After a small bidding war with Dark Moon of Beast Forest, Jacob ended up placing 350 ZC, and only then did Dark Moon of Best Forest back off. He was adamant about winning this plutonium, so he was keeping an eye on this prick if he played any trick and placed a last-minute bid.
Since he still had time, Jacob then decided to look at the star network news since he was just entering the skyway, and it was a fifty-meter-long tunnel which could explain just how thick the wall of the inner circle was.
He was interested in seeing how the Freedom Plains were fending off the Dark Beings.
There were top ten news on the platform, and the first news instantly drew his attention because of the Star ID,
'1. Freedom Lord Golden Sword: We are going through difficult times. The dark armies are upon us; they have already conquered 10% of our territories. Please join the 'United Freedom Army Front' to protect your homes. Merits will be rewarded to heroes and their families!
'2. Water Fairy4434: The Dark Begins are wreaking havoc in Ice nation. Where is the United Freedom Army Front?!
'3. Goblin Senior943032: Don't go in the United Freedom Army Front. They are using people like cannon folds while those F**k Lords are hiding behind their bunkers and their family members!
'4. Cloud of Public: The Dark Beings are getting out of hand, they already conquer 40% of the freedom plains, and millions of people are dead. Where is the United Freedom Army Front? Where is the Freedom Lords? The borders are blocked by the Dark Beings. Will the Freedom Plains be annihilated?
'5. ….'
The entire start network news was filled with gloom and pleading posts. People were desperately crying for help from the United Freedom Army Front, but they got no response.
Even their so-called Freedom Lords were dormant and had vanished after getting beaten black and blue by the Lich King.
Not only them but the entire upper echelon of the five nations of the freedom plains had gone missing leaving those helpless natives to fend for themselves, and they were getting killed by the dark beings daily.
Jacob emotionlessly looked at all that news and closed the platform since he had seen enough.
'Those lords, as well as their loved ones, probably escaped leaving behind these cannon folds to slow down the dark beings. If I'm not wrong, the only way out is the star ocean since the dark beings are blocking their escape routes from land.
'They can easily take refuge in the common plains since there is no restriction there or dark beings. Or they can use the Great Star River to head toward higher plains or come here…' Jacob thought impassively.
However, deep down, he was feeling a tingle of pain as all those posts flashed through his eyes. His heart grew colder and colder when he thought all those people were dying because he had cleared the trial.
'Little Jack, remember, expressing vile thing is easier, and then accomplishing it is difficult, but the true pain rose from the consequences….'
Jacob remembered the words he heard from the Old Priest before his lips rose into an icy smile, as all those thoughts turned into nothingness, 'I'll get used to consequences then.'
At this moment, his star watch vibrates, snapping him out of his strange state of mind. When he saw it was a message from one of the people he had contacted, he opened it.
'Faceless Ancient to (Flowery King98934): I want full information on Night Salve. State your price.
'Flowery King98934 (Reply): Are you sure you only want information on Night Slave but not the Silver Rattle Viper's poison magic core?'
Jacob coldly wrote a reply, "No."
'Flowery King98934 (Reply): Alright, since you only want information, I can give you for free it's not like it's a secret or anything. We alchemists should stick together and help each other whenever we can.'
Jacob frowned, and before he could reply, he received another message.
'Flowery King98934 (Reply): (Attached File), this thing is too hard to catch. Just be careful.'
'He really sent it.' Jacob opened it and saw the picture of a pitch-black round ball filled with meter-long spikes at every nook of its surface. It was like a Sea Urchin.
'Night Slave (Marine Magic Beast): Found in 2 miles depth of the Western Star Ocean and only activate at night.'
Jacob's face sank when he saw it was a marine magic beast, and it was found in the western star ocean, which was in the direction of the wild nation!
Still, this information was quite valuable for him, so he still sent Flower King98934 1 ZC as he didn't want someone's charity and no longer bothered replying to him.
'I'll wait until I'm done here before making a trip to the Wild Nation.' Jacob thought.
At this moment, his lift reached the end of the tunnel, and large metal gates started to slide upward, revealing a large metropolis behind. But it was not as busy as the common circle of the city.
However, Jacob felt refreshed when he breathed the air and was astounded by it, 'There is something different about this place.' He thought while looking at the paved and spotlessly clean streets of the inner circle while people walking here were mostly not wearing any cloaks like the common circle.
However, Jacob's attention was drawn by his star watch again when he received another reply from the reaming two.
'Faceless Ancient to (Great Earth Minor): If you have more of this mineral, I'm interested in buying them all at the same price as my bid.
'Great Earth Minor (Reply): Do you know what it is and where it is used? I can give you a 25% discount as promised.'
Jacob frowned after reading this reply, 'He didn't mention anything about having more. It seemed he had more, but he didn't want to sell it.'
So, Jacob used another approach as he replied, "Sell me 10 KG of it, and I'll tell you."
'Great Earth Minor (Reply): You're too greedy! I should make a deal with the Dark Moon of Beast Forest instead!'
Jacob coldly sneered, 'So, you want to play this game?'
He replied decisively, "Go ahead!"