinking taking on a 'Descent Type'? Based on available information, F-E-D levels are all unsuitable for such quests...

"Wandering Speedy Lad": At that time, Shunzi was too young, unaware that all gifts from Fate come with a hidden price tag.

"Fish Pond Master": @Unnamed123456 why even bother, it's inappropriate to say, but the 'Descent Project' as a notorious special task is indeed a dead-end, anyone who goes in dies. Instead of letting treasures gather dust, why not leave something for your family, Brother Shunzi, you don't want to leave your family without support in their old age, do you?

...

Can't you just wish me some good luck, damn it? Colin couldn't help but retort in his mind.

Family issues?

He didn't have that much responsibility in that regard.

As he watched the messages refreshing more and more rapidly, some were gloating, some were encouraging, some were predicting doom, and some were lamenting the good artifacts that would be lost to the grave, Colin shook his head and left this "ground of contention."

How was he supposed to complete tasks properly if he stuck around with this bunch of cretins?

At this point, he noticed that the "fishing post" he had put up had, after a brief initial lull, received several hundred replies in just under 15 minutes.

Among them were many who had swarmed in, drawn by the scent of his bait.

Of course, this time there were quite a few serious replies recommending some useful items.

Colin jotted down a few—[Analytical Lens], [Decree Book·Fragment], [Eye of Charm], [Earth Sha Talisman], [Ring of Flame Dominance]...

As he looked through the list, Colin suddenly wore the expression of an old man baffled by a smartphone; he seemed to have spotted an incredible artifact name—[Widow Yukionna].

He ended his browsing for the day.

Out of curiosity, Colin opened the [Auction House] and searched for the name first; naturally, being the innocent he was, he wasn't familiar with the name, nor did he know the story behind it, it was just curiosity.

Shortly after, the green description of [Widow Yukionna] appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Widow Yukionna]

[Quality: Ordinary.]

[Status: Slightly damaged (Integrity 38%).]

[Energy Level: E- (Suitable for employees in the F-D level range).]

[Effect: Upon wearing, one can summon a guard named "Yukionna," who shares visual perception with the wearer, can vaporize, or launch freezing type attacks. The summon lasts for 30 minutes, and can be used once every twenty-four hours.]

[Negative Effect "Erosion of the Yukionna": The Yukionna constantly seeks to invade and merge with your body, to possess you completely... so, man, no need to be too enduring, just a touch will do.]

[Price: 1800 Points.]

[Note: A "Yukionna" who had finally escaped her past came to a strange city and struggled to live, until one day, she encountered a warm-hearted young man carrying a ring with an eyeball on it knocking on her door...]

"Looking at this introduction, it seems pretty good, just a bit too expensive..."

Colin felt for his purse, he didn't have enough money.

After he had tipped and bought a [Book of Fate Fragment], his entire fortune was down to 1899 Points, and buying it would be somewhat beyond his reach.

"Let's check out the others first..."

Colin searched for the names he had just noted down, one by one—the other employees' recommendations were indeed all quite decent.

After some comparisons, what Colin found to be more practical were the [Solution Lens Piece], [Decree Book·Fragment], and [Ring of Flame Dominion] these three items.

The first one allowed one to become like Sherlock Holmes, interpreting the scene before them to obtain some easily overlooked knowledge.

It had no negative effects, except that it consumed mental energy, and often the information obtained wasn't very useful.

But such a situation was not a problem for Colin, who was executing the "Descent Project."

In the Other World, even the most common message was very important.

The price, One Thousand Points.

The second was similar to [Book of Fate: Fragment], a one-time use artifact that could temporarily establish a useful rule within a certain range.

For example: No urinating or defecating in this area...

If violated, Colin could then watch the offender with a smile on his face, "You know you're breaking the law, don't you?"

Then, the offender would be punished, and their luck would be severely lowered for a certain period.

There were no negative effects here either, but the established rules had to be rational and enforceable.

Unfortunately, it cost six hundred Points per use, which was too expensive.

The cost-performance ratio wasn't nearly as good as the [Book of Fate: Fragment].

The third item was not as flashy; true to its name, it influenced and controlled flames within a fifteen-meter range...

The negative effect was that using it caused a burning phantom pain on the skin.

Although there was no actual harm, because the pain was so intense...

It was priced at only five hundred Points, which was two to three times cheaper than most other artifacts of the same type.

Colin almost doubted whether he had seen the price correctly.

And yet, no one had bought it...

"Is this burning pain really that terrible?"

Colin clicked his tongue; in his "Beast Transformation Syndrome" status, he had a decent resistance to pain, perhaps he could give it a try?

"The 'Analytical Lens' plus the 'Ring of Flame Dominance' and then see if there's another 'Book of Fate: Fragment', if all goes well that's it. After purchasing, I'd still have 399 Points left, maybe I could find something similar. No, there's no need to look — I already have a usable one in my bag..."

Colin quickly did the math in his head.

Then, he took out the revolver from the [Storage Room].

"If I'm not mistaken, the first time you do a mission, you should have no equipment, but this note here clearly points to a special artifact, meaning the former employee must have been an official one. Everyone was careful with their budgets early on and definitely wouldn't buy junk equipment, so it can't be that bad..."

Colin felt that spending over 300 Points on repairs, no matter what, he wouldn't be at a loss.

With that in mind, he chose to spend the rest of his money on this revolver.

Soon, as his Points dwindled to 62, the revolver in his hand was as if washed, much of the rust faded, some gaps were repaired, though it still looked as if it were about to fall apart.

But it should be usable now...

Only, the new orange text made Colin pause in surprise.